Integrated routing/mapping information system

Abstract

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.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An integrated routing/mapping information system (IRMIS) for use with a device that includes geocoding capability, comprising: 
 a first digital computer having a first computer display;    a database including a set of electronic maps of varying and selectable magnitude for presentation on said first computer display, wherein said electronic maps have the capability of depicting transportation routes having identifiable waypoints including route intersections at geographical locations along said transportation routes, said identifiable waypoints on said electronic maps being identifiable in said first computer by coordinate locations of a selected geographical coordinate system;    software means permitting user travel planning using said electronic maps presented on said first computer display by providing user selection of selected waypoints that include at least a travel origin and a travel destination and can include intermediate waypoints, wherein said software means is capable of calculating, delineating, and displaying a travel route between said travel origin and said travel destination, wherein said travel origin and said travel destination are identifiable in said first computer by coordinate locations of said geographical coordinate system;    a second digital computer having a second display;    means for coupling said first digital computer to said second digital computer for the transfer of data therebetween;    IRMIS software for selectably transferring from said first digital computer to said second digital computer said travel route and electronic maps of said database associated with said travel route,    wherein said IRMIS software is constructed to present a view on said second computer display of said travel route.    
     
     
         2 . The IRMIS of  claim 1  wherein said database further includes information on points of interest along said travel route, wherein said IRMIS software provides for selectable transfer of said information on said points of interest along said travel route from said first digital computer to said second digital computer.  
     
     
         3 . The IRMIS of  claim 2  further comprising means for coupling said second digital computer to a geocoding device for recording location information associated with said travel route, wherein said IRMIS software provides for transfer of said location information from said second digital computer to said first digital computer.  
     
     
         4 . The IRMIS of  claim 1  wherein said second digital computer is selected from the group consisting of handheld organizers, personal digital assistants, and palmtop devices.  
     
     
         5 . 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.  
     
     
         6 . The IRMIS of  claim 3  wherein said selected geographical coordinate system is a standard latitude/longitude (lat/long) geographical coordinate system and wherein coordinate locations are stored in said second digital computer as lat/long coordinates, and said geocoding-capable device is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.  
     
     
         7 . The IRMIS of  claim 6  wherein said GPS receiver is coupled to said second digital computer, and wherein said IRMIS software receives positioning information from said GPS receiver and adjusts an output of travel update information and electronic map displays on said second display as a function of travel time.