Harris Router Mapper Software Definition
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An Integrated Routing/Mapping Information System (IRMIS) links desktop personal computer cartographic applications to one or more handheld organizer, personal digital assistant (PDA) or “palmtop” devices. Such devices may be optionally equipped with, or connected to, portable Global Positioning System (GPS) or equivalent position sensing device. Desktop application facilitates user selection of areas, starts, stops, destinations, maps and/or point and/or route information. It optionally includes supplemental online information, preferably for transfer to the PDA or equivalent device.
Users' options include route information, area, and route maps. Maps and related route information are configured with differential detail and levels of magnitude. Used in the field, in conjunction with GPS receiver, the PDA device is configured to display directions, text and map formats, the user's current position, heading, speed, elevation, and so forth. Audible signals identifying the next turn along the user's planned route are also provided.
The user can pan across maps and zoom between two or more map scales, levels of detail, or magnitudes. The IRMIS also provides for “automatic zooming,” e.g., to show greater detail or closer detail as the user approaches a destination, or to larger scale and lower resolution to show the user's overall planned route between points of interest. The IRMIS also enables the user to mark or record specific locations and/or log actual travel routes, using GPS position information.
These annotated location marks and/or “breadcrumb” or GPS log data can be saved, uploaded, displayed, or otherwise processed on the user's desktop geographic information or cartographic system. The IRMIS application and data may be distributed online and/or in tangible media in limited and advanced manipulation formats. The IRMIS of claim 1 wherein said database includes maps of selectable levels of detail, wherein said IRMIS software includes means for automatically increasing a level of detail for display on said second computer display of said electronic maps associated with said travel route at or near said travel origin and said travel destination, and means for automatically decreasing said level of detail for display on said second computer display of said electronic maps associated with said travel route in the area between said travel origin and said travel destination. The IRMIS of claim 10 wherein said database further includes identifiable waypoints associated with said travel route, wherein said waypoints are identifiable by coordinate means of a selected geographical coordinate system, wherein said selected geographical coordinate system is a standard latitude/longitude (lat/long) geographical coordinate system and wherein coordinate locations are storable in said one or more other computers as lat/long coordinates, and said geocoding-capable device is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The IRMIS of claim 8 wherein said database includes maps of selectable levels of detail, wherein said IRMIS software includes means for increasing a level of detail for display on any of said one or more other computers of said electronic maps associated with said travel route at or near said travel origin and said travel destination, and means for decreasing said level of detail for display on said one or more other computers of said electronic maps associated with said travel route in the area between said travel origin and said travel destination.
A database of geographical-coordinate-locatable objects (loc/objects) accessible by said digital computer, said database including a set of electronic maps of varying and selectable magnitude and capable of presentation on said computer display, wherein said electronic maps are associated with map grid quadrangles, wherein said loc/objects of said database are identified by geographical coordinate identifiers in a geographical coordinate system, and wherein said loc/objects may be displayed on said computer display. Wherein said database includes maps of selectable levels of detail, wherein said IRMIS software includes means for increasing a level of detail for display on any of said one or more other computers of said electronic maps associated with said travel route at or near said travel origin and said travel destination, and means for decreasing said level of detail for display on said one or more other computers of said electronic maps associated with said travel route in the area between said travel origin and said travel destination. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION This patent application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of the David M. DeLorme et al U.S. Patent application Ser. 08/661,600 filed Jun. 11, 1996, for COMPUTER AIDED ROUTING AND POSITIONING SYSTEM, now U.S.
5,802,492, issued Sep. 1, 1998, which is a CIP of U.S. Patent application Ser. 08/381,214 filed Jan.
31, 1995 for COMPUTER AIDED ROUTING SYSTEM, now U.S. 5,559,707, issued Sep. 24, 1996, which is a CIP of the David M.
DeLorme et al U.S. Patent application Ser. 08/265,327 filed Jun. 24, 1994 for COMPUTER AIDED MAP LOCATION SYSTEM, now abandoned, and the contents of these related patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a new Integrated Routing/Mapping Information System (IRMIS) for travel planning, travel guidance, and recording travel locations and paths during business or recreational use, particularly in regard to the linkage of small, memory-limited computing systems with personal and/or mainframe computers. The invention may include the capability to provide an interactive computer travel-planning guide for determining a route between a user selected travel origin and travel destination following user selected intermediate waypoints along the way. System software determines the preferred travel route within user selected constraints. The user can also select among a plurality of types of geographically locatable points of interest (POIs) within a user-defined region of interest along the travel route.
