Location system

• US 7,656,290 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: National Networks Limited LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/426,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.22, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/573.1, 340/407.1, 340/10.1, 340/825.4, 235/375, 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/462.46
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/065 in the form of braille
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09685 where the complete route is computed only once and not updated
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a user may receive guidance information from a guidance support center via a location system.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to communicate with a guidance support center via a wireless communication network;

an RFID reader configured to supply RFID location information read from an RFID tag to the guidance support center;

a camera configured to supply visual location information of an area around the camera to the guidance support center; and

a GPS device configured to supply GPS location information of the wireless communication device to the guidance support center;

wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive information that provides guidance to a destination from the guidance support center based at least in part on the RFID location information, the visual location information, the GPS location information, or combinations thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a personally portable housing for at least one of the wireless communication device, the camera, the GPS device or the RFID reader.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a security necklace configured to secure at least a portion of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is coupled a housing, a prosthetic eye, a pair of glasses, a necklace, a cellular phone, a guide animal collar, a guard animal collar, a camera necklace, a robotic device or combinations thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless connection device configured to provide short-range wireless connection to one or more electronic devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more electronic devices include the wireless communication device, the RFID reader, the camera, the GPS device, a microphone, a speaker, or combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a call button configured to directly communicate with the guidance support center upon activation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker in communication with the wireless communication device; and

a microphone in communication with the wireless communication device, wherein the apparatus is configured to directly call the guidance support center when the microphone receives a voice recognized command.

9. A method, comprising:

obtaining one or more of RFID information from a RFID tag reader of a RFID tag, GPS information from a GPS transponder, visual location information from a camera of an area around the camera, or combinations thereof;

transmitting, via a wireless communication device, the RFID information, the GPS information, the visual location information, or combinations thereof, to a guidance support center; and

receiving at a personally portable device information to provide guidance with respect to a destination from the guidance support center based at least in part on the transmitted RFID information, the GPS information, the visual location information, or combinations thereof;

wherein the guidance information received is in a format comprising audio, text display, graphics display, code, Braille, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

obtaining coordinate location information of the personally portable device; and

transmitting the coordinate location information of the personally portable device to the guidance support center;

wherein the guidance information received from the guidance support center based at least in part on the coordinate location information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the guidance information is received as live support.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the data in Braille format to live support at the guidance support center in response to receiving the guidance information, wherein the format of the received guidance information comprises Braille.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the guidance information comprises one or more of the following:

travel directions, destination information, or combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising sharing, utilizing, sorting, formatting, synthesizing, transforming, or combinations thereof, one or more of the RFID information, the GPS information, the visual location information, the guidance information, or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera is coupled to a prosthetic eye, a pair of glasses, a guide animal collar, a guard animal collar, a camera necklace, a robotic device, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

communicating with the guidance support center upon receipt of either a voice activated command, or a signal initiated by activation of a call button in communication with the wireless communication device.

17. A wearable apparatus, comprising:

means for obtaining RFID information from an RFID tag read by an RFID reader means;

means for obtaining GPS information from an RFID transponder means;

means for obtaining visual location information from a camera means;

means for transmitting the RFID information, the GPS information, and the visual location information to a guidance support center;

means for receiving guidance information relative to a destination from the guidance support center based at least in part on the RFID information, the GPS information, the visual location information, or combinations thereof; and

means for communicating the received guidance information as voice data, Braille data, or combinations thereof.

18. The wearable apparatus of claim 17, wherein the wearable apparatus is personally portable.

19. The wearable apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for transmitting includes means for wireless communication.

20. The wearable apparatus of claim 17, wherein the guidance information comprises travel directions, destination information, or combinations thereof.

21. The wearable apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for interactive communication with an operator associated with the guidance support center.

22. The wearable apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means to directly communicate with the guidance support center upon receipt of a voice activated command.

23. The wearable apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means to directly communicate with the guidance support center upon receipt of a signal from a single call button.

24. A method, comprising:

receiving RFID information from a location system of a mobile device;

receiving visual location information from a camera of an area around the mobile device;

determining guidance information relative to a destination for the mobile device based at least in part on the RFID information, the visual location information or combinations thereof; and

transmitting the guidance information to the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving coordinate location information from the location system;

wherein the guidance information is determined for the mobile device based at least in part on the coordinate location information prior to transmitting the guidance information to the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the guidance information includes live support.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving the RFID information, the visual location information, or combinations thereof, of the mobile device at the guidance support center via a wireless communication device.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the guidance information includes travel directions, destination information, or combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising sharing, utilizing, sorting, formatting, synthesizing, transforming, or combinations thereof, one or more of the guidance information, the visual location information the RFID information, or combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the camera is coupled to a prosthetic eye, a pair of glasses, a guide animal collar, a guard animal collar, a camera necklace, a robotic device, or combinations thereof.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

responding to a call request with live support, wherein the location system receives the call request as either a voice activated command, or a signal initiated by depression of a single call button.

32. A guidance support center, comprising:

means for receiving one or more of RFID information from an RFID tag reader and visual location information from a camera of an area around the camera wherein the RFID tag reader and the camera comprise a location system of a mobile apparatus;

means for analyzing at least portions of the RFID information, the visual location information, or a combination thereof to provide guidance to a destination for the mobile apparatus based at least in part on the RFID information, the visual location information, or combinations thereof; and

means for transmitting the guidance information to the mobile apparatus as voice data, Braille data, or combinations thereof.

33. The guidance support center of claim 32, further comprising:

means for receiving coordinate location information from the location system; and

means for determining the guidance information for the mobile apparatus based at least in part on the coordinate location information.

34. The guidance support center of claim 32, wherein the means for receiving the RFID information and the visual location information from the location system of the mobile apparatus comprises means for wireless communication.

35. The guidance support center of claim 32, wherein the guidance information includes travel directions, destination information, or combinations thereof.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to communicate with a guidance support center via a wireless communication network;

a camera configured to supply visual location information of an area around the wireless communication device to the guidance support center; and

an RFID reader configured to supply RFID location information of an RFID tag to the guidance support center;

wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive information to provide guidance to a destination from the guidance support center based at least in part on the visual location information or the RFID location information.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, comprising a personally portable housing for at least the wireless communication device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a security necklace configured to secure at least a portion of the housing to a user.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the camera is coupled to a housing, a prosthetic eye, a pair of glasses, a necklace, a cellular phone, a guide animal, a guard animal, a robotic device, or combinations thereof.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a GPS device configured to supply GPS location information of the wireless communication device to the guidance support center, wherein the GPS location information includes coordinate location information, and wherein the information to provide the guidance to the destination is based at least in part on the GPS location information.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a wireless connection device coupled to a housing, wherein the wireless connection device is configured to provide short-range wireless connection to one or more electronic devices including the wireless communication device, the RFID reader, the camera, a GPS device, a microphone, a speaker, or combinations thereof.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the wireless communication device is configured for interactive communication with an operator associated with the guidance support center.

43. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

a speaker in communication with the wireless communication device; and

a microphone in communication with the wireless communication device, wherein the apparatus is configured to directly communicate with the guidance support center when the microphone receives a voice recognized command.