Patent EA-001163-B1 (EA)
Title: System for providing location-specific data to a user
Inventor: JOHNSTONE ROBERT L
IPC: H04W84/06
Filed: 1997-10-31
Abstract: 1. A system for providing location-specific data to a user, comprising: a broadcast station for transmitting general data potentially usable by a plurality of users located at different geographic positions; a relay satellite for relaying said general data from said broadcast station to said plurality of users; and a receiver terminal provided for each of said users, said receiver terminal comprising a broadcast receiver for receiving said general data from said relay satellite, a position determination unit for determining the geographic position of the user, and a processor for converting said general data to location-specific data based on the geographic position of said user as determined by said position determination unit. 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position determination unit comprises a geolocation radio receiver. 3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiver terminal further comprises an output device for visually presenting said location-specific data to said user. 4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said general data transmitted by said broadcast station is encrypted, and wherein said receiver terminal is adapted to decrypt said data using a decryption key. 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said receiver terminal further comprises an input device for receiving said decryption key from an external source. 6. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said external source comprises a magnetically encoded card and said input device comprises a magnetic card reader. 7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said general data comprises map data for a geographic region, and wherein said location-specific data comprises map data for a portion of said geographic region where said user is located. 8. A receiver terminal for providing location-specific data to a user, comprising: a broadcast receiver for receiving general data transmitted by a broadcast station, a position determination unit for determining the geographic position of the receiver terminal and a processor for converting said general data to location-specific data based on the geographic position of the receiver terminal. 9. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said position determination unit comprises a geolocation radio receiver. 10. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said receiver terminal further comprises an output device for visually presenting said location-specific data to said user. 11. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said general data transmitted by said broadcast station is encrypted, and wherein of said receiver terminal is adapted to decrypt said image data using a decryption key. 12. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver terminal further comprises an input device for receiving said decryption key from an external source. 13. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said external source comprises a magnetically encoded card and said input device comprises a magnetic card reader. 14. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said general data comprises map data for a geographic region, and wherein said location-specific data comprises map data for a portion of said geographic region where said user is located. 15. A method for providing location-specific data to a user, comprising: transmitting general data potentially usable by a plurality of users located at different geographic positions; receiving said general data at one of said user locations; determining the geographic position of said user; and converting said general data to location-specific data based on the geographic position of said user. 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of relaying said transmitted general data through a satellite. 17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of determining the geographic position of said user comprises receiving geolocation radio signals. 18. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of displaying said location-specific data to said user. 19. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said transmitted general data is encrypted, and wherein said method further comprises the step of decrypting said image data at said user location. 20. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said general data comprises map data for a geographic region, and wherein said location-specific data comprises map data for a portion of said geographic region where said user is located. 21. A system for providing digital map data to a user, comprising: a broadcast station for transmitting said digital map data; a relay satellite for relaying said digital map data from said broadcast station to said user; and and a receiver terminal provided for said user, said receiver terminal comprising a broadcast receiver for receiving said digital map data from said relay satellite, a processor, connected to said broadcast receiver, for converting said digital map data, a memory unit, connected to said processor, for storing said digital map data and an output device, connected to said processor, for providing an output signal to said user using said digital map data. 22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said receiver terminal further comprises said position determination unit, connected to said processor, for determining the position of the user. 23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said position determination unit is adapted for processing said digital map data, stored in said memory unit, based on the position of the user, determined by said position determination unit. 24. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said position determination unit comprises a geolocation radio receiver. 25. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said digital map data, transmitted by said broadcast station is encrypted, and wherein said processor is adapted to decrypt said encrypted digital map data using a decryption key. 26. A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said receiver terminal is adapted for receiving said decryption key from an external source. 27. A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said external source comprises a magnetically encoded card and wherein said input device comprises a magnetic card reader or connected to it. 28. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said digital map data comprises a digital map image and wherein said output device comprises a reflecting device for reflecting a visual map image to said user. 29. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said digital map data comprises correcting data, used by said processor for introducing changes in said digital map image, stored in said memory unit, and wherein said output device comprises said reflecting device for reflecting said visual map image to said user. 30. A receiver terminal, wherein said for providing digital map data to a user, comprising: a broadcast receiver for receiving said digital map data, transmitted by said broadcast station; a processor, connected to said broadcast receiver, for processing said digital map data; a memory unit, connected to said processor for storing said digital map data; and an output device, connected to said processor, for providing an output signal to said user using said digital map data. 31. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a position determination unit, connected to said processor for determining the position of the user. 32. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 31, wherein said processor is adapted for processing said digital map data in said memory unit based on the position of the user, determined by said position determination unit. 33. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 31, wherein said position determination unit comprises a geolocation radio receiver. 34. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein said digital map data, transmitted by said broadcast station is encrypted, and wherein said processor is adapted to decrypt said encrypted digital map data using a decryption key. 35. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 34, wherein said receiver terminal is adapted for receiving said decryption key from an external source. 36. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 35, wherein said external source comprises a magnetically encoded card and wherein said input device comprises a magnetic card reader or connected to it. 37. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein said digital map data comprises correcting data, used by said processor for introducing changes in said digital map image, stored in said memory unit, and wherein said output device comprises said reflecting device for reflecting said visual map image to said user. 38. A receiver terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein said digital map data comprises correcting data, used by said processor for introducing changes in said digital map image, stored in said memory unit, and wherein said output device comprises said reflecting device for reflecting said visual map image to said user. 39. A method for providing digital map data to a user, comprising; broadcasting of digital map data from a broadcast station; receiving said digital map data by a broadcast receiver in the position of the user, remote from said broadcast station; storing said digital map data in said broadcast receiver; and providing an output signal from said broadcast receiver using said digital map data. 40. A method as claimed in claim 39, further comprising relaying said digital map data from said broadcast station to the position of the user via a satellite. 41. A method as claimed in claim 39, further comprising determining the position of the user and controlling an output signal from said broadcast receiver based on said position. 42. A method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said digital map data, transmitted by said broadcast station is encrypted, and wherein said method further comprises decrypting  said encrypted digital map data in said broadcast re