Harris Router Mapper Software Definition For Free
A database enables the incorporation of travel information such as graphics, photos, videos, animations, audio and text information about the user selectable POIs along the way as well as about transportation routes and waypoints. From the user selected and user-defined transportation routes, waypoints, and POIs along the travel route, the software constructs a user customized multimedia travelog for preview on a computer display of the user-defined travel route. Based on the user-customized previews, the travel route including transportation routes, waypoints, and points of interest can be updated or changed according to the user preferences and choices.
Modified travel routes can be previewed with further multimedia travelogs until a satisfactory travel route is achieved. The user can output a travel plan, i.e.; downloading waypoints electronically and/or printing out maps with route indications and text travel directions. The IRMIS is applicable for use with the Global Positioning System (GPS), radio location systems, dead reckoning location systems, and hybrid location systems. For example, the GPS satellite system is used with a GPS receiver for displaying waypoint data and limited routing data of the IRMIS user on the computer display for correlation of location with surface features or mappable features.
Data generated by the GPS receiver may be used for “real time position updates” in the IRMIS computer display or may be recorded by the GPS receiver in the field for subsequent downloading to IRMIS software and IRMIS computer display. As well, IRMIS-generated data may be used within the GPS receiver by an IRMIS user for guidance in the field apart from a desktop IRMIS platform.
The user can follow the IRMIS generated route using just a GPS device alone, or with the further aid of other IRMIS output such as printed maps. The user can accomplish this visually and intuitively between human readable forms of a map without the necessity of a users physical determination of latitude and longitude and without requiring any mathematical calculations.
Text and voice or audio outputs can be provided to facilitate use and reading of the printed maps and/or GPS devices. The invention also adds a communications dimension to the maps for adding and updating the latest spatially related data, for providing software tools for map analysis and reading, and generally for communications between computer systems and devices and between users in a variety of combinations. The present invention is particularly applicable to small computers identified as personal digital assistants, palm computers, and any other sort of hand-held computer, defined generally herein as PDA computers.
In particular, a PDA may be linked to a GPS receiver in a PDA/GPS format to log information associated with a travel route for subsequent processing through a standard personal computer or other relatively larger computer. It is to be noted that PDA travel logs and routing may include the association with a digital map display thereon with a paper map. However, given the ease of handling associated with a PDA, it is understandable that the PDA may act as a substitute for the paper map. Additionally, the PDA-related IRMIS, as implied above, involves the communication between a PDA and a desktop computer that has the storage and processing capability to provide a large array of digital maps with user-defined travel routes. Such communication is generally through hardwiring; however, it may be wireless as well.
BACKGROUND ART A variety of computer hardware and software travel planning aids is currently available on the market primarily for vacation and recreational travel planning. A number of the travel guide software packages focus on National Parks of the United States or recreational tours and activities with prepared travelogs or prepared assemblages of multimedia travel information on the different recreational geographical locations or recreational activities. Such travel software programs are exemplified for example by the America NavigaTour (TM) MediAlive (TM) multimedia travel guide produced by CD Technology, Inc.; the Great Vacations (TM) Family Travel Guide by Positive Software Solutions; the Adventures (TM) CDROM Program for worldwide adventure travel by Deep River Publishing, Inc.; and National Parks of America, a CDROM product of Multicom Publishing, Inc. Which contains a directory of all National Parks in the United States. Rand McNally produces a software travel planning product under the trademark TRIPMAKER (TM) for planning a trip by car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Rand McNally Tripmaker (TM) software also calculates quickest, shortest, and preferred scenic routes for the trip planner.
While the Rand McNally product incorporates a database of many points of interest, the multimedia travelog information appears limited to preplanned scenic tours. Similarly the American Automobile Association in cooperation with Compton's NewMedia also provides travel planning from starting point to destination point with stopping points in between. The CDROM product contains a database of travel information. However the multimedia information available from the database appears limited to “suggested routes of travel” again limiting user choice.
In each case it appears that travel information from multimedia sources is preassembled by editors so that the user or trip planner is limited to “canned” or prepared multimedia travelogs of prescribed, suggested, or preplanned tours. Or the user is limited to information fragments about this or that particular object of interest or this or that particular place.
There is no opportunity or user capability and selectivity in constructing a user-customized travelog of assembled multimedia information for previewing a particular user determined route of travel. The user is relegated to travelogs and multimedia assemblages prepared for routes and tours proposed by other editors.
