GPS enabled cell phone with compass mode mapping function

• US 20060166703A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A wireless terminal displays its location and a map segment on a display of the wireless terminal. Operation commences with the wireless terminal accessing its GPS receiver to determine its location coordinates. Based upon its location coordinates, the wireless terminal accesses a map segment. The wireless terminal determines its orientation with respect to a reference direction. The wireless terminal displays the map segment on its display such that the map segment is displayed in a correct orientation with respect to mapped physical features. The wireless terminal displays an icon on its display that represents the wireless terminal. The icon is displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal. The display of the wireless terminal orients the mapped physical features on the display so that they are oriented correctly with respect to the actual physical features.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wireless terminal to display its location and a map segment on a display of the wireless terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

accessing a map segment corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

determining an orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to a reference direction;

displaying the map segment on the display of the wireless terminal based upon the orientation of the wireless terminal so that the map segment is displayed in a correct orientation with respect to mapped physical features; and

displaying an icon that represents the wireless terminal on the display, the icon displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapped physical features are selected from the group consisting of at least roads, intersections of roads, residences, businesses, train stations, bus stations, airports, points of interest, meeting places, and museums.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based upon the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to the reference direction, selecting a physical feature of the mapped physical features; and

displaying information regarding the selected physical feature of the mapped physical features to a user of the wireless terminal via a user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting a physical feature of the mapped physical features is further based upon at least one of:

a filtering criteria established by the user;

user input received via the user interface; and

a time of day.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving user input regarding the selected physical feature; and

initiating a communication to a communication device associated with the selected physical feature.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

in response to user input received via the user interface, selecting a different physical feature of the mapped physical features; and

displaying information regarding the different selected physical feature of the mapped physical features to a user of the wireless terminal via the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based upon the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to the reference direction, selecting a group of physical features of the mapped physical features;

based upon user input, selecting a physical feature of the group of physical features of the mapped physical features; and

displaying information regarding the selected physical feature of the group of physical features of the mapped physical features to a user of the wireless terminal via a user interface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

based upon user input, selecting a different physical feature of the selected group of physical features of the mapped physical features; and

displaying information regarding the different selected physical feature of the mapped physical features to the user of the wireless terminal via a user interface.

9. The method of claim 1:

further comprising determining an elevation of the wireless terminal; and

wherein the map segment corresponds to both the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the elevation of the wireless terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a physical feature of the mapped physical features based upon user input; and

providing an indication to a user of the wireless terminal regarding the relative position of the wireless terminal with respect to the selected physical feature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the indication is selected from the group consisting of at least:

a flashing light having a flashing pattern corresponding to proximity of the wireless terminal to the selected physical feature;

an audible alarm having an audible pattern corresponding to proximity of the wireless terminal to the selected physical feature;

a visual meter reading having an indicated magnitude corresponding to a proximity of the wireless terminal to the selected physical feature; and

a visual vector reading having an indicated magnitude and direction corresponding to a relative position of the wireless terminal with respect to the selected physical feature.

12. A wireless terminal comprising:

a wireless interface;

a user interface including a display;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the wireless interface, the user interface, and the GPS receiver and operable to;

access the GPS receiver to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

access a map segment corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

determine an orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to a reference direction;

display the map segment on the display of the wireless terminal based upon the orientation of the wireless terminal so that the map segment is displayed in a correct orientation with respect to mapped physical features; and

display an icon that represents the wireless terminal on the display, the icon displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates.

13. The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein the mapped physical features are selected from the group consisting of at least roads, intersections of roads, residences, businesses, train stations, bus stations, airports, points of interest, meeting places, and museums.

14. The wireless terminal of claim 12 wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

based upon the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to the reference direction, select a physical feature of the mapped physical features; and

display information regarding the selected physical feature of the mapped physical features to a user of the wireless terminal via the user interface.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein in selecting a physical feature of the mapped physical features, the processing unit is operable to further employ at least one of:

a filtering criteria established by the user;

user input; and

a time of day.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

receive user input via the user interface regarding the selected physical feature; and

initiate a communication to a communication device associated with the selected physical feature.

17. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

in response to user input received via a user interface, select a different physical feature of the mapped physical features; and

display information regarding the different selected physical feature of the mapped physical features to a user of the wireless terminal via a user interface.

18. The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

based upon the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to the reference direction, select a group of physical features of the mapped physical features;

based upon user input received via the user interface, select a physical feature of the group of physical features of the mapped physical features; and

display information regarding the selected physical feature of the group of physical features of the mapped physical features to a user of the wireless terminal via the user interface.

19. The wireless terminal of claim 18, wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

based upon user input, select a different physical feature of the selected group of physical features of the mapped physical features; and

display information regarding the different selected physical feature of the mapped physical features via a user interface.

20. The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

determine an elevation of the wireless terminal; and

select the map segment based upon both the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the elevation of the wireless terminal.

21. The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further operable to:

select a physical feature of the mapped physical features based upon user input; and

provide an indication regarding the relative position of the wireless terminal with respect to the selected physical feature.

22. The wireless terminal of claim 21, wherein the indication is selected from the group consisting of at least:

a flashing light having a flashing pattern corresponding to proximity of the wireless terminal to the selected physical feature;

an audible alarm having an audible pattern corresponding to proximity of the wireless terminal to the selected physical feature;

a visual meter reading having an indicated magnitude corresponding to a proximity of the wireless terminal to the selected physical feature; and

a visual vector reading having an indicated magnitude and direction corresponding to a relative position of the wireless terminal with respect to the selected physical feature.