Method and system for providing narrative information to a traveler

• US 6,845,321 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plum Creek Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael Lester Kerns
• Inventors: Kerns, Michael Lester
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/610,489
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/202, 701/204, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/213, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

The subject invention reveals a navigation system comprising: a position determining device; a means for associating each of a plurality of narrations with each of a plurality of locations, wherein each of the plurality of narrations relate to each of a plurality of points of interest; a means for associating each of a plurality of alert with each of the plurality of locations; a means for communicating alerts to the traveler as the traveler freely moves, wherein the alerts are communicated when the traveler moves within a specified proximity to the locations associated with the alerts, and wherein the alerts advise the traveler with respect to the point of interest; a means for providing the traveler with the option of obtaining directions to the point of interest; and a means for providing the traveler with the option of hearing the narration reading the point of interest.

Claims

1. A method of communicating narrative information to a traveler moving through a geographic region, said method comprising:

(1) associating each of a plurality of narrations witch each of a plurality of locations within the geographic region, wherein each of the plurality of narrations relate to each of a plurality of points of interest within the geographic region;

(2) associating each of a plurality of alerts with each of the plurality of locations within the geographic region;

(3) communicating alerts without being prompted to the traveler as the traveler freely moves throughout the geographic region, wherein the alerts are communicated when the traveler moves within a specified proximity to the locations associated with the alerts, and wherein the alerts advise the traveler with respect to the general nature of the point of interest associated with the location;

(4) providing the traveler with the option of obtaining directions to the location associated with the point of interest; and

(5) providing the traveler with the option of hearing the narration associated with the point of interest associated with the location.

2. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein the specified proximity to the locations associated with the alerts is provided by the traveler.

3. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises showing the traveler the direction to specific points of interest within the geographic region.

4. A method as specified in claim 3 wherein the points of interest are organized on the basis of their proximity to the traveler within the geographic region.

5. A method as specified in claim 4 wherein the points of interest are organized from closest to farthest from the location of the traveler.

6. A process as specified in claim 3 which further provides a narrative description of sub-points of interest, wherein the sub-points of interest have alerts which are activated by coming within a radius of proximity which is preset in the a database rather than being user defined.

7. A method as specified in claim 6 wherein the radius of proximity is less than about 500 yards.

8. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein said alerts and said narrations are free of commercial advertisements.

9. A method as specified in claim 1 which further comprises identifying a point of interest based upon its bearing to the location of the traveler.

10. A method as specified in claim 9 wherein the bearing of the point of interest to the traveler is inputted to determine the identity of the point of interest.

11. A method as specified in claim 10 wherein the bearing of the point of interest to the traveler is inputted by pointing a navigation unit at the point of interest.

12. A method as specified in claim 10 wherein the bearing of the point of interest to the traveler is inputted by pointing a directional indicator at the point of interest, wherein the directional indicator includes a magnetic compass.

13. A method as specified in claim 9 which further comprises providing the traveler with the option of bearing the narration associated with the identified point of interest.

14. A method as specified in claim 9 wherein the bearing of the point of interest relative to the location of the traveler is determined witch a magnetic compass.

15. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein the traveler modifies the locations within the geographic region which are associated with alerts.

16. A method as specified in claim 15 wherein the traveler modifies the locations within the geographic region which are associated with alerts on the basis of the categorization of the points of interest associated with the locations.

17. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein the traveler is further provided with an option of seeing a video message which further describes the point of interest.

18. A method as specified in claim 17 wherein the video message is a motion picture.

19. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein multiple locations are associated with a single point of interest.

20. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein only one alert is communicated to the traveler within a predetermined unit of time in the case of alerts that are associated with a single point of interest that is associated with multiple locations.

21. A navigation system comprising:

a position determining device;

a means for associating each of a plurality of narrations with each of a plurality of locations within the geographic region, wherein each of the plurality of narrations relate to each of a plurality of points of interest within the geographic region;

a means for associating each of a plurality of alerts with each of the plurality of locations within the geographic region;

a means for communicating alerts without being prompted to the traveler as the traveler freely moves throughout the geographic region, wherein the alerts are communicated when the traveler moves within a specified proximity to the locations associated with the alerts, and wherein the alerts advise the traveler with respect to the general nature of the point of interest associated with the location;

a means for providing the traveler with the option of obtaining directions to the location associated with the point of interest; and

a means for providing the traveler with the option of hearing the narration associated with the point of interest associated with the location.

22. A navigation system as specified in claim 21 wherein the position determining device is a global positioning system.