System for communicating and associating information with a geographic location

• US 20040006425A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Terragraphix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terragraphix, Inc.
• Inventors: Haskett, Jeffrey Allen, Armatis, Matthew Tyrone, Sutton, David Michael, Wood, Richard Todd
• Application Number:
  US10/189,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20040006425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A system for associating information with a map feature including a computer having a display, a memory containing geographic data, and a user interface. Application software is provided for accessing user-selected geographic data to produce a map on the display. The software includes a selection tool for associating information with a selected map feature for later access by activating an indicium created in association with the feature. The system may be included in a dispatch system having mobile units in communication with a base unit for receiving a communication from a geographic location, and transmitting a message describing the location to a mobile unit. The mobile unit receives the message and executes the application software to generate a map on a display with an indicium representing the location, thereby providing visual directions to the location.

Claims

1. A system for associating information with a map feature, including:

a computer having a display, a memory, and a user interface for receiving user inputs;

a database including geographic data stored in the memory;

application software configured to respond to a user input by causing the computer to access the database and generate a map on the display corresponding to selected geographic data, the application software including a selection tool to enable the user to select a feature on the map and associate information with the feature.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the associated information is accessible by activating the feature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the feature is a geographic location.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the feature is a geographic area.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information is stored in the memory.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes user-defined notes relating to the feature, the notes being inputted by the user via the user interface into a notes field generated by the selection tool.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the application software includes a copy map tool that generates a file including a copy of the map for storage in the memory.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the application software includes a print map tool that generates a print file including data corresponding to the map for output to a printer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection tool enables the user to create an indicium for display in association with the feature, the associated information being accessible upon activation of the indicium.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicium is an icon.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the application software causes the computer to present the user with a selection of icon symbols on the display upon selection of the feature using the selection tool.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the application software causes the computer to present the user with a selection of icon colors on the display upon selection of the feature using the selection tool.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes one of a label, an address, and a latitude/longitude designation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information is provided by the user via the user interface into a dialog box generated by the selection tool.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes a file stored in the computer memory.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the file includes one of text, a graphic representation, audio, and video.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the file includes a diagram of a structure.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection tool enables the user to define a plurality of user-defined layers of information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the application software further includes a layer control tool to enable the user to select a user-defined layer from the plurality of user-defined layers for display on the map.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the map includes a plurality of map layers, each map layer including geographic data relating to a common map characteristic, the layer control tool enabling the user to select a map layer from the plurality of map layers for display on the map.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of map layers include geographic data representing one of an aerial image, structures, roads, railroads, natural features, and boundary indicators.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the application software is configured to cause the computer to display the user-defined layers according to a presentation sequence.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the presentation sequence includes instructions for displaying the user-defined layers in a user-defined order.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the application software further includes a map control tool to enable the user to manipulate the map displayed on the display.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the map control tool permits the user to change the zoom level of the map.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the map control tool permits the user to measure distances between locations displayed on the map.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the map control tool permits the user to change a geographic area displayed on the map.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the map control tool permits the user to find a specific location on the map by inputting an address corresponding to the specific location.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the map control tool permits the user to find a specific latitude and longitude on the map by inputting a latitude designation and a longitude designation.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the application software further includes a mode select tool to enable the user to select a day mode or a night mode for display of the map.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein a map displayed in night mode is less luminous than the map displayed in day mode.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic data is arranged in the database into collections of data corresponding to geographic boundaries.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the application software further includes a map control tool that permits the user to find a specific location on the map by inputting an address corresponding to the specific location.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the map control tool searches the collections of geographic data according to a predetermined sequence until the specific location is found.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the application software further includes a registration routine that prevents operation of the application software until a registration sequence is completed.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the registration sequence enables a software provider to identify the user.

