Stateful, double-buffered dynamic navigation voice prompting

• US 20090125227A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Wistrand, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/92 Navigation

Abstract

A navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a client device, comprising:

a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer, and each having an acquiring resources state, and a voice prompt and de-allocating state; and

a navigation program to manage said acquiring resources state and said voice prompt and de-allocating state in each of said plurality of media players.

2. The navigation system for a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said voice prompt is dynamically created based on a changing location of said client device.

3. The navigation system for a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said navigation system is written in Java Platform Micro Edition (J2ME) Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP).

4. The navigation system for a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of media players interface with hardware resources via an asynchronous hardware interface.

5. The navigation system for a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said navigation system is implemented in a personal data assistant (PDA).

6. The navigation system for a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said navigation system is implemented in a cellular phone.

7. The navigation system for a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said navigation system is multi-threaded.

8. A method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system, comprising:

instantiating a plurality of media players for a client device, each of said media players respectively comprising a buffer; and

executing a navigation program to manage a state of each of said plurality of media players;

wherein said plurality of media players each have an acquiring resources state, and a voice prompt and de-allocating state.

9. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, further comprising:

allocating media player resources;

filling buffers associated with each of said plurality of media players;

setting a volume for said plurality of media players;

playing said voice prompt;

de-allocating said buffers associated with each of said plurality of media players;

de-allocating said media player resources; and

closing each of said plurality of media players.

10. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

said voice prompt is dynamically created based on a changing location of said client device.

11. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

said navigation system is written in Java Platform Micro Edition (J2ME) Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP).

12. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, further comprising:

interfacing said plurality of media players with hardware resources via an asynchronous hardware interface.

13. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

said navigation system is implemented in a personal data assistant (PDA).

14. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

said navigation system is implemented in a cell phone.

15. The method of providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system according to claim 8, further comprising:

multi-threading said navigation system.

16. Apparatus for providing a plurality of buffers for a navigation system, comprising:

means for instantiating a plurality of media players for a client device, each of said media players respectively comprising a buffer; and

means for executing a navigation program to manage a state of each of said plurality of media players;

wherein said plurality of media players each have an acquiring resources state, and a voice prompt and de-allocating state.