US6498982B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for displaying a travel route and/or generating a list of places of interest located near the travel route
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2001-07-10
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Granted: 2002-12-24
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Expires: 2021-07-10
Abstract
Abstract An automated travel planning apparatus includes three separate databases, including a map database for storing bit-mapped images covering numerous geographic regions, a routing database for storing node, link, and shape data for roads geographically located within the geographic regions and for storing place data indicating the geographic location of places such as towns and cities, and a places of interest database containing the geographic locations of numerous places of interest. A processor within the automated travel planning apparatus may be divided into several functional components, including a map selection component, a routing component, and a place selection component. In response to user input at the user interface, the map selection component chooses a bit-mapped image from the map database for display on the display monitor. After a user selects, via the user interface, a departure point and a destination point, the routing component employs the routing database to generate and display a route between the selected departure and destination points. If the user requests a list of places near the displayed route, the place selection component employs the places of interest database to generate and display a list of places of interest which are within a predetermined distance of the generated route.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith J. Bellesfield
- 👤 Terry L. Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3679; G01C21/3667; G01C21/3676
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for generating a travel route, the method comprising: generating a bit-mapped image from vector data; generating a travel route based on the vector data; and generating a visual electronic representation of the travel route based on the bit-mapped image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for generating a travel route, the method comprising: generating a bit-mapped image from vector data; generating a travel route based on the vector data; and generating a visual electronic representation of the travel route based on the bit-mapped image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the travel route based on the vector data includes: generating a routing database from the vector data; and generating the travel route based on the routing database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the travel route based on the vector data includes: providing a user interface for receiving user input; selecting, via the user interface, a departure point and a destination point; and using the routing database generated from the vector data to generate a travel route between the selected departure point and the selected destination point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the visual electronic representation includes: deriving pixel points from the vector data; and presenting the visual electronic representation based on the pixel points derived from the vector data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the visual electronic representation includes printing the travel route on a printer over a printed bit-mapped image of the geographic region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 1 , further including: accessing a places of interest database having geographic center data including information identifying at least two geographic centers, information capable of relating the geographic centers to travel routes generated, and information associating places of interest with the geographic centers; identifying at least one geographic center from the places of interest database that is related to the generated travel route; and generating a list of places of interest associated with at least one selected geographic center.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claim 1 , wherein generating the visual electronic representation of the travel route includes generating a video line to represent the travel route.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An automated travel planning apparatus, comprising: a display device structured and arranged to enable display of a bit-mapped image generated from vector data; a routing device structured and arranged to generate a travel route based on the vector data; and a display device structured and arranged to enable generation of a visual electronic representation of the travel route based on the bit-mapped image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
An automated travel planning apparatus, comprising: a display device structured and arranged to enable display of a bit-mapped image generated from vector data; a routing device structured and arranged to generate a travel route based on the vector data; and a display device structured and arranged to enable generation of a visual electronic representation of the travel route based on the bit-mapped image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The automated travel planning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the routing device includes: a routing database generated from the vector data; and a routing device structured and arranged to generate a visual electronic representation of the travel route based on the routing database.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method claim 9 , wherein the routing device includes: a user interface for receiving user input; a selection device structured and arranged to select, via the user interface, a departure point and a destination pint; and a travel generating device structured and arranged to use the routing database generated from the vector data to generate a travel route between the selected departure point and the selected destination point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The automated travel planning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the display device is structured and arranged to present pixel points derived from the vector data and the visual electronic representation is based on the pixel points derived from the vector data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The automated travel planning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the display device includes a printing device structured and arranged to print the travel route on a printer over a printed bit-mapped image of the geographic region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
The automated travel planning apparatus of claim 8 , further including: a places of interest database having geographic center data including information identifying at least two geographic centers, information capable of relating the geographic centers to travel routes generated, and information associating places of interest with the geographic centers; an identification device structured and arranged to identify at least one geographic center from the places of interest database that is related to the generated travel route; and a list generating device structured and arranged to generate a list of places of interest associated with at least one selected geographic center.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automated travel planning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a display device is structured and arranged o enable display of the visual electronic representation as a video line.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-23 | 2006-06-24 | 2006-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-23 | 2010-06-24 | 2010-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-06-24 | 2014-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |