WO2003032106A2

WO2003032106A2 - Method for delivering personalized route maps

Info

Publication number: WO2003032106A2
Application number: PCT/IL2002/000767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoel Amir
Original assignee: Atlas Cartographic Technologies Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-10-12
Filing date: 2002-09-17
Publication date: 2003-04-17
Also published as: AU2002337490A1; WO2003032106A3

Abstract

A method for preparing two particular road maps, personalized to the request of a User (14), including details on available parking and other services related to his given address, the maps compressed and attached by the User (14) to his automatic signature, defining a new type of auto-signature for Internet messages. The maps can be printed out in color by a potential visitor and used as a navigation aid for easy and safe access to the User's address.The preparation of the two particular road maps (20, 22) requires a Web cooperation between a cartographic firm (12), possessing databases of local road maps and a user, ordering the preparation of the particular maps, and specifying the services to be marked by icons on the maps. The entire transaction of information and files involved in this invention, as well as exploitation of this invention is done basically over the Internet.

Description

A Method of Assembling and Delivering Personalized Home and Office Access Route Maps.

Field and Background of the Invention The present invention relates to computerized mapping, Servers and databases of such maps, and is particularly useful in the creation of route maps and their communication over the Internet to commercial and individual users.

Internet messages are used today as a preferred method of communication for personal and business affairs, due to the ease of communication and the possibility to annex relevant documents, graphic files and pictures. Such Internet messages are identified by the originator's inherent web address, but also by the personal or business address, phone, fax, cellular and email attached automatically to each message by the sender using, for example, the Outlook/Mail Format Signature tools as made available by Microsoft. A sample of such identification "label" is seen in Fig.l (Prior- Art). To those asking for road directions to the Sender's address, directions or access route maps relevant to the specific location are either communicated verbally or delivered by fax or email as written directions or attached makeshift maps.

Printed route maps on national or urban scale are available down to each street in the smallest community. Since the late seventies map production was assisted by computerized color pre-press technologies, and in the mid-eighties computerized cartography opened the era of digital databases for maps of all kinds. Companies such as MapQuest (www.mapquest.com) or Michelin (www.michelin.com) supply a host of products in forms of hard-copy maps and guides but also Internet information based on their extensive cartography databases. In another example Mapa Ltd. (www.mapa.co.il) of Israel supply local all country and/or city/town road maps, road atlases and road maps, specifically directed for business, tourism and recreation, all based on their basic cartographic data-base, which is frequently updated, as new information comes in. AtlasCT Ltd of Ramat-Gan, Israel, (www.atlasct.com) for example, have developed tools required for remote browsing and location in their databases of user's specified segments road maps and even road directions from one geographical location to another. Such tools are then supplied to local or worldwide Web Servers such as, for example, Yahoo. Multimap.com ( www.multimap . com) even supplies to their customers Internet links to Multimap's cartographic database, which facilitates the location of that part of a road map, which corresponds to the user's address.

Patents were applied for many aspects of cartography including methods of design and storage, retrieval of maps and route instructions via the Internet, and organization of databases. US 5,197,009; US 6,208,935; US 2001013013; WO 0131520 are examples of this group of patents.

This invention describes a new way to exploit existing cartographic databases owned by suppliers such as MapQuest, Michelin or AtlasCT to supply the need of individuals, offices and firms to have their own personalized easy to use digital route access maps, that can be attached to any electronic document or mail, or alternatively printed in color as a hardcopy personalized route access and location map.

Brief Summary of the Present Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preparing personalized orientation road maps customized to the specific requirements of an Internet User, to be attached by the same User to his identification signature on Internet messages.

As will be described more particularly below, the preparation of the personalized maps is done by a selected Cartographic Firm (CF), that got databases related to road maps, covering the area of the User's address. Such preparation involves Internet communication between the User and the CF whereby a questionnaire is completed by the User including his address, parking facilities for his visitors and other preferred local services, useful to visitors at the User's address. The questionnaire includes also the method of payment to the CF for the personalized orientation maps supplied.

According to further features in the described preferred embodiment the personalized orientation maps include a first road map covering the immediate area surrounding the User's address and a second road map, usually having a larger scale, assisting the visitor in accessing the area covered by the first map. The parking facilities at the User's address and the preferred services are marked as icons on the first map. Both first and second maps include written instructions given by the User, helping the visitor in reaching safely and quickly at his destination. The first and second particular or "personalized" road maps are emailed to the User as compressed files, to be attached by the User to his automatic out-going Internet messages, such as created, for example in the Outlook tool, by Microsoft.

