FR2837333A1 - Personal assistant object/person geographic positioning, having assistant distant communications function /location map screen set and location - Google Patents

Abstract

The geographic positioning system puts the personal assistant (9) in the distant communications function. A map of the location is placed on the screen (10). The precise location (P) required is displayed on the screen. The position is converted to geographic coordinates (X,Y) and sent to a processing center (12) to identifying the personal assistant carrier and exploit the coordinates received.

Description

The present invention generally relates to the methods and

  so-called geolocation systems, that is to say to detect the geographic position of a person or an object. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a method and a system which allow geolocation from a "personal assistant", so as to detect the geographic position of the wearer of the personal assistant. Geolocation is currently done by complex procedures, linked to expensive technologies, in particular using "GPS" type systems, or by using the possibilities offered by "GSM" type mobile telephone networks. A first object of the present invention is to provide a process enabling a person to make his geographic position known with the same level of precision as by the current systems, recalled above, but at a much lower cost and with a simplicity of implementation currently without equivalent. A more particular object of the invention is also to provide a method and a system making it possible, from the automatic detection of the position of this person, to send real, nearby information of a commercial or practical nature to this person, and

  this while avoiding the reception of unsolicited messages.

  Another object of this invention is to allow two personnel, located in separate locations, to know where one is

compared to each other.

  Finally, the present invention proposes to give a new and particularly interesting additional use to assistants.

  personal, currently more and more widespread.

  To this end, the invention essentially relates to a method of geolocation from a personal assistant, the method consists in: having a personal assistant with 3-distance communication function; To display on the screen of the personal assistant a map of the geographical area in which the bearer of this personal assistant is located; Point on the map displays the precise location of the carrier of the personal assistant; To convert, in the personal assistant, the pointed position into geographic coordinates; and to send these geographic coordinates remotely to a processing center, capable of identifying the carrier of the assistant

  staff and 3 operate the coordinates received.

  Thus, the inventive idea consists in detecting the geographical position of a carrier of personal assistant, of the "communicating" type, simply by the fact that the carrier "clicks" of a voluntary action on a point of a displayed plan. on this personal assistant, to make known his current position. This simply assumes that the user knows, at least approximately, where he is, and that plans are preinstalled on the PDA, by its manufacturer, unless these plans are downloaded to the PDA. ,

  in particular from an INTERNET site or a CD-ROM.

  The geographic position coordinates thus defined by the carrier himself, which can in particular be Cartesian coordinates "X" and "Y", are sent to the processing center for example in the form of short messages of the "SMS" type ( Short Message System), or by a connection of the type "GPRS" (General Packet Radio Service), which is a standard of communication for telephone

portable.

  The processing center receives the coordinates transmitted, while identifying their origin by associating them with a user number. At this processing center, the coordinates received can be stored, viewed, processed, retransmitted and / or used for any purpose.

  appropriately, depending on the intended use.

  According to a preferred application of the geolocation method, object of the invention, the processing center exploits the geographic coordinates received by carrying out a search in a database of proximity information, and by referring to the local personal assistant. , proximity information selected according to the position of this personal assistant. The information found by this process is returned to the bearer of the personal assistant, for example in the form of short messages of the "SMS" type, or other types of messages such as "MMS" (Multimedia Message System) which can associate

  ['image, sound and text, or by a "GPRS" type connection.

  Thus, a person carrying a personal assistant can, after having simply located himself on a plan displayed on his personal assistant, receive information on the same personal assistant

  proximity, relating to shops, services, etc ...

  The processing center also makes it possible to follow, and to visualize on a computer screen or a monitor, the reported positions of a set of carriers of personal assistants, thus ensuring the follow-up of a

"fleet" of personal assistants.

  Via the processing center, the method of the invention also makes it possible to retransmit the signaled position of the wearer from a personal assistant to the personal assistant of another wearer, with a connection of the "Peer to Peer" type. connecting two users, and only two. Thus, the method allows two users of the

  same system of knowing where one is, in relation to the other.

  Insofar as the coordinates indicated by the wearer of a personal assistant are stored in the processing center, and not only used instantaneously, the wearer can still benefit later from additional information (assuming here, well

  understood, that the geographic position of the wearer has not changed too much).

  It will also be noted that, necessitating voluntary action by the bearer of the personal assistant to signal his position, the method of the present invention avoids the reception of unsolicited advertising messages, and is compatible with all laws or regulations.

  imposing a prior agreement before geolocation and communication.

