Method and system for provisioning electronic field guides

• US 20020152225A1
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Kevan, Sherrene Kevan
• Original Assignee: Peter Kevan, Sherrene Kevan
• Inventors: Pletsch, Dave, Kevan, Peter G., Kevan, Sherrene D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method for provisioning electronic field guides comprising the steps of: presenting multiple data items to an end user, via the display of a stationary computer; and responding to the selection of particular ones of said multiple data items by said user, by: downloading multimedia data files corresponding to said particular ones of said multiple data items, to a portable computing device; whereby said portable computing device may present the multimedia content to the end user in the field.

Claims

1. A system for provisioning electronic field guides comprising:

a portable computing device having;

a visual display;

an end user input interface; and

a memory;

a stationary computer having;

a visual display;

an end user input interface; and

a memory;

means for interconnecting said stationary computer and said portable computing device;

said stationary computer being operable to;

present multiple data items to an end user; and

respond to the selection of particular ones of said multiple data items by said end user, by;

downloading multimedia data files corresponding to said particular ones of said multiple data items, to said portable computing device via said means for interconnecting; and

said portable computing device being operable to;

present a listing of said downloaded multiple data items; and

respond to the selection of one of said downloaded multiple data items by playing said corresponding multimedia data file.

2. A method for provisioning electronic field guides comprising the steps of:

presenting multiple data items to an end user, via the display of a stationary computer; and

responding to the selection of particular ones of said multiple data items by said user, by;

downloading multimedia data files corresponding to said particular ones of said multiple data items, to a portable computing device;

whereby said portable computing device may present the multimedia content to the end user in the field.

3. The method of claim 2 in which said multimedia content includes images and text, whereby images can be viewed on said portable computing device.

4. The method of claim 2 in which said multimedia content includes audio files, whereby sounds may be reproduced on said portable computing device.

5. The method of claim 2 in which said stationary computer is a personal computer.

6. The method of claim 2 in which said stationary computer is an information kiosk providing said content in exchange for some form of payment.

7. The method of claim 2 in which said multimedia data files are stored on a CD-rom.

8. The method of claim 2 in which updates to said multimedia data files are accessed over an Internet network.

9. The method of claim 2 in which said multimedia data files are stored remotely from said stationary computer and are accessed over an Internet network.

10. A portable electronic field guide comprising:

display means for displaying a digital image;

speaker means for audibly reproducing a digital audio data file;

memory means for storing digital content to produce said digital image and said digital audio data;

communication means for downloading said digital content from a stationary computer, said digital content being selected from a more comprehensive database on said stationary computer; and

power supply means for powering said display means, speaker means, memory means and communication means.

11. The portable electronic field guide of claim 10, further comprising:

processing means responsive to an instruction from an end user by;

accessing said digital content stored in said memory means; and

displaying said digital image corresponding to said digital content, on said display means.

12. The portable electronic field guide of claim 10, further comprising:

processing means responsive to an instruction from an end user by;

accessing said digital content stored in said memory means; and

playing said digital audio data corresponding to said digital content, on said display means.