Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Determination of travel data based on the start point and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-22
2001-04-03
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Determination of travel data based on the start point and...
C701S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212469
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for display positioning and measuring information for runners, walkers, or other travellers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Runners, walkers, sportsman, and travellers often have a need to know how far they have travelled and how much longer they have to go. This is difficult to determine if the individual is not familiar with the area where he or she is travelling. Even if the individual is familiar with the area, he or she may want an accurate estimate of the distance or time left in order to reach a certain destination.
Portable devices are known in the art which include global positioning satellite integrated circuit receivers. These portable devices allow a hiker to check the total distance where he or she is currently located from a start point. If a hiker walks from the start point to a location five miles away and then back to the start point, the total distance from the start point when the hiker gets back is zero.
Mechanical devices are known which count the number of strides by a jogger to determine how far he has travelled. The mechanical devices would be inserted in a shoe of the jogger and would increase a count, each time the shoe was jolted by landing on the surface of a road. Multiplying this count times the stride distance would give the distance travelled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention an apparatus comprised of a processor, an actuator portion and a display portion is disclosed. The processor is preferably comprised of a global positioning satellite integrated circuit. The processor is adapted to determine an initial position from a first satellite signal in response to an actuator element in the actuator portion and to determine a distance travelled from the initial position in response to a second satellite signal. The first and second satellite signals are preferably from different satellites. The processor preferably outputs the distance travelled from the initial position to a display element of the display portion.
The processor preferably is also adapted to receive a goal distance and the processor determines a distance remaining which is the difference between the goal distance and the distance travelled, and outputs the distance remaining to a display element of the display portion. In one embodiment of the present invention a clock is provided for determining elapsed time and other timing variables. The processor preferably sets an elapsed time variable to zero in response to the activation of an actuator element in the actuator portion and outputs the elapsed time to a display element of the display portion at various intervals or as the elapsed time is changing.
The processor is preferably adapted to divide the distance travelled by elapsed time to determine the rate of travel and to divide the distance remaining by the rate of travel to determine a time to finish and these variables are preferably output to a display element of the display portion.
The processor, the display portion, and the actuator portion are preferably incorporated into a head piece of a watch. The watch also includes a watchband which is connected to the head piece.
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The Global Positioning System (GPS) and Its Commercial Applications; http://uadis.bpa.arizona.edu/byang/gps2.html#comm_ap; http://uadis.bpa.arizona.edu/byang/gpssov.html; Jan. 2, 1998.*
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Global Position System Overview, Peter H. Dana, University of Texas at Austin, Copright 1998.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Zanelli Michael J.
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