Mobile information system and device

• US 7,526,378 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ryan T. Genz
• Original Assignee: Ryan T. Genz
• Inventors: Genz, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/285,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/209, 701/207, 701/213, 345/156, 455/90.1, 715/727, 715/978, 340/450, 340/985
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/359 Augmented reality
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

The present invention includes a mobile device that is capable of storing media and optionally a wireless network connection for streaming live data between the device and the database. The data from the orientation sensor and the position sensor both go directly into the mobile device as input to a controller in the device. The controller controls in part an audio/video output that is modulated based upon the relative position of the user to an object of interest as well as the user'"'"'s orientation.

Claims

1. A device for providing environmental information to a user, the device comprising:

a positioning sensor for determining a position of the user;

an orientation sensor for determining an orientation of the user;

a mobile device in communication with the positioning sensor and the orientation sensor, the mobile device having a controller adapted for processing data from the positioning sensor and the orientation sensor and identifying an environment associated with the data; and

an audio device coupled to the controller, the audio device adapted to provide a continuous three dimensional soundscape audio output associated with the environment in response to continuing data provided by the orientation sensor and positioning sensor to the controller and associated with the environment thereby defined.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the environment includes data corresponding to physical features and orientation of the physical features with respect to the user.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the orientation data includes distance and bearing from the user data.

2. A system for providing environmental information to a user, the system comprising;

a database containing environmental information;

a positioning sensor for determining a position;

an orientation sensor for determining an orientation;

a mobile device in communication with the database, the mobile device further in communication with the positioning sensor and the orientation sensor, the mobile device having a controller adapted for processing location data from the positioning sensor and the orientation sensor and associating a continuing series of subsets of the environmental information with changing location data; and

an audio device coupled to the mobile device and the controller, the audio device adapted to provide a continuous three dimensional soundscape audio output associated with the environmental information subsets in response to the location data.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the environmental information includes information corresponding to physical features and orientation of the physical features with respect to the user.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the orientation information includes distance and bearing from the user data.