A point of interest information system and method

Abstract

A point of interest, POI, information system comprises a data processor 12 which receives data 14 from one or more POI sources 16 and processes the received data to provide a POI information signal in

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a point of interest, POI, information system and method, and particularly to a POI information system and method for providing information on POIs to, for example, a mounted or dismounted soldier. BACKGROUND

[0002] Situational awareness is a critical element of successful assessment and performance in a combat environment.

[0003] Situational awareness tools and systems link sensors, weapon systems and individual soldiers to display connected layers of information and display the information on a computer screen or smartphone.

[0004] It is known to improve a soldier’s situational awareness by using a suite of situation awareness systems which may include a smartphone-type processing device, a network such as Long-Term Evolution, LTE, network and a centralised power management component.

[0005] Such systems provide commanders with accurate and real-time locations of soldiers, allowing commanders to visualise geospatial, picture and message data on a digital battle space. Commanders can determine their location, the location of their soldiers, the location of the enemy, and determine the orders and communicate orders to soldiers relatively quickly and easily. Similarly, soldiers are able to view the information from their positions.

[0006] However, the large quantity of different situational awareness information being simultaneously displayed on the digital display screen can often lead to a problem of cognitive load, especially for front-line soldiers, and especially in an active battle. The increasing quantity of information being displayed on soldier’s screens can result in soldiers losing concentration and focus on the combative orders. Moreover, a user can only quickly view a screen and, when doing so, at least momentarily, loses sight of the battlefield and possible visible threats on the battlefield. Active service feedback from frontline personnel indicates that it is becoming increasingly difficult to focus and concentrate on fighting a battle while using all the data and information feeds transmitted to the digital display screens on the frontline.

[0007] It is therefore desirable for there to be a system and method which provides accurate and immediately discernible Point of Interest, POI, information while reducing cognitive load on the receiving user of the situational awareness information.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a point of interest, POI, information system and method which provides information on POIs to a soldier while reducing cognitive load on the soldier. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a point of interest, POI, information system comprising a data processor operable to receive data from one or more POI sources and process the received data to provide a POI information signal indicative of a specific POI, wherein the POI information signal is an audio signal, and wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive core body temperature information.

[0010] The received data may comprise data direct from a measurement of a said POI source.

[0011] Alternatively, or additionally, the received data may comprises data derived from a measurement of a said POI source.

[0012] The audio signal may be bi-directional.

[0013] The data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

[0014] Alternatively, or additionally, the data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

[0015] The data processor may receive data from said POI source through a wireless communication connection.

[0016] Alternatively, or additionally, the data processor may receive data from said POI source through a wired communication connection.

[0017] The audio signal may be a digital signal.

[0018] Alternatively, or additionally, the audio signal is an analogue signal.

[0019] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing point of interest, POI, information to a user, the method comprising: providing a data processor; receiving data from a point of interest, POI, source; processing the received data to provide a point of interest, POI, information signal; wherein the point of interest, POI, information signal is an audio signal; and, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive situational awareness information.

[0020] The received data may comprise data direct from a measurement of a said POI source.

[0021] Alternatively, or additionally, the received data may comprises data derived from a measurement of a said POI source.

[0022] The audio signal may be bi-directional.

[0023] The data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

[0024] Alternatively, or additionally, the data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

[0025] The data processor may receive data from said POI source through a wireless communication connection.

[0026] Alternatively, or additionally, the data processor may receive data from said POI source through a wired communication connection.

[0027] The audio signal may be a digital signal.

[0028] Alternatively, or additionally, the audio signal is an analogue signal.

[0029] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer program instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method of the second aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing a point of interest, POI, information system and method, according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring to Figure 1, a point of interest, POI, information system and method 10 comprises a data processor 12 operable to receive data 14 from POI sources 16. The processor 12 may be a portable communication device such as, for example, a smartphone, or an accessory for communicating with a portable communication device such as, for example, a smartphone. The POI sources 16 may be, for example, POI Feed BMS 16A, POI Feed Simulated 16B, POI Feed Dynamic / Tracked 16C, and POI Feed Other Intelligence 16D, all of which are known types of POIs in the prior art. Other POI sources relevant to battle management may be alternatively used and may be equally applicable. The POI sources 16 may be related to, for example: enemy / friendly fire; human assets; and equipment assets; or, navigational features, such as, for example, route waypoints and boundary lines. POI sources 16 may also be relevant to an air controller providing automated timed updates about a threat being tracked. For dynamic POI sources, such as air controllers providing updates, the system and method of the present invention provides soldiers with automated information at predetermined time intervals. Each POI source 16 is accompanied by location and other identifying information such as, for example, enemy / friendly / vehicle dead ground.

[0033] The received data 14 is related to a direct measurement of one or more of the POI sources 16. Additionally, or alternatively, the received data 14 may be pre-processed data derived from one or more of the direct measurements of one or more of the POI sources 16. Additionally, or alternatively, the received data 14 may be human-sourced intelligence. Preprocessing of the received data 14 may include, for example, mathematical, computer coding or data logging processing. The received data 14 may also include pre-processed data, derived from datasets using machine learning or artificial intelligence.

[0034] The data 14 is transmitted to the processor 12 over a communication network 18, which may be a wired or a wireless network, or a combination of both wired and wireless networks.

[0035] The processor 12 processes the received data 14 into an audio POI information signal 20. The audio POI information signal 20 includes a digital signal or analogue signal and is a bi-directional signal. The audio POI information signal 20 is transmitted to one or more speakers 22, through which a user, such as a soldier, receives the POI information as an audible signal. The one or more speakers 22 are preferably housed in one or a pair of earpieces or headphones.

[0036] The processor 12 transmits the audio POI information signal 20 automatically, which may occur upon, for example, a POI source 16 alert being triggered. Such a POI alert is triggered when, for example, a POI is accompanied by a virtual, specifiable radius. If, and when, a fixed or mobile asset crosses the boundary line of the assigned POI radius, an audio POI information signal 20, is automatically triggered as an alert. Alternatively, or additionally, the processor 12 transmits the audio POI information signal 20 upon request by a system user, such as, for example, the soldier. The request is preferably an audio request through a microphone.

[0037] In use, because the audio POI information signal 20 is an audio signal which is audibly received by the soldier, the POI information system and method 10, as described above, provides important, accurate and immediately discernible POI information, while reducing cognitive load on the soldier, thereby enabling frontline personnel to focus and concentrate and continually engage in a heads-up combat with visual awareness maintained in the theatre of war and, for example, in a gun battle.

Claims

1. A point of interest, POI, information system comprising a data processor operable to receive data from one or more POI sources and process the received data to provide a POI information signal indicative of a specific POI, wherein the POI information signal is an audio signal, and wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive core body temperature information.

2. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received data comprises data direct from a measurement of a said POI source.

3. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the received data comprises data derived from a measurement of a said POI source.

4. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio signal is bi-directional.

5. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

6. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

7. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor receives data from said POI source through a wireless communication connection.

8. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor receives data from said POI source through a wired communication connection.

9. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio signal is a digital signal.

10. A point of interest, POI, information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio signal is an analogue signal.

11. A method of providing point of interest, POI, information to a user, the method comprising:providing a data processor;receiving data from a point of interest, POI, source;processing the received data to provide a point of interest, POI, information signal;wherein the point of interest, POI, information signal is an audio signal; and, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive situational awareness information.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, whereby the received data comprises data direct from a measurement of a said POI source.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, whereby the received data comprises data derived from a measurement of a said POI source.

14. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 13, whereby the audio signal is bi-directional.

15. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 14, whereby the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

16. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 15, whereby the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

17. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 16, whereby the data processor receives data from said POI source through a wireless communication connection.

18. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 17, whereby the data processor receives data from said POI source through a wired communication connection.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11 to 18, whereby the audio signal is a digital signal.

20. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 13, whereby the audio signal is an analogue signal.

21. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer program instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method of claims 11 to 20.

Images