Computerized information and display apparatus

Abstract

Computerized apparatus capable of providing a user, such as a passenger of a transportation device, with various types of information. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes speech processing and speech synthesis apparatus, as well as a wireless interface and a database, to enable the user to obtain information both locally and remotely (such as from a remote server and/or the Internet) while being transported. In one variant, the user can engage in a verbal interchange with the apparatus in order to obtain desired information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . Computerized apparatus for use in a personnel transport device and configured to provide a user with multiple types of information while riding in the personnel transport device, the apparatus comprising:
 data processing apparatus;   speech processing apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus, the speech processing apparatus configured to recognize one or more words within a speech input provided by the user;   speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus;   a display device in data communication with the data processing apparatus;   data storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus;   a database comprising data relating to a plurality of organizations or entities; and   computerized logic configured to:
 utilize the recognized one or more words to search the database to identify at least one match for the user's speech input; 
 obtain a location associated with the at least one match; and 
 cause presentation of information relating to the location via at least one of (i) the display device; and/or (ii) the speech synthesis apparatus. 
   
     
     
         42 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the presentation of information relating to the location comprises display of a visually perceivable representation of the location, including at least its immediate surroundings and one or more organizations or entities proximate thereto. 
     
     
         43 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the one or more words comprise a name of the at least one match. 
     
     
         44 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising a first wireless interface, and wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to communicate directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom, and display at least a portion of the obtained information on the display device. 
     
     
         45 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the display device comprises a touch screen input and display device, and the communication directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom is caused at least by the user touching a link generated on the touch screen input and display device. 
     
     
         46 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the link generated on the touch screen input and display device relates to a predetermined topical area selected from the group consisting of: (i) news; and (ii) weather for a prescribed geographic region. 
     
     
         47 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a WLAN wireless interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 standard. 
     
     
         48 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising an input device which, when actuated by the user, causes the computerized apparatus to enter a mode wherein the user is prompted to provide information. 
     
     
         49 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the prompt to provide information comprises a synthesized voice prompt requesting the user to provide a verbal or speech input. 
     
     
         50 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one match comprises a plurality of matches, and the computerized logic is configured to provide the user with notification of the plurality of matches. 
     
     
         51 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the notification comprises display of a listing of the plurality of matches on the display device. 
     
     
         52 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the notification comprises a synthesized voice output, the synthesized voice output audibly indicating that a plurality of possible matches have been found by the search. 
     
     
         53 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the computerized logic is further configured to receive a subsequent input from the user to determine which of the plurality of possible matches is a one of interest to the user. 
     
     
         54 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the subsequent input comprises a subsequent speech input from the user, the subsequent speech input comprising at least one piece of information not previously provided, a digitized representation of the subsequent speech input enabling the selection of the one of the plurality of possible matches that is of interest to the user. 
     
     
         55 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising an input device which, when selected by the user, causes the computerized apparatus to enter a mode wherein the passenger may provide the speech input; and
 wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to revert to a mode where the user cannot enter the speech input after a prescribed period of time expires without the user providing the speech input, unless the input device is again selected.   
     
     
         56 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a first wireless interface, and wherein:
 the computerized apparatus is further configured to communicate directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom, and display at least a portion of the obtained information on the display device.   
     
     
         57 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to provide at least a portion of information obtained via the first wireless interface to a portable electronic device of the user via a data interface of the computerized apparatus. 
     
     
         58 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the display device comprises a touch screen input and display device, and the communication directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom is caused at least by the user touching a link generated on the touch screen input and display device. 
     
     
         59 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the at least portion of information obtained via the first wireless interface comprises at least map data relating to an area local to the personnel transport device. 
     
     
         60 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the data interface comprises an interface utilizing a serialized bus protocol and a physical connection between the computerized apparatus and the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         61 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the physical connection between the computerized apparatus and the portable electronic device comprises a physical connector that is fixedly part of the personnel transport device and which is at least partly recessed with a slot or enclosure. 
     
     
         62 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the computerized apparatus is configured to provide at least a portion of data relating to the location or the information relating to the location, to a portable electronic device placed in ad hoc communication with the computerized apparatus via a data interface of the computerized apparatus. 
     
     
         63 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the provision of the at least portion of the data or the information can be invoked by application software present on the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         64 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein the application software present on the portable electronic device is configured to receive and store the at least portion of data or information relating to the location for subsequent use by the user in navigating an area local to the personnel transport apparatus. 
     
     
         65 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein the provision of at least a portion of data or information is invoked automatically when the portable electronic device and the computerized apparatus are placed in data communication with each other via the data interface. 
     
     
         66 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a wireless interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard. 
     
     
         67 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising video data apparatus in data communication with at least the data processing apparatus and configured to enable video data to be generated and displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         68 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the video data is generated by a plurality of cameras associated with the computerized apparatus and displayed on the display device in corresponding ones of portions of the display device so as to enable simultaneous monitoring of multiple portions of an area proximate the personnel transport device. 
     
     
         69 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 67 , further comprising at least one motion detection apparatus configured to alert the user of motion occurring outside of the personnel transport device so as to avoid a hazard. 
     
     
         70 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a short range wireless interface, the short range wireless interface being configured to communicate with a portable radio-frequency enabled device carried by the user, the portable radio-frequency device configured to provide unique identification information to the computerized apparatus when brought within sufficiently close proximity thereto, the identification information enabling or configuring at least one aspect of the operation of the computerized apparatus. 
     
     
         71 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to utilize one or more radio frequency emissions emanating from a short-range portable radio frequency device of the user, the one or more emissions uniquely identifying the user to the computerized apparatus, in order to configure one or more aspects of operation of the personnel transport device. 
     
     
         72 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more aspects of operation of the transport device comprise enabling one or more functions that are otherwise disabled. 
     
     
         73 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more aspects of operation of the transport device comprise configuring the provision of data to the user during operation of the transport device according to a profile specific to that user. 
     
     
         74 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a communication apparatus configured to enable at least voice communication by a user with a remote monitoring station while the personnel transport device is in operation. 
     
     
         75 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the at least one match comprises a plurality of matches, and the computerized logic is configured to provide the user with notification of the plurality of matches, the notification comprising at least display of a listing of the plurality of matches on the display device;   the computerized logic is further configured to receive a subsequent input from the user to determine which of the plurality of possible matches is a one of interest to the user;   the one or more words comprise at least a portion of a name of the at least one match; and   the presentation of information relating to the location comprises display of a visually perceivable representation of the location, including at least its immediate surroundings and one or more organizations or entities proximate thereto, as well as a color-differentiated line or arrow graphic showing the user a path to follow to get from a current location to the location.   
     
     
         76 . Computerized apparatus configured to provide a user with multiple types of information while the user is being transported from one location to the other, the computerized apparatus comprising:
 data processing apparatus;   speech processing apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus, the speech processing apparatus configured to enable recognition of one or more words within a speech input provided by the user, the one or more words being part of a name of an organization or entity;   speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus;   a display device in data communication with the data processing apparatus;   data storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus, the data storage apparatus including data relating to a plurality of organizations or entities;   a first wireless interface; and   at least one computer program configured to:
 utilize one or more recognized words within the user's speech input to perform a search the data relating to a plurality of organizations or entities to attempt to identify at least one match for the user's speech input, the search producing a plurality of possible matches; 
 receive user input subsequent to the speech input to identify one of the plurality of possible matches that the user desires to obtain further information on; and 
 cause presentation of the further information associated with the one of the plurality of matches via at least one of (i) the display device; and/or (ii) the speech synthesis apparatus. 
   
     
     
         77 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the presentation of further information comprises display of a visually perceivable representation of a location associated with the one of the plurality of matches identified by the user, as well as a graphic representation of directions for the user to follow to navigate to the location. 
     
     
         78 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the visually perceivable representation comprises a visually perceivable representation of at least immediate surroundings of, including one or more portions of at least one building structure proximate to, the location. 
     
     
         79 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the data processing apparatus comprises a central processing apparatus and a graphics co-processor, and the visually perceivable representation of a location is rendered on the display device at least in part by the graphics co-processor. 
     
     
         80 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to communicate directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom, and display at least a portion of the obtained information on the display device, the communication directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom is caused at least by the user activating at least one software-based link generated on the display device, the activation occurring by way of the user using a key or button input device. 
     
     
         81 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein the at least one link generated on the display device relates to a predetermined topical area selected from the group consisting of: (i) news; (ii) traffic data, and (iii) weather for a prescribed geographic region. 
     