The first release in July 1994 of Map'n'Go (TM) Atlas of North America on CD-ROM by DeLorme Mapping Freeport Me. 04032 includes a version of IRMIS that limits the nodes or routable waypoints to specified intersections of selected roads and highways, and car ferry terminals. Relatedly, there are a variety of mapping and positioning systems. One such system is a hand-held personal GPS navigation tool that has been developed by the Garmin Corporation of Lenexa, Kans. Under the tradename Garmin GPS 45. The Garmin navigation tool incorporates a GPS receiver and a limited character display screen for displaying position information in alphanumeric and graphic characters.
Another such system is a hand-held personal GPS navigation tool that has been developed by Trimble Navigation of Austin, Tex., under the trademark Scout GPS (TM). The Trimble navigation tool incorporates a GPS receiver and a four-line character display for displaying position information in alphanumeric characters. This hand-held GPS system can apparently display alphanumeric position information in a latitude/longitude coordinate system or a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system. The Trimble navigation tool can apparently also display proprietary coordinate system information for locating the position of a user on a standard topographic map. The Trimble GPS navigation tool displays in alphanumeric characters the horizontal and vertical coordinate distances of the user from the southeast corner or southeast reference point of any standard topographic map. A disadvantage of the Trimble GPS navigation tool is that it provides a display of coordinate system data only in alphanumeric characters on a multiline LCD display.
The user must then perform mathematical measurements and operations to determine the user location on a particular topographic map. While the incorporation of GPS technology provides an improvement over dead reckoning and position estimation from topography, it necessarily requires user reference to quantitative measurements and calculations. Furthermore, the Trimble navigation device does not provide communications access to other geographical information databases for updated information on geographical objects in the spatial area of interest or communications access to other software tools for map analysis and reading. More generally, the Trimble navigation device does not provide a communications dimension for the map reading system. Silva Sweden AB and Rockwell International USA have developed a hand-held GPS compass navigator for use on any standard map.
The GPS compass navigator incorporates a GPS receiver for locating the user on any standard map. A built-in “compass” gives range and bearing from the known user position to a specified destination. This information is updated on the GPS compass navigator as the user progresses toward the destination. The GPS navigator is described as being in the form of a guiding “puck” that apparently rides or is moved over the standard map at the user location.
It cannot display multiple geographical objects at the same time and cannot communicate with other sources of spatially related map information. In the increasingly important field of PDAs and handheld organizers, mapping technology that resolves the desire for well-defined maps and user-selectable maps with the memory limitations associated with PDAs is becoming increasingly important. The desktop computers provide the user with the capability to select geographic areas, travel origins and destinations, points of interest along the travel route, levels of map detail for maps covering wider geographical areas, and linkage to even greater computing capability by way of on-line access. The desktop mapping available today also provides for GPS linkage for travel marking as well as the means to provide audio and textual directional information. PDA cannot to date provide such capacity. Prior attempts at enabling PDA usage in regard to selectable travel routes has been limited to single-route textual itineraries.
It is therefore desirable to provide in a PDA user-selectable mapping information similar to that provided through desktop computers. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new integrated routing/mapping information system (IRMIS) capable of enabling the mating and cooperation between desktop and handheld devices, including the automatic updating of related databases whenever the desktop PC and handheld PDA link together.
The PDA or handheld personal organizer may be optionally linked to a GPS receiver. It is also an object of the present invention to provide the means to take advantage of the strengths of the desktop or home-base application which provides wider geographical coverage and a fully implemented map/route/point-of-interest (poi) cartographic system, which desktop enables user selectivity or customization of map and route information—optionally tapping into online information. It is another object of the present invention to create data-cutting alternatives such that certain user selections of geographic area, start, finish, POIs, levels of detail or map magnitudes may be effectively downloaded to the PDA/GPS that produce compact map and/or route information “packages” comprising black-white bitmaps, text directions lists, point information organized in differential magnitude configurations which e.g.
