Systems and methods for using real-time imagery in navigation
First Claim
1. A method for generating navigation directions for drivers, the method comprising:
- obtaining, by one or more processors, a route for guiding a driver of a vehicle to a destination;
retrieving, by the one or more processors from a database, a plurality of visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route;
retrieving, by the one or more processors, a video feed from a camera mounted in the vehicle to obtain real-time imagery during navigation along the route;
using (i) the retrieved plurality of visual landmarks and (ii) the imagery collected at the vehicle, selecting, by the one or more processors, a subset of the plurality of visual landmarks that are currently visible to the driver;
providing, to the driver, navigation directions describing the route, the navigation directions referencing the selected subset of the plurality of visual landmarks and excluding remaining ones of the plurality of visual landmarks;
obtaining, by the one or more processors, an indication that the driver cannot see a visual landmark included in the subset of the plurality of visual landmarks; and
in response to the indication, updating in the database a numeric metric indicative of how often users find the visual landmark useful, wherein the numeric metric is used to select visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To generate navigation directions for a driver of a vehicle, a route for guiding the driver to a destination is obtained, visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route are retrieved, and real-time imagery is collected at the vehicle approximately from a vantage point of the driver during navigation along the route. Using (i) the retrieved visual landmarks and (ii) the imagery collected at the vehicle, a subset of the visual landmarks that are currently visible to the driver is selected. Navigation directions describing the route are provided the driver, the navigation directions referencing the selected subset of the visual landmarks and excluding the remaining visual landmarks.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for generating navigation directions for drivers, the method comprising:
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obtaining, by one or more processors, a route for guiding a driver of a vehicle to a destination; retrieving, by the one or more processors from a database, a plurality of visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route; retrieving, by the one or more processors, a video feed from a camera mounted in the vehicle to obtain real-time imagery during navigation along the route; using (i) the retrieved plurality of visual landmarks and (ii) the imagery collected at the vehicle, selecting, by the one or more processors, a subset of the plurality of visual landmarks that are currently visible to the driver; providing, to the driver, navigation directions describing the route, the navigation directions referencing the selected subset of the plurality of visual landmarks and excluding remaining ones of the plurality of visual landmarks; obtaining, by the one or more processors, an indication that the driver cannot see a visual landmark included in the subset of the plurality of visual landmarks; and in response to the indication, updating in the database a numeric metric indicative of how often users find the visual landmark useful, wherein the numeric metric is used to select visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system operating in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a camera configured to capture real-time imagery; a positioning module configured to determine a current geographic location of the vehicle; a network interface to communicate with a server system via a communication network; a user interface; and processing hardware configured to; determine, using the captured real-time imagery, a visual landmark that is visible to a driver of the vehicle; obtain, using the determined visual landmark, a database that stores information related to the visual landmark, and the current geographic location of the vehicle, driving directions including an instruction that references the visual landmark, provide the instruction to the driver via the user interface; obtain an indication that the driver cannot see the visual landmark, and in response to the indication, causing a numeric metric indicative of how often users find the visual landmark useful to be updated in the database, wherein the numeric metric is used to select visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing driving directions, the method comprising:
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receiving, by one or more processors at a mobile system operating in a vehicle, a request for driving directions to a destination from a driver of the vehicle; retrieving, by the one or more processors, a video feed from a camera mounted in the vehicle to obtain real-time imagery; determining, by the one or more processors, a visual landmark that is visible to a driver of the vehicle in the captured real-time imagery, obtaining, using the determined visual landmark, a database that stores information related to the visual landmark, and a current location of the vehicle, the driving directions including an instruction that references the visual landmark; providing, by the one or more processors at the mobile system, the instruction to the driver in response to the request; obtaining, by the one or more processors, an indication that the driver cannot see the visual landmark; and in response to the indication, causing a numeric metric indicative of how often users find the visual landmark useful to be updated in the database, wherein the numeric metric is used to select visual landmarks corresponding to prominent physical objects disposed along the route. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification