WO2009083744A1

WO2009083744A1 - Tourist information system for mobile devices

Info

Publication number: WO2009083744A1
Application number: PCT/HR2007/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vedran Prazen
Original assignee: Gideon D.O.O.
Priority date: 2007-12-31
Filing date: 2007-12-31
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: HRP20100425A2; HRPK20100425B3

Abstract

This system enables the end-user to access the relevant information regarding the tourist offer in a simple and user-friendly way, using his existing mobile device, in the format that interests him (text, image, audio message, computer animation... etc.). The system is meant as a tourist guide that combines interactive and multimedia content with specific technical features of the mobile device like using the mobile network infrastructure in transmission of voice, data and SMS as well as using the advanced functions of the mobile device like for example camera or GPS receiver. The system shows the information in the following categories: interactive map, explore, rooms, sights, fun, gastro, news, info and about the publisher. The system has an integrated option of self-distribution. The user can forward the system installation to other users in a simple way through a part of the user interface which is directly integrated with a technical feature of a mobile device that allows of sending of text (SMS) messages.

Description

TOURIST INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICES

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to the tourist information system for mobile devices where the mobile communication is used as a tourist information channel.

The invention is classified accordingly; H - electricity, H 04 -electric communication technique and H 04 M - telephonic communication.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Presently, there are limited information channels with regard to tourist offer, that are available to tourists during their stay at a particular travel destination. Various leaflets, brochures or travel guides are limited with the scope of the content and the type of content (primarily written word and images), and especially when it comes to updated information about the tourist-related events.

Because of the language barrier foreign tourists do not tend to use local newspapers, radio and TV for information purposes, and travel Internet portals are generally not widely and easily accessible, just like various info terminals, during their stay at the tourist destination.

In short there is no comprehensive solution for an information channel that would, on one hand, provide tourists with interactive, multimedia and updated information on the features of the travel destination, and on other hand provide tourism-related businesses with an opportunity to communicate with their target audience, using the advantages offered by new mobile technologies. 3. STATE OF THE ART

Tourists presently have limited opportunities to see all that an individual destination can offer during their stay. In practice it mostly boils down to verbal recommendation of hotel receptionists or waiters or direct contact with a specific feature of the tourist offer.

Various mobile software products are digital copies of travel guidebooks and provide no interaction with technical capabilities features of a mobile device, besides the inherent interaction with hardware necessary for the use of the software.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The essence of the invention is a tourist information system for mobile devices. The system enables the end-user to access the required and relevant information regarding the tourist offer of the destination, in a different format (audio message, computer animation, text, image ... and the like), simply, and in a user friendly way.

The system is meant as a travel guide that combines interactive and multimedia content with technical features of the mobile device, like using the technical infrastructure of the mobile network in the transmission of voice and data in a digital format and also use of the advanced features of the mobile device like a camera or a GPS receiver.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1. shows the interactive map Figure 2. shows the "explore" category Figure 3. shows the "accommodation" category Figure 4. shows the "sights" category Figure 5. shows the "fun" category Figure 6. shows the "gastro" category Figure 7. shows the "news" category Figure 8. shows the "info" category Figure 9. shows the publisher presentation Figure 10a. shows the road information Figure 10b. shows the information about the sights

Figure 11. shows the content of the main menu and sub-menues

Figure 12. shows the option of distribution of the system to others

6. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT AND FUNCTIONING

The system enable the end-user to access the required and relevant information regarding the tourist offer of the destination, in a different format (audio message, computer animation, text, image and the like), simply and in a user friendly way.

The system is meant to be used as a travel guide that combines interactive and multimedia content with technical features of the mobile device, like using the technical infrastructure of the mobile network in the transmission of voice and data in a digital format and also use of the advanced features of the mobile device like a camera or a GPS receiver.

The graphical user interface as well as the method of displaying a large number of information, are implemented in a way the optimizes the existing technical characteristics of a mobile device like processor capacity and available memory, as well as automatic adaptation to the mobile device screen size. One of the technical problems about implementation of this invention is a need to feature very large quantity of information (comprehensive presentation of the tourist offer of a particular destination) with the existing technical limitations of the mobile device like the screen size, available memory and processor speed.

Depending on the technical features of the mobile device the system enables interaction with the GPS receiver in the mobile device in such a way that the interactive map of a certain level shows the exact position of the user's mobile device.

Depending on the relevance, the information within the system are displayed either in a static format (history, sight descriptions ... etc.) or a dynamic format like news, tourist events, weather forecast ... etc. updated through the data transmission abilities of the mobile device network.

The system includes the feature of audio guides for different tourist sights featured within the system, in the following way. Each individual attraction is presented with a textual description, photo and a unique code number. Pressing the "call" key on the mobile device initiates a call to the audio message system. After the call is made, the system automatically transmits a code number that directly activates an adequate audio message. This way the user can access audio guides in a simple and user-friendly way, by pressing one key, without the need to use any kind of voice selection menu. The system is thus directly integrated with a technical feature of the mobile device that allows the user to place a phone call.

All the information within the system are presented through images, text, audio content and computer animations.

The system displays the information in the following categories:

- interactive map, Fig. 1.

- explore, Fig. 2.

- rooms, Fig. 3.

- sights, Fig. 4.

- fun, Fig. 5.

- gastro, Fig. 6.

- news, Fig. 7.

