Method and arrangement for guiding a user along a target path

Patent 7096120 Issued on August 22, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 5, 2023. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Beacon tracking receiver
Patent #: 4001828
Issued on: 01/04/1977
Inventor: Culpepper

Beacon tracking system
Patent #: 4021807
Issued on: 05/03/1977
Inventor: Culpepper , et al.

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Inventor

Hull, Richard

Assignee

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

Application

No. 10635869 filed on 08/05/2003

US Classes:

701/211, Having audio or visual route guidance701/207, Employing position determining equipment340/988, VEHICLE POSITION INDICATION455/233.1, With diverse control (tone, etc.)342/407, Fixed course or bearing indicating244/186, Vertical glide path control701/218, Using R-O (D.M.E. and path) or Tacan equipment375/216, APPARATUS CONVERTIBLE TO ANALOG455/95, Mobile or portable342/435, By diode switching330/89, Between adjacent stages342/446, Unequal distance between at least three antennas342/458, Distance342/443, Having a direction indicator342/405, Doppler342/353, Having a signal repeater342/45, IFF or SIF463/33, Object priority or perspective342/357.09, With transmission of location-indicative information to or from a remote station349/202, For beam steering342/29, AIRCRAFT COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM (CAS)705/14, Distribution or redemption of coupon, or incentive or promotion program701/3, Aeronautical vehicle701/35, With data recording device705/26, Electronic shopping (e.g., remote ordering)707/102, Generating database or data structure (e.g., via user interface)398/58, Optical local area network (LAN)455/422.1, Zoned or cellular telephone system701/7, Air speed or velocity measurement370/395.54, Address resolution (e.g., ARP, or NHRP)340/540, Specific condition705/1, AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT379/420.01, Having loudspeaking conversation capability (e.g., hands- free type or speakerphone)381/309, Stereo earphone379/142.01, RECEPTION OF CALLING INFORMATION AT SUBSTATION IN WIRELINE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM713/154, Including filtering based on content or address340/690Geophysical (e.g., fault slip)

Examiners

Primary: Nguyen, Hoang

Foreign Patent References

WO 01/55833 AU 08/01/2001
1600640 CN 03/01/2005
0 503214 EP 09/01/1992
2 219 658 GB 12/01/1989
2 287 535 GB 09/01/1995
2 382 288 GB 05/01/2003
07-019887 JP 01/01/1995
07-057190 JP 03/01/1995
97/43599 WO 11/01/1997
99/67904 WO 12/01/1999
01/35600 WO 05/01/2001
01/55833 WO 08/01/2001

International Class

G01C 21/26

Abstract

An audio-based guide arrangement is provided for guiding a user along a target path by the use of virtual audio beacons. The user's current location is sensed and compared to the target path. Sounds are fed to the user, for example through stereo headphones, to simulate one or more audio beacons appearing to be located in a direction at least approximating the direction of the target path onward from the user's current position. Preferably, each successive location of the audio beacon is determined by determining a segment onward from the user's current position of a piecewise linear approximation to the target path, and setting the apparent location of the beacon at or relative to the end of this segment.

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