Provide more detail and particular kinds of information around waypoints, less detail and perhaps more major road driving information along the routes between waypoints. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means to enable a PDA to display text directions and maps (without GPS), serving similar functions to map/itinerary travel plan printouts and to facilitate in a PDA/GPS combination a map display of user's current position, and/or prompting and beeped warnings relative to text directions, as well as heading, distance, speed and other real time GPS data. The present invention is further designed to facilitate in a PDA/GPS configuration location marking and breadcrumb or GPS log functions which can be displayed on the PDA and/or uploaded, displayed, and otherwise processed back at the home-base desktop. Yet a further object of the present invention is the development of a PDA/GPS application can include programming whereby the GPS output controls map/point/route information content and levels of detail—as illustrated by “automatic zoom” upon arrival at area mapped at lesser/greater level of detail or, when a GPS receiving system “senses” that the vehicle has slowed down or stopped, map and point information displays automatically refocus or “look about” to see about restaurants, lodgings or other area attractions.
As with the prior CARPS invention described in the referenced parent application, another object of the invention is to provide a database of geographically locatable objects or points of interest (POIs) organized into a plurality of types for selection by the user. The database also incorporates travel information selected from a range of multimedia sources about the transportation routes, waypoints, and geographically locatable objects of interest along the travel route. A feature of the invention is that the objects of interest are encompassed within a user-defined region of interest of user specified dimensions along the travel route. A further object of the invention is to provide an IRMIS for use with radio location systems, dead reckoning location systems, and hybrid location systems for displaying user location. For example, the GPS satellite system can be used for displaying the location, direction of travel, route, speed, and other travel data of an IRMIS user on a generalized grid quadrangle for correlation of user location on a coinciding printed map. Such is accomplished by direct sensory, visual, and intuitive methods. As well, the GPS satellite system may be used in the field for recording waypoint data and limited routing data of an IRMIS user for later data transfer and IRMIS computer display.
Additionally, the GPS satellite system may be used in the field for updating waypoint data and limited routing data of an IRMIS user for immediate data transfer via wireless data communications from a remote field location to an IRMIS desktop platform. The present invention is an improvement over the prior art of simple PDA operations in that the IRMIS technology enables advanced map displays, rather than simple textual information. It permits current-position displays when linked with GPS. Moreover, the developed PDA system of the present invention can act as a personal organizer as well as a “hotsynch” link between truly portable devices and desktop devices. An additional feature of the invention is that the trip planner is no longer relegated to the prescribed or suggested routes and tours of other editors for previewing travel routes. Nor is the trip planner limited to ad hoc or fragmented multimedia information about this or that object of interest.
Rather, the user constructs a user-defined travel route including transportation routes, waypoints, and POIs within a region of interest along the travel route. Another advantage is that IRMIS users in the field may simultaneously navigate a travel route generated by IRMIS software while recording or tracking locations or sequences of locations. Such locations may be designated by the user as new POIs and sequences of locations may be transferred from the GPS receiver to the IRMIS desktop platform as an ordered waypoint list that designates a new travel route.
Further, fast and accurate surveying is enabled from GPS receiver location recording data made by the user in the field when transferred to the IRMIS desktop platform for computerized data mapping by the IRMIS software. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to accomplish these results the present invention provides IRMIS for use with a PDA with display, a digital desktop computer with display, and a detachable handheld GPS receiver device which provides waypoint list management tools and compass bearing, distance, speed of travel, estimated time until arrival, and other information in relation to the next waypoint on an overall route. A variety of other peripheral equipment is also provided as hereafter described. The PDA is preferably a 3COM PALM™ or handheld computer with WIN CE™ operating system. A set of electronic maps is provided for presentation on the desktop computer display.
The electronic maps depict transportation routes having route intersections and identified waypoints at geographical locations along the transportation routes. The route intersections and identified waypoints depicted on the electronic maps are identified in the desktop computer by coordinate locations of a selected geographical coordinate system. An IRMIS database contains geographically locatable objects (loc/objects) also referred to as points of interest (POIs) identified by coordinate locations in the geographical coordinate system. The POIs are organized into a plurality of types for user selection of loc/objects or POIs individually and by type.
The loc/object or POI types constitute electronic overlays of the database for display over the electronic maps on the computer display. As used in this specification and claims, the phrase points of interest or POIs is generally used to refer to loc/objects for which multimedia information is available for describing the POIs and presenting the points of interest in a multimedia travelog as hereafter described. It is to be noted that in the context of PDA linkage, multimedia displays are optional rather than the focus of the present IRMIS invention. Typically, the IRMIS database is a geographical information system or GIS. Such a GIS manages data in the GIS database in relation to the geographical coordinate locations of the selected geographical coordinate system. Thus, the IRMIS database manager relates points of interest and any other loc/objects of the database with particular locations on or near the surface of the earth in terms of coordinate locations such as latitude and longitude. The multimedia information hereafter described is similarly identified with the coordinate location of the subject POIs.
