The Pointing Wireless Device for Delivery of Location Based Applications Pamela Kerwin, John Ellenby and Jeffrey Jay 19.1 Next Generation Wireless Devices Wireless devices stand at a new
Trang 1The Pointing Wireless Device for Delivery of Location Based Applications
Pamela Kerwin, John Ellenby and Jeffrey Jay
19.1 Next Generation Wireless Devices
Wireless devices stand at a new frontier Reduction in the cost and size of powerful proces-sors allow handsets, PDAs and digital cameras to advance from single purpose devices to complete multimedia platforms Broader bandwidth networks allow vastly expanded func-tionality in these devices
This platform is more than a small television or tiny computer It is an entirely new medium with its own limitations and advantages Most importantly it is used in a completely unique way
Exciting opportunities abound for content providers and users of these new devices
19.2 The Platform
Phones have daylight viewable color screens and significant processing power They include technology that allows them to determine exactly where they are They support Internet connectivity, numerous applications, video and music However, since they are pocket devices, they remain small and input to these devices continues to be difficult
The devices put incredible power in a user’s hand The prospect of having immediate access to information and entertainment at any time wherever you may be is truly compelling
19.3 New Multimedia Applications
Certainly we are seeing new applications and content becoming available for these platforms Users can download digital music and play interactive games Enterprise applications, travel programs, video conferencing, movie trailers, etc are all literally in the hand of the user
Copyright q 2002 John Wiley & Sons Ltd ISBNs: 0-471-48643-4 (Hardback); 0-470-84590-2 (Electronic)
Trang 219.4 Location Based Information
The ability to wander about with a position smart and powerful device in one’s hands naturally encourages users to want to get information about the world around them Standard coordinates such as latitude and longitude can index objects in the world Databases exist which contain information about those objects – everything from cost when last sold through restaurant reviews
The powerful, position intelligent mobile device with Internet connectivity can summon information to the user – exactly when he/she is interested in it
For several decades now, we have watched Star Trek crews explore alien universes assisted
by their small tricorders While we are not quite building tricorders yet, we have certainly taken the first step
19.5 Using Devices to Summon Information
Information exists in various databases and on various sites and the device has the ability to present users with images and audio feedback, still the greatest challenge facing the location industry is making it easy for the user to get the information he/she wants
Devices have small screens and keypads that have been designed for nothing more complex than number input Voice command is making progress but an open-ended request for information about unknown objects will not be a reality for many years
How does the user indicate exactly what object or series of objects interests him/her? What is required to create a mass market for location based services is a user interface that
is intuitive and efficient – like the mouse was to the PC and Mosaic/Netscape was to the Internet A simple user interface is essential for consumer acceptance of location based services
19.6 Pointing to the Real World
Minor enhancements can be made to devices that allow the device to be pointed at the object
of interest to summon information about it A consumer-friendly interface to location based services can then be offered Such a method offers a seamless coupling of the real world with relevant information on the Internet or any other existing database The consumer can simply point his phone at an establishment to say: ‘‘Tell me about that!’’ The device also becomes an intuitive navigational platform
The device manufacturer adds a small inexpensive heading sensor (a digital compass) to the device When determining its location, the device also takes a direction reading from the heading sensor
The wireless network forwards that data and service request to an information server The server uses the position and pointing direction data to search its database of geo-coded objects, identify the correct object and link to the appropriate information requested about that object
Trang 3This interface method was designed to meet the unique information needs of mobile individuals as they inquire naturally about their environment Pointing technology signifi-cantly enhances information about the context of the mobile user by providing not only information about the user’s location, but also where his/her attention is focused
19.7 Pointing Greatly Simplifies the User Interface
Direction is the natural complement to position The pointing interface operates as a smart filter for location based services This is an advanced method that considerably simplifies the way users interact with their devices to retrieve information It leverages the natural human gesture of ‘‘pointing,’’ minimizes time-consuming button presses required by current services and allows for targeting of information more effectively than by simple location
Below are two examples of an individual seeking information about restaurants in San Francisco He is walking from his office to the Ferry Building and he wants to eat along the way The example features actual data for restaurants provided by InfoUSA.com In case one the individual searches for restaurants using the position of his phone alone as
a filter He received 1059 objects as a response In the second example the user asks for restaurants only in a particular direction – on his way to the Ferry Now he receives only
56 responses
The search is simpler and the experience is much more friendly The phone has become a virtual mouse, allowing the user to inquire about objects in the real world
by pointing at them and to gain useful information without having to sort through a great deal of irrelevant data
Trang 419.8 Uses of Pointing
People can point their phones to quickly and easily find information about places of interest Businessmen point PDAs to find restaurants between their meeting place and hotel Travelers trust their devices to guide them to points of interest and to automatically annotate the pictures they have just taken with their digital cameras Young people will leave notes for one another and will play location-enhanced games Shoppers will point at stores to indicate that they are willing to receive promotional offers
