WO2014191807A1

WO2014191807A1 - System and method of interactive mapping with a geographical communication map

Info

Publication number: WO2014191807A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/000835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Dufay
Original assignee: Michelin Travel Partner
Priority date: 2013-05-27
Filing date: 2014-05-23
Publication date: 2014-12-04
Also published as: FR3006091B1; FR3006091A1

Abstract

A system of interactive mapping between a printed geographical map and a reading and decoding device, comprising: - a step in which at least one geolocation element of a point or area of a geographical map incorporated into said map is detected by means of a suitable sensor; - a step in which geographical coordinates of the detected geolocation elements are obtained from the indexed data; - a step in which at least one step of an interactive application is identified and implemented on the basis of the indexed data; - a step in which interactive elements from the application are restituted to the user.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE MAPPING

WITH GEO-COMMUNICANT CARD

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive mapping system between a printed circuit board and a reading and decoding apparatus. It also relates to a corresponding interactive mapping method and a corresponding interactive geographical map.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

We know the road maps printed very long time. Such maps exist for a wide range of regions at different scales. Some maps are intended for conventional road information, without additional data. Other maps provide additional data such as topological, tourist, historical, economic, climatic and other data.

All these printed cards, with a given content not evolving over time, have the main disadvantage of being quickly obsolete, depending on the speed with which the data provided become incomplete, or even inaccurate or inapplicable.

[0004] Electronic devices, such as navigation devices (or GPS) for displaying cartographic data, are also known. These devices use screens of small size, not allowing to visualize large areas as allowed a card printed on a support such as paper.

The document FR 2 956 901 describes a set of road navigation comprising at least one road map comprising a plurality of sections. road signs and locations, forming a cartographic representation of a plurality of given geographical areas; a digital terminal, comprising at least one microprocessor, a display screen, a set of instructions ordered so as to allow the implementation of a road navigation application, a visual code sensor; the road map of the set comprising a plurality of visual codes, each in relation to a given geographical area, and comprising identifiers capable of automatically generating the launch of said road navigation application in relation to the geographical area associated with the identifier one of the codes on the card after reading this code using the sensor. The document also describes the corresponding road map and a method for automatically activating a digital geographic application of the traffic information type. For its implementation, this method requires a card provided with specific visual codes. This forces to design specific cards. The codes on the map occupy a smaller area than the one available for geographic or road data. In addition, the number of codes that it is physically possible to provide on the map without it becoming illegible is limited. Finally, the use of visual codes for specific locations limits the process to discrete, i.e., non-continuous information.

To overcome these disadvantages, the invention provides different technical means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

First, a first object of the invention is to provide a system for completing the data of a printed geographical map, in particular a road map, with additional data.

Another object of the invention to provide a system to overcome the fact that the data printed on a road map are fixed or non-scalable. Yet another object is to provide a system, device or method to overcome the disadvantages of already known systems.

To do this, the invention provides an interactive mapping system between a printed geographical map and a reading and decoding apparatus, comprising:

at least one interactive geographical map comprising a cartographic representation of a given area on a printed medium, said map also comprising a plurality of geolocation elements that are distinct (or independent) from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible by the user on said map, for providing geolocation data for points or geographical areas of the map located in the immediate vicinity of the point or area of implantation of said geolocation elements in the map;

a geolocation database, associated with a given geographical map, comprising, for each geolocation element of the associated map, a unique signature, the corresponding geographic coordinates, and at least one step of an interactive application (visual profile comprises for example, contrasting areas, roads, text boxes, etc.);

at least one reader-decoder provided with a sensor of geolocation elements of said geographical map not visible to the user without said reader-decoder;

a decoding module adapted to obtain geolocation data for a corresponding interactive application from data originating from said geolocation elements;

a module for mapping between data received by the sensor and the data of the digital database;

an application module for implementing interactive applications;

a module for rendering the user interactive data provided by an activated application (for example a data display screen).

With such an architecture, the system makes it possible to have fast access, even instantaneous, to complementary data in relation to a plurality of geographical positions available on the concerned map without limitation of available space. This data can then be used for on-screen display.

Advantageously, each geolocation element comprises data for the implementation of an interactive application adapted to this point of geolocation.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the geolocation elements distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible by the user on said map are elements printed by means of an invisible ink by the user, and in which the sensor makes it possible to read the printed contents of said elements on the used geographical map.

