US 2011 03 01835A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0301835 A1 Bongiorno (43) Pub. Date: Dec. 8, 2011
(54) PORTABLE VACATION/TRAVEL PLANNER, (52) U.S. Cl...... 701/201: 705/5: 707/705; 707/E17.044 AND FAMILY TOUR GUIDE DEVICE (57) ABSTRACT (76) Inventor: James Bongiorno, Huntington, NY A portable device for planning a vacation/business travel (US) itinerary, which begins with customizable itinerary templates that utilize a stored database of destination information, including a country's regions/cities, tourist sites, and other (21) Appl. No.: 12/910,790 sites of interest located therein, and a corresponding photo graphic library. One Such template returns itineraries based (22) Filed: Oct. 23, 2010 upon: duration, arrival/departure cities, total number of cities to be visited, and intensity of touring. The Software assists users during travel by providing cueing of itinerary segments, Rel ated U.S. Application Data along with directions, and on-demand pre-recorded audio (60) Provisional application No. 61/397,104, filed on Jun. tours to enhance site tour experiences. En route detours from 7, 2010. planned sites are Supported for spontaneous additions/Substi tutions. Country-specific information includes city/regional maps, public transportation information, key word/phrase Publication Classification language translation capability, and yellow/white page phone listings. Password protected device-to-device linking permits (51) Int. C. family members to track each other by GPS location of the G06O 10/00 (2006.01) other's device. Internet capability permits inclusion, within G06F 7/30 (2006.01) itineraries, of reservation-specific information for air-travel, GOIC 2L/00 (2006.01) hotels, and events.
- N. Country-ITALY III Country-ITALY II WACATION PANNER & traw Guide WACATION PLANNER & TRAWE GUIDE MODE:Plantinerary Itinerary 1 Planning Template MODE: Plan Itinerary Italy Photo Library Template Sites by Popularity Copy and Modily Existing Itinerary -> LAZO-Rome: Colosseum LGURA-Italian Riviera. Manarola Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates-2 Day, 3 Day, ... Select Regions/Cities/Sites from Photo Library Templates a) View Library alphabetically by City b) View Library alphabetically by Italy Region -> c) Vicw Librarv according to Site popularity Select Regions from Region Templates- Northern Italy,... Select Citics from City Templates- Rome, Venice, ... COMPANIA-Pompeii: Mt. Vesuvius WENETO-Venice: Grand Canal Child Friendly Tour Templates. Arts and Architectural Tour Templates. Wine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates Train, Bus, and Taxi. Shopping Tour Templates-Antiques, Clothing, Italian Spec Cultural Tour Templates- Museums, Galleries, Theaters... - More Region Photos (use Down key) Page. 2 of 150 Historical Site Templates- Battlefields, Landmarks, ... *Show More:Tess PhotosíRegioms : Scale & key; or Photos;Puge: Scale:Shifi & J ->MORIE PLANNING TEMPLATES (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus typiDown Keys):1xplore Lazio Region 2) Add Lazio Region to Itinerary OPTIONS: 1) Select Planning Template (& Enter) 3) Return to Photo Library Templates PLANNMG WACAONEXFERENCE BONS PAMNNG WACAONEXPERENCE BUFONS 32 BTIONS tijiaioi Navigate Count Country information Farily Corunication Ala Wigate Counir Useltinerary LANGUAGE Useltinerary Translate Phrase in E. 8:3A:RS: ::f38ge 58-1883 F.E. ItalyPHONE Transportation GPSLOCATE italy PHONE Transportation DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member En Route Detour DIRECTORY RouteslSchedule r En Rote Deter 4. 56 7 89 O Bkspace FIND (Index) 45678 O Bkspace E.FIND (Index) P rabaw Ertyu or ENTER rabaw Erry utop enter H o c shift As DF.g H k t Shift As D Fg H k y T Scale 2x C v B N M s . & l Scale 2x c W B NM f 4. y Manarola, Pompeii & Venice Photos: QT Luongterragalleria.com Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 1 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
19 23 17 13 15 Country- ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Start?
SELECT DESIRED FUNCTION BUTTON FROM THE PLANNING BUTTONS or the WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS
OR Watch a Virtual Tour Presentation: D Slide Show- 15 minutes Slide Show- 30 minutes Slide Show- 45 minutes Slide Show- 60 minutes Video Show- 15 Minutes
-> (USc Keys to Navigate Virtual Tour Choiccs)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Upf Own KeyS): 1) Watch 15 min. Italy Slide Shg r 2) Press Desired Function B PLANNING 3 WACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS 7 36 Country information 39 38 Family Communication LANGUAGE Translate Phrase
SS
Detour
FIGURE 1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 2 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary fitinerary #1 Planning Templates "Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates- 2 Day, 3 Day, ... Sclect Regions/Citics/Sites by Vicwing Italy Photo Library Template Select Regions from Region Templates- Northern Italy, Central.... Sclect Citics from City Templates- Rome. Venice, Florence... Child Friendly Tour Templates. Arts and Architectural Tour Templates. Wine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates Train, Bus, and Taxi. Shopping Tour Templates-Antiques, Clothing, Italian Specialties... Cultural Tour Templates- Museums, Art Galleries, and Theaters. Historical Site Templates- Battlefields, Landmarks, Buildings... Religious Site Templates- Cathedrals, Churches. ... Scenic National Beauty Templates- Parks, Scenic Vicws ... Famous People Tour Templates- Homes, Cemetery Locations... Night Life Tour Templates: Bars/Pubs, Dance Clubs, ... Special Activities- Bike Tours, Spoleto Festival, Sporting Events ... -> (Use Keys to Navigate Planning Templates)
OPTIONS: 1) Select Planning Template (& Enter)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Couniry LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE PMMV DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member is 677 solo Bkspace FIND cindex)
FIGURE 2 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 3 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary Itinerary #1 Planning Options Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tours- 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, ... a) Key No. of Days: and Key Choice of City: (use blank entry for Italy City list) b) Key No. of Days: and Key Choice of Region: (usc blank cntry for Italy Region list) c) Best Tour of Italy in -No. of Days: 7 Default (Preferred) Arrival/Departure City and Departure City: Rome 2 (Optional Arr./Depart. City may be entered) Touring Schedule of Events being Light (about 3 hours out of an 8 hour touring day) Medium (about 5-6 hours out of an 8 hour touring day) Heavy (roughly 8 hours or more of touring sites per day) -> (USct J. Keys to Navigate Tour Choices) OPTIONS: 1) Select 7 Day 3 City Best of Italy Tour (Enter)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes|Schedule Family Member 1234567897 o Bkspace FIND cindex)
FIGURE 3 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 4 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: 7 Day, 3 City, Medium Schedule- Italy Tour-Venice, Florence; Rome D1) VENICE: Piazza Grand Canal (a Br TeatrO La Sise San Marco Santa Maria della Salute
2) FLORENCE: Florence 4 Cathedral
-> (Use Keys to Navigate Itinerary) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) See Tour Details 2) See Alt. Itinerary 3) Customize Itinerary 4) Return 5) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member
7
Venice Grand Canal Photo: C, QT Luong?terragalleria.com Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Bridge of Sighs Photo: Matthew Field; http://www.photography mattfield.com Colosscum Photo by Andrcas Tillc. Palazzo Vecchio Photo by Magnus Gertkemper Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl.
FIGURE 4 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 5 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: 7 Day, 3 City, Medium Schedule- Italy Tour- Venice; ALT. CITY; Rome. Original Itinerary VENICE: Days 1-3 FLORENCE: Day 4 ROME: Days: 5-7 Alternate Itinerary #1 VENICE: Days 1-3 BOLOGNA: Day 4 ROME: Days 5-6 Alternate Itinerary #1 VENICE: Days 1-3 S$ six PERUGIA: Day 4 s's “s s &$ & ROME: Days 5-6 Alternate Itincrary #1 VENICE: Days 1-3 MILAN: Day 4 ROME: Days 5-6 MORE ALTERNATE ITINERARIES (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Select Alt. Itinerary 2) Return to Original Itinerary 3) Return to Tour Options PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTIONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
GPS LOCATE m Salix
FIND (Index)
FIGURE 4A Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 6 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: 7 Day, 3 City, Medium Schedule- Italy Tour-Venice, Florence; Rome 1) VENICE: Piazza Grand Canal (a Briggs.sf.S. Days: San Marco Santa Maria della Salute 1-3
SS 2) BOLOGNA:
(Medieval)
3) ROME: Colosseum, Vatican City, Pantheon, Roman Forum Days: Š
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) See Tour Details 2) See Alt. Itinerary 3) Customize Itinerary 4) Return 5) Save Itinerary PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTIONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY lev V v - -
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 o Bkspace FIND (Index)
Venice Grand Canal Photo: C, QT Luong/terragalleria.com Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Bridge of Sighs Photo: Matthew Field; http://www.photography.mattfield.com Colosscum Photo by Andrcas Tille. Piazza Maggiore Photo by Tango7171: Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tango7174iiItalia Two Towers Photo by Patrick Clenet FIGURE 4B Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 7 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY VACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE 7 Day, 4 City, Medium Schedule- Italy Tour-Venice/Florence/Pisa/Rome -> 1) VENICE: Piazza Grand Canal (a) Brid Days: San MarCO an Maria della Salute
S. 2) FLORENCE: Day: 3
3) PISA Piazza del Duomo Colosseum, S
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country Link Transmit Use Itinerary ITNERARY
Transportation GPS LOCATE My WXX S Routes/Schedule Family Member o FIND (Index) op ENTER . . . Venice Grand Canal Photo: (C) QT Luong?terragalleria.com Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Bridge of Sighs Photo: Matthew Field; http://www.photography...mattfield.com Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Pisa Photo-Patrick Landy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:FSU Guy) Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Palazzo Vecchio Photo by Magnus Gertkemper FIGURE 5 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 8 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: 7 Day, 4 City, Med. Sched.- Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome Tour Details 1) VENICE: DAY 1: Piazza San Marco and Local Sites: MORNING: 1) Saint Mark's Basilica: Richly embellished candle-lit church with mosaics... *Dress Code- no shorts, bare arms and shoulders, or skirts above the knee AFTERNOON: 2) Palazzo Ducale: Venetian Gothic Palace, which was the palace of the Doges through the 15th century, but dates back to 1309. Restored after fire in 1577 ADDITIONAL SITES: 3) Marciana Library 4) Archaeological Museum 5) Loggetta & Bell Tower 6) Correr Museum 7) St. Zaccaria Church 8) Saint Moise Church 9) Prison's Palace 10) Mori's Clock
SAN MARCs
IN (use Down key) 1) View Description (Mori's Clock) 2) Customize Itinerary 3) Return 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Connunication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPs LoCATE f" - DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1234567897 o Bkspace FIND Index)
FIGURE 5A Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 9 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 10 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary / Itinerary if 1 Planning Templates Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates- 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, ... Sclect Regions/Citics/Sitcs by Vicwing Italy Photo Library Template Select Regions from Region Templates- Northern Italy, Central,... -Select Cities from City Templates- Rome, Venice, Florence... a) View Cities Alphabetically b) View Cities Grouped according to Region-Tuscany, Umbria.... -> c) View Cities by Popularity d) Vicw Citics Grouped According to Tourist Statistics c) Vicw Citics in Italy Map rChild Friendly Tour Templates. rArts and Architectural Tour Templates. rWine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates Train, Bus, and Taxi. Shopping Tour Templates-Antiques, Clothing, Italian Specialties. Cultural Tour Templates- Museums, Art Galleries, and Theaters. Historical Site Templates- Battleficlois, Landmarks, Buildings. MORE PLANNING TEMPLATES (use Down key) OPTIONS: 1) Select Planning Template (& Enter)
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link?Transmit Use Itinerary
Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY ------
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 3.456 90 Bkspace FIND (Index
FIGURE 6A Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 11 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL AGUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary / Select City / WENCE ITNERARY #1: > ROME, VENICE RS&SSX FLORENCE $sw: Ses is HACld to Itinerary MILAN so nonse S. View Photos NAPLES SSS:8:
VERONA S&S m W TURIN &88. BOLOGNA PERUGA GENOA
-> MORE CITY CHOICES (use Down key)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up Down Keys): 1) Add to Itinerary 2) View Photos & City Description 3) Return to Planning Templates
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Fam ily Member FIND (Index)
P H O T
Venice Photo: (G) QTLuong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 7 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 12 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary / Rome / ITNERARY #1 > 1) ROME 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)
OPTIONS (Shift plus Up/Down Keys): 1) View ROME Site Options/Events 4) Delete City/Region 2) View ROME Area Map 5) Select Another City 3) Add Side Trip from ROME 6) Return to Planning Templates 7) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Translate Phrase || ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPSLOCATE - DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member s 6787 90 Bkspace FIND (index)
FIGURE 8 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 13 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
3: Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary / Rome 1 Select Another City | ITNERARY #1 Distance . Rome from Rome VENICE 352 FLORENCE 187 MLAN 389 NAPLES 144 $888s:8: VERONA 341 SSS TURIN 434 PALERMO 647 BOLOGNA 253 - > GENOA 327
-> MORE CITY CHOICES (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Add To Itinerary 2) View Photos & City Description 3) Return to Planning Templates 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY Italy PHONE | Transportation || GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 67 solo Bkspace. FIND cindex) P ENTER
FIGURE 9 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 14 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER 8, TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary Rome f Select Another City | ITNERARY #1 Distance Rome from Rome -D GENOA 327 miles CATANIA 547 CINQUE TERRE 297 BAR 299 PERUGIA 109 AMALFI 140 SIENA 144 CAGLIARI 255 TIVOLI 22 milcs
-> MORE CITY CHOICES (use Up/Down keys) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Add To Itinerary 2) View Photos & City Description 3) Return to Planning Templates 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
:Eisleafwife Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 56789 oBkspace FIND (Index)
FIGURE 10 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 15 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
8: Country-ITALY 8 WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary 1 ITNERARY #1 I) ROME 2) VENICE 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) View ROME Site Options/Events 4) Delete City/Region 2) View ROME Area Map 5) Select Another City 3) Add Side Trip from ROME 6) Return to Planning Templates 7) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY - - - -
seases: Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Fam ily Member En Route Detour FIND (Index)
FIGURE 11 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 16 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary fitinerary #1 | ROME / WENICEF Planning Templates Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates- 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, ... Sclect Regions/Citics/Sites by Viewing Italy Photo Library Template "Select Regions from Region Templates- Northern Italy, ... Select Cities from City Templates- Rome, Venice. Florence... rChild Friendly Tour Templates. Arts and Architectural Tour Templates. Wine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates Train, Bus, and Taxi. Shopping Tour Templates-Antiques, Clothing, Italian Specialties. Cultural Tour Templates- Muscums, Art Gallerics, and Theaters. Historical Site Templates- Battleficlas, Landmarks, Buildings. Religious Site Templates-Cathedrals, Churches, ... Scenic National Beauty Templates- Parks, Scenic Views ... Famous People Tour Templates-Homes, Cemetery Locations... Night Life Tour Templates: Bars/Pubs, Dance Clubs, ... Special Activities- Bike Tours, Spoleto Festival. Sporting Events ... -> (Use Keys to Navigate Templates)
OPTIONS: 1) Select Planning Template (& Enter)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTIONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY S: Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE i? 2-Yaaaaa DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 567897 oBkspace FIND (index)
FIGURE 12 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 17 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary 1 Rome f Venice f Planning Options | Regions | Lombardy Trentino-Alto Adige Plan Itinerary #1 Walle D'Aosta Friuli-Venezia Piedmont S. 1"Sri Y-3- Veneto 1) NORTHERN ITALY - Emilia Romagna k The Marches Lily- y1 Abruzzo 2) Central Italy s >1 Molise Tuscany Apulia
3) Southern Italy
Sardinia Calabria
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Explore Northern Ital 2) View Photos of Northern Italy
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 o Bkspace L FIND (Index
FIGURE 13 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 18 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary Rome f Venice f Planning Options | Regions f N. Italy Plan Itinerary #1 Trentino-Alto Adig Friuli-Venezia 1) NORTHERN ITALY a) Veneto Valle D'Aosta b) Liguria (“Italian Riviera) c) Friuli Vcnczia Giulia s d) Trentino Turin stsi. Alto Adige & Piedmont e) Lombardy -- Emilia SS Ravennna & Romagna f) Piedmont SS& ei,8. g) Valle D'Aosta h) Emilia-Romagna Liguria -> ( Use Key to Navigate Regions)
1) Add Veneto to Itinerary OPTIONS (Shift plus Up/Down Keys): 2) Explore Veneto Region 3) View Photos of Veneto Region 4) Return to All Italy Regions
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Es it. Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 6787 90 Bkspace FIND (Index) ty utop ENTER
FIGURE 14 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 19 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary 1 Itinerary #1 f Rome Venice Regions f Northern Italy | WENETO- Venice LIGURIA- Cinque Terre (Vernazza)
More Region Photos (usc Down key) *Show More/Less Photos/Region: Scale & key; or Photos/Page: Scale/Shift & 1. OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Explore Liguria Region 2) Return to all-Italy Regions
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link/Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
s:e 3 Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes|Schedule Family Member En Route Detour 67 solo Bkspace. FIND cindex)
ty utop ENTER H O k: T ...... Venice and Liguria Photos: 6 GT Luong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 15 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 20 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary | Rome 1 Venice / Planning Options / Regions / N. Italy | Liguria Itinerary #1 1) Liguria (“Italian Riviera) a) Ventimiglia Y Genoa R b) Genoa s.S. c) Cinque Terre ('S Lands') 88: Š. Monterosso al Mare New YA: S: S.e Terre's s Vernazza Corniglia Riviera Di Levante -> Manarola Riomaggiore LGURIAN SEA d) Portofino Riviera Di Ponente e) La Spezia (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
-> (Use Key to Navigate Ligurian Cities)
t 1) Add to Itinerary OPTIONS (Shift plus Up Down Keys): 2) View Photos of Cinque Terre 3) View Site Descriptions 4) Return to Northern Italy Regions
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
a8. Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456 90 Bkspace FIND (Index)
FIGURE 16 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 21 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plantinerary (Rome Venice Liguria Region f ITNERARY #1 > 1) ROME 2) VENICE 3) LIGURIA - Cinque Terre: M
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) View ROME Site Options/Events 4) Delete City/Region 2) View ROME Area Map 5) Select Another City 3) Add Side Trip from ROME 6) Return to Planning Templates 7) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
& Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member Enroute Detour FIND (Index) P ENTER . . . . Manarola Photo: (G) QTLuong?terragalleria.com
FIGURE 17 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 22 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary f Rome f Venice f Liguria Region f Rome Site Options f ITINERARY #1 Minimum Recommended Audio Viewing Time Tours 1) PRE-PLANNED TOURS (1-Day, 2-Day) P 2) COLOSSEUM 30 min 30/60/90 min 3) VATICAN CITY 4) PANTHEON 5) ROMAN FORUM 6) GALLERIA BORGHESE 7) MUSEI CAPITOLINI 8) MUSEO NATIONALE ROMANO 9) SANTA MARIA DEL POPOLO 10) SAN CLEMENTE MORE ROME SITE OPTIONS (use f Up/Down Keys) 1) View Colosseum Photo OPTIONS (Shift plus Up Down Keys): 2) View Colosseum Description 3) View Colosseum Area Map 4) Add to ROME Site Itinerary 5) Return to Vacation Itinerary List 6) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
EöööEäfisätifié Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member En Route Detour 123456 90 Bkspace FIND (index) ENTER
FIGURE 18 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 23 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE
Photo by Andreas fille. Site: COLOSSEUM
OPTIONS: 1) Add to ROME Site Itinerary (Shift plus 2) View Colosseum Map Location f 3) View Colosseum Description up/down) 4) Return to Rome Site Options
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE - - - - DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456 90 ENTER
FIGURE 19 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 24 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary 1 ROME Site Options / Colosseum. / View Map
Site: COLOSSEUM Center Map: use -f- Down keys. Scale Map: use Scale plus f. Down keys.
