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`VWGoA - Ex. 1008
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Petitioner
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`U.S. Patent Dec. 10, 1985
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`Sheet] of 2
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`4,558,300
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`U.S. Patent Dec. 10, 1985
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`Sheet2of2
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`4,558,300
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`MAP LEVEL I
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`MAP LEVEL 2
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`INTERFACE
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`FULL KEYBOARD
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`COMPUTER MAP
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`4,558,300
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`The invention relates to an electronic map for selec-
`tively displaying routes to various locations in a build-
`ing such as a shopping mall.
`Maps having a plastic, back-lit display are commonly
`used in shopping centres to indicate the location of
`shops, washroom facilities, public telephones etc. Such
`maps are often difficult to read, involving colour or
`numbering schemes sometimes too complex to permit a
`particular facility to be easily located. Additionally,
`these maps may have to be replaced or refinished when
`ownership of a particular store changes. Accordingly,
`the invention provides a directory and map which in
`various embodiments seeks to overcome one or more
`problems associated with such prior art maps.
`In its broadest aspect the invention provides an elec-
`tronic map comprising at least one floor plan of a struc-
`ture, displaying a plurality of stations (such as shops,
`washrooms, public telephones etc.) and paths connect-
`ing the stations. A directory is provided to identify the
`various stations displayed on the floor plan, and a key-
`board is provided for selecting a particular station. Path
`indicating means such as a network of light emitting
`diodes selectively activated by appropriate logic cir-
`cuitry respond to the selection of a particular station to
`visually indicate on the floor plan a path extending from
`a predetermined point on the floor plan to the selected
`station. The predetermined point will generally be se-
`lected to correspond to the location of the electronic
`map on the floor plan.
`In a preferred embodiment of the electronic map
`intended for use with multi-level structures the path
`indicating means respond to the selection of a particular
`station at a level other than that of the map by indicat-
`ing on a first floor plan a path extending from the loca-
`tion of the map to a stairwell (or alternatively an escala-
`tor or elevator), the vertical direction to be taken on the
`stairwell and on a second floor plan the continuation of
`the path from the stairwell to the selected station.
`The term “keyboard” as used in this specification
`includes any collection of switches, whether push but-
`ton, toggle or rotary, which can be selectively operated
`to produce a signal indicative of a particular station, as
`well as a conventional key pad bearing alphanumeric
`characters and adapted to generate coded signals indic-
`ative of particular stations.
`Advantages and objects of the invention will become
`more apparent from a description below of a preferred
`embodiment, taken together with drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer directory
`system and map embodying the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a plan view of a user control console with a
`directory and keyboard for activating the directory
`system;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram representing the basic com-
`ponents of the computer directory system; and,
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of floor plans displayed by
`the computer directory system.
`Reference is made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a com-
`puter directory system generally indicated by the refer-
`ence numeral 10. The directory system 10 comprises a
`housing 12 provided with a display panel 14, video
`display unit (cathode ray tube) 15, and a user input
`console 16. The display 14 is formed of a transluscent
`plastic sheet bearing floor plans of the building in which
`the directory system 10 is to be located. The display
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`panel 14 is of the type commonly found in shopping
`centres, back-lit with lights located within the housing
`12 to provide a bright, attractive display.
`The user input console displays a directory 18 indi-
`cating a plurality of stations (stores, washrooms, public
`telephones etc.). The directory 18 is preferrably con-
`structed of a plurality of metal or plastic strips each
`bearing a description identifying a particular station,
`and affixed in a conventional manner to the user input
`console 16. The strips are preferrably removably affixed
`to accommodate changes in ownership of particular
`stores or relocations. However, it will be apparent from
`the description of the computerized operation below,
`that some such changes can be accommodated by a
`reprogramming of the directory system 10 without
`physical changes to the structure itself.
