EP1309962B1 - Method and device for reproducing information - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for presenting information regarding an object provided within a plurality of information sources to a user or a presentation means depending on a location of the user or the presentation means includes a means for determining the location, a means for selecting the information to be presented depending on the determined location and on one or several pre-settable selection criteria defining an information source from the plurality of information sources, and a means for outputting the information to be presented.

Description

The present invention relates to the reproduction of Information concerning an object and in particular location-dependent Reproduction of information, such as of location dependent Information to a motorist.

There are currently known navigation systems in which a user enters a destination position and through the navigation system is led to this target position. Based in the background such navigation systems mostly on proprietary or native Vector maps. Although the primary task of this Navigation systems in the guidance of the user to the target position There are also navigation systems that exist Provide additional information about individual objects, such as e.g. the locations of gas stations. Based on these systems however, the assignment of this additional information to the individual Objects or the positioning on the representation within the proprietary vector map data. A simple one Extension by new objects by the user or third parties is therefore without knowledge of the coding of the map material very expensive.

DE 19747745 A1 describes an interactive guidance system for museums or exhibitions. Fig. 5 shows a schematic Diagram illustrating this system. A position determination device 10 is used to determine the location of a Visitor in the museum to determine. A database 20 is provided to each object (exhibit) in the museum at the Positions A, B, C, D, E and F information 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e and 20f, respectively. The information 20a-20f to the different exhibits are subdivided into information aspects, such as. the epoch, the artist, the interpretation and the used materials of the exhibit, and after the Level of required prior knowledge of the museum visitor graded. The system monitors the reactions of the museum visitor on the information presented so far on the exhibits and uses the detected reactions to determine prior knowledge of the museum visitor as well as the one preferred by the user Information aspects by means of a learning algorithm. The learning algorithm then ensures that the museum visitors after a certain learning time information aspects of each Exhibits will be played according to the specific preferences according to the findings Prior knowledge.

A disadvantage of this system is that there is only one physically limited scope, e.g. a museum or a city has. In addition, the information is only provided by an information source that merely provides information a special kind. It is a user also not possible to add additional information but this is the operator of the management system, such as e.g. the museum, reserved.

DE 19810173 A1 relates to a navigation system for Motor vehicles with one preferably in the form of a database available database and with a device for determination a starting place and a destination, using the starting place and the destination and the data stored in the database Road information a route is calculable. The entire route planning is based on a database in which the road network is saved regarding a few points is. The selected points are in the location database saved. For each item will only be its location as well its distance to other points and the information as to whether it is is a crossing point stored. A route is based on a linked list of these in the location database stored points to the driver of the vehicle communicated.

The document EP0785535 describes an integrated guidance system for cars which useful information from various information providers through a simple Operation while driving indicates. The system consists of a mobile page mobile terminal device, with which a position detection section, a Secondary memory section and a communication section are connected. On the stationary side, the system consists of a navigation server that has access through the Intemet, and having a communication protocol control section, over which the navigation server can communicate with the mobile terminal device ,. While When driving, the user can request information.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved System for the reproduction of information concerning an object provided in a plurality of information sources are to a user or a playback device depending on. a location of the user or the To provide a playback device that meets the limitations of the User related to the information available does not have.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 8 solved.

The present invention provides a method of reproduction of information concerning one or more objects that are in a plurality of information sources are provided to a user or a playback device depending on a location of the user or the playback device, determining the location and selecting the one to play Information depending on the particular location and one or more pre-selectable selection criteria for the one or more objects that are an information source define from the majority of information sources, includes. Subsequently, the information to be reproduced output.

The present invention provides a device for reproduction of information concerning one or more objects that are provided in a plurality of information sources, to a user or a display device depending on a location of the user or the playback device, the means for determining the location, a facility to select the information to be played from the particular location and from one or more pre-adjustable selection criteria for the one or more Object that is an information source of the plural Define sources of information, and means for issuing the information to be reproduced.

According to one embodiment, the selection criteria for the object, its position and, if necessary, the reference to a desired source of information in a management part filed, with the selection criteria a category and the like include. The information source is either an external one Information source, e.g. a broadcaster or an internet address, accessed via appropriate transmission media or an internal data source, e.g. Data on CDs in a car, with the reference in the administrative part to one or more external or internal sources of information referring to the information requested concerning the Object are stored. The category specifies the type of object to which information is to be reproduced (e.g. Nature, music, or similar).

According to a preferred embodiment, in the selection criteria a plurality of weighted hierarchically structured ones Categories be weighted so that for a Location whose location was determined, the information be issued over an object whose categories in the Category hierarchy have the highest weighting.

To edit, such as expanding, the. to disposal To simplify the standing information, all are object-relevant Information stored in the administrative part. The administrative part contains the selection criteria, ie information about the Category to which the information is associated, via the reference to the information source, and about the position. The administrative part may contain additional information in the selection criteria, e.g. the relative importance of the information or the maximum desired repeatability of the same. According to one embodiment an author writes the administration section for a plurality of desired information in any order using a predetermined syntax in one ASCII file. The user is thereby an easy editing of the administrative part, even at runtime. additionally Pre-set selection parameters can be provided for example, the relationship between the one information assigned position and the specific location of the User defined, which must be satisfied to the selection to effect the corresponding information, e.g. a maximum Distance between the stored position and the actual Location. The user will then be sent e.g. only information issued, which refer to a position that too the specific location of the user in a pre-set Relationship stands, and in addition the relatively highest Weighting. An advantage of the invention is that the administrative part also due to its simple structure can be created / changed by a user of the system.

