WO1994029820A1

WO1994029820A1 - Apparatus for dispensing maps provided with an itinerary

Info

Publication number: WO1994029820A1
Application number: PCT/NL1994/000136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herman Josef Langen; Bruno Walter Haisma
Original assignee: Infostop B.V.
Priority date: 1993-06-15
Filing date: 1994-06-10
Publication date: 1994-12-22
Also published as: NL9301038A; AU6938194A

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing maps, comprising input means for entering a destination by a user and means for providing on the map for dispensing a representation of at least one route from the location of the apparatus to the destination, the apparatus being adapted to print on the map a line representing the route. The route is preferably represented by a line printed on the map. The input means are preferably adapted for interactive communication with the user.

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MAPS PROVIDED WITH AN ITINERARY

The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing maps.

Such apparatus are generally known, for instance in the form of an automatic dispenser arranged on approach roads to municipalities from which a map can be obtained by inserting a coin. Using the map the visitor can determine the route to his destination.

Often also arranged on such approach roads are fixed maps with which the visitor can likewise choose his route and then drive to his destination via the relevant route. A drawback to this prior art is the fact that the user must store the map in his memory and try to remember it. It therefore frequently occurs that after covering a particular part of the route the visitor still loses his way.

With the initially mentioned apparatus which dispense a map or street plan this drawback applies to a lesser extent. It is possible that after covering a part of the route the visitor has to consult the map again in order to determine the rest of his route.

NL-A-48887 describes an apparatus which attemps to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages. Said known apparatus for dispensing maps comprises input means for entering a destination by a user, and means for providing on the map to be dispensed a representation of a route from the location of the apparatus to the destination.

The user looking for a route to a destination will make his destination known to the apparatus by pressing a key, whereafter the apparatus prints the relevant route from the location of the apparatus to the destination on a map or street plan.

These steps result in a situation in which the user can take with him a map with the itinerary shown thereon while travelling the route between the apparatus and the destination. The danger of the user loosing his way is therefore practically negligible.

Said apparatus according to prior art represents the route to be travelled by points printed at important locations along the route, for example crossings. Thus, the representation of the route to be travelled obtained in this way is not fully comprehensible, specifically in the case of a complicated city plan.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of which the representation of the route printed by the apparatus is more comprehensible.

This object is achieved in that the apparatus is adapted for printing on the map a line representing the route.

It is obvious that representation of the route by a line is more comprehensible than a representation thereof comprising only printed points at the important locations along the route. It should be mentioned that representation by a line, as in the present invention, not only implies a continuous line, but for example also a dotted line, a dashed line or a combination thereof. It is of importance here, that an indication is present between the important points as known from the prior art.

According to a preferred embodiment input of the destination occurs by entering the name of an institution the user wants to visit, for example a company. With institutions not only companies are meant, but for example also garages, hotels, theatres or civil services.

According to another preferred embodiment interactive communication occurs between the user and the apparatus so as to determine the destination of the user.

It is also possible to have the user choose a language preceding this communication.

It is the intention that the dispensing of such maps provided with an itinerary takes place without cost to the user. The operating costs of the apparatus must then be met from other sources, for instance by selling subscriptions to companies or institutions which are established in the area to which the maps to be dispensed by the apparatus relate. Only when the user indicates as final destination a company which is a subscriber of the apparatus according to the invention will a relevant map provided with an itinerary be dispensed.

So as not to disappoint users on the way to companies or institutions not subscribing to the apparatus, the latter will in such a situation dispense a map, but without a printed itinerary. According to a preferred embodiment the apparatus also prints additional textual information. This can be a description in words of the route, as well as further information, for example departure times of the means of public transport. The apparatus preferably also prints the full name, address, telephone number and other data relating to the relevant company.

It is however also possible for a map provided with a route description to be dispensed only after insertion of a coin or reading of a magnetic card.

The invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: figure 1 shows an example of a map according to the invention; figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention; figure 3 shows a top view of a set of keys for use with the apparatus according to the invention; figure 4 shows a flow diagram of the structure for use by the apparatus.

Shown in figure 1 is a sheet of paper 1 which is provided with a map 2. Indicated on the map 2 are both the position of the apparatus according to the invention 3 and the destination 4 designated by the user. The route from the position of the apparatus to the destination 4 is indicated by means of the line 5. ^■ Although the above embodiment shows a full line, it is of course possible to use other lines, for example dotted or dashed lines.

Arranged on the top left-hand side of the paper 1 is a specification 6 of the company which represents the destination of the user. On the right-hand side is arranged a space 7 in which are stated the address and other data of the company. Arranged finally at top centre is a space 8 in which the itinerary is given in words. An embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention is shown in figure 2. The apparatus is accommo¬ dated in a shelter 9 which provides the user some protec¬ tion from the weather.

Placed herein is a housing in the form of a console 10 in which is arranged the screen 11 and series of keys 12. Also arranged further toward the bottom of the console is a delivery opening 17 from which the sheets of paper 1 are discharged after printing. The screen 11 is shown in more detail in figure 3, as are the associated keys 12, 13, 14, 15 and the confirmation key 16. In the housing 10 a frame 35 has been placed which contains a computer 36, a printer 37, a display device 38 and a climate control unit 39. The climate control unit 39 is used for controlling the temperature and humidity in the housing. It should be noticed here that the housing is often located outdoors.

