Navigation systems and associated methods

• US 10,222,226 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rosario, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/858,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2476 Speech or voice synthesisers, e.g. using a speech chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

Claims

1. A vehicle electronic system, comprising:

at least one processor;

a first I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and receive sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle, the one or more sensors including at least one camera;

a second I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and transmit output information to at least one output device; and

at least one computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the at least one processor result in operations that include to;

identify contextual information based on the sensor data from the one or more sensors, the contextual information representative of an external environment associated with the vehicle, the contextual information including image data from the at least one camera;

evaluate the contextual information to identify one or more additional vehicles in the external environment associated with the vehicle; and

generate output information for at least one of one or more directions associated with a desired route for the vehicle, wherein generating the output information includes generating an expression of the at least one direction relative to one of the identified one or more additional vehicles in the external environment.

2. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the contextual information includes information representative of a sign in the external environment associated with the vehicle.

3. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the one identified additional vehicle in the external environment is a moving vehicle in the external environment.

4. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, result in operations that further include:

cause the at least one output device to provide the output information to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the at least one output device includes a display device.

5. A vehicle navigation method, comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor via a first input/output (I/O) interface, sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle;

wherein the one or more sensors include at least one camera;

wherein the sensor data includes contextual information representative of an external environment associated with the vehicle; and

wherein the contextual information includes image data from the at least one camera;

evaluating, by the at least one processor, the contextual information to identify one or more additional vehicles in the external environment associated with the vehicle; and

generating, by the processor, output information for at least one of one or more directions associated with a desired route for the vehicle, wherein generating the output information includes generating an expression of the at least one direction relative to one of the identified one or more additional vehicles in the external environment.

6. The vehicle navigation method of claim 5 wherein receiving sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle comprises:

receiving, by the at least one processor, sensor data from the one or more sensors on the vehicle, the sensor data including contextual information representative of a sign in the external environment associated with the vehicle.

7. The vehicle navigation method of claim 5 wherein the one identified additional vehicle in the external environment is a moving vehicle in the external environment.

8. The vehicle navigation method of claim 5, further comprising:

causing, by the processor via a second I/O interface, at least one output device to provide the output information to an occupant of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

means for receiving sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle;

wherein the sensor data includes contextual information associated with an external environment of a vehicle; and

wherein the sensor data includes image data;

means for evaluating the contextual information to identify one or more additional vehicles in the external environment associated with the vehicle; and

means for generating output information for at least one of one or more directions associated with a desired route for the vehicle, wherein generating the output information includes generating an expression of the at least one direction relative to one of the identified one or more additional vehicles in the external environment.

10. The vehicle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the means for receiving sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle comprises:

means for receiving sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle, the sensor data including contextual information representative of a sign in the external environment associated with the vehicle.

11. The vehicle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the one identified additional vehicle in the external environment is a moving vehicle.

12. The vehicle navigation system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for providing the output information to an occupant of the vehicle.

13. At least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, result in operations comprising:

identifying contextual information based on the sensor data from the one or more sensors, the contextual information representative of an external environment associated with the vehicle, the contextual information including image data from the at least one camera;

evaluating the contextual information to identify one or more additional vehicles in the external environment associated with the vehicle; and

generating output information for at least one of one or more directions associated with a desired route for the vehicle, wherein generating the output information includes generating an expression of the at least one direction relative to one of the identified one or more additional vehicles in the external environment.

14. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions that result in the operation to identify contextual information based on sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle results in operations comprising:

identify contextual information that includes information representative of a sign in the external environment associated with the vehicle based on sensor data from the one or more sensors on the vehicle.

15. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the one identified additional vehicle in the external environment is a moving vehicle.

16. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, result in operations comprising:

causing at least one output device to provide the output information to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the at least one output device includes a display device.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors on the vehicle, the one or more sensors including at least one camera;

a global positioning system;

at least one output device;

a vehicle electronic system coupled to the one or more sensors, the global positioning system, and the at least one output device, the vehicle electronic system including;

at least one processor;

a first I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and receive sensor data from the one or more sensors on the vehicle;

a second I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and transmit output information to an output device; and

at least one computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the at least one processor result in operations that include to;

identify contextual information based on the sensor data from the one or more sensors, the contextual information representative of an external environment associated with the vehicle, the contextual information including image data from the at least one camera;

evaluate the contextual information to identify one or more additional vehicles in the external environment associated with the vehicle; and

generate output information for at least one of one or more directions associated with a desired route for the vehicle, wherein to generate the output information includes to generate an expression of the at least one direction relative to one of the identified one or more additional vehicles in the external environment.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the contextual information includes information representative of a sign in the external environment associated with the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the one identified additional vehicle in the external environment is a moving vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, result in operations that further include to:

cause the at least one output device to provide the output information to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the at least one output device includes a display device.