An advantage of the present invention is that the Field of application of a system that the inventive method and the device according to the invention realized, not limited is, so used outdoors as well as in rooms may be, with the scope of the scope almost is unlimited. The system is also not limited to specific areas such as. the tourism, limited. Tourist and For example, historical information can be provided by the perfect free hierarchical categorization of the Information is represented as well as the locations a company or locally relevant pieces of music. Especially allows the free categorization that the user has more freedom in the breakdown of information. Compared to the known guidance system, it is possible other sources of information, e.g. Databases, add to increase the information width. In addition, the existing information is either initialized at the beginning and more information added during runtime become. In addition, the way of providing the management part freely selectable. Possible, for example, the Storage of information in internal information sources on data carriers (for example CDs or cassettes, electronic, interchangeable Fixed or fixed anchoring in one preconfigured overall system), the associated administrative parts may also be stored on the data carriers or associated therewith, creating an information unit consist of information part (internal information source) and administrative part is formed. The information can also come from external sources of information, of which the data by wireless or wired media, e.g. Computer networks or broadcast systems (e.g., DAB). In this case, an information unit becomes information part (external information source) and administrative part formed. The administration part is stored during the system run. The system can at any time for additional administrative parts be supplemented. Further, in the information part of the information unit also external and internal sources of information be determined.

An advantage of the invention is that a recomposition, an amendment or addition to the administrative parts is easily possible at any time by the user.

In addition, the system does not require a proprietary presentation format to position, but it can be a geographical Standard coordinate system can be used. The system can both two-dimensional and three-dimensional Coordinate values work.

In contrast to the known guidance system can according to the present invention, the weighting of the categories at any time and with immediate effect. This is not necessary First, a complex learning algorithm, reducing system complexity reduced, and secondly, a transitional period, which is needed until the guidance system rises has changed the preference of the user. Furthermore the present invention is not based on the information content limited to a single database, but can rather access all available multimedia data, such as. the internet, the radio, CDs.

In contrast to the known guidance system becomes a user of the system according to the invention not in the selection of information aspects limited to an exhibit. The problems related with lack of flexibility and slow adaptation of the guidance system are avoided.

Fig. 1A

eine schematische Darstellung einer Informationseinheit, die gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung zur Auswahl der Informationen und zur Angabe der Informationsquellen verwendet wird;

Fig. 1B

ein Beispiel für ein Verwaltungsteil einer Informationseinheit gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung zur Auswahl der Informationen und zur Angabe der Informationsquellen verwendet wird;

Fig. 2

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Wiedergabe von Informationen;

Fig. 3

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Wiedergabe von Informationen;

Fig. 4

ein Blockdiagramm der Auswahleinrichtung der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 3; und

Fig. 5

ein Führungssystem gemäß dem Stand der Technik.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1A

a schematic representation of an information unit that is used according to an embodiment of the invention for selecting the information and to specify the information sources;

Fig. 1B

an example of a management part of an information unit according to an embodiment of the invention is used for selecting the information and indicating the information sources;

Fig. 2

a first embodiment of the inventive device for reproducing information;

Fig. 3

A second embodiment of the device according to the invention for reproducing information;

Fig. 4

a block diagram of the selector of the device of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5

a guide system according to the prior art.

Before, below, preferred embodiments of the present invention Invention will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 1A an explanation of the required, in advance information to be provided for the information requested an object depending on a geographical position and select selection criteria.

FIG. 1A shows the structure of an information unit 100 which an information part 102 and a management part 104. The management part 102 consists of a list 106 of Information that in the embodiment shown in addition to the Position 108 has a plurality of selection criteria 110, the one category, a reference to the source of information, as shown by the dashed arrow 112, a Indicate the relative importance of the information and a Indication of how often the information is maximally within a predetermined period of time may be reproduced, include. It should be noted that the specified selection criteria are exemplary. Depending on the application The system can have a variety of other selection criteria be determined.

Furthermore, a short message 114 can be stored in the administration part be, e.g. a title and a short description of the Object (e.g., a building), together with an address, e.g. Mailing address or Internet address through which the user system-independent further information about the object can order / retrieve. This information can optionally be used as a replacement are used for external sources of information.

The administration section may contain a reference to general information sources (CDs with background music, radio stations), which is accessed when the system does not determine a position can not (for example, the car is in a tunnel), no source of information is available or for the location no object is selected, so no object-specific information are to spend.

The information part 102 comprises the at least one information source 116, ie the place where the desired information are stored regarding the object. The information source can be an internal source of information that, together with the Management part 102 is stored, e.g. on CDs, hard disk, etc. in a car or PC. The information source can also an external information source, e.g. Databases, directly referenced Files accessed through remote connections will, Internet addresses or radio programs that objected is arranged by the management part.

In one embodiment, it may happen that one position of the location can not be determined, since a car is e.g. in a tunnel or for the user's location are according to the geographical selection criteria (position) no information objects available. For this case can Objects that do not indicate location in their administrative part (position) contain, for example, break music, location-independent background information, be defined. The selection then takes place from this group on objects.

An example of a management part will be described below with reference to FIG. 1B described in more detail.