The invention, as described in a preferred embodiment, defines a new way to sign Internet messages, whereby the prior-art alpha-numeric data is supplemented by two particular road maps. A potential visitor receiving that kind of signed message from the User, is able to print out those maps in color, and use the maps as an easy and safe navigation aid to the User's address, down to the visitor's parking place. Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 (prior-art) schematically illustrates an outgoing email message with an attached "AutoSignature" as formed in the MS Outlook tool.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the Internet, connecting private and business Users with

Cartography firms, or Web business servers.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 schematically illustrate a sample embodiment of personalized Access and

Location maps respectively. Figs. 5 A, 5B, 5C schematically illustrate an exemplary flow-diagram of the method of getting the Personalized Orientation Maps to the User, and the methods of exploitation of those maps.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an outgoing email message with an attached "AutoSignature" as formed in the MS Outlook tool, according to one embodiment of this invention.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

User's of the available cartographic products, whether in hard-copy or obtained from browsing the Web, will stumble on the same problem, when searching for essential "micro data" related to a specific target address. This type of "micro data" is critical for the visitor to a specific address, especially in the ever growing towns and crowded cities, and is mostly unavailable from cartographic products, but is known and available to the individuals living or working in the same specific address. Parking places are on top of the list of essential "micro data"; is parking available in the building? Should parking be reserved for the visit? Where are the nearest parking alternatives? Is parking allowed on the street? Nearby Automatic Tellers Machines (ATM) are next on the most popular sought "micro" cartographic data items, others are, for example, nearby coffee shops, restaurants, gas- stations, post-offices. The need for "micro" cartographic data varies from one address to another, and is firmly linked to the nature of the Users in the specific address. Firms, business and individuals, operating in the city, that invite the public to visit physically their address will be more specific about the "micro" data related to their address than, for example, citizens that entertain only close friends. Firms and/or individuals residing in a hard to locate or remote address will be more sensitive to supplying their visitors such "micro" data that will facilitate location of their address. A few examples will demonstrate the differences: • A city bank will define: private parking facilities, next by public parking lots, shopping centers, coffee shops, cinemas.

• A city dentist will define: private parking facilities, next by public parking lots, ATM, banks, coffee shops, restaurants, shopping centers.

• A city Hi-Tec firm will define: private parking facilities, next by public parking lots, ATM, coffee shops, restaurants, shopping centers, cinemas, gas-stations.

• A city lawyer firm will define: private parking facilities, next by public parking lots, coffee shops, restaurants, ATM, banks.

• A city individual will define: the next by public parking lots, coffee shop, gas-station.

• A rural individual or firm will define: exact access road, GPS coordinates, gas- station.

The individual needs of Users, as related to the "micro" cartographic data related to their address and the road information available in the databases of cartographic suppliers such as, for example, MapQuest, Michelin or AtlasCT, can be matched by use of the Internet, as shown in Fig.2. The Internet 10 is a preferred communication means by which Users 14 communicate with their clients, peers, suppliers and friends. Email messages are replacing most conventional means of communication such as postal services, fax and even telephone. While conventional means of communications such as letters and fax were always identified by the sender's name, address, and other communication attributes, maps were rarely attached, as they required an effort to locate, copy and attach.

Phone communication was the least specific in aspect of identification, as the speaker had to verbally identify himself and add details of his or her other communication means, including explaining the best way to be reached, where to park the car etc.- all described by words. It is well known in the art that the visual tools are much more effective than phonetic tools in conveying a message ("one picture is equivalent to thousand words"), hence presentation of a detailed map, including all the "micro" details, selected by the User to best define his address, is preferred to any written or spoken explanations. Detailed orientation maps in color are available today in all digital cartographic databases, including accurate road and highway information, type and condition of roads, one-way roads, public parking lots, gas stations, public institutes and facilities, and also certain commercial establishments such as malls and supermarkets. The availability of this information is generally marked in Fig.2 by Cartography Firms 12, each including its staff, know-how, cartographic databases 16 and servers. Cartography Firms 12 are, for example, Michelin, of Paris, France, MapQuest Inc. of Denver, CO, and Mapa of Tel-Aviv, Israel. Another source of getting standard access maps is via Business Servers or Portals 13, such as, for example, Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) or MSN (www.msn.com) who supply to their users news, advertising and browsing tools, including tools for per address road maps. This is done by a map search tool residing in Business Server 13, linlcing automatically via the Internet to a cartographic data base 16 of a Cartography Firm 12.

