Computerized information and display apparatus and methods

Abstract

Computerized apparatus useful for obtaining and presenting information to users. In one embodiment, the computerized apparatus includes a display device and speech recognition apparatus configured to receive user speech input and enable performance of various tasks, such as obtaining desired information relating to an entity, maps or directions, weather, news, or any number of other topics. In one variant, a plurality of data is received by the computerized apparatus from a remote server via a network interface; the received data can then be searched or otherwise utilized to provide the user with the desired information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of enabling a user to locate an entity, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a computerized information apparatus, a plurality of data from a server, the plurality of data relating at least to a plurality of entities and received via at least a network interface of the computerized information apparatus;   storing the plurality of data on a storage device of the computerized information apparatus;   receiving a user's speech input via a microphone of the computerized apparatus, the user's speech input comprising at least part of a name of the entity;   digitizing the speech input;   utilizing at least one speech recognition algorithm to evaluate the digitized speech input so as to at least identify the at least part of the name therein;   using the identified at least part of the name to identify at least one matching entity, the identification of the at least one matching entity comprising accessing at least a portion of the received and stored plurality of data; and   displaying a visual representation of a location associated with the at least one matching entity on a display device of the computerized apparatus, the visual representation also including a visual representation of at least a portion of immediate surroundings of the location.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the receiving of the plurality of data via at least the network interface comprises utilizing a processor of the computerized information apparatus to access the server, the access causing the plurality of data to be transmitted to the computerized apparatus. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of data comprises data relating to a plurality of entities disposed within a particular geographic area. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the particular geographic area comprises a predetermined geographic area, the predetermined area not being selected by the user. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the particular geographic area comprises a predetermined geographic area, the predetermined area selected without input of the user. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the computerized information apparatus is part of a transport device within which the user is conveyed, the transport device comprising a wireless network interface in communication with the computerized information apparatus, the receiving the plurality of data from the server being conducted using at least the wireless interface; and   the predetermined geographic area is selected based the transport device being operated only within the geographic area.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the received plurality of data comprises data indicative of a location for each of respective ones of the plurality of entities, and the method further comprises presenting to the user information indicating a location of the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the digitizing comprises using an algorithm running locally on the computerized information apparatus. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the using of the at least one speech recognition algorithm comprises using an algorithm running locally on the computerized information apparatus, the algorithm running locally on the computerized apparatus using at least one of (i) a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based algorithm utilizing at least phoneme recognition, and/or (ii) neural network (NN)-based algorithm utilizing at least phoneme recognition. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the using of the at least one speech recognition algorithm comprises using an algorithm running locally on the computerized information apparatus, the algorithm running locally on the computerized apparatus using a digital signal processor (DSP) and a library or dictionary comprising a plurality of phonemes or strings of phonemes. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the displaying a visual representation of a location associated with the at least one matching entity on a display device of the computerized apparatus further comprises displaying a visual representation of one or more entities immediately proximate the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the displaying the visual representation of the location comprises rendering at least a portion of a building or structure within which the at least one matching entity is disposed. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the rendering at least a portion of a building comprises rendering the at least portion using a graphics processor of the computerized information apparatus. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the receiving, at a computerized information apparatus, a plurality of data from a server comprising receiving the plurality of data via a wireless interface of the computerized information apparatus, the wireless interface operative according to an IEEE 802.11 standard. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the using the identified at least part of the name to identify at least one matching entity comprises:   accessing at least a portion of the received and stored plurality of data;   searching the received and stored plurality of data using the at least part of the name, the searching identifying a plurality of entities within the having the at least part of the name associated therewith;   providing the user with information indicating the identified plurality of entities;   receiving a subsequent input from the user causing selecting of one of the identified plurality of entities; and   wherein the displaying a visual representation of a location associated with the at least one matching entity on a display device of the computerized apparatus comprises displaying a visual representation of a location associated with the selected one of the identified plurality.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the display device comprises a touch screen input and display device and the providing the user with information indicating the identified plurality of entities comprises providing the user with a visually perceptible listing on the display device, and the receiving the subsequent input from the user causing selection comprises receiving a user input via a touch screen of the touch screen input and display device. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the providing the user with information indicating the identified plurality of entities comprises providing the user with a sequence of audible prompts, the prompts each comprising at least a portion of a name of the respective entity. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the prompts each further comprise at least a portion of an address associated with the respective entity. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the subsequent user input comprises a verbal input, and the method further comprises receiving the subsequent user input after completion of one of the prompts. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the subsequent user input comprises a verbal input, and the method further comprises receiving the subsequent user input after completion of one of the prompts. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein:
 the providing the user with information indicating the identified plurality of entities comprises providing the user with a visually perceptible listing on the display device; and   the subsequent user input comprises a verbal input, and the method further comprises receiving the subsequent user input after display of at least a portion of the listing.   wherein the information desired by the user comprises a location of the named organization or entity, and the computerized logic is configured to, based at least upon the search,   generate at least one of an audible and/or visual output indicative of a business entity that is a nearest approximation of a match to the query, but not an exact match.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one matching entity comprises an entity having a name, a portion of which that is a nearest approximation of a match to the at least portion of the name, but not an exact match. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the using the identified at least part of the name to identify at least one matching entity comprises (i) identifying a plurality of approximate but non-exact matches; (ii) determining at least a nearest approximation of a match to the at least portion of a name; and (iii) utilizing an entity associated with the determined nearest approximation of a match as the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the determining at least a nearest approximation of a match comprises computing at least one metric for the plurality of approximate but non-exact matches, the at least one metric being used in determination of the nearest approximation, and the method further comprises:
 prompting the user to evaluate whether the at least nearest approximation of a match comprises the entity which the user desires to locate; and   receiving a subsequent input from the user indicating that the nearest approximation of a match is desired by the user.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 prompting the user to evaluate whether the at least nearest approximation of a match comprises the entity which the user desires to locate; and   receiving a subsequent input from the user indicating that the nearest approximation of a match is not desired by the user; and   prompting the user to evaluate whether a next nearest one of the plurality of non-exact matches comprises the entity which the user desires to locate.   
     
