Dynamic navigation system

• US 20050033511A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telmap Limited (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Nissim, Oren, Pechatnikov, Michael, Fagin, Alexander, Kupferman, Michael Menachem, Yadan, Omry, Eckstein, Ilya
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route

Abstract

A method for navigation includes storing map data on a server, the map data including vector information delineating roads in a map. A portion of the vector information corresponding to an area in which a user of a mobile client device is traveling is downloaded from the server to the client device. Approximate position coordinates of the user are found using a location providing device associated with the client device and are corrected in the client device, using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map. A navigation aid is provided to the user of the client device based on the determined location.

Claims

1. A method for navigation, comprising:

storing map data on a server, the map data comprising vector information delineating roads in a map;

downloading from the server to a mobile client device a portion of the vector information corresponding to an area in which a user of the client device is traveling;

finding approximate position coordinates of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device;

receiving and correcting the approximate position coordinates in the client device, using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map; and

providing a navigation aid to the user of the client device based on the determined location.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location providing device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the navigation aid comprises rendering an image of the map on the client device, and superimposing an icon representing the location of the user on the map.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein receiving and correcting the approximate position coordinates comprises updating the location of the user as the user travels along the roads, and wherein superimposing the icon comprises shifting a position of the icon on the map without rendering a new image of the map.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading the portion of the vector information comprises downloading the vector information over a wireless link.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

7. The method according to claim 5, and comprising downloading an applet from the server to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving and correcting the approximate position coordinates.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading the portion of the vector information comprises determining on the server, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and downloading the route from the server to the client device, and wherein providing the navigation aid comprises guiding the user of the client device along the route.

9. The method according to claim 9, and comprising:

receiving at the server, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route;

submitting a request from the client device to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location of the user, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user;

determining at the server, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination; and

downloading the modified route to the client device.

10. A method for navigation using a mobile client device, comprising:

storing map data on a server, the map data delineating features in a map;

determining on the server, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments;

downloading the route from the server to the mobile client device;

finding location coordinates of the client device using a location providing device associated with the client device while a user of the client device travels along the route;

receiving at the server, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route;

submitting a request from the client device to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location coordinates, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user;

determining at the server, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination; and

downloading the modified route to the client device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein submitting the request comprises sending multiple requests from the client device to the server as the user travels along the route.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein downloading the route comprises downloading route information over a wireless link from the server to the client device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

14. The method according to claim 12, and comprising downloading an applet from the server to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the route and submitting the request to the server.

15. A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the method comprising:

storing map data on a server, the map data delineating features in the map;

downloading from the server to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, causing the client device to render and display an image of the selected area of the map;

finding location coordinates of the client device using a location providing device associated with the client device while a user of the client device travels within the selected area;

receiving at the server, while the user travels within the selected area, dynamic information with regard to the area;

downloading the dynamic information to the client device, responsively to the location coordinates of the client device; and

displaying the dynamic information on the image of the selected area of the map displayed by the client device, without requiring the client device to render the image again.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein downloading the dynamic information comprises receiving at the server a request from the client device for the dynamic information, the request specifying the location coordinates, and providing the dynamic information to the client device in response to the request.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein providing the dynamic information comprises conveying the dynamic information from the server within four seconds of receiving the request from the client device.

18. Apparatus for navigation, comprising:

a mobile client device;

a location providing device, associated with the client device;

a memory; and

a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating roads in a map, and to download to the client device a portion of the vector information corresponding to an area in which a user of the client device is traveling,

wherein the client device is adapted to find approximate position coordinates of the user using the location providing device, and to correct the approximate position coordinates using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map and to provide a navigation aid to the user based on the determined location.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the location providing device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the client device comprises a display and is adapted to render an image of the map on the display, and to superimpose an icon representing the location of the user on the map.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the client device is adapted to update the location of the user as the user travels along the roads, and to shift a position of the icon on the map without rendering a new image of the map.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the server is adapted to download the vector information to the client device over a wireless link.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the server is adapted to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, which causes the client device to receive and correct the approximate position coordinates.

25. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the server is adapted to determine, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to download the route to the client device, and wherein the client device is adapted to guide the user along the route.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the server is adapted to receive, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route, and

wherein the client device is adapted to submit a request to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location of the vehicle, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the vehicle, and

wherein the server is adapted to determine, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination, and to download the modified route to the client device.

