WO2015145134A1

WO2015145134A1 - A satellite navigation system

Info

Publication number: WO2015145134A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/050873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Jennings
Original assignee: Simon Jennings
Priority date: 2014-03-25
Filing date: 2015-03-24
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Also published as: GB2524518A; GB201405319D0

Abstract

A satellite navigation system comprises a database having a first category of data containing longitude values and latitude values; said database having a second category of data containing a plurality of individually owned names; each individually owned names being associated with a longitude value and a latitude value; and said database having a third category of data containing ownership details of an owner corresponding to said individually owned name; and said database having a fourth category containing navigation data suitable to navigate a user to a point formed by said longitude and latitude values,

Description

The invention relates to satellite navigation systems,

The closest prior art known to the applicant are existing satellite navigation systems which utilise the input of an address or postcode to navigate a user to a given location. These systems are often inaccurate in that users are sometimes unable to find the exact intended location, meaning a requirement for additional vocal or written directions, which themselves can be misinterpreted. Addresses are also difficult to remember, and long to convey and type into a device such as a Satnav or other GPS enabled electronic device, Moreover, the prior art does not offer a database wherein a bespoke name can be chosen and assigned to a static or moving location so that the owner of the name can be located and navigated to by a user of the system. Summary ¾f the Invention

In a first broad Independent aspect, the invention provides a satellite navigation system comprising a database having a first category of data containing longitude values and s latitude values; said database having a second category of data containing a plurality of individually owned names; each individually owned name being associated with a longitude value and a latitude value; and said database having a third category of data containing ownership details of an owner corresponding to said individually owned name; and said database having a fourth category containing navigation data suitable to navigate0 a user to a point formed by said longitude and latitude values.

This configuration simplifies the interaction of a user with a satellite navigation system. It also improves the accuracy of the navigation system whilst increasing the potential search terms, It provides customisation or tailoring of electronic mapping systems without5 substantially increasing complexity.

This configuration provides a satellite navigation system that allows an owner to obtain an individual name and assign specific ownership details and geographical location information to that name in order for a user of the system to determine where the owner0 Is located. The database also contains navigation data so that a user may navigate to the owner's location once they have been located.

Each individual name on the database may optionally only be used by one owner, so that a user of the system can search for the specific name and locate, and navigate to, theS intended owner without confusion.

Preferably, said system comprises means for receiving the location of an owner of said name and updating said longitude and latitude values. The location of the owner may be static or mobile, being changeable by the owner at any time. The location of the owner0 can also be updated in real time as the owner's longitude and latitude values change. This configuration provides the advantage of keeping users up to date with the current location of a name owner. This allows a user to locate the owner's exact location rather than locating a position, using conventional methods, where the owner has only a chance of being. Preferably, said system incorporates a fifth category of data containing supplementary information corresponding to said individually owned name. This configuration provides the advantage of an owner to associate additional promotional information to their individually owned name, such as a voucher or a menu where the location is a shop or restaurant or the like.

Preferably, said system comprises means for allowing the content of said fourth category to be uploaded by the owner of said i dividually owned name. This configuration provides the advantage of allowing the navigation information to be personalised by the owner in order to provide more in-depth instruction to a user than a conventional satellite navigation system. Extra instructions, as well as images or sounds, may be added to the navigation data in order to precisely lead a user to the owner's location, Preferably, said system further comprises means for transmitting data representative of said individually owned name to one or more remotely located units. This configuration provides the advantage of providing users w^fith navigation information on fixed or portable devices such as a satellite navigation device or a similar electronic device with a global positioning system (GPS) enabled, Users of these devices can locate an owner by searching for their unique name on the database. Once the owner has been located using their unique name, navigation information can be presented to the user in order to lead them to the owner.

Preferably, said system further comprises an interface allowing the owner to control the availability of the navigation data to users. This configuration provides the advantage of allowing the owner to control the ability of system users to locate and navigate to their location.

Preferably, said interface allows the owner to control the start and/or the expiry of the availability of the navigation data to users. This provides the owner with the ability to control the time and duration that navigation data is available to users. For example, if an owner was hosting an event (e.g. Saturday evening), the owner may set the time at which navigation data is available to users (e.g, 5pm Saturday) and for how long that information is available (e.g, 4 hours} or at what time the information ceases to be available (e,g, 9pm Saturday).

Preferably, said interface allows the owner to control the availability of the navigation data to users by pin protecting the access. This provides the advantage of allowing the owner to control who the navigation data is available to. Following the previous example, the owner only wants his colleagues to attend the event He can set a pin code (e.g. 1 34) so that only the intended users can obtain the navigation data necessary to travel to the owner's location.

Preferably, said system provides the name without any location specific content; whereby said name is visible to users and said location specific content is only available to authorised users. This provides the advantage of an owner preventing unauthorised users from obtaining their location as well as the navigation data to lead to that location. Users may be authorised using a pin code or password to allow them to see the owner's location and navigation information.

Preferably, said database incorporates a further category of data containing altitude and/or depth values in addition to said longitude and latitude values which are associated with said individually owned name. This provides a user of the satellite navigation system with the height or depth that an owner is located as well as their longitude and latitude for precise positioning.

Preferably, said system incorporates one or more micro-location devices to provide a further location accuracy level. This configuration provides the advantage of allowing a user to receive specific information dependent on where they specifically located within a location, it also allows a user to be directed to a specific micro-location within an Initial location, it also allows data according to the third, fourth or fifth categories of data to be provided to a user when the user is at the micro-location.

!n a further subsidiary aspect, the system incorporates a digital controller with a satellite receiver for processing data for determining a position dependent upon satellite positions and a web information receiver for downloading location specific information; wherein the digital controller further comprises a transmitter for transmitting web information to a cloud based server. in a further subsidiary aspect, the digital controller receives and authorises the sharing of web information via a cloud based server for one or more authorised individuals operating personal digital assistants. in a further subsidiary aspect, the personal digital assistants are configured to dispatch a request for rendering available location specific information; said digital controller being configured to process and authorise such a request in response to a user input.

Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of the system of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a first illustrated embodiment, illustrating the system of the invention.

Figure 3 shows second embodiment, where navigation data is available to a user between a specified start time and expiry time.

Figure 4 shows third embodiment, where navigation data is available to a user once a security pin code has been entered. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the system for satellite navigation.

Figure 6 shows a further aspect of the embodiment of Figure S.

Existing satellite navigation systems use a plurality of satellites that provide geographical positioning to allow small electronic receivers to determine their longitude and latitude. When a user of an existing system wants to navigate to a particular location, they enter the specific address (or postcode) of that location into an electronic device and allow the plurality of satellites to determine a shortest or fastest route from their start point.

This and other prior art system are often inaccurate in that users are sometimes unable to find the exact intended location, meaning a requirement for additional vocal or written directions, which themselves can be misinterpreted. Addresses are also difficult to remember, and are long to convey and type into a device such as a Satnav or other C S enabled electronic device. Moreover, current systems do not allow a person to control where they can be found or at what time they can be found at a particular Location.

The current invention provides a means for a person or organisation to store a longitude and latitude, along with other information., in relation to a bespoke individual name which they have registered. This bespoke individual name works much like a username for entry onto electronic devices, email accounts and in many other situations. This name may be alphabetic, numeric or alphanumeric. An individual name may also contain other symbols that are conventionally used on computers, phones or other electronic devices. When a name is registered, it is checked against the database to ensure thai a name is not used by more than one person/organisation. The individual name can be used as a quick, and easy to recall, method for navigation on a website, an application for an electronic device, or through integration into existing satellite navigation systems and devices.

The current invention provides a flexible and accurate system with the ability of a user to easily locate and navigate to the owner of an individual name whether the location is static or changing, permanent or temporary,

A satellite navigation system as illustrated in figure 1 comprises a database having a number of categories of data. In a first categor of data, the database of the system contains longitude and latitude values for subsequent categories of data to be assigned to. In a second category of data, a first person/organisation will search for an available individual name on the system. This can be done using a website or software for an electronic device such as a mobile phone, Once the first person has found a suitable name, they register the use of it through a purchase or similar transaction. This

person/organisation, now the owner of the name, can then assign longitude and latitude values, from the first category of data, to their registered name to mark their location. Once this has been done a second person, known as the user, can search for that name in order to locate and navigate to the first person (the owner). Alternatively, the owner can locate their position automatically using GPS rather than manually entering their longitude and latitude values. The owner can also assign an altitude (or depth) value to their location at the same t me as assigning longitude and latitude values. If a user is to travel to the location of the owner it is often Important to know the altitude or depth they must travel to get to the location. This is especially the case in mountainous areas or areas below sea level or when a user must travel a long distance to reach the owner's location. The system can be used at sea as well as on land,

