Pedestrian navigation and spatial relation device

• US 20050060088A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Balaji, Ran, Yingchun Lisa, Moore, Steven E., Helal, Abdelsalam A.
• Application Number:
  US10/889,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 : Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 : Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 : Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 : Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 : Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 : System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 : Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 : Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 : via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 : responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 : Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 : Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 : with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 : Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 : Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 : Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 : Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 : Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 : Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 : Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 : Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 : for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 : according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 : according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 : specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A pedestrian navigation and spatial relation device including a position finder, a spatial relationship sensor, an input mechanism, and an output mechanism. The position finder can be configured to determine a geographic position of the device based upon received wireless signals. The spatial relationship sensor can provide data used to detect a position of at least one obstacle relative to the device. The input mechanism can specify a destination location. The output mechanism can present device output to a user. The device output can include sensory indicators for at least one of guiding a pedestrian to the destination location and warning a pedestrian about the detected obstacles.

Claims

1. A pedestrian navigation method comprising the steps of:

determining a present location of a mobile computing device based upon at least one wireless transmission received by said mobile computing device;

detecting at least one obstacle located near a pedestrian travel path based upon at least one wireless transmission conveyed to said mobile computing device;

determining at least one available pedestrian travel path; and

emitting sensory indicators to guide a pedestrian along said determined travel path.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining a destination location, wherein said determined travel path guides said pedestrian from said present location to said destination location.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

intermittently updating said present location and said determined travel path as said mobile computing device is moved.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said emitted sensory indicators include a warning indicator for warning said pedestrian about detected obstacles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said obstacles are dynamic obstacles that change position over time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one available pedestrian travel path comprises a plurality of available pedestrian travel paths, said method further comprising:

determining a navigation route based upon said plurality of pedestrian travel paths, wherein the navigation route dynamically adjusts over time responsive to input received via the mobile computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one object near the mobile computing device; and

interacting with the at least one detected object using the mobile computing device, wherein actuators coupled to the detected object are utilized during the interacting step.

8. The method of claim 1, said detecting step further comprising:

detecting a location beacon affixed to one of said obstacles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensory indicators comprise at least one tactile indicator.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user feedback through said mobile computing device; and

using said user feedback to improve guidance provided by said mobile computing device over time.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

accessing navigation information from a remote data source; and

utilizing said navigation information to guide said pedestrian to said destination location.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

accessing environmental information from a remote data source to determine at least one environmental condition, wherein said environmental condition is considered to be one of said detected obstacles.

13. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

determining a present location of a mobile computing device based upon at least one wireless transmission received by said mobile computing device;

detecting at least one obstacle located near a pedestrian travel path based upon at least one wireless transmission conveyed to said mobile computing device;

determining at least one available pedestrian travel path; and

emitting sensory indicators to guide a pedestrian along said determined travel path.

14. The machine-readable storage of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining a destination location, wherein said determined travel path guides said pedestrian from said present location to said destination location.

15. The machine-readable storage of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

intermittently updating said present location and said determined travel path as said mobile computing device is moved.

16. The machine-readable storage of claim 13, wherein said emitted sensory indicators include a warning indicator for warning said pedestrian about detected obstacles.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said obstacles are dynamic obstacles that change position over time.

18. The machine-readable storage of claim 13, said detecting step further comprising:

detecting a location beacon affixed to one of said obstacles.

19. The machine-readable storage of claim 13, wherein said sensory indicators comprise at least one tactile indicator.

20. The machine-readable storage of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user feedback through said mobile computing device; and

using said user feedback to improve guidance provided by said mobile computing device.

21. The machine-readable storage of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

accessing navigation information from a remote data source; and

utilizing said navigation information to guide said pedestrian to said destination location.

22. The machine-readable storage of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

accessing environmental information from a remote data source to determine at least one environmental condition, wherein said environmental condition is considered to be one of said detected obstacles.

23. A pedestrian navigation system comprising:

means for determining a present location of a mobile computing device based upon at least one wireless transmission received by said mobile computing device;

means for detecting at least one obstacle located near a pedestrian travel path based upon at least one wireless transmission conveyed to said mobile computing device;

means for determining at least one available pedestrian travel path; and

means for emitting sensory indicators to guide a pedestrian along said determined travel path.

24. A pedestrian navigation and spatial relation device comprising:

a position finder configured to determine a geographic position of said device based upon received wireless signals;

a spatial relationship sensor configured to provide data used to detect a position of at least one obstacle relative to the device;

an input mechanism for specifying a destination location; and

an output mechanism for presenting device output to a user, wherein device output includes sensory indicators for at least one of guiding a pedestrian to said destination location and warning a pedestrian about said detected obstacles.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said device is configured to determine multiple pathways for navigating to said destination location and configured to select one of the determined pathways based upon at least one of user preference, a temporal constraint, and obstacles proximate to said pathway.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein said position finder comprises a Global Positioning System.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein said spatial relationship sensor comprises at least one of a short range wireless transceiver, a radio frequency identification system, and an ultrasonic transducer.

28. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

a mobile telephony transceiver configured to send and receive mobile telephony communications.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein said output mechanism comprises a tactile presentation pad configured to provide tactile sensory indicators.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein said device is a thin client configured to be communicatively linked to at least one remotely located server.

31. The device of claim 24, further comprising a training system configured to alter device operation based upon user feedback.