Computerized information and display apparatus

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. The obtained data may also, in one variant, be displayed with contextually related content. In another variant, retrieved data can be downloaded to a portable user device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . Computer readable apparatus configured to aid a user in locating an organization or business entity, the apparatus being part of a computerized information system, the apparatus comprising a storage medium having at least one computer program configured to run on at least one processor, the at least one program configured to, when executed on the at least one processor:
 obtain a representation of a first speech input from the user, the first speech input received via at least one microphone of the computerized information system and relating to at least part of a name of a desired organization or business entity;   cause use of at least a speech recognition apparatus to process the representation to identify at least one word therein;   cause use at least the identified at least one word to identify a plurality of possible matches for the at least part of the name;   receive a subsequent input from the user in order to identify of one of the plurality of possible matches which best correlates to the desired organization or business entity; and   cause presentation of a visual representation of a location associated with the identified one of the plurality of possible matches, as well as at least immediate surroundings of the location and one or more other organizations or business entities proximate to the location, on a display device in communication with the computerized information system and viewable by the user.   
     
     
         42 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one program is further configured to, when executed on the at least one processor, cause presentation of the plurality of possible matches to the user at least prior to the receipt of the subsequent input from the user. 
     
     
         43 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the presentation of the plurality of possible matches to the user comprises display on the display device of a list of the plurality of possible matches, including for each of the plurality: (i) at least part of a name associated with the listed possible match; and (ii) information cognizable to the user and which enables the user to immediately perceive a location associated with the listed possible match without any subsequent computation or analysis. 
     
     
         44 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the information cognizable to the user and which enables the user to immediately perceive a location associated with the listed possible match without any subsequent computation or analysis comprises a textual representation of at least part of an address of the listed possible match. 
     
     
         45 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the display device comprises a touch screen input and display device, and at least one program is further configured to receive the subsequent input via the user touching a region on a touch screen of the input and display device corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of matches. 
     
     
         46 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one program is further configured to, when executed on the at least one processor, cause the user to be prompted to enter the subsequent input before the receipt of the subsequent input. 
     
     
         47 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the prompt to enter the subsequent input before the receipt of the subsequent input comprises a verbal prompt generated by a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with the computerized information system, the verbal prompt comprising at least one user-intelligible word. 
     
     
         48 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the prompt to enter the subsequent input before the receipt of the subsequent input comprises a visually perceptible prompt generated on the display device. 
     
     
         49 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the causation of use of at least the identified at least one word to identify a plurality of possible matches for the at least part of the name comprises using the at least one word to search at least one of a database or data file comprising data relating to a plurality of organizations and business entities, the data relating to a plurality of organizations and business entities comprising at least a name of each of the plurality. 
     
     
         50 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the data relating to a plurality of organizations and business entities further comprises data relating to a location of each that, when rendered by the computerized information system, enables the user to immediately perceive the location associated with the user-cognizable information without any calculation or analysis by the user. 
     
     
         51 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the data relating to a plurality of organizations and business entities comprises data relating only to organizations or entities which are geographically local to a present location of the computerized information system. 
     
     
         52 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the visual representation of a location associated with the identified one of the plurality of possible matches, as well as at least immediate surroundings thereof, and one or more other organizations or business entities proximate to the location, is generated from data stored in a data file. 
     
     
         53 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein (i) the at least one database or data file comprising data relating to a plurality of organizations and business entities, and (ii) the data file from which the visual representation is generated, are both stored on at least one server, the at least one server being in data communication with the computerized information system via a network, and a wireless interface of the computerized information system that is in wireless communication with the network. 
     
     
         54 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the plurality of possible matches are each located geographically proximate to a present location of the computerized information system. 
     
     
         55 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of possible matches are each located geographically proximate to a present location of the computerized information system. 
     
     
         56 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the causation of use at least of the identified at least one word to identify a plurality of possible matches for the at least part of the name comprises access to only entries within a database or data file containing data on a plurality of organizations and business entities which relate to a geographic region local to the current location of the computerized information system. 
     
     
         57 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the location comprises a location within a building, the one or more other organizations or business entities proximate to the location are disposed within the building, the building further comprising a plurality of floors and at least one elevator capable of accessing the plurality of floors, and the location and the one or more other organizations or business entities are disposed on at least a common floor. 
     
     
         58 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to cause provision of a visually perceivable representation of directions to the location on the display device, the visually perceivable representation of directions comprising at least one arrow or line that is highlighted in a different color relative to the immediate surroundings so as to aid the user in finding the desired organization or business entity. 
     
     
         59 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the computerized information system further comprises a graphics co-processor in data communication with the at least one program, and the provision of a visually perceivable representation of directions to the location on the display device comprises rendering the at least one arrow or line using at least the graphics co-processor. 
     
     
         60 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to cause provision of a synthesized speech output which is audible to the user and which comprises at least one word recognizable by the user and which is part of an address of the location. 
     
     
         61 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the computerized information system further comprises a graphics processor in data communication with the at least one program, and the visual representation of the location comprises a rendering of at least a portion of a building on the display device. 
     
     
         62 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the rendering of at least a portion of a building on the display device comprises rendering the at least portion of the building using the graphics processor. 
     
     
         63 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the display device comprises a touch-screen input and display device, and the computerized information system is configured to generate a plurality of soft function keys thereon, the soft function keys each having at least one function associated therewith, and the computer program is further configured to, based at least in part on a user's selection of at least one of the soft function keys, cause access of a remote network server via a wireless link of the computerized system to retrieve information relating to the user's selection. 
     
     
         64 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein at least one of the plurality of soft function keys corresponds to a weather-related function, and the user's selection comprises selection of the one key corresponding to the weather-related function in order to obtain information relating to weather conditions for an area local to a present location of the computerized information system, the obtained information supplied by the remote network server via the wireless link. 
     
     
         65 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein said obtained comprises a multi-day forecast, the computerized information system further configured to display at least a portion of the multi-day forecast on the display device in the form of a plurality of iconic weather-related symbols, as well as a plurality of temperature values. 
     
     
         66 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the computerized information system is further configured to display a plurality of icons corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of topical areas, selection of a topical area by the user causing access of a remote network entity via at least a wireless network interface of the information system, in order to retrieve information relevant to the user and relating to the selected topical area. 
     
     
         67 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the selection of the topical area by the user comprises:
 receipt of a voice input from the user, the voice input relating to the selected topical area;   processing of the voice input using the speech recognition apparatus to identify one or more words therein; and   use of the identified one or more words to perform said access of the remote network entity.   
     
     
         68 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the topical areas include weather information, and the information relevant to the user comprises a weather forecast for a prescribed geographic area, the area selected by the user via the computerized information system. 
     
     
         69 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the plurality of icons are configured to facilitate rapid recognition of the respective topical area by the user, access to, and display of a limited collection of data, in order to reduce the amount of time needed by the user to locate and be cognitive of information that the user desires to a few seconds. 
     
     
         70 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said computerized information system is further configured to obtain information relating to parking rates from a remote network entity via at least a wireless interface of the computerized information system, in response to the user making a speech request via the microphone. 
     
     
         71 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said display device comprises a touch screen input and display device, and the computerized information system is further configured to obtain information relating to parking rates from a remote network entity via at least a wireless interface of the computerized information system, in response to the user making a request via touching a portion of the touch screen device. 
     
     
         72 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said information system further comprises a key- or button-based electromechanical input device, and the computerized information system is further configured to obtain information relating to parking rates from a remote network entity via at least a wireless interface of the computerized information system, in response to the user providing an input via the electromechanical input device. 
     
     
         73 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the visual representation of the location comprises a hypertext markup language (HTML)-based representation. 
     
     
         74 . Computerized information apparatus configured to aid a user in locating an organization or business entity, the apparatus comprising:
 a microphone;   a display device;   a data processing apparatus in data communication with the display device;   speech digitization apparatus in signal communication with the microphone and the data processing apparatus;   at least one audio speaker;   speech synthesis apparatus in signal communication with the at least one audio speaker; and   a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to run on at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the at least one program configured to, when executed:
 obtain a representation of a first speech input from the user, the first speech input relating to a name of a desired organization or business entity; 
 cause use of at least a speech recognition algorithm to process the representation to identify at least one word therein; 
 cause use of the identified at least one word as part of a search of at least one database or data file, the search identifying a plurality of possible matches for the desired organization or business entity; 
 prompt the user for a subsequent input, the subsequent input to identify one of the plurality of possible matches which best correlates to the desired organization or business entity; 
 receive the subsequent user input; and 
 cause, based at least in part on the subsequent input, display of a visual representation of the identified one organization or business entity, as well as at least an area immediately proximate thereto, on the display device, the visual representation further showing one or more other organizations or business entities proximate to the identified one organization or business entity. 
   
     
     
         75 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein the at least one program is further configured to, when executed, display a graphical representation of at least a portion of directions to the identified one organization or business entity, the graphical representation of at least a portion of directions being rendered on the display device contemporaneously with the visual representation. 
     
     
         76 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a graphical rendering of at least one line or arrow, the line or arrow shown as substantially following a path which may be taken to arrive at the identified one organization or business entity, the line or arrow having an elevated luminosity relative to at least part of its surroundings on the graphical representation. 
     
     
         77 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein:
 the obtainment of a representation of a first speech input from the user comprises obtainment of a digitized version of an analog first speech input; and   the use of at least a speech recognition algorithm to process the representation to identify at least one word therein comprises application of a phoneme-based analysis to identify the at least one word from a library or dictionary having a plurality of words associated therewith.   
     
     
         78 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the phoneme-based analysis and the identification of the at least one word from a library or dictionary are each performed by the computerized information apparatus. 
     
     
         79 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein the computerized information apparatus:
 is disposed within a passenger compartment of a personnel transport device capable of moving from one location to another, the display device disposed at least partly within the passenger compartment, the display device being disposed such that at least the user can view the display device while operating the transport device, and the microphone disposed within the passenger compartment such that the user can speak into the microphone while operating the transport device;   further comprises a first wireless network interface, the first wireless interface configured to permit the computerized information apparatus to communicate wirelessly with an Internet to at least obtain information therefrom while the transport device is in motion, the information being selected by the user from a plurality of predetermined topical categories; and   further comprises at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface capable of data interchange with a portable electronic device of the user via an ad hoc association formed while the user is in the passenger compartment, and terminated upon egress of the user from the passenger compartment.   
     
     
         80 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , 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. 
     
     
         81 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 80 , further comprising a key- or button-based electromechanical input device, the computerized information apparatus further configured to obtain current topical information from an Internet via at least a wireless interface of the computerized information apparatus, in response to the user actuating at least one button or key on the electromechanical input device. 
     
     
         82 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , further comprising a key- or button-based electromechanical input device, the computerized information apparatus further configured to, in response to the user actuating at least one button or key on the electromechanical input device, enter a mode whereby the information apparatus will accept the first speech input. 
     
     
         83 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to, in the absence of detecting a user's speech input for a prescribed period of time, exit the mode, thereby requiring the user to again actuate the at least one button or key before the speech input will be accepted. 
     
     
         84 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to generate at least one of an audible and/or visual indication that the mode has been entered. 
     
     
         85 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to generate at least one of an audible and/or visual communication prompting the user to provide the first speech input, the audible communication generated via the speech synthesis apparatus, the visual communication generated on the display device. 
     
     
         86 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal diode (LCD) device, and the information apparatus further comprises a capacitive touch screen input device in communication with the data processing apparatus and physically separate from the display device, the computerized information apparatus further configured to, in response to the user touching a screen of the touch screen input device, activate a function of the computerized information apparatus. 
     
     
         87 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , further comprising at least one video apparatus including a plurality of cameras, the at least one video apparatus configured to generate digital video data showing at least one area outside of a passenger compartment of a transport device within which the computerized information apparatus is installed using at least one of the cameras, and provide the generated digital video data to the computerized information apparatus for display on the display device such that a user can view the video data 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. 
     
     
         88 . The computerized information apparatus of  claim 74 , further configured to generate one or more hyperlinks relating to topics of interest to the user in their travels, and display the generated one or more hyperlinks on the display device, the one or more hyperlinks relating to topics of interest to the user in their travels configured to access respective universal resource locators (URLs) on a remote network when selected by the user via at least a wireless network interface in data communication with the data processing apparatus. 
     
     
         89 . Smart computerized apparatus capable of interactive information exchange with a human user, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of digital processors;   a display device in communication with at least one of the plurality of digital processors;   speech synthesis apparatus and at least one audio speaker in signal communication therewith, the speech synthesis apparatus in communication with at least one of the digital processors;   input apparatus configured to cause the computerized apparatus to enter a mode whereby a user can speak at least part of a name of an entity into a microphone in signal communication with the computerized apparatus, the entity being an entity which the user wishes to find; and   at least one computer program operative to run on at least one of the digital processors and configured to engage the user in an interactive interchange, the interchange comprising:
 digitization of the user's speech received via the microphone to produce a digital representation thereof; 
 causation of use of the digitized representation to identify a plurality of entities which match the at least portion of the name; 
 causation of generation of an audible communication to the user via the speech synthesis apparatus in order to at least inform the user of the identification of the plurality of matching entities; 
 receipt of a subsequent speech input provided by the user; 
 digitization of the subsequent speech input to produce a digital representation thereof; 
 causation of utilization of at least the digital representation of the subsequent input to identify one of the plurality of entities which correlates to the entity which the user wishes to find; and 
 causation of provision of a visually perceptible representation of the one of the plurality of entities which correlates to the entity which the user wishes to find, including at least a portion of the immediate surroundings thereof, and at least one other entity proximate to the entity. 
   
     
     
         90 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 89 , wherein the smart computerized apparatus is part of a transport device having a passenger compartment and configured to carry one or more passengers, the microphone and display device and at least one speaker each disposed at least partly within the passenger compartment and accessible to the user while operating the transport device. 
     
     
         91 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 90 , further comprising at least one video apparatus comprising a camera, the at least one video apparatus configured to generate digital video data depicting at least one area outside the passenger compartment using at least the camera, and provide the generated digital video data to the computerized apparatus for display on the display device such that a user can view the video data while operating the transport device and be made aware of one or more hazards that the user cannot see directly from the passenger compartment while operating the transport device. 
     
     
         92 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 91 , further comprising at least one video apparatus comprising a camera, the at least one video apparatus configured to generate digital video data depicting at least one area outside the passenger compartment using at least the camera, and provide the generated digital video data to the computerized apparatus for display on the display device such that a user can view the video data while operating the transport device and be made aware of one or more hazards that the user cannot see directly from the passenger compartment while operating the transport device. 
     
     
         93 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 91 , wherein said use of the digitized representation to identify a plurality of entities which match the at least portion of the name comprises:
 use of a speech recognition apparatus to recognize the at least portion of the name; and   search of a plurality of data relating to at least a plurality of entities for matches to the recognized at least portion of the name.   
     
     
         94 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 93 , wherein said interchange further comprises:
 determination of a location associated with the one of the plurality of entities which correlates to the entity which the user wishes to find; and   provision to the user via at least one of the display device and/or speech synthesis apparatus of information relating to the determined location.   
     
     
         95 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein 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, and transfer of data between the computerized apparatus and the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         96 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein the communication link with a portable personal electronic device of the user comprises a wired link compliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol and established by the user by placing the portable personal electronic device in communication with computerized apparatus via at least a connector of the computerized apparatus. 
     
     
         97 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein the computerized apparatus further comprises a short-range wireless interface configured to communicate data with a corresponding short range integrated circuit radio frequency device carried by the user, the short-range integrated circuit radio frequency device carried by the user configured to uniquely identify at least one of itself and/or the user so as to enable the computerized apparatus to configure one or more operational aspects of a personnel transport device which the user is to operate according to one or more data parameters or profiles supplied by and specific to the user. 
     
     
         98 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 89 , further comprising at least one motion sensing apparatus configured to sense motion within at least one area outside the passenger compartment, and provide a signal to the computerized apparatus to alert the user, while operating the transport device, of one or more hazards. 
     
     
         99 . The smart computerized apparatus of  claim 89 , further comprising at least one infrared radiation sensing apparatus configured to sense the presence of at least a human being within at least one area outside the passenger compartment, and provide data to the computerized apparatus to cause display on the display device of an indication which alerts the user to the presence while operating the transport device.