• Leerzeilen werden ignoriert.
• Kommentar-Zeilen beginnen mit den. Zeichen ";", "#" oder einem Leerzeichen. Umlaute und Sonderzeichen werden gemäß dem ANSI-Zeichensatz "Western", (genauer: ISO 8859/1) kodiert.
• Leerzeichen innerhalb von Texten sind erlaubt.
• Datenfeld-Bezeichner ("Title", "Description", "Address" ...) müssen am Anfang einer Textzeile stehen; Groß-/Kleinschreibung wird nicht unterschieden.
• Datenfeld-Bezeichner und Daten werden durch ein "=" getrennt; beliebig viele Leerstellen vor und nach dem "=" sind zulässig.
• Alle Daten eines Datenfelds müssen in einer Zeile stehen; Zeilenumbrüche innerhalb eines Datenfelds sind unzulässig.
• Zeilenumbrüche für die Ausgabe einer Zeichenkette werden durch "\n" kodiert. Beispiel: Description = Zeile 1\nZeile 2\nZeile 3
• Zur Unterscheidung von Steuerzeichen muß das "Backslash"-Zeichen "\" als "\\" geschrieben werden.

Creating a management part, also known as an object description file, is governed by general rules. These are:

• Blank lines are ignored.
• Comment lines start with the. Characters ";", "#" or a space. Umlauts and special characters are encoded according to the ANSI character set "Western" (more precisely: ISO 8859/1).
• Spaces within texts are allowed.
• Data field identifiers ("Title", "Description", "Address" ...) must be at the beginning of a line of text; Case is not distinguished.
• Data field identifiers and data are separated by a "="; Any number of spaces before and after the "=" are allowed.
• All data of a data field must be in one line; Line breaks within a data field are not allowed.
• Line breaks for the output of a string are encoded by "\ n". Example: Description = line 1 \ nline 2 \ nline 3
• To distinguish control characters, the "backslash" character "\" must be written as "\\".

• Der Dateiname muß die Endung ".umi" besitzen; Groß-/Kleinschreibung wird nicht unterschieden.
• Die erste gültige Daten-Zeile (ohne Kommentar- und Leerzeilen) der Objekt-Beschreibungsdatei muß den Text "UMIS Object Information File" enthalten; auf korrekte Groß-/Kleinschreibung ist zu achten! 1
• Die letzte gültige Daten-Zeile (ohne Kommentar- und Leerzeilen) muß den Text "---END---" enthalten; auf korrekte Groß-/Kleinschreibung ist zu achten!
  Das Datenfeld "Version" (an beliebiger Stelle in der Datei) muß für die vorliegende erste Implementierung von UMIS die Zeichenkette "1.0" besitzen. 2

A valid object description file must also have the following properties:

• The file name must have the suffix ".umi"; Case is not distinguished.
• The first valid data line (without comment and blank lines) of the object description file must contain the text "UMIS Object Information File"; correct capitalization is to be respected! 1
• The last valid data line (without comment and blank lines) must contain the text "--- END ---"; correct capitalization is to be respected!
  The data field "Version" (anywhere in the file) must have the character string "1.0" for the present first implementation of UMIS . 2

