NATURE EVENT SIGNALING

• US 20120310530A1
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Lee, Choy Wai
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/439
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for nature event signaling are provided. Example mobile electronic devices of the present disclosure can include a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The processor executes the instructions to calculate a distance between a reference location and a current location, and calculate a travel time for the distance based on a speed. The processor also executes the instructions to determine a nature event time and cause a return alert indication to be signaled, via the mobile electronic device, based on a comparison of a calculated travel time and the nature event time.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon; and

a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the processor executes the instructions to;

calculate a distance between a reference location and a current location of the mobile electronic device;

calculate a travel time for the distance based on a speed;

determine a nature event time; and

cause a return alert indication to be signaled based on a comparison of the calculated travel time and the nature event time.

2. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to determine the nature event time as one of a sunset time or a sunrise time.

3. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to calculate an arrival time at the reference location as a sum of a current time reference location and the travel time, wherein the return alert indication is based on a comparison of the calculated arrival time, travel time, and nature time event.

4. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to determine the nature event time via access of a remote database having nature event times including sunrise and sunset tables, tide tables, and moon phase tables.

5. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to display a range indication in multiple directions from the current location indicating a plurality of locations that are calculated to be reachable traveling by the nature event time based on a respective speed corresponding with travel on a respective route to each of the plurality of locations.

6. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to cause the return alert indication to be signaled that includes display of a minimum speed necessary for traversing the distance to reach the reference location before the nature event time.

7. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to calculate the distance between the reference location and the current location as a return distance between the current location and a starting location of a route traveled from the starting location to the current location, wherein the speed is an average speed enroute from the starting location to the current location adjusted for changes in terrain for a return route relative to an outbound route.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to receive an input to adjust a return alert signal to a time different by a certain margin from the nature event time, wherein causing the return alert indication to be signaled is also based on the return alert signal.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor executes the instructions to cause the return alert indication to be signaled, the return alert indication including an indication the nature event time and an identification of a nature event corresponding to the nature event time.

10. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a memory operable to store executable instructions, map data, and at least one geo-referenced nature event time;

location-determining functionality coupled to the memory and operable to receive signals to determine a reference location and a current location of the mobile electronic device based on the signals;

a display device to display navigation information generated using the map data, wherein the navigation information includes a distance to the reference location; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor executes the instructions to;

calculate a travel time for the distance to the reference location based on a speed;

determine a nature event time at the reference location;

calculate a departure time associated with the reference location as a difference between the nature event time and the travel time to the reference location; and

cause the display device to signal the graphic return alert indication based on a comparison of a current time and the calculated departure time.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor executes the instructions to a travel time is calculated for a plurality of reference locations, a nature event time is determined for the plurality of reference locations, a departure time is calculated for the plurality of reference locations, and the display device is caused to signal the graphic return alert indication based on a comparison of a current time and a calculated departure time for each of the respective reference locations according to a hierarchy adjustable by a user input.

12. A method, comprising:

calculating, by a mobile electronic device, a distance between a reference location and a current location;

calculating a travel time for the distance based on a speed;

determining a nature event time; and

causing a return alert indication to be signaled, via the mobile electronic device, based on a comparison of the calculated travel time and the nature event time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a nature event time includes determining for the reference location one of a sunset time or a sunrise time.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising calculating an arrival time at the reference location as a sum of a current time at the reference location and the travel time, wherein the return alert indication is based on a comparison of the calculated arrival time at the reference location, travel time, and the nature event time.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a nature event time includes accessing a remote database having nature event times including sunrise and sunset tables, tide tables, and moon phase tables.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein signaling the return alert indication includes displaying a range indication in multiple directions from the current location indicating a plurality of locations that are calculated to be reachable traveling by the nature event time based on a respective speed corresponding with travel on a respective route to each of the plurality of locations.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the return alert indication to be signaled includes causing display of a minimum speed necessary for traversing the distance to reach the reference location before the nature event time.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the distance between the reference location and the current location includes calculating a return distance between the current location and a starting location of a route traveled from the starting location to the current location, and wherein the speed is an average speed enroute from the starting location to the current location adjusted for changes in terrain for a return route relative to an outbound route.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving an input to adjust a return alert signal to a time different by a certain margin from the nature event time, wherein causing a return alert indication to be signaled is also based on the return alert signal.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the return alert indication to be signaled includes indicating the nature event time at the reference location and an identification of a nature event corresponding to the nature event time.