OPTIONS: 1) Add to ROME Site Itinerary (Shift plus ) 2) View Colosseum Photo 3) View Colosseum Description 4) Return to Rome Site Ootions PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary
Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY ------
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 56789 oBkspace FIND (Index)
FIGURE 20 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 25 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary 1 ROME Site Options f Colosseum Site Description Site Description- Colosseum OColosseum Construction began AD 72 OInaugurated by Emperor Titus who declared 100 days of celebratory games. OOpening Day in AD 80 with sacrificing of wild beasts (claimed over 5,000). OSeated over 50,000 spectators, and has a 575 yard circumference. OOriginally called the Flavian Amphitheater, but transitioned to “Colosseum' after a colossal gilt bronze statute of Ncro was crccted incarby. OGladiator combat up until 5th century; staged animal hunts until AD 523. OTraditional Gladiator address made to the Imperial Box: “Ave, imperator, moriturite salutant.” “Hail cmpcror, men soon to dic salute you.’ MORE DESCRIPTION (use Down key)
OPTIONS: 1) Add to ROME Site Itinerary (Shift plus 2) View Colosseum Map Location f 3) View Colosseum Photo Up/Down) 4) Select Another City
PLANNING VACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phase ITALY History ITNERARY ------
f Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY || Routes/Schedule Family Member 67 ago Bkspace. FIND cindex)
FIGURE 21 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 26 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary Itinerary 1 / Rome f Venice f Liguria Rome Site Options f DAY 1 - Time Utilized (9 am to 6 pm) 1) Pre-planned Site Tours |ADDED 2) Colosseum 1.5 hours |ADDED 3) Vatican City 2.0 hours |ADDIED 4) Pantheon 2.0 hours |ADDED 5) Roman Forum 1.5 hours 6) GALLERIA BORGHESE 7.0 with 7) MUSEI CAPITOLINI 2.0 remaining 8) MUSEO NATIONALE ROMANO 9) SANTA MARIA DEL POPOLO 10) SAN CLEMENTE MORE ROME SITE OPTIONS (use Down key)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) View Galleria Borghese Photo 2) View Galleria Borghese Description 3) View Galleria Borghese Area Map 4) Add to ROME Site Itinerary 5) Return to Itinerary List 6) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 567897 obkspace FIND cindex)
FIGURE 22 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 27 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary frome f Venice f Ligurial Itinerary #1 1) ROME Day 1: Colosscum, Roman Forum
> 2) VENICE 3) LIGURIA (“Italian Riviera') Day 3: Cinque Terre: Manarola
SELECTITINERARY LEG (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) View VENICE Site Options/Events 4) Delete City/Region 2) View Venice Area Map 5) Select Another City 3) Add Side Trip from Venice 6) Return to Planning Templates 7) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
feel Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY || Routes/Schedule Family Member 7s so Bkspace FIND cindex) Enter
Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Manarola Photo: (G) QTLuong?terragalleria.com Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl.
FIGURE 23 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 28 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary 1 Rome f Venice Ligurial VENICE Special Events / TEATRO LA FENICE (Performing Arts Theatre) WWW.teatrolafenice.it Tele. 041/7865.11 Tickets-VeLa Box Office at Piazzale Roma and Ferrovia Scalzi CARNEVALE FESTIVAL (Pre-Lent Festival, Friday - Tuesday) Music and Cultural Event dating back to 18th Century Ballo del Doge (lavish Ball open to public- Historical Costumes) Location: Palazzo Pisani Moretta Tele. 041/5287543 BIENNALE (Summer Int’l Contemporary Art Festival- Offff years) BIENNALE CINEMA (Venice Film Festival-end of August) FESTA DELLA REDENTORE (Feast of the Redeemer- 3rd Sun. July) Gondola Procession commemorating end of 1575 epidemic/Fireworks REGATA DELLE BAFANE- January 6- Venetian Rowing Contests VOGALONGA (Rowing Contest-long row- on a Sunday in May) REGATA STORICA (first Sunday in September) MORE SPECIAL EVENTS (use Down key)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Add Event 2) WiFi connect: on-line Reservation 3) Return to Itinerary List
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member s 67897 obkspace FIND cindex) rty utop ENTER
Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok.
FIGURE 24 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 29 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Alter Itinerary Itinerary it 1 1) ROME Day 1: Colosseum,
->2) VENICE &a Day 2: Teatro La Fenice S
3) LIGURIA (Italian Riviera) Day 3: Cinque Terre: Manarola
Sclect Itincrary Log (usc Down kcy) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Find Hotels in WENCE 5) Delete City/Region 2) Find Rome-Venice Transportation 6) Delete Venice Sites/Events 3) View Venice Site Options/Events 7) Move Venice Legin Itinerary 4) Add Side Trip from Venice 8) Add Venice DAY 2 (MORE)
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE - DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member 6 90 FIND (Index)
P wert Yulo P ENTER H O T ...... Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (C) OTLuong?terragalleria.com
FIGURE 25 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 30 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Alter Itinerary fitinerary #1 1) ROME Day 1: Colosscum, Vati
->2) VENICE &:3-&S Day 2: Teatro La Fenice SS
3) LIGURIA (Italian Riviera) Day 3: Cinque Terre: Manarola
Sclect Itincrary Log (usc Down kcy) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Move WENICE LEG Later in Itinerary (Hit "Enter" for Successive moves) 2) Move VENICE LEGEarlier in Itinerary 3) Return to Itinerary #1 Planning
PLANNING WACAON EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country Information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 789 obkspace FIND (Index) oP ENTER . . . . Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (S) QTLuong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 26 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 31 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY 8 WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary / Itinerary #1 | I) ROME Day 1: Colosseum, Vatican Cit Pantheon, Roman Forum
Day 3: Cinque Terre: Manarola
3) VENICE Day 2: Teatro La Fenice
Select Itinerary Leg (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Find Hotels in ROME 5) Add ROME Day 2 2) Find Transportation to ROME 6) Move ROME Legin Itinerary 3) View ROME Site Options/Events 7) Add ROME Area Map 4) Add Side Trip from ROME 8) Select Another City (MORE)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS TON Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 7 ago Bkspace FIND cindex) op ENTER ...... Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (G) GT Luong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 27 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 32 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary / Rome f Venice f Liguria / Find Transportation to ROME 1) FLIGHTS to ROME Travel Day- DIRECT Air travel options: Alitalia (800-223-5730) www.alitalia.com Newark to MILAN (connection available from Milan) New York (JFK) to MILAN American Airlines (800-4333-7300) www.aa.com Chicago to ROME -> "Delta Airlines (800-221-1212) www.delta.com New York (JFK) to ROME New York (JFK) to MILAN U.S. Airways (800-622-1015) www.usairways.com Philadelphia to ROME Continental (800-231-0856) www.continental.com Newark to ROME/MILAN (weekly only)
SELECT OPTION (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) WiFi connect: on-line Reservation 2) Kcy in Reserv. In?o. from Travel Agent 3) Return to Itinerary Planning
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY A. S: Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE mm DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member En Route Detour FIND (Index)
FIGURE 28 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 33 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plantinerary fitinerary #1 0) Delta Airlines, flgt 8122, NY to ROME; Sunday July 1, 2010 Depart JFK 5:05 pm, Arrive FCO 7:40 am, Travel Time 8 hrs 35 min. -> 1) ROME- Colosscum, Vatican City Roman Forum
3) VENICE Day 3: Teatro La Fcnicc (-e) 4) Delta Airlines, flgt 4122, MILAN to N.Y.; Thursday July 5, 2010 Depart MCO 10:05 am; Arrive JFK 7:40pm. Travel Time 8 hrs 35 min.
SELECT ITINERARY LEG (usc Down kcy) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Find Hotels in ROME 5) Delete City/Region 2) Find FCO to ROME Transportation 6) Move ROME Legin Itinerary 3) View ROME Site Options/Events 7) Add ROME DAY 2 4) Add Side Trip from ROME 8) Select Another City (MORE)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Connunication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link? Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPSOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member FIND (Index) P ENTER
Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (G) QTLuong?terragalleria.com
FIGURE 29 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 34 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary / Rome f Venice f Liguria / Find Hotels / ITNERARY #1- ROMELEG HOTELS 1) FIND BY HOTEL RATING (*1-STAR TO *****5-STAR) 2) FIND BY ROME AREA LOCATION a) Colosseum g) Spagna b) Esquilino h) Trevi c) Ghetto i) Spanish Steps d) Monti j) Trastevere ->e) Navona k) Trati f) Prati I) Vatican City 3) FIND BY PRICE 4) FIND CONSUMER RECOMMENDED LODGING 5) FIND ROOM WITH AMENITIES (View, Gym, Internet, Pool, ...) 6) CHILD FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATIONS
SELECT ITINERARY LEG (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Select Navona Area 2) View ROME Area Map 3) Return to Itinerary List 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link/Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Fam ily Member 9. FIND (Index)
FIGURE 30 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 35 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plantinerary f Rome f Venice / Liguria / Find Hotel f Rome-Navona
ITNERARY #1 - ROMELEG HOTELS PAZZA NAVONA
1) GENIO (top-floor rooms w/terraces & city-wide views) 2) HOTEL RAPHAEL (antique decor, some rooms with private terraces) 3) IMPERIUMSUITE NAVONA (Charming rooms, quiet location) 4) APARTMENTS CASA NAVONA (for demanding business traveler)
SELECT AREA LOCATION (use Down key)
OPTIONS (Shift plus Up/Down Keys): 1) Choose Imperium Suite Navona 2) View Hotel Map Location 3) Return to List of Itinerary Legs 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTIONS BUTTONS Country Information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE f"f DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 B
FIGURE 31 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 36 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plantinerary Rome Venice Liguria | Find Hotel f Navona Map
IMPERUMSUTENAWONA LOCATION
1) Choose Imperium Suite Navona 2) Return to Navona Hotel List 3) Return to Rome Area Hotel List 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY -
Italy PHONE || Transportation || GPS LOCATE A. DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456 90 Bkspace FIND (index)
FIGURE 32 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 37 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE
IMPERUMSUITE NAVONA Vicolo della Palomba 19-00186 Rome, Italy Tel: +39 06 68210701 E-Mail: infoGimperiumsuitenavona.Com Fax +39 06 68210701 > Web-site: www.Imperiumsuitenavona.com
OPTIONS (Shift plus Up/DOWn Keys): 1) WiFi connect: on-line Reservation 2) View Hotel Map Location 3) Return to List of Itinerary Legs 4) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member sg, ago Bkspace. FIND cindex)
FIGURE 33 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 38 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER 8, TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plantinerary / Itinerary if 1 / Find Transportation 0) Delta Airlincs, fligt 8122, NY to ROME; Sunday July 1, 2010 Depart JFK 5:05 pm; Arrive FCO 7:40 am; Travel Time 8 hrs 35 min. 00) Accommodation: Imperium Suite Navono, Vicolo della Palomba 1) ROME- Colosseum, Vatican City Panth R
2) LIGURIA (Italian Riviera) Day 2: Cinque Terre 3) VENICE Day 3: Tcatro La Fenice ( > -D 4) Delta Airlines, flgt 4122, MILAN to N.Y.; Thursday July 5, 2010) Depart MCO 10:05 am; Arrive JFK 7:40 pm; Travel Time 8 hrs 35 min.
Select Itinerary Leg (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Find Transportation: VENICE to MILAN Airport 2) Return to Itinerary Planning
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 oBkspace FIND (Index)
Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (G) QTLuong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 34 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 39 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary | Itinerary it 1 / Transportation: VENICE-MILAN
Transportation: VENICE to MILAN Airport -> Train BuS Rental Car Taxi Cab
SELECT TRANSPORTATION OPTION (use Down key)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Explore Train Transportation: VENICE to MILAN Airport 2) Return to Itinerary Planning
PLANNING WACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY S
FIGURE 35 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 40 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plantinerary fitinerary it 11 Train Transportation: VENICE-MILAN For National Railway Schedule & Map: -> www.trenitalia.com or www.ferroviedelloStato.it/
SELECT OPTION (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) WiFi connect: on-line Schedule check: WWW.trenitalia.com 2) Return to Itinerary Planning
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Siti Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 oBkspace FIND (index) P ENTER
FIGURE 36 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 41 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary 1 Select Planning Template Itinerary #2: Planning Templates "Copy and Modify Existing Itinerary Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates- 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, ... Select Regions/Cities/Sites by Viewing Italy Photo Library Template Select Regions from Region Templates- Northern Italy, Central,... Select Citics from City Templates- Rome, Venice, Florence... Child Friendly Tour Templates. Arts and Architectural Tour Templates. rWine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates Train, Bus, and Taxi. Shopping Tour Templates- Antiques, Clothing, Italian Specialties. Cultural Tour Templates- Museums. Art Galleries, and Theaters. Historical Site Templates- Battlefields, Landmarks, Buildings... Religious Site Templates- Cathedrals, Churches, ... Scenic National Beauty Templates-Parks, Scenic Views ... MORE PLANNING TEMPLATES (use Down key)
OPTIONS: 1) Select Planning Template (8 hit Enter)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456 90 Bkspace FIND (index)
FIGURE 37 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 42 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plantinerary 1 Copy and Modify Itinerary 1
-> 1) Itinerarv ii. 1 (Rome, Liguria, Venice 2) Open 3) Open 4) Open 5) Open 6) Open 7) Open 8) Open 9) Open 10) Open
OPTIONS: 1) COOV Itinerarw (Select & Enter 2) Return to Copy Options 3) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE | DIRECTORY || Routes/Schedule || Family Member 12345678 90 Bkspace FIND (index
FIGURE 38 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 43 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary Itinerary #2 f 1) ROME Day 1: Colosseum, Vatican City,
2) LIGURIA (Italian Riviera) Day 3: Cinquc Terre: Manarol
He 3 VENCE Š Day 2: Teatro La Fenices
Select Itinerary Leg (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f Up/Down Key): 1) Add Side Trip From City/Region 2) Delete City Region 3) Select Another City 4) Select Another Planning Template 5) Save Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member En Route Detour 789 o H O T
Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (G) QTLuong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 39 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 44 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Plan Itinerary Itinerary #2
P 1) ROME Day 1: Colosscum,
OPTIONS (Shift plus 1. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Add Side Trip From Rome 2) Delete City/Region 3) Select Another City 4) Select Another Planning Template 5) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phase ITALY History TINERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1234567897 obkspace FIND (index)
Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl.
FIGURE 40 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 45 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary 7 timerary i27 Add ROME Side Trip ROME Side Trips Distance from ROME 1) TIVOLI 20 miles Northeast 2) OSTIA ANTICA 19 miles Southwest 3) NAPLES 136 miles Southeast ->4) POMPEI 147 Miles Southeast
5) VITERBO & ESTRUSCANSITES 64 miles Northwest 6) CASTELLI ROMANI 12 miles South (Usef Keys to Navigate Side Trip Choices)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Add Side Trip 4) Select Another City 2) View More Photos 1 Map Locations 5) Select Another Planning Template 3) View City Description 6) Save Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTIONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Fam ily Member 3.456 7 90 Bkspace FIND cindex ENTER p H O : T
Pompeii Photo: (G) QTLuong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 41 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 46 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary 1 Copy and Modify Itinerary f ITNERARY #2 1) ROME Day 1: Colosseum, Vatican Cit
->
-> (Use Keys to Navigate Side Trip Choices)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Add to Day 2 Side Trip Itinerary 4) Select Another Planning Template 2) Delete Side Trip 5) Save Itinerary 3) Select Another City 6) Print Itinerary
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary
Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY ------
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Fam ily Member 5678907 FIND (Index)
Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Pompeii Photo: (C) QTLuong/terragalleria.com Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl.
FIGURE 42 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 47 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Use Itinerary f 1) Itinerary #1: ROME, LIGURIA, VENICE 2) Itinerary #2 : ROME w/ side trip: POMPEII 3) Itinerary H3: Open 4) Itinerary H4: Open 5) Itinerary H5: Open 6) Itinerary #6: Open 7) Itinerary #7: Open 8) Itinerary #8: Open 9) Itinerary #9: Open 10) Itinerary H. 10: Open
-> (Usef Keys to Select Itinerary)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Execute Itinerary
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE TransportationaS GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Ro utes Schedule Family Member s 6787 90 Bkspace FIND cindex) rt Yuop ENTER
FIGURE 43 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 48 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE USE Itinerary fitinerary if 1 / O) Delta Airlines, flgt 8122, NY to ROME; Sunday July 1, 2010 Depart JFK 5:05 pm; Arrive FCO 7:40 am; Travel Time 8 hrs 35 min. 00) Accommodation: Imperium Suite Navono, Vicolo della Palomba > 1) ROME- Colosseum, Vatic w P
2) LIGURIA (Italian Riviera) Day 2: Cinque Terre 3) VENICE Day 3: Teatro La Fenice e > 4) Delta Airlines, fligt 4122. MILAN to N.Y. Thursday July 5, 2010 Depart MCO 10:05 am Arrive JFK 7:40pm. Travel Time 8 hrs 35 min.
Select Itinerary Leg (use Down key) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Find Transportation Options: Imperium Suite Navono to Colosseum 2) Walking Directions to Colosseum 3) View Colosseum Web site for Visitor's Information
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTIONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 23456789 o oP : . Colosseum Photo by Andreas Tille. Teatro La Fenice Photo by Pavel Krok Pantheon Photo by Keith Yahl. Manarola Photo: (C) OTLuong/terragalleria.com
FIGURE 44 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 49 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE USE Itinerary / ITALY Maps 1 Trentino-Alto Adige Lombardy Valle D'Aosta --Friuli-Venezia Giulia Piedmont Veneto
Lig Tuscany O Umbria ROM \,. -
Lazio Hit “Enter' to Z00m to current Location A. Basilicata s Sicily Select Map Location Sardinia With Stylus to Zoom Calabria s Center Map: use -- Down keys. Scale Map: use scale button plus f Down keys.
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
ife Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 4s 6787 90 Bkspace FIND cindex) Ert Yulo P ENTER
FIGURE 45 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 50 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY VACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Find I
1) Search City Info- Kev City Name: 2) Key Specific Item 3) Currency Exchange 4) FOOD (Fast-food to Fine Dining) 4) Toilets (Water Closets- “WC) 5) Internet Access 6) American Express Office 7) Drug Stores 8) U.S. Consulate Locations 9) Hospital 10) Bars/Cafes/Night Clubs/Restaurants 11) Doctor/Dentist
(Use Key for more information options)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Select "FIND' Option
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE
------DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456 90 Bkspace FIND (Index
FIGURE 46 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 51 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Find | Search City Info VENICE WENCE Info: Venice Tourism Office- Directions, Show/Event Calendar Tele. O41/5298711 www.turismo venezia Branch Locations: 1) Marco Polo Airport (generally open 2) Garage Comunale at 9:30) 3) Piazza Roma Train Station 4) Piazza San Marco 5) Venice Pavilion 6) The Lido American Express Office-Tour, mail handling, etc Salizzada San Moisé, San Marco 1471 Tcl.c. 041/520O844 Currency Exchange: M-F 8 am to 8 pm OthcrTransactions: 9am to 5:50pm
-> (Use Key for more information options)
OPTIONS (Shift plus t Up/Down Keys): 1) Enter New City Name. 2) Return to FIND Choices
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History TINERARY AY MAPS Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE SE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member En route Detour 56 90 FIND (Index) rt Yulo P ENTER
FIGURE 47 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 52 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Find
1) Search City Info- Key City Namc: 2) Key Specific Item 3) Currency Exchange 4) Toilets (Water Closets- “WC) 5) Internet Access 6) American Express Office 7) Drug Stores a) From Present Location- Venice b) Key City Location 8) U.S. Consulate Locations 9) Hospital/Doctor/Dentist 10) Bars/Cafes/Night Clubs/Restaurants
(Use Key for more information options)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Select FIND Option
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY w toge:alytie: Italy PHONE Transportation GPSLOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 4567897 oBkspace FIND cindex)
FIGURE 48 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 53 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Find / Drug Stores / Present Location-VENICE
"NEAREST VENICE DRUG STORES Farmacia al Monde, Piscina Frezzeria, San Marco 1676 Tele. 041/5225813 Find Next Closest Drugstore
**NOTE- a list of after-hours Pharmacies will be posted on the door of every pharmacy. Generally, pharmacies will remain open at night on a rotating basis,
(Use Key for other options)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Get GPS Directions to Store
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link?Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 567890 Bkspace FIND (Index) P ENTER E. O T O
FIGURE 49 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 54 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Translate Key Phrase 1
> 1) Key English Word/Phrase: How much is it? (Use Alphabetical Keys To Enter Phrase) 2) View List of Common Italian Phrases
(Use Key for other options)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Translate Phrase
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Fam ily Member 45678907 Bkspace FIND (index
FIGURE 50 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 55 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Translate Key Phrase | Key Phrase
1) Key English Word/Phrase: English Phrase How much is it? Italian Phrase Quanto Costa? (pronounced- kwahn-toe Coast-a) 2) View List of Common Italian Phrases
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Upf Down Keys): 1) View List
PLANNING WACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
DIRECTORY Routes|Schedule Family Member 1234ss solo Bkspace FIND cindex) r utop : .
FIGURE 51 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 56 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Translate Key Phrase I Common Phrase List
ENGLISH ITALIAN 1) Thank You Grazie (graht-tzee-yey) 2)You're Welcome Prego (prey-go) 3) Please Per Favore (pehr fah-vohr-eh) 4) Yes Si (see) 5) No No (noh) 6) Good Morning Buongiorno (bwohn-djor-noh) 7) Good Evening Buono Sera (bwohn-ah-say-rah) 8) Good Night Buono Notte (bwohna-not-tay) 9) It's a pleasure to meet you Piacere diconoscera (pyah-cheh-ree de koh-nohshehr-lah) 10) My name is Michiamo (mee kyah-mo) -> (Use Key for other Phrases)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Pronounce the Phrase 2) Pronounce & Interpret the Response 3) Return to Translate Options
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1234567897 obkspace FIND Index)
FIGURE 52 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 57 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Audio Tour/Italy History f
1) Audio Tour of Itinerary Leg 2) Audio Tour for Present Location (if applicable) 3) Audio Tour from All-Italy List of Sites 4) History of Itinerary Leg 5) History of Present Location 6) History of All-Italy:
(Use Key for other options)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Choose Tour LegAudio
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS S Quntry information Family Communication Navigate Country Link Transmit Use Itinerary ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE :3:38:::::::::::: DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member En Route Detour 123456789 oBkspace FIND (Index) P ENTER
FIGURE 53 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 58 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Request Audio Tour Itinerary Leg Audio Tour 1 1) Itinerary #1: ROME COLOSSEUMAUDIO TOURS Kids: 30 minute Audio Tour Casual Interest Tourists: 30 minutes Moderate-Avid Tourist: 60 minutes Historian's Audio Tour: 90 minutes VATCAN CITY PANTHEON ROMAN FORUM VENICE "TEATRO LA FENICE (Performing Arts Theatre) LIGURIA 2) Itinerary #2: ROME POMPEII (Use f Keys to Select Itinerary) OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Start Audio Tour 2) Return to Audio Tour Options
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
eas: Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Fam ily Member En Route Detour 56 7 90
FIGURE 54 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 59 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Request Audio Tour fltinerary Leg Audio Tour / Colosseum Tour Historian's ColoS.Seum Tour 1 Minute with 89 Minutes to go The portion of the Colosscum, or Colossco in Italian, that you arc standing upon had its initial construction begin in AD 72 under the order of Vespian. It was originally called the Amphitheaturm Flavium, but was later referred to as the Colosseum after a colossal gilt bronze statute of Nero was erected nearby. The Colosseo was inaugurated by Emperor Titus who declared 100 days of celebratory games, which began on opening day in AD 80 with sacrificing of wild beasts. It is believed that over 5,000 beasts were killed that first day. The elliptical Amphitheatrum seated over 50,000 spectators, and hosted Gladiator combat up until 5th ccntury and stagcd animal hunts until AD 523. As you look down into the Colosseo, you see the network of tunnels or passages that are now exposed, and are referred to as the Hypogeum, meaning “underground.” Its construction was ordered by the Emperor Domitian- the younger son of Vespian. The Hypogeum consisted of a two-level network of tunnels and animal pens, and had 36 trap doors, which were featured in the movie Gladiator...
OPTIONS (Shift plus Up/Down Keys): 1) Pause Historian's Audio Tour 2) View Map of Audio Tour Sequence 3) End Audio Tour
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 56789 obkspace FIND (Index) P ENTER
FIGURE 55 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 60 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Phone Directory f
PHONE DIRECTORY rYellow Page Listings View All Listings Search for Particular Business: (enter business name) - White Page Listings View All Listings -b Search for Particular Person: Le on a r do Da V in C i (enter person's name)
(Usef Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Search for Da Vinci's Phone i 2) Exit Phone Directory
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country Information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link/Transmit
Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY ------
faly PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member
FIGURE 56 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 61 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY VACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Transportation Guide f
TRANSPORTATION GUIDE BASED ON CURRENT ITINERARY 1) FROM CURRENT LOCATION TO NEXT LEG (ITINERARY #1) rColosseum - Vatican City 2) OTHERITINERARY LEGS rVatican City - Pantheon Pantheon - Roman Forum Roman Forum - Venice 3) LOCATION TO LOCATION (Key locations) ITALY TRAIN MAP ROMA METROPOLITANO (Rome Train Map) ROMA BUS MAP (Usef Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) View Transportation Details 2) Exit Transportation Guide
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member s 677 solo Bkspace FIND cindex)
FIGURE 57 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 62 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Transportation Guide 1 ROME Train Map A To To A A To Viterbo Viterbo Orte ROMA Y METROPOLITANA B Cipro Musei Flamingo- Rebibbia Waticani'ssO Piazza del Papalo Fontana Dr. to Tivoli { di Trevi &- . Colosseo Circo Civitavecchia Massimo se----- Trastevere) Porta Furba-Ouadrano
Basilica San Paolo 8. Leonardo da Winci : sin Aeroporto A
FiumicinoO Aeroporta Lido* di OstiaWOLaurentina LatinaNettuno, W y Frascati, Albano Laziale
Enlarge? Navigate Map with Scale & Keys 1) Return to Transportation Choices
PLANNING WACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITINERARY
ITINERARY DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member En Route Detour 123456789 oBkspace FIND cindex)
utop H d T O .
FIGURE 58 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 63 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Transportation Guide
TRANSPORTATION GUIDE BASED ON CURRENTITINERARY 1) FROM CURRENT LOCATION TO NEXT LEG (ITINERARY #1) "Colosseum - Vatican City. 2) OTHERITINERARY LEGS rVatican City - Panthcon Panthcon - Roman Forum Roman Forum — Venice 3) LOCATION TO LOCATION (Key locations) ITALY TRAIN MAP ROMA METROPOLITANO (Rome Train Map) ROMA BUS MAP
(Usef Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) View Transportation Details 2) Exit Transportation Guide
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Connunication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY AA: Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 567897 oBkspace FIND (Index) rty utop ENTER
FIGURE 59 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 64 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Transportation Guide / Colosseum-to-Vatican f ROMA METROPOLITANA
Flamingo o or to& iazza del Popolo CIPROMUSE : ... WATCAN Fontana di Trevi TERMINI Cavour?e
Circo ds Massimo 6. e o Directions: Take Metro Line BNorth 2 stops to Termini Station; then Take Metro Line A West 7 stops to Cipro Musei Vaticani Station
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Return to Transportation Options
PLANNING VACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member En Route Detour 1234567897 oBkspace FIND (index) ENTER
FIGURE 60 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 65 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: En Route Detours
What Else is in the Area? I) FROM CURRENT LOCATION- COLOSSEUM: 2) From Later Leg of Current Itinerary 3) From Alternate Itinerary
(Use f Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Explore Colosseum Detour Sites 2) Exit En Route Detour
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITINERARY
| ... --
FIGURE 61 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 66 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: En Route Detours 1) FROM CURRENT LOCATION- COLOSSEO: Distance to Colosseo Food/Restaurants Shopping MOST POPULAR NEARBY TOURIST SITES a) Circo Maximo 1.0 miles b) Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill) 1.25 miles c) PIAZZA FONTANA DITREVI 2.1 miles
d) Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) 3.4 miles c) Piazza del Popolo 4.3 milcs
-> (Use f Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Get Directions/Transportation 2) Exit En Route Detour
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BLITTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Couniry LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phase ITALY History ITINERARY
234s 67 solo Bkspace FIND cindex) rab aw Ert Yulo P ENTER H O T As DFG Hk: d zxcvbn M...... Trevi Fountain Photo-Patrick Landy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:FSU Guy)
FIGURE 62 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 67 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Transportation Guide / Colosseum-to-Vatican / ROMA METROPOLITANA Flamingo sososolaza del Popolo
CIPROMUSE WATCAN
Massimo Y
DETOUR DIRECTIONS: To Trevi. Metro Line B North 2 stops to Termini Station, then change to Metro Line A west 2 stops to Fontana di Trevi Station. RESUMEITINERARY DIRECTIONS: To Vatican: Return to Metro Line A west 5 stops to Cipro Musei Vaticani Station
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) GPS Walking Directions to Trevi
PLANNING WACATION EXPERENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR / Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 o Bkspace FIND (Index) Taba wert Yu of ENTER
FIGURE 63 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 68 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Link-Transmittinerary 1
1) LINK THISTRAVELGUIDE TO A FAMILY MEMBER'STRAVELGUIDE: Ho ENTERD CODE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS UNIT: 997 6 5 OPTION - Ad Person's Name: G INA (Note: This unit's ID Code is #12345) Align Top Of Both Travel Guide Units, Then Press Both Enter Buttons 2) Transmit Itinerary To Linked Travel Guide
(Use f Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Link Planner with unit #98755/
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phase ITALY History ITNERARY
sease Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 123456789 o Bkspace FIND (Index)
FIGURE 64 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 69 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Link-Transmittinerary 1
1) Link This Travel Guide To A Family Member's Travel Guide: 2) TRANSMITTINERARY TO LINKED TRAVEL GUIDE Linked Travel Guides: >98765 (Gina) (Hit Enter Key to Select Receiving Travel Guide 187654 (Chris) before Selecting Itinerary to transmit) All Linked Travel Guides Select Stored Itinerary Itinerary #1: ROME, VENICE, LIGURIA Itinerary #1: ROME, VENICE, LIGURIA with *En Route Detour to Trevi Fountain - Itinerary #2: ROME wif Side Trip: POMPEI
(Use Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Enter to Transmit to Gina (98765)
PLANNING VACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR I Link/Transmit Use Itinerary
Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY ------
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 56789 o Bkspace FIND (index)
FIGURE 65 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 70 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE. Link-Transmit Itinerary 1
1) Link This Travel Guide To A Family Member's Travel Guide: 2) TRANSMIT ITINERARY TO LINKED TRAVELGUIDE Linked Travel Guides: 98765 (Gina) 187654 (Chris) All Linked Travel Guides Select Stored Itinerary Itinerary #1: ROME, VENICE, LIGURIA -> Itinerary #1: ROME, VENICE, LIGURIA with En Route Detour to Trewi Fountain Itinerary #2: ROME will Side Trip: POMPEI
(Usef Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOWn Keys): 1) Enter to Transmittin. # 1 to Gina
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Couniry LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member 1 2 3 4 56789 o Bkspace FIND (Index)
FIGURE 66 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 71 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER 8, TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: GPS Locate Family Member's Travel Guide 1
Linked Travel Guides: 98765 - GNA 87654 - CHRIS PALL LINKED TRAVEL GUIDES
(Use f Keys to Select Option)
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/Down Keys): 1) Enter to Locate Gina
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link/Transmit Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY NAS: AEEE Italy PHONE T ransportation ITINERARY DIRECTORY R outes/Schedule 123456 90 op ENTER
FIGURE 67 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 72 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: GPS Locate Family Member's Travel Guide /
CHRIS is here YOU are here Ho GINA is here
OPTIONS (Shift plus f. Up/DOwn Keys): 1) Enter for GPS directions to Gina
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History ITNERARY
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes/Schedule Family Member 56787 90 Bkspace
FIGURE 68 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 73 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY VACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE Itinerary #1: Planning Options Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates-2 Day,... Select Regions/Cities/Sites using Photo Template Select Regions from Region Templates-Northern... Select Cities from City Templates- Rome, ... Child Friendly Tour Templates. Arts and Architectural Tour Templates. -Wine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates-Train/Bus/... Shopping Tour Templates- Antiques, Clothing, ... Cultural Tour Templates- Museums, Art Galleries. rHistorical Site Templates- Battlefields, Buildings. Religious Site Templates-Cathedrals, Churches, ... Scenic National Beauty Templates-Scenic Views ... Famous People Tour Templates-Homes/Gravesites rNight Life Tour Templates: Bars/Pubs, Dance Clubs -Special Activities- Bike Tours, Spoleto Festival, ... -> (Use Keys to Navigate Options) OPTIONS: 1) Select Plannind Template
PLANNING VA CATION BUTTONS EXPERIENCE Use Itinerary transporation ERP or FIND index 1 2 3 4 5 or solo a wert Yulop : z xc vBNM, . shift scale: Enter
FIGURE 69 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 74 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
FIGURE 70 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 75 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
Country-ITALY WACATION PLANNER & TRAVEL GUIDE MODE: Plan Itinerary | Itinerary #1 Planning Options Pre-planned Taste of Italy Tour Templates- 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, ... Select Regions/Cities/Sites by Viewing Italy Photo Library Template Select Regions from Region Templates- Northern Italy, Central,... "Select Cities from City Templates- Rome, Venice, Florence... Child Friendly Tour Templates. Arts and Architectural Tour Templates. Wine Tour Templates Public Transportation Tour Templates Train. Bus, and Taxi. Shopping Tour Templates- Antiques. Clothing, Italian Specialties... Cultural Tour Templates- Museums, Art Galleries, and Theaters. Historical Site Templates- Battlefields, Landmarks, Buildings. Religious Site Templates- Cathedrals, Churches, ... Scenic National Beauty Templates- Parks, Scenic Vicws ... Famous People Tour Templates-Homes, Cemetery Locations... Night Life Tour Templates: Bars/Pubs, Dance Clubs, ... Special Activities- Bike Tours, Spoleto Festival, Sporting Events ... -> (Use Keys to Navigate Tour Choices) OPTIONS: 1) Select Planning Template (8 Enter)
PLANNING WACATION EXPERIENCE BUTTONS BUTTONS Country information Family Communication Navigate Country LANGUAGE AUDIO TOUR Link/Transmit Use Itinerary Translate Phrase ITALY History TINERARY YXXue
Italy PHONE Transportation GPS LOCATE DIRECTORY Routes Schedule Family Member 67 ago Bkspace FIND cindex)
FIGURE 71 Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2011 Sheet 76 of 76 US 2011/0301835 A1
212
200
FIŒURE72 TouchSCTeen
230 US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
PORTABLEVACATION/TRAVEL PLANNER, that comprises hundreds of pages. Some of which may need to AND FAMILY TOUR GUIDE DEVICE be ear-marked for later reference at key points of the travel to assistin finding one's way, and to enrich the travel experience. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED Some ear-marked pages may have addresses for sites and APPLICATION events, while other pages may have maps. So preparing the 0001. This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional itinerary may involve making a list on a sheet of paper of the sites to be visited and the dates of such daily trips, as well as Application Ser. No. 61/397,104, filed on Jun. 7, 2010, the trying to cross reference the portions of the trip to pages in the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. travel book. It is also likely that when stoppingata bookstore, COPYRIGHT NOTICE that the traveler may purchase more than just one particular travel guide book. It may be desirable to purchase one for the 0002. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document entire country to be visited, such as for a trip to Italy, as well contains photographic images which are subject to copyright as one specifically addressing in greater detail a major city to protection, and are so noted in the Figures. Use herein of those be visited therein, such as the culturally and historically rich images has been licensed by the copyright owner, Q. T Luong city of Rome. of Terragalleria.com, who has no objection to the facsimile 0008. In addition, it may be useful for the traveler to pur reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent chase and bring along a language guide, particularly when disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office visiting a destination that is not very accommodating to tour patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright ists, and where it would be helpful to be able to say a few rights whatsoever. words in the native language of those people encountered 0003) Any photographic images used herein that are not during the trip. Furthermore, even if an English version of a attributed, are in the public domain. All other attributed pho GPS device for the country to be visited was readily available tographic images are Subject to Creative Commons Attribu for purchase to assist with movement therein, it would repre tion Licensing (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/ sent yet one more article that needed to be carried about 2.5/deed.en: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ during the day's travels, on top of a camera to photograph the deed.en), which permits sharing and remixing of the author's sights and experiences, possibly a cell phone, and all of the work, provided it is attributed in a way that does not reflect travel guides and other books mentioned previously. endorsement. 0009. There currently is no means of efficiently accom FIELD OF THE INVENTION plishing all of this travel-related planning and of it being effectively accessible by, and of assistance to, the traveler, 0004. This invention relates to methods and systems of once arriving at the destination. For example, U.S. Pat. No. planning and executing a vacation or travel itinerary, and 7,599,847 to Block is for an “Automated Internet Based Inter more particularly to Software and a portable electronic unit, active Travel Planning and Management System.” But as which may be dedicated to such planning and travel assis self-described by Block, it is only directed toward providing tance at the destination. “a method and system that permits travelers to register as members for receiving access to the main website of the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION system and that interactively provides the member with 0005. Many people work the majority of a year in antici access to numerous other websites for facilitating whatever pation of well-earned time off, which may comprise a single travel arrangements the member wishes to make. Although it week, or, for certain European nationals, multiple weeks of may include a profile of a user's carrier seating preferences, paid Summer vacation-time. Very often a person's vacation travel class preferences, parking preferences, dining prefer involves traveling to another city or state to visit family, ences, rental preferences, etc., it is nonetheless not directed at which frequently leaves the responsibility for selecting and trip planning to a specific destination country, nor towards organizing the sightseeing activities to the host, with Such aiding the traveler once arriving therein. activity having a tendency to be under-planned and the avail (0010 Although U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,332 to Judson is for a able time under-utilized, because many people do not them “Travel Planner, and does allow for planning a trip to more selves take advantage of the offerings of the place where they than one type of point of interest to create an itinerary, it very reside. Some people may travel abroad fairly regularly and simply combines a transparency that is overlaid onto a map to with it usually being for work-related purposes, while for thereby permit the user to write on the transparency to define others. Such an out-of-country journey may ordinarily con a particular route. It does not contain any more ability to plan stitute a long-awaited luxury vacation. or assist beyond the information contained in the map. 0006 Either trip demands appropriate preparation and 0011. A modest step forward to addressing the problem is organization to take advantage of the limited time available, shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,023.241 to Clapper, for a “Digital and to optimize the large expenses that may be incurred for Multimedia Navigation Player/Recorder.” The Clapper simply being there for that time—large expenses which may device is for “a recorder with a global positioning system be in the form of airfares, hotels, ground transportation costs, receiver that “may record video frames and/or audio data in and meals at restaurants. Also, even for the well designed trip, association with global positioning system coordinates' So there may be lost time requiring spur of the moment changes that the user may determine the location of associated photo because of poor weather during the trip, an unexpected clo graphs taken digitally and may recreate excursions using a Sure, or Some other event that was unforeseen during the multimedia approach. Clapper also discloses that by sizing planning stages-planning which had likely occurred many the device to be portable, the user may take the device on trips months before the travel dates. and “receive information about various points which are asso 0007 Moreover, for the organized traveler, planning often ciated on a digital map including both audio and video. But consists of reading portions of at least one travel guide book Clapper does not disclose any structured planning capability, US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
and furthermore is dependent upon GPS coordinate locations, 0028. It is another object of the invention to provide a and depends upon downloading of such information using the means of entering requests and information to interact with internet from an “excursion server.” the itinerary planning capability. 0012. The invention disclosed herein combines all of the functionality of the books and electronic gadgets which may BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION need to be utilized in planning and richly experiencing a vacation abroad, into one elegant and practical planning/ 0029. The invention disclosed herein is a multi-faceted touring device, with powerful features to enhance everyone's device incorporating all of the essential items and features vacation experience. The itinerary planning may be accom necessary for a business traveler, a single person, or family to plished utilizing planning templates, which may simulate travel to, or vacation in, another country, as though they had a having an experienced travel guide offering in-person advice personal concierge to assist them with each aspect of their throughout Such planning. The guidance may also be com travel planning, as well as guiding and directing them pletely without the availability of GPS data or internet access. throughout the actual travel. The guidance does not require, but may with the aid, when necessary, of a GPS receiver. The OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION invention features flexibility in changing the planning before 0013. It is an object of the invention to provide a means of leaving for the trip, and even accommodates making spur of compiling a travel itinerary in a retrievable electronic form, the moment changes or additions to the planned itinerary, according to various customizable itinerary templates. while at the destinaiton. The invention comprises specially 0014. It is another object of the invention to provide a conceived and designed software to access specific databases means of compiling a travel itinerary for various different of travel related materials to prepare a detailed travel itinerary kinds of travelers. that is custom built by the user according to their own concept 0015. It is a further object of the invention to provide a of what they believe would result in an extraordinary travel means of planning a travel itinerary from a list of options that experience. are arranged in templates, with the further assistance of Sub 0030 The databases may include a complete listing of template options. travel related information for a particular destination, and 0016. It is another object of the invention to provide a may further include a library of photographs for each of the means of planning a travel itinerary by viewing photographs sites and events that may be visited or attended. The software of various travel sites, to assist in choosing from among those program may preferably be tailored to work on a dedicated sites. electronic unit or article that is specially designed for such 0017. It is also an object of the invention to provide a planning, but may also be used on a standard personal com means of altering a planned itinerary after completion of the puter, a PDA, an Apple iPad, an advanced phone permitting planning, but before beginning the trip. programmable applications, and other Such electronic 0018. It is another object of the invention to provide a devices. A portable computing unit is preferred as it may means for receiving options to deviate from a planned itiner accompany the user on the trip, and therein provide additional ary while en route to or during a leg of the actual trip. functions to enhance the travel experience. The portable unit 0019. It is also an object of the invention to provide a will allow the user to refer to the planned itinerary at each leg means of receiving options to add to a planned itinerary after of the journey. It provides en route detours to other sites, for completion of the itinerary and during a particular leg of the when the user has decided to leave a site early or simply trip. wishes to do additional touring during one particular day. The 0020. It is another object of the invention to provide a Software includes destination-specific maps which may coop convenient electronic means for translating words and erate with the itinerary to be displayed anytime—either dur phrases into the language used at a destination. ing the planning stages or during the vacation itself. The 0021. It is also an object of the invention to provide a Software may automatically display map regions of the sites means of receiving audio tours for the sites being visited in chosen for the itinerary to assist the traveler while navigating accordance with the planned electronic itinerary. in a city or region of a foreign country. 0022. It is another object of the invention to provide a 0031. The database may also comprise language transla means of Supplying public transportation information for the tional capabilities for the nation to be visited, and information destination, in relation to the legs of the travel itinerary. about the nation, includingyellow page and white page phone 0023. It is also an object of the invention to provide a listings. The device may also comprise communication capa convenient means of obtaining phone listings from a direc bilities which permit it to be linked to another travel planner tory, for businesses and individuals at the destination. unit to allow transmissions therebetween of planning infor 0024. It is another object of the invention to provide a mation, of current locations for each traveler, and even Voice means of exclusively linking the electronic itinerary planning communication. It may also include a digital camera. of one individual on a device to another person's device. 0025. It is also an object of the invention to provide a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS means of quickly ascertaining the other person's location at the destination using the device, in relation to the itinerary. 0032. The patent or application file contains at least one 0026. It is another object of the invention to provide a drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent means of having quick and convenient reference to electronic application publication with color drawing(s) will be pro copies of maps for a destination, in relation to the travel vided by the Office upon request and payment of the neces itinerary. sary fee. 0027. It is also an object of the invention to provide a 0033 FIG. 1 is a view of an article illustrating a preferred means of quickly finding information relating to various embodiment of the present invention that is tailored for plan aspects of the destination. ning for, and touring of a foreign country (Italy), and being US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011 displayed is the initial start screen that prompts the user to planning sequence, and with bold underscoring indicating select from one of the available functions, or to view a virtual intent to select the “Select Another City' option by pressing slide show or video tour. the “enter button. 0034 FIG. 2 is a view of an article of FIG. 1, and displayed 004.5 FIG. 9 is a view of the article of FIG. 8, and dis on the screen is the initial planning templates available under played on screen is the list of city choices, once a first city the “PLAN ITINERARY BUTTON and with bold under choice has been made, with distances to the previously scoring indicating intent to choose the "Pre-planned Taste of selected city, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to Italy Tour Templates 2 Day, 3 Day. . . . .” select the “Add to Itinerary choice for the city of Venice. 0046 FIG. 10 is a view of the article of FIG. 9, and dis 0035 FIG.3 is a view of an article of FIG.2, and displayed played on the screen is further city choices revealed by scroll on the screen is the options available under the “Pre-planned ing down under the “More City Choices' option, and with Taste of Italy Tour Templates 2 Day, 3 Day, ... template, bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “Add to and with bold underscoring indicating intent to specify the Itinerary' choice for the city of Genoa. parameters of a 7 Day, 3 City tour beginning at Venice and 0047 FIG. 11 is a view of the article of FIG. 10, and ending in Rome, with a medium touring schedule of sites in displayed on screen is the updated planning for the first itin each of the user selected cities and in the city selected by the erary and the planning options available in the itinerary plan template. ning sequence, and with bold underscoring indicating intent 0036 FIG. 4 is a view of the article of FIG. 3, and dis to select the “Return to Planning Templates' choice. played on the screen is the itinerary returned by the processor 0048 FIG. 12 is a view of the article of FIG. 11, and for the parameters specified in the template, where the user's displayed on the screen is the initial templates available under parameters were a 7-day, 3-city tour beginning at Venice and the Plan Itinerary button, and with bold underscoring indicat ending in Rome, with a medium site touring schedule. ing intent to use the “Select Regions from Region Tem 0037 FIG. 4A is a view of the article of FIG. 4, and plates Northern Italy, ... choice. displayed on the screen is a series of alternate itineraries 0049 FIG. 13 is a view of the article of FIG. 12, and returned by the processor for the 7-day, 3-city tour beginning displayed on the screen is the regional choice options for the at Venice and ending in Rome. different sections of Italy that may be explored, and with bold 0038 FIG. 4B is a view of the article of FIG. 4A, and underscoring indicating intent to select the “Explore North displayed on the screen is the user selected alternate itinerary ern Italy' choice. #1, which is for a 7-day, 3-city tour beginning in Venice and 0050 FIG. 14 is a view of the article of FIG. 13, and ending in Rome, with a medium site touring schedule and an displayed on Screenis the regions and major cities that may be intermediate stop in the city of Bologna. explored and added to the itinerary from the Northern section 0039 FIG. 5 is a view of the article of FIG. 3, and dis of Italy, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select played on the screen is the itinerary returned by the processor the “View Photos of Northern Regions' choice. for parameters specified in the “Best Tour of Italy' template, 0051 FIG. 15 is a view of the article of FIG. 14, and being for a 7-day, 4-city tour beginning at Venice and ending displayed on the screen is a portion of the photo library in Rome, with a medium touring schedule for sites in each of representing the Northern regions of Italy, and with bold the user selected cities and for the two cities selected by the underscoring indicating intent to select the "Explore Liguria template. Region' option. 0040 FIG. 5A is a view of the article of FIG. 5, and 0052 FIG. 16 is a view of the article of FIG. 15, and displayed on the screen is the start of the Tour Details for the displayed on the screen are the cities for the Liguria region of 7-day, 4-city tour beginning at Venice and ending in Rome, Northern Italy, and with bold underscoring indicating intent with a medium touring schedule for sites in each of the user to select the “Add to Itinerary' choice for the city of Man selected cities and in the two cities selected by the template arola. Florence and Pisa. 0053 FIG. 17 is a view of the article of FIG. 16, and 0041 FIG. 6 is a view of the article of FIG.2, but with bold displayed on the screen is the updated planning for the first underscoring indicating intent to use the "Select Regions/ itinerary, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to Cities/Sites from Photo Library Templates, and being shown select the “Site Options' choice for the first itinerary leg side-by-side is the article with the resulting Photo Library Rome. being displayed on the screen. 0054 FIG. 18 is a view of the article of FIG. 17, and 0042 FIG. 6A is a view of an article of FIG. 6, but being displayed on the screen is a partial list of tourist sites for the displayed on the screen is some of the templates available selected city—Rome, and related functional options avail under the “PLAN ITINERARY BUTTON, and with bold able, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select underscoring indicating intent to use the “Select Cities from the “View Colosseum Photo choice. City Templates—Rome, Venice, Florence... tour planning 0055 FIG. 19 is a view of the article of FIG. 18, and template, and use of the third sub-template “c) View Cities displayed on the screen is a library photo of the selected Rome by Popularity”. tourist site—the Colosseum, and related functional options 0043 FIG. 7 is a view of the article of FIG. 6A, and available, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to displayed on the screen is the list of tourist cities being dis select the “View Colosseum Map Location choice. played by popularity, and with highlighting of Rome and 0056 FIG. 20 is a view of the article of FIG. 19, and intent to select the “add to itinerary' option. displayed on the screen is the site map for the selected site— 0044 FIG. 8 is a view of the article of FIG. 7, and dis the Colosseum, and related functional options available, and played on the screen is the current state of planning for the with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “View first itinerary, and planning options available in the itinerary Site Description' choice. US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
0057 FIG. 21 is a view of the article of FIG. 20, and including the Rome itinerary leg hotel reservation, and with displayed on the screen is the site description for the selected bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “Find Trans site—the Colosseum, and related functional options avail portation: Venice to Milan Airport' choice. able, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select (0071 FIG. 35 is a view of the article of FIG. 34, and the “Add to ROME Site Itinerary” choice. displayed on the screen is the transportation options from 0058 FIG. 22 is a view of the article of FIG. 21, and Venice to the Milan airport, and with bold underscoring indi displayed on the screen is the partial list of tourist site choices cating intent to select the “Explore Train Transportation: Ven for the selected city—Rome, once several cities have been ice to Milan Airport' choice. added to the itinerary, as well as related functional options 0072 FIG. 36 is a view of the article of FIG. 35, and available to the user. displayed on screen is a map of the national railway system in 0059 FIG. 23 is a view of the article of FIG. 22, and the Venice/Milan region, and with bold underscoring indicat displayed on screen is updated planning including the sites ing intent to select the “WiFi Connect: On-line Schedule selected for the Rome itinerary leg, and with bold underscor Check: www.trentalia.com' choice. ing indicating intent to select the “Find Venice Special 0073 FIG. 37 is a view of the article of FIG. 36, and Events' choice for the Venice leg. displayed on the screen is options available under the Plan 0060 FIG. 24 is a view of the article of FIG. 23, and Itinerary button after at least one itinerary has been saved, and displayed on the screen is the listing of special events and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “Select related information, which may be added to the Venice itin Planning Template choice for the “Copy and Modify Exist erary leg. ing Itinerary' option. 0061 FIG. 25 is a view of the article of FIG. 24, and 0074 FIG. 38 is a view of the article of FIG. 37, and displayed on the screen is the options for altering a saved displayed on the screen is the list of itineraries to choose as a itinerary under the “ALTER ITINERARY” button, and with template for creating a new itinerary, and with bold under bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “Move Ven scoring indicating intent to select the “Copy Itinerary' ice Leg in Itinerary choice. choice. 0062 FIG. 26 is a view of the article of FIG. 25, and 0075 FIG. 39 is a view of the article of FIG. 38, and displayed on Screen is the current planning for the first itin displayed on the screen is the second itinerary, which is erary with the options for revising the location of the Venice currently a clone of the first itinerary, and with bold under leg, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the scoring indicating intent to select the “Delete City/Region' “Move Venice Leg Later in Itinerary” choice. choice. 0063 FIG. 27 is a view of the article of FIG. 26, and 0076 FIG. 40 is a view of the article of FIG. 39, and displayed on the screen is the revised order for the first itin displayed on the screen is the second itinerary, where the erary, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select Liguria and Venice legs have been deleted, and with bold the “Find Transportation to Rome' choice. underscoring indicating intent to select the “Add Side Trip 0064 FIG. 28 is a view of the article of FIG. 27, and From City/Region' choice. displayed on the screen is the airline transportation options to 0077 FIG. 41 is a view of the article of FIG. 40, and fly to the first itinerary leg, and with bold underscoring indi displayed on the screen is the partial list of side trips from cating intent to select the “WiFi Connect: On-line Reserva Rome along with a respective mileage therefrom and photo, tion' choice. and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the 0065 FIG. 29 is a view of the article of FIG. 28, and “Add Side Trip” choice. displayed on Screen is the airline reservation obtained online 0078 FIG. 42 is a view of the article of FIG. 41, and to fly to the first itinerary leg and to depart from the final displayed on the screen is the second itinerary with the itinerary leg, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to Pompeii side trip added as a day 2 excursion, and with bold select the "Find Hotels in Rome' choice. underscoring indicating intent to select the “Save Itinerary’ 0066 FIG. 30 is a view of the article of FIG. 29, and displayed on the screen is the alternative methods of finding choice. accommodations for the Rome itinerary leg, and with bold 007.9 FIG. 43 is a view of the article of FIG. 42, and underscoring indicating intent to select the “Select Navona displayed on the screen is the list of saved itineraries available Area' choice for finding a hotel. for execution by a traveler under the “USE ITINERARY” 0067 FIG. 31 is a view of the article of FIG. 30, and button. displayed on the screen is the list of accommodations for the 0080 FIG. 44 is a view of the article of FIG. 43, and Navona area of Rome, and with bold underscoring indicating displayed onscreen is the saved itinerary #1, along with user intent to select the “View Hotel Map Location' choice for the choices for guidance and assistance from the itinerary, and Imperium Suite Navona accommodation. with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “Walk 0068 FIG. 32 is a view of the article of FIG. 31, and ing Directions to Colosseum' choice. displayed on screen is the map area for the Navona area of 0081 FIG. 45 is a view of the article of FIG. 44, and Rome showing the location for the Imperium Suite Navona, displayed on the screen is a country-wide map of Italy, avail and with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the able under the “ITALY MAPS button. “Choose Imperium Suite Navona' choice. 0082 FIG. 46 is a view of the article of FIG. 45, and 0069 FIG. 33 is a view of the article of FIG. 32, and displayed on the screen is a partial list of options available displayed on the screen is the information for the Imperium under the “FIND” button, and with bold underscoring indi Suite Navona, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to cating intent to select the “Select FIND Option' choice for select the “WiFi Connect: On-line Reservation' choice. finding city information about the keyed in city of Venice. 0070 FIG. 34 is a view of the article of FIG. 33, and 0083 FIG. 47 is a view of the article of FIG. 46, and displayed on screen is current planning for the first itinerary, displayed on the screen is general information about the city US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
of Venice, and with bold underscoring indicating intent to 0097 FIG. 61 is a view of the article of FIG. 60, and select the “Return to FIND Options' choice. displayed on the screen is the options available under the “EN 0084 FIG. 48 is a view of the article of FIG. 47, and ROUTE DETOURS” button, and with bold underscoring displayed on the screen is additional options under the FIND indicating intent to select “Explore Colosseo Detour Option.” button for finding drug stores, and with bold underscoring 0098 FIG. 62 is a view of the article of FIG. 61, and indicating intent to select the “Select FIND Option' choice. displayed on the screen is the options for a detour to find 0085 FIG. 49 is a view of the article of FIG. 48, and eateries, shopping centers, or other tourist sites, and with bold displayed on the screen is the nearest drug store, based on the underscoring indicating intent to select the “Get Directions/ traveler's GPS position, and other pertinent information, and Transportation' choice to Piazza Fontana Di Trevi. with bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “Get 0099 FIG. 63 is a view of the article of FIG. 62, and GPS Directions to Store choice. displayed on the screen is the map area of the Rome Metro 0086 FIG. 50 is a view of the article of FIG. 49, and railroad focused on the stops to get from the current location displayed on the screen are options under the “LANGUAGE to the next selected en route detour. TRANLATE PHRASE' button, including a fill-in-the-blank 0100 FIG. 64 is a view of the article of FIG. 63, and area for entering the phrase, and with bold underscoring displayed onscreen is the options under the LINK/TRANS indicating intent to select the “Translate Phrase' choice. MIT ITINERARY" button for linking of the planner to 0087 FIG. 51 is a view of the article of FIG. 50, and another planner, and with bold underscoring indicating intent displayed onscreen is the Italian translation, with a pronun to select the “Link Planner with Unit #98765’ choice. ciation aid, for the English phrase entered, and with bold 0101 FIG. 65 is a view of the article of FIG. 64, and underscoring indicating intent to select the “View List displayed onscreen are options under the “LINK/TRANS choice for the List of Common Italian Phrases. MIT ITINERARY” button for transmitting an itinerary to 0088 FIG. 52 is a view of the article of FIG. 51, and another planner, and with bold underscoring indicating intent displayed on the screen is a partial list of the Common Italian to select “Enter to Transmit to Gina (98765).” Phrases. 01.02 FIG. 66 is a view of the article of FIG. 65, and 0089 FIG. 53 is a view of the article of FIG. 52, and displayed onscreen is selection of the Itinerary #1 with an en displayed on the screen are options under the “REQUEST route detour for transmission, and with bold underscoring AUDIO TOUR and with bold underscoring indicating indicating intent to select “Enter to Transmit Itin. #1 to Gina.” intent to select the indicated option of an “Audio Tour of (0103 FIG. 67 is a view of the article of FIG. 66, and Itinerary Leg.” displayed onscreen is the options under the “GPS LOCATE 0090 FIG. 54 is a view of the article of FIG. 53, and FAMILY MEMBER” button, and with bold underscoring displayed on the screen is audio tour options available for the indicating intent to select the “Enter to Locate Gina choice. saved itineraries, and with bold underscoring indicating 0104 FIG. 68 is a view of the article of FIG. 67, and intent to select the “Start Audio Tour choice for the Colos displayed onscreen is an area map displaying the location of seum General Audio Tour. Gina's position relative to the user's position. 0091 FIG. 55 is a view of the article of FIG. 54, and 0105 FIG. 69 is a view of an article illustrating a second displayed on the screen is the text of the audio tour which may embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1, but without the lan be broadcast through the headphonejack or speakers or wire guage functionality and planner linking capability. lessly using Bluetooth technology, and with audio tour 01.06 FIG. 70 is a rear view of the article of FIG. 69, options. showing the camera lens, and one possible configuration of a 0092 FIG. 56 is a view of the article of FIG. 55, and battery access panel. displayed on the screen is options available under the 0107 FIG. 71 is a view of an article illustrating a third “PHONE DIRECTORY choice, and with bold underscoring embodiment of the invention of FIG.1, but with touch-screen indicating intent to select the “Search for DaVinci's Phone if buttons instead of mechanical buttons. option. 0.108 FIG. 72 is a schematic view of an exemplary com 0093 FIG. 57 is a view of the article of FIG. 56, and puter system running the Software of the current invention. displayed on the screen is options available under the “Trans portation Routes/Schedules' button, and with bold under scoring indicating intent to select the “View Transportation DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Details' option for the Rome Metro railroad. 0109 The functionality of the travel planner/guide dis 0094 FIG. 58 is a view of the article of FIG. 57, and closed herein, is perhaps best discussed in relation to the displayed on the screen is the Metro Rome railroad map and figures, each of which demonstrates a sample of what is options to explore the map interactively, and with bold under achievable by the software of the current invention in the way scoring indicating intent to select the “Return to Transporta of planning assistance and travel guide assistance. Many tion Options' choice. minor modifications and changes are obvious in view of its 0.095 FIG. 59 is a view of the article of FIG. 58, and adaptability, and some of which are discussed herein as well. displayed on the screen is the transportation options, and with Also, although the software may preferably be tailored to bold underscoring indicating intent to select the “View Trans work on a dedicated electronic unit having computing capa portation Details' choice for transportation from the current bilities specially designed for Such planning, it may nonethe location at the Colosseum. less be adapted for use on a standard personal computer, a 0096 FIG. 60 is a view of the article of FIG. 59, and laptop, a netbook, an Apple iPad, a phone accommodating displayed on the screen is the map area of the Rome Metro programmable applications such as the iPhone, a PDA, and railroad focused on the stops to get from the current location other mobile computing devices. The software may be to the next itinerary leg. designed and programmed primarily in an object oriented US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011 programming language such as Java or C++, or in a "pure' or which may become available as technology improves, may object-oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, or be utilized for the device of the current invention, including any other Suitable language. DLP and LCoS projectors. When the power is off, the screen 0110. In one embodiment, it may be possible to load and would of course be blank, and when initially powered on, the run the software of the current invention on a desk-top PC to screen 20 of the planner 10 may appear as in FIG. 1. do the planning, where a larger monitor may permit better 0114. As seen in FIG. 1, the user may be directed to select viewing of the photo library herein and other features by the desired function from the Planning Buttons or the Vaca multiple persons. Thereafter, the software may also be loaded tion Experience Buttons, or the new user who is just begin onto a mobile device, and with the customized itineraries ning to plan the vacation may choose to first gain more expo developed on the desktop computer being transferred to the sure to their destination of choice, by first viewing a virtual mobile device and usable thereon during travel at the desti tour. The virtual tour may be a narrated slide show tour that nation, along with the specialized features designed to assist takes advantage of the extensive library of photographic a user during execution of the travel itinerary. To properly images contained therein, as will be discussed later, or it enable and claim the software that would be run on such a could be a video tour. The slide show may be appropriately mobile or desktop computer unit, the unit's principle compo comprised of tours of different lengths to accommodate trav nents and related terminology require a brief discussion. A elers who may be more or less disposed towards the virtual discussion of Such a computing unit, done in terms of an experience. The virtual tours may also serve as a reference for exemplary computing system, may be found at the end of the those viewers, which may be watched on Successive occa specification. sions, to help tailor their own personal itinerary. The virtual 0111 FIG. 1 contains one embodiment of the current tour viewer may also immediately decide to add certain sites invention, which is tailored to permit planning for, and travel shown during the slide show to their soon-to-be or their cur assistance within, the country of Italy. It should be pointed out rent itinerary; therefore, there may also be a button feature that the software may be tailored exclusively for visiting a that permits addition of the site currently being displayed in a destination, which may be a single nation, a single major city slide to an itinerary. of one nation—such as for a ROME travel guide or a New 0.115. On the housing 15, above the screen 20, may be York City travel guide, or for regions of a continent or mul raised text 17, a map 18, and a national flag 19, all of which tiple nations—such as an Asian Travel Planner or a Middle may indicate the geographic Subdivision for which the travel East Travel Planner. In certain instances, particularly in planner/guide is designed to accommodate. In the case of Europe, the software may preferably include certain cross FIGS. 1-71, the travel planner/guide device is particularly national planning capability, as many great sites of interest configured for a visit to the nation of Italy, and thus the may be just across a border from the “destination, such as for famous boot-shaped outline of the nation of Italy appears in the city of Ventimiglia in the Italian Riviera, which is a short the right corner, and the green/white/red Italian flag appears drive from the Principality of Monaco, and the French Rivi in the left corner. Also, as seen in FIG. 69, which shall be Ca discussed further in later paragraphs, a larger, more readily 0112 The software may also be tailored to accommodate viewable map may be featured on the back side of the housing planning for, and guided visits to, “destinations' in the form to provide guidance to the user even when the guider/planner of particular geographical Subdivisions, such as for a new is not in use (powered on). These housing features may sim comer's trip to the New England States of the United States, ply serve as a quick reference for the user, as other map or the Southern states, or the Midwest. The planning capabil features are incorporated within the software and will be ity may be adaptable for the largest to the smallest possible discussed hereinafter. geographical Subdivision or possible combinations. The Sub 0116. The screen 20 may preferably be caused by the division need not even be the traditionally recognized hierar Software to be segmented by an upper graphical dividing line chy, Such as: a hemisphere, a sphere, a continent, a region of 21 and a lower graphical dividing line 22. Above the upper a continent, a nation, a country, a region of a country, a dividing line 21 may be a “Mode' line 23 which describes the province, a state, a county, a city, a town, a township, a village, function, and stage of a particular function at which a user a monarchy, a kingdom, a principality, a republic, a district, an may be working on his/her planning, to allow the user to put island, a quarter, a region, a section, a sector, a colony, a the device down and return at a later time to quickly assess the territory, a commonwealth, an empire, a dominion, an current point of planning The utility of the modeline 23 will enclave, an outland, a union, a body, a sovereignty, a federa become apparent by viewing Successive figures and the func tion, a tract, a square, a precinct, a neighborhood, a parcel, or tionality described therein. a patch. The subdivision, which may also be referred to as a 0117 Located between the upper dividing line 21 and category, may therefore also include Subdivisions such as the lower dividing line 22, may be a central information region hiking trails of the U.S. or other country, or campgrounds; or 24, where information from a database of travel information be directed to National Parks or State Parks. So merely to be relating to a destination may be displayed, and from which the exemplary of one of the possible configurations of the current user may make a selection for the trip itinerary from a number invention, a travel planner/guide featuring planning and guid of templates. Navigating between the templates, in order to ing capabilities for a visit to the nation of Italy, is utilized make a selection, may be enabled with any number of differ throughout the drawing figures and specification. ent possible key entries, or even by making a selection using 0113. The travel planner/guide 10 of FIG. 1 may prefer a mouse, trackball, or other peripheral device to move a ably include a graphical display Screen 20 that may be Sup cursor. However, in one embodiment, it may be that no ported by a housing 15. Today, liquid crystal display (LCD) peripheral device is utilized, and that, to be exemplary, the screens offer high resolution for images, and, depending on arrow up () and arrow down keys () may cause the choices its size and configuration, Very economical power require to be highlighted for Subsequent acceptance. The tab key may ments. Any suitable display Screen that is currently available, also function in the same manner. Hereinafter, any of those US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
references may be presumed to be useable in permitting tained within the database, which may overlap to a certain movement of a cursor up or down to highlight alternative degree with Some of the other functions that also providing choices. The use herein of the term “highlighting may mean database information. the addition of a colored background for a choice or option 0.122 The keys mentioned previously may be those alpha being chosen, or it may instead be a combination of bolding numeric keys 46 that may ordinarily be found on a standard and underlining of the textual template or option, or it may be computer keyboard, and which may preferably be similarly coloring, bolding and underlining. As seen throughout the arranged for ease of recognition. These keys/buttons may figures, the Software may provide a cursor in the form of a additionally include a scale button 47 and photo button 48, bold arrow to identify the currently selected template/sub which will be discussed later. template, in addition to highlighting. I0123 FIG. 2 illustrates a user starting to plan a first itin erary, which begins by pushing the plan itinerary button 32, 0118 When a list may be so long that it does not fit com which produces a change in the display screen as shown. The pletely on the screen 20, continued use of the arrow down key mode line 21 now shows the stage of operation as being the () may cause the list to scroll or page down to the next set of “Plan Itinerary” mode. The central information region 24 choices. When it pages rather than scrolls down to a next list displays a list of options, each of which may comprise a of choices, it may preferably be with the last choice on the specialized template from which the itinerary planning may previous list that was displayed becoming the first choice at proceed. The templates may group or organize touring the top of the Successive list, to serve as a visual reminder. options according to certain methods of planning, certain Conversely, continued use of the arrow up key () may permit viewing possibilities, and possibly according to certain cat the user to Scroll or page backward or upwards through the list egories of vacation attributes or parameters. The itinerary of choices. from Such planning templates may be further customizable 0119 Below lower dividing line 22 may be a list of options during initial planning, as well as at later points in the plan and directions 25, which, when selected, may cause the ning process. device to do one of the following: to accept a highlighted 0.124. As a first example, FIG. 2 shows the “Pre-planned selection from the choices being displayed from the informa Taste of Italy Tour Templates 2 Day, 3 Day. . . . being tional database; or Supplement the displayed information; or highlighted and selected as the first planning template. Mul perhaps to return the user to a different stage of the planning tiple templates may be used to plana single vacation itinerary, and one method of doing so will be explained later. Hitting Other possible options will be discussed in the context of the enter to accept that template causes the display of FIG. 3, Figures illustrating particular templates—templates that may which provides three possible related planning template, or be enhanced with additional options. sub-templates. In the first sub-template, “a) Key No. of Days: 0120. The directions of the options/directions 25 portion and Key Choice of City: , the user may of the display may also remind the user to hold down the shift specify trip duration to be a specific length of time matching key in combination with the arrow up/down keys to highlight the traveler's available time in country—2 days, 3 days, . . . . a desired template. Thereafter, the user may communicate the 7 days, etc., and the choice of a city that the traveler would like template and preferred option (both being highlighted) to the to explore. The next sub-template, “b) Key No. of Days: software, by hitting the enter key. and Key Choice of Region: permits the user 0121 There may preferably be a number of special func to plan an itinerary for a visit to a particular region within tion buttons and keys, as mentioned above, to enable the user Italy. to more easily navigate through the Software. The function 0.125 Many users may prefer sub-template (c), in which buttons, which will each be discussed in some detail herein the user may specify the number of days in country, the after, may generally be divided into planning buttons (FIG. number of cities, and a touring schedule ranging from light to 1), and be so denoted using a textual reference 31, and Vaca medium to heavy. A light schedule may be one where the tion experience buttons, having a similar textual reference 35. template selects the most desirable sites to be visited, but The planning buttons may comprise a “Plan Itinerary” button limits touring in a single day to roughly 3 hours, leaving the 32, and an “Alter Itinerary” button 33. The vacation experi traveler a generous amount of time to linger at sites found to ence buttons may comprise function buttons with the follow be more interesting. The medium schedule may encompass ing general functionality: providing country-specific infor 5-6 hours of site viewing, while the heavy schedule may mation; permitting certain communication with traveling comprises 8 or more hours of site visits. The travelers may companions who may similarly be guided by the software of further customize the heavily-scheduled itinerary to plan for the current invention, though doing so independently using touring of sites for 12-16 hours a day, provided the sites are their own device; and providing information to navigate the accessible to visitors. country. The country-specific information may be accessible 0.126 The device returns an itinerary that has been opti through a “Language” button 36, an “Italy Phone Directory mized according to the allotted time for the traveler to see as button 37, an “Audio Tour/Italy History” button 38, and a many of the most significant highlights as possible, in the “Transportation' button 39. The communication between given touring time. The programming associated with the traveling companions, denoted in the Figures as “Family template will also specify a default (or ideal) arrival and Communication.” may be accessible through a "Link/Trans departure city for the trip to the country, both of which may be mit Itinerary” button 40, and a “GPS Locate Family Member modified, as a returning vacationer may wish to focus on button 41. There may be three function buttons for navigating different parts of a country. A first-time visitor may choose the the country, including a “Use Itinerary' button 42, an “Italy standard Venice to Rome itinerary, but may, for example, wish Maps' button 43, and an "En Route Detour button 44. In to do a Sicily to Rome itinerary on a Subsequent trip to see addition, a “Find' function button 45 may act as an index to be different parts of the country. The programming for the tem used to selectively access a wide range of information con plate will also select the most favorable intermediate city or US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
cities for the trip, and, for a 7-day, 3-city tour, may return the an event occurs, such as a civil war reenactment within an itinerary shown in FIG. 4. The itinerary may preferably dis open field, or it could be an event that occurs in a structure that play photographs of the recommended sites to be seen in the had been built upon that place. Such as a civil war reenactment cities returned in the itinerary. As seen in FIG.4, the program in that fort, or even just a play in a theater. So a site may refer may default to an itinerary with Florence as the third city to be to a place, a structure, or an event, or some combination of visited, with it being intermediate to the arrival and departing those three. Hereinafter, use of the word “site' may be con cities, and it may be most likely to be of the greatest interest strued to represent all three possibilities and any possible to most visitors. One of the options in FIG. 4 (“See Alt. combinations therebetween. Itinerary') permits the traveler to consider other itineraries, I0131 Some travelers may prefer to browse a library of and selecting that option may cause the display of FIG. 4A, photographic images, and create an itinerary by selecting which comprises a list of itineraries having alternate cities for sites at the destination country according to their interest in the intermediate stop, along with a map for reference by the those images, as illustrated in FIG. 6. These photos may be traveler to be able to gauge the travel distances. Highlighting Sorted into viewing templates, where the photos may be and selecting the first alternate itinerary, a Venice-Bologna viewed in groups according to an alphabetical city listing, an Rome itinerary, may produce the screen of FIG. 4B, which is alphabetical region listing, by popularity of the cities, the same as FIG. 4, except for showing Bologna as the inter regions, or sites therein, as well as by other possible viewing mediate stop, along with the prospective site visits to the templates. Some other viewing sub-templates may further medieval Two Towers of Bologna and the Piazza Maggiore. subdivide the library, such as by certain traveler statistics— 0127. If the user returned to the entry screen of FIG. i.e., by most popular sites for European travelers, or by most 3—used for inputting parameters into the template—and popular sites for American travelers, etc. chooses instead to visit a total of four cities, the programming 0.132. Alternatively, a user may seek to personally plan the may return the itinerary of FIG. 5, which may also include the entire itinerary by selecting several regions of Italy to visit, city of Pisa in addition to Florence, but may also eliminate based on their prior personal knowledge, such as wanting to certain sites from Venice, as Venice may now only include two specifically explore the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, and The days of the seven days in-country. Highlighting and selecting Marches, because of many pop culture references to that the option to “See Tour Details' may produce the screen of particular part of Italy. The user may also similarly desire to FIG.5A. Highlighting one of the sites and selecting the “View visit only certain specific cities in the nation, and may plan an Description option may provide the user with detailed infor itinerary based on that construct. There are countless different mation about the site. templates that may be loaded into the software, but a non 0128. Use of the FIG.3 sub-templates may require the user exhaustive list may also include templates which cater to to defer, to a certain degree, to another person's rank ordering planning for: child-friendly tour sites and accommodations; of the priority of places and sites that should be visited, but the tours which focus particularly on art or architectural centered user opting for this planning template is relying upon the tour options, which may be desirable in places like Paris, advice of a knowledgeable planner, and of course will none France; wine tour templates for the wine enthusiast/connois theless still be able to tailor or customize that pre-planned seur, tours accomplished solely through the use of public itinerary, by selecting alternate cities, and by using the Cus transportation, perhaps for the college student traveling tomize Itinerary option, or the Alter Itinerary button 33, across Europe; shopping tour templates; cultural tours which which is discussed later. The “customize itinerary' option focus solely on the museums or the theatres; historical site may be used to replace cities returned by the programming templates; religious site templates; Scenic natural beauty tour with other cities the user later deems more desirable. The templates; tour templates focused on famous people whether customize option may also Supply a detailed list of sites and from a historical point of view, such as the founders of the events available in each city, to aid the user in making choices. United States—where they lived/died—or from the pop cul This customization will be discussed in later paragraphs, in ture point of view, such as Jim Morison's grave, or a Beatles relation customization of an itinerary produced using another tour of England); tours focused on the nightlife of a city of planning template. nation; or tours based on special activities, such as the three 0129. A template is a pattern that is used to help shape week-long Spoleto Festival—the Festival dei Due Mondi— things accurately, and herein, the templates are used to help a which is held annually in Spoleto, Italy. For each of the user to more easily shape the vacation to specifically be as he possible planning templates, an algorithm progressively pro or she desires, by starting out with a means to narrowly vides instructions for graphical displays, on the screen, of choose from all of the possible travel options, by using the choices and options to aid the user in customizing the tem advise of experts, even though it is still possible to customize plate, and records progress made in planning the itinerary in any itinerary. The templates remove the burden of searching a non-volatile memory, which may later be changed and/or through books and brochures from the shoulders of the poten erased. It should be noted that an algorithm is generally a set tial traveler, in order to devise a sensible itinerary, through of rules (procedure or formula) for Solving a problem in a synergistic use of the templates, algorithms and databases of finite number of steps, and in mathematics and computer the software. Science, an algorithm usually means a procedure that solves a 0130. It should be pointed out that a site could be just a recurrent problem, though some may refer to a computer place. Such as an open field, which may be of major historical program itself or portion thereofas an elaborate algorithm. significance, with an example being an open field where a 0.133 As previously stated, each of those templates may major U.S. civil war battle occurred, or the beaches of Nor be further divided into sub-templates, some of which will be mandy, France where the D-Day forces landed. In addition, discussed in detail in later paragraphs, to be illustrative of certain sites may comprise a place with a structure sitting how all of the sub-templates may operate. However, some of upon that location, such as where there may have been a fort the possible Sub-templates are mentioned here. For example, built upon that battlefield. Lastly, a site may be a place where the photo library may be subdivided into sub-templates such US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011 as: viewing the library alphabetically by city, or alphabeti statistics, or by appearance in an Italy map. Hitting the enter cally by Region, or by viewing the library according to site button may cause the screen to appear as in FIG. 7. The device popularity. The regions template may have Sub-templates of in FIG. 7 displays a list of cities in Italy according to their Northern, Central, and Southern regions, or Easterly and popularity, each of which may be selected to be in the travel Westerly regions. The city template may be subdivided into er's itinerary. The list of cities may be quite lengthy, as it may Sub-templates comprising: cities listed alphabetically, cities include every city in the nation, both large and Small cities/ grouped according to region (Tuscany, Umbria, . . . ), cities tOWnS. listed by tourist popularity, or according to certain statistics, 0.135 The software may also provide a map image in the or by map locations. Child friendly sites template may be central information region 24, to help in planning that makes further Subdivided into sites and accommodations welcoming for a sensible geographic sequence. While only the cities of and appropriate for: babies, toddlers, young teenagers, or Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, Naples, Verona, Turin, Bolo young adults. The architectural tour template may be broken down into Sub-templates such as: architectural styles, or by gna, Perugia, and Genoa are shown in the initial list, a mes architecture attributed to specific historical periods. The vine sage, as previously described, alerts the user that more cities yards template may be subdivided into sub-templates of: may be viewed and selected by using the arrow down key. The white wines and red wines, or by grape varietals, or by wine options/directions list 25 currently shows (in FIG. 7) that regions of the country, which for Italy corresponds to its 20 there may be three options: either selecting a city choice and geographic regions—Aosta, Calabria, Liguria, Lombardy, hitting the enter key to add that choice to the itinerary, or Veneto, Tuscany, Sicily ... (and for the U.S. Napa/Sonoma viewing photos of the city along with a description of the Valley . . . . and for France—Alsace/Armagnac/Beaujolais/ city's offerings, or returning to the planning options of FIG. Bergerac/Bordeaux/Burgundy/Champagne, ...). The public 6A to use a different template to plan the itinerary. Of course, transportation routes template may have sub-templates com it may be desirable for other options to appear in different prising train tours, bus tours, boat tours, charter tours, and embodiments. There may be one provided to exit the software highway tours. The shopping template may be broken down application, or if the software is utilized on a dedicated elec into fashion by designer (Armani, Biagiotti Laura, Bulgari, tronic unit, exiting may simply involve shutting off the unit Capasa Ennio, Capucci Roberto, Cavalli, Dell’Acqua, using an on/off switch 14. The use of the photo library con Alessandro, Dolce e Gabbana, Donatella Versace. ...), or by tained within the informational database relating to the des antique types, jewelry, or specialties of the region/nation. The tination will be discussed in more detail later. It is intended as museum template may be broken down into sub-templates of an aid to the planner in deciding if the city architecture, sites, history museums, archeology museums, automobile muse history, or other attributes, in the visual sense, make the city ums, maritime museums, art museums, heritage museums, appealing enough to add to the itinerary. The photo may also railway museums, science museums, aircraft/aerospace become part of the itinerary itself, as a visual reminder of the museums . . . The art gallery template may be broken down choice made, as will be seen later. into Sub-templates of oil paintings, sculptures, watercolors, 0.136. In an alternate embodiment, each city in the list may photography, ... The theater template may be broken down have a corresponding photograph associated with it, and in into Sub-templates of musicals, drama, dance . . . . or by yet another embodiment, the city list may include the map geographic category Such as, for New York city, Broadway image displayed in FIG. 7, which may be a selectable map, shows, off-Broadway shows. . . The historical sites template wherein the cities or regions may be selectable either through may be comprised of sub-templates of war battlefields/me the use of a finger tip, or more preferably, using a stylus 60 or morials, political buildings, birthplaces and homes of famous an attachable pointing device such as a mouse. Moving the people (e.g., Christopher Columbus in Genoa), gravesites of stylus over the city of Venice and tapping on the city name famous people, locations of famous civic movements (the may cause a representative photo to appear with several Renaissance Movement in Florence) . . . The religious site options being selectable therefrom, Such as the option of template may comprise Sub-templates of churches, temples, viewing the photo library for the city, or to add the city to the cathedrals, chapels, basilica, monasteries, convents . . . The itinerary. This method of selecting geographic regions from Scenic views template may be made up of Sub-templates the map may work in conjunction with the list of cities pro permitting planning according to ocean views, mountain vided, as the user may want to become familiar with the views, or forest scenic views, or may be subdivided into various city options, which may be done more readily by hiking views or driving scenic views ... The night life tem browsing the map's associated city photos. However, it plate may be subdivided according to famous pubs/bars, should be apparent that the list of cities may be too exhaustive dance clubs (disco, ballroom . . . ), karaoke clubs, or popular to be visually generated on the map image for the entire establishments for particular tastes ... It should be apparent nation, which may be enlargeable to accommodate Such visu that some of these Sub-templates may overlap, and that this alization. list, like the list of templates, is also non-exhaustive. I0137 If the user selected the “View Photos' option from 0134) To be further illustrative of how the software may the graphical selection of Venice from the map, it may show operate, planning, using one or two of the above templates, is on the screen that place in a library of photographs at which discussed in detail and illustrated in the figures. In FIG. 6A, begins all of the photographs of Venice that are in the data the user has highlighted “Select Cities from City Templates— base. The library of city photos at this entry point may also be Rome, Venice, Florence... using the arrow down key, which organized alphabetically, and may also permit the user to just reveals several Sub-template choices. The Sub-templates may page through the library and select cities for the itinerary from include viewing the cities in an alphabetical listing, viewing the photo listing. (Note that selection of “View Photos from cities as they are grouped according to the region they are in, the planning template of FIG. 7 may similarly display the viewing cities in a list according to their popularity among same photos from the library, as may be viewed through the visitors, or possibly by viewing cities according to tourist Photo Library Template of FIG. 6). US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
0.138. With the city of Rome selected from the list in FIG. geographic location, rather than focusing on individual cities. 7, and with the user hitting the enter key to add Rome to the However, it may also display city locations, but preferably in itinerary, the device may appear as seen in FIG. 8. The soft a less prominent manner. The Software may permit selection ware may show a heading in the central information region 24 from the map of one or more of those regions, and it may indicating that planning is ongoing for Itinerary #1, or alter alternatively permit selection and exploration of the North natively, that information could be provided in the modeline ern, Central, and Southern portions of the country of Italy. 23. The software may then preferably show a listing, in the Initially, the Northern Italy option may be highlighted, and modeline, of all selections made for the itinerary, which so the Italy map being displayed may include some subtle shad far, only includes the city of Rome. ing to indicate which of the regions comprise the Northern 0.139. Once a selection has been made from among those portion of Italy. The options/directions list 25 may permit the offered in the chosen template, various different choices may user to view photos of each of those portions of Italy (North appear, to continue tailoring the itinerary returned by the ern, Central, Southern), or, a possible option that is not shown Software in order to create a custom itinerary. Also, the in FIG. 13, may permit viewing of photos of each of the options/directions list 25 may present different options to the regions (Liguria, Piedmont, . . . ) of Italy. The options/direc user, depending upon which portion of the planneditinerary is tions list 25 may also permit the user to further explore only highlighted. In FIG. 8, seven options may be offered, includ the selected portion of Italy—for example, the Northern por ing: viewing the possible sites or special events that may be tion. Selecting the “Explore Northern Italy' option may cause available in the city of Rome; Viewing an area map of Rome, the display of FIG. 14, where the Italy outline map of FIG. 13 which may be scalable to aid the planner; adding side trips has been enlarged to focus on the northern portion of Italy, from Rome, which may comprise part-day or all-day excur and with the addition of major cities in those regions also now sions to nearby cities or sites; deleting a selected city or being displayed. region, altering of the itinerary; selecting other cities; return 0143. The directions/options list 25 may permit the user to ing to the template list to plan Successive legs of the trip using immediately add a region to the itinerary, with greater detail, a different template; and having the option to save the itiner as to cities and sites, being added later. The region may be ary, no matter its stage of completion. Some of these options selectable from the list, or from its appearance in the map will be discussed later. image. Note that the region names may be shown in all 0140. The option to return to select additional cities from capitals and/or be underlined to distinguish them from the the list, discloses other features of the invention. The “Select names of cities therein that are being displayed. The direc Another City' option may again cause the city list to appearas tions/options list 25 may also permit the user to instead it did in FIG. 7, but its subsequent appearance in FIG.9 may explore individual regions in more detail, before deciding to also include a distance from the initial city selected, to pro add one to the itinerary. Selection of the option to “View vide a numeric context for the visual map image that offers Photos of Veneto Region' may cause the display to appear as rough guidance as to the proximity of a city to the one that in FIG. 15, where one or more photos may be shown for each may have been previously selected. With successive selection region. Although only one photo is shown for Venice, and of cities thereafter, the display may include the minimum there would likely be many more, this illustrates the possible distance between other possible destination cities and the continuity of the photo library, as it also shows photos of the next closest city which is already in the list of selected cities. Liguria region, another region in Northern Italy. It may there Also, since the city of Rome has already been selected, it may fore be possible to view each of the photographs contained in be bracketed and/or no longer be in all-caps to indicate its the digital photo library according to its appearance in many previous selection. However, it may always appear in the list, different templates and Sub-templates, or options therein. and may nonetheless be selectable for multiple appearances 0144. The size of the photos being shown may be alterable in the itinerary, as a traveler may wish to return to a city at a to be smaller, in order to be able to display on the screen, more later part of an itinerary. photos at a time. Or the photo size may be made larger, to the 0141 FIG. 9 illustrates using the arrow down keys to reach point even where there may only be one photo displayed at a the bottom-most choice in the list of choices—Genoa in the time. The size option may permit viewing that is suitable to a initial city list, wherein one more tap on the arrow down key user because of his or her poor vision, or because of the may cause the screen to appear as in FIG. 10, where the list particular size of the Screen of the computing device upon has paged down, with Genoa now being at the top of the list to which the Software may be running. As an example, the dis provide viewing continuity. This paging down arrangement play in FIG. 15 is showing four photos, one for the Veneto may be typical for lists of choices that are displayed in the region, and three of the five photos for Cinque Terre (“five central information region 24. Paging back up in the city list lands’) in the Liguria region. As noted in the central infor to select Venice for the itinerary, results in the updated Itin mation region 24, the number of photos shown per page may erary #1 list shown in FIG. 11. Selection, in FIG. 11, of the be adjusted using the scale button 47 and either the arrow up “Return to Planning Templates' returns the user to the list of () or arrow down () keys. planning templates as seen in FIG. 12, which resembles the (0145 The directions/options list 25 in FIG. 15 may be set choices in FIG. 2 (as well as FIGS. 6, 37, and 68), except that up to focus on exploration of the city photo being highlighted the mode text line 23 may display a running list of prior for a particular region, or on the entire region itself. In FIG. selections (Rome and Venice) to aid the planner. 15, the directions/options list 25 shows the option of further 0142. As another example of the possible templates in the exploring the current cursor selection, which is the region of invention, choosing the "Select Regions from Region Tem Liguria. Hitting the enter key to accept the "Explore Liguria plates Northern Italy, ... in FIG. 12, may cause the display Region' option, may cause the display of FIG. 16, where a of FIG. 13. The display of FIG. 13 may include an Italy map map of the Liguria region is displayed, along with a list of that focuses upon identifying each of the distinct regions of cities therein. The directions/options list 25 may then permit the nation of Italy, and relates them back to their overall the user to add individual cities to the itinerary, such as Ven US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
timiglia, or Genoa, or one of the cities in Cinque Terre (mean may utilize a single, highly detailed Italy map that is scalable ing the five lands of Monterossa al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, to aid the user. Scaling of the map may be by an algorithm, Manarola, and Riomaggiore). The user may instead view a when prompted to do so, to cause the display to focus on more detailed library of photos of each city, or may view certain features/locations, such as the Colosseum area in FIG. descriptions of the sites that may be found at such city 20. The map returned by the software may be further scalable choices. Opting to add the city of Manarola to the current by the user through use of the scale button 47, in combination itinerary may result in the display of FIG. 17, with the asso with the arrow up () or the arrow down () keys. ciated Manarolaphoto being incorporated into the itinerary as 0149 Selecting “View Site Description” from the options a graphic reminder of the choice. shown in FIG. 20, may cause the display of FIG. 21, which 0146. As seen in FIG. 17, the cursor, which may be in the may comprise a textual narrative that may be in the form of a form of an arrow symbol, may always default in Successive series of bullet points of factual information about the site, to screens to initially be pointing to and highlighting the first help a user determine if he or she has sufficient interest to visit option shown in the screen. In FIG. 17, since the cursor is that site. The description may also be in the form of one or highlighting the city of Rome, the options are particularly more paragraphs of information about the site. This descrip directed to exploring options relating to Rome. But, as the tion may also be useful to a planner who is trying to confirm cursor is toggled downward to Venice, and then Liguria, the that he or she has found a particular site that had been recom options listed may be successively cross-referenced to the mended by a third party. Once the user has decided to add the highlighted choice in the central information region 24, each site to the itinerary, the “Add to ROME Site Itinerary' option of which may be at an earlier or later stage of planning than may be toggled. other legs in the itinerary. For example, if the cursor were 0150. Successive selection, from the possible sites in toggled downward in FIG. 17, the options may instead offer to Rome, to include the Colosseum, Vatican City, the Pantheon, “View Venice Site Options,” or “View Liguria Site Options.” and the Roman Forum, may cause the list to appear as in FIG. etc. With Rome highlighted, as in FIG. 17, hitting the enter 22. Although not displayed in that figure, the Software may key with “View Rome Site Options’ being highlighted, may provide a warning to a user when the list of selected sites result in the display of FIG. 18. FIG. 18 shows one embodi selected may become too long to be comfortably visited in a ment for the listing of sites to be visited for Rome. There may single day, and might require continuation onto a Successive bean option “Pre-planned Tours (1-Day, 2-Day...) that day of touring, which may be based on recommended view permits the user to choose from a professionally planned ing times for the sites and travel times therebetween. The user itinerary to tour Rome, and which has been optimized for the may of course choose to ignore the Suggestion, and not add a number of days the planner seeks to stay in the city. After that day to the itinerary at that point in the planning, and may option, there may be a list of individual sites that may be instead utilize an option to add an extra day at a later stage of selected by the user. The list may also preferably identify the planning minimum recommended viewing time for each site, to allow 0151 FIG.22 does illustrate a recommended viewing time the user to determine the appropriate number of sites to select, for each site selected, along with a total of 7 viewing hours according to how he chooses to tour the city, and although it used, out of what is suggested to be a nine hour viewing is not shown therein, the list may also include a photo repre day—between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Where the software sentative of each city on the list. If the software provides audio also includes listing the time of day for visiting a site. Such tours of the particular site, which will be discussed further times may be compared against known hours of operation for hereinafter, it may also be preferable to display in that list, the each site, to help preclude instances or erroneous planning, running times for the audio tours that may be available, to Such as where a traveler plans to allot time to visit a site and further assist in selecting sites for a given day. some or all of the allotted time is before a site opens to the 0147 The list of sites that may be visited in a large city, public or after it has been closed to visitors. Once the user has Such as Rome, may be quite extensive. As with the list of selected all of the sites for a particular city, the “Return to cities, the listing of sites may be ordered according to differ Itinerary List” option would cause the screen to appear as in ent preferences, such as a rank order according to popularity, FIG. 23, which is the same as FIG. 17, except for inclusion of or significance, or other categories. The directions/options the selected Rome sites and corresponding photographs. list 25 may be tailored for the site highlighted, and may offer Selecting the “save itinerary option at any point in time to display one or more site photos, a site description, a map of should not change the screen display, except perhaps to the area Surrounding the site, as well as the option of adding include a message, possibly a time-limited message flashing the site to the itinerary for the city of Rome. across the screen, to confirm that the itinerary was saved, or 0148. As an example, highlighting “Colosseum' and opt that it was updated after it has already been saved once. ing to view the site photo(s) for the Colosseum, may cause the 0152. Many of the cities in Italy, as well as the cities in display to appear as in FIG. 19. Some of the same pertinent other nations, may host special events of interest to visitors, in options may appear in the display screen of FIG. 19, as had addition to the usual tourist sites that may be in the form of been previously offered in FIG. 18. There may still be options historic structures or buildings or museums. These events to add the site to the itinerary, if the photo makes the site may similarly be found, as for example with the city of appear desirable to the planner, or there may be an option to Venice, under the “Find Venice Site Options/Events’ option, view a map showing the area around the Colosseum, or an as seen in FIG. 23. (Note that the city of Venice had been option to view a description of the particular site. Selecting highlighted). Selection of that option may cause the joint the “View Colosseum Map Location' option may cause the display of both the sites and the special events for a city in a screen to appear as in FIG. 20, with a map showing the single list, or, in another embodiment, the Software may be set Colosseum centered in the screen, and with the Surrounding up to present a separate list of sites and a separate list of streets also being depicted. The invention may include a events. A list of the events for the city of Venice may appear as series of maps specifically tailored for certain functions, or it in FIG. 24. Many of the events may occur only at a particular US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
time of year, which may be so indicated. Where applicable, 0156 Selecting the “Wi-Fi Connect: On-line Reserva information for ticketing may be supplied, as for the Venice tion' option in FIG. 28 may allow the user to access the Delta Performing Art Theater Teatro La Fenice. The software Airlines web page in a separate screen, and make a reserva may also, at Such a point in the planning, Supply an option to tion to depart on Delta's flight 8122 on Jul. 1, 2010 from JFK go online to find show schedules and ticket availability for a Airport at 5:05 pm, to arrive at FCO Airport in Rome at 7:45 particular event. The “WiFi connect: on-line Reservation a.m. on the morning of July 2. The flight is 8 hours and 35 option may be set up to automatically find the internet web minutes, and most people sleep on Such trans-European page for the appropriate venue Teatro La Fenice—which is flights so that upon arrival, they begin their touring. This www.teatrolafenice.it. Alternatively, the user may decide to would permit the three itinerary days in Rome, Liguria, and merely add the event to the itinerary, and try to acquire tickets Venice, respectively, to occur on the 2", 3", and 4" of July, at a later time, possibly upon arriving in-country. Choosing to with a departure on July 5, from Milan, on Delta Flight 4122 add Teatro La Fenice to the itinerary would result in the that leaves Milan's MCO Airport at 10:05 and arrives at JFK central information region 24 appearing as it does in FIG. 25. in N.Y. at 7:40 p.m. All of this flight information, when 0153. A person planning a trip may decide at some later obtained as described, may automatically appear in the itin point in time to change the order of the itinerary, perhaps after erary sequence as shown in FIG. 29. If a reservation is acquiring airfare, and perhaps even once more thereafter obtained from a travel agent or by the user calling the airlines because of other considerations, such as ticket availability at directly, the information for that reservation may also be Teatro La Fenice. This re-ordering of the itinerary may be entered into the itinerary, for quick and convenient future available once the itinerary planning has proceeded to a cer reference by the traveler to alleviate the need to carry a paper tain point, such as where there are two or more stops, and it airline ticket. The information may be entered manually using may also be available at a later time after having completed the “Key in Reserv. Info. from Travel Agent” option in FIG. the itinerary by using the “Alter itinerary” button33, either of 28. which may cause the displaying of the options shown in FIG. (O157. In FIG. 29, with the city of Rome being highlighted, 25. These options allow for further planning and manipula selection of the “Find Hotels in Rome' option may cause the tion of the current itinerary. Note that use of the Alter Itinerary display of FIG. 30, which presents possible options for find button 33 would first require selection of an itinerary to be ing lodging in Rome according to certain attributes. Such modified from among a list of saved itineraries. attributes may include hotels listed according to standardized 0154 With the city of Venice being selected, the user may, hotel ratings, or by hotel location, hotel price, by consumer among other things, delete certain of the site options already recommendation, by particular amenities, or by being known chosen for Venice, or delete the city of Venice entirely from as a child friendly establishment, etc. Naturally, this is a the itinerary, or may rearrange the time in which it is to be non-exhaustive list of the possible templates for choosing a visited relative to the other tour stops in the itinerary. Selec hotel. If the user decided to search for a Rome hotel by tion of “Move Venice Leg in Itinerary” results in the display location, because of a desire to be lodged near ancient Rome, of FIG. 26, in which two options permit rearrangement of the tabbing down to highlight the “Find by Rome Area Location itinerary order—either allowing it to be moved earlier or choice may reveal choices according to the distinct areas of moved later in the itinerary sequence. Selection of “Move Rome, such as the Colosseum, Monti, Navona, etc. Tabbing Venice Leg Later in Itinerary” and hitting the enter button down further to highlight and select the Navona area, would may move the Venice stop to occupy one slot Subsequent in cause the algorithm to search the database of travel informa the itinerary list to where it had previously been. Successively tion for hotels in the Navona area of Rome, and cause the pressing of the enter button may make additional moves far display as seen in FIG. 31. ther back in the itinerary list. Pressing enter once would move 0158. The list could be great or small, and could grow as the Venice leg to be last in the list, as seen in FIG. 27. hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns sought to gain 0155. A user may consider the three-stop trip to Italy, exposure by being listed therein. Each of the listed lodging including Rome, Liguria (Manarola) and Venice, to be a com choices may preferably include a description of the hotel's plete itinerary, at least as far as city/regional choices are features and character. Highlighting of the Imperium Suite concerned, and may prefer to check on airfare availability Navona as the hotel choice may be accompanied by options to before customizing the itinerary any further. The highlighting select the accommodation or to see its location on a map. of Rome, and selecting of the “Find Transportation to Rome' Choosing the “View Hotel Map Location' may cause the option, because it is the first leg of the itinerary, may cause the display of FIG. 32, which shows a map of the Navona area, display of FIG. 28, in which airlines known to fly into Italy along with indication thereon of the location of the Imperium will be listed, along with respective information needed for Suite Navona. Selecting the “Choose Imperium Suite making reservations with one of the carriers. The list may Navona' option may cause the display of FIG. 33, which preferably note the cities in Italy which that airline flies into, includes a picture of the selected hotel, and relevant informa as well as the U.S. departure city or cities. A person living in tion to obtain a reservation at that hotel. New York may choose to highlight Delta Airlines, since Delta 0159. As with other reservation-specific steps of the itin flies direct from New York to Rome, and between N.Y. and erary planning within the device, an option may be provided Milan as well, which would be convenient for the return leg, to directly access the hotel's web-page to try to obtain a as Milan is close to the currently planned final tour stop in reservation corresponding to the first day in Rome—Jul. 2, Venice. A diligent user may thus be able to plan the entire 2010. Selection of the “Wi-fi Connect: Online Reservation itinerary without the assistance of a travel agent, but certainly, option may permit the user to access the Imperium Suite a person could simply employ a travel agent make the reser Navona web page to make the reservation, the information for Vation, and thereafter the person could plan the itinerary to which may also appear in the itinerary list, as shown in FIG. stay within the bounds of the arrival and departure times/ 34. It may be preferable to display all or only some of the dates. reservation information in the itinerary list, and the user may US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
be able to establish those display requirements in a preference more site visits within the city of Rome itself, but may also settings screen. It may also be preferable to show the airline include visits to sites that are nearby, but outside of Rome arrival information and initial accommodation information in itself. With Rome being highlighted, selection of the Add a numbering sequence beginning with Zero ("0") and double Side Trip from Rome' option may cause the display of FIG. Zero ("00") so that each number for the listing of stops also 41, in which sites that are proximate to Rome may be listed, corresponds to the itinerary day. Lastly, selection of the “Find and may preferably be listed according to their distance from Hotels in Rome' option may additionally or alternatively Rome, with inclusion of Such distances within the listing. present the option ofusing an existing hotel reservation site to Highlighting of the city of Pompeii may cause a representa search for lodging, such as www.italytraveler.com. tive photograph to appear. The user may elect to receive more 0160 Tabbing down in the itinerary list of FIG.34, to each information about Pompeii photos, maps, or a descrip of the other stops may similarly permit selection of transpor tion—or may simply decide to select the “Add Side Trip” tation to that stop, but transportation may also be chosen at a option, resulting in the itinerary list of FIG. 42, which may later date, even when in Italy, using an itinerary planning then be saved for later use. In addition, there may bean option option that will be discussed later. However, arranging trans to print out a copy of the saved itinerary. The printed copy of portation for the arrival and departure dates may be critical for the itinerary may serve as a back-up in case a traveler's most people, and tabbing down to the departure flight from portable computing device, running the Software herein, is Milan, in FIG. 34, may trigger the appearance of the “Find damaged, stolen, or lost during the trip. The printed copy may Transportation: Venice to Milan Airport” option. Selection of also be conveniently given to family members not traveling that option may cause the display of possible transportation abroad, to allow them to track the travelers progress and the options on the screen in FIG. 35, which include, but not be expected return date/time. limited to, transportation by train, bus, rental car, and taxicab. 0163. Once arriving at the destination, the user may power In certain cases, there may also be an option to catch a con up the device, and select the Use Itinerary button 42, as seen necting flight between cities. If a traveler had initially chosen in FIG. 43, which may cause the display of all saved itiner to rent a car in Rome, then this step may not be necessary. aries to permit selection therefrom. Presuming that the three However, to be exemplary, the user may have taken public day Itinerary #1 with the airline reservations was the intended transportation throughout the trip, and may therefore choose itinerary for use on the trip, the user would highlight Itinerary here to highlight the “Train choice, and select the “Explore #1, and select the “Execute Itinerary' option. This would Train Transportation: Venice to Milan Airport” option, which cause the itinerary to be displayed, as in FIG. 44, the same as would cause display of the national railway map and related it had finally appeared in FIG.34, but with a different options/ information shown in FIG. 36. There are two Italian web-sites directions list 25 being offered. In one embodiment, the itin shown (www.trenitalia.com and www.ferroviedellostato.it/). erary could be customized to include times of the day at which with each being translatable into English for obtaining sched the traveler may spend viewing particular stops, and the sys ules and tickets for travel on the Italian national railway tem may also provide alarm prompts to give the traveler system. As with other reservation-specific steps of the current notice of when one site visit is to end, and movement towards invention, the reservation information thereby obtained may another site is to begin. be displayed in the itinerary list. 0164. As seen in FIG. 44, an option may be offered to find 0161. Once Itinerary #1 has been saved, later toggling of transportation to an itinerary leg, once a leg is highlighted, the Plan Itinerary button 32, may cause the display of the and it may also offer to give walking directions or other screen in FIG.37, which closely resembles the screen of FIG. guidance to a site. The directions may be a rote recitation of 2, except that the first option now shown permits the user to steps necessary to progress from place to place, or it may clone and modify a saved itinerary. This may be beneficial for alternatively comprise active guidance through the use of a a user who is uncertain about some of their choices, and may GPS receiver. A GPS receiver may be attached to the device desire to plan alternate itineraries, or may wish to anticipate using a cable, or may preferably be integrally included in a both good and bad weather upon arrival with corresponding specially designed mobile device running the Software of this itineraries, or may want to be prepared for the possibility that invention. they will be in-country for more time than anticipated— 0.165 Another option may be to offer access to internet particularly for a business traveler—and prefers to already web-sites for the Rome sites to be visited, to assist in provid have that extra time carefully planned and utilized. The trav ing current information to the traveler. There are many pos eler many want to have alternate itineraries prepared for many sible forms of further assistance that may be provided to the other possible reasons. Highlighting “Copy and Modify traveler, some of which will be discussed in the following Existing Itinerary' and selecting that option produces the sections. screen shown in FIG.38, which is a list of all saveditineraries. 0166 One possible means of providing further assistance Highlighting Itinerary #1 (Rome, Liguria, Venice), which may be in the form of the “Italy Maps' button 43. Toggling of currently is the only saved itinerary, and selecting the “Copy the Italy Maps button 43 may cause the display of FIG. 45, in Itinerary' option, may create an Itinerary #2 exactly the same which a complete map of Italy is displayed. It should be as Itinerary #1, however, as seen in FIG. 39, it may be without pointed out that the Italy Maps button 43, and both of the the airline reservation or other specially reserved/ticketed planning buttons—the Plan Itinerary button 32 and the Alter events or accommodations. Itinerary button 33—may have colored background shading 0162 The user may wish to create an itinerary solely for on the button, which may serve as a visual indication/re another, more comprehensive visit to Rome, and thus may minder for the user that the Italy Maps button 43 may be highlight the Venice leg, and select the “Delete City/Region' toggled any anytime that it is needed—during a planning option, to remove the Venice leg of the itinerary. The same stage or a touring stage—to provide a map image upon the may be done for the Liguria leg to result in the itinerary list of screen for navigation purposes. The Italy Maps button 43 may FIG. 40. A more comprehensive trip to Rome may include Subsequently be toggled a second time to thereby remove the US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
map image from the Screen, once the user is ready to return to store nearest to the user's present location, or to find a drug the itinerary display that had previously been in use. This may store in another city that the user will be traveling to next. be advantageous because, although the software often pro Selecting the choice of “From Current Location Venice' vides the option of viewing a corresponding map image dur may operate in conjunction with a GPS receiver to list the ing planning steps, a person planning the itinerary may want nearest drug store (FIG. 49), and any related information, and to think ahead by looking at a map, which need not have to be to possibly provide a map with directions to the store. an additional paper map, and should more conveniently be an 0171 Additional assistance to the traveler may also be electronic map of Italy stored within the information data provided by the “LANGUAGE Translate Phrase” button 36, base. which may produce the screen image of FIG. 50. The first 0167. The map image's first appearance in the screen of option therein may permit the user to type in a word or a FIG. 45 may be full size, to be functional for both the planning phrase that the user is trying to express to a foreign national at and the execution of the itinerary. To more quickly aid the user the destination country. Although many Italians also speak who may be lost and is seeking a quick map reference, the English, this feature may nonetheless be invaluable at certain software may be constructed to allow the traveler to hit the times, and at certain other destination countries. Typing in the enter key to have the map instantly scroll to the users current phrase, “How much is it, yields the result shown in FIG.51, location in Italy, and simultaneously be scaled up to permit where both the English phrase and the Italian translation are recognition of street-level data, which would naturally be listed next to each other, along with a phonetic aid for proper dependent upon its communication with a GPS receiver. pronunciation. That same page may still be utilized to key in Alternatively, the map initially returned by the Italy Map additional phrases for translation, or alternatively, highlight button 43 may preferably be full size when in a planning ing the choice “View List of Common Italian Phrases yields stage, and Zoomed in on a current location when in a touring the screen of FIG. 52. The phrases therein may be ordered stage during execution of the itinerary. GPS communications alphabetically or according to their frequency of usage, and in relation to the map may occur according to the National possibly with a screen option to view them according to either Marine Electronic Association Standards, NMEA 0183 and ordering scheme. NMEA 2000, the disclosures of each are incorporated herein 0172. There may also be a “Pronounce the Phrase' option, by reference. It is also possible to not incorporate the GPS which may use a sound generator/speaker 13 to enunciate the receiver into the device utilizing the software herein, and phrase to either coach the traveler so that the traveler may be simply provide a moveable electronic map that may nonethe able to correctly say it to the foreign speaking native, or so that less be able to aptly substitute for a folded paper map. the traveler may simply toggle the option to have the travel 0168 As seen in FIG. 45, there may be many different planner/guide speak the phrase to the person. There may also ways to manipulate the map. For example, the arrow keys be, within the processor of the device, one or more voice may be toggled to shift the map so as to be centered on certain recognition algorithms, including a Hidden Markov Model, other locations. Also the scale button 47 may be depressed in so that a complex response made in the foreign language by combination with the arrow up or arrow down keys to alter the the foreign national, may be received by microphone 15 (FIG. map scale. There may alternatively be separate mechanical 1) and interpreted into the traveler's language through use of buttons—one being a “scale up' button and one being a “scale the algorithms. (See, “A Revealing Introduction to Hidden down” button, or there may be touch-screen buttons that Markov Models” by Mark Stamp, available at http://www.cs. permit tapping thereon in order to scale up or scale down the sisu.edu/faculty/stamp/RUA/HMM.pdf; and A Tutorial on map image. Lastly, the translation and Scaling of the map may Hidden Markov Models and Selected Applications in Speech be by the user's finger contacting the touch-screen with them Recognition.” by L. Rabiner, IEEE 77(2):257-286, available expanding outward to Scale up the map or moving together to at http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~-murphyk/Software/HMM/rabiner. scale down the map image—a function that is currently avail pdf., the disclosures of each being incorporated herein by able on many digital devices, such as the Apple iPhone and reference) Therefore, below the “Pronounce the Phrase” iPad. option in FIG. 52, may be an option to “Pronounce and 0169. Another possible means of providing assistance to Interpret the Response.” The interpreted response may be the traveler while at the destination may be the “Find' button translated into the traveler's language and be vocalized using 45. Depressing the Find button 45 may produce the screen the speaker/sound generator 13, or be translated into text that image of FIG. 46, which permits a search for certain country appears in the central information region 24 of graphical specific information. The options shown in FIG. 46 are display screen 20. merely meant to be exemplary, and definitely do not consti (0173 Another beneficial aid to the traveler, to enhance tute an exhaustive list of the possible options. An example of their experience while on vacation, may be the inclusion, use of the Find button 45 may involve a user searching for within the database of travel related information, of audio or general information about the city of Venice. The user may Video tours of each of the sites that may be visited. Toggling key in “VENCE, in the “Search City Info Key City Name: the “AUDIO TOUR/ITALY History” button 38 may yield the choice, which may produce the screen of informa screen of FIG. 53. There may be several options for audio tion illustrated in FIG. 47. tours because different users may wish to experience the site 0170 The user may also be seeking certain specific retail in different ways. One visitor may wish to listen to the tour stores or services that would be conveniently available at while en route to the site, which may require use of choice home, but may require assistance to locate while touring in number three, Audio Tour from All-Italy List of Sites.” Italy. So selection of the “Return to FIND Choices' option Another traveler may be walking randomly in relation to the may permit the user, as seen in FIG. 48, to toggle down to the planned itinerary and discovers a site not chosen previously, seventh choice in order to find a drug store. The highlighting but becomes interested and decides to learn more about it by of “Drug Stores' may automatically cause the addition of selecting choice number two, “Audio Tour for Present Loca other logical choices—those possibly being to find the drug tion.” which may require use of a GPS. However, many US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
people may prefer to have an experienced guide explaining focus on the stops in going from the Colosseum to the Vatican. the significance and features of a site while they are actually Each stop may be distinctly denoted by a circular bubble, and viewing the site, making the first choice, Audio Tour of the beginning stop, the end stop, and any stop at which a Itinerary Leg' a valuable feature, the selection of which change in train line must occur, may be designated by a larger results in the screen of FIG. 54. circular bubble, or other symbol that may alert the traveler. 0.174. The audio tours may preferably be offered in differ There may also be textual directions, as seen at the bottom of ent pre-recorded lengths of time for the presentation, and/or the screen in FIG. 60, to reinforce the steps necessary for the in incrementally distinct intellectual levels, to accommodate user to take, namely being, in this case, to take the Metro Line various travelers. The interest level of children may be very B North two stops to Termini Station; and then to take the different than for travelers having only a modest interest, Metro Line A west seven stops to the Cipro Musei Vaticani although both may be for about the same length, perhaps station. being only 30 minutes long for the entire Colosseum. Each 0179 Another feature to enhance the travel experience, audio tour—a child's tour, a casual interest tour, a moderate for a person using this software on a mobile computing avidly interested tourist, and the historian's audio tour—may device, is the “En Route Detour button 44, which yields the be constructed to be suited for the respective level of interest/ screen of FIG. 61. This screenlets a user, who finds extra time learning. For the person having great archeological interest in left at the end of the day, or was perhaps disinterested in the Colosseum, selection of the “Historian's Audio Tour: 90 remaining very long at one of the planned sites, to search the Minute Audio Tour choice may be appropriate, and may database to quickly ascertain what other sites of interest may yield the tour represented by FIG.55. The actual text of the be in close proximity to his/her current location, or in close audio tour may appear on Screen, along with graphical illus proximity to other legs of the itinerary. Selecting the “From trations to help the user to recognize the features being spoken Current Location—Colosseum' choice yields the screen of about. The screen may also indicate the time remaining for the FIG. 62, which may be broadly arranged to include lists of tour, in case a listener becomes concerned about making it to nearby eateries, and shopping centers, as well as tourist sites the next site in the itinerary, and wonders how much time of interest. Highlighting the “Most Nearby Popular Tourist remains in the audio tour. The device may preferably include Sites' choice produces a list, which may include the site's a headphone jack 16 (FIG. 1) to provide for silent listening, distance away from a user's current location. This list may and the device may also preferably transmit the audio tour on also include, particularly in Europe, sites for visiting a neigh various radio frequencies so that an entire family of travelers boring country, which is often very close by. For example, it could listen using individual wireless headphone sets. In one is only about 18 miles or a forty-five minute train ride from embodiment, the device may transmit the audio tour wire Ventimiglia on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, to Nice, France, lessly to personal area networks, using, for example, Blue which is on the French Riviera. Highlighting the “Piazza tooth wireless technology, which may permit transmission of Fontana di Trevi' choice with the “Get Directions/Transpor the audio tour to up to seven mobile phone headsets. tation' option yields the screen of FIG. 63, which may be the (0175. The Audio Tour/Italy History button 38 may also, as same Rome metro train map of FIG. 60, but now showing a seen in FIG. 53, provide historical information about the large bubble for the Fontana di Trevi stop, and with textual country, which may be offered for a particular itinerary leg, directions for how to get to that stop, as well as for how to for a user's current location, or in relation to any aspect of the continue on with the itinerary. There may also be an option to entire country by searching the entire database request walking directions if the distance is not great, because 0176 Another useful feature for the traveler may be found the user may be more inclined to walk short distances. in the “Italy Phone Directory” button 37, which, when 0180. The software may preferably have communications depressed, may produce the screen of FIG. 56. The user may ability whereby one user having a mobile computing device therein search for a person or business, according to a white running the Software herein, may communicate with another pages search or a yellow pages search, by keying in a name. user having a second mobile computing device that is also Much of the commercial information accessed in this manner running this software. This may be advantageous for groups from the yellow page listings may also be found by using the of travelers, such as several college students traveling about FIND button 45, which was previously described. different parts of a country, or a family that decides to split up (0177. The “Transportation Routes/Schedules' button 39 to explore different parts of a city or region on one day or for may also provide the user with information to better navigate several days, but did not elect to acquire international phone between tour stops, or across a city or a region of Italy, service for the trip, which is available from most U.S. cell whereby depressing of the button may result in the display of phone service providers. It may also be valuable even where FIG. 57. There may be many possible choices therein, and so a family may have provided certain members with interna to be exemplary, two of them will be discussed. Highlighting tional phone service, but have concerns about Such indepen the “ROME Metropolitano” choice and selecting the “View dent travel in a foreign nation, and wish to have additional Transportation Details’ option yields an electronic version of means of monitoring the travel progress of their companions. the map for Rome's metropolitan-area train, as seen in FIG. E-mail communication would be helpful, but is not instanta 58. This map may be manipulated the same as the maps neous. However, the software running on a custom or pre described in the discussion of the Italy Maps button 43. View ferred mobile computing device may preferably provide two ing the entire Rome Metro map may assist the viewer in additional different types of communication. planning some in-country changes to the itinerary. 0181 Unique addresses for each of two devices running 0.178 For the user following his or her planned itinerary, this software may be exchanged and permit the two devices to selecting, from FIG. 59, the choice based on the current communicate exclusively therebetween, to communicate itinerary, going from the current location to the next itinerary either an itinerary or a GPS positional location. FIG. 64 leg, “Colosseum Vatican City.” may result in the screen of illustrates one possible screen to exchange addresses for a FIG. 60, which has enlarged the Rome Metro train map to mobile computing unit prior to travel, under the “Link/Trans US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
mit Itinerary” button 40. The screen may include the option to which may utilize the 18650 battery. The 18650 lithium-ion enter a person's name, rather than simply the electronic battery is cylindrical in shape, having a diameter of 18 mm address. FIGS. 65 and 66 illustrate screens for transmitting, to (0.7inches) and a length of 65 mm (2.6 inches), and may have "Gina, who possesses a second linked travel planner (see a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts, and is favored for use in mobile also FIG.72), one of the stored itineraries, which may include computing and other electronic applications. any last minute itinerary detours added using the En Route 0185. Lastly, FIG.71 illustrates the software of the present Detour function button 44. FIG. 67 illustrates a screen to invention running on a touch screen mobile computing make use of the “GPS LOCATE Family Member” button 41, device, where each of the buttons may be actuated by touch and shows selection of “all linked travel guides,” which ing its digital appearance on the touch screen, rather than by enables the user of the shown device to check upon the travel depressing mechanical buttons. Such an example may be the progress of one or more linked travel planner/guides. The case where the Software is running on a device Such as the Software may either continuously broadcast, or routinely apple iPad. In such cases, the software may be available by a broadcast a travel planner's location throughout the course of disc or by an internet download, and individual country a day, along with a time-date stamp for the location transmis specific information for the planner for various different Sion, in order to provide assurance of a traveling companion's nations or geographic Subdivisions may similarly be available or a child's separate progress along a planned itinerary. by disc, by download, by a USB memory device, or some 0182. The software may be adapted to transmit GPS com other form of computer memory. munications according to NMEA 0183 from unit to unit 0186 The travel planner/guide software, in accordance according to many different means, some of which are dis with one embodiment of the present invention, may run on an closed in currently unexpired patents, while other methods exemplary computer system 200, which is shown schemati are in the public domain, such as the Open Device Monitoring cally in FIG. 72, and which may comprise a mobile comput and Tracking Protocol, or as trademarked, OpenDMTPTM, ing unit 201 interacting with external peripherals. A complete which is a protocol permitting bi-directional data communi exemplary computer system will be described for an under cations between servers and devices over the internet, with standing of how the software may interact with and on mobile emphasis on location-based information such as GPS. computing unit 201, even though an embodiment involving OpenDMTP is an open source protocol, the disclosures of usage of the Software may not require each of the computer which may be found at http://www.opendmtp.org/ or avail components so described. able therefrom, and which are incorporated herein by refer 0187. A mobile computing unit 201 may include a data bus ence. The dependency upon internet service may be limiting, 202 or other communication mechanism for communicating and as such, the device may also broadcast the location infor information across and among various parts of mobile com mation by other means, such as by simple radio transmis puting unit 201, and a central processing unit (“processor or sions, or according to a radio frequency protocol. Such as CPU) 203 coupled with a bus 202 for processing information Interim Standard 136 (IS-136), which is a specific Time Divi and performing other computational and control tasks. sion Multiple Access (TDMA) based radio frequency (RF) Mobile computing unit 201 may also include a volatile stor standard. The transmission may also be according to a mobile age medium 206. Such as a random access memory (RAM) or networking protocol, such as one of the following: the Global other dynamic storage medium or device, coupled to bus 202 System for Mobility (GSM) networks, which had been for storing various information as well as instructions to be deployed in Europe and elsewhere in the world, and uses a executed by processor 203. The RAM may be Dynamic Ran protocol known as the GSM Mobile Application Part (MAP) dom. Access Memory (DRAM), or Static RAM (SRAM), or that is promulgated by the European Telecommunications any other similar type of RAM known in the art. The volatile Standards Institute (ETSI); or the American Code Division storage 206 also may be used for storing temporary variables Multiple Access standards—the CDMA2000 networks, or other intermediate information during execution of pro which uses the ANSI-41 protocol promulgated by the Tele gram instructions by processor 203. Mobile computing unit communications Industry Association (TIA) and American 201 may further include a read only memory (ROM) or an Standards Institute (ANSI). erasable programmable memory (EPROM) 208 or other 0183 Choosing, in FIG. 67, “All Linked Travel Guides.” static storage device coupled to bus 202 for storing informa may cause a map display, as illustrated in FIG. 68, which may tion and instructions for processor 203. Such as a basic input identify the location of the user's position (his/her travel output system (BIOS), as well as various system configura planner) as well as the positional location for Gina's travel tion parameters. A persistent storage device or non-volatile planner and for Chris's travel planner. memory 207. Such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or Solid 0184 FIG. 69 illustrates a smaller travel planner unit, and state flash memory device may be provided and coupled to one being without all of the functionality previously dis bus 202 for storing information and instructions. closed, as it may be without the country-specific information 0188 Mobile computing unit 201 may be coupled via bus offered by the Language button36, the Italy Phone Directory 202 to a viewing screen, which may be a touch screen display button 37, and the Audio Tour/Italy History button 38, and it 204. Such as a plasma display, or a liquid crystal display may also be without the “family communication' offered by (LCD), for displaying information to a user of the mobile the Link/Transmit Itinerary button 40, and the GPS Locate computing unit 201. If desired, the mobile computing unit Family Member button 41. FIG.70 shows the back side of the 201 may also be coupled via bus 202 to an external display device of FIG. 69, which may include a raised map of the screen 210, which may further comprise a cathode ray tube destination country for quick reference, as well as a camera (CRT). An external input device 211 may include a keyboard lens 50, as a digital camera may be conveniently incorporated with alphanumeric and other keys, and may also be coupled to into the custom device, which may be actuated using the bus 202 for communicating information and command selec “Photo’ button 48 (FIG. 1). The custom device may also be tions to processor 203. A pointing device 212 for cursor battery powered by a rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Pack, control. Such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
for communicating direction information and command the instructions. The instructions received by the volatile selections to processor 203 and for controlling cursor move memory 206 may optionally be stored on the non-volatile ment on display 204, may be connected to the mobile com storage device 207 either before or after execution by proces puting unit 201, if desired. Also, a cursor control device may sor 203. The instructions may also be downloaded into the also be utilized for the PC 220, which may also run the mobile computing unit 201 via the Internet 230 using a vari Software, and which may exchange information with the ety of network data communication protocols well known in mobile computing unit 201 using the internet, of through a the art. transfer such as with a USB flash drive. The use of a mobile 0193 The mobile computing unit 201 may also include a computing unit 201 with touch-screen capabilities may elimi communication interface 205, such as network interface card nate the need for cursor control, particularly while utilizing coupled to the data bus 202. Communication interface 205 the software during execution of the travel itinerary at the may provide a two-way data communication coupling to a destination. However, it may be preferable for some users to network link that may be connected to a local network or to utilize such devices while at home during the itinerary plan the internet. For example, communication interface 205 may ning stage of Software utilization. Where a touch screen is be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a utilized, a stylus 60 may also serve for cursor control. modem to provide a data communication connection to a 0189 According to one embodiment of the invention, the corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, techniques described herein are performed by mobile com communication interface 205 may be a local area network puting unit 201 in response to processor 203 executing one or interface card (LAN NIC) to provide a data communication more sequences of one or more instructions contained in the connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links, such as volatile memory 206. Such instructions may be read into well-known 802.11a, 802.11b. 802.11g and Bluetooth may volatile memory 206 from another computer-readable also used for network implementation. In any such imple medium, such as the non-volatile memory device 207. Execu mentation, communication interface 205 sends and receives tion of the sequences of instructions contained in the Volatile electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digi memory 206 may cause processor 203 to perform the process tal data streams representing various types of information. steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard 0194 Communication interface 205 may provide a con wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with nection through a local network to a personal computer 230, Software instructions to implement the invention. Thus, or the mobile computing unit 201 may connect directly to the embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific personal computer 230. The mobile computing unit 201 can combination of hardware circuitry and software. access resources located anywhere on the Internet 230. The 0190. The term “computer-readable medium' or “pro mobile computing unit 201 may also be accessed by others, gram storage medium' as used herein may refer to any with permission, who are located anywhere on the local area medium that participates in providing instructions to proces network and/or the Internet 230. The other users may them sor 203 for execution. The computer-readable medium is just selves be operating a similar mobile computing unit 201A, one example of a machine-readable medium, which may which may be linked thereto. carry instructions for implementing any of the methods and/ 0.195 The mobile computing unit 201 may also use elec or techniques described herein. Such a medium may take trical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, streams, outside of transmission through the internet 230. The Volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media signals which carry the digital data to and from mobile com includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as puting unit 201 are exemplary forms of carrier waves trans storage device 207. Volatile media includes dynamic porting the information. memory. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper 0.196 Mobile computing unit 201 may be able to send wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise data messages and receive data, including program code and posi bus 202. Transmission media can also take the form of acous tional locations derived from the use of a GPS receiver 213. tic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave The GPS receiver may be integral to mobile computing unit and infra-red data communications. 201 or may be a peripheral to which the mobile computing 0191 Common forms of computer-readable media unit 201 is connected. The message may be sent through the include, for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, variety of network(s) including the Internet 230. In the Inter magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium; a CD-ROM, net example, when the mobile computing unit 201 may act as any other optical medium; punch cards, paper tape, any other a network server, it might transmit a requested code or data for physical medium with patterns of holes; a RAM, a PROM, an an application program running on PC 220 through the Inter EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, a flash drive, a memory card, or net 230, and communication interface 205. Similarly, it may any other memory chip or cartridge; a carrier wave as receive code from other network resources. described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a 0197) The received code may be executed by processor computer can read. 203 as it is received, and/or stored in non-volatile or volatile 0.192 Various forms of computer readable media may be storage devices 207 and 206, respectively, or other non-vola involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more tile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer instructions to processor 203 for execution. For example, the system 200 may obtain application code in the form of a instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk from carrier wave. a remote computer. Alternatively, a remote computer can load 0198 The present invention is not limited to any specific the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the types of wireless or wired network protocols. A network instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem configuration may be achieved using a variety of known local to computer system 200 can receive the data on the networking protocols. telephone line. The bus 202 may carry the data to the volatile 0199 The examples and descriptions provided merely storage 206, from which processor 203 retrieves and executes illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011
Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present kingdom, a principality, a republic, a district, an island, a disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be quarter, a region, a section, a sector, a colony, a territory, a implemented with various changes within the scope of the commonwealth, an empire, a dominion, an enclave, an out present invention. Other modifications, Substitutions, omis land, a union, a body, a sovereignty, a federation, a tract, a sions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials square, a precinct, a neighborhood, a parcel, and a patch; and used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly wherein said destination is selectable from one or more of: sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and a list of one or more of said geographical Subdivisions; members of the preferred embodiment without departing and a map of one or more of said geographical Subdivi from the spirit of this invention. sions displayed on said viewing screen. I claim: 5. The article of manufacture of claim 4, wherein said 1. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage selective planning comprises customizing said itinerary tem medium having computer readable code embodied therein, plate by creating a customized sequence of sites to be visited said computer readable code being configured for planning of at each of said one or more geographical Sub-divisions. a travel itinerary, said article of manufacture comprising: 6. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said sites a non-volatile memory, said non-volatile memory storing of said customized sequence of sites are selected from a list of at least a database of travel information relating to a sites in said database of travel information. destination; 7. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said sites a viewing screen; and of said customized sequence of sites are selected from said a processor for running said computer readable code, said library of photographs, said library of site photographs being computer readable code comprising an algorithm per stored in said database of travel information. mitting selective planning of said travel itinerary, said 8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein each of Selective planning comprising selection of one or more said sites of said customized sequence of sites comprises one customizable itinerary templates, said computer read or more of a place; a structure; and an event; and wherein said able code permitting said selective planning to be site photograph of said library is displayable beside said site retrievably stored within said non-volatile memory. within said sequential list of sites in said itinerary; and 2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said wherein said selective planning further comprises a narrated algorithm is adapted to provide interactive guidance during slide show including a plurality of site photographs for said execution of said customized travel itinerary at said destina destination, each of said photographs of said slide show being tion. selectable for said itinerary. 3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein said 9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein said itinerary templates comprise: a pre-planned itinerary tem algorithm provides internet access at a reservation-specific plate based upon a duration of said itinerary, a total number of planning step to acquire an on-line reservation and associated cities to be visited, an arrival city and a departure city, and one information, said reservation information being displayable of among a plurality of graduated levels of a tour schedule within said sequential list of said itinerary; and wherein said intensity; a photo library template; an itinerary template com reservation-specific planning step comprises one or more of prising selection of regions of said destination; an itinerary making a hotel reservation; making an airline reservation; template comprising selection of cities of said destination; an making a rental car reservation; making a train reservation; itinerary template comprising selection of child friendly sites making a bus reservation; and making an event reservation. of said destination; an itinerary template comprising selection 10. The article of manufacture of claim 9, wherein said of arts and architectural sites of said destination; an itinerary interactive guidance during execution of said customized itin template comprising selection of vineyards of said destina erary at said travel destination comprises one or more of tion; an itinerary template comprising selection of sites display of said customized itinerary; on-demand display of a according to public transportation routes at said destination; Scalable map region for one or more sites of said customized an itinerary template comprising selection of shopping sites sequence of sites to be visited; directions to at least a next one of said destination; an itinerary template comprising selection of said customized sequence of sites to be visited; on-demand of museums of said destination; an itinerary template com display of public transportation schedules and route maps; prising selection of art galleries of said destination; an itiner and said algorithm providing a detour option that identifies ary template comprising selection of theaters at said destina alternative nearby sites to visit relative to one or more of said tion; an itinerary template comprising selection of historical customized sequence of sites of said planned itinerary. sites of said destination; an itinerary template comprising 11. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein said selection of religious sites of said destination; an itinerary article further comprises a pre-recorded audio tour stored in template comprising selection of Scenic views of said desti said memory, said pre-recorded audio tour being for one or nation; an itinerary template comprising selection of resi more of said sites of said sequential itinerary, said pre-re dences and grave sites of famous people of said destination; corded audio tour being available in one or more of incre an itinerary template comprising selection of night life of said mentally distinct lengths of time, and incrementally distinct destination; an itinerary template comprising selection of intellectual levels; said article of manufacture being capable events occurring at said destination; and an itinerary template of wirelessly transmitting said audio tour to one or more comprising selection of sporting activities at said destination. mobile headsets using Bluetooth technology; and wherein 4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein said said database further comprises a searchable database of the destination comprises one or more geographical Subdivi history of said destination. sions, and wherein said geographical Subdivisions comprise: 12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said a hemisphere, a sphere, a continent, a region of a continent, a article further comprises a language database stored in said nation, a country, a region of a country, a province, a state, a memory, said algorithm translating one or more words selec county, a city, a town, a township, a village, a monarchy, a tively entered in to said article using a first language, into the US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011 19 language used at said destination; wherein said article com making a hotel reservation; making an airline reserva prises a sound generator to articulate said translated one or tion; making a rental car reservation; making a train more words; and wherein said article comprises one or more reservation; making a bus reservation; and making an speech recognition algorithms capable of translating a event reservation. response in said language used at said destination into said 18. The method of planning a travel itinerary according to first language. claim 17, wherein said destination comprises one or more 13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein said geographical Subdivisions, said geographical Subdivisions database of said article further comprises a directory for said comprising: a hemisphere, a sphere, a continent, a region of a destination, and wherein said algorithm permits a selective continent, a nation, a country, a region of a country, a prov search of entries in said directory to find information for one ince, a state, a county, a city, a town, a township, a village, a or more of a person, a business, a governmententity, a doctor, monarchy, a kingdom, a principality, a republic, a district, an a dentist, a medical facility, a consulate, and an embassy; and island, a quarter, a region, a section, a sector, a colony, a wherein said article further comprises using a GPS receiver to territory, a commonwealth, an empire, a dominion, an provide directions from a current position to a search result or enclave, an outland, a union, a body, a sovereignty, a federa a site location. tion, a tract, a square, a precinct, a neighborhood, a parcel, or 14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein said a patch; and article may be selectively linked to a second such article of wherein said destination is selectable from one or more of: manufacture out of a plurality of Such articles, and wherein a list of one or more of said one or more geographical said link may permit selective communication exclusively Subdivisions, and a map of one or more of said geo between said article and only said second article; and wherein graphical Subdivisions displayed on said screen. said communication comprises one or more of transmitting 19. The method of planning a travel itinerary according to said customized sequence of sites to be visited of said itiner claim 18, wherein said one or more itinerary templates com ary stored on said article to said second article; and using said prise: a pre-planned itinerary template based upon a duration GPS receiver to transmit a current location of said user of one of said itinerary, a number of cities to be visited, the arrival of said first or second linked articles to the other of said first and departure cities, and a level of tour schedule intensity; a or second linked articles. photo library template; an itinerary template comprising 15. A method of planning a travel itinerary comprising the selection of regions of said destination; an itinerary template steps of: comprising selection of cities of said destination; an itinerary (a) using one or more processors to execute instructions template comprising selection of child friendly sites of said retained in machine-readable media to perform at least destination; an itinerary template comprising selection of arts Some portion of said planning method: and architectural sites of said destination; an itinerary tem (b) storing a database of information about a destination in plate comprising selection of vineyards of said destination; an a non-volatile memory; and itinerary template comprising selection of sites according to (c) said instructions providing access to said database of public transportation routes at said destination; an itinerary travel information, said access permitting selective plan template comprising selection of shopping sites of said des ning, said selective planning comprising selection of one tination; an itinerary template comprising selection of muse or more customizable itinerary templates, said instruc ums of said destination; an itinerary template comprising tions permitting said selective planning to be retrievably selection of art galleries of said destination; an itinerary tem stored within said non-volatile memory. plate comprising selection of theaters at said destination; an 16. The method of planning a travel itinerary according to itinerary template comprising selection of historical sites of claim 15, wherein said instructions further comprise interac said destination; an itinerary template comprising selection of tive guidance during execution of said customized itinerary at religious sites of said destination; an itinerary template com said destination. prising selection of Scenic views of said destination; an itin 17. The method of planning a travel itinerary according to erary template comprising selection of residences and graves claim 16, ites of famous people of said destination; an itinerary wherein each of said one or more itinerary templates is template comprising selection of night life of said destina individually customizable to build a custom list of tour tion; an itinerary template comprising selection of events stops for said travel itinerary, said customized list of tour occurring at said destination; and an itinerary template com stops being storable within said non-volatile memory; prising selection of sporting activities at said destination. wherein said tour stops of said itinerary comprise selec 20. The method of planning a travel itinerary according to tion of said one or more sites to be visited from a list of claim 19, wherein said interactive guidance during execution sites, said list of sites comprising a site name and a of said itinerary at said destination comprises: corresponding photograph; each of said sites compris one or more of display of said itinerary; on-demand dis ing one or more of a place; a structure; and an event; play of a scalable map region for one or more of said sites wherein said selective planning further comprises a nar of said tour stops; directions to at least a next one of said rated slide show of a plurality of site photographs for sites of said tour stops to be visited; on-demand display said destination, each of said photographs of said slide of public transportation schedules and route maps; and a show being selectable for said itinerary; and detour option that identifies alternative nearby sites to wherein said selective planning further comprising internet visit relative to one or more of said sites of said tour stops access at a reservation-specific planning step to acquire of said planned itinerary; an on-line reservation and associated information, said a pre-recorded audio tour stored in said memory, said pre reservation information being displayable within said recorded audio tour being for one or more of said sites of sequential list of said itinerary; wherein said reserva said customized itinerary, said pre-recorded audio tour tion-specific planning step comprises one or more of: being available in one or more of incrementally distinct US 2011/03 01835 A1 Dec. 8, 2011 20
lengths of time, and incrementally distinct intellectual a government entity, a doctor, a dentist, a medical facil levels; said article of manufacture being capable of wire ity, a consulate, and an embassy; and wherein said article lessly transmitting said audio tour to one or more mobile further comprises using a GPS receiver to provide direc headsets using Bluetooth technology; tions from a current position to a search result or a site location; and a searchable history database of said destination; wherein said article may be selectively linked to a second a language database stored in said memory, said algorithm Such article of manufacture out of a plurality of Such translating one or more words selectively entered in to articles, and wherein said link may permit selective said article using a first language, into the language used communication exclusively between said article and at said destination; wherein said article comprises a only said second article; and wherein said communica Sound generator to articulate said translated one or more tion comprises one or more of transmitting said custom words; and wherein said article comprises one or more ized sequence of sites to be visited of said itinerary speech recognition algorithms capable of translating a stored on said article to said second article; and using response in said language used at said destination into said GPS receiver to transmit a current location of said said first language; user of one of said first or second linked articles to the a directory for said destination, and wherein said algorithm other of said first or second linked articles. permits a selective search of entries in said directory to find information for one or more of a person, a business, c c c c c