Simple device and method to return a user to a location

Abstract

A location apparatus for returning to a user to a location including a system unit configured to compute a location using radio signals, a user interface unit having a display area and first and second buttons, a memory unit, and a computational unit configured to interact with the first and second buttons. The computation unit retrieves a first location from the system unit and stores the first location in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user. Further, the computation unit retrieves a second location from the system unit and calculates a relative three-dimensional direction from the second location to the first location upon selection of the second button by the user. The relative three-dimensional direction is graphically represented on the display area of the user interface unit.

1 . A portable location apparatus for returning a user to a location, comprising: 
 a system unit configured to determine a current location using Global Positional System (GPS) signals;    a user interface unit having a display area, first and second buttons, and up, down, left, right, forward, and back indicators;    a memory unit; and    a computational unit configured to interact with the first and second buttons,    wherein the computational unit retrieves a first location from the system unit and stores the first location in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user, and the computational unit receives the current location from the system unit and calculates a relative three-dimensional direction from the current location to the first location upon selection of the second button by the user;    the relative three-dimensional direction is graphically represented on the display area of the user interface unit using the up and down direction indicators independent of the left, right, forward, and back indicators;    the computational unit is configured to store the first location only; and    the computational unit is configured to store the first location only in response to the selection of the first button by the user.    
     
     
         2 . The location apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein upon selection of the second button by the user, the computation unit, for a predetermined duration, repeatedly (1) retrieves the current location from the system unit, (2) calculates a relative three-dimensional direction from the current location to the first location, and (3) graphically represents the three-dimensional direction on the display area of the user interface unit.  
     
     
         3 . The location apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the location apparatus is incorporated into a vehicle key remote.  
     
     
         4 . The location apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the location apparatus is incorporated into a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         5 . The location apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the location apparatus is incorporated into a PDA or laptop computer.  
     
     
         6 . A method of returning a user to a location using a portable radio-based location device, comprising: 
 determining a first location using a system unit interacting with Global Positional System (GPS) transmission devices upon selection of a first button by the user;    storing only the first location in a memory unit, without storing other locations, the storing step being performed only in response to the selection by the user;    determining a second location using the system unit;    calculating a relative three-dimensional direction from the second location to the first location upon selection of a second button by the user; and    displaying the relative three-dimensional direction in a display area using up and down direction indicators independent of left, right, forward, and back indicators.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein, upon selection by the user, the calculating step and the displaying step are repeated periodically for a predetermined duration.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the location device is incorporated into a vehicle key remote.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the location device is incorporated into a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the location device is incorporated into a PDA or laptop computer.  
     
     
         11 . A portable location system for returning a user to a location using a radio-based location device, comprising: 
 means for determining a first location using a system unit interacting with Global Positional System (GPS) transmission devices upon selection of a first button by the user;    means for storing only the first location in a memory unit only in response to the selection of the first button by the user;    means for determining a second location using the system unit;    means for calculating a relative three-dimensional direction from the second location to the first location upon selection of a second button by the user; and    means for displaying the relative three-dimensional direction in a display area using up and down direction indicators independent of left, right, forward and back indicators.    
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein upon selection by the user the means for calculating and the means for displaying are repeated periodically for a predetermined duration.