Method of Operating a Navigation System

• US 20110191019A1
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Agulnek, Jeremy S., Tajpuria, Ashish B., Holsinger, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,837 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 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A method of operating a navigation system is disclosed. A request for a route to a large scale point of interest having multiple entrances is obtained. Data indicating a meeting point for the large scale point of interest is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The meeting point defines a location within the large scale point of interest or proximate to the large scale point of interest. A route to the meeting point location is calculated and the meeting point location is sent to another user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of operating a navigation system comprising:

obtaining a request from a first user for a route to a large scale point of interest having multiple entrances;

obtaining data from a geographic database associated with the navigation system indicating a meeting point for the large scale point of interest, wherein the meeting point defines a location within the large scale point of interest or proximate to the large scale point of interest;

calculating a route to the meeting point location; and

sending the meeting point location to a second user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing route guidance for following the route to the meeting point location, wherein the route guidance includes a guidance message stating a preferred name of the meeting point, wherein the preferred name is selected from a group consisting of a color of a feature associated with the meeting point location, a building material of the feature, a shape of the feature, an architectural style of the feature, a decorative element of the feature, and a local nickname of the feature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing route guidance for following the route to the meeting point location, wherein the route guidance includes an image of the meeting point.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the meeting point is associated with a feature visible to a pedestrian.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the large scale point of interest is associated with several meeting points, each meeting point having a type indicating a user preference.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the meeting point is created at a facility of a business owner that pays for the association of the meeting point with the large scale point of interest.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the meeting point is established by a local resident recommendation.

8. A navigation system comprising:

a processor,

a geographic database associated with the processor,

a route calculation program executed on the processor, wherein the route calculation program obtains a request for a route to a destination, obtains data from the geographic database to identify a meeting point associated with the destination, and calculates a route to a location of the meeting point.

9. The navigation system of claim 8 further comprising:

a route guidance program for providing guidance messages following the route to the meeting point.

10. The navigation system of claim 9, wherein the guidance message state a preferred name of the meeting point selected from a group consisting of a color of a feature associated with the meeting point, a building material of the feature, a shape of the feature, an architectural style of the feature, a decorative element of the feature, and a local nickname of the feature.

11. The navigation system of claim 9, wherein the guidance message includes an image of the meeting point.

12. The navigation system of claim 8 wherein the meeting point is a feature visible to a pedestrian.

13. The navigation system of claim 8 wherein the destination is associated with several meeting points, each meeting point having a type indicating a user preference.

14. The navigation system of claim 8 wherein the meeting point is created at a facility of a business owner that pays for the association of the meeting point with the destination.

15. The navigation system of claim 8 wherein the meeting point is established by a local resident recommendation.

16. The navigation system of claim 8 wherein the destination is a large scale point of interest and the meeting point is located proximate to the large scale point of interest

17. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system, the method comprising:

obtaining a request for a route to a destination;

obtaining data from a geographic database associated with the navigation system indicating a meeting point for the destination; and

calculating a route to the meeting point.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

sending the meeting point to another navigation system.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the meeting point is created at a facility of a business owner that pays for the association of the meeting point with the destination.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the meeting point is a feature visible to a pedestrian.