START-OF-ROUTE MAP NAVIGATION WITH SUPPRESSION OF OFF-ROUTE FEEDBACK

• US 20120303270A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Su, Chien-Wen Danny, Alam, Mudassir, Bharathan, Aarti, Candelas Gonzalez, Juan Pablo
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• 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 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635

Abstract

A map navigation tool provides a start-of-route buffer area in which off-route feedback (e.g., audio or visual warnings or alerts) can be suppressed in some circumstances. For example, a mobile computing device implements a map navigation tool that can output off-route feedback when the user strays from a route, but also can suppress off-route feedback when the user is within a start-of-route buffer area. Off-route feedback can continue to be suppressed until some other event, such as the user leaving the start-of-route buffer area, occurs. Off-route feedback can be suppressed even if the user is not within a start-of-route buffer area, such as when the map navigation tool generates a route when the user is at an initial location that is far away from any part of the route and then joins the route later (e.g., at the start location or downstream from the start location).

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method comprising:

identifying a current location of a computing device, the current location being within a start-of-route buffer area associated with a start location of a route defined by a map navigation tool;

determining a movement direction of the computing device; and

suppressing off-route feedback based at least in part on the movement direction and the current location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the start-of-route buffer area surrounds the start location of the route.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the start-of-route buffer area is a circular area.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the size of the start-of-route buffer area is variable based at least in part on the current location of the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the size of the start-of-route buffer area is variable based at least in part on a distance between the current location of the computing device and the start location of the route.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is located within the start-of-route buffer area when the route is generated.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

if the movement direction is such that a distance between the computing device and the start location of the route is not increasing, off-route feedback is suppressed;

otherwise, if the movement direction is such that a distance between the computing device and the start location is increasing, off-route feedback is not suppressed.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a rate of movement of the computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising selectively raising an off-route event based at least in part on the movement direction and the rate of movement, wherein:

if the movement direction indicates movement away from the start location of the route and the rate of movement is less than a threshold, an off-route event is raised;

otherwise, an off-route event is not raised.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a smart phone having a touchscreen, and wherein, when the current location is within the start-of-route buffer area:

idle timer reset functionality is enabled for the smart phone;

dynamic zoom functionality is disabled;

orientation of a view of a map is set such that north is upward in the view of the map; and

tap input functionality is set such that a tap input on the touchscreen causes first item in a list of directions associated with the route to be displayed and announced.

11. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device to perform a method comprising:

identifying a first location of a mobile computing device that implements a map navigation tool, the first location being an off-route location outside a start-of-route buffer area associated with a start location of a route defined by the map navigation tool; and

suppressing off-route feedback based at least in part on the first location.

12. The computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the mobile computing device is located outside the start-of-route buffer when the route is generated.

13. The computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone having a touchscreen, wherein idle timer reset functionality in the smart phone is disabled, wherein dynamic zoom functionality in the map navigation tool is disabled, wherein orientation of a view of a map is set in the map navigation tool such that north is upward in the view of the map, and wherein tap input functionality in the map navigation tool is set such that a tap input on the touchscreen causes a first item in a list of directions associated with the route to be announced.

14. The computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the off-route feedback remains suppressed during movement of the mobile computing device to a second location, the second location being an on-route location.

15. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein the second location is within the start-of-route buffer area.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein idle timer reset functionality for the mobile computing device is changed for the second location relative to the first location.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein dynamic zoom functionality is changed for the second location relative to the first location.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein orientation of a view of a map is changed for the second location relative to the first location.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein tap input functionality is changed for the second location relative to the first location.

20. A mobile computing device that includes a processor, memory and storage media, the storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile computing device to perform a method comprising:

identifying a first location of the mobile computing device that implements a map navigation tool, the first location being an off-route location relative to a route defined by the map navigation tool, wherein the first location is outside a buffer area associated with a start location of the route;

suppressing off-route feedback during movement of the mobile computing device to a second location, the second location of the mobile computing device being an on-route location;

changing idle timer reset functionality of the mobile computing device for the second location of the mobile computing device relative to the first location of the mobile computing device;

changing dynamic zoom functionality of the map navigation tool for the second location of the mobile computing device relative to the first location of the mobile computing device;

changing orientation of a view of a map in the map navigation tool for the second location of the mobile computing device relative to the first location of the mobile computing device; and

changing tap input functionality of the map navigation tool for the second location of the mobile computing device relative to the first location of the mobile computing device.