Method, Apparatus and Computer Program Product for Providing Instructions to a Destination that is Revealed Upon Arrival

• US 20090171559A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2011 Intellectual Property Asset Trust (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Eronen, Antti, Holm, Jukka A., Lehtiniemi, Arto
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

An apparatus for providing instructions to a destination that is revealed upon arrival may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of context associated with a user, determine a destination for the user based on the context and user information, provide for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination, and reveal the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving indications of context associated with a user;

determining a destination for the user based on the context and user information;

providing for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination; and

revealing the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving indications of context comprises:

receiving indications of an image containing an object;

determining whether the object corresponds to a particular object having a predefined association; and

in response to the object corresponding to the particular object, utilizing the predefined association in determining the destination.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the object corresponds to the particular object comprises comparing features of the image to source images including object features to find a corresponding object having features matching the features of the image and determining whether the corresponding object is one of a plurality of particular objects having respective predefined associations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the destination comprises utilizing user information comprising user preferences, a user profile or user activity for selecting the destination from among a plurality of candidate destinations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing for the presentation of guidance instructions comprises providing a display of a visual indicator indicating a direction of travel toward the destination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the display of the visual indicator further comprises providing a change to a characteristic of the visual indicator based on proximity to the destination or a theme associated with the destination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the destination further comprises selecting one destination among a plurality of candidate destinations that each correspond to an entity that has registered for inclusion as a candidate destination.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving feedback from the user regarding the destination.

9. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for receiving indications of context associated with a user;

a second executable portion for determining a destination for the user based on the context and user information;

a third executable portion for providing for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination; and

a fourth executable portion for revealing the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first executable portion includes instructions for:

receiving indications of an image containing an object;

determining whether the object corresponds to a particular object having a predefined association; and

in response to the object corresponding to the particular object, utilizing the predefined association in determining the destination.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the first executable portion includes instructions for comparing features of the image to source images including object features to find a corresponding object having features matching the features of the image and determining whether the corresponding object is one of a plurality of particular objects having respective predefined associations.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the second executable portion includes instructions for utilizing user information comprising user preferences, a user profile or user activity for selecting the destination from among a plurality of candidate destinations.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for providing a display of a visual indicator indicating a direction of travel toward the destination.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for providing a change to a characteristic of the visual indicator based on proximity to the destination or a theme associated with the destination.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the second executable portion includes instructions for selecting one destination among a plurality of candidate destinations that each correspond to an entity that has registered for inclusion as a candidate destination.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising a fifth executable portion for receiving feedback from the user regarding the destination.

17. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

receive indications of context associated with a user;

determine a destination for the user based on the context and user information;

provide for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination; and

reveal the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to receive indications of context by:

receiving indications of an image containing an object;

determining whether the object corresponds to a particular object having a predefined association; and

in response to the object corresponding to the particular object, utilizing the predefined association in determining the destination.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the object corresponds to the particular object by comparing features of the image to source images including object features to find a corresponding object having features matching the features of the image and determining whether the corresponding object is one of a plurality of particular objects having respective predefined associations.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the destination by utilizing user information comprising user preferences, a user profile or user activity for selecting the destination from among a plurality of candidate destinations.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to provide for the presentation of guidance instructions by providing a display of a visual indicator indicating a direction of travel toward the destination.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to provide the display of the visual indicator by providing a change to a characteristic of the visual indicator based on proximity to the destination or a theme associated with the destination.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the destination by selecting one destination among a plurality of candidate destinations that each correspond to an entity that has registered for inclusion as a candidate destination.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to receive feedback from the user regarding the destination.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving indications of context associated with a user;

means for determining a destination for the user based on the context and user information;

means for providing for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination; and

means for revealing the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.