`Bertrand
`
`lllllllllllllllllll|||llllll?mgu?gligulllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,552,989
`Sep. 3, 1996
`
`[54] PORTABLE DIGITAL MAP READER
`
`4,951,211
`
`8/1990 De Villeroche ....................... .. 364/444
`
`[76] Inventor: Georges Bertrand, 35, rue du
`Bois_des_JoncS_Man-ns’ 94120
`Fontenay-sous-Bois, France
`
`1211 Appl- NO-I
`.
`_
`[22] PCT Flled.
`[86] PCT N0.:
`§ 371 Date:
`
`211,924
`
`Oct. 27, 1992
`PCT/FR92/01002
`Apr. 28, 1994
`
`§ 102(6) Date: AP“ 28, 1994
`
`[87] PCT Pub. N0.: W093/09401
`
`PCT Pub. Date: May 13, 1993
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`[30]
`
`56]
`l
`
`France ................................. .. 91 13345
`Oct. 30, 1991 [FR]
`G06F 165/00
`[51] Int Cl 6
`‘
`.
`........................................ ..: ...... ..
`.
`.
`[52] US. Cl. ........................ .. 364/443, 364/449,
`_
`444,
`...... ..
`Fleld of Search ....... .................
`364/449’ 73/178 R’ 340/988’ 990’ 995
`R f
`Ct d
`e erences l e
`U_s_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`_
`gltzgsg?d """""""""""""""
`112g’???
`364/444
`2,1986 Tgglli eteatl
`'
`'
`4’570’227
`364/449
`8/1986 Tanaka et a1 """" "
`4’608’656
`" 364/449
`4:628:456 12/1986 Ham“) et a1:
`33/361
`4,694,583
`9/1987 Blaney ...... ..
`4,812,980
`3/1989 Yamada et a1. ....................... .. 364/449
`
`5,021,961
`
`6/1991 Ross et al. . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 364/444
`
`364/443
`3/1994 Arakawa 61 al
`5,297,051
`5,353,034 10/1994 Sato et al. ............................. .. 340/988
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0355232 2/1990 European Pat. on. .
`2634707 2/1990 France .
`3933458 4/1991 Gennany _
`55412508 8/1980 Javan
`OTHER PUBLICATTONS
`
`Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 4, No. 163 (P—36)(645), 13
`Nov. 1980.
`_
`_
`_
`Primary Exammer—Gary Chm
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-—Ladas & Parry
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention relates to an appliance for reading digital
`geographical maps, in particular topographical or road maps,
`recorded on magnetic or optic 31 media, the appliance com
`prising in c onv ention a1 mameracentr a1 processor unit (19),
`means (4, 5) for reading magnetic or optical media, at least
`one
`Screen (8, 9), control means (7,
`and elec_
`tn'cal power supply means. It includes a compass (45)
`adapted to measure the angle between the orientation of the
`appliance and magnetic north, and to send corresponding
`information to the central unit (19), said central unit
`responding to said information by issuing a corresponding
`order to the screen display process to cause the displayed
`image to be oriented as a function of said information. The
`appliance is designed to replace a conventional paper map,
`together with guidebooks, diaries, and directories.
