Audio on location

• US 8,406,791 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC A Limited Liability Company of Delaware
• Original Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Daily, Mike, Martin, Kevin, Hirzel, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/690,574
• Time in Patent Office: 4,543 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/461, 455/403, 4554561-4567, 455/517, 455/414, 455/550.1, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/422.1, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 4554141-4144, 455/556.1, 455/445, 455/500, 455/557, 379/88.06, 379/88.14, 379/88.13
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system is disclosed for receiving, categorically storing, and supplying different types of location-specific audio information to either fixed or mobile users. The audio information is categorically stored by geographical location. As users travel through different environments (i.e., cities, freeway systems, airports) they can access audio information that is specific to their geographical location. Users may also annotate locations with real-time audio information. This audio information is accessible to mobile users using cellular phones, or other transceivers, and by fixed users using phones or computers.

Claims

1. An audio information transmission device comprising:

a user interface, a position detection system, an information server, and a playback manager, wherein, the user interface provides a user with an ability to submit queries to a database, and further provides location-specific information back to the user;

the position detection system is comprised of a variety of complementary devices that provide user position data to assist with the user-generated queries;

the information server provides a means for communicating the queries and the position data to the database, and further provides a means for communicating references to the playback manager;

the playback manager provides a means for delivering location-specific information to the user interface, wherein said position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries; and

wherein said location-specific information is spatially enhanced based on the user position and orientation data to appear to be coming from a location or object with which the information is associated.

2. An audio information transmission device comprising:

a user interface, a position detection system, an information server, and a playback manager, wherein, the user interface provides a user with an ability to submit queries to a database, and further provides location-specific information back to the user;

the position detection system is comprised of a variety of complementary devices that provide user position data to assist with the user-generated queries;

the information server provides a means for communicating the queries and the position data to the database, and further provides a means for communicating references to the playback manager; and

the playback manager provides a means for delivering location-specific information to the user interface, wherein said position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries; and

wherein said location specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified.

3. The audio information transmission device of claim 2 wherein said location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified provided the user has administrative authorization.

4. An audio information transmission device comprising:

a user interface, a position detection system, an information server, and a playback manager, wherein, the user interface provides a user with an ability to submit queries to a database, and further provides location-specific information back to the user;

the position detection system is comprised of a variety of complementary devices that provide user position data to assist with the user-generated queries;

the information server provides a means for communicating the queries and the position data to the database, and further provides a means for communicating references to the playback manager;

the playback manager provides a means for delivering location-specific information to the user interface, wherein said position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries; and

configured to provide location-specific information based on an expected user destination determined from the user orientation data.

5. A method of providing audio information comprising acts of:

providing a user interface whereby a user submits queries to a database;

utilizing a position detection system comprised of a variety of position devices to generate a user position;

communicating the queries and the position data through an information server to the database;

communicating location-specific information through the information server to a playback manager;

utilizing the playback manger to send the information to the user interface;

utilizing the user-interface to communicate the information to the user, wherein the position detection system further collects user orientation data; and

wherein said location-specific information is spatially-enhanced based on the user position and orientation data to appear to be coming from an area or object with which the information is associated.

6. A method of providing audio information comprising acts of:

providing a user interface whereby a user submits queries to a database;

utilizing a position detection system comprised of a variety of position devices to generate a user position;

communicating the queries and the position data through an information server to the database;

communicating location-specific information through the information server to a playback manager;

utilizing the playback manger to send the information to the user interface;

utilizing the user-interface to communicate the information to the user, wherein the position detection system further collects user orientation data; and

wherein said location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified.

7. The method of providing audio information of claim 6 wherein said location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified provided the user has administrator authorization.

8. A method of providing audio information comprising acts of:

providing a user interface whereby a user submits queries to a database;

utilizing a position detection system comprised of a variety of position devices to generate a user position;

communicating the queries and the position data through an information server to the database;

communicating location-specific information through the information server to a playback manager;

utilizing the playback manger to send the information to the user interface;

utilizing the user-interface to communicate the information to the user, wherein the position detection system further collects user orientation data; and

configured to provide location-specific information based on expected user destination inferred from the user orientation data.

9. An information delivery system comprising:

a database comprised of data associated with a plurality of specific geographic locations;

a user interface allowing a user to determine a user-specified-specific-geographic location;

a position detection system capable of providing the user-specified-specific-geographic location; and

an information server associated with the database and the user interface, wherein the information server assists with querying the database based upon the user-specified-specific-geographic location and returns data associated with the user-specified-specific geographic location to the user through the user interface, wherein the position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries; and

wherein the data associated with the user-specified-specific-geographic location provided to the user is based upon an expected user destination determined from the orientation data.

10. An information delivery system comprising:

a database comprised of data associated with a plurality of specific geographic locations;

a user interface allowing a user to determine a user-specified-specific-geographic location;

a position detection system capable of providing the user-specified-specific-geographic location; and

an information server associated with the database and the user interface, wherein the information server assists with querying the database based upon the user-specified-specific-geographic location and returns data associated with the user-specified-specific geographic location to the user through the user interface, wherein the position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries; and

wherein the data associated with the user-specified-specific-geographic location is spatially enhanced based on the user'"'"'s position and orientation to appear to be coming from a location with which the data is associated.

11. An information delivery system comprising:

a database comprised of data associated with a plurality of specific geographic locations;

a user interface allowing a user to determine a user-specified-specific-geographic location;

a position detection system capable of providing the user-specified-specific-geographic location;

an information server associated with the database and the user interface, wherein the information server assists with querying the database based upon the user-specified-specific-geographic location and returns data associated with the user-specified-specific geographic location to the user through the user interface, wherein the position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries; and

wherein a user may annotate or modify the data associated with the plurality of specific geographic locations in the database.

12. A method for information delivery comprising acts of:

choosing a user-specified-specific-geographic location by utilizing a position detection system, wherein the user-specified-specific-geographic location is a user'"'"'s position;

querying a database based upon the user-specified-specific-geographic location;

returning data associated with the user-specified-specific-geographic location to a user, wherein the position detection system further provides user orientation data; and

wherein the act of returning the data further comprises an act of spatially enhancing the data based on the user'"'"'s position and orientation data to appear to be coming from a location with which the data is associated.

13. A method for information delivery comprising acts of:

choosing a user-specified-specific-geographic location by utilizing a position detection system, wherein the user-specified-specific-geographic location is a user'"'"'s position;

querying a database based upon the user-specified-specific-geographic location;

returning data associated with the user-specified-specific-geographic location to a user, wherein the position detection system further provides user orientation data; and

allowing a user to modify or annotate data associated with a plurality of specific geographic locations.

14. An audio information transmission device comprising:

a user interface, a position detection system, an information server, and a playback manager, wherein,

the user interface provides a user with an ability to submit queries to a database, and further provides location-specific information back to the user;

the position detection system is comprised of a variety of complimentary devices that provide user position data to assist with the user-generated queries;

the information server provides a means for communicating the queries and the position data to the database, and further provides a means for communicating references to the playback manager; and

the playback manager provides a means for delivering location-specific information to the user interface, wherein

the location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the position detection system further provides orientation data to assist with user-generated queries.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said location-specific information is spatially enhanced based on the user position and orientation data to appear to be coming from a location or object with which the information is associated.

17. The device of claim 15, configured to provide location-specific information based on an expected user destination determined from the user orientation data.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein said playback manager further provides preference-filtered information to the user interface.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein said location-specific information is provided to the user as text.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein said location-specific information that is only available as text is automatically converted from text to a user-selected spoken language.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein said location-specific audio information is automatically translated from a spoken language to another spoken language of the user'"'"'s choice.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein said information server is either a distributed Internet-based information server networked to a plurality of information sources or a dedicated independent server.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein said location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified provided the user has administrative authorization.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein said user interface a two-way communications device.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said two-way communications device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a traditional phone, a fixed or mobile transceiver, and a computer.

26. A method of providing information comprising acts of:

providing a user interface whereby a user submits queries to a database;

utilizing a position detection system comprised of a variety of position devices to generate user position;

communicating the queries and the position data through an information server to the database;

communicating location-specific information through the information server to a playback manager;

utilizing the playback manager to send the information to the user interface; and

utilizing the user-interface to communicate the information to the user,

wherein the location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the position detection system further collects user orientation data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said location-specific information is spatially-enhanced based on the user position and orientation data to appear to be coming from an area or object with which the information is associated.

29. The method of claim 27 configured to provide location-specific information based on expected user destination inferred from the user orientation data.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said location-specific information is available as text.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said location-specific information that is only available as text is automatically converted from text to a user-selected spoken language.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said location-specific audio information is automatically translated from a spoken language foreign to the user to a language of a user'"'"'s choice.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said information server is either a distributed Internet-based information server networked to a plurality of information sources or a dedicated independent server.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein said location-specific information has an ability to be user-annotated or user-modified provided the user has administrator authorization.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein said user interface is a two-way communications device.

36. The method of claim 26 configured to provide location-specific information based on the user'"'"'s expected destination as determined from user input.