37. Software for use with a computer having a display, a memory, and a user interface for receiving user inputs, the software including:

geographic data for storage in the memory, the geographic data corresponding to characteristics of a geographic area;

a map generation routine for causing the computer to access selected geographic data in response to a user input and produce a map on the display corresponding to the selected geographic data;

a selection tool to enable the user to select a feature on the map via the user interface and associate user-defined information with the feature.

38. The software of claim 37, further including an information retrieval routine to enable the user to select the feature and access the associated information.

39. The software of claim 38, wherein the feature is a geographic location.

40. The software of claim 37, wherein the information includes user-defined notes relating to the feature, the notes being provided by the user via the user interface into a notes field generated by the selection tool.

41. The software of claim 37, wherein the selection tool enables the user to create an indicium for display at the location, the associated information being accessible upon activation of the indicium.

42. The software of claim 41, wherein the indicium is an icon.

43. The software of claim 37, wherein the information includes one of a label, an address, and a latitude/longitude designation.

44. The software of claim 37, wherein the information includes a file stored in the computer memory, the file including one of text, a graphic representation, audio, and video.

45. The software of claim 37, wherein the selection tool enables the user to define a plurality of user-defined layers of information.

46. The software of claim 45, wherein the application software further includes a layer control tool to enable the user to select a user-defined layer from the plurality of user-defined layers for display on the map.

47. The software of claim 46, wherein the map includes a plurality of map layers, each map layer including geographic data relating to a common map characteristic, the layer control tool enabling the user to select a map layer from the plurality of map layers for display on the map.

48. The software of claim 47, wherein the plurality of map layers include geographic data representing one of aerial images, structures, roads, railroads, natural features, and boundary indicators.

49. The software of claim 37, wherein the application software further includes a map control tool to enable the user to manipulate the map displayed on the display.

50. The software of claim 49, wherein the map control tool permits the user to find a specific latitude and longitude on the map by inputting a latitude designation and a longitude designation.

51. A system for coordinating a response to an event at a geographic location, including:

a plurality of mobile units; and

a base unit in communication with the mobile units including a receiver to receive a communication originating from the geographic location, and a transmitter to selectively transmit a message including information describing the geographic location to a particular mobile unit;

wherein each mobile unit includes a receiver configured to receive the message and a processor coupled to a display for displaying a map representing a geographic area including the geographic location, the processor of the particular mobile unit responding to receipt of the message by generating an indicium on the map at a map location representing the geographic location, thereby providing visual directions to the geographic location.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein each mobile unit further includes a memory for storing a database of geographic data accessed by the processor to generate the map.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein each of the processors of the plurality of mobile units executes mobile software having a selection tool to enable a mobile user to select a feature on the map and associate information with the feature, the associated information being accessible by activating the feature.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the feature is the geographic location.

55. The system of claim 51, further including a central server having a memory for storing a database of geographic data, the geographic data being accessible by each of the plurality of mobile units.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein each of the processors of the plurality of mobile units executes mobile software having a selection tool to enable a mobile user to select a feature on the map and associate information with the feature, the associated information being stored in the central server memory and accessible by a mobile unit by activating the feature.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein the base unit includes a GPS interface configured to receive the communication, the communication being transmitted by a GPS device.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the GPS interface is configurable to receive communications from a plurality of GPS devices having different communications protocols.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the communication includes latitude and longitude information describing the geographic location.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the communication is transmitted by the GPS device over a wireless communications network.

61. The system of claim 51, wherein the base unit executes dispatch software and each of the plurality of mobile units executes mobile software, the mobile software including an interface routine that periodically accesses a file updated by the dispatch software with information indicating new events.

62. The system of claim 51, wherein the base unit is configured to receive manual input, the information in the message being manually entered by a dispatcher.

63. The system of claim 51, wherein the information in the message is automatically generated by interface software configured to communicate with the base unit.

64. The system of claim 51, wherein the base unit further includes a processor and a display, the processor executing dispatch software to generate a map on the base unit display indicating a location and a status associated with each of the plurality of mobile units.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the dispatch software enables a dispatcher to change the status of a mobile unit.