`
`8 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`fun-51101111557
`I
`[10:
`I
`
`L _ _ _ _ ‘
`
`L _ _ _ _}
`
`1/0
`INgERFACE
`r9; 4
`—’
`lNTégFDACE
`
`‘_
`
`1/0
`INTERFACE
`~ 4 E
`I / o
`'NTERFACE
`
`CENTRAL
`PROCESSOR
`
`3
`
`|__,
`
`5
`
`—>
`
`‘-
`
`4
`
`—>
`
`<—
`
`<3
`
`l/ 0
`INTERFACE
`
`1/0
`|NTERF$CE
`
`l/O
`|NTERFACE
`
`A
`
`110
`INTERFACE
`
`SJ
`
`0
`
`3o
`'
`
`N
`
`430
`
`11
`
`13
`
`_
`120 180
`
`120
`
`45
`
`7
`
`10
`
`CONTROLS
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 3, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`5,552,989
`
`OPTICAL READER
`
`@“@> it! @‘Q;
`'
`f
`
`9
`
`X
`3
`
`\
`
`SCREEN
`
`SCREEN
`
`BATTERY
`
`1 U
`
`/-<@
`2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`23 Q 5 Q
`
`5%??? FIG. 2
`
`23/ 24/24]
`
`27
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 2
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 3, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`5,552,989
`
`r- — -- -— '- -i
`
`r' '— '- — — —i
`
`i
`i
`
`1
`
`MENICRIES
`@l
`
`l
`
`|
`
`I / o
`INTERFACE
`\
`4
`
`FQT
`\0_,
`HO
`
`INTERFACE
`
`,
`
`CENTRAL
`PROCESSOR
`
`:
`I
`
`l
`
`~
`
`I / o
`INTERFACE
`J
`
`G)
`
`! I O
`
`'NTERFACE
`
`l&
`
`E
`
`1_5
`
`'——> E)
`
`HO
`INTERFACE
`\
`
`28
`
`HO
`INTERFACE
`J
`
`“
`
`Q ~
`
`~
`
`1-7-
`
`~<IH1I> :
`
`0
`
`N
`
`'30
`-90
`
`-12
`0 180
`
`120
`
`45
`
`M
`
`l /O
`[NTERFACE
`j
`
`ll
`
`I I0
`INTERFACE
`J
`
`A
`
`1_31
`
`6 J
`
`“
`
`‘
`
`r+l |_9+ II] \
`7 \
`f
`10
`CONTROLS
`
`FIG. 3
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 3
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 3, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`5,552,989
`
`30
`
`-5
`\
`@
`RECORDER /
`
`READER H
`
`32
`
`TOUCH SENSITIVE
`
`SCREEN
`
`33
`
`-@
`®
`1Q Q/ /
`
`FIG. 4
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 4
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`5,552,989
`
`.QQMLMALLQS
`-LOCALIZATION
`-SCALES
`-LAYERS
`
`46
`j
`
`I
`MAP DATA BASE
`-LOCALIZATION
`-ATTRIBuTES
`
`40
`j
`
`l
`
`MAP
`ORIENTATION
`
`l
`
`44
`j
`
`42
`
`LIBRARY
`
`-> MAP DISPLAY /
`
`REPRESENTATIONS
`-SYMBOLS
`
`_
`
`‘LEGENDS
`
`_> ADDITIONAL
`DISPLAY
`
`43/
`
`FIG. 5
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 5
`
`
`
`‘ US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep.3, 1996
`Sep. 3, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`5,552,989
`5,552,989
`
` ‘
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 6
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 6
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 3, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`5,552,989
`
`Nanterre
`
`Nanterre
`
`4
`
`Gare SNCF
`
`Grande Arche
`
`C‘ourbevoie .
`
`
`
`Bd Circulaire ’ '
`
`/\ Gare RER I
`f I’
`
`\
`Commercial
`
`53
`
`/
`
`I
`
`Puteaux
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 7
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent ‘
`
`Sep.3, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 0f 7
`
`5,552,989
`
`Aquitaine
`I
`|
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 8
`
`
`
`1
`PORTABLE DIGITAL MAP READER
`
`5,552,989
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a lightweight and self
`contained appliance enabling digital maps to be read and
`enabling local information to be associated therewith, in
`particular to replace paper guidebooks, and paper geographi
`cal maps, topographical maps or road maps.
`Paper maps su?er from numerous drawbacks and limita
`tions, and in particular:
`they are unhandy (map size does not make for ease of
`manipulation);
`they are fragile (because they are handled so much);
`they are discontinuous (several maps are necessary to
`cover a given territory);
`they are of limited information capacity (a map with too
`much detail is unreadable) thus making it impossible,
`in particular, to gain access to additional local infor
`mation (a map needs to be used in association with a
`guidebook);
`they cannot be updated (an out-of-date paper map must be
`discarded); and
`scale is ?xed (to change scale it is necessary to change
`map).
`Systems for navigation and for providing assistance in car
`driving are known that calculate the position of a vehicle
`relative to a digital road map background. However, such
`systems are typically complex, e.g. relying on special road
`infrastructure, or they are expensive, and not self-contained,
`thus corresponding to a limited part of the use to which a
`geographical map or town plan on paper can be put.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide self
`contained apparatus that is easy to use and cheap, and that
`enables digital road maps or geographical maps to be
`consulted in any location, such consultation being facilitated
`by the orientation of the displayed map being constant, as a
`function of user displacement.
`Another object of the invention is to enable all kinds of
`display processing to be performed: updating, printing,
`storage, and topographical calculation, all of which are at
`present impossible using a map on paper.
