Toy travel clock

Abstract

The present invention is a toy travel clock that comprises: an input device configured to accept an estimated time of travel between a starting location and a destination; a distance travel calculator configured to compute an estimated distance traveled; and an output device configured to display an indication of the estimated distance traveled. The toy travel clock graphically displays the starting location, the destination, a hypothetical route connecting the starting location to the destination, and the indication of the distance traveled along the hypothetical route.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toy travel clock comprising: 
 an input device configured to accept an estimated time of travel between a starting location and a destination;    a distance travel calculator configured to compute an estimated distance traveled; and    an output device configured to display an indication of the estimated distance traveled.    
     
     
         2 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the output device is configured to graphically display the starting location, the destination, a hypothetical route connecting the starting location to the destination, and the indication of the distance traveled along the hypothetical route.  
     
     
         3 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 2 , wherein the input device is configured to accept a mode of transportation and the output device is configured to display a graphical representation of the mode of transportation as the indication of the distance traveled.  
     
     
         4 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the estimated distance traveled is computed by calculating a time traveled by determining a difference between a start time and a current time, and dividing the time traveled by the estimated time of travel between the starting location and the destination to determine a fraction of time traveled that is equal to the estimated distance traveled.  
     
     
         5 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a storage module that stores at least one known destination having an associated known total distance and wherein the input device is configured to accept a respective known destination.  
     
     
         6 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 5 , wherein the known destination is associated with a stored known estimated time of travel between the known starting location and the known destination.  
     
     
         7 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a clock display indicating a current time.  
     
     
         8 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the travel clock is a stand-alone device.  
     
     
         9 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the travel clock is coupled to a gaming device display.  
     
     
         10 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the travel clock is coupled to a navigation system display.  
     
     
         11 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the travel clock is coupled to a video tape player display.  
     
     
         12 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an audio output device.  
     
     
         13 . The toy travel clock recited in  claim 12 , wherein the audio output device outputs preprogrammed stories at designated times based on the estimated time of travel between the starting location and the destination.  
     
     
         14 . A method of using a toy travel clock, the method comprising: 
 a) accepting an estimated time of travel from a starting location to a destination;    b) determining a hypothetical route from the starting location to the destination;    c) graphically displaying the starting location, the destination and the hypothetical route connecting the starting location to the destination;    d) calculating a current position along the hypothetical route; and    e) displaying a graphical symbol representative of a vehicle at the current position along the hypothetical route.    
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 14 , wherein step (a) comprises: accepting a selection of a known location that has an associated stored estimated time of travel from the starting location to the destination.  
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 14 , wherein step (a) comprises: 
 i) accepting a known location that has an associated stored distance from the starting location to the destination;    ii) accepting an estimated speed of travel; and    iii) calculating the estimated time of travel by dividing the associated stored distance from the starting location to the destination by the estimated speed of travel.    
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 14 , wherein step (d) comprises calculating the current position along the hypothetical route by: 
 i) calculating a difference between a start time and a current time; and    ii) dividing a time traveled by the estimated time of travel between the starting location and the destination to determine a fraction of time traveled that is equal to the estimated distance traveled.    
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 14 , further comprising accepting a mode of transportation, and wherein step (e) comprises displaying a graphical symbol of a vehicle representative of the mode of transportation at the current position along the hypothetical route.