At the same time as assigning the relevant location information, the owner can also assign ownership details to the individual name, from a third category of data, to provide more information to a user when they are searching for a particular person or organisation. This third category of data is particularly advantageous to organisations as it allows an organisation to add information to a registered unique name in order to enhance customer relationships and brand awareness. The system can also integrate with social media platforms as a person's social networking information can be added to their unique registered name along with their home, work, current and other locations. The database of the system further comprises a fourth category of data suitable to navigate a user to a point formed by the assigned longitude and latitude values. Once an owner has completed the setup of their individual name with the relevant location and ownership information, a user can search for that owner on the database by typing in their unique name. This will either be done on a website, software for an electronic device such as a mobile phone, or through an existing satellite navigation device wherein the database has been integrated.

The database of the system further comprises a fifth category of data containing supplementary information corresponding to said individually owned name. This allows supplementary information such as vouchers or menus, as well as the ownership details, to be presented to a user when they are searching for a particular person or organisation, after they have chosen a person/organisation to navigate to, or when they are at a particular location. Once the owner has been identified, their location information will be shown to the user. Following this, navigation data can be provided to the user in order to direct them to the location of the owner from the user's starting location. It is noted that the navigation data can be transmitted to the remoteiy located unit of the user from the database, or the data may already be available from an existing satellite navigation system in which the current system is integrated.

In a preferred embodiment, the system also comprises an interface whereby the owner can add personalised navigation information, to aid a user's navigation to the location, as part of the fourth category of data. This may be carried out at the stage where location information and ownership details are assigned to an owner's registered name. The personalised navigation information may contain additional text or sound instructions or images of nearby landmarks or the location itself to help a user identify the exact location of the owner. This is especially important where existing road navigation is unavailable. The owner can set several way points, comprising additional information, where the road navigation ends to continue directing a user to their location.

In a further preferred embodiment, the interface can also allow the owner to set various accessibility preferences in order to control who can locate and navigate to the owner and at what time the owner can be located and navigated to. This may be carried out at the same stage as assigning location information and ownership details, in this preferred embodiment, the owner can adjust the visibility of their location to other users. At times where the owner does not wish to be located or navigated to, they can set their location to an Invisible' mode of operation so that their location does not appear when their unique name is searched for on the system. Further, the owner can set times at which their location is visible to users. An example is illustrated in Figure 3, discussed below.

In an even further preferred embodiment, the interface can also allow the owner to protect access to their location using a password or pin code system or other known means of protection, in this embodiment, the owner can set a password or pin code when adding location and ownership information. As a result, a user will be able to search for the name of the owner but they will not be able to view the location of the owner unless they enter the required password or pin code. At this stage, if a correct password/pin code is entered, they can view the location of the owner and receive navigation data in order to navigate to that location. !n a further preferred embodiment, multiple locations can be added to a single unique name allowing the location associated with the individual name of the owner to change. This is beneficial where a person has multiple possible locations such as a home location and a work location. This way, the owner can switch between the two locations and users can be directed to exactly where the owner is at a given time, in a further embodiment, the location of the owner can be updated in real time as the owner moves around. The system may use the GPS capabilities of a mobile phone or similar electronic device to update the current location of the owner and a user can receive the real time updated location of the owner on their own device.

In a further preferred embodiment, the system incorporates one or more micro-location devices to provide a further location accuracy leveL The one or more devices allow a user to receive specification information dependent on where they are specifically located within a location, it also allows a user to be directed to a specific micro-location within an initial location and allows data according to the third, fourth or fifth categories of data to be provided to a user when the user is at the micro-location. A micro-location device could, for example, comprise a Bluetooth™ enabled device or the like.

