WO1988007460A1

WO1988007460A1 - Video system for the touristic and road guide to fit on motor-driven vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO1988007460A1
Application number: PCT/IT1987/000029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luciano Meoni
Original assignee: Hantarex Spa
Priority date: 1987-04-03
Filing date: 1987-04-03
Publication date: 1988-10-06
Also published as: EP0354898A1

Abstract

The video system employs an operative compartment in the driver's cab as a part of the vehicle board instrumentation to control from the driver's place, to supply, on demand, selective data concerning what specifically can interest from the touristic and road point of view. The compartment essentially foresees a monitor (1) with a computer (2) controlled by means of a service keyboard (3) and a reader (4) of magnetic records (9) which transmits graphic and alphanumerical information as well as legends by elaborating the data taken from the small magnetic records (9) inserted in it. If the compartment is fitted with a tuner (6), its alternative use as a TV-receiver by the transported persons is possible, and the audio is received by means of a headphone; or it can also be used for reproducing video boxes by means of a video reproducer (5).

Description

"Video system for the touristic and road guide to fit on motor-driven vehicles".

Bie invention refers to an operative video-computerized compartment which is a part of the aboard instruments of a motor-driven vehicle controlled from the driver's place and which, on demand, supplies selective data in images concerning objects of specific touristic and road interest, thus operating as a video guide for the information requirements of the travelling persons. The properly programmed computer takes the information from small magnetic records which have been pre-set according to proper sectors; in this way, the operative compartment can be supplied with a reasoned file of small magnetic disks for information concerning each town, country, state or other. Consequently, by transmitting the alphanumerical controls on the keyboard, the driver is immediately in a position to see the images concerning the best way to follow and to learn all that can interest him in a given zone, such as restaurants, hotels, museums, monuments, theatres, road service stations and transport means. Alternatively, the same plant can be equipped for getting information from the ether, thus allowing the employ as a TV-receiver for the transported persons who receive the audio in headphone; moreover it can be used for reproducing video-boxes by using a video-reproducer To better understand the advantages of the invention subject, the re is to point out that the motor-car driver, when approaching a zone he has no specific cognizance of, needs to acquire a basic knowledge of the country in order to be able to find out his position in the town roads and ways. At present, to do so he has at first to examine a general planimetry of the locality and then de tailed tables of specific interest. These operations turn out to be little comfortable since the driver has to carry out them from his seat after having stopped the car. It is then to note particularly for the tourist arrived on the interesting zone, that he has to learn where important points are, such as refreshment spots, hotels, and several services.

At present, such services can be singled out only from touristic directories; this compels, however, to ascertain which of these shops are in the same zone and how to reach them. But even after these thedious operations, with the means available at present, it is not possible to acquire sufficient data enabling to take reason ed choices; this because the guides, normally, supply but the essential data, for hotels - for instance - but the category differentiation. Who wishes to know what interesting is in the zone but from the touristic or artistic point of view, must apply to guides or specialized publications; this requires time in consultation and proper attention.

The invention device carries out the solution of the above problems by adopting a video communication system which enables the car driver to acquire the interesting data for a particular locality, still remaining on his driver seat, by means of the visualization in succession on the kinescope of the image monitor. This enables to promptly acquire the interesting data and ensures moving .speed. The system can be used on any motor driven vehicle and is proposed to become a part of the conventional instrument equipment. Substantially, a video operating compartment is foreseen in the driver's cabin in a proper position to allow the employ from the driver's seat, so as to supply, on request, selective data by means of images concerning specific touristic and road interests. The compartment mainly employs a monochromatic or colour monitor with a digital elaborator controlled, through the transmission of alphanumerical data, by means of a service keyboard and utilizing a reader of ma gnetic records which transmits, with images on the monitor kinescope, graphic and alphanumeric information and legends by elaborating the data taken from the magnetic disks which can be singularly employed. By equipping the compartment with a tuner, the al ternative use as a TV-receiver is possible by the transported per sons who receive the audio with the headphone. When using a video reproducer, the device can also be employed as a reproducer of video boxes.

