Navigation assistance method and system

• US 20060064242A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harpreet Sangha, Kenneth Litvack
• Original Assignee: Harpreet Sangha, Kenneth Litvack
• Inventors: Litvack, Kenneth, Sangha, Harpreet
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships

Abstract

In a navigation assistance system, information is received via the Internet from a user pertaining to a water trip contemplated by the user. The system includes a database storing waterway data. The database is accessed in response to the information from the user. At least one recommended over-water route is derived in response to the user information and in accordance with waterway data in the database, the recommended route being communicated to the user via the computer network. The deriving of the route preferably comprises including only route segments extending through operatively navigable areas.

Claims

1. A navigation assistance method comprising:

receiving, via a computer network, information from a user pertaining to a water trip contemplated by the user;

accessing a database storing waterway data;

deriving at least one recommended over-water route in response to the user information and in accordance with waterway data in said database, the deriving of said route comprising including only route segments extending through operatively navigable areas; and

communicating said route to the user via said computer network.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the deriving of said route includes generating a preliminary route and modifying said preliminary route in an optimization process to generate said recommended over-water route.

3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the modifying of said preliminary route includes comparing said preliminary route with information in said database to determine unnavigable segments of said preliminary route and replacing the unnavigable segments with navigable alternate route segments.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the modifying of said preliminary route further includes incorporating route alterations in accordance with trip particulars supplied by the user.

5. The method defined in claim 4 wherein said trip particulars include minimum distance from land.

6. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the generating of said preliminary route includes defining said preliminary route pursuant to information received from the user via said computer network.

7. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the deriving of said route further includes assigning respective depth values to grid lines, said preliminary route extending along grid lines, the modifying of said preliminary route including replacing zig-zag portions of said preliminary route to reduce the number of course changes.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the information received from the user includes a start point, an end point, and a minimal depth, the deriving of said route including accessing said database to account for depths along at least one route extending between said start point and said end point.

9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the information received from the user further includes a fuel usage rate, further comprising determining at least one refueling location for the user along said route.

10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said database includes data as to water currents, the determining of said refueling location including calculating fuel usage in part in accordance with the water current data in said database.

11. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the information received from the user further includes at least one minimal acceptable distance selected from the group consisting of minimal acceptable distance from land, minimal acceptable distance from charted hazards, and minimal distance from user provided boundaries.

12. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the information received from the user further includes at least one route segment parameter taken from the group consisting of a minimum course change angle, a minimum leg length, and a maximum leg length.

13. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the information received from the user further includes vessel type and vessel length.

14. The method defined in claim 8 wherein said database includes bridge height data, the information received from the user further including a vertical clearance, the deriving of said route including comparing said vertical clearance against a bridge height in said database.

15. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said database includes depth information determined in part by tide data, the deriving of said route including accounting for said tide data.

16. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said database includes depth contour information.

17. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said database includes information as to water currents.

18. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said route includes at least one waypoint.

19. A navigation assistance system comprising:

a database storing waterway data including depth information; and

a server computer connected to a global computer network, for receiving information from a user pertaining to a water trip contemplated by the user,

said computer being connected to said database for accessing waterway data stored therein,

said server computer being programmed with software for deriving at least one recommended over-water route in response to the user information and in accordance with waterway data in said database,

the software comprising programming for including only route segments extending through operatively navigable areas, said server computer communicating said route to the user via said computer network.

20. The system defined in claim 19 wherein said software includes programming for generating a preliminary route and modifying said preliminary route in an optimization process to generate said recommended over-water route.

21. The system defined in claim 20 wherein said software further includes programming for comparing said preliminary route with information in said database to determine unnavigable segments of said preliminary route and replacing the unnavigable segments with navigable alternate route segments.

22. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the programming for modifying said preliminary route includes routines for incorporating route alterations in accordance with trip particulars supplied by the user.

23. The system defined in claim 22 wherein said trip particulars include minimum distance from land.

24. The system defined in claim 20 wherein the programming for generating said preliminary route includes routines for defining said preliminary route pursuant to information received from the user via said computer network.

25. The system defined in claim 20 wherein said software further includes programming for assigning respective depth values to grid lines, said preliminary route extending along grid lines, the programming for modifying said preliminary route including routines for replacing zig-zag portions of said preliminary route with straighter route segments.

26. The system defined in claim 19 wherein the information received from the user includes a start point, an end point, and a minimal depth, said software including programming for accessing said database to account for depths along at least one route extending between said start point and said end point.

27. The system defined in claim 26 wherein the information received from the user further includes a fuel usage rate, said software further including programming for determining at least one refueling location for the user along said route.

28. The system defined in claim 27 wherein said database includes data as to water currents, said programming including routines for calculating fuel usage in part in accordance with the water current data in said database.

29. The system defined in claim 26 wherein the information received from the user further includes at least one minimal acceptable distance selected from the group consisting of minimal acceptable distance from land, minimal acceptable distance from charted hazards, and minimal distance from user provided boundaries.

30. The system defined in claim 26 wherein the information received from the user further includes at least one route segment parameter taken from the group consisting of a minimum course change angle, a minimum leg length, and a maximum leg length.

31. The system defined in claim 26 wherein the information received from the user further includes vessel type and vessel length.

32. The system defined in claim 26 wherein said database includes bridge height data, the information received from the user further including a vertical clearance, said software further including programming for comparing said vertical clearance against a bridge height in said database.

33. The system defined in claim 19 wherein said database includes depth information determined in part by tide data, said software including programming for accounting for said tide data.

34. The system defined in claim 19 wherein said database includes depth contour information.

35. The system defined in claim 19 wherein said database includes information as to water currents.

36. The system defined in claim 19 wherein said route includes at least one waypoint, said software including programming for computing said waypoint.