Such Cartography Firms 12 possess all the means as known in the art including, for example, search tools and design workstations, to extract any requested cartographic data from their own databases 16, combine different data items and prepare a new cartographic presentation, as might be convenient and suitable to the Users 14. Firms 12 possess all the necessary means as known in the art to convert their cartographic designs to web pages, suitable for communication and presentation on the Internet. The creation of such a new cartographic presentation will be discussed hereby, as part of a preferred embodiment of the Invention. Sample presentations of Access road map 20 and Location road map 22 (collectively defined hereby as "Personalized Orientation Maps" or "Personalized Maps") suitable for Internet mail are shown in Fig.3 and Fig.4 respectively. In the example John S. Smith, employee of A&B Inc of Jerusalem (the User 14a) got his "Personalized Maps" in Fig.3 and Fig.4.

Fig.3 describes the Access road map 20 with clear marking of area of Location road map 22, where company A&B Inc. resides. The road map proper 23, prepared in a convenient scale, got all the route details necessary for a driver to access the specific Location area 22, a map Key 24 to cartographic symbols as known in the art, and field 33 for special written driving instructions, not so obvious from the Access map itself.

Fig. 4 describes the Location map 22, prepared in a convenient scale, usually in a smaller map-scale, including clear connection routes to Access map 20 and all the "micro" details necessary for a visitor to get quickly and safely to the address of Company A&B Inc. In addition the Company's address location 32 (72 Kol street) is clearly marked on map 22, as well as one-way streets, and the nearest public parking place 34. If private parking is available for visitors in the same building another symbol will be placed near the location symbol 32. Other symbols representing, for example, a preferred coffee-shop or restaurant for out of office meetings could be marked as "micro" details. All special symbols related to this location map such as 32, 34 would be color coded to distinguish these symbols clearly over the standard symbols used in cartography.

Location map 22 will also include a Key 30 to the symbols used in this map, as well as a special identity banner 36 clearly stating all the details relevant to the User 14a, including phone number, which might be of help in case of need. Sometimes written instructions are required to help the visitor in getting easily to the target, for example: "The entry to the public parking area 34 is from the side street X only". For that purpose space 33 is dedicated. Access map 20, in this example is fairly standard, but Location map 22 is definitely "personalized" including "micro details" chosen specifically by Company A&B Inc in a process to be further explained. The Method of getting the "Personalized Orientation Maps" Fig.3 & Fig.4 to User 14

It is assumed that Cartography Firm (CF) 12 advertises its service of Personalized

Orientation Maps on the Internet and otherwise, and Users 14 know the CF 12's Web address, where one can purchase customized or Personalized Orientation Maps for their own use.

Figure 5 A describes the flow diagram of the process:

Task no.40: User 14a searches and finds the CF 12a website, locates and opens the Personalized Orientation Map service, including a questionnaire file. Task no.42: User 14a opens the questionnaire file including data fields identifying the

User and personalized requirements in a manner that Access 20 and Location 22 Maps can be fully prepared, including: type of User (private, company, number of employees at this address), address and other identification details (phone, Cellular phone numbers), availability of private parking at that address and requirements of reservation, nearby parking facilities (parking lots, parking at the sidewalk of streets x,y) need for marking of special information (ATMs, coffee shops, gas stations, restaurants, malls).

User 14a is also requested to add any written directions or recommendations he feels proper, in purpose to facilitate the arrival of visitors at his address.

Task no. 44: User 14a fills a purchase order, based on the details submitted in Task 42, including credit-card details. Based on the type of User identified in the questionnaire the cost of the service is calculated and displayed. Such transactions are usually done over a secured communication link, as known in the art.

Task no. 46: Based on the purchase order and questionnaire filled in Tasks 42, 44, the

CF will process the User's 14 data received, use their proprietary search tools and pick the right cartographic road maps from their database 16, as based on their know-how and professional experience, for example:

* User's 14 submitted address will automatically pick-up the basic road map covering the immediate surroundings. The size of the Personalized Orientation Maps will limited for practical reasons to, for example to A4 format, and the part of the map to be included is selected to fit a pre-designed template as shown, for example, in Fig.3 and Fig.4.