Figure 2 shows a first illustrated embodiment where, in use, a shop owner registers the unique name 'Oxford Street Shoe Shop', The owner can then assign the longitude and latitude of the shop to the registered name, for example latitude 51.515400 and longitude -0.141245. At the same time, the shop owner can add ownership details, such as the goods that the shop sells and other information about the shop, to the registered name so that when a user searches for the shop's unique name, they are presented with relevant information.

At the stage where location information and ownership details are assigned to an owner's registered name, the owner may also add personalised navigation information to aid a user's navigation to the location. The personalised navigation information may contain additional text or sound instructions or images of nearby landmarks or the location itself to help a user identify the exact location, and is added using the interface previously mentioned. In this embodiment, the shop owner could add an image of the front of the shop so that once a user has navigated to the location of the shop using the standard navigation data; they can compare the front of the building with the image that has been provided to determine exactly where the shop is located. As outlined above, at the stage where location information and ownership details are assigned to an owner's name, the owner may also choose various accessibility settings in order to control who can locate and navigate to the owner and at what time the owner can be located and navigated to. This is illustrated in figure 3. Figure 3 shows a second embodiment where, in use, an owner registers the individual name 'James Bell', Relevant longitude and latitude values are assigned to the individual name and any personalised navigation information is also added. As outlined, the system also comprises an interface wherein the owner can set accessibility preferences in order to control when the owner's location can be viewed and navigated to, in this embodiment, the owner only wants their location and navigation information to be available between 16,00 and 21.00 on Saturday 1^st January. These parameters can therefore be entered on the interface to restrict access outside of these times. When a user searches for 'James Bell' outside of these times, the unique name may be visible but location information and navigation information will not be available. Alternatively, the owner could completely remove the visibility of the unique name so that 'James Bell' does not show up in any search results on the system. When a user searches for "james Bell' within the set time parameters, location and navigation information is available.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment where, in use, an owner protects access to their location using a pin code. This is carried out at the same stage as setting the longitude and latitude values, the ownership information and any personalised navigation information. In this embodiment, the owner only wants certain users to know where he is located and therefore sets the pin code '1234' to protect his location, When a user searches for 'james Bell' they are prompted to enter a pin code, if an incorrect pin code is entered, the user will not be able to view the location of the owner or navigate to that location, if the correct pin code., 234", Is entered the location and navigation information becomes available to the user. In an alternative embodiment, the system is integrated into an alarm device such as a rape alarm or burglary device; such that when the alarm is set off it can provide the relevant services with the exact location where the alarm has been set off. In another alternative embodiment, representation of the navigation data may be 3 dimensional to even further increase the accuracy of the system, 3 dimensional navigation instructions will make the location and route to the location even clearer to a user.

In yet another alternative embodiment the registered name of an owner can be assigned or 'tagged' to electronic activities that the owner partakes in. For example, the owner can attach their registered name to an email so that anyone who views that email can also view where the owner was when they sent the email. This is particularly useful where the email contains information relating to a requirement for the user to navigate to the owner (e.g. for an event). By tagging the registered name to the email, the user can easily view where they will need to navigate to. in another alternative embodiment, a registerable name from the database is rented rather than purchased. This is particularly advantageous when considering names which would be searched for on a regular basis by a large number of people. By offering the possibility of renting a name for a period of time, a person or organisation can maximise the use of a name when they need it and another person/organisation can use the same name when the first person/organisation no longer requires it.

Additionally, particular registered names can be subscribed to so that users are updated on the location of a particular person or organisation. For example, a sports team could register a name that many users subsequently subscribe to. Each user is consequently sent information relating to the current location of the sports team so that at any given time they know where the sports team are located so that they can navigate to their location. This is particularly advantageous when, for example, the sports team play an away fixture so that any fans travelling to the fixture do not have to search for an alternative name but can navigate to their team as the location of the team will have updated along with the navigation data to that location.

