Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system

• US 7,720,596 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagasawa, Hiroshi, Masano, Toru, Itako, Motoya, Kobuya, Naoshi, Noda, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US11/154,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20050222765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/210, 342/357.13, 455/456.3, 348/211.3, 340/988, 382/305, 382/306, 382/103, 707/3
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/008 Touring maps or guides to public transport networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Tour guide contents utilized by a user at a travel destination consist of guide information including POI information, map data and the like, and user information including memoranda written by the user. The user can access a contents server from a user terminal, and is able to customize at the contents server the tour guide contents to be utilized at a travel destination. Customized tour guide contents are stored into a memory medium at a business terminal, and the memory medium is installed in an electronic guide apparatus, such as at an airport counter. The user receives the electronic guide apparatus and a GPS on a rental basis at the airport counter, and takes them to the travel destination. Then, the user is able to utilize the tour guide contents customized for the user at the travel destination.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

measured position acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of measured positions by measuring a current position continuously at a predetermined time interval;

measured time acquisition means for acquiring a measured time at which each of the measured positions is acquired by said measured position acquisition means;

position and time storing means for storing each of the measured positions with reference to a corresponding one of the measured times;

travel memo information input means for inputting user-provided travel memo information and including a key operation unit having a plurality of keys for keying in the user-provided travel memo information as alphanumeric characters;

a storage medium for storing guide content including user information and guide information, the user information including the user-provided travel memo information, the guide information including site information and map data, the site information including information regarding a plurality of sites, the map data including positional information for specifying a position of each site on a map;

processor means for retrieving and relating the stored guide content such that for each one of the plurality of sites, the guide information for that site is associated with the user information for that site including the user provided travel memo information for that site; and

display means for displaying at least one of a memo screen or a display screen, the memo screen for inputting additional user-provided travel memo information, the display screen being operable to show a traveling route on the map based on the measured positions and the measured times stored in said position and time storing means and the positional information stored in said storage medium and to show the user information associated with at least one site displayed on the map including the user-provided travel memo information for that site.

2. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said storage medium stores further information that associates a specific portion of the travel memo information with a particular portion of the guide information.

3. An information processing method, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of measured positions by measuring a current position continuously at a predetermined time interval;

acquiring a measured time at which each of the measured positions is acquired by said measured position acquisition means;

storing each of the measured positions with reference to a corresponding one of the measured times;

inputting user-provided travel memo information by keying in alphanumeric characters;

storing guide content including user information and guide information, the user information including the user-provided travel memo information, the guide information including site information and map data, the site information including information regarding a plurality of sites, the map data including positional information for specifying a position of each site on a map;

retrieving and relating the stored guide content such that for each one of the plurality of sites, the guide information for that site is associated with the user information for that site including the user-provided travel memo information for that site;

displaying a memo screen on a display for inputting further user-provided travel memo information; and

displaying the display screen on the display to show a traveling route on the map based on the stored measured positions and the stored measured times and the positional information stored in said storage medium and to show the user information associated with at least one site displayed on the map including the user-provided travel memo information for that site.

4. An information processing method according to claim 3, further comprising storing further information that associates a specific portion of the travel memo information with a particular one of the plurality of measured positions.