`These objects are achieved by an appliance for reading
`digital geographical maps, in particular topographical or
`road maps, recorded on magnetic or optical media, the
`appliance comprising in conventional manner a central
`processor unit, means for reading magnetic or optical media,
`at least one display screen, control means, and electrical
`power supply means, the appliance being characterized in
`that it further includes a compass adapted to measure the
`angle between the orientation of the appliance and magnetic
`north, and to send corresponding information to the central
`unit, said central unit responding to said information by
`issuing a corresponding order to the screen display process
`to cause the displayed image to be oriented as a function of
`said information.
`This orientation of the map thus enables users to position
`themselves automatically in three dimensions and observe
`the topography of the places in front of them without any
`risk of confusion on the display screen when the apparatus
`is held in the hand in front of them.
`
`2
`Advantageously, it includes two display screens suitable
`respectively for displaying a portion of a digital map, and for
`any other information such as a map, text, a picture, or an
`icon.
`It is thus possible to associate certain places displayed on
`the ?rst screen with multimedia information (sound, text,
`images) visible on the second screen and of use to a walker,
`a tourist (display and description of a view, of sites, of
`monuments, providing a list of hotels, of restaurants, of
`facilities, etc. . . . ), to a professional (addresses, resources,
`etc. .
`.
`. ), or to a visitor (exhibitions, museums, etc. .
`.
`. ).
`Advantageously, the device of the invention is powered in
`self-contained manner by batteries that are rechargeable or
`otherwise, and it is portable. On-board a vehicle, the power
`supply may be obtained directly from the vehicle battery.
`Preferably, it includes means enabling local multimedia
`information to be recorded and played back, together with
`means enabling a planned or a performed itinerary to be
`recorded and displayed, in particular with its characteristic
`times, distances, and changes in altitude.
`In a professional version, it may include means for
`displaying and recording information of any kind on the
`described map and in association with a directory or a diary.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Other characteristics and advantages of the present inven
`tion appear more clearly on reading the following descrip»
`tion which is made with reference to the accompanying
`drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a two-screen reader for
`digital road or topographical or geographical maps;
`FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the controls for the FIG.
`1 reader;
`FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of a reader of the
`invention;
`FIG. 4 shows a variant embodiment of a digital map
`reader that has only one screen;
`FIG. 5 is a simpli?ed block diagram showing the func
`tional organization of the device of the invention;
`FIG. 6 shows at identical scale the effect of rotating the
`displayed map through an angle a due to the device itself
`being rotated;
`FIG. 7 is a ?rst example of one of the displays possible on
`the display screen; and
`FIG. 8 shows a second example of a display after the
`device has been rotated and after a change of scale.
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT(S)
`FIG. 1 shows a two-screen digital map reader of the
`invention made up of two portions each having its own
`screen, which portions may be separated and assembled
`together by snap-fastening. The lefthand portion contains a
`battery 1, an electrical power supply circuit 2, a plurality of
`input/output connectors and sockets, in particular for an
`audio headset 16, an optical reader 4, a magnetic recorder
`and reader 5, a loudspeaker 6, a control keypad 7, and a ?at
`screen 8. The righthand portion includes a screen 9 that is
`advantageously touch-sensitive, and a set of controls 10
`provided, in particular, with a microphone 28. In the closed
`position, the righthand portion overlies the lefthand portion.
`FIG. 2 shows the set of controls of FIG. 1 in greater detail.
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 9
`
`
`
`5,552,989
`
`3
`
`It comprises:
`an on/oif switch 21 with an associated indicator lamp 29;
`a zoom control (change of scale) by means of a knob,
`keys, a cursor, or any other device 22;
`a cursor-moving ball (a trackball) or any other device 23
`enabling a cursor to be positioned and actuated on the
`screen;
`keys 24 for screen scrolling, these keys may be replaced
`by a joystick or by any other appropriate device;
`a digital keypad 25 enabling digits or codes to be input;
`a memory key 26; and
`programmable function keys 27, and the microphone 28.
`A keyboard may also be provided for professional appli
`cations (for managing diary, directory, etc. functions).