`In the view of FIG. 2 the directory listing is diagram-
`matically illustrated by a plurality of horizontal lines. A
`number of aligned push buttons 20 are illustrated in a
`similar manner. Each item in the directory listing is
`associated with one such push button 20, and selection
`of that particular push button 20 generates a signal (an
`open or closed circuit) associated with the particular
`station selected. Additionally, a numerical key pad 22 is
`provided on which coded signals can be composed.
`These coded signals can be arranged to correspond to
`digital codes associated with each directory listing (and
`displayed adjacent to each listing) so that a particular
`station can be selected by keying its code, instead of
`pressing a particular button 20. However, such a func-
`tion would be redundant, and the principle function of
`the key pad 22 is to permit the composition of category
`codes selected from a category listing 24.
`On location, a user might consult the category listing
`24 to determine what stores provide a particular ser-
`vice. The code corresponding to that service would be
`composed on the numerical key pad 22, and stores pro-
`viding such services could then be displayed on the
`video display unit 15. A particular store could then be
`located in the directory listing, and the corresponding
`push button 20 pressed to activate the directory system
`10 to display the location of the store and to simulta-
`neously display a route extending to the store. It will be
`appreciated that to perform the above functions it is not
`necessary to provide both the push buttons 20 and key
`pad 22. All store locations and category listings can be
`digitally coded, or alternatively all can be associated
`with particular push buttons 20. The numerical coding
`system involving the key pad 22 is particularly useful
`with the category listing 24, as changes in or expansion
`of the category listing 24 can then be readily accommo-
`dated by reprogramming the directory system 10 with-
`out requiring extensive changes in the physical layout of
`the user input console 16.
`The computer directory system 10 is illustrated in
`block diagram form in the view of FIG. 3. The system
`10 comprises two maps (floor plans) 26, 28 of two levels
`of a building (these maps 26, 28 are illustrated in greater
`detail in the view of FIG. 4). Also shown are the video
`display 15 and user input console 16. A computer 30,
`which can be an appropriately programmed micro pro-
`cessor with memory, coordinates the operation of the
`directory system 10.
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`The computer 30 responds to the pushing of the but-
`tons 20 or the composition of the digital code on the key
`pad 22. When a particular button is pushed, the com-
`puter‘30 determines which station has been selected,
`and through map interface circuitry 31 indicates on the
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`maps 26, 28 the location of the station and also a route
`extending from the location of the system 10 to the
`selected station. Light emitting diodes (LED’s) are used
`as visual indicators, physically located in the maps 26,
`28. The map interface circuitry 31 consequently in-
`cludes electronic drivers for selectively activating the
`LED’s to indicate stations and routes.
`When an item on the category listing 24 is coded on
`the key pad 22, the computer 30 selects from memory
`the particular stations corresponding to the selected
`category (for example all shoe stores if the shoe cate-
`gory is selected), displays these stores on the video
`display 15, and simultaneously indicates the store loca-
`tions by flashing LED’s on the map. As mentioned
`above, the user can then refer to the directory 18 to
`locate one of the stations so displayed, and press the
`button 20 associated with the station to obtain a visual
`indication of the route to the station on the maps 26, 28.
`The operation of the computer 30 is programmed or
`regulated by means of an erasable programmable read
`only memory (EPROM) erasable under ultra violet
`light. Instructions placed in the EPROM effectively
`associate each particular button 20 with a particular
`location (indicated by a LED) on the maps 26, 28,
`which LED’s are to be activated to indicate the route to
`a particular location in response to the pressing of one
`of the buttons 20, and which LED’s are to be activated
`and flashed to indicate particular stations in response to
`the composition of a category code on the key pad 22.
`A hard-wired interface between the user input con-
`sole 16 and maps 26, 28 could be provided. However,
`one advantage obtained by use of the computer 30 and
`EPROM (or other programmable interfaces) is that
`extensive changes to the maps 26, 28, directory 18 and
`category listing 24 can be avoided with changes in store
`ownership and services.
`A variety of changes can be accommodated by repro-
`gramming the EPROM. For example, if the display unit
`10 is moved, the computer 30 can effectively be repro-
`grammed to recognize a new location starting point on
`the directory maps 26, 28 (but LED’s must of course be
`provided to represent all stations in the building, includ-
`ing any station where the display unit 10 might be lo-
`cated). In a similar manner, changes in store location
`can be reprogrammed, as can be changes in the cate-
`gory listing 24 when services available in the building
`change.
`A key board 32 is provided to permit input of text to
`be displayed on the video unit 15. The text contem-
`plated will typically be commercial announcements or
`announcements of events occuring in the building in
`which the building directory system 10 is located.
`FIG. 4 illustrates in detail the maps 26, 28. Rectangles
`within the maps 26, 28 generally indicate particular
`stations, and the open spaces between the rectangles
`represent corridors. Dark circles located in the centre
`of the rectangles represent LED’s used to indicate par-
`ticular stations, and dark circles located in corridor
`areas represent LED’s used to indicate routes between
`particular stations. The LED’s used to indicate particu-
`lar stations are preferrably of a first colour (for example,
`yellow), and those used to indicate routes are preferra-
`bly of a second colour (for example red). The location
`of the directory system 10 is illustrated on the map 26 at
`the position 34, also by a LED.
`To illustrate how the directory system 10 would be
`used to locate a store and a route to a store, it will be
`assumed that a user wishes to locate a particular store 36
`(which is located on level 2 of the structure). The user
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`presses the button 20 associated with the particular
`store 36 in the directory 18 at the user input console 16.
`The selection is detected by the computer 30 which
`then activates the LED 38 to indicate the location of the
`selected store. At the same time LED’s 40 are activated
`on map 26 to indicate a path extending from the location
`of the directory 34 to a stairwell 42, and a direction
`indicator 44 is then illuminated to indicate that one is to
`take the stairwell 42 up. A string of LED’s extending
`between LED’s 46, 48 on map 28 are activated to indi-
`cate the continuation of the desired route from the top
`of the stairwell 42 to an entrance 50 of the store 36.
`Only two maps 26, 28 have been indicated for the
`purposes of illustration. It will be apparent that a plural-
`ity of maps could be used, and if necessary, a complex
`path extending along various levels of a structure can be
`indicated.
`A particualr directory system comprising an elec-
`tronic map embodying the invention has been illus-
`trated. It will be appreciated that changes of a work-
`shop nature can be made in the directory system illus-
`trated, and that a variety of systems adapted to particu-
`lar applications can be constructed without departing
`from the scope and spirit of the invention.
`I claim:
`1. A directory console and mount for a multi-level
`building, said building having at least two floors, said
`console being located on one floor of said building and
`comprising:
`(a) a first floor plan map of said one floor of said
`building and a separate second floor plan map of
`the other floor of said building, said first floor plan
`map including a display of the location of said
`console, each floor plan map-displaying a plurality
`of stations on its associated floor, each floor plan
`map further displaying paths connecting said sta-
`tions and access means for use in movement be-
`tween said floors, said display of said access means
`including a display of the direction of movement
`form said one floor to said other floor,
`(b) a plurality of path indicator lights each in a first
`colour for indicating, when illuminated, a path
`from said console to a selected station,
`(c) a plurality of station indicator lights one for each
`station and each of a different colour from said first
`colour, for illuminating a selected station,
`(cl) a direction indicator light for illuminating said
`display of said access means,
`(e) a directory identifying the stations displayed on
`each of said floor plan maps,
`(0 a keyboard at which a particular station on either
`of said floor plan maps can be selected,
`(g) station indicating means responsive to the selec-
`tion on said keyboard of a particular station for
`illuminating on the floor plan map on which said
`station is displayed the station light associated with
`such station,
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`(h) and path indicating means responsive to the selec-
`tion on said keyboard of a said particular station on
`said second floor plan map for illuminating on the
`first floor plan map those path indicator lights
`which define a path extending from said console to
`said access means, and for illuminating on the sec-
`ond floor plan map those path indicator lights de-
`fining a path extending from said access means to
`said particular station, and for illuminating said
`direction indicator light at said access means.
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