19.9 Software Architecture
19.9.1 Introduction
The provisioning of pointing-enabled location based services (i.e services rendered based on position and heading (direction) data of wireless devices) requires, in a very general sense, the integration of a wireless device, a wireless network, and a server capable of retrieving information based on the device’s position and heading data
19.9.2 Assumptions
It is assumed that the fundamental function of the service is to retrieve information about real-life (or imaginary) objects (buildings, businesses, natural landmarks, gaming characters or simply, mere points in space) by pointing at them with a wireless device This system was specifically designed for pedestrians
Trang 519.9.3 Overview
The generic service environment for a generic service is depicted below
Generic GeoVector service environment Aspects of this system are patented by and/or are proprietary to GeoVector
When the wireless device is powered up, it must first determine its position data (1) The user indicates that a pointing service is desired (2) and the device transmits the position data and a service request to the wireless network (3) The wireless network forwards that data and service request to an information server (4) The information server uses the position data to search a database of geo-coded objects surrounding the device and prepares an object list according to the service requested (5) The information server then transmits this object list through the wireless network (6) back to the device (7)
The device gathers its position and heading data (8) and uses that data to select a subset of the object list received from the information server If more than one object is selected and if
it is within the nature of the service offered, the user is presented with the opportunity to select
a single object Information about that selected object is displayed by the device (9) The user may request greater detail about the object (10) if that detail is available from the information server That request would take the same path as the initial request for objects (11–15)
It is possible that the information server will need to pull some content from another location to satisfy this (and any subsequent) request In this case, the information server would communicate with some content provider (A) for that information In all likelihood, the content provider would be another server accessed via the Internet, though that is not required
Trang 619.9.4 Alternatives
The preceding assumes that the wireless device has the processing and memory capacity to perform step 8 In the case where such capacity does not exist, the information server (or another server) may perform that task This alternative allows for very ‘‘thin’’ wireless devices to still be used as pointing devices
On the other end of the ‘‘capacity spectrum’’, if the wireless device has sufficiently large enough memory, a large geo-coded database may be stored on the device and updated only when the user has moved a significant distance This alternative reduces the number of wireless transmissions needed to provide service (though the transmission of the geo-coded database can be quite lengthy)
19.10 Use of the DSP in the Pointing System
Use of the DSP in pointing designs will vary depending on the actual DSP/MCU combination within the cell-phone and on the scheduling and duration of other DSP tasks
DSP loading will determine the length of time available for carrying out heading sensing Available time will vary widely depending on the communications protocol, and other para-meters It is assumed that establishing heading takes place while the transmitter is not operating In this discussion it is assumed that time available for heading sensing is antici-pated to be in the region of 20 ms
It is assumed that the DSP controls all functions of the circuit These are:
1 Power on the heading sensing circuit
2 Reset each axis of the heading sensor
3 Take a number of heading readings (number is based on available time)
4 Average the heading readings
5 Power down the circuit
The DSP/MCU can also be used for these functions:
1 To interpret data that monitors user behavior and prepares the device for the next search
2 To compensate for anomalies in position or direction readings
3 To inform the user of reliability of data
4 To monitor user behavior and adapt the device to anticipate user requests
19.11 Pointing Enhanced Location Applications
The natural human gesture of ‘‘pointing,’’ minimizes time-consuming button presses required
by current services and allows for targeting of information more effectively than by simple location The simplicity of this information access methodology allows for mobile content delivery to move beyond the most basic service paradigm of ‘‘push 3608 of surrounding
Trang 7information’’ to a service structure where individuals have far more control over what infor-mation they receive and when they receive it The result for individuals is a far more useful and friendly experience For carriers, content developers and location based service providers this higher relevancy leads to higher probabilities of user actions and transactions This in turn justifies and promotes development of a host of compelling pointing enabled tours, games, community and sponsorship applications that drive value for the wireless user all the way back through service providers to device and component manufacturers
By pointing at an object of interest this tourist has access to both information and purchas-ing opportunities In this example, a book is offered along with payment and delivery options The point of interest can be at some distance from the tourist
19.11.1 Pedestrian Guidance
Because this method is not line-of-sight limited, a user can quickly and easily identify locations around the corner, down the street or half way across the city In addition, a user can refine his search by limiting distance variables or other criteria A unique capability enabled by the device’s knowledge of direction is a highly simplified pedestrian guidance function This feature can generate a simple arrow and allow the user to follow the arrow to his/her destination It is not necessary for the user to know his/her way around, to have a sense
of direction or to struggle to find information on a tiny map
Trang 819.11.2 Pull Advertising