* Additional information is searched in the CF database 16 to fill in information requested in the questionnaire, which is not available in standard cartographic road maps, such as, for example, gas stations. This type of information is available, though, in the CF database, as the CF publishes regularly special tourist maps and guides. Information given by the User should preferably include pointers to the surroundings of his address (assuming that this information is known best to the User).

* The Access map 20 can now be compiled and edited, with known in the art computerized graphic tools, to the format shown, for example, in Figure 4. Additional information is added as required by the template, such as a map Key 24 and the area included in Location map 22. Care is taken to show on this map all main access routes leading to the Location map 22 area.

* The Location map 22 is now compiled by selecting a smaller map scale, to enable convenient and clear presentation of roads and other required "micro" details. All the

"micro" details required by User 14a in questionnaire of task 42, are edited into map 22 within the template as shown, for example, in Fig.5. Banner 36 is added, and written instructions are filled in field 33.

Editing the Personalized Orientation Maps is done in known in the art graphic formats such as, for example Page Description Format (PDF). The CF will store all the information prepared in the personalized maps of a specific User 14 in his database 16, for future reference and update. The preparation of the graphic files can be done in raster or vector formats, as known in the art, and data storage and delivery of files can be done in a compressed format.

Task no. 48: The graphic files prepared in Task no. 46 are now readied to be emailed to the User 14a, in known in the art formats and methods. The HTML pages are mailed over the Internet to the User 14a's Email address. Compression of data can be employed, as known in the art.

The exploitation of the Personalized Maps (Figs.5B & Fig.C): Application A (Fig. 5B)

Task no. 50: The User 14 receives the two files representing the Personalized Maps preferably as "icons" and stores them in his computer disk or server for further use. The CF may add to the Personalized Maps other lαiown cartographic tools, for example: preferred route to be taken to reach from location A to location B. In this case location B (the target) is the User's 14a address (covered specifically by the Location map 22) and location A could be a visitor's address picked up from the Microsoft Outlook Contacts file. In step 52 the Personalized Maps are enclosed on a permanent basis to Email prior-art identification labels (Fig.1) to form a new type of identification label as shown for example in Fig.6. The compressed Access Map 20 and Location Map 22 attached as Access icon 60 and the Location icon 62, which will be placed next to the conventional text label 64.

The method of attaching The Personalized Map files to the Outlook AutoSignature label 64 will be further explained in the next paragraph.

The new identification label 66 will automatically appear in each new email message opened by the User (step 70). The addressee of the email will be able to read the message, open the sender's personalized identification maps (step 76) and use the maps, for example, by color printing them for his next trip to the sender. The two maps can be printed on two different A4 pages, or as a two sided document on the same A4 page. Alternatively the two maps can be loaded into a laptop computer or even a PDA, as known in the art. Updates to the Personalized Maps must be requested by the User from the CF in a process similar to Task 46.

Application B (steps 56, 58): The Personalized Maps are color printed or copied from User's 14a computer storage for mass distribution or to be enclosed to a letter or fax. This can be useful for a User, which is a business, sending out mail invitations to his address, or an individual User inviting others to, for example, to a garden party. Application C (Fig. 5C): The CF, in task 48 (Fig.5A) above, emails to User 14a an Internet link to CF's 12a database 16, where the Personalized Maps are stored. User 14a stores the link in (step 50) and then attaches the link named, for example, "My address maps" to his Outlook AutoSignature, instead of the compressed files of Application A (step 54).

Application C is recommended where roads or other "micro" details change frequently in the area covered by the Personalized Maps of the specific User. The CF is able, in this case, to update User's 14a stored Personalized Maps as required. The inconvenience in this case is that the receiver of the email (step 72) has to rely on the Internet and CF's server to get access to the User 14a Personalized Maps. Addressee can use (step 80) the Identification Maps, obtained from CF's database 16, in the same manner as explained above for step 76. User 14 can print and copy his own Personalized Maps by obtaining the files via the

Internet from database 16 of the CF, and use them for mass distribution or to be enclosed to a letter or fax (steps 74, 56, 58). A preferred preparation method of a combined Identification Label (As shown in Figure 6)

The method of attaching the Personalized Maps to the known in the art AutoSignature label is explained, as an example, in reference to Microsoft Office 2000 tools:

a) Prepare a Word 2000 new file including identification details such as name, company, address, telephone, fax and Email address. b) Attach the two Identification Maps to the file. c) Save in Rich Text Format as "ID labels" in location C/ Microsoft/ Signature. d) In Outlook 2000/ Inbox open: Tools- Options-^ Mail Format -> in the Signature field select "Use this signature by default.." e) Open the scroll window and choose "ID labels" -> OK.

