Patent ID: 6477542
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: G09B,Y10S

Abstract:
A system for retrieving and delivering to a user taking a tour of an area-of-interest an information stream about a plurality of points-of-interest within an area-of-interest, comprising:a) a server device for storing information concerning said points-of-interest and for causing generation of a print-on-demand book; b) a plurality of point-of-interest identification devices coupled to said server device, each such identification device being assigned to a corresponding one of said points-of-interest, being disposed in an area from which said corresponding point-of-interest can be observed, and transmitting a point-of-interest identification signal identifying said corresponding point-of-interest, each comprising: i) means for transmitting said point-of-interest identification signal; ii) means for receiving interest-level indicia for said corresponding point-of-interest; and iii) means for communicating said interest level indicia to said server device; c) a plurality of portable devices for delivering said information stream to said user, each comprising: i) means for receiving said point-of-interest identification signals; ii) means for transmitting interest-level indicia; iii) a storage device for storing point-of-interest information concerning said points-of-interest, said information for each point-of-interest being associated in said storage device with one point-of-interest identification signal; iv) an audio output device adapted to output audio data in said point-of-interest information stored on said storage device; v) processing means coupled to said receiving means, said storage device and said audio output device, retrieving from said storage device point-of-interest information associated with said point-of-interest identification signal received by said receiving means, and conveying said retrieved point-of-interest information as said information stream to said audio output device; vi) a playback-control device coupled to said processing means, having a plurality of playback-control components engageable by said user, each corresponding to a playback command, and responding to an engagement of one of said playback-control components by communicating to said processing means indicia of said engaged playback-control component, such that said processing means modifies delivery of said point-of-interest information to conform with said corresponding playback command; and vii) an interest-level-designation device coupled to said interest-level indicia transmitting means, having a plurality of interest-level-designation components engageable by said user, each corresponding to an interest-level designation in a set of interest-level designations, and responding to an engagement of one of said interest-level-designation components by communicating to said interest-level indicia transmitting means indicia of said engaged interest-level-designation component, such that said interest-level indicia transmitting means responds by transmitting a signal identifying a mobile unit of which said interest-level-designation device is a part, said corresponding point-of-interest, and said interest-level indicia; and d) printing means coupled to said server device, for printing on demand said customized book, such that each portable device delivers to said user said information stream when said user brings said portable device into an area within which said user can conveniently observe said point-of-interest, and said printing means, when said user finishes said tour, prints a book customized according to said transmitted interest-level indicia.