Position Privacy in an Electronic Device

• US 20080074315A1
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. The privacy enhancement device may include a jammer which may produces false information, e.g. false information indicative of pseudo ranges. In addition, the navigation information used on the position detecting device may be locally stored versions of dynamically changing information. The navigation operation may be carried out using a Web service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating a navigation system that determines a current location and provides navigation information that guides from the current location to a desired location; and

.

displaying a graphical user interface, formed of a local area map, said local area map including at least one landmark thereon; and

detecting a user selecting a desired location for navigation by selecting an area on said map and providing navigation information to said desired location.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising zooming on the map to allow more detail about a selecting area on the map, said zooming responsive to an actuation on the map.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises centering the local area map at said current location determined by the navigation system.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said landmarks is something other than street information.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said at least one landmark includes a shopping establishments.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein each selecting on the map is sent to a remote Web server, which returns information based on said selecting.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said information sent to said Web Server is in XML format.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises selecting an area on the map and causing a new area on the map to be displayed which is centered at an area related to said selecting.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising associating and displaying a screen tip with an area on the map, when a selection is placed near said area on the map.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising allowing selection of a pulldown menu near an area, which pulldown menu shows certain options in the area.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said options include street names in the area.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein said operating, displaying and detecting are carried out on a cellular phone.

13. An navigation apparatus, comprising:

a user interface having controls from which a user selects a desired location and which also displays information;

a position determining part, determining a current location;

a navigation part, providing navigation information that guides from the current location to the desired location; and

to navigate to the selected location,

wherein said user interface displays a map, said map having a number of areas which can be selected by a selection function within the user interface, said user interface allowing the user to select one of said areas, and to provide navigation information to the selected area, said map including at least one landmark.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said at least one landmark is other than a street name.

15. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said user interface centering an area of said map at said current location determined by the position determining part.

16. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said user interface is on a cellular phone.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said navigation part receives said navigation information from communications over a network used by the cellular phone.

zooming

18. A navigation system, comprising:

a communicating device, having a user interface;

a position detecting part, determining a current position, and sending information indicative of said current position using said communicating device;

a display screen, showing a map obtained from said communicating device responsive to said sending of information,

said user interface enabling selecting an area on the map; and

a navigation part, which provides instructions to a user indicative of navigation to a desired location;

wherein said navigation part includes a first part which determines a location on the map that was selected by the user, sends information indicative of said location using said communicating device and receives navigation information over said communicating device.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein said device is a cellular telephone.

20. A device as in claim 18, wherein said position detecting part detects position using GPS and also at least one item of information other than GPS.