US 2002/0002439 A1 · Locating positions on maps

Abstract

In order to enable one's position to be easily found on a traditional map having its own co-ordinate system distinct from a wide-area co-ordinate system, data is associated with the map from which the relationship between the map co-ordinate system and the wide-area co-ordinate system can be determined and an apparatus is provided which has a reader (18) for reading the data associated with the map. The apparatus also has a memory (34) for storing the read data, a GPS receiver (30) for receiving transmissions from GPS satellites and determining the position of the receiving means in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system, a processor (28) for processing the determined wide-area co-ordinate position and the stored data to determine the position of the receiving means in terms of the map co-ordinate system. and a display (24) or the like for annunciating to a user the determined map co-ordinate position. The data associated with the map preferably also includes information on the area covered by the map. The map may be one of a series of maps or part of an atlas, the data relating to all of the maps in the series or atlas.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A position locating apparatus (10;

48), for use with a traditional map (46) having its own co-ordinate system distinct from a wide-area co-ordinate system and for use with conversion data associated with the map from which the relationship between the map co-ordinate system and the wide-area co-ordinate system can be determined, the apparatus comprising:
means (18) for receiving the conversion data;
means (14, 30) for receiving transmissions from a wide-area position transmitting system and determining therefrom the current position of the transmission receiving means in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
means (28) for processing the current wide-area co-ordinate position and the conversion data to determine the current position in terms of the map co-ordinate system;
and means (24, 26) for annunciating to a user the current map co-ordinate position;
characterised in that:
the processing means is operable to determine the current map co-ordinate position as a coarse position relative to the map and a fine position relative to the coarse position;
and the annunciating means comprises means (24) for annunciating the coarse position and means (26) for annunciating the fine position.

5 more elements

An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, for use with a series of such maps and for use with such conversion data from which the relationship between the co-ordinate system(s) of the maps and the wide-area coordinate system can be determined and the area covered by each map can be determined, wherein:

the processing means is operable to determine (a) the identity of that map, or at least one of those maps, which cover the current position, and (b) the current position on that map in terms of the co-ordinate system of that map;
and the annunciating means is operable to annunciate to the user (a) the identity of that map and (b) the current position in terms of the co-ordinate system of that map.

A position locating apparatus (10), for use with a traditional map (46) having its own co-ordinate system distinct from a wide-area co-ordinate system and for use with conversion data associated with the map from which the relationship between the map coordinate system and the wide-area co-ordinate system can be determined, the apparatus comprising:

means (18) for receiving the conversion data;
means (30, 14) for receiving transmissions from a wide-area position transmitting system and determining therefrom the current position of the transmission receiving means in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
means (28) for processing the current wide-area co-ordinate position and the conversion data to determine the current position in terms of the map co-ordinate system;
and means (24, 26) for annunciating to a user the current map co-ordinate position;
characterised in that:
the apparatus is for use with a series (46) of such maps and for use with such conversion data from which the relationship between the co-ordinate system(s) of the maps and the wide-area co-ordinate system can be determined and the area covered by each map can be determined;
the processing means is operable to determine (a) the identity of that map, or at least one of those maps, which cover the current position, and (b) the current position on that map in terms of the co-ordinate system of that map;
and the annunciating means is operable to annunciate to the user (a) the identity of that map and (b) the current position in terms of the co-ordinate position of that map.

5 more elements

An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, for use with such conversion data from which the relationship between the map co-ordinate system and at least one datum point of the medium on which the map is formed can be determined, the apparatus further including:

a digitising surface (40) having its own co-ordinate system;
means for referencing the map with respect to the digitising surface;
a cursor (48) which is removable with respect to the referenced map and the digitising surface;
means for determining the position of the cursor with respect to the digitising surface in terms of the digitising surface's co-ordinate system;
means for processing the current wide-area co-ordinate position and the conversion data to determine the current position in terms of the digitising surface's co-ordinate system and/or for processing the cursor position and the conversion data to determine the cursor position in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
and means (52) for annunciating to a user the current position in terms of the digitising surface co-ordinate system and/or the cursor position in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
wherein the referencing means comprises rams (42, 44) for registering the or each datum point of the map medium with respect to the digitising surface.

4 more elements

A position locating apparatus, for use with a traditional map (46) having its own co-ordinate system distinct from a wide-area co-ordinate system and for use with conversion data associated with the map from which the relationship between the map co-ordinate system and the wide-area co-ordinate system can be determined, the apparatus comprising:

a digitising surface (40) having its own co-ordinate system;
means for referencing the map with respect to the digitising surface;
a cursor (48) which is movable with respect to the referenced map and the digitising surface;
means for determining the position of the cursor with respect to the digitising surface in terms of the digitising surface's coordinate system;
means (18) for receiving the conversion data;
means (30, 14) for receiving transmissions from a wide-area position transmitting system and determining therefrom the current position of the transmission receiving means in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
means (28) for processing the current wide-area co-ordinate position and the conversion data to determine the current position in terms of the digitising surface's co-ordinate system and/or for processing the cursor position and the conversion data to determine the cursor position in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
and means (52) for annunciating to a user the current position in terms of the digitising surface co-ordinate system and/or the cursor position in terms of the wide-area co-ordinate system;
characterised in that:
the apparatus is for use with such conversion data from which the relationship between the map co-ordinate system and at least one datum point of the medium on which the map is formed can be determined;
and the referencing means comprises means (42, 44) for registering the or each datum point of the map medium with respect to the digitising surface.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Locating positions on maps

Life of this patent

Locating positions on maps

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25