Ghost following

• US 20050171690A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brass, Richard, Robertson, Geoff, McKenzie, Bob
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver

Abstract

A concept for providing navigation information is described. The concept includes a process for providing navigation information including deriving a destination for a first vehicle and determining a present location of the first vehicle. The process also includes computing maneuvering information from the destination and present location and adapting an image of a ghost vehicle in conformance with the maneuvering information.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display;

a vehicle position determination module coupled to the processor and configured to track position of a first vehicle and to update vehicle position information as the first vehicle moves; and

a destination module coupled to the processor and configured to determine a desired destination for the first vehicle, wherein the processor is configured to accept information from the position determination module and the destination module and to derive maneuvering instructions therefrom, wherein the display is configured to adapt the maneuvering instructions to provide an image of a ghost vehicle and to adapt the image of the ghost vehicle to instruct a driver of the first vehicle in accordance with the maneuvering instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is chosen from a group consisting of:

a heads-up display and an in-dash display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the destination module includes a communications system configured to provide current traffic data and the processor is configured to adapt maneuvering instructions responsive to the current traffic data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle position determination module includes a global positioning system capability.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to facilitate individual user-controlled modification of parameters affecting visual appearance of the ghost vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle position determination module includes multiple positional data sources and the processor further comprises capability for adapting a selection of the multiple sources to present conditions.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communications system configured to capture signals and wherein the display is further configured to provide an image including information from the signals; and

a sensing module configured to capture environmental data and/or data relevant to vehicular operational parameters and wherein the display is further configured to provide an image including information based on information from the sensing module data.

8. A process for providing navigation information comprising:

deriving a destination for a first vehicle;

determining a present location of the first vehicle;

computing maneuvering information from the destination and present location; and

adapting an image of a ghost vehicle in conformance with the maneuvering information.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein adapting comprises displaying the image of the ghost vehicle on a display chosen from a group consisting of:

a heads-up display and an in-dash display.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein adapting comprises displaying the image of the ghost vehicle as executing a maneuver consistent with the first vehicle converging on the destination.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein adapting comprises displaying the image of the ghost vehicle executing a maneuver chosen from a group consisting of:

braking, signalling a turn, executing a turn, speeding up, slowing down, executing emergency collision avoidance maneuvers, pumping brakes and crashing.

12. The process of claim 8, further comprising:

capturing signals representative of current traffic data and hazards;

sensing environmental data representative of an environment of the first vehicle; and

displaying an image including information from the signals and the environmental data in conformance with displaying the ghost vehicle.

13. The process of claim 8, further comprising:

accepting user input information via a user interface configured to facilitate individual user-controlled modification of parameters affecting visual appearance of the ghost vehicle; and

modifying the image of a ghost vehicle in conformance with the user input information.

14. The process of claim 8, wherein determining comprises determining present location of the first vehicle by selecting positional information from one or more of multiple positional data sources and further comprising adapting selecting positional information from the one or more of the multiple positional data sources to present conditions and user selection criteria.

15. An apparatus comprising:

geolocation processor means for coordinating destination data with current positional data;

display means for displaying a ghost vehicle to a driver of a first vehicle; and

computation means coupled to the geolocation processor means and the display means, the computation means for providing signals derived at least in part from the geolocation means to the display means to effectuate modification of the display of the ghost vehicle in conformance with the current positional data as the current positional data change responsive to movement of the first vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising signal capture means for capturing at least one signal indicative of traffic conditions and hazards and is coupled to the computation means and wherein the computation means is further for providing signals derived at least in part from the at least one signal to the display means to effectuate modification of the display of the ghost vehicle in conformance with information contained in the at least one signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising user interface means coupled to the computation means and configured to accept user input to facilitate individual user-controlled modification of parameters affecting visual appearance of the ghost vehicle by the computation means.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the geolocation processor means comprises multiple positional data sources and the computation means further comprises capability for adapting a selection of the multiple sources to present conditions.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising environmental sensing means coupled to the computation means and wherein the computation means is further for providing at least one signal derived at least in part from the environmental sensing means to the display means to effectuate modification of the display of the ghost vehicle in conformance with the at least one signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the geolocation processor means accepts positional information derived from a global positioning system.