Method and assembly for determining a route

• US 7,231,293 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/974,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/200, 701/211, 701/207, 701/213, 345/179, 345/180, 345/173, 345/175, 178/18.03, 178/18.09, 178/18.01, 178/19.01, 382/315, 382/317, 382/314, 341/13, 235/456
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0439 using geographical maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/186 Guessing games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and assembly which determines a route using a computer system, a map and a user operated sensing device. The map shows a geographic area and includes coded data that is indicative of the map and reference points on the map. The sensing device is operable to sense the coded data and generate indicating data relating to the map'"'"'s identity and one or more of the reference points. The computer system is operable to identify a geographic location from the indicating data. The sensing device is positioned relative to the map to generate indicating data specifying a point on the route, and the indicating data is sent to the computer system for it to determine a route incorporating the specified point.

Claims

1. A method of determining a route using a computer system, a map and a user operated sensing device, wherein:

the map shows a geographic area and includes coded data that is indicative of the map, and reference points on the map;

the sensing device is operable to sense the coded data and generate indicating data relating to the map'"'"'s identity and one or more of the reference points; and

,

the computer system is operable to identify a geographic location from the indicating data,

the method comprising the steps of;

positioning the sensing device relative to the map to generate indicating data specifying a point on the route; and

,

providing the indicating data to the computer system for it to determine a route incorporating the specified point.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the specified point is a starting point of the route, a way-point of the route, or a destination of the route.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device is used to specify several points on the route and the computer system determines a route incorporating all the specified points.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of printing a map covering at least part of the geographic area covered by the route.

5. An assembly for determining a route, the assembly comprising:

a computer system, a map and a user operated sensing device, wherein;

a map showing a geographic area and having coded data printed thereon, the coded data being indicative of the map, and reference points on the map;

a user operated sensing device for sensing the coded data and generating indicating data relating to the map'"'"'s identity and one or more of the reference points; and

,

a computer system for identifying a geographic location from the indicating data;

wherein,

positioning the sensing device relative to the map to generate indicating data that specifies a point on the route; and

,

the computer system uses the indicating data to determine a route incorporating the specified point.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the specified point is a starting point of the route, a way-point of the route, or a destination of the route.

7. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the sensing device is used to specify several points on the route and the computer system determines a route incorporating all the specified points.

8. An assembly according to claim 5 further comprising a printer for printing a map covering at least part of the geographic area covered by the route.