Mobile geographic information system and method

• US 20080162032A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPOINTER, INC.
• Original Assignee: IPOINTER, INC.
• Inventors: Wuersch, Markus, Caduff, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator

Abstract

The present invention includes a mobile geographic information system and method. The method includes the steps of inputting data representing a user position, defining a first circularly spatially extended point (CSEP) about the user in response to the user position data, defining a first waypoint associated with a geographic feature, defining a second CSEP about the first waypoint, and providing a qualitative user position relative to the geographic feature in response to a predetermined topological relationship between the first CSEP and the second CSEP. The mobile geographic information system includes a database containing geographic information including information related to a geographic feature and information relating to a first waypoint associated with the geographic feature and a mobile device in communication with the database, wherein the mobile device includes a controller and a position sensor for determining a user position associated with the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile geographic information system comprising:

a database containing geographic information including information related to a geographic feature and information relating to a first waypoint associated with the geographic feature; and

a mobile device in communication with the database, the mobile device having a controller communicable with the database and a position sensor for determining a user position associated with the mobile device;

wherein the controller is adapted to receive information denoting the user position and, in combination with the geographic information relating to the geographic feature and the first waypoint, the controller is further adapted to instruct the user as to a qualitative relative position of the mobile device and the geographic feature in response to a predetermined topological relationship between the user position and the first waypoint associated with the geographic feature.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the user position comprises a first circular spatially extended point defined in part by the position sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first waypoint comprises a second circular spatially extended point defined in part by the geographic information relating to the geographic feature.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the predetermined topological relationship between the user position and the first waypoint includes a topological relationship between the first circular spatially extended point and the second circular spatially extended point.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the qualitative relative position between the user position (A) and the first waypoint (B) is determined in response to a topological relationship selected from the group consisting of:

a disjointing of A and B, a meeting of A and B, an overlap of A and B, a covering by A of B, a covering by B of A, a containment by A of B, a containment by B of A, or an equality between A and B.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device includes an orientation sensor to define a user orientation.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the database further includes a navigable route related to the geographic feature, the navigable route defined in part by the first waypoint and a second waypoint.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second waypoint comprises a third circular spatially extended point.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further adapted to adapted to instruct the user along the navigable route in response to the user orientation and a predetermined topological relationship between the user position and the second waypoint.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the predetermined topological relationship between the user position and the second waypoint includes a topological relationship between a first circular spatially extended point and the third circular spatially extended point.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device includes the database.

12. A computer-implemented method for providing geographic information comprising:

inputting data representing a user position;

defining a first circular spatially extended point about the user in response to the user position data;

defining a first waypoint associated with a geographic feature;

defining a second circular spatially extended point about the first waypoint; and

providing a qualitative user position relative to the geographic feature in response to a predetermined topological relationship between the first circular spatially extended point and the second circular spatially extended point.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of inputting data regarding a user orientation.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the qualitative relative position between the user position (A) and the first waypoint (B) is determined in response to a topological relationship selected from the group consisting of:

a disjointing of A and B, a meeting of A and B, an overlap of A and B, a covering by A of B, a covering by B of A, a containment by A of B, a containment by B of A, or an equality between A and B.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of defining a second waypoint associated with a navigable route.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of defining a third circular spatially extended point about the second waypoint.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of instructing the user along the navigable route in response to a user orientation and a predetermined topological relationship between the user position and the second waypoint.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined topological relationship between the user position and the second waypoint includes a topological relationship between the first circular spatially extended point and the third circular spatially extended point.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of inputting data representing a user position includes the step of receiving data regarding a position of a mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of receiving data regarding a position of a mobile device includes the step of receiving data from a global positioning system.