Patent ID: 7130645
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A method for providing one of a plurality of available information units to a user, wherein the information units each describe an object at a respective location, wherein the method comprises: a) detecting a geographic position of the user; b) iteratively determining such information units from the plurality of available information units that describe objects situated at locations which have a spatial relationship to the geographic position of the user which meets a geographic selection criterion, selecting an information unit to be reproduced to the user from the determined information units, and reproducing the selected information unit to the user; c) depending on a temporal behavior of the geographic position, a speed and/or a direction of movement of the user, adjusting the geographic selection criterion so that a subsequent selection process is performed with a different geographic selection criterion, wherein the method further comprises: d) prior to step c), detecting the position, speed and/or direction of movement of the user over a time window of predetermined duration to detect the temporal behavior, wherein step b) includes selecting those information units that describe objects at locations situated so that a distance of the geographic position of the user from the location of the object or an angle between the direction of movement of the user and a line running through the geographic position of the user and the location of the object is below or exceeds a selection parameter, wherein step b) further comprises the following substeps: b1) evaluation of the detected temporal behavior in the time window of a predetermined time period to obtain a statistical characteristic or measure; and b2) adjusting the geographic selection criterion depending on the statistical characteristic, and wherein in step d) the temporal behavior is also determined over a further time window of a further predetermined time period which is longer than the time period of the predetermined time window, and wherein step b) further comprises the following substeps: prior to step b2), wherein the adjustment of step b2) comprises adjusting the selection parameter depending on the statistical characteristic on the basis of the functional connection defined by the value and/or values associated with the situation.