• Title
  • Dieses Datenfeld dient der Angabe eines kurzen Titels für das jeweilige Objekt.
  • Es gelten die oben beschriebenen allgemeinen Regeln für die Kodierung von Umlauten.
  • Steuerzeichen für den Zeilenumbruch bei der Ausgabe ("\n") sind zwar technisch möglich, von ihrer Benutzung im Titel wird jedoch dringend abgeraten.
• Description
  • Hier kann eine ausführlichere Beschreibung des Objekts angegeben werden. Auf die Verwendung wichtiger Stichworte ist zu achten, da dieses Feld zusammen mit den Datenfeldern "Title" und "Address" für eine geplante Suchfunktion über alle erfaßten Objekte ausgewertet wird.
  • Es gelten die allgemeinen Regeln für die Kodierung von Umlauten und Zeilenschaltungen.
• Address
  • Dieser Datensatz soll dem Benutzer die Möglichkeit geben, selbständig weitere Informationen über das aktuelle Objekt einzuholen. Dies kann beispielsweise erreicht werden durch die Angabe der vollständigen postalischen Adresse oder einer Internet-Adresse.
  • Es gelten die allgemeinen Regeln für die Kodierung von Umlauten und Zeilenschaltungen.
• Category
  • Jedes Objekt muß einem eindeutigen Pfad durch die Kategorie-Hierarchie zugeordnet sein. Mindestens eine Kategorie-Stufe ist anzugeben.
  • Es gelten die allgemeinen Regeln für die Kodierung von Umlauten.
  • Leerstellen innerhalb von Kategorie-Namen sind zulässig.
  • Die Hierarchie-Ebenen werden durch die Zeichenkette "\n" voneinander getrennt. Die Angabe des Codes zur Anzeige eines Zeilenumbruchs innerhalb eines Kategorie-Names (ebenfalls "\n") ist deshalb nicht möglich.
  • Leerstellen um die Hierarchie-Trenncodes ("\n") werden ignoriert.
  • Die Tiefe der genutzten Hierarchie-Ebenen kann von Objekt zu Objekt unterschiedlich sein.
  • Da der interne Kategorie-Baum dynamisch anhand dieses Datenfelds aufgebaut wird, ist auf gleichlautende Schreibweise zu achten ("Laub-Baum" ist eine andere Kategorie als "Laubbaum")!
  • Beispiel: Category = Top-Kat.-Name \n Kat.-Name \n Unter-Kat.-Name
• Position
  • Die Angabe der Position erfolgt in geografischen Standard-Koordinaten (Längen-/Breitengrad).
  • Es können beliebig viele Positionsangaben für ein Objekt eingegeben werden. Intern erzeugt jede zusätzliche Positionsangabe ein eigenständiges Objekt.
  • Eine Positionsangabe muß in runden Klammern eingeschlossen sein. Trennzeichen zwischen den Klammer-Ausdrücken sind wahlfrei und beliebig.
  • Jede Koordinate besteht aus den Teilen Bogen-Grad (inklusive "*") + Bogen-Minuten (inklusive "'") + Bogen-Sekunden (inklusive "''") + ein Indikator für Nord ("N") bzw. Süd ("S") oder Ost ("E") bzw. West ("W") (in dieser Reihenfolge).
  • Für jede Koordinate muß mindestens eine der drei möglichen Bogenmaß-Angaben sowie der zugehörige Indikator für die Himmelsrichtung angegeben werden.
  • Die Reihenfolge der Angabe der horizontalen und vertikalen Koordinate ist freigestellt.
  • Das Trennzeichen zwischen den beiden Koordinaten ist optional und beliebig.
  • Jede Bogenmaß-Angabe besteht aus Ziffern und optional einem "." als Dezimal-Trennzeichen. Negative Werte sind nicht möglich.
  • Aufaddiert dürfen die Werte für Grad, Minuten und Sekunden jeder Koordinate den Wert von 180.0° (Ost/West) bzw. 90.0° (Nord/Süd) nicht überschreiten.
  • Unterbleibt die Angabe einer Position oder wird das besondere Koordinaten-Paar (90*s, 180*w) mit in die Liste der Positionen aufgenommen, so wird das Objekt als "unpositioniertes Objekte" erfaßt. Diese speziellen Objekte werden immer dann zur Auswahl angeboten, wenn gerade keine Objekte mit fest definierter Positionsangabe verfügbar sind.
  • Die beiden in Fig. 1B dargestellten gültigen Positionsangaben verdeutlichen die Flexibilität der geforderten Schreibweise.
• Importance
  • Dieser Wert beschreibt die relative Wichtigkeit des Objekts in Relation zu den anderen verfügbaren Objekten.
  • Objekte mit höherer Wichtigkeit werden bevorzugt ausgewählt.
  • Die Angabe erfordert einen ganzzahligen, positiven Wert und sollte 10.000 nicht übersteigen.
  • Unterbleibt eine Definition der Wichtigkeit, so wird der Standardwert 1 angenommen.
• MaxRepetitions
  • Dieses Datenfeld definiert die maximal zulässige Anzahl der Wiederholungen für das Objekt.
  • Die Angabe erfordert einen ganzzahligen, positiven Wert und sollte 10.000 nicht übersteigen.
  • Die Angabe 0 steht für eine unbeschränkte Anzahl an möglichen Wiederholungen.
  • Unterbleibt eine Definition der maximalen Wiederholungszahl, so wird der Standardwert 0 angenommen.
• MediaFolder
  • Der MediaFolder beschreibt den Ordner, in welchem die folgenden Audio- und HTML-Seiten abgelegt sind.
  • Die Angabe des Ordners kann absolut erfolgen (z.B. "C:\Media Folder" oder "\\ComputerX\Platte1\OrdnerABC") oder relativ zum aktuellen Ordner, in welchem sich die Objekt-Beschreibungsdatei befindet (z.B. "../../Media2")
  • Unterbleibt eine Angabe oder kann der angegebene Ordner nicht gefunden werden, so wird der Order benutzt, in welchem sich die Objekt-Beschreibungsdatei befindet.
• SoundFileName
  • Dies ist der Dateiname der Audio-Datei, welche bei einer erfolgreichen Auswahl des Objekts wiederzugeben ist.
  • Unterbleibt eine Angabe oder kann die angegebene Datei nicht gefunden werden, so wird versucht, die Standard-Audio-Datei "content.mp3" zu finden.
  • Zunächst wird untersucht, ob es sich um eine gültige URL zu handeln scheint. Ist dies nicht der Fall, wird geprüft, ob der Dateiname einen vollständigen Pfad im lokalen (Netzwerk-)Dateisystem beinhaltet und diese Datei existiert. Falls auch dies nicht der Fall ist, wird die Datei in dem Ordner gesucht, welches durch die Angabe MediaFolder spezifiziert wurde. Danach wird noch das Verzeichnis Überprüft, in dem sich die Objektbeschreibungsdatei selbst befindet.
• SoundFileSize
  • Diese Angabe teilt dem System die Größe der Audio-Datei in Bytes mit.
  • Vorgesehen ist diese Angabe, um den vollständigen Empfang von Audio-Daten während der Laufzeit des Systems sicherzustellen. In der gegenwärtigen Implementierung wird sie noch nicht ausgewertet und kann deshalb unterbleiben.
• HTMLFileName
  • Dies ist der Dateiname der HTML-Datei, welche bei einer erfolgreichen Auswahl des Objekts anzuzeigen ist.
  • Unterbleibt eine Angabe oder kann die angegebene Datei nicht gefunden werden, so wird versucht, die Standard-HTML-Datei "index.htm1" zu finden.
  • Es gelten die gleichen Regeln für die Suche nach dieser Datei wie für den SoundFileName.
• NoInterruption
  • Durch die Angabe des Wertes "1" wird die Unterbrechung der Wiedergabe des Objekts verboten (sinnvoll bei "unpositionierten Objekten").
  • Erfolgt keine Angabe oder wird ein Wert ungleich "1" eingetragen, so gelten die benutzerdefinierten Vorgaben für die Unterbrechbarkeit von "unpositionierten Objekten".
  • Dieses Datenfeld ist beispielsweise für den Fall vorgesehen, daß allgemeine Informationen über eine Region wiedergegeben werden sollen, deren Unterbrechung der Autor auf jeden Fall verhindern möchte.

The following is a brief description of the task of each data field. In addition, the individual rules that apply to specific data fields are shown.

