Method and system for exchanging routing data between end users

• US 20030191584A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Robinson, Richard, Walton, Brian, Ohler, Jean K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,778,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A method and system that provides end users with the ability to exchange routing data. A route recorder application on a first computing system provides a first end user with the ability to define a route formed of specific road segments and store data that represent the route in a data file. The data file is distributed to a second end user who uses the data that represent the route in a second computing system to provide guidance for following the route.

Claims

1. A method of providing end users with the ability to exchange routing data, the method comprising:

providing a route recorder application on a first computing system, wherein the route recording application provides a first end user with the ability to define a route formed of specific road segments and store data that represent the route in a data file;

distributing the data file to a second end user; and

using the data that represent the route in a second computing system to provide the second end user with guidance for following the route.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of distributing includes providing a physical medium with the data file stored thereon to the second end user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of distributing includes transferring the data file wireless to the second computing system of the second end user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the route recorder application is located on a server that the first end user accesses over a network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the network includes the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

with the route recorder application, providing the first end user with data defining a trial route; and

accepting input from the first end user that changes the trial route, wherein the data that represent the route that are stored in the data file by the route recorder application include data that represent the trial route as changed in accordance with the input from the first end user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a position of a vehicle in which the first user is traveling;

identifying road segments upon which the vehicle is traveling; and

using the identified road segments to define the route that is stored in the data file by the route recorder application.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said first computing system is a standalone system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data that represent the route in the data file include ID'"'"'s of data records that represent the road segments that form the route.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data that represent the route in the data file include geographic coordinates of the road segments that form the route.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data that represent the route in the data file include street names of the road segments that form the route.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data that represent the route in the data file include directions and distances along roads that form the route.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the route leads to a destination at which the first user and the second user plan to meet.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

on the first computing platform, determining a convenient place for the first user and the second user to meet taking into account current locations of the first user and the second user,

wherein an origin of the route is the current location of the second user and a destination of the route is the convenient place for the first user and the second user to meet.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the second computing system is a vehicle navigation system.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the second computing system provides the second end user with guidance for reaching an origin of the route.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the second computing system incorporates the route provided from the first user into another route.

18. A system for enabling end users to exchange data that define routes comprising:

a collection system enables a first user to store data that define a route;

a distribution system that enables the first user to provide the data that define a route to a second user; and

a utilization system that enables the second user to obtain route guidance for following the route.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the collection system includes a vehicle positioning component that enables the first user to store the data that define the route by driving along the route.

20. A route recorder application run on a first computing system, said route recorder application comprising:

a routine that allows a first user to select road segments that form a route;

a routine that allows the first user to review the selected road segments;

a routine that allows the first user to change the road segments that form the route; and

a routine that allows the first user to save data that represent the route as changed in a data file.