IRMIS software is constructed for user travel planning using the electronic maps presented on the desktop computer display. The IRMIS software permits user selection of a travel origin, travel destination, and desired waypoints between the travel origin and travel destination. The IRMIS software calculates, delineates and displays a travel route between the travel origin and the travel destination via the selected waypoints. The travel route is calculated according to user choice of the shortest travel route, quickest travel route, or user determined preferred travel route. As used in the specification and claims, waypoints refers to the origin and destination of a possible route and intermediate points or places along the way including major road and highway intersections, joints or turning points at connected short line segments of major roads and highways, place names situated on major roads and highways, and as hereafter described, POIs near the major roads and highways. The IRMIS software permits user selection of a particular map, area, or a point of interest.
The IRMIS software further enables routing and the extraction or cutting of a route as well as area maps for downloading to the PDA. The IRMIS route map that is developed is essentially a larger scale map encompassing a start and a finish of the route. Included is at least one map of more detailed, greater resolution and/or higher magnitude maps of the start, the finish, and, possibly, other waypoints or POIs. That is, the present invention permits the user to select an area or route on the desktop computer-displayed maps and create PDA maps that are cut in accordance with that selection. This is an advantage over the prior art which was limited to pre-cut, one-size-fits-all maps for specific regions, areas, or cities.
The electronic maps, IRMIS database, and IRMIS software are typically stored on a CDROM and the digital computer incorporates a CDROM drive. The IRMIS software may include a replace function for updating the electronic maps and IRMIS database on the CDROM with replacement or supplemental information from another memory device.
Additionally, the IRMIS database may be accessed via the Internet and other online sources. Other features of the system and method are set forth in further detail in the following specification and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A presents a diagrammatic perspective view of home-based desktop IRMIS of the present invention linked to a PDA for downloading/uploading route, map, point-of-interest, and other information. 1A 1 is a schematic representation of the IRMIS of the present invention in context using a PDA with cradle in combination with a GPS receiver and a computer device. 1A 2 is a schematic representation of the IRMIS of the present invention showing a PDA used in conjunction with a paper map. 1A 3 is a schematic representation of the IRMIS of the present invention showing a GPS receiver device in relation to the database, a GPS, and peripheral wired and wireless communication systems. 1A 4( a)- 1A 5( j) illustrative the observation interfaces for the PDA/GPS in relation to use of the IRMIS of the present invention. 1A 6( 1)- 1A 5( 16) illustrate PDA output and interface displays and screens in regard to use of the IRMIS of the present invention.
1B-1M, 1O and 1P illustrate example desktop screen displays and user interfaces for IRMIS while FIG. 1N illustrates an example hard copy printout of a travel plan prepared by IRMIS, or alternatively, digital IRMIS travel plan output. 2 is an overall block diagram of the interactive IRMIS system combining routing and travel operations with multimedia information operations. 2A depicts IRMIS protocols for the automated cutting or extraction of one or more sets of point, route, map, textual, and/or multimedia information, based on user desktop selections, for downloading into PDA/GPS.
2B illustrates uploading of location marks, GPS logs and other information from PDA/GPS into IRMIS desktop home base. 3 is a flow chart showing the operational steps and user options available to multimedia users of IRMIS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are assembled to form a flow chart showing the operational steps and user options available to travel planning and routing users of IRMIS. The flow chart assembled by FIGS.
4A, 4B, and 4C is referred to in the specification as FIG. 5 is an example of a map display presented to the user on a monitor display by IRMIS. 5A, 5B and 5C are simplified screen displays showing alternative strategies and methodologies for circumscribing points of interest within respective defined areas of a selected travel route.
5D, 5E and 5F illustrate configurations for cutting or extracting map/route/point information, prepared by the user on the IRMIS desktop, for downloading to PDA/GPS. 6A and 6B are assembled to form a flow chart showing the operational steps of IRMIS for transforming a routing waypoint list or list of nodes of a selected route into a list of points of interest within defined areas along the selected route. 7A, 7B, and 7C are assembled to form the flow chart referred to in the specification as FIG. 7 showing the user controls and commands made available to the multimedia user of IRMIS. 8A-8E further illustrate the flexible user controls and commands for multimedia related operations of IRMIS. 9 illustrates GPS controls for PDA display variables. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION An IRMIS 100 according to the present invention is illustrated by way of example in FIG.
