Community-Based Data for Mapping Systems

• US 20120183172A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Stroila, Matei
• Granted Patent: US 9,874,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments

Abstract

Systems, devices, features, and methods for community-based collection and use of data for mapping and/or navigation are disclosed. For example, a method is provided for use of community-based data for mapping. A camera image from a mobile device is associated with a geographic location. A processor executes an image recognition algorithm on the camera image. An address or business logo in the camera image is identified with the image recognition algorithm. Address or business logo specific information is determined based on the address or logo and the geographic location. The specific information may be contact information or business operation information.

Claims

1. A method for use of community-based data with navigation mapping, the method comprising:

associating a camera image from a mobile device with a geographic location;

executing, with a processor, an image recognition algorithm on the camera image;

identifying an address or business logo in the camera image with the image recognition algorithm; and

determining address or business logo specific information based on the address or logo and the geographic location, the specific information being contact information or business operation information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein associating comprises receiving the camera image with the geographic location, and determining comprises linking to the specific information with the geographic location in a mapping database.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting the specific information for different businesses and storing the specific information in the mapping database for use in augmented reality on other mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein associating comprises receiving the camera image with the geographic location, and determining comprises obtaining the specific information from a mapping database as a function of the geographic location and the address or business logo;

further comprising outputting the specific information to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising repeating the associating, determining, and outputting for a plurality of different mobile devices as part of augmented reality applications.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting the specific information for different businesses and storing the specific information in the mapping database, the collecting being from residents of the addresses and operators of the businesses;

wherein the associating, executing, identifying and determining are part of outputting the specific information to other mobile devices of visitors to the addresses and businesses.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact information comprises a phone number, an e-mail address, a uniform resource locator link, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the business operation information comprises a coupon, hours of operation, a uniform resource locator link, a phone number, an incentive, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying comprises identifying an address.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying comprises identifying the business logo.

11. An apparatus for navigation mapping with community-based data, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a captured image from a mobile device, wherein the captured image includes identifying information; and

a processor configured to connect additional information from a user associated with the identifying information with a geographical location, the processor configured to store the additional information from the user for querying based on the identifying information and the geographical location.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a database having navigation data, wherein the processor is configured to receive the captured image and the additional information from the user and configured to store the additional information in the database, the additional information linked to the geographical location, the processor configured to perform the receiving and storing for additional information for different geographical locations from different users.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is configured to receive another captured image of the identifying information from a different user, extract the indentifying information from the other capture image, look-up the additional information from the user in the database, and output the additional information to the other user.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to store the captured image.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the captured image is associated with the geographical location of the mobile device, the processor configured to connect the additional information with the geographical location in a mapping database.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the additional information comprises a phone number, an e-mail address, a uniform resource locator link, a directory, a menu, a coupon, hours of operation, an incentive, or combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein an image recognition algorithm applied by the processor is configured to extract the identifying information, the identifying information comprising an address or a business logo.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions, executable by a processor, for associating non-location data with geographical data, the instructions comprising:

receiving an image of a reference and geographical location for the image from an augmented reality application of a mobile device;

obtaining, from a database, the non-location data as a function of the geographical location and the reference; and

outputting the non-location data to the augmented reality application of the mobile device, the non-location data usable by the augmented reality application to output contact information to a user of the mobile device, the contact information being for the reference.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the reference comprises an address or a business logo.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the non-location data comprises WiFi, contact, or incentive information.

21. A method for community-based collection of data for navigation mapping, the method comprising:

receiving images of address numbers or business logos from mobile devices of users;

receiving, with the images, geographic locations of the mobile devices when the images were captured by the mobile devices and personal contact information or business operating information for each of the users;

populating a database of the personal contact information or business operating information for the users, the database being referenced by the address numbers or business logos and the geographic location; and

outputting, to a mobile device of a person, the personal contact information or business operating information for a first of the users in response to receipt of a further image of a first of the address numbers or business logos and geographic location information of the mobile device of the person.

22. A method of community-based collection of data for navigation mapping, the method comprising:

receiving an incentive to collect requested data, the incentive corresponding to having the requested data or information associated with the requested data in an augmented reality program in exchange for transmitting the requested data;

collecting the requested data; and

transmitting the collected data,

wherein the transmitted data or information associated with the transmitted data is viewable via an augmented reality application on a device as a function of fulfillment of the incentive.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the requested data includes a geographical address or geographical location information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the information associated with the requested data includes hours of operation, location information, non-location information, personal information, an advertisement, or a phone number.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein collecting the requested data and transmitting the collected data are performed using a device that received a digital message corresponding to the incentive.