  The invention also relates to a geolocation system 3 from a personal assistant, a system which is specially adapted to the implementation of the process defined above. This system essentially comprises, in combination: A set of personal assistants identifiable from a distance, quick to display maps of geographic areas on their respective screens; and at least one processing center provided to receive and use the geographic coordinates received from a personal assistant, these coordinates being defined by pointing on a map displayed on the screen of the personal assistant, and being

  transmitted by the latter to the processing center.

  Preferably, in this geolocation system, the processing center itself comprises, in combination, means for storing geographic coordinates received from a personal assistant, a search engine, and a database containing proximity information. , such as commercial and / or service-related information, correlated to geographic coordinates, as well as means for transmitting selected proximity information to the personal assistant corresponding to a request for information. Advantageously, the processing center further comprises at least one display screen, for displaying the signaled positions of the personal assistants, this with a view to monitoring a "fleet" of personal assistants. In any case, the invention will be better understood using the

  description which follows of modes of implementation of this process and of this

  geolocation system 3 from a personal assistant, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which: In FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the invention, with indication of various uses of this method; In FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the implementation system

work of this process.

  Figure 1 shows the articulation of the geolocation process from a personal assistant, with indication (at the teas of this figure) of

  various modes of implementation, correspond to distinct uses.

  As indicated in 1, the process initially assumes that a user, also designated as "carrier", has a personal assistant. More particularly, the personal assistant has a remote communication function, and it can display maps such as

city maps on his screen.

  As indicated in 2, the user who wishes to locate himself begins by displaying, on the screen of his personal assistant, a map which corresponds to the geographical area in which he is currently located. This is, for example, the plan of a city or a district of

this city.

  Then, as indicated in 3, the wearer of the personal assistant performs, on the displayed plan, a pointing operation (commonly designated as a "click"), at the precise point of this plan where he is located. This pointing operation defines the geographic coordinates X, Y of the

  where the user is located.

  As indicated in 4, the position of the user, defined by the geographic coordinates X, Y. is sent to a processing center located remotely, in the form of short messages of type "SMS", or by

a "GPRS" type connection.

  The processing center receives, thus stores and stores, as indicated in, information relating to the user, which includes a number identifying the user, the date and time of the call received from his personal assistant, and the reported position of the user ie

the X, Y coordinates transmitted.

  From there, the processing center can use this information in various ways: As indicated in 6, the processing center can select other information, cited "near", related to the location of the user, and then send this other information to the personal assistant of the user, in the form of short messages of type "SMS", or other types of messages such as "MMS", or by a

"GPRS" type connection.

  As indicated in 7, the processing center also makes it possible to view the position of the user, on site or remotely, to ensure the

  followed by a "fleet" of personal assistants.

  Finally, as indicated in 8, the processing center allows the visualization of the current position of the user on another personal assistant, carried by another person, the X, Y coordinates of the user who has signaled his position being, in this case, retransmitted to

  the other personal assistant, in the "Peer to Peer" mode.

  Figure 2 is a block diagram of the

  geolocation, implementing the process of Figure 1.

  A personal assistant has been indicated at 9, on the screen 10 of which the map P of a certain geographical area can be displayed, in particular the area where the carrier of the personal assistant is located. available to the personal assistant 9, for example by means of a styles 11, the user can point to the precise plane P where it is located, this point being defined by its Cartesian coordinates X, Y. S The system comprises also the processing center 12, which collects, as indicated by the arrow 13, the identification and the X, Y coordinates of the personal assistant 9. The processing center 12 itself comprises: A memory 14 for storing the information received on the user (identification and position); To a computer screen 15 making it possible to view the positions (defined by their X, Y coordinates) of the users, for their monitoring; To a search engine 16; To a database 17 containing proximity information, correlated to 3 of the geographic coordinates X, Y. Thus, the search engine 16 uses the geographic coordinates marked X, Y of the bearer of the personal assistant 9, to perform the search, in the database 17, proximity information which corresponds to these X, Y coordinates. The selected information INF is returned 3 to the personal assistant 9 of the wearer, as symbolized by the arrow 18, this information being able to be displayed on

  screen 10 of the personal assistant 9.

  The proximity information, thus returned to the bearer of the personal assistant 9 who has indicated his position, can be commercial information, information relating to services, practical information, etc. such as: pharmacies, ATMs boat, restaurants, sales promotions, emergency services, As a practical example of use, obviously not limited, a person carrying a personal assistant 9 displays, on

  screen 10 of his personal assistant, plan P of the city where she is located.

