Natural Navigational Guidance

• US 20130197798A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artax LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Clark, Brant Miller, Goddard, Mark, Kaplan, Diego Andres
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/428
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road

Abstract

Natural navigational guidance, provides enhanced guidance instructions that take advantage of unique geographic features along a navigated route to specify maneuver points. Guidance points are clearly visible, unambiguous, and locally unique features in the geography of the maneuver area that can be used to aid the user in discovering the place where the maneuver point is. Within a guidance point selection area, a specific guidance point type has a more strict area within which it can be used. A natural guidance point selection area for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated is determined, and a unique geographic feature within the determined natural guidance point selection area is selected as a natural guidance point for navigation of the upcoming maneuver. A turn-type natural guidance point for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated is generated when the user device is within the natural guidance point selection area.

Claims

1. A method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device, comprising:

determining a natural guidance point selection area for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated;

selecting a unique geographic feature within said determined natural guidance point selection area, as a natural guidance point for navigation of said upcoming maneuver; and

generating a turn-type natural guidance point for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated, when said user device is within said natural guidance point selection area.

2. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a prepare to-type natural guidance point outside said natural guidance point selection area when said natural guidance point is not used as a turn-type natural guidance point.

3. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, wherein:

said selection of said unique geographic feature is prioritized among available types of unique geographic features within said natural guidance point selection area.

4. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 3, wherein said natural guidance point types comprise:

a railroad track;

a traffic light;

a stop sign;

an end of road;

a bridge; and

a street count.

5. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, wherein:

said geographic feature is selected in a decending order of priority among the following;

a traffic light,

a stop sign,

an end of road,

a railroad track,

a bridge, and

a street count.

6. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, wherein:

a priority of selection of said geographic feature is configurable in a server.

7. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a point to begin providing natural guidance from said user device based on a type of said natural guidance point type.

8. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, wherein:

said user device is a smartphone.

9. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, wherein:

said user device is a tablet.

10. The method of providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 1, wherein:

said natural guidance point selection area does not include area behind a user device'"'"'s current position and direction of travel.

11. Apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device, comprising:

means for determining a natural guidance point selection area for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated;

means for selecting a unique geographic feature within said determined natural guidance point selection area, as a natural guidance point for navigation of said upcoming maneuver; and

means for generating a turn-type natural guidance point for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated, when said user device is within said natural guidance point selection area.

12. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for generating a prepare to-type natural guidance point outside said natural guidance point selection area when said natural guidance point is not used as a turn-type natural guidance point.

13. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, wherein:

said means for selecting said unique geographic feature prioritizes said geographic features among available types of unique geographic features within said natural guidance point selection area.

14. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 13, wherein said natural guidance point types comprise:

a traffic light;

a stop sign;

an end of road;

a railroad track;

a bridge; and

a street count.

15. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, wherein:

said means for selecting said unique geographic feature selects said unique geographic feature in a decending order of priority among the following;

a railroad track,

a traffic light,

a stop sign,

an end of road,

a bridge, and

a street count.

16. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining a point to begin providing natural guidance from said user device based on a type of said natural guidance point type.

17. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, wherein:

said user device is a smartphone.

18. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, wherein:

said user device is a tablet.

19. The apparatus for providing natural navigational guidance to a user device according to claim 11, wherein:

said natural guidance point selection area does not include area behind a user device'"'"'s current position and direction of travel.