`The internal structure of the device of the invention is
`described with reference to FIG. 3. This structure is orga
`nized around a central processor unit 19 and associated
`memories 20 (data memory and program memory) in a
`conventional microprocessor con?guration. Special inter
`faces provide a connection with the various elements of the
`device: a measurement interface 28 for controlling a com
`pass 45, two screen interfaces 15 for controlling the display
`screens 8 and 9, a keypad interface 13 for controlling the
`keypad and the set of controls 7, 8, a loudspeaker interface
`17 for controlling the loudspeaker 6, a microphone interface
`12 for controlling the microphone input 11, a reader inter
`face 14 for controlling the digital or analog readers 4 and 5,
`and an input/output interface 18 for connection with the
`various external connectors and sockets 3.
`The device is made self-contained by means of a self
`contained electrical power supply (not shown) that may be
`constituted by a rechargeable battery advantageously pro
`vided with means for protecting its level of charge. To
`enable the device to be used in any location, a 12 V socket
`may also be provided for connection in a motor vehicle, as
`may a mains socket for connection at home or in the office.
`All of the commands are available via the trackball (or the
`substitute therefor) by clicking on icons (menu bars, scroll
`arrows, position markers, etc. .
`.
`. ). Direct access to such
`icons may be obtained from the touch-sensitive screen 9
`when available. The microphone 28 can be used for record
`ing voice commands or sounds to be stored.
`The memories 20 comprise in particular mass memory for
`storing digital multimedia or cartographic information (or
`analog information), programs, and information that is wait
`ing to be printed out. These storage members may be of any
`kind (magnetic, optical, optomagnetic, etc. . .
`. ) and of any
`format (maps, ?oppy disks, hard disks, etc.).
`The input/output connectors and sockets serve, in addition
`to the connections mentioned above, for providing connec
`tions with peripherals (a printer, a plotter, an external screen,
`a television set, a scanner, a digital camera, a video camera,
`etc. .
`.
`. ), with networks, with other computers, or indeed
`with other digital map readers.
`The central processor unit 19 comprises, in particular, one
`or more processors (for calculation, optimization, topologi
`cal simulation, compression, etc. . .
`. ), together with a time
`base enabling date and time to be displayed and enabling
`travel times to be computed. It cooperates with the compass
`45 that makes it possible to measure the angle between the
`orientation of the appliance and magnetic north.
`This structure makes it possible, using an appliance that
`is self-contained and portable, to perform a wide variety of
`map functions, including, for example: display; scrolling (to
`left, to right, etc.); zooming (change of scale); calculating
`routes (including calculating distances, times, changes of
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`altitude, etc. analysis (displaying various themes: geological
`data or hydrological data, for example); printing out routes
`as calculated and including the main difficulties therein
`(cross-roads, forks, etc. . . . ); recording routes that have been
`followed and the times associated therewith; and recording
`texts, sounds, and images associated with a particular loca
`tion. Similarly, special functions may be developed for use
`by certain categories of user: the professions, businesses,
`etc. (diary, directory, dictionary, memos, .
`.
`. ).
`FIG. 4 shows an example of a single-screen embodiment.
`This device comprises an on/olf switch 30, a 12 V input 31,
`a recorder-reader 32, a headset socket 33, an input/output
`connector 34, a light pen 35 for activating a touch-sensitive
`screen 37, and a microphone 38. In this embodiment, the
`various functions (guidebook, directory, diary, etc. . .
`. ) are
`displayed in windows that overlap a portion of the digital
`map that also appears on the same screen.
`A conventional format for the device of the invention may
`be one of the formats A4 and A5, however any dimensions
`are possible providing the display is readable and the device
`is not too heavy for a device that is self-contained and
`portable.
`Operation of the device of the invention is described
`below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.
`The portable digital map reader displays cartographic
`information and additional information that may appear on
`one or more screens.
`The basic functions of the device (displaying map, guide
`books, optimizing and tracking routes, diary, directory) may
`be associated with additional functions that are speci?c to
`professional or recreational activities.
`The very large storage capacity of optical or magnetic
`systems makes it possible to store a very full amount of
`information: hotels, restaurants, bars, service stations and
`garages, police services; medical services, tourist informa
`tion, or professional information of any kind, train and air
`timetables, FM frequencies, useful telephone numbers, etc.
`
`The above information is stored together with the carto
`graphic database and can be very detailed in its description
`of the services available (opening days and times, menus,
`prices, times of guided tours, programs, etc. .
`.