A user 103 operates the software system 100, provided on CD-ROM, utilizing a desktop personal computer equipped for multimedia. In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1A, the desktop computer system 105 includes a 286, 386, 486, or Pentium (TM) Intel (TM) processor or equivalent, with typical memory devices, associated circuitry and peripheral devices including a monitor or cathode ray tube (CRT) 117, a speaker or audio system 107, a printer 125, a CD-ROM player 112, a mouse 115 or similar pointing device, and keyboard 110. Alternatively, the software for the desktop system 105 can be provided on diskette, run from a hard drive or central server (e.g., a local area network internally linked to a mainframe or externally linked to the Internet as shown at 109). Included for use with IRMIS 100, the desktop computer 105 is integrated with a handheld or palmtop personal organizer PC, also known as a personal digital assistant or PDA, as shown at 102, in a cradle facilitating connection 106 with the desktop.
This PDA, at 102, is detachable for portable use, typically in conjunction with a GPS or equivalent position information device as described hereafter. The “home-base” desktop personal computer system 105 and the detachable PDA communicate at 106 in FIG. 1A via plug-in wiring. The desktop/PDA interface 106 can be any means which facilitates data transfer including wireless infra-red, diverse kinds of wireless and other modems, and data transfer by various intermediate memory storage devices e.g.
Diskettes, PCMCIA cards and so forth. This communication interface between the portable PDA and home-base desktop facilitate transfer of a wide range of geographic data—including map, route, or point information—and other information. For example, maps of an area of interest to the user can be selected on the desktop and downloaded to the PDA for portable use. Information recorded on the detached PDA 102 at remote locations, including annotated location marks and recorded “breadcrumbs” or points along an actual path of travel for example, can be brought back to and then transferred into the desktop 105 via the data transfer interface 106.
Alternative embodiments could include other input devices e.g. Voice recognition system, joystick, touch-screen, scanner for printed map input, simplified keypad, etc., not represented here. 1A discloses IRMIS 100 implemented on a single, stand-alone, desktop style, personal computer. The software technology, which facilitates interactivity between routing and multimedia, also works on a more portable laptop or notebook computer, a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA), embedded in a travel planning appliance or an in-vehicle navigation system, as well as on mainframes of various kinds, distributed work stations, or networked systems. Alternatively, users can also operate IRMIS 100 from a remote interface through wireless or hard-wire links connecting with a distant computer system or a central service bureau as shown at 109. 1A shows a map book or set of printed maps typically on paper media 128 corresponding to the electronic or digital map 122 displayed on the screen or monitor 117. The printed maps 128 can be consulted as an aid in using the corresponding electronic or digital maps 122 displayed on screen, and the hardcopy travel plan printouts 126 derived from interactivity between the routing and multimedia elements of the invention.
It is expected that users will printout such hardcopy travel plans 126 to guide and direct their journeys on foot, in vehicles, or by other means of travel. Alternatively, the IRMIS invention provides portable PDA/GPS capability to guide users and record information at remote locations as described hereafter. The hardcopy travel plan 126 illustrated in FIG. 1A consists of a strip map noting points of interest, travel directions and critical turning points along the recommended route, described in more detail hereafter. Such hardcopy travel plans, typically printed on paper, comprise a portable and compact form of output from the system, useful and easily read in field situations, without the expense or burden of carrying even a small computer device. A variety of other forms of digital and printed media output can result from the combination of the software routing and multimedia processes, as described hereafter. The user 103, in FIG.
1A, is operating both the routing and related multimedia elements of the invention. The monitor 117 screen is filled with an electronic analog map (or digital map) display 122 on which departure points, destinations and other waypoints can be entered or deleted and the shortest, fastest or otherwise optimized routes calculated, as described in more detail below. At the same time, in a multimedia window 120 superimposed upon the map display, the user 103 is engaged in viewing, hearing, or responding to a selectable, multimedia presentation related to points of interest and locations displayed on the underlying map screen 122.
