Method and apparatus for navigation using multiple synchronized mobile devices

• US 10,296,516 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Beaurepaire, Jerome, Jamain, Maguy, Tuukkanen, Marko Tapio, Konig, Mirko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/898,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 715744
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

An approach is provided for providing different views of an ongoing application across multiple devices in a synchronized manner. A synchronization platform determines that at least one device and at least one other device are executing at least one common application. The synchronization platform causes, at least in part, a synchronization of data for the at least one common application among the at least one device and the at least one other device. In addition, the synchronization platform determines one or more respective user interface views for presenting the data on the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more respective user interface views are presented via the at least one common application.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating navigation using multiple synchronized mobile devices associated with a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining, utilizing at least one processor, that at least one mobile device is to be associated with a driver mode in the vehicle utilizing one or more technologies associated with the at least one mobile device, at least one other mobile device, the vehicle or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one mobile device and at least one other mobile device are user equipment that are temporarily in proximity with the vehicle and not permanently affixed as part of the vehicle;

determining that the at least one other mobile device is to be associated with a passenger mode in the vehicle utilizing at least one of the one or more technologies associated with the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, the vehicle or a combination thereof;

determining that the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device are executing at least one common application configured to provide navigation information;

initiating a setting the at least one mobile device into the driver mode;

initiating a setting the at least one other mobile device into the passenger mode;

calculating a majority routing preference for the vehicle based on a majority decision of users of the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device;

initiating a synchronization of data for the at least one common application among the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device based on the majority routing preference and the settings of the at least one mobile device in the driver mode and the at least one other mobile device in the passenger mode; and

initiating a plurality of respective user interface views configured to present at least partially different information based on the synchronized data in the driver mode on the at least one mobile device from in the passenger mode on the at least one other mobile device.

2. A method of claim 1,

wherein determining that the at least one mobile device is to be associated with the driver mode includes connecting with the at least one other mobile device and/or the vehicle via one or more short-range wireless connections and determining the respective positions of the at least one device and the at least one other device with respect to each other in the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one processor is embedded in a server communicating with the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device via a network.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the driver mode and the passenger mode are determined based, at least in part, on device capability information, resource availability information, user input, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a request to initiate a connection of the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device;

determining whether the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, or a combination thereof is within or outside of a range associated with the connection; and

generating a recommendation to create or to disband a group of the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, or a combination thereof, wherein the synchronization of the data is based, at least in part, on the connection, the group, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a short-range wireless communication connection of the at least one mobile device with the at least one other mobile device;

creating a group including the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device based on the initiated connection;

determining a change of the at least one other mobile device into the driver position based on sensor data;

switching the respective user interface views on the at least one other mobile device based, at least in part, on the at least one change;

determining relative positioning information of the at least one device with respect to the at least one other device,

wherein the driver mode for the user interface view includes, at least in part, a navigation screen, and the passenger mode for the user interface view includes a street view screen, an augmented and/or mixed reality screen, or a combination thereof; and

calculating a routing preference for the vehicle based, at least in part, on routing preferences of the at least one mobile device or the at least one other mobile device,

wherein the sensor data includes global positioning system data, and the determining of the modes for the respective user interface views is based, at least in part, on the relative positioning information.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the calculated routing preference includes avoiding one or more highways with one or more toll fees, taking one or more scenic routes, or a combination thereof,

wherein a respective interface view of the plurality associated with the driver mode is based at least partially on legal requirements associated with driving the vehicle,

wherein a first respective user interface view of the plurality is determined for presenting through the at least one mobile device and a second respective user interface view of the plurality is determined for presenting through the at least one other mobile device,

wherein the determined first and second respective user interface views are different from each other in order to leverage, based on the synchronized different views via the at least one common application, providing an understanding of the surroundings to associated users based on the availability of multiple devices in the group including the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device,

wherein the determined first respective user interface view is a general navigation screen or an optimized navigation screen,

wherein the determined second respective user interface view is a street view screen, an offers screen, a point-of-interest selection screen, a media content screen, a weather en route screen, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one lead mobile device from among the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, ondevice capability information, resource availability information, user input, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one common application includes a mapping application, a location-based application, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the at least one processor is embedded in the at least one mobile device or the at least one other mobile device.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the at least one mobile device is in a call with a remote device outside of the vehicle; and

splitting information from the synchronization of data presented on the at least one mobile device in the call to be presented on the at least one other mobile device not in the call.

10. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the at least one mobile device has an incoming call; and

forwarding the incoming call to the at least one other mobile device using one or more short-range wireless communication connections.

11. An apparatus for facilitating navigation using multiple synchronized mobile devices associated with a vehicle, the method comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine that at least one mobile device is to be associated with a driver mode in the vehicle utilizing one or more technologies associated with the at least one mobile device, at least one other mobile device, the vehicle or a combination thereof,

wherein the at least one mobile device and at least one other mobile device are user equipment that are temporarily in proximity with the vehicle and not permanently affixed as part of the vehicle,

determine that the at least one other mobile device is to be associated with a passenger mode in the vehicle utilizing at least one of the one or more technologies associated with the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, the vehicle or a combination thereof,

determine that the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device are executing at least one common application configured to provide navigation information,

set the at least one mobile device into the driver mode,

set the at least one other mobile device into the passenger mode,

calculate a majority routing preference for the vehicle based on a majority decision of users of the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device,

initiate a synchronization of data for the at least one common application among the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device based on the majority routing preference and the settings of the at least one mobile device in the driver mode and the at least one other mobile device in the passenger mode, and

initiate a plurality of respective user interface views configured to present at least partially different information based on the synchronized data in the driver mode on the at least one mobile device from in the passenger mode on the at least one other mobile device.

12. An apparatus of claim 11,

wherein determining that the at least one mobile device is to be associated with the driver mode includes connecting with the at least one other mobile device and/or the vehicle via one or more short-range wireless connections and determining the respective positions of the at least one device and the at least one other device with respect to each other in the vehicle.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the driver mode and the passenger mode are determined based, at least in part, on device capability information, resource availability information, user input, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a request to initiate a connection of the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device,

determine whether the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, or a combination thereof is within or outside of a range associated with the connection, and

generate a recommendation to create or to disband a group of the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, or a combination thereof,

wherein the synchronization of the data is based, at least in part, on the connection, the group, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate a short-range wireless communication connection of the at least one mobile device with the at least one other mobile device,

create a group including the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device based on the initiated connection,

determine a change of the at least one other mobile device into the driver position based on sensor data,

switch the respective user interface views on the at least one other mobile device based, at least in part, on the at least one change,

determine relative positioning information of the at least one device with respect to the at least one other device,

wherein the driver mode for the user interface view includes, at least in part, a navigation screen, and the passenger mode for the user interface view includes a street view screen, an augmented and/or mixed reality screen, or a combination thereof, and

calculating a routing preference for the vehicle based, at least in part, on routing preferences of the at least one mobile device or the at least one other mobile device,

wherein the sensor data includes global positioning system data, and the determining of the modes for the respective user interface views is based, at least in part, on the relative positioning information.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the calculated routing preference includes avoiding one or more highways with one or more toll fees, taking one or more scenic routes, or a combination thereof,

wherein a respective interface view of the plurality associated with the driver mode is based at least partially on legal requirements associated with driving the vehicle,

wherein a first respective user interface view of the plurality is determined for presenting through the at least one mobile device and a second respective user interface view of the plurality is determined for presenting through the at least one other mobile device,

wherein the determined first and second respective user interface views are different from each other in order to leverage, based on the synchronized different views via the at least one common application, providing an understanding of the surroundings to associated users based on the availability of multiple devices in the group including the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device,

wherein the determined first respective user interface view is a general navigation screen or an optimized navigation screen,

wherein the determined second respective user interface view is a street view screen, an offers screen, a point-of-interest selection screen, a media content screen, a weather en route screen, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine at least one lead mobile device from among the at least one mobile device, the at least one other mobile device, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on device capability information, resource availability information, user input, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one common application includes a mapping application, a location-based application, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the at least one mobile device has an incoming call; and

forward the incoming call to the at least one other mobile device using one or more short-range wireless communication connections.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the at least one mobile device is in a call with a remote device outside of the vehicle; and

split information from the synchronization of data presented on the at least one mobile device in the call to be presented on the at least one other mobile device not in the call.