Let us consider, for instance, a motor car driver who is about to enter a town centre and the relevant information are recorded in one or more magnetic disks of his own archives, and he has to go to a given zone of the above centre. After having inserted the relevant plate into the reader foreseen for this purpose, keeping the steering wheel with one hand, by means of the keyboard, with the other hand he will inform the computer about the point where he is staying and where he wants to go. In conformity, on the cine scope the image will be formed in planimetry of the way follow and the alphanumerals of the detailed planimetric crossing tables will appear. If the circumstances require it, by means of the keyboard he will also order the identification of the way length to perform on the crossing table he is interested in; by means fo the visualization of one or more images in connection with the number of the required tables, he will then be able to promptly identify the ruote to follow. By means of the alphanumerals foreseen on the tables, he will then be in a position to ask for the data that specifically interest him concerning the surroundings and his knowledge reguirements.

An execution form of the system with alternative uses is illustrated in a mere indicative and, therefore, not limiting way, by the drawings of Table 1, 2 and 3. With reference to these ones fig. 1 shows the block scheme of the operative compartment: monitor 1, elaborator 2, magnetic record reader 3, service keyboard 4 for transmitting the alphanumerical control concerning the programme inserted in the elaborator, reproducer 5 of video cases, TV syntonizer 6 and the feeder of the different blocks 7 connected to the vehicle battery. In table 2, fig. 2 shows an operative section fitted in the front interspace of the vehicle and an archive container for the magnetic recorder leant on the seat. The version uses a container 8 for the magnetic recorder 9 which, when closed, covers and protects cinescope 10. The operative plane is completed with the service keyboard 11, the reader 12 of magnetic records with introduction split 13, as well as the plant starting and regulation controls 14 and 15. Figures 3 and 4 in table 3 are the view of an additional version of the system where a compaction of the working compartment is foreseen to allow its location between the two front seat and according two positions: one position with horizontal operative table, as it can be observed from fig. 3, in order to enable the driver to use it, and the other, with vertical operation base as shown in fig. 4, placed towards the back seat to allow its use to the transported person. This last version employ container 16 of the operative compartment supported on shaft 17 and rotating to permit the two positions to the operative compartment base 18. By means of headphones 19, the transported persons can receive the audio.

The number and type of the components, the size, the position of the operative compartment on roating shaft in the driver's cabin, the container of the manetic disks and anthin else in this con nection, can be foreseen in different ways according to the employ requirements.

Claims

Claims.

1) Video system for the touristic and road guide to fit on motor-driven vehicles, characterized by the fact that a video operative compartment is foreseen in the drivers's cabin and which, on demand, supplies selective data by means of images concerning touristic and road interesting information. The compartment employs either a monochromatic or colour monitor (10) combined with a digital eleborator (2) to control by means of alphanumerical data through a service keyboard (11) and by using a reader (12) of magnetic records (9) which transmits images, on the monitor cinescope, concerning graphic and alphanumeric information and legends, along with elaboration of the data taken from the magnetic recorders (9) to the singularly used. After having introduced the magnetic recorder into the split (13) of the reader (12) by means of lighting and regulation controls (14 and 15), the installation is activated, and through the above keyboard (11) the different interesting data inquiries are formulated.

2) Video system for the touristic and road guide to fit on motor-driven vehicles, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that it can be equipped with a syntonizing device (6) enabling to employ the device as a TV-receiver by the transported persons who will receive the audio in headphones (19).

3) video system for the touristic and road guide to fit on motor-driven vehicles, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the device can be used also for reproducing video boxes when it is fitted with a video reproducer (5).

4) video system for the touristic and road guide to fit on motor-driven vehicles, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that a version foresees the compacting of the operative compartment in a container (16) supported on a rotating sfaft (17) to fit between the front seats and according two positions: either with the operative screen in horizontal position for the driver's use, or alternatively with vertical operative base fitted towards the back seats to allow its use to the transported persons.