27. Apparatus for navigation, comprising:

a mobile client device;

a location providing device, which is associated with the client device and is adapted to find location coordinates of the client device;

a memory; and

a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data delineating features in a map, and which is adapted to determine, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to download the route to the client device, and which is adapted to receive, while a user of the client device travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route,

wherein the client device is adapted to submit a request to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location coordinates, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user, and

wherein the server is adapted to determine, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination, and to download the modified route to the client device.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the client device is adapted to send multiple requests to the server for the updated information as the user travels along the route.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the server is adapted to download the route to the client device over a wireless link.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the server is adapted to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, which causes the client device to receive the route and to submit the request to the server.

32. Apparatus for displaying a map, comprising:

a mobile client device;

a location providing device, which is associated with the client device and is adapted to find location coordinates of the client device;

a memory; and

a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data delineating features in the map, and to download to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, causing the client device to render and display an image of the selected area of the map,

the server being further adapted to receive, while a user of the client device travels within the selected area, dynamic information with regard to the area, and to download the dynamic information to the client device, responsively to the location coordinates of the client device, causing the client device to display the dynamic information on the image of the selected area of the map displayed by the client device, without requiring the client device to render the image of the selected area again.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the client device is adapted to submit a request to the server for the dynamic information, the request specifying the location coordinates, so that the server provides the dynamic information to the client device in response to the request.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the server is adapted to convey the dynamic information to the client device within four seconds of receiving the request from the client device.

35. A computer software product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data in a memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating roads in a map, and to download to a mobile client device a portion of the vector information corresponding to an area in which a user of the client device is traveling,

the instructions further causing the computer to download a program to the client device, which causes the client device to find approximate position coordinates of the client device using the location providing device, and to correct the approximate position coordinates using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map and to provide a navigation aid to the user based on the determined location.

36. The product according to claim 35, wherein the location providing device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

37. The product according to claim 35, wherein the client device comprises a display, and wherein the program causes the client device to render an image of the map on the display, and to superimpose an icon representing the location of the user on the map.

38. The product according to claim 37, wherein the program causes the client device to update the location of the user as the user travels along the roads, and to shift a position of the icon on the map without rendering a new image of the map.

39. The product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the vector information to the client device over a wireless link.

40. The product according to claim 39, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the computer over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

41. The product according to claim 39, wherein the program comprises an applet, which is downloaded to the client device over the wireless link, and which causes the client device to receive and correct the approximate position coordinates.

42. The product according to claim 35, wherein the instructions cause the computer to determine, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to download the route to the client device, and wherein the program causes the client device to guide the user along the route.

43. The product according to claim 42, wherein the instructions cause the computer to receive, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route, and

wherein the program causes the client device to submit a request to the computer for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location of the user, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user, and

wherein the instructions cause the computer to determine, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination, and to download the modified route to the client device.

44. A computer software product, comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data in a memory, the map data delineating features in a map, and to determine, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to download the route to a mobile client device, the instructions further causing the computer to receive, while a user of the client device travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route,

the instructions further causing the computer to download a program to the client device, which causes the client device to receive location coordinates of the client device from a location providing device, and to submit a request to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location coordinates, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user,

wherein the instructions cause the computer to determine, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination, and to download the modified route to the client device.

45. The product according to claim 44, wherein the program causes the client device to send multiple requests to the server for the updated information as the user travels along the route.

46. The product according to claim 45, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the route to the client device over a wireless link.

47. The product according to claim 46, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the computer over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

48. The product according to claim 46, wherein the program comprises an applet, which is downloaded to the client device over the wireless link, and which causes the client device to receive the route and to submit the request to the computer.

49. A computer software product for displaying a map, comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data delineating features in the map, and to download to a mobile client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, causing the client device to render and display an image of the selected area of the map,

the instructions further causing the computer to receive dynamic information with regard to the area and location coordinates of the client device, while a user of the client device travels within the selected area, and to download the dynamic information to the client device, responsively to the location coordinates, causing the client device to display the dynamic information on the image of the selected area of the map displayed by the client device, without requiring the client device to render the image of the selected area again.

50. The product according to claim 49, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the dynamic information in response to a request submitted by the client device, the request specifying the location coordinates.

51. The product according to claim 49, wherein the instructions cause the computer to convey the dynamic information to the client device within four seconds of receiving the request from the client device.