USER GENERATED PEDESTRIAN AND INDOOR SHORTCUT ROUTES FOR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

• US 20100125409A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: PREHOFER, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles

Abstract

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product are disclosed for creating and displaying shortcuts and landmarks on a navigational map. The embodiments include storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path. The shortcuts may be categorized by their context in travel classes such as car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, disabled pedestrian, or the like. The embodiments register in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path and record locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path. The embodiments receive signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path, including digital photographs, descriptive text and voice clips. The embodiments then form in a shortcut mapping file the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and the context data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

registering in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path;

recording descriptions of locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path;

receiving signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path; and

forming a shortcut map including the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and information about the context data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the shortcut map to be accessible with a query based on the starting location for the shortcut path and the context data, in at least one of a memory in the wireless device or a database in a server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically accessing the shortcut map with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically accessing a shortcut map pre-installed in the wireless device, with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically accessing a shortcut map provided by a remote user, with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the recorded shortcut path on a navigation map in the wireless device by juxtaposing the starting location of the shortcut path with the same location in the navigation map.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the recorded shortcut path and the information about the landmark in the wireless device by selecting an icon displayed on the recorded shortcut path.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a navigation map object combining the shortcut path with a navigation map and equating the starting location of the shortcut path with the same respective location in the navigation map; and

storing the navigation map object to be accessible by the starting location for the shortcut path and the context data, in at least one of a memory in the wireless device or a database in a server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the landmark is at least one of a digital photograph, text describing the landmark, text describing path directions, or a voice clip.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel class data is at least one of car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, or disabled pedestrian.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory in a mobile wireless device, configured to store context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

a transponder in the device, configured to receive signals related to a current location of the device;

a processor in the device, configured to register a starting location for a shortcut path;

the memory further configured to record descriptions of locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path;

an interface in the device, configured to receive signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path; and

the processor further configured to form a shortcut map including the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and information about the context data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the processor further configured to form the shortcut map to be accessible with a query based on the starting location for the shortcut path and the context data, for storage in at least one of a memory in the wireless device or a database in a server.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the processor further configured to automatically access the shortcut map with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the processor further configured to automatically access a shortcut map pre-installed in the wireless device, with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the processor further configured to automatically access a shortcut map provided by a remote user, with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a display configured to display the recorded shortcut path on a navigation map in the wireless device by juxtaposing the starting location of the shortcut path with the same location in the navigation map.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a display configured to display the recorded shortcut path and the information about the landmark in the wireless device by selecting an icon displayed on the recorded shortcut path.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the processor further configured to form a navigation map object combining the shortcut path with a navigation map and equating the starting location of the shortcut path with the same respective location in the navigation map; and

the processor further configured to form the navigation map object to be accessible by the starting location for the shortcut path and the context data, in at least one of a memory in the wireless device or a database in a server.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the information about the landmark is at least one of a digital photograph, text describing the landmark, text describing path directions, or a voice clip.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the travel class data is at least one of car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, or disabled pedestrian.

21. A computer readable medium, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of;

storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

registering in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path;

recording descriptions of locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path;

receiving signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path; and

forming a shortcut map including the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and information about the context data.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

storing the shortcut map to be accessible with a query based on the starting location for the shortcut path and the context data, in at least one of a memory in the wireless device or a database in a server.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

automatically accessing the shortcut map with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

automatically accessing a shortcut map pre-installed in the wireless device, with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

automatically accessing a shortcut map provided by a remote user, with a query based on a current location of the wireless device and the context data.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 21, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

displaying the recorded shortcut path on a navigation map in the wireless device by juxtaposing the starting location of the shortcut path with the same location in the navigation map.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

displaying the recorded shortcut path and the information about the landmark in the wireless device by selecting an icon displayed on the recorded shortcut path.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 21, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of:

forming a navigation map object combining the shortcut path with a navigation map and equating the starting location of the shortcut path with the same respective location in the navigation map; and

storing the navigation map object to be accessible by the starting location for the shortcut path and the context data, in at least one of a memory in the wireless device or a database in a server.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the information about the landmark is at least one of a digital photograph, text describing the landmark, text describing path directions, or a voice clip.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the travel class data is at least one of car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, or disabled pedestrian.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

means for storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

means for registering in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path;

means for recording descriptions of locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path;

means for receiving signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path; and

means for forming a shortcut map including the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and information about the context data.

32. A method, comprising:

storing in a database in a server a navigation map object including a navigation map encompassing a mapped location at a map coordinate, the navigation map object to be accessible in the database using as a search term the map coordinate and context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

receiving in the server a shortcut map including a recorded shortcut path having the context data and a starting location at the map coordinate;

storing in the database in the server the shortcut map to be accessible in the database using the context data and the map coordinate as a search term;

receiving in the server a database query based on the context data and the map coordinate; and

accessing from the database the navigation map object and the shortcut map in response to the query.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

merging the shortcut map with the navigation map object.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

a database in a server, configured to store a navigation map object including a navigation map encompassing a mapped location at a map coordinate, the navigation map object to be accessible in the database using as a search term the map coordinate and context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

a transceiver in the server, configured to receive a shortcut map including a recorded shortcut path having the context data and a starting location at the map coordinate;

the database further configured to store the shortcut map to be accessible in the database using the context data and the map coordinate as a search term;

the transceiver further configured to receive a database query based on the context data and the map coordinate; and

the database further configured to access the navigation map object and the shortcut map in response to the query.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

the database further configured to merge the shortcut map with the navigation map object.

36. A computer readable medium, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of;

storing in a database in a server a navigation map object including a navigation map encompassing a mapped location at a map coordinate, the navigation map object to be accessible in the database using as a search term the map coordinate and context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

receiving in the server a shortcut map including a recorded shortcut path having the context data and a starting location at the map coordinate;

storing in the database in the server the shortcut map to be accessible in the database using the context data and the map coordinate as a search term;

receiving in the server a database query based on the context data and the map coordinate; and

accessing from the database the navigation map object and the shortcut map in response to the query.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 36, storing program code which, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

merging the shortcut map with the navigation map object.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

means for storing in a database in a server a navigation map object including a navigation map encompassing a mapped location at a map coordinate, the navigation map object to be accessible in the database using as a search term the map coordinate and context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path;

means for receiving in the server a shortcut map including a recorded shortcut path having the context data and a starting location at the map coordinate;

means for storing in the database in the server the shortcut map to be accessible in the database using the context data and the map coordinate as a search term;

means for receiving in the server a database query based on the context data and the map coordinate; and

means for accessing from the database the navigation map object and the shortcut map in response to the query.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for merging the shortcut map with the navigation map object.