Architecture for creating, organizing, editing, management and delivery of locationally-specific information to a user in the field

• US 7,652,594 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trigger California, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trigger California, Inc.
• Inventors: Lamont, Ivan J., Withrington, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/399,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/995, 340/985, 340/990, 340991-994, 340/995.1, 715/854, 715/738, 715/273, 715/850, 715/764, 715/848, 709/213, 709/227
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a dynamic content design, delivery and distribution software architecture that enables a centrally located designer, using a graphical interface, to create, edit, manage, and organize a matrix of trigger points that are plotted on a computerized map of geographical space. Each of these trigger points may be tagged with content, which is then relayed to a dynamic client device that is remotely located. The client device then displays the content to a remote user in a manner predetermined by the centrally located designer, the content varying based on feedback provided by the client device. The system and methods disclosed enable a centrally located designer to assume the role of an automated tour designer. As such, designers can compile a variety of different tours, each aimed at users with particular preferences. The architecture further offers a means to publish tour scripts for public consumption. The system is sufficiently flexible for use in any instance in which a user requires dynamic content, which is displayed contingent on any number of conditions.

Claims

1. A live multimedia tour for display to a user, comprising:

a graphical map having plurality of trigger points plotted thereon, each trigger point of the plurality of trigger points representing a geographical area of any size and shape;

a condition monitor monitoring a plurality of trigger conditions associated with said plurality of trigger points, said plurality of trigger conditions representing values determinable by a location-sensing device and a timing device, said plurality of trigger conditions being used to monitor the user'"'"'s locational and temporal states while on the live multimedia tour; and

a user interface presenting a plurality of media lists to the user upon satisfaction of a set of said plurality of trigger conditions,

wherein said set of said plurality of trigger conditions represent location of the user and two or more of the following values;

speed of the user;

height of the user;

velocity of the user;

rate of incline or decline of the user;

time spent inside the geographical area represented by a trigger point of the plurality of trigger points;

time spent since activating one of the plurality of trigger conditions;

direction of the user; and

acceleration of the user.

2. The tour of claim 1 wherein said multimedia tour is created on a server device.

3. The tour of claim 1 wherein each trigger point of the plurality of trigger points resides in three-dimensional space.

4. The tour of claim 1 wherein each media list comprises one or more media clips, the media clips being an audio or visual file.

5. The tour of claim 1, wherein said values are derived from a triangulated source.

6. A method for a user to create a live multimedia tour on a location-sensing device, comprising:

traveling with the device;

creating a trigger point when the user is in a desired location;

associating a plurality of trigger conditions with the trigger point, said plurality of trigger conditions representing values determinable by the location-sensing device and a timing device, the plurality of trigger conditions being used to monitor the user'"'"'s locational and temporal states while on the live multimedia tour; and

associating a media file with the trigger point, said media file to be presented to the user when the user enters the trigger point or a set of said plurality of trigger conditions is satisfied,

wherein said set of said plurality of trigger conditions represent location of the user and two or more of the following values;

speed of the user;

height of the user;

velocity of the user;

rate of incline or decline of the user;

time spent inside the geographical area represented by a trigger point of the plurality of trigger points;

time spent since activating one of the plurality of trigger conditions;

direction of the user; and

acceleration of the user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the media file is created by recording audio on the device.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

transferring the multimedia tour from the location-sensing device to a server; and

plotting the trigger point on a map generated by a geographic information system.

9. A method for distributing a live multimedia tour, comprising:

creating a multimedia tour comprising a plurality of trigger points, each trigger point of the plurality of trigger points being associated with a plurality of trigger conditions, wherein each trigger condition of said trigger conditions represents values determinable by a location-sensing device and a timing device, the trigger conditions being used to monitor the user'"'"'s locational and temporal states while on the live multimedia tour;

storing the multimedia tour on a server connected to a network; and

transferring the multimedia tour to a user on the network,

wherein the plurality of trigger conditions represent location of the user and two or more of the following values;

speed of the user;

height of the user;

velocity of the user;

rate of incline or decline of the user;

time spent inside the geographical area represented by a trigger point of the plurality of trigger points;

time spent since activating one of the plurality of trigger conditions;

direction of the user; and

acceleration of the user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the network stores a plurality of multimedia tours, each multimedia tour having associated with one or more identifying keywords.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the user can search the server for a tour based on said identifying keywords.