• title
  • This data field is used to specify a short title for the respective object.
  • The general rules for the coding of umlauts described above apply.
  • Control characters for the line break in the output ("\ n") are technically possible, but their use in the title is strongly discouraged.
• description
  • Here you can enter a more detailed description of the object. Pay attention to the use of important keywords, as this field is evaluated together with the data fields "Title" and "Address" for a planned search function over all detected objects.
  • The general rules for the coding of umlauts and line circuits apply.
• address
  • This data record should give the user the opportunity to independently obtain further information about the current object. This can be achieved, for example, by specifying the complete postal address or an Internet address.
  • The general rules for the coding of umlauts and line circuits apply.
• Category
  • Each object must be assigned to a unique path through the category hierarchy. At least one category level must be specified.
  • The general rules for the coding of umlauts apply.
  • Spaces within category names are allowed.
  • The hierarchy levels are separated by the string "\ n". It is therefore not possible to specify the code for displaying a line break within a category name (also "\ n").
  • Spaces around the hierarchy separation codes ("\ n") are ignored.
  • The depth of the hierarchy levels used can vary from object to object.
  • Since the internal category tree is constructed dynamically on the basis of this data field, it is important to note the same spelling ("foliage tree" is a category other than "deciduous tree")!
  • Example: Category = Top Cat. Name \ n Cat. Name \ n Under Cat. Name
• position
  • The position is specified in geographic standard coordinates (longitude / latitude).
  • You can enter as many position information for an object as you like. Internally, each additional position specification generates an independent object.
  • A position statement must be enclosed in round brackets. Separators between parenthesis expressions are optional and arbitrary.
  • Each coordinate consists of the parts arc-degree (including "*") + arc-minutes (including "'") + arc-seconds (including "''") + an indicator for north ("N") or south ( "S") or east ("E") or west ("W") (in this order).
  • For each coordinate, at least one of the three possible radians and the corresponding compass direction indicator must be specified.
  • The order of specifying the horizontal and vertical coordinates is optional.
  • The separator between the two coordinates is optional and arbitrary.
  • Each radian measure consists of digits and optionally a "." as a decimal separator. Negative values are not possible.
  • Added up, the values for degrees, minutes and seconds of each coordinate must not exceed the value of 180.0 ° (East / West) or 90.0 ° (North / South).
  • If the specification of a position is omitted or if the special pair of coordinates (90 * s, 180 * w) is included in the list of positions, the object is detected as "unpositioned objects". These special objects are always offered for selection if no objects with a fixed position specification are currently available.
  • The two valid position indications shown in FIG. 1B illustrate the flexibility of the required notation.
• importance
  • This value describes the relative importance of the object in relation to the other available objects.
  • Objects of higher importance are preferably selected.
  • The specification requires an integer, positive value and should not exceed 10,000.
  • If a definition of importance is omitted, the default value 1 is assumed.
• MaxRepetitions
  • This data field defines the maximum number of retries allowed for the object.
  • The specification requires an integer, positive value and should not exceed 10,000.
  • The specification 0 stands for an unlimited number of possible repetitions.
  • If a definition of the maximum repetition number is omitted, the default value 0 is assumed.
• Media Folder
  • The MediaFolder describes the folder in which the following audio and HTML pages are stored.
  • The folder can be specified absolutely (eg "C: \ Media Folder" or "\\ ComputerX \ Disk1 \ FolderABC") or relative to the current folder in which the object description file is located (eg "../../ media2 ")
  • If there is no information or if the specified folder can not be found, the order in which the object description file is located is used.
• Sound File Name
  • This is the file name of the audio file to be played when the object is successfully selected.
  • If there is no indication or the specified file can not be found, an attempt is made to find the standard audio file "content.mp3".
  • First it will be examined, if it seems to be a valid URL. If this is not the case, it is checked whether the file name contains a complete path in the local (network) file system and this file exists. If this is not the case, the file is searched for in the folder specified by MediaFolder . Then the directory Checked, in which the object description file itself is located, is checked.
• Sound File Size
  • This information tells the system the size of the audio file in bytes.
  • This information is intended to ensure complete reception of audio data during the life of the system. In the current implementation, it is not yet evaluated and therefore can be omitted.
• Html Filename
  • This is the filename of the HTML file to be displayed when the object is successfully selected.
  • If there is no indication or the specified file can not be found, an attempt is made to find the standard HTML file "index.htm1".
  • The same rules apply for searching for this file as for the SoundFileName .
• NoInterruption
  • Specifying the value "1" prohibits the interruption of the playback of the object (useful with "unpositioned objects").
  • If no specification is made or if a value other than "1" is entered, the user-defined defaults for "unpositioned objects" apply.
  • This data field is provided, for example, in the event that general information about a region to be reproduced, the interruption of which the author would like to prevent in any case.

For every object which is to be detected by UMIS at system start, an object description file must be created. When designing the file format used, special emphasis was placed on easy file creation. Both the creation and the insight into the contents of a file should be possible without proprietary utilities.

By splitting the object descriptions - every object owns its own description file - is the possibility for easy replacement and uncomplicated recomposition given by objects to a project. Furthermore can easily create new objects at runtime received, evaluated and added to the internal structures become.

Also worth mentioning are the possible combinations of description files, Objects and Multimedia Data: Each description file can have multiple positions and therefore single objects include. At the same time can through the separation description file and contents multiple object description files share the same multimedia content.

In Fig. 2, a first embodiment of the invention Device for reproducing information described.