For purposes of this specification the term multimedia embraces all manner of graphics, text, alphanumeric data, video, moving or animated images, as well as still images, photographs and other audio or visual information in digital or analog formats. Multimedia also includes audio output options, voice, music, natural and artificial sound, conveyed to users through a speaker system 107 or earphones 108. As detailed hereafter, the invention stores, manages and retrieves a database of multimedia information in relation to specific places on or near the surface of the earth, referred to herein as points of interest (POIs), or geographical sites or locations. These are geographically locatable objects (loc/objects) for which multimedia information is available in the IRMIS database. Generally, POIs can be represented in both digital and print media cartography and are situated or described by standard geographic coordinates such as latitude and longitude, UTM, State Plane, or equivalent map location systems. From the digital map and routing function shown in FIG. 1A at 122, the user 103 can select one or more particular geographic locations, or points of interest (POIs), in order to view, hear or manipulate related information in the multimedia dimension of the invention.
1A shows the multimedia element of the invention as an episode in a multimedia presentation comprised of graphics or text, shown in an on screen window 120, or audio output conveyed to the user 103 via a speaker 107 or earphones 108. For example, in the multimedia window 120, the user 103 can view and selectively respond to color photographic or video images or related textual information about a specific location, or group of locations. Locations are chosen by the user working within the underlying digital map and routing dimension of invention, illustrated at 122. More specifically, FIG.
1A shows a scenario in which the user 103 has selected a particular lakeside location 124 on the underlying digital map, or in conjunction with a route or a waypoint along a route. The specific lakeside location 124 is shown as an “X” in a circle 124 on the simplified drawing of a typical digital map screen 122.
The user 103 picked this point of interest located by a lake by means such as a mouse clicking operation at the location or placename as depicted on the digital map 122. The location can also be identified by words or symbols along a displayed route on the underlying digital map screen 122, by selection from a list of place names or from a list of types of locations, or by other routine or state of the art inputs. The user's choice of a particular location prompts a multimedia presentation 120 of information related to the selected place e.g. Stills or video pictures of the lake, local events, places to stay or eat, attractions and recreational opportunities, related text or audio narrative, local history, lore, even complex or extensive data on topographic, environmental, demographic, real estate or marketing information, etc. The multimedia presentation is illustrated by the graphic image of a view of the lake, sailboat and mountains on the far shore, in the window 120, accompanied by related audio output 107 or 108. IRMIS 100 enables a user to prompt a multimedia presentation 120 on a location 124, or group of locations, selected from within a digital or electronic mapping system 122, equipped to do routing functions and displays 123.
1A additionally illustrates procedures whereby users can modify waypoints and other route parameters from within the multimedia element of the software invention. Typically, routes or waypoints are displayed as highlighted line segments or points 123 on the digital or electronic map 122. Routes and waypoints may also take the form of map symbols and annotations, or of ordered lists of place names, travel directions, geographic coordinates or various other location identifiers, as described hereinafter. IRMIS 100 combines routing and multimedia elements by enabling the user 103, to add, delete or insert one or more particular geographic locations or points of interest. This is achieved based upon the presentation of multimedia information about those locations, as new or modified input for additional processing of the route. 1A, the lakeside location 124 and the route 123 on the desktop digital map screen 122 could also include one or more points marked and/or actual travel routes recorded with the IRMIS portable PDA/GPS unit described hereafter.
Thus, map, route, or point information recorded and/or recorded at remote locations on the PDA/GPS component of IRMIS can be displayed, incorporated and otherwise processed by the more fully articulated desktop GIS, or computerized geographic information system 105. For example, in FIG. 1A, mouse manipulatable buttons along the bottom of the multimedia window 120 enable the user 103 to command IRMIS 100 to include the lakeside location 124, based on the multimedia presentation 120, as new input for routing. IRMIS 100 facilitates entry or deletion of locations, reviewed in multimedia subject matter, as new starting places, destinations, intermediate waypoints, or points of interest along the way as part of the user-selected route. 1A represents how user interactions with multimedia about locations can be used to change the route. 1A further illustrates output from IRMIS 100, a hardcopy printout 126, typically a customized or individualized travel plan in the shape of a strip map annotated with travel directions and related information.
Output from IRMIS 100 is produced by combined interaction between the routing functions and user responses to the multimedia information about particular geographic locations. Thus, for one example, the hardcopy travel plan 126 exhibits attached points of interest, typically in the form of annotations connected with graphic arrows or pointers to particular geographic locations which fall within a predetermined distance from a displayed route. The user attaches such points of interest to a digital map route display from a multimedia presentation on those locations. Alternative forms of digital, audio, text, graphical, hardcopy or multimedia output from IRMIS 100 are detailed later in this disclosure.
