Information guidance system

• US 6,473,704 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Precision Company Limited (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Precision Company Limited (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Keiji, Sasaki, Shuichi, Hatakeyama, Takuro, Shiratori, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/355,257
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 702/94, 702/95, 701/211, 701/207
• US Class Current: 702/94
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence

Abstract

An information service system comprises a portable unit carried by the user and an identification tag for supplying information on the present position of the user or the place where the user is approaching. The identification tag transmits the transmission information including the specified information stored in advance using infrared light or the like. The portable unit that has entered a predetermined range of the identification tag, upon receipt of the transmission information, demodulates the specified information and outputs the specified information from an information output unit such as a speaker. By the way, in the case where the specified information is an identification tag ID for specifying the particular identification tag, the portable unit selects the guide information corresponding to the identification tag ID through the portable unit controller and outputs it from the information output unit.

Claims

1. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific place, wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver; and

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alpha-numeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of the information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver.

2. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific place, wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver; and

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

an information service system as described in claim 1, wherein said identification tag further includes;

a predetermined information changing unit for changing the specific information stored in said predetermined information storage unit.

3. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific places wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver;

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

an information service system as described in claim 1, wherein said portable unit further includes a guide information changing unit for changing the guide information stored in the said portable unit controller.

4. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific place, wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver;

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

an information service system as described in claim 1, wherein said portable unit further includes;

a portable unit ID information storage unit for storing the ID information for specifying the user; and

a portable unit transmitter for transmitting the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit;

wherein said identification tag further includes;

an identification tag receiver for receiving the portable unit ID information transmitted from said portable unit transmitter;

a portable unit ID information storage unit for storing the portable unit ID information set in advance; and

a second identification tag control unit for collating the portable unit ID information received by said identification tag receiving unit with the portable ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit, and when said information are coincident with each other, permitting said identification tag control unit to generate the guide information including the identification tag ID information stored in the identification tag ID information storage unit.

5. An information service system as described in claim 4, wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user as predetermined information.

6. An information service system as described in claim 5, wherein said portable unit information output unit includes at least selected one of a voice output unit for outputting the information as a voice, a symbol indication unit for displaying and outputting information as a symbol containing alphanumeric characters, and a vibration output unit for outputting the information as vibrations.

7. An information service system as described in claim 5, wherein a selected one of the infrared light, a laser beam and ultrasonic sound is used for transmission of the information between said identification tag and said portable unit.

8. An information service system as described in claim 4 or 5, wherein said portable unit information output unit includes at least selected one of a voice output unit for outputting the information as a voice, a symbol indication unit for displaying and outputting information as a symbol containing alphanumeric characters, and a vibration output unit for outputting the information as vibrations.

9. An information service system as described in claim 8, wherein a selected one of the infrared light, a laser beam and ultrasonic sound is used for transmission of the information between said identification tag and said portable unit.

10. An information service system as described in anyone of claims 4 to 8, wherein a selected one of the infrared light, a laser beam and ultrasonic sound is used for transmission of the information between said identification tag and said portable unit.

11. An information service system as described in anyone of claims 4, 5, 8, 10, 6, 7, 9, wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes at least a selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alphanumeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of the information contained in the carrier wave received by said portable unit receiver.

12. An information service system as described in claim 4, wherein said identification tag further includes a specified information changing unit for respectively changing the predetermined information stored in said predetermined storage unit or and the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit as applicable.

13. An information service system as described in claim 4, wherein said portable unit further includes a guide information changing unit for respectively changing the guide information stored in said portable unit controller or and the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit as applicable.

14. An information service system as described in claim 4, wherein said identification tag further includes an information synthesizer for synthesizing the portable unit ID information with the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit and generating the transmission information when the coincidence is detected between the portable unit ID information demodulated by said second identification tag control unit and the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit;

and

wherein said portable unit further includes a second portable unit controller for collating the portable unit ID information included in the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver with the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit and permitting said portable unit information output unit to output the guide information when said two portable unit ID information coincide with each other.

15. An information service system as described in claim 14, wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user as the predetermined information.

16. An information service system as described in anyone of claims 14 or 15, wherein said portable unit information output unit includes at least a selected one of a voice output unit for outputting information as a voice, a symbol indication unit for displaying and outputting the information as a symbol including alphanumeric characters, and a vibration output unit for outputting the information as vibrations.

17. An information service system as described in claim 16, wherein a selected one of infrared light, a laser beam and ultrasonic sound is used for transmission of the information between said identification tag and said portable unit.

18. An information service system as described in claim 16, wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes at least a selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alphanumeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of information contained in the carrier wave received by said portable unit receiver.

19. An information service system as described in any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein a selected one of infrared light, a laser beam and ultrasonic sound is used for transmission of the information between said identification tag and said portable unit.

20. An information service s stem as described in claim 19, wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes at least a selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alphanumeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of information contained in the carrier wave received by said portable unit receiver.

21. An information service system as described in any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes at least a selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alphanumeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of information contained in the carrier wave received by said portable unit receiver.

22. An information service system as described in claim 14, wherein said identification tag further includes a specified information changing unit for changing at least a selected one of the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit and the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit.

23. An information service system as described in claim 14, wherein said portable unit further includes a guide information changing unit for changing at least a selected one of the guide information stored in said portable unit controller and the portable unit ID information stored in said portable unit ID information storage unit.

24. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific place, wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver;

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user as the predetermined information;

wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alpha-numeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of the information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver.

25. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific place, wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver; and

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

wherein said information output unit of the portable unit includes at least one of the voice output unit for outputting the transmission information as a voice, a symbol display unit for displaying and outputting the transmission information as a symbol including alphanumeric characters and a vibration output unit for outputting the transmission information as vibrations;

wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alpha-numeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of the information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver.

26. An information service system for supplying the user with information on the present position or a specific place which the user is approaching, comprising:

a portable unit carried by said user and an identification tag installed at a specific place, wherein said identification tag includes;

a predetermined information storage unit for storing predetermined information;

an identification tag control unit for generating the transmission information including the predetermined information stored in said predetermined information storage unit, and

an identification tag transmitter for transmitting the transmission information generated in said identification tag control unit; and

wherein said portable unit includes;

a portable unit receiver for receiving the transmission information transmitted from said identification tag transmitter;

a portable unit controller for selecting the guide information in accordance with the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver;

a portable unit information output unit for outputting the guide information selected by said portable unit controller;

wherein selected one of infrared light, a laser beam and ultrasonic sound is used for transmitting the transmission information from said identification tag to said portable unit;

wherein said predetermined information storage unit includes selected one of an identification tag ID information storage unit for storing the identification tag ID information for specifying the user, a voice storage unit for storing the voice information and a symbol information storage unit for storing the symbol information including alpha-numeric characters;

wherein said identification tag control unit includes an information type setting unit for setting the type of the information output from said identification tag ID information storage unit; and

wherein said portable unit controller includes an information type determination unit for determining the type of the transmission information received by said portable unit receiver.