     
         82 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one link comprises a plurality of links, individual ones of the plurality of links comprising links enabling the user to obtain: (i) news; (ii) traffic data, and (iii) weather for a prescribed geographic region, respectively. 
     
     
         83 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , further comprising an input device which, when actuated by the user, causes the computerized apparatus to enter a mode wherein the user is prompted to provide information, wherein the prompt to provide information comprises a synthesized voice prompt requesting the user to provide a verbal or speech input. 
     
     
         84 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the at least one computer program is configured to provide the user with notification of the plurality of matches via display of a listing of the plurality of matches on the display device, as well as a synthesized voice output, the synthesized voice output audibly indicating that a plurality of possible matches have been found by the search. 
     
     
         85 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the subsequent user input comprises a subsequent speech input from the user, the subsequent speech input comprising at least one piece of information not previously provided in the speech input, a digitized representation of the subsequent speech input enabling the selection of the one of the plurality of possible matches that the user desires to obtain further information on. 
     
     
         86 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the computerized apparatus is further configured to communicate directly or indirectly with a remote server via at least the first wireless interface to obtain information therefrom, and display at least a portion of the obtained information on the display device, and to provide at least a portion of information obtained via the first wireless interface to a portable electronic device of the user via an ad hoc or opportunistic data coupling between the computerized apparatus and portable electronic device occurring within a passenger compartment of a land-mobile vehicle in which the user is riding. 
     
     
         87 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the information obtained via the first wireless interface comprises at least map data relating to an area local to a location of a land-mobile vehicle in which the user is being transported, and the portable electronic device comprises application software configured to run thereon and utilize the map data to aid the user in navigation once they have left the vehicle. 
     
     
         88 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , further comprising video data apparatus in data communication with at least the data processing apparatus and configured to enable video data to be generated and displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         89 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein the video data is generated by a plurality of cameras associated with the computerized apparatus and displayed on the display device in corresponding ones of portions of the display device so as to enable simultaneous monitoring of multiple portions of an area outside of a passenger compartment in which the user is being transported. 
     
     
         90 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 88 , further comprising at least one motion detection apparatus configured to alert the user of motion occurring outside of a vehicle in which the user is being transported so as to avoid a potential hazard to the user. 
     
     
         91 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 76 , further comprising a second wireless interface, the second wireless interface being configured to communicate with a portable radio-frequency enabled device carried by the user, the portable radio-frequency device configured to provide unique identification information to the computerized apparatus when brought within sufficiently close proximity thereto, the identification information enabling or configuring at least one aspect of the operation of the computerized apparatus in a fashion that has been previously selected by the user. 
     
     
         92 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 91 , further comprising a communication apparatus configured to enable at least voice communication by a user with a remote monitoring station while the user is being transported. 
     
     
         93 . Computerized apparatus configured to provide a user with multiple types of information while the user is being transported from one location to the other inside of a passenger compartment of a land mobile transportation apparatus, the computerized apparatus comprising:
 data processing apparatus comprising at least a central processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a graphics co-processor;   speech recognition apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the speech recognition apparatus configured to enable recognition of one or more words within a speech input provided by the user, the one or more words being part of a name of an organization or entity which the user wishes to locate;   speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;   a liquid crystal display (LCD)-based display device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;   data storage apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the data storage apparatus including data relating to a plurality of organizations or entities;   an electro-mechanical input device in signal communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and operative to allow the user to provide input including selection of one or more functions displayed on the display device;   a first wireless interface in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus; and   at least one storage device having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program operative to run on at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and configured to, upon execution:
 utilize one or more recognized words within the user's speech input to perform a search the data relating to a plurality of organizations or entities to attempt to identify at least one match for the user's speech input, the search producing a plurality of possible matches; 
 receive user input subsequent to the speech input to identify one of the plurality of possible matches that the user desires to obtain further information on; and 
 cause presentation of the further information associated with the one of the plurality of matches via at least the display device, the further information comprising a graphical representation of a location associated with the identified one match, including at least its immediate surroundings, the graphical representation being rendered at least in part by the graphics co-processor. 
   
     
     
         94 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 93 , wherein the presentation of further information further comprises display of a graphic representation of directions for the user to follow to navigate to the location. 
     
     
         95 . The computerized apparatus of  claim 94 , wherein the visually perceivable representation of at least immediate surroundings includes a representation of one or more portions of at least one building structure proximate to the location.