In addition, the content in question is advantageously invisible to the naked eye and can be superimposed (or placed below the printed support or positioned inside the support, or integrated support) to the map content without mitigate its visibility by the user. It may be, for example, a content provided by an ink invisible to the naked eye but visible by a suitable sensor (such as for example an infrared ink or a capacitive ink), or micro-codes, quasi -visible to the naked eye but identifiable by a sensor provided for this purpose.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the geolocation elements distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible by the user on said map are magnetic, inductive or electronic elements integrated in the map, for example superimposed, below the printed support or positioned inside the support, or integrated into the support. According to another advantageous embodiment, the player-decoder is arranged to display on the display screen the area of the card being read.

According to an advantageous embodiment, reader-decoder is arranged to display data on the display screen in relation to the geolocation data obtained.

The invention also provides an interactive mapping method for interactive mapping system as previously described, comprising:

a step of detecting at least one geolocation element distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible to the user on said card integrated in said card by an adapted sensor;

a step of obtaining, from said detected geolocation elements, geolocation data for a corresponding interactive application;

a step of identification and implementation from the geolocation data of at least one step of said interactive application;

- A step of rendering the user interactive elements from the application.

The method makes it possible to use an almost unlimited number of points or geographical positions present on the map. It also makes it possible to obtain interactive data in discrete or continuous mode.

The restitution step comprises for example a step of displaying the interactive data on a display screen in communication with the reader-decoder.

According to an advantageous embodiment, prior to the reading step, a step of constituting a database comprising the data in relation to a plurality of geolocation elements, and for each geolocation element, a unique signature, the corresponding geographic coordinates, and at least one link to a step of an interactive application.

Also advantageously, the method provides a step of producing a geographical map comprising a plurality of geolocation elements separate from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible by the user on said map integrated in the map. By substantially invisible to the user, we mean further "whose presence superimposed on the cartographic representation does not affect the visibility, or at least the readability thereof." The geolocation elements can thus be positioned on the map as additional printing or inserted into the printed material or positioned on the back of the printed document, depending on the selected medium.

In an alternative embodiment, the displayed interactive data comprise a combination (for example by superposition) of the map data of the zone being interacting with the sensor and complementary interactive data obtained by said method.

In another variant, the displayed interactive data are different (or distinct) visual data of the zone being interacting with the sensor.

In yet another embodiment, the interactive data displayed correspond to data previously generated by an interactive module (weather, traffic, work, places of interest, etc.). For example, if one is on a known tourist site, a guided tour of the site located on the zone in the process of interaction with the sensor can be implemented on the display screen in communication with the reader-decoder. In another aspect, the invention also provides an interactive geographical map for interactive mapping system as previously described, comprising:

a cartographic representation of a given area on a printed medium;

a plurality of geolocation elements which are distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible to the user on said map making it possible to provide geolocation data for points or geographic areas of the map situated in the immediate vicinity of the point or zone of the geolocation; implantation of said geolocation elements in the map;

each geolocation element comprising data for the implementation of an interactive application adapted to this geolocation point.

The invention finally provides a reader-decoder system and / or interactive mapping method as previously described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

All the details of implementation are given in the description which follows, supplemented by FIGS. 1 to 9, presented solely for purposes of non-limiting examples, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an interactive mapping system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a reader-decoder of an interactive mapping system according to the invention;

FIG. 3 presents a functional flowchart with the main steps of the interactive mapping method according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation showing an example of implementation of an interactive mapping system according to the invention with autonomous device;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation showing an example of implementation of an interactive mapping system according to the invention using the data of a remote server; FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a reader-decoder displaying interactive data derived from the method according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a functional flowchart showing an example of the sub-steps for a decoding phase of a card;

- Figures 8 and 9 show other examples of applications of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an interactive mapping system 1 according to the invention. A map 10 printed on a support such as paper, cardboard, plastic, or other preferably flexible or collapsible material, comprises road guidance elements such as sections, roads, highways, with their names or respective designations, toponyms or designations of places such as names of cities, villages, regions, areas, departments, provinces, etc.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a card reader-decoder 20 adapted for the interactive map system and for the interactive mapping method according to the invention. As illustrated, the card reader-decoder 20 comprises a screen 21, making it possible to illustrate the result of the readings of cards made by the reader and / or to display the complementary interactive data obtained during the implementation of the method mapping according to the invention. Such a card reader-decoder comprises a microprocessor 22 adapted for the implementation of coded instructions stored in an instruction module 24. An interactive database 25 includes data complementary to the cartographic data of the card, capable of to be displayed in addition to or instead of the fixed data of the printed circuit board 10. The data of the base are advantageously position-dependent and therefore vary according to the geographical location. A decoding module 26 makes it possible to decode the geolocation data received by the sensor 23. A mapping module 27 makes it possible to match or create links between the decoded or identified geolocation data and application data. interactive provided in the interactive database 25. A wide variety of applications can be implemented through the system according to the invention. In an exemplary application not shown in the figures, a paper map presents the map and road data of a given region. By traveling on certain road sections using the decoder reader, images of the real physical environment along the road are displayed on the screen.