`. ); the
`improvement over maps and guides on paper is overwhelm
`ing both with respect to the quantity of information and with
`respect to the ease and speed of access and of searching
`(particularly given the dynamic linking that can be achieved
`between the map and the guidebooks making it possible, for
`example, to answer the following question: list two-star
`hotels situated within 10 minutes’ walking distance).
`To make this possible, the database 40 comprising geo
`graphical objects (where an object may be a town, an area,
`a monument, etc. .
`. . ) is organized in such a manner as to
`enable ?rstly display at several scales (zoom) and secondly
`readability of the legends displayed on the map at any scale
`(once a single format has been adopted for legends), with
`this being true regardless of the angle at which the map is
`displayed. In addition, selecting and combining certain
`categories of objects are made easier by organization in
`layers, where any one object may be associated with a
`plurality of diiferent layers.
`One of the ways in which such a database can be
`organized consists in associating each geographical object
`with the following two elements:
`location data for managing topology (position and shape
`of the object):
`a centroid identi?ed in a coordinate system;
`points, segments, polygons, curves, etc. . : .
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 10
`
`
`
`5,552,989
`
`5
`adjacency, continuity, inclusion, intersection, etc. . . . ;
`and
`attributes identifying and describing the object:
`name;
`type of object (with reference to a nomenclature);
`level numbers (an object may appear at several differ
`ent levels);
`layer numbers (an object may belong to several differ
`ent layers);
`. ); and
`.
`characteristics (size, altitude, type, .
`description and contents of the object.
`For object description, attributes may be constituted by
`texts, still pictures, moving pictures, and/or sounds.
`Each object is associated with a graphical representation
`that may additionally be associated with one or more sym
`bols and with a legend, which set of elements is available in
`a library 41 that cooperates with the database 40.
`The graphical representation depends on the type of the
`object, on its position, and where appropriate, on its shape
`and on its characteristics. Its size varies with scale (zoom)
`and it follows the orientation 44 as controlled by the
`compass 45.
`The symbols and the legends are of ?xed size and they are
`displayed horizontally to make them easier to read. Legends
`associated with segments of a network may be displayed
`parallel to such segments (see for example reference 54 in
`FIGS. 7 and 8).
`Symbols are a function of the type of an object, and where
`appropriate of its characteristics and of the contents of its
`attributes (presence of a message, of illustrations, of ani
`mated sequences, of a sound sequence, .
`.
`.
`). Legends
`display the name of the object using a typeface, a size, a
`color, and a style that depend on the type and on the
`characteristics of the object.
`A display control 46 enables the objects that correspond
`to selected layers to be selected from the database 40 for one
`or more locations at one or more scales. The representations,
`symbols, and legends associated with the objects are then
`taken from the library 41 and displayed 42, 43 on the
`corresponding screens (or in the windows associated there
`with for a single-screen embodiment). In addition, access to
`non-displayed information (detail attributes) is possible by
`moving a cursor onto the corresponding symbol or legend.
`FIG. 6 shows the in?uence of changing orientation of the
`device on the way in which cartographic data is displayed.
`One of the objects of the present device is to make north
`as displayed on the map coincide with geographic north,
`regardless of the vertical direction of the display screen.
`Thus, the device includes a compass 45 as means for
`measuring the orientation of the portable appliance and for
`transmitting appropriate display instructions as a function
`thereof to enable the map to be displayed as a function of
`said orientation, i.e. to control the display axis of the map.
`The compass measures the angle a between magnetic
`north and the vertical direction of the display screen (using
`a plus sign to the right and a minus sign to the left).
`The geographical database contains values E for the
`difference between magnetic north and true north on the
`maps to be displayed. This value may be a constant for a
`country or a group of countries.
`The angle of rotation of the map is then given by
`
`30
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`6
`a width L and for a given scale, then objects are displayed
`that lie within the rectangle 50 (ABCD) using conventional
`display procedures.
`-
`The vertical axis NS shows north and south as they appear
`in the digital map.
`If the angle or’ is not equal to 0, then a new rectangle 51
`(A',B',C',D') is calculated by performing rotation through an
`angle or‘ about the point P. The vertical N‘S‘ of the new
`rectangle is no longer north/south but is the direction in
`which the appliance is then oriented. The rectangle 51
`(A',B',C',D‘) is then displayed in the window F after being
`subjected to rotation in the opposite direction through an
`angle or‘ about the point P.
`FIGS. 7 and 8 show two examples of cartographic data
`displays.