The operation of this apparatus is as follows: the user 17 enters the shelter and finds on the screen 11 a welcome message and an invitation to enter a language of communication. The various languages from which a selec- tion can be made herein appear on the part 18 of screen 11, wherein the required language can be moved to the space 19 by means of the buttons 12 and 14 and the selec¬ tion can be made by pressing key 16.

There then appears a picture wherein a choice can be made between the method of searching for the destination, that is, by company name or by type of company or insti¬ tution. When a name is selected an alphabetic list of the relevant companies appears, from which a selection can be made by means of the buttons 12 and 14. Herein, parti¬ cularly when the number of companies is large, a letter can optionally be chosen with the keys 12-14 and a company associated with the particular letter can be selected with the keys 13-15. When the correct company or institution has been found the choice is confirmed by means of pressing key 16. When selection takes place according to type of company a corresponding search procedure is applied.

Various details are likewise shown on the flowchart shown in figure 4. Box 18 herein represents the display of the welcome message and the language choice request, whereafter the language choice takes place in box 19, which is displayed by the language boxes 20.

The choice or selection of the companies or insti¬ tution by name or type subsequently takes place in box 22, while selection takes place by means of name in part 23 and selection takes place by means of type in part 24. Resulting herefrom is the selection of a company in box 25.

In box 26 a check is made as to whether the company is a subscriber or not. Should this be the case, the route is then retrieved in box 27 and shown in box 28, while at box 29 the question is then asked as to whether the relevant map must be printed. This takes place at box 30, while the cycle otherwise starts again from the beginning. When conversely the company is not a subscriber, which is determined in box 31, the map is shown in box 32, while in box 33 the question is asked whether the user wishes a copy of the map. Printing of the map takes place in box 34, while in the case of a negative response the apparatus returns to the zero state.

It will be apparent that the above only represents one embodiment of the apparatus in question; it is like¬ wise possible to make use of other flowcharts of a dif¬ ferent configuration of equipment or of console in which the equipment is arranged. It is possible to provide the apparatus shown with a coin insertion mechanism with which the user only obtains a route description after payment. It is likewise possible for the insertion of a coin to be requested only in the case the route is requested to a destination which is not a subscriber. It is equally possible to make use of a card provided with a magnetic strip such as a credit card or a membership card. It is for instance conceivable that the possession of such a card gives entitlement to 10 route itineraries according to the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment the apparatus is adapted to print additional information, for example departure times of the means of public transport, like a train or a tram. When placed at a railway station it would for example be possible for the apparatus to print the time of departure of the first train departing to the destination, as well as the track of departure and the directions for walking to said track of departure. According to another embodiment the additional information consists of telephone numbers. These can naturally be telephone numbers belonging to the institutions forming the destination. However, it is also possible to dispense telephone numbers belonging to arbitrary institutions or persons. This embodiment is in particular adapted to be placed inside a shelter, together with a telephone booth. The apparatus according to the invention can then be equipped with a separate printer so as to print the numbers on a small piece of paper. It is naturally also possible to use a printer adapted to several paper sizes.

In order to find the telephone subscriber, whose telephone number is required, the search structures for finding the destination already present in the apparatus can be used. It is naturally possible to dispense these telephone numbers for free, for example when revenues are derived from subscriptions to the route indications, though it is equally possible to use a device for payment, for example in the form of a telephone card depreciating device or a coin device. The device for payment is of particular importance in the case, where the apparatus is only adapted to dispense telephone numbers, and is not adapted to dispense route indications. Therefore it is also possible to adapt the apparatus to dispense telephone numbers only. In this case the revenues should now be derived from dispensing said phone numbers. It will be apparent that it is possible to dispense the relevant map in the form of a black and white print or that it is also possible to make use of a colour print. Use is however preferably made of pre-printed maps which are provided with an itinerary for instance by means of a black line. It is in any case possible to make use of a monochrome (black) printer which can simultaneously provide the relevant text.

It is further possible to use a central control means to manage diverse apparatus forming part of the system, for example for adding subscribers, reporting back the number of consultations, reporting back the number of unprinted cards on supply, passing on information about defects and so on.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing maps, comprising input means for entering a destination by a user and by means for providing on the map for dispensing a represen¬ tation of at least one route from the location of the apparatus to the destination, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to print on the map a line representing the route.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the input means are adapted for entering the name of an institution for a destination.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to print on the map a text representing the route.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to print additional information on the map.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the input means are adapted for interactive communication with the user.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1-5, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to dispense maps depicting an area, for instance a municipality, an industrial estate, a building complex or a building.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that subject to the destination the apparatus is adapted to dispense different maps.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that subject to the destination the apparatus is adapted to dispense a map without itinerary.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to dispense a map only after insertion of a value carrying unit.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to except a magnetic card for a value carrying unit.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized by a computer, a printer, at least one screen and operating keys.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the components of the apparatus are placed in a "hooligan proof" housing.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the components of the apparatus are secured in a frame placed inside said housing.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that the housing is provided with a climate control unit.

15. A collection of apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus forming part of the collection relate to the same area.

16. A collection of apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the computers of the apparatus forming part of the collection are connected to a common central control means.