An application module 28 can generate any images corresponding to the interactive data and display on the screen 21 these images.

A bus 29 ensures the data transfer flows between the different modules of the reader-decoder 20.

The implementation of the various modules of the reader-decoder described above is advantageously carried out by means of processor instructions or commands, allowing the modules to perform the operation or operations specifically provided for the module concerned. The processor instructions may be in the form of one or more software or software modules implemented by one or more microprocessors. The module (s) and / or the software (s) are advantageously provided in a computer program product comprising a recording medium or recording medium that can be used by a computer and comprising a programmed code readable by a computer integrated in said medium or medium, allowing an application software execution on a computer or other device comprising a microprocessor such as a navigation device. According to various embodiments, the microprocessor as the working memories can be centralized for all modules or be arranged externally, with connection to the different modules, or be distributed locally so that one or several modules each have a microprocessor and / or a working memory.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary functional flow chart showing certain important steps 40 to 44 of the interactive mapping method according to the invention. Step 40 consists of capturing, reading, receiving or capturing map data from the printed circuit board 10. This step is advantageously carried out using the sensor 23 of the reader-decoder 20. The data obtained are then decoded at the same time. Step 41. The purpose of this phase is to identify data making it possible to geolocate the point or zone that the user wishes to use as a geographical reference to obtain data complementary to those provided by the map. The decoding phase is explained in detail later in connection with the example of FIG. 7.

The geolocation data may for example be in the form of latitude and longitude data or data obtained from another reference system specific to a given map.

Once the data obtained and decoded, a mapping step can be performed (step 42). This step aims to identify the complementary data of the interactive database 25 according to the previously obtained geolocation data. The interactive data of the base 25 can then be used. An application data generation step 43 thus makes it possible to use the interactive data for display on the screen 21 of the reader-decoder 20 in addition to or in replacement of the geographical data of the printed circuit board. One or more applications can be used to render the interactive data, according to the intended embodiments. If only one application is available, it is automatically launched to perform the intended formatting. If several applications are available, the application module advantageously provides an interactive selection menu, to present the user the available applications and receive the choice made by the user.

Step 44 consists of the display by the screen 21 of the reader-decoder 20 interactive data, preferably formatted by the selected application.

Figure 7 shows an example of the detailed steps for the implementation of the method according to the invention. The overall process comprises two successive phases designed to be performed most of the time independently. Steps 201 and 202 are preferably performed only once, prior to the distribution of the card to the recipient public. After dissemination to the user public, the subsequent steps 203 to 207 can be implemented by the users.

Steps 201 and 202 correspond to the preparation of a map provided with a plurality of geolocation elements and the database useful for the implementation of the operational phase of the method. First, from a geographical map of a given area, a plurality of geolocation points or geolocation zones corresponding to geolocation elements identifiable by the sensor, are identified. In step 202, a database comprising, for each of the geolocation elements, a single signature, the corresponding geographical coordinates and at least one step of an interactive application intended to be implemented after identification of the element of corresponding geolocation, is established. Following these steps, the interactive application is ready to work with the planned card and a suitable reader-decoder. The interactive phase is presented in relation to the steps 203 to 206 (with the steps 207 and 208 as an option). In step 203, when reading a card adapted by a sensor 23, at least one geolocation element is obtained. The data obtained is compared at step 204 with the data available in the database. After identification, the corresponding geographic coordinates are obtained from the base at step 205. These coordinates being related to at least one functional step of an intended interactive application, said step is performed (step 206).

In an alternative embodiment, the geographic data are not exploited.

In another embodiment, as shown in step 207, the sensor is moved again relative to the map representation to a new position desired by the user. This optional step can be repeated as many times as necessary. For some applications, by linking several successive displacements, or, alternatively, with a continuous displacement on the map, one obtains a dynamic mode of operation as a function of displacement.