Output from the invention can result from a single, simple interaction between routing and multimedia elements. 1A illustrates a scenario whereby the user-selected only one point of interest, a place by a lake 124, close to a route 123 highlighted upon an electronic or digital map display 122. Next the user prompted the presentation of multimedia information in a window 120 concerning the lakeside point of interest. Prompted by the multimedia presentation, the user then pushed the “Attach” button in the command bar across the window bottom, or otherwise prompted IRMIS to include the lakeside location as an annotated point of interest within a specified distance from the highlighted route displayed upon the map screen or printed on a hardcopy travel plan. 1A,the hardcopy travel plan 126 output actually contains arrows or pointers from three annotation boxes to three corresponding points of interest attached to the strip route map output. Serial key for smart school tutor. Moreover, the highlighted route running up the center of the strip map format may reflect waypoints added or deleted over the course of a sequence of interactions between the multimedia and routing elements of the invention. Users can utilize the invention to attach multiple points of interest, or make many modifications of actual waypoints and highlighted routes, working interactively between the multimedia database and the routing function.
The system, as described hereafter, is flexible, selective and capable of series of multiple interactions and repeated iterations in order for the user to develop, alter and refine an individualized or customized travel plan through varied operational cycles, combining routing and utilization of the multimedia database on locations. 1A therefore illustrates but one episode in a potential series of interactions between the routing and multimedia sides of the system, for producing a customized travel plan output, as exemplified by the annotated hardcopy travel plan 126 and further detailed in FIG.
In the alternative, such customized travel plan output(s) may be incorporated into one or more digital route, map, and/or point information “packages,” i.e., specialized data sets prepared on the IRMIS desktop computer 105 for use in the portable IRMIS PDA 102, typically in conjunction with GPS, at remote locations—as detailed hereafter. Such a travel plan, and alternative forms of output can result from attaching multiple points of interest, waypoints, and route modifications based upon a succession of multimedia presentations of information on many locations to generate a custom travel plan tailored to the user's personal preferences, as expressed throughout the whole sequence of interactions. 1A 1 illustrates the portable PDA component of IRMIS at 01 as used apart from its cradle at 02 or data transfer connection at 03 to the desktop component of IRMIS (not shown). The portable or handheld component of IRMIS is implemented on a variety of state-of-art handheld or palmtop portable “personal organizer” devices as shown in FIG. For example, IRMIS is embodied in SOLUS™ software provided by DeLorme a.k.a.
DeLorme Publishing Co. Of Yarmouth, Me. (www.delorme.com), assignee of this IRMIS patent application and its parent applications. DeLorme's SOLUS program is compatible with the following portable platforms: (1) PalmPilot Personal, Palmpilot Professional.
Palm III™, or the PalmPilot 1000 or 5000 with 1 MB upgrade—using Palm OS™ version 2.0 or later—from the 3COM Palm Computing Platform family (formerly a U.S. Robotics product line); (2) various Microsoft™ Windows™ WIN CE compatible devices, working with Windows™ CE 2.0, including NEC™ MobilPro™700/750C, Compaq™ 810/200C, Sharp™ HC-4000/4100/45000, Phillips Velo™ 500, Casio™ Cassiopeia A-20 and Hewlett-Packard HP 360LX & 620LX. 1A 1 at 01 shows a 3COM PALM III being used in a handheld mode, apart from its cradle connector at 02. Generally, such PDAs, handhelds or “palmtops” are provided with user alphanumeric input means such as a miniature keyboard, the Palm Computing Platform “graffiti” language for handwritten stylus or pen-point input, and so forth. Hardware and software buttons provide for menus, paging, and other user selection and manipulation means. These portable devices are also typically equipped with gray-scale “touch-screens” for text/graphic display.
Such “touch-screens” can be actuated at particular points and/or series of points by touching, tapping, or sliding on the screen with a stylus, or the equivalent of a pen or pencil point. The IRMIS invention—for example as embodied in Delorme's SOLUS™ software—provides a mapping or geographic information system application and data, for use on such PDAs, handhelds or palmtops and equivalent devices, as described hereafter. IRMIS or SOLUS map displays, as shown in FIG. 1A 1, can be controlled, queried and manipulated by use of a stylus at 05, managing the virtual equivalent of typical computer mouse commands and manipulations. Alphanumeric text input, handwritten with stylus, is enabled at 06. For example, DeLorme's SOLUS is programmed so that, in a certain mode, the user can “mark” particular locations, recording exact geographic coordinates (e.g. Lat/long), and make related notes or text annotations using the stylus or equivalent.
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