The device comprises a position determination device 200, e.g. a GPS receiver, a memory 202, which is a management part or a plurality of management parts VTs (Fig. 1A), wherein adjusting the selection criteria in the Management parts, adding or deleting administrative parts possible by the user, as indicated by the arrow 204, a selector 206 and an output device 208. The position determination device 200 is connected to the selector 206 and provides to the same Information regarding the geographical location. One Output of the selector 206 is connected to an input of the Output device 208 connected to the reproduced. information to output to the output device 208. By doing Memory 202 are a plurality of information sources 210a, 210b, and 210c stores the information about in the management parts fixed objects A, B, C, D and E (buildings, Restaurants, nature or others). Further, in Fig. 2 shown that another information source 210d provided is not stored in the memory 202. The information source 210d is an external information source containing information which, depending on the selection criteria, is accessed via a corresponding remote transmission.

Instead of the just described configuration of information sources is any combination of external and internal Information sources possible. Likewise, only internal Sources of information or only external sources of information used be in the latter case in the memory substantially only the administrative parts are stored.

By way of example, FIG. 2 shows that the information source 210a Information data relating to the object C, the information source 210b information data relating to the object D, the Information source 210c Information data regarding the objects C and B and the information source 210d information data regarding contains objects A and B.

The information sources 210a to 210d include various ones Information data on the various objects A to D (see e.g. also Fig. 1A at 112). An object can e.g. a dome or another known building in one place, each one Object A to D in the administrative part pre-adjustable categories assigned. The object A may be, for example refer to the category "music" while the objects B, C, and D on the categories "companies", "restaurants" and Refer to "theater". The information source 210a includes, for example a piece of music.

The selection criteria that the selection of objects from the Majority of the systems announced by their administrative units to the system Defining information objects are by the user or pre-set by the distributor, however, are also changeable at runtime of the device. The user then selects a selection criterion (arrow 204), e.g. the category, to change their weighting. Based on the geographical Position and depending on the selection criteria is about the Selector 206 accessed the memory 202 and the appropriate information regarding the object selected. The information to be reproduced gives the selection device 206 to the output device 208 from.

The position determining device 200 may be any Device for. Determine the geographic location of the user be, e.g. a GPS system or a cell phone. It can be one dedicated or dedicated hardware or a cooperating one or integrated software, e.g. a navigation system, be provided to the location information of the selection device Provide 206 in geographic standard coordinates, such as. in the Gauss-Kruger system, the geographical one Standard coordinate system or in a NMEA 0183 compliant Format, and for additional information, such as above the direction of movement and speed of the user, too deliver. Although the output of the coordinates of the location in A standard coordinate system is preferred, others are Coordinate formats possible.

The information may be video data, image data, audio data or Multimedia data included while in the administration section Reference, e.g. Internet address or local data references, is included, indicating where the corresponding information are stored. In the management part 104, for example the indication of an Internet address be contained, at the one Audio file is provided, which encoded the piece of music in Contains form. In this case, the corresponding information unit separated according to information part and administration part stored on different physical units. The audio data are on an internet server (e.g., information source 210d), and the associated Internet address is in the memory 202 is stored. On the other hand, information units different sources of information in a same be stored in physical memory. For example, the Management parts of all information units in the memory 202 stored while the respective information part is stored on any other memory. The information part is for example on data carriers, electronic interchangeable fixed memory is stored and is by the Transmission of data by wireless or wired Media such as computer networks or broadcast systems available.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of the present invention, in which Administrative parts are modified, deleted or added can. In Figs. 3 and 4 are already described with reference to FIG Elements of the device with the same reference numerals Mistake.

Compared with the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 comprises the Device according to FIG. 3, an input device 212 for inputting of additional criteria, an input device 214 for controlling the representation, an output control device 216, a plurality of output devices 208a and 208b, a Facility 218 for adding, changing and deleting administrative parts and / or pieces of information and an input device 220 for entering weights.

The input device 220 for inputting weights the user may, for example, a keyboard or a Voice control connected to the memory 202 is and by which the user is able to get the weights to change the categories.

The input devices 212 and 214 for entering additional criteria or for controlling the representation by the user may also include keyboards. The Input devices 212, 214 and 220 preferably use the same keyboard. The input device 212 is connected to the memory 202 connected, whereas the input device 214 with the output controller 216 is connected, which in turn connected to the output device 208. The output control device 216 receives at another entrance from the selector 206, the information to be reproduced.

The means 218 for adding, changing and deleting management parts and / or information points can also be a Keyboard by which the user is able to further include Selection criteria the management part of an object (Fig. 1A) and other administrative parts for new objects in memory 202 to add. The device 218 may be a computer and a suitable data transmission device, such as e.g. a data medium or an infrared interface. The List is in the memory 202 for the selector 206 stored accessible. By the means 218, the content added, changed or reduced become. All available administrative parts will be available at the start of the system automatically detected. Become more during the term Administrative parts added, these are for the next Selection process available immediately.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 3 will now described by way of example, in which the device in installed in the car of the user. Here is the device 200 connected to the GPS receiver of the car, the Input devices 212, 214 and 220 by a keypad on the dashboard or through appropriate input devices implemented in the GPS system. As means 218 for adding, For example, changing and deleting pieces of information can be done a CD drive may be provided, the user by inserting a CD new administration parts to the system and / or add informational parts. The selection device 206 may be software, firmware or hardware, and in particular as a standard processor, an ASIC or a programmable one Be implemented logic.

The information sources 210a to 210d are shown in FIG. 3, for example Internet server, CDs, hard disks, radio stations (analog, DAB) or the like, with suitable devices for accessing on the sources of information provided a fixed Wiring or a wireless transmission. A Information source (e.g., 210a) is, for example, a CD changer, which is hardwired to the selector, while the other information sources (e.g., 210d) are external Databases are formed which have a radio connection with the selector, are coupled.