Examples of applications:

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate examples of applications implemented by the system and interactive mapping method according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the reader-decoder 20 has all the data enabling it to operate in autonomous mode. The user places the reader-decoder near a map adapted for the interactive mapping system according to the invention. The sensor is launched to capture the geolocation data. This data is then decoded and mapped to the interactive data. The interactive data is then formatted according to the application launched, for display on the screen 21. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the reader-decoder 20 operates in connection with a remote server 30, with a preferably non-wired link, for example by cellular telephony. The user places the reader-decoder near a map adapted for the interactive mapping system according to the invention. The sensor is launched to capture the geolocation data. This data is then decoded, either locally or at the server level, and then mapped to the interactive data at the server level. The interactive data is then formatted according to the application launched, and transmitted to the reader-decoder 20 for display on the screen 21.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of implementation of the invention in which the screen 21 of the reader-decoder 20 makes it possible to display a card similar to that read by the reader-decoder, but with a different scale. or a different zoom level.

Figures 8 and 9 show other examples in which, in step 206, the activated application allows the display of points of interest such as tourist sites. In the illustrated examples, the Eiffel Tower (Figure 8) and Notre Dame Cathedral (Figure 9) are identified and presented on the screen of the device.

The figures and their descriptions made above illustrate the invention rather than limiting it. In particular, the invention and its various variants have just been described in connection with a particular example in which a database 25 and / or a decoding module 26 and / or a correspondence module 27 are provided at the reader level. Decoder 20.

Nevertheless, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention can be extended to other embodiments in which, in variants, one or more of these modules are provided at a remote server. relationship with the reader-decoder. The reference signs in the claims are not limiting in nature. The verbs "understand" and "include" do not exclude the presence of elements other than those listed in the claims. The word "a" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

Claims

An interactive mapping system between a printed geographical map and a reading and decoding apparatus, comprising:

at least one interactive geographical map (10) comprising a cartographic representation of a given area on a printed medium, said map also comprising a plurality of geolocation elements that are distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible to the user; on said map, for providing geolocation data for points or geographic areas of the map located in the immediate vicinity of the point or area of implantation of said geolocation elements in the map;

a geolocation database, associated with a given geographical map, comprising, for each geolocation element of the associated map, a unique signature, the corresponding geographic coordinates, and at least one step of an interactive application;

at least one reader-decoder provided with a sensor (23) of geolocation elements of said geographical map not visible to the user without said reader-decoder;

a decoding module (26) adapted to obtain geolocation data for a corresponding interactive application from data from said geolocation elements;

a mapping module (27) between data received by the sensor and the data of the digital database;

an application module (28) for implementing interactive applications;

a module for rendering the user interactive data provided by an activated application.

2. interactive mapping system according to claim 1, wherein each geolocation element comprises data for the implementation of an interactive application adapted to this point of geolocation.

3. interactive mapping system according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the geolocation elements distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible by the user on said map are printed elements using an invisible ink by the user, and in which the sensor (23) makes it possible to read the printed contents of said elements on the geographical map used.

4. interactive mapping system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the geolocation elements distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible by the user on said map are magnetic, inductive or electronic elements integrated into the map.

5. interactive mapping system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the player-decoder is arranged to display on the display screen the area of the card being read.

6. interactive mapping system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the player-decoder is arranged to display on the display screen data in relation to the geolocation data obtained.

Interactive mapping method for interactive mapping system according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising:

a step of detecting (40) at least one geolocation element distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible to the user on said card integrated in said card by a sensor (20) adapted;

- A step of rendering the user interactive elements from the application.

8. interactive mapping method according to claim 7, comprising, prior to the reading step (40) a step of constituting a database comprising the data in relation to a plurality of geolocation elements, and for each geolocation element, a unique signature, the corresponding geographic coordinates, and at least one link to a step of an interactive application.

9. interactive mapping method according to claim 7, comprising, prior to the detection step (40), a step of producing a geographical map comprising a plurality of geolocation elements distinct from the visual geographical representation and not directly visible to the user on said card integrated in the card.

The interactive mapping method of claim 9, wherein the geolocation elements are mapped to geolocation coordinates.

11. Interactive mapping method according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the displayed interactive data comprises a combination of the map data of the area being interact with the sensor and complementary interactive data obtained by said method.

12. Interactive mapping method according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the displayed interactive data are different from the visual data of the area in interaction with the sensor.

Interactive interactive map (10) for interactive mapping system according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising:

a cartographic representation of a given area on a printed medium;