Figure 5 shows a mobile digital controller which may be employed by the operator of the system. This kind of mobile digital controller is capable of receiving GPS triangulation data from a plurality of satellites in order to specifically derive the location of the mobile digital controller with respect to the global positioning system, it is specifically capable of finding a particular point of reference which will possess a longitude and a latitude value. This kind of mobile digital controller will employ a display for displaying a map with a dart or another symbol as appropriate to highlight the current position of the mobile digital controller. In addition the mobile digital controller is able to control the kind of information which may be displayed to authorised users including the mobile digital controller him/herself. The mobile digital controller is particularly equipped with a web information transmitter to upload data to a remotely located server. The remotely located server may be located in the so-called cloud and is thus pictorially displayed as such. The kind of data uploaded through the mobile digital controller's portal may be a particular name to be associated with a particular longitude and latitude value. This name may then be associated with mapping information and received by appropriate web information receivers such as the one provided as part of the mobile digital controller. As part of the information transmitted from the web information transmitter to the cloud a user may authorise the downloading of the information to particular users only. Authorised users are displayed as PDA123. These are so-called personally digital assistants which are capable of downloading web information to their respective receivers. The specific information will associate a name or other kind of information with a longitude and latitude value in order to facilitate the display of a target on a personal digital assistant display. in addition to the mapping and other information received by the web information receiver of the mobile digital controller, specific invitations of individuals may be received for the operator of the controller to authorise users to have access to the desired mapping information, if authorisation is provided by the mobile digital controller, an unlocking signal may be sent from the web information transmitter to the various controllers of the databases provided in the cloud, Following authorisation individual personal digital assistants of third parties are allowed access to the location specific information. The mobile digital controller may also be configured to authorise any user accessing the databases in the cloud. As shown in Figure 6 the authorisation process may be received by other social network platforms such as Facebook (a registered trade mark). Users of the system may therefore access a facility in their Facebook account to send a request for authorisation into the mapping network of the invention. Once successfully authorised, information may also be sent to the social network platforms rather than simply directly sent to an appropriately authorised personal digital assistant. The remotely controlled databases may include at least one or more of the following databases; longitude/latitude database, name/address database, venue information database, and additional location specific database.

The user may also input a start and end date for the availability of the information provided to other users either directly to various PDAs or to individual social network platforms. A timer is provided to activate the provision of information and deactivate the provision as appropriate. The mobile digital controller may also Incorporate an interface to allow the user to input venue specific information and additional location specific information. This arrangement of various communication devices provides a much more specific and relevant platform for the communication of location specific data to a wide variety of potentially authorised other users or followers.

Claims

1. A satellite navigation system comprising a database having a first category of data containing ngitude values and latitude values; said database having a second category of data containing a plurality of individually owned names; each individually owned name being associated with a longitude value and a latitude value; and said database having a third category of data containing ownership details of an owner corresponding to said individually owned name; and said database having a fourth category containing navigation data suitable to navigate a user to a point formed by said longitude and latitude values.

2. A satellite navigation system according to claim 1 comprising means for receiving the location of an owner of said name and updating said longitude and latitude values,

3. A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said system incorporates a fifth category of data containing supplementary information corresponding to said individually owned name.

4. A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims_., comprising means for allowing the content of said fourth and/or fifth category to be uploaded by the owner of said individually owned name.

5. A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising means for transmitting data representative of said individually owned name to one or more remotely located units.

6. A satellite navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said system further comprises an Interface allowing the owner to control the availability of the navigation data to users.

7. A satellite navigation system according to claim 6, wherein said interface allows the owner to control the start and/or the expiry of the availability of the navigation data to users.

8. A satellite navigation system according to either claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said interface allows the owner to control the availability of the navigation data to users by pin protecting the access,

9. A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said system provides the name without any location specific content; whereby said name is visible to users and said location specific content is only available to authorised users.

10. A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said database incorporates a further category of data containing altitude and/or depth values in addition to said longitude and latitude values which are associated with said individually owned name.

1 1. A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said system incorporates one or more micro-location devices to provide a further location accuracy level.

1 . A satellite navigation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said system incorporates a digital controller with a satellite receiver for processing data for determining a position dependent upon satellite positions and a web information receive for downloading location specific information; wherein the digital controller further comprises a transmitter for transmitting web information to a cloud based server.

13. A satellite navigation system according to claim 12, wherein said digital controller receives and authorises the sharing of web information via a cloud based server for one or more authorised individuals operating personal digital assistants.

14. A satellite navigation system according to claim 13, wherein said personal digital assistants are configured to dispatch a request for rendering available location specific information; said digital controller being configured ΐο process and authorise such a request in response to a user input,

15. A satellite navigation system substantially as hereinbefore described and/or

illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.