Locating positions on maps
First Claim
1. Position indicating apparatus for use with a plurality of predetermined printed map sheets, each of which is divided into a plurality of grid blocks which are referenced by a respective grid reference, the apparatus comprising:
- a body which is positionable over different portions of each map sheet and which is provided with a window through which a grid block of a said map sheet will be visible;
position sensing means operable to receive signals from a positioning system and for generating therefrom a position indicating signal indicative of the geographical location of said body, storage means for storing data associated with said map sheets and which relates to the respective geographical areas covered by the respective map sheets of said plurality;
processing means for processing said position indicating signal with said stored data for generating first output data indicative of which of said map sheets includes the geographical location indicated by said position indicating signal and indicative of the grid reference of the grid block of the indicated map sheet which contains said geographical location and second output data indicative of the position of said geographical location within the indicated grid block;
output means for outputting to a user information corresponding to said first output data for enabling the user to select the indicated map sheet and to position said window of said body over said indicated grid block of said map sheet; and
a movable indicator responsive to said second output data for providing within said window a visual indication of the position of said geographical location within said indicated grid block of said map sheet;
wherein said position sensing means is operable to receive signals from said positioning system in terms of a wide area coordinate system, wherein said storage means in operable to store conversion data relating said wide area coordinate system to the coordinate system of the indicated map sheet and wherein said processing means is operable for generating output data using said conversion data, which output data is indicative of the grid block of the indicated map sheet and is in terms of the map coordinate system of the indicated map sheet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus to enable one'"'"'s position to be easily found on a traditional map having its own coordinate system distinct from a wide area coordinate system, data is associated with the map from which the relationship—between the map coordinate system and the wide area coordinate system can be determined. The apparatus has a reader for reading the data associated with the map, a memory for storing the read data, a GPS receiver for receiving transmissions from GPS satellites and determining the position of the GPS receiver in terms of the wide area coordinate system, a processor for processing the determined wide area coordinate position and the stored data to determine the position of the GPS receiver in terms of the map coordinate system, and a display or the like for annunciating to a user the determined map coordinate position. The data associated with the map preferably also includes information on the area covered by the map. The map may be one of a series of maps or part of an atlas, the data relating to all of the maps in the series or atlas.
63 Citations
29 Claims
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1. Position indicating apparatus for use with a plurality of predetermined printed map sheets, each of which is divided into a plurality of grid blocks which are referenced by a respective grid reference, the apparatus comprising:
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a body which is positionable over different portions of each map sheet and which is provided with a window through which a grid block of a said map sheet will be visible;
position sensing means operable to receive signals from a positioning system and for generating therefrom a position indicating signal indicative of the geographical location of said body, storage means for storing data associated with said map sheets and which relates to the respective geographical areas covered by the respective map sheets of said plurality;
processing means for processing said position indicating signal with said stored data for generating first output data indicative of which of said map sheets includes the geographical location indicated by said position indicating signal and indicative of the grid reference of the grid block of the indicated map sheet which contains said geographical location and second output data indicative of the position of said geographical location within the indicated grid block;
output means for outputting to a user information corresponding to said first output data for enabling the user to select the indicated map sheet and to position said window of said body over said indicated grid block of said map sheet; and
a movable indicator responsive to said second output data for providing within said window a visual indication of the position of said geographical location within said indicated grid block of said map sheet;
wherein said position sensing means is operable to receive signals from said positioning system in terms of a wide area coordinate system, wherein said storage means in operable to store conversion data relating said wide area coordinate system to the coordinate system of the indicated map sheet and wherein said processing means is operable for generating output data using said conversion data, which output data is indicative of the grid block of the indicated map sheet and is in terms of the map coordinate system of the indicated map sheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Position indicating apparatus for use with a plurality of predetermined printed map sheets, each of which is divided into a plurality of grid blocks which are referenced by a respective grid reference, the apparatus comprising:
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a body which is positionable over different portions of each map sheet and which is provided with a window through which a grid block of a said map sheet will be visible;
position sensing circuitry operable to receive signals from a positioning system and for generating therefrom a position indicating signal indicative of the geographical location of said body;
a memory for storing data associated with said map sheets and which relates to the respective geographical areas covered by the respective map sheets of said plurality;
a processor for processing said position indicating signal with said stored data for generating first output data indicative of which of said map sheets includes the geographical location indicated by said position indicating signal and indicative of the grid reference of the grid block of the indicated map sheet which contains said geographical location and second output data indicative of the position of said geographical location within the indicated grid block;
output circuitry for outputting to a user information corresponding to said first output data for enabling the user to select the indicated map sheet and to position said window of said body over said indicated grid block of said map sheet; and
a movable indicator responsive to said second output data for providing within said window a visual indication of the position of said geographical location within said indicated grid block of said map sheet;
wherein said position sensing circuitry is operable to receive signals from said positioning system in terms of a wide area coordinate system, wherein said memory is operable to store conversion data relating said wide area coordinate system to the coordinate system of the indicated map sheet and wherein said processor is operable for generating output data using said conversion data, which output data is indicative of the grid block of the indicated map sheet and is in terms of the map coordinate system of the indicated map sheet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of indicating a position of a user on at least one of a plurality of predetermined printed map sheets, using a position indicating apparatus having a body which is positionable over different portions of each map sheet and which is provided with a window through which a grid block of a said map sheet will be visible, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving signals from a positioning system and generating therefrom a position indicating signal indicative of the geographical location of said body;
storing data associated with said predetermined map sheets which relates to the respective geographical areas covered by the respective map sheets of said plurality;
processing said position indicating signal with said stored data to generate first output data indicative of which of said map sheets includes the geographical location indicated by said position indicating signal and indicative of the grid reference of the grid block of the indicated map sheet which contains said geographical location and second output data indicative of the position of said geographical location within the indicated grid block;
outputting to the user information corresponding to said first output data;
selecting the indicated map sheet;
positioning said window of said body over said indicated grid block of said map sheet; and
providing a movable indicator responsive to said second output data to provide within said window a visual indication of the position of said geographical location within said indicated grid block of said map sheet;
wherein said receiving step receives signals from said positioning system in terms of a wide area coordinate system, wherein said storing step stores conversion data relating said wide area coordinate system to the coordinate system of the indicated map sheet and wherein said processing step generates output data using said conversion data, which output data is indicative of the grid block of the indicated map sheet and is in terms of the map coordinate system of the indicated map sheet. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification