Information system having position measuring capacity

Abstract

Systems are arranged to provide a user information which relates to objects of interest. A user may provide indication of a directional reference to a device. The device determines which objects are being addressed by searching a database containing preprogrammed information relating to objects. Information relating to objects being addressed can then be presented at a user interface. A device of the system may include a point reference, a position determining means, a input receiving means, a computer processor and database, and a user interface. Methods of the system includes the steps of indicating a direction, determining position, searching a database, and presenting information to a user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) Apparatus for presentation of information relating to an object being addressed, the apparatus comprising: a point reference; position determining means; user input receiving means; a computer processor; and user interface, 
 said position determining means being arranged to determine the position of the point reference and convey position information to said computer processor, said input receiving means being arranged to receive a directional reference from a human operator and further to convey direction information to said computer processor, and said user interface is in communication with said computer processor.    
     
     
         2 ) Apparatus of  claim 1 , said object being addressed being an object having information relating thereto stored in the computer database in a prescribed format.  
     
     
         3 ) Apparatus of  claim 2 , said object being addressed being an object having associated therewith, a geometric descriptor comprising location and spatial definition information.  
     
     
         4 ) Apparatus of  claim 3 , said geometric descriptor being a definition of a geometric body which may form a geometric intersection with the directional reference.  
     
     
         5 ) Apparatus of  claim 1 , said position determining means being a global positioning system receiver in radio communication with a plurality of satellites.  
     
     
         6 ) Apparatus of  claim 1 , said position determining means being a radio signal triangulation position determining system.  
     
     
         7 ) Apparatus of  claim 1 , said user input receiving means is a tactile input device.  
     
     
         8 ) Apparatus of  claim 7 , said input receiving means is a common ten-key keypad.  
     
     
         9 ) Apparatus of  claim 8 , said keypad has a correspondence with a compass whereby the ‘2’ key is associated with a North direction, ‘8’ key with South direction, ‘4’ with West direction, and ‘6’ with East direction.  
     
     
         10 ) Apparatus of  claim 7 , said user input receiving means is a joystick type user input device.  
     
     
         11 ) Apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising a plurality of information elements stored in the computer in a database, each information element comprising stored information relating to an object which may be addressed by the apparatus.  
     
     
         12 ) Apparatus of  claim 11 , each of said information elements further comprising a geometric descriptor being a definition of a geometric body which may be associated with an object which may be addressed by the apparatus.  
     
     
         13 ) Apparatus of  claim 11 , said apparatus further comprising an address indicator, said address indicator being a definition of a geometric body being associated with said directional reference and point reference, whereby said address indicator may be caused to form an intersection with one or more geometric descriptors.  
     
     
         14 ) Apparatus of  claim 13 , said geometric body being a cone.  
     
     
         15 ) Apparatus of  claim 13 , said geometric body being a conic section.  
     
     
         16 ) Methods of presenting information relating to an object being addressed, the method comprising the steps: receiving a directional reference input; determining position; searching a database; and presenting information, 
 said receiving a directional reference input being further defined as receiving an indication of a direction, said determining position further defined as measuring the position of a point reference, said searching a database further defined as comparing an address indicator against a geometric descriptor of an information element, and said presenting information further defined as reporting results of a search where correlation is found.    
     
     
         17 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said presenting information including information relating to an object being addressed in the addressing an object step.  
     
     
         18 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said geometric descriptor being associated with an object which is an object being addressed in the addressing an object step.  
     
     
         19 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said address indicator being associated with said reference pointing direction and said point reference.  
     
     
         20 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said determining position step includes principles used in global positioning systems.  
     
     
         21 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said determining position step includes principles used in radio signal triangulation systems.  
     
     
         22 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said presenting information step further including presenting information at a transducer operable for creating a physical disturbance which may be perceived by a human operator.  
     
     
         23 ) Methods of  claim 22 , said presenting information step further including presenting information on a display screen in image and graphical form.  
     
     
         24 ) Methods of  claim 22 , said presenting information step further including presenting information on an audio speaker.  
     
     
         25 ) Methods of  claim 16 , said searching a database step further comprising recalling information stored in information elements, each information element comprising stored information relating to an object which is the object being addressed.  
     
     
         26 ) Methods of  claim 24 , said information elements further comprising a geometric descriptor which is a definition of a geometric body and which is associated with an object that is an object being addressed.  
     
     
         27 ) Methods of  claim 16  said address indicator being a geometric body which is associated with said directional reference pointing direction and said point reference.  
     
     
         28 ) Methods of  claim 27 , said geometric body being a cone.  
     
     
         29 ) Methods of  claim 27 , said geometric body being a conic section.