- info, Fig. 8.

- About , Fig. 9.

Interactive map, used via the keys on the mobile device enables visual navigation through the system's content. Depending on the level of display (city, region or country), the map features relevant tourist information like roads, sights, points of interest ... etc. Fig. 10a and 10b.

Main menu and sub-menus are displayed in a way that makes all their features visible on a mobile device screen. That way user can see all the features of a system at a glance, thus increasing the user-friendliness of the system, Fig. 11.

The entire system interface, Fig 11., is intuitive, displayed visually and set up in way that allows for multiple ways available to the user in order to access specific information; i.e. through joystick on a mobile device or by directly pressing one of number keys in order to activate a specific item in the menu.

The system has an integrated option of self-distribution. The user can forward the system installation to other users in a simple way through a part of the user interface which is directly integrated with a technical feature of a mobile device that allows sending of text (SMS) messages, Fig. 12.

The content of the message is pre-defined, and by activating the option within the system a connection is made with a SMS feature of the mobile device which is used to send the SMS message to the selected recipient.

The system has an integrated option of interaction with the end-user in a way that user can participate in a various surveys and polls through multiple-choice interactive forms. The answers are collected in a central database for processing which generates relevant reports.

The system provides a possibility of integration with the camera on the mobile device (depending on the availability of this technical feature on the mobile device). Within the system the user can independently create photo galleries related to the certain system categories like sights, restaurants ... etc.

System structure:

Notice: The titles for individual categories and subcategohes are subject to change depending of characteristics of a particular travel destination.

1 Map

2 Explore

2 - 1 History

2 - 2 Culture

2 - 3 Museums

2 - 4 Nature

2 - 5 Active vacation

2 - 6 Yachting - 7 Wellness -8 Shopping -9 Excursions

Sights

Rooms - 1 Hotels -2 Boarding houses - 3 Private accommodation-4 Camps Gastro -1 Restaurants -2 Taverns -3 Pizzeria's -4 Cafes

Fun - 1 Nightlife -2 Movies - 3 Theatres -4 Fiestas

News -1 Events - 2 Weather forecast-3 Maritime forecast-4 Roads update

Info - 1 Transport - 2 Rent-a-car -3 Travel agencies -4 Important phone numbers 8 - 5 Travel dictionary

8 - 6 Did you know? 8 - 7 Local customs 8 - 8 Tips

9 About

- Multi-lingual, visually appealing application

- User-friendly

Enables the user to select the relevant category at the level of a city, region or town.

- audio guide through individual sights and attractions using a mobile device as well as interaction with specific technical features of a mobile device such as camera or GPS receiver provides a possibility for conducting various surveys in which users can directly participate through interactive forms within the application sent by text messages.

7. INVENTION APPLICATION

The primary application of the system is its use as a travel guide through various destinations, certain aspects of the tourist offer (adventure tourism, cultural tourism ... etc.), or segments of a particular tourist offer (hotels, museums, exhibitions... etc.). The system is meant to be used on widely accessible mobile devices, primarily cell phones but including other mobile electronic devices like pocket PC and PDA.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Tourist information system for mobile devices, wherein, it includes an audio guide option for particular tourist attractions featured within the system in the following way:

- that each particular attraction is presented through text, photo and a separate code, that by pressing the "call" key on the mobile device initiates a call to the audio messages system, that after the call is established the system automatically sends a code that activates the relevant audio message, that in this way the user can use the audio guide in a simple way just by pressing one key, without the need for using an audio selection menu, that the system is directly integrated with the technical feature of the mobile device that allows for establishing of a phone call,

- that the entire interface is intuitive, visual and implemented in a way that allows the user to access the information requested simply and in various ways,

- that the main menu and sub-menus are presented in a way to allow for easy and intuitive use,

- that all the options offered to the user at certain level are visible on the same mobile device screen.

2. The system, as claimed in Claim 1., wherein, it implements a graphical user interface, as well as a large quantity of information, in a way that optimizes the existing technical characteristics of a mobile device like processor speed, available memory and an automatic adaptation to the mobile device screen size.

3. The system, as claimed in Claims 1. i 2., wherein, it presents all the information through text, images, audio and computer animations.

4. The system, following the Claims 1., 2. i 3., wherein, it features an interactive map controlled by the user through keys on a mobile device, that allows for visual navigation though the content of the system (city, region or country), that features a display of relevant tourist information (roads, sights, points of interest), that the information based on relevance are static (like history, sights descriptions, ... etc.) or dynamic, updated online like news, weather forecast, events, ... etc.)

5. The system, following the previous claims, wherein, it enables, depending on the availability of the technical feature in a mobile device, an interaction with the GPS receiver on a mobile device in way that the device location is displayed on the map

6. The system, following the previous claims, wherein, provides an option of interaction with the camera in the mobile device (depending on availability of this technical feature in the mobile device)

7. The system, following the previous claims, wherein, it provides the user with an option to create photo galleries connected with specific categories of the system like sights, restaurants and others.

8. The system, following the previous claims, wherein, it has an integrated option of self- distribution, so that user can send the system installation to others in a simple way, through a part of the system interface connected to the technical feature for sending SMS text messages on the mobile device.

9. The system, following the previous claims, wherein, it has an integrated possibility of interaction with the end-user through various surveys and polls via interactive forms with multiple choice questionnaires.