_< The combined Identification Label 66 prepared in steps a) and b) above will be automatically attached to each outgoing new Email message, as shown, for example, in Figure 6.

When the prior-art Identification Label 64 (as shown in Figure 1) is preferred, the choice can be done by the User at the level of d) and e) above by choosing the conventional label from the scroll window.

Benefits of the Invention

The method described in the above preferred embodiment is a practical and easy to implement way of identification required by every entity: individual, firm or company, farm or public institute. This method, employing well-known communication methods, will replace the makeshift maps or verbal explanations hitherto used to add "cartographic" information to the conventional identification information.

The Cartographic Firms can implement this method in no time as it defines a sound economical model of additional exploitation of an existing investment in databases, map editing workstations and Internet connection tools. The Personalized Orientation Maps file delivered by the CF to the User cannot serve but the specific User, and therefore are not prone to illegal copying- a factor which improves the economical benefit of the method. The same method described can be used with a minor difference if the distribution of the Personalized Maps will be undertaken not by a CF 12 but, for example, by a Portal 13, who serve the public with news, business links and advertisement. In such a case the User 14 will communicate his questionnaire of Tasks 42, 44 above to the Portal 13, and get the Personalized Maps from the same server. Portal 13 will be in automatically linked to a preferred CF, where Tasks 46, 48 are performed, as well as subsequent optional updates in both applications A and C.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that this is set forth merely for purpose of example, and that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of preparing Internet Users personalized orientation road maps, comprising: a) getting on the Internet from the User at least his address and location of visitors car parking facilities related to said address, and b) retrieving from a computerized cartographic database the data of a first road map covering the vicinity of said address, and c) adding icons to said first map representing at least said visitors car parking facilities to form a first particular computerized map, and d) sending back to the User said first particular map on the Internet in a compressed format,

To be attached by the User to his electronic identification signature used in Internet messages.

2. The method of Claiml wherein said getting from the User includes a questionnaire.

3. The method of Claim2 wherein said questionnaire includes additional information on preferred services, which are located in vicinity the User's address, useful to visitors to the User's address.

4. The method of Claiml wherein said first road map is supplemented by a second road map covering a larger area surrounding the area covered by the first road map.

5. The method of Claiml and 3 wherein more icons are added to the first road map, representing said additional preferred services required by the User.

6. The method of Claim 4 wherein said second road map is marked to show the area covered by the first road map.

7. The method of Claiml and 4 wherein verbal remarks are added to the first and second road maps to supplement the visual instructions marked on said maps.

8. The method of Claiml wherein said attachment by the User is done in the designated files of Microsoft Outlook.

9. The method of Claim 8 and 4 wherein said first and second particular road maps constitute and integral part of the AutoSignature feature of the Outlook application.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second particular road maps are substituted by an Internet Link to a remote database, in which said first and second maps are stored.

11. The method of claims 1 and 4 whereas said first and second particular road maps are prepared in vector or raster format.

12. A method of supplying on the Internet an electronic product useful for clients using Web communication, comprising: a) sending to the client a questionnaire directed at getting his address and at least his visitors car parking information related to said address, and b) retrieving from a computerized cartographic database the data of at least one road map covering the vicinity of said address, and c) adding to said map the icons of at least said visitors car parking facilities to form a particular computerized map, and d) sending back to said client said particular map on the Internet in a compressed format, and e) getting paid by said customer for the service, using his credit card details, as submitted in said questionnaire.

13) The method of Claim 12 wherein said adding includes more icons representing preferred services requested by the User in said questionnaire.

14) The method of Claim 12 and 13 wherein said adding of icons includes verbal comments supporting the visual information on the particular map.

15) The method of Claim 12, 13 and 14 wherein said at least one particular map is formatted into a template.

16) The method of Claim 12 wherein said sending comprises a link to the product supplier, and said at least one particular map is stored in the product supplier's database.