     
         66 . A computerized apparatus configured to enable a user to locate an entity, the apparatus comprising:
 a wireless network interface;   a display device;   a microphone;   speech digitization apparatus in signal communication with the microphone;   processor apparatus in data communication with at least the wireless network interface;   a data storage device in data communication with the processor apparatus;   power supply apparatus; and   computerized logic in data communication with the processor apparatus, the computerized logic configured to:
 receive data from a remote server via at least the wireless network interface, the received data comprising data relating to a plurality of entities; 
 store the received data on the storage device of the computerized apparatus; 
 receive a user's speech input via the microphone; 
 digitize the received speech input using at least the speech digitization apparatus; 
 utilize at least one speech recognition algorithm to evaluate the digitized speech input so as to identify at least one word therein; 
 use the identified at least one word to identify at least one matching entity, the identification of the at least one matching entity comprising access of at least a portion of the received stored data; and 
 display a visual representation of a location associated with the at least one matching entity, including at least some surroundings thereof, on the display device. 
   
     
     
         67 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the at least one word is part of a name of the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         68 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the received data comprises data indicative of a location for each of respective ones of the plurality of entities, and the computerized logic is further configured to determine a location of the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         69 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the received data comprises data indicative of a location for each of respective ones of the plurality of entities, and the computerized logic is further configured to present to the user information indicating a location of the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         70 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the presentation to the user comprises display of the information indicating a location on the display device. 
     
     
         71 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein the display of the information indicating a location on the display device comprises display of at least a portion of an address of the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         72 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the presentation to the user comprises generation of a plurality of human intelligible words, the generation performed by a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with computerized logic. 
     
     
         73 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the received data is downloaded from a data storage associated with the remote server which is simultaneously accessible to a plurality of other similar computerized apparatus via respective ones of wireless network interfaces, the remote server comprising a client-server relationship with the computerized apparatus and the plurality of other similar computerized apparatus. 
     
     
         74 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 73 , wherein the wireless network interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE-802.11 standard. 
     
     
         75 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the received data comprises a substantially unitary data file. 
     
     
         76 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the received data comprises data enabling the display of the visual representation of the location associated with the at least one matching entity. 
     
     
         77 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the visual representation of the location associated with the at least one matching entity further comprises a visual representation of one or more other entities proximate thereto, on the display device. 
     