The management parts (104, Fig. 1A), e.g. on a CD-ROM or a hard disk accessible to the selector 206 are stored in one embodiment as one ASCII file implemented with a suitable syntax. By an appropriate input on a keyboard of the device 218 the user can as ASCII file additional administrative parts and / or add informational parts. It can be a special one Software be provided so that the user the special Syntax of the ASCII file does not need to know, but the same only necessary details of the administrative part to be added and / or pieces of information.

The position indication is preferably in geographic standard coordinates in front. The category may preferably be the user from a list of already existing categories or enter as a new category that the system automatically adds to the dynamically generated category tree. The reference the user enters in a format that the selector will 206 indicates where the information is stored are. The reference may implicitly contain information about which protocols or decoding algorithms are necessary are to access the information. In the administrative part but may also provide additional information indicating how the piece of information is accessed got to. The information about the relative importance and the maximum Frequency of information the user can type order additional information under information of the same category to define or control how often information be played within a predetermined time allowed to.

Via the input device 220, the user is able to Regarding the existing categories weightings in the by the system dynamically generated hierarchical structure set. For example, the categories are in a tree structure organized. The first level is rough dividing categories, e.g. "Music", "restaurants" or like. To a category of a level can subcategories be present at a next level. To the category "Music" For example, if the subcategories "Rock" exist, "Pop", "rap" or the like, while to the category "restaurants" the subcategories "Italian", "Japanese" or exist. The user can change the categories and Subcategories of the tree structure during runtime a weighting assign. The weighting of a subcategory can for example, as the average of all weights calculated from the root of the tree to the subcategory become.

The input device 212 makes it possible for the user Enter additional criteria for the selection device. The user For example, you can enter in which relationship the current location of the user to a location of an object, for which information is to be displayed, stand for this Information is included in a shortlist. These Additional criteria can be, for example, the specification of a minimum and maximum distance of the current location from the in the administrative part defined position so For example, to the user, only information regarding one Object to be issued, which is in appropriate proximity located. Additionally, specifying a minimum and maximum Viewing field opening angle may be provided, for example to prevent being a motorist. About be issued to an object that is in the direction of travel behind are located. This can be done by specifying a maximum and a minimum angle between the connecting line through the current location of the user and the object position of the Information unit and the direction of movement of the user be achieved. Further additional criteria could be details about it which output devices are preferred, so that For example, a car driver can set that only Audio information is reproduced so as not to be affected by the traffic to be distracted.

The input device 214 allows the user to specify Output devices 208a, 208b of the plurality of dispensing devices switch off. For example, if the selector is an audio file with associated video data selected the user can turn off a screen 208b to only output the audio data via a speaker 208a allow.

At the initialization of the device of Fig. 3, e.g. when starting the system when driving, receives the selection device 206 Access to the saved administrative parts of the information units, the administrative units being intermittent to be updated. The selector receives Furthermore, the specific current location of the user / system as well as the current direction of movement and speed of movement from the device 200.

Furthermore, weights changed by the user may vary the categories from the input device 220 and the additional criteria the input device 212. The Selection means 206 scans the management parts in the memory 202 cyclically and determines at each pass, whether to be reproduced Information exists, and gives the same to the Output control device off. During the term can the management parts are updated by means 218 (for example, also via a current reception via DAB, Internet by radio, etc.), whereby the selector 206 at following cycle scans updated administrative parts. As well The additional criteria can be changed during runtime become.

The ones described above with respect to the devices 212 to 220 Settings of the selection criteria are already made in advance and can be addressed by the. Facilities are changed.

In Fig. 4, the selection operation in the selector 206 described in more detail. The selector 206 includes four inputs 300, 302, 304 and 306 and an output 308. The selector further includes means 310 for checking Based on the administrative parts, whether for an object all required Location relationships are met. The device 310 is connected to the input 300 to successively the management part all information units registered in the system to obtain. The device 310 contains the input 302 the current location of the user as well as the part of the additional criteria, indicating the location relationship, i. indicating in which relationship the current location to the position specification an information unit, so that the information be taken into account in the selection, e.g. the maximum distance and the indication of the permitted field of view aperture angle. The device 310 selects only those objects that the Location relationship (see Fig. 4 at 312). exemplary Four blocks of information are shown, referring to the objects A, B, C, D refer to the geographical selection criteria fulfill. The information units become a device 314 supplied for checking, the one associated with the information weighted category and the information with the relatively highest weighting determined. The device 314 receives for verification by the input 304 the weights of the categories. The device 314 directs Consequently, only those information that the Location relationship and the relatively highest weighting exhibit. For example, in the present case only two information blocks concerning the object A and one of the objects B. The information becomes a facility 318 for applying additional information of the administrative part the information is fed. The device 318 receives from the input 306, the additional information, such. the previous one mentioned relative importance or maximum frequency, and only passes that information to the output 308 that have the relatively highest importance or other supplementary information.

The information provided at the output 308 is forwarded, and the output controller 216 distributes depending on the type of information to be reproduced on the majority output devices 208, such as speakers 208a and monitors 208b.

The selection device can be the selection of information, ie the processing of the stored administrative parts, also in parallel to scan or work off. Furthermore, the processing the selection criteria in the administration part in any order apply and expand by additional criteria.

The present invention provides a system providing the same information about objects and abstract data, which can be associated with a location allows. The system can work autonomously, without relying on wireless or wire-bound data transmission to be instructed. The description of the objects or abstract data takes place by the administrative parts of the information units. The position fixing in these administrative divisions may be on the geographical Standard coordinate system based.