  The wearer of the personal assistant 9 can then geolocate himself automatically, by a simple "click" on the displayed map P at the precise point of this map where he is located. After a race selection procedure, this person receives on his personal assistant 9, from the processing center 12, relevant information such as the identification of the nearest Italian restaurant (located for example within 100 meters

  from the point where the said person was identified).

  Other, more particular applications are also possible. For example, a maintenance technician, staffed by a personal assistant, can with a simple "click" inform his company of the place where he is, for the normal follow-up of his intervention or in case of particular difficulty. A motorist can indicate precisely where he is, for example in the event of a breakdown. Thus, the possible applications are diversified, and are not limited to the feedback of proximity information to

  ie bearer of a personal assistant who has just reported his position.

  Another particular application, illustrated by the drawing, allows two personnel equipped with a personal assistant to know where one is in relation to the other. In this case, as shown in particular in the lower part of FIG. 2, the coordinates X, Y of a personal assistant 9, indicating the position of its carrier, wind retransmitted, as symbolized by the arrow 19, towards ['personal assistant 9 'from another carrier. The position of the first personal assistant 9 is thus displayed, as a point, on a map displayed on the screen 10 'of a second assistant

staff 9 '.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the only modes of implementation of this geolocation process which have been described above, by way of example. Wile embraces, on the contrary, all

  variant embodiments and applications respecting the same principle.

  Thus, in particular, that we would not depart from the framework of the invention: To by displaying on the personal assistant any plans or maps, preinstalled on this personal assistant or downloads from any INTERNET site, CD-ROM or cartographic databases; By modifying the architecture of the geolocation system, in particular of its processing center, which may be a servour center of any configuration; By returning to the personal assistant, whose position has been reported, information of any kind: commercial, practical, promotional, etc.

Claims (10)

  1. Method of geolocation from a personal assistant, characterized in that it consists in: Having a personal assistant (9) with remote communication function; To display on the screen (10) of the personal assistant a plan (P) of the geographical area in which the carrier of this personal assistant is located (9); To point on the plan displays (P) the precise location of the carrier of the personal assistant (9); To convert, in the personal assistant (9), the pointed position into geographic coordinates (X, Y); and to send these geographic coordinates (X, Y) to a processing center (12) remotely, able to identify the carrier of the personal assistant (9) and to use the coordinates (X, Y) received.   2. Geolocation method according to claim 1, characterized in that plans (P) wind preinstalled on ['personal assistant (9) by the manufacturer thereof, or wind downloads on [' personal assistant (9), in particular from an INTERNET site or CD-ROM. 3. Geolocation method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the geographic coordinates, defined by pointing a position on the plane (P) displayed on ['personal assistant (9), wind of Cartesian coordinates (X, Y).   4. Geolocation method according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the geographic coordinates   (X, Y) wind sent to the processing center (12) in the form of   short messages of type "SMS, or by a connection of type" GPRS ".   5. Geolocation methods according to any one of   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the processing center (12)   exploits the geographic coordinates received (X, Y) by carrying out a search in a database (17) of proximity information, and by returning, to the personal assistant (9) located, proximity information (INF ) selected according to the position of this assistant staff (9).   6. Geolocation method according to any one of   claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the processing center (12) is   intended to follow and visualize, by displaying them on a computer screen or a monitor (15), the signaled positions of a set of assistants personal (9.9 ').   7. Geolocation method according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the processing center (12)   retransmits the reported position of the carrier of a personal assistant (9) to   ['personal assistant (9') of another carrier.   8. Geolocation system from a personal assistant, for implementing the method according to any one of   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises, in combination:   To a set of personal assistants (9, 9 ') identifiable from a distance, able to display maps (P) of geographic areas on their respective screens (10, 10'), and To at least one processing center (12) intended to receive and use the geographic coordinates (X, Y) received from a personal assistant (9), at these coordinates being defined by pointing on a map displayed on the screen (10) of the personal assistant (9 ), and   being transmitted by the latter to the processing center (12).   9. Geolocation system according to claim 8, characterized in that the processing center (12) itself comprises, in combination, storage means (14) of the geographic coordinates (X, Y) received from a personal assistant. (9, 9 '), a search engine (16), and a database (17) containing proximity information (INF), such as commercial and / or service information, correlated to geographic coordinates (X, Y), as well as means for transmitting the selected proximity information (INF), in the direction of the personal assistant (9) correspond has a request for information.   10. Geolocation system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the processing center (12) comprises a display screen (15), for displaying the positions of the personal assistants. (9, 9 ').