`In FIG. 7, it can be seen that certain symbols 53 are
`displayed horizontally whereas other symbols 54 are dis
`played parallel to the road network that de?nes them.
`In FIG. 8, which shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 7 after
`rotation through the angle or‘, it can be seen that the size of
`the legends has remained unchanged and that they continue
`to be displayed horizontally in spite of the map being
`rotated. Only data associated with a particular orientation
`(see reference 54) has been rotated through the angle on‘. It
`is also important to observe that the magni?cation (zoom)
`has caused new objects to appear, such as those referenced
`55 or 56, with this facility being made possible by the fact
`that the cartographic information is organized in levels. For
`each object, a threshold level is de?ned at which that object
`appears, i.e. the scale from which it is to be displayed on the
`screen.
`It has thus been observed that the device of the invention
`has multiple advantages: because it is self-contained it can
`be used equally well in the o?ice, at home, in a vehicle, and
`in association with any kind of displacement (walking,
`cycling, sailing, horseriding, etc. . . . ); because of its power
`it provides access that is quick, easy, and interactive with
`data that is very ?ne and varied. It is particularly useful
`because of its “guidebook” function, since present guide
`books on paper are very poor due to reasons of bulk and are
`incapable of dynamically linking texts and maps. It can be
`personalized very easily, thus making it possible to have
`functions that are speci?c to certain companies, certain
`professions, certain recreational activities, and routes can be
`optimized in complex manner on the basis of parameters that
`account of choices and constraints applicable to each of
`those cases; ?nally, because of its high degree of function
`ality, it is particularly suitable for consumer applications (or
`even games such as treasure hunting) while nevertheless
`remaining suitable for professional use as can be reinforced
`by the optional presence of diary functions and of directory
`functions that facilitate preparation for a business trip (it has
`also been mentioned that it is possible to ?t an external
`keyboard to the device).
`It is of interest to observe that the power of the self
`contained portable reader can be reinforced by adding a
`global positioning system (GPS) module to enable position
`ing to be determined, and by adding an altimeter for
`enabling altitude to be measured, with these two additional
`elements being particularly useful for travel in the wild, or
`in areas that are poorly sign-posted (rallying, for example).
`I claim:
`1. A portable appliance for displaying geographical data,
`in particular topographical or road maps, recorded on mag
`netic or optical media and organized on a plurality of levels,
`the appliance comprising a central processor unit associated
`with memories and I/O interfaces, said central processor unit
`
`Consider the single-screen con?guration with a display
`window 52 for a location P that is determined by its
`coordinates x,y in the window F speci?ed by a height H and
`
`65
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 11
`
`
`
`5,552,989
`
`7
`selectively displaying objects constituting said geographical
`data in one of said plurality of levels depending on a desired
`display scale, means reading said magnetic or said optical
`media, at least one display screen for displaying said geo
`graphical data, and having a horizontal and a vertical axis,
`means for inputting control information to said central
`processor unit, and, electrical power supply means for
`powering said appliance, the appliance further including a
`compass for measuring the angle between the vertical axis of
`said display screen and magnetic north, and to send corre
`sponding control information to said central unit based on
`said measured angle, said central unit responding to said
`corresponding control information by issuing a command to
`the display screen to cause the displayed image to be
`oriented as a function of said corresponding control infor
`mation, wherein data symbols and legends are selectively
`imposed upon the associated displayed image in order to
`make said symbols and said legends readable.
`2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said display
`screen comprises two display screens coupled to said central
`processor unit and being suitable respectively for displaying
`a portion of a digital map and any text information, a picture,
`and an icon.
`3. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said
`
`10
`
`20
`
`8
`electrical power supply means is provided from at’ least one
`battery within said appliance.
`4. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said
`appliance can be taken on board a vehicle, with electrical
`power supply to the appliance being provided from a battery
`of the vehicle.
`5. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising
`means coupled to said central processor unit enabling loca
`tion-speci?c multimedia information to be recorded and to
`be played back.
`6. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising
`means for recording and displaying geographical data asso
`ciated with a route that has been previously planned or
`travelled, said geographical data associated with said route
`including time, distance, and changes in altitude.
`7. An appliance according to claim 1, further including
`means for enabling other information to be recorded on said
`magnetic or optical media for display on the map, said other
`information including directory or diary information.
`8. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said display
`screen is touch-sensitive.
`
`ZTE Exhibit 1010 - 12
`
`