The system evaluates a position specification, which is determined by external Sources is provided. This position information includes a current location in e.g. geographical Standard coordinates as well as an indication of the direction of movement and speed, for example, by decreed Hardware or provided by cooperating software become.

The objects and abstract data for which information is reproduced are to be represented by the administrative part. The administrative parts include, for example, a Position entry in geographic standard coordinates as well a hierarchically structured category specification. More information in the administrative part serve the refinement of the selection process as well as the representation of the information objects. By the creation of administrative parts and / or information units can be any objects or abstract data in the information system To be defined. The system records existing ones Administrative parts and / or pieces of information automatically when Startup. Further information units can be at runtime to be added. On the basis of the known administrative parts, the Information units and the current location of the user the selection is made according to geographical criteria, such as e.g. the relationship between the current location and the Location of the object, and abstract selection criteria, such as e.g. the category or relative importance of the information. The selection criteria are essentially freely selectable and can be adjusted in a wide range.

The information is played back by playing Audio information and / or the presentation of other multimedia Contents performed. The user of the system can Runtime to many parameters of selection and representation influence to take.

A concrete possibility of the employment of this system is the Information of a car driver while driving, as in the previous one but also possible uses, such as. when cycling or pedestrians exist. On a data carrier are e.g. the administrative departments and the Information units, so the associated multimedia content or the information-containing data stored. The system, for example, as a notebook software or integrated Part of the car radio is implemented has one Access to current location information, such as by the Car's own GPS system or dedicated hardware at the connected to a notebook. If there is an object, such as a cathedral, in a geographically favorable location, i. the relationship between the position of the dome and the current position of the dome Auto fulfills a pre-set location relationship, and a weighting of the associated category of the information object, such as. "Sightseeing", for the selection of this information object is sufficiently high and the additional criteria such as. relative importance or maximum repeatability, are fulfilled, the reproduction of the information (data) is initiated over the object. When using the system in A car is recommended the choice of audio content with complementary graphical and textual information. The user also has the option to the selection process during the runtime of the system and to influence the manner of presentation, e.g. through a special keyboard in the dashboard of the car.

Claims (14)

1. Method for presenting information regarding an object from a plurality of information provided within a plurality of information sources (116; 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d) to a user or a presentation means depending on a location of the user or the presentation means, the method comprising the following steps:

   determining the location;

   selecting a management part from a plurality of management parts, each of which comprises a reference to one of the plurality of information sources, a position indication and one or several pre-settable selection criteria, depending on the determined location and on the one or the several pre-settable selection criteria of the plurality of management parts; and

   outputting the information provided within the information source which the reference of the selected management part refers to,

   wherein the selection criteria (110) of the plurality of information sources include a category, and
   wherein a weighting value may be associated with each category of the plurality of management parts, wherein the categories are organized in a tree structure and wherein a weighting is determined based on the weightings within the tree structure and wherein the step of selecting comprises the selection of a management part from the plurality of management parts depending on the weightings of the plurality of management parts.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the reference within the management part refers to one or several information sources in which the desired information regarding the object is filed, wherein the information sources which the reference refers to are an external information source (210d) or an internal data source (210a to 210b).
3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the category indicates the type of the object.
4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selection criteria of the plurality of management units include a relative importance and a maximum repeatability.
5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the selection criteria of the plurality of management units further contain an indication (114) of predetermined data additionally or only enabling the use of the management parts as an information source.
6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the indication (114) contains a title, a brief description of the information which the reference of the management part refers to, and an address via which the further information may be ordered/fetched system-independently.
7. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein further management parts exist comprising no position indication, wherein the selection criteria of the further management parts comprise a reference to general information sources, and wherein the step of selecting comprises the selection of a further management part if no position may be determined, no information source corresponding to the geographical selection criteria is available or no information regarding an object is to be output for the location.
8. Device for presenting information regarding an object from a plurality of information, provided within a plurality of information sources (116; 210a; 210b, 210c, 210d) to a user or a presentation means depending on a location of the user or the presentation means, the device comprising:

   means (200) for determining the location;

   means (206) for selecting a management part from a plurality of management parts each of which comprises a reference to one of the plurality of information sources, a position indication and one or several pre-settable selection criteria, depending on the determined location and on the one or several pre-settable selection criteria of the plurality of management parts; and

   means (208, 208a, 208b) for outputting the information provided within the information source which the reference of the selected management part refers to,

   wherein the selection criteria (110) of the plurality of information sources include a category, and
   wherein each category of the plurality of management parts may be associated with a weighting value and wherein the categories are organized in a tree structure, and wherein a weighting is determined based on the weightings within the tree structure, and wherein the step of selecting comprises a selection of a management part from the plurality of management parts depending on the weightings of the plurality of management parts.
9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the reference within the management part refers to one or several information sources in which the desired information regarding the object is filed, wherein the information source which the reference refers to is an external information source (210d) or an internal data source (210a to 210b).
10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the category indicates the type of the object.
11. Device according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the selection criteria of the plurality of management units include a relative importance and a maximum repeatability.
12. Device according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the selection criteria of the plurality of management units further contains an indication (114) of predetermined data which additionally or only allows the use of the management parts as an information source.
13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the indication (114) contains a title, a brief description of the information which the reference of the management part refers to and an address via which the further information may be ordered/fetched independent of the system.
14. Device according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein further management parts exist, comprising no position indication, wherein the selection criteria of the further management parts contain a reference to general information sources, and wherein the step of selecting comprises the selection of a further management part if no position may be determined, no information source corresponding to the geographical selection criteria is available or no information regarding an object is to be output for the location.

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