     
         78 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the computerized logic is further configured to display, on the display device and concurrent with the visual representation of the location, a visual representation of at least a portion of directions to the location associated with the at least one matching entity, the visual representation of at least a portion of directions comprising at least a line or arrow which is differentiated from its background by at least one of luminosity and/or color. 
     
     
         79 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the visual representation of the location associated with the at least one matching entity further comprises a visual representation of one or more other entities proximate thereto, on the display device, the visual representation of the location comprising a rendering of at least a portion of a building or structure within which the location is disposed. 
     
     
         80 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein the processor apparatus of the computerized apparatus comprises a central processor, a graphics co-processor, and a digital signal processor (DSP), and wherein the graphics processor is configured to perform at least a portion of the rendering of the at least portion of the building or structure, and the DSP is configured to perform at least one of (i) the digitization of the received speech input using at least the speech digitization apparatus; and/or (ii) utilization of the at least one speech recognition algorithm to evaluate the digitized speech input so as to identify at least one word therein. 
     
     
         81 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the data relating to a plurality of entities comprises data relating to a plurality of entities which are each disposed within a defined geographic area. 
     
     
         82 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein the defined geographic area comprises a predetermined geographic area not having been affirmatively selected by the user. 
     
     
         83 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein:
 the computerized apparatus is part of a transport device within which the user is conveyed; and   the predetermined geographic area is selected based the transport device being operated only within the geographic area.   
     
     
         84 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to generate one or more hyperlinks relating to topics of interest to the user in their travels and display the one or more hyperlinks on the display device, and wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to download information from a remote networked server to the computerized apparatus for display on the display device in response to the user activating the one or more hyperlinks, the downloaded information comprising current, periodically updated information relating to at least one of: (i) news: (ii) weather; and/or (iii) traffic reports. 
     
     
         85 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 84 , wherein display device comprises a touch-screen display and input device, the one or more hyperlinks configured to allow the user to activate each hyperlink via a tactile input via the touch-screen device. 
     
     
         86 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 66 , further comprising a plurality of second display devices, the plurality of second display devices being in data communication with a digital video apparatus, the plurality of second display devices having a substantially flat display screen and being disposed within and substantially physically integrated with a passenger compartment of a personnel transport device so as to enable individual ones of multiple persons within the compartment to visually perceive video data rendered on respective ones of the second display devices during operation of the personnel transport device. 
     
     
         87 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein computerized apparatus is configured such that the rendering of the video data on the plurality of second display devices is substantially independent of the display of the visual representation of a location associated with the at least one matching entity, including at least some surroundings thereof, on the display device. 
     
     
         88 . A computerized apparatus configured to enable a user to locate an entity, the apparatus comprising:
 a wireless interface;   a display device;   a microphone;   speech digitization apparatus in signal communication with the microphone;   processor apparatus in data communication with the speech digitization apparatus and the wireless interface;   a data storage device in data communication with the processor apparatus; and   at least one computer program, the at least one computer program configured to, when executed:
 download data from a server to the computerized apparatus, the data relating to and limited to a particular geographic area only, the particular geographic area including the user's current location; 
 store the data on the storage device of the computerized apparatus; 
 receive a user's speech input via the microphone; 
 digitize the speech input using at least the speech digitization apparatus; 
 cause utilization of at least one speech recognition apparatus in data communication with the speech digitation apparatus to evaluate the digitized speech input so as to identify at least one word therein; 
 use the identified at least one word to identify a plurality of matching entities, the identification of the plurality of matching entities comprising access of at least a portion of the downloaded and stored data; 
 advise the user of the plurality of matching entities; 
   thereafter,
 receive an input from the user, the input causing or enabling identification of one of the plurality of entities as the entity which the user desires to locate; and 
 display a graphical representation of a location associated with the one entity, including surroundings thereof, on the display device. 
   
     
     
         89 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein:
 The display device comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) based display device;   the user's speech input comprises a speech input relating to a name of an organization or entity which the user desires to locate;   the download is performed via a wireless link established via the wireless interface between the computerized apparatus and the server, the server disposed outside of the particular geographic area;   the computerized apparatus is further configured to display of a visual representation of directions to the location, the visual representation of directions comprising a differentiated arrow or line disposed thereon which shows the user a particular path to be followed, the differentiated arrow or line comprising an arrow or line that is different in at least one of color and/or luminosity;   wherein the advisement to the user of the plurality of matching entities comprises at least one of: (i) a synthesis of audible signals comprising at least one human-intelligible word or phrase, and/or (ii) causing display of a listing of the plurality of possible matching entities on the touch-screen input and display device viewable by the user; and   wherein the thereafter received user input comprises at least one of (i) a speech input; and/or (ii) a tactile input via an electromechanical key- or button-based input device of the computerized apparatus, the user input to select one of the plurality of matching entities.   
     
     
         90 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 89 , wherein:
 the computerized apparatus is further configured to provide a synthesized speech output which is audible to the user and which comprises at least one word recognizable by the user and which aids the user in finding the location;   the computerized apparatus is part of a transport device having a passenger compartment and configured to move from one location to another and carry one or more passengers, the microphone and capacitive touch-screen device each disposed at least partly within the passenger compartment and accessible to the user while operating the transport device;   the computerized apparatus further comprise at least one video apparatus including at least one camera, the at least one video apparatus configured to generate video from outside the passenger compartment using the at least one camera, and provide the generated video to the computerized apparatus for display on the display device such that the user can view the video while operating the transport device and be made aware of one or more hazards that they cannot see directly from the passenger compartment while operating the transport device; and   the computerized apparatus is further configured to enable establishment of an ad-hoc or temporary communication link with a portable personal electronic device of the user.   
     
     
         91 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein:
 the computerized apparatus is further configured to provide a synthesized speech output which is audible to the user and which comprises at least one word recognizable by the user and which aids the user in finding the location;   the computerized apparatus is part of a transport device having a passenger compartment and configured to move from one location to another and carry one or more passengers, the microphone and capacitive touch-screen device each disposed at least partly within the passenger compartment and accessible to the user while operating the transport device;   the computerized apparatus further comprise at least one video apparatus including at least one camera, the at least one video apparatus configured to generate video from outside the passenger compartment using the at least one camera, and provide the generated video to the computerized apparatus for display on the display device such that the user can view the video while operating the transport device and be made aware of one or more hazards that they cannot see directly from the passenger compartment while operating the transport device; and   the computerized apparatus is further configured to enable establishment of an ad-hoc or temporary communication link with a portable personal electronic device of the user.   
     
     
         92 . A method of enabling a user to locate an entity utilizing a computerized apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving data relating to a given geographic area from a server in data communication with a network, the computerized apparatus also being in data communication with the network;   storing the received data locally on the computerized apparatus;   subsequently retrieving at least a portion of the stored received data; and   without further access to the server, utilizing the retrieved data to cause display on the display device of a visual representation of a location associated with a business entity to which the user wishes to navigate, the visual representation comprising a visual representation of the location and at least the immediate surroundings thereof.   
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the computerized apparatus is part of a transport device which can move to and from various locations, and the receiving data relating to a given geographic area from a server in data communication with a network comprises receiving the data relating to the given geographic area via a wireless interface of the computerized apparatus that is in data communication with the network, the receiving being performed while the transport device is in motion. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the utilizing the retrieved data to cause display on the display device of a visual representation of a location associated with a business entity to which the user wishes to navigate comprises:
 receiving a digital representation of a user speech input via a speech recognition apparatus of the computerized apparatus, the speech input comprising at least a portion of the name of the business entity;   using a digital representation of the at least portion of the name to search the retrieved data; and   based at least in part on a result of the search, utilizing a portion of the retrieved data to cause the display on the display device.   
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the utilizing, based at least in part on a result of the search, a portion of the retrieved data to cause the display on the display device comprises accessing a linked data file comprising data enabling the display on the display device of the visual representation. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a digital representation of a user speech input via a speech recognition apparatus of the computerized apparatus, the speech input comprising at least a portion of the name of the business entity; and   using a digital representation of the at least portion of the name to search the stored received data; and   wherein the subsequent retrieving of at least a portion of the stored received data comprises retrieving of the at least portion of the stored received data based at least on a result of the search.