MAPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090112461A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Murphy
• Original Assignee: John Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, John
• Application Number:
  US12/100,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A mapping method is presented comprising receiving travel-related information from a user. A user interface is presented displaying at least a portion of a transportation hub. The user interface indicates a path and an estimated travel time from a current location within the transportation hub to a target location within the transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

Claims

1. A mapping method comprising:

receiving travel-related information from a user; and

presenting a user interface displaying at least a portion of a transportation hub, wherein the user interface indicates a path and an estimated travel time from a current location within the transportation hub to a target location within the transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the travel-related information comprises reading a user-presented object.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a remaining amount of time until a travel-related event.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the path is gradually generated on the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating on the user interface a remaining amount of time until a travel-related event.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a point of interest along the path.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating on the user interface a point of interest along the path.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating a point of interest along the path based on the estimated travel time and a remaining amount of time until a travel-related event.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating an interactive point of interest along the path; and

presenting information about the point of interest in response to a selection of the point of interest by the user.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating an interactive point of interest along the path; and

presenting merchandise associated with the point of interest in response to a selection of the point of interest by the user.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising processing payment for selected merchandise.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising recording user interaction information associated with the presented merchandise.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring information associated with the user interface to an electronic device associated with the user.

14. A mapping system comprising:

an input component for receiving travel-related information from a user; and

a display unit for presenting a user interface displaying at least a portion of a transportation hub, wherein the user interface indicates a path and an estimated travel time from a current location within the transportation hub to a target location within the transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

15. The mapping system of claim 14 wherein the input component comprises at least one of a bar code scanner, a magnetic stripe reader, a touch screen, and a keyboard.

16. The mapping system of claim 14 wherein the display unit indicates a remaining amount of time until a travel-related event.

17. The mapping system of claim 14 wherein the display unit indicates a point of interest along the path.

18. The mapping system of claim 14 further comprising a processing unit for presenting on the display unit information associated with a selected point of interest.

19. The mapping system of claim 18 further comprising a processing unit for processing payment for merchandise purchased corresponding to the selected point of interest.

20. The mapping system of claim 14 further comprising a communication unit for transferring information associated with the user interface to an electronic device associated with the user.

21. The mapping system of claim 14 further comprising a communication unit for real time updating of information associated with the travel-related information.

22. A computer readable medium having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive travel-related information from a user; and

present a user interface displaying at least a portion of a transportation hub, wherein the user interface indicates a path and an estimated travel time from a current location within the transportation hub to a target location within the transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to indicate a remaining amount of time until a travel-related event.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to indicate a point of interest along the path.

25. A mapping method comprising:

receiving travel-related information associated with an enroute passenger; and

presenting a user interface indicating a path from an anticipated arrival location of the enroute passenger to a target location within a transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising presenting an estimated travel time from the anticipated arrival location to the target location.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising presenting a point of interest along the path.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising presenting an estimated remaining time from an estimated time of arrival to an estimated time of a travel-related event.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

presenting an interactive point of interest along the path;

presenting merchandise associated with the point of interest in response to a selection of the point of interest by the user; and

processing payment for selected merchandise.

30. A mapping system comprising:

an input component for receiving travel-related information associated with an enroute passenger; and

a display unit for presenting a user interface displaying at least a portion of a transportation hub, wherein the user interface indicates a path from an anticipated arrival location of the enroute passenger to a target location within a transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

31. The mapping system of claim 30 wherein the display unit presents an estimated travel time from the anticipated arrival location to the target location.

32. The mapping system of claim 30 wherein the display unit presents a point of interest along the path.

33. The mapping system of claim 30 wherein the display unit presents an estimated remaining time from an estimated time of arrival to an estimated time of a travel-related event.

34. A computer readable medium having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive travel-related information associated with an enroute passenger; and

present a user interface indicating a path from an anticipated arrival location of the enroute passenger to a target location within a transportation hub using the received travel-related information.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to present an estimated travel time from the anticipated arrival location to the target location.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to present a point of interest along the path.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to present an estimated remaining time from an estimated time of arrival to an estimated time of a travel-related event.

38. A mapping method comprising:

determining travel-related information from reading a user-presented object; and

presenting a user interface indicating a path from a current location of the user to a target location using the received travel-related information.