The pointing interface method allows a user to signify his/her interest and intent
The user can indicate his/her interest in an establishment by pointing at it At that time, the
ad can be sent This opt-in ad has a much higher probability of resulting in a transaction This interface allows the service to know which establishment is of interest to the user at that moment and can also be used as a means for the user to signal his/her willingness to receive promotional offers The system offers the highest possible level of targeting sensi-tivity with respect to location, time and intent On-demand advertising delivered at the moment of inquiry is far more likely to stimulate a transaction from the user than general-location, push based advertising targeting
Phones with pointing capability also provide a number of unique marketing opportunities Advertisers can create virtual storefronts or billboards that contain electronic coupons, or real-time customized specials This marketing channel can be more tightly focused and accountable than other media The effectiveness of promotional campaigns can be evaluated immediately when the consumer takes advantage of the offer
19.11.3 Entertainment
The industry now generally recognizes wireless handsets and PDAs as new media platforms Location based games add a dynamic new dimension to wireless entertainment Users can play in the real world with other players in their neighborhoods
As we have seen in Japan (and on American TV) quality content or programming is necessary to guarantee the business success of the device or service ‘‘The Pointing Access Methode’’1extends the capability of mobile devices and allows them to support valuable and fun new programs
Pointing capability allows for unique and compelling implementation of applications such
as specialized tours with an emphasis on history, architecture, food, shopping, etc Pointing also enables engaging entertainment applications: role-playing experiences, adventure
1 A trademark of GeoVector Corporation Note that the pointing access method is a patented GeoVector technol-ogy.
Trang 9games, treasure hunts and virtual hide and seek Each structure or location in space is capable
of hosting information and can become a message board, a clue, or a character
A particularly interesting use of pointing is to point to objects and leave graffiti-like messages on them for access by public or private groups This capability offers a meaningful extension of the Internet’s messaging features and buddy groups into a mobile environment
19.12 Benefits of Pointing
Some of the applications discussed above can certainly be created without implementing a pointing feature but interfacing with them would be cumbersome and pointing brings a number of extremely valuable enhancements These are outlined below
19.12.1 Wireless Yellow Pages
Pointing provides an automatic, intuitive filter that reduces button presses and makes search-ing for information more efficient
A pointing system allows users to inquire about remote or unknown objects Location alone will not all allow users to inquire about objects that are far away The increase in data required
to respond to a request involving a long range would overwhelm the user Further, if the user does not know what category the object is in (hospital, hotel, university), he/she cannot find it any other way but by requesting information about all the objects within that range
19.12.2 Internationalization
A pointing interface overcomes language problems Users do not need to know how to read signs or pronounce foreign words in order to get information
19.12.3 GIS Applications
Using the directional data provided, the device can guide the user to his/her destination without requiring him/her to read maps
Trang 1019.12.4 Entertainment and Gaming
Pointing devices can be used to target people or things and enables directionality in game play It provides an efficient link between the real world and fantasy
19.12.5 Visual Aiding and Digital Albums
When implemented in digital cameras, pictures can be labeled automatically
19.13 Recommended Data Standardization
The following is a recommendation for passing position and direction data that allows for maximum benefit to location applications
This discussion describes the format and range of the device data necessary to implement various pointing-enabled location based services In addition, it offers a similar format for non-pointing location based services
The term ‘‘device data’’ is used to refer to data that describes some aspect of a wireless device It is important to note that the device itself may not necessarily generate the data For example, a cellular carrier may decide to use network-based methods for determining the location of a handset This data will be generated by the network and will likely be passed to a location based service without ever setting foot on a handset
In fact, there exists the notion of a ‘‘mobile location server’’ that a few infrastructure companies are marketing to cellular carriers now The mobile location servers will store and make available the location of the handset even if the handset has an onboard GPS receiver Therefore, this section talks about data and its format as it appears to the pointing-enabled location based service, regardless of how, or where, the data is generated
19.13.1 Consideration of Current Standards Efforts
It is acknowledged that there is ongoing work by standards bodies (e.g 3GPP and LIF) to standardize the content and format of data to enable location based services This section refers to non-pointing location based services with that knowledge and offers a format for non-pointing location based services for completeness
19.13.2 Device Data Types and Tiered Services
The device data is presented such that it supports four types of pointing-enabled location based services, each available in a 2D and 3D environment depending on device hardware capabilities The four types are location, pointing, gesturing, and pointing with imaging Location is enabled by the single, discreet measurement of a device’s location (position) It
is expected that for non-pointing location based services, height will not play a major role in service offering, so these types of services will tend to be 2D only
Simple pointing is enabled by the single, discreet measurement of a device’s location and heading (direction in which it is being pointed) Note that heading does not imply movement
of the device and that the term pointing will often be used interchangeably with heading Both