Thin-client navigation and route guidance system
First Claim
1. A method (10) for guiding an object, person or vehicle to its destination along a network, comprising the following steps:
- a. obtaining (12) destination location and determining or obtaining initial location;
b. determining (14) a complete route guidance tree, on a graph representing a network, from the initial location to the destination location;
c. extracting (16) from the complete route guidance tree a partial route guidance tree proximate to the initial location;
d. determining (18) the current location;
e. determining (20) whether the current location is in the scope of the partial route guidance tree;
f. if the current location is in the scope of the partial route guidance tree, extracting and displaying (22) the next maneuver from the partial route guidance tree, but if the current location is not in the scope of the partial route guidance tree, extracting (24) a partial route guidance tree proximate to the current location; and
, g. repeating steps d through f until either the destination is reached or the method is interrupted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A client/server navigation system utilizes partial route guidance trees, enabling a thin, mobile client to detect route deviation and provide alternate instructions while awaiting response from a server. The system (10) consists of a server (28) containing a network database and route-calculation program; a client (26) capable of obtaining (12) its current location and destination, displaying route instructions (22), and determining when it needs additional instructions from the server (20,24); and communication (30,32,34,36) between the client (26) and server (28). The invention allows for long routes and responsive operation on a small, low-powered client despite lags and lapses in communication.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method (10) for guiding an object, person or vehicle to its destination along a network, comprising the following steps:
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a. obtaining (12) destination location and determining or obtaining initial location;
b. determining (14) a complete route guidance tree, on a graph representing a network, from the initial location to the destination location;
c. extracting (16) from the complete route guidance tree a partial route guidance tree proximate to the initial location;
d. determining (18) the current location;
e. determining (20) whether the current location is in the scope of the partial route guidance tree;
f. if the current location is in the scope of the partial route guidance tree, extracting and displaying (22) the next maneuver from the partial route guidance tree, but if the current location is not in the scope of the partial route guidance tree, extracting (24) a partial route guidance tree proximate to the current location; and
,g. repeating steps d through f until either the destination is reached or the method is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for guiding an object, person or vehicle to its destination along a network, comprising:
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a. a server means (26) for storing a database representing a physical network, determining (14) a route guidance tree to a destination location on a graph representing that network, and extracting (16) the portion of the route guidance tree proximate to a particular location;
b. a communication means (30, 32, 34, 36) for passing information between the server means and at least one client means; and
,c. a client means (26) for obtaining (12) destination location, determining (18) or obtaining the client'"'"'s current location, transmitting to the server means using the communication means the destination location and current location, receiving from the server means using the communication means a portion of the route guidance tree proximate to the current location, determining (20) whether the current location is in the scope of this route guidance tree, and either extracting (22) the next maneuver from this route guidance tree, or requesting (24) from the server means using the communication means (36) a further portion of the route guidance tree proximate to the current location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification