REAL TIME TRAVEL DIRECTOR

• US 20140120952A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Design Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Design Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Freeman, Mitchael C., Freeman, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

A method for navigating through a predefined space is described herein. The method includes receiving, by a remote unit, a signal indicative of a selection of at least one destination category, wherein the selected destination category is associated with a plurality of destination locations. A position of each of the plurality of destination locations is determined within the predefined space. A final destination location is determined within the predefined space, an origination location of the remote unit is determined, and a first route is determined from the origination location to the final destination. The first route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

Claims

1. An apparatus for navigating through a predefined space, comprising:

a display device associated with a remote unit; and

a controller coupled to the display device, the controller configured to;

select a destination location from a plurality of destination locations;

determine an origination location of the remote unit;

determine a first route from the origination location to the destination location;

determine a second route from the origination location to the destination location, the second route being different from the first route;

allow a user to select at least one of the first route and the second route; and

display the user selected route on the display device.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the controller configured to:

select at least one destination category from a plurality of destination categories, the at least one destination category being associated with a plurality of destination locations;

determine a position of each of the plurality of destination locations;

determine a final destination location from the plurality of destination locations; and

determine each of the first route and the second route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the controller configured to simultaneously display each of the first route and the second route on the display device.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, the controller configured to:

determine an estimated travel time associated with each of the first and the second routes; and

display the estimated travel times on the display device, each estimated travel time being displayed with the corresponding route.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the controller configured to:

determine a current position of the remote unit along the user selected route;

determine a progress of the remote unit along the user selected route as a function of the current position; and

display an indication of the determined progress on the display device.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, the controller configured to display a directional notification on the display device, the directional notification being indicative of a change in direction along the user selected route with respect to the current position of the remote unit.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, the controller configured to determine a remaining travel time from the current position to the destination location and display the remaining travel time on the display device.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the controller configured to provide a credit to an account stored in a database when the remote unit has reached the destination location.

9. A method for allowing a user to navigate through a predefined space via a remote unit, the method including the steps of:

selecting a destination location from a plurality of destination locations contained in a database;

determining an origination location of the remote unit;

determining a first route from the origination location to the destination location;

determining a second route from the origination location to the destination location, the second route being different from the first route;

allowing the user to select at least one of the first route and the second route; and

displaying the user selected route on the remote unit.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, including the steps of:

selecting at least one destination category from a plurality of destination categories, the at least one destination category being associated with a plurality of destination locations;

determining a position of each of the plurality of destination locations;

determining a final destination location from the plurality of destination locations; and

determining each of the first route and the second route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9, including the step of simultaneously displaying each of the first route and the second route on the remote unit.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, including the steps of:

determining an estimated travel time associated with each of the first and the second routes; and

displaying the estimated travel times on the remote unit, each estimated travel time being displayed with the corresponding route.

13. A method in accordance with claim 9, including the steps of:

determining a current position of the remote unit along the user selected route;

determining a progress of the remote unit along the user selected route as a function of the current position; and

displaying an indication of the determined progress on the remote unit.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, including the steps of

displaying a directional notification on the remote unit, the directional notification being indicative of a change in direction along the user selected route with respect to the current position of the remote unit.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13, including the steps of determining a remaining travel time from the current position to the destination location and displaying the remaining travel time on the remote unit.

16. A method in accordance with claim 9, including the step of providing a credit to an account stored in a database when the remote unit has reached the destination location.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer executable instructions thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

select a destination location from a plurality of destination locations;

determine an origination location of a remote unit;

determine a first route from the origination location to the destination location;

determine a second route from the origination location to the destination location, the second route being different from the first route;

allow a user to select at least one of the first route and the second route; and

display the user selected route on the remote unit.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

select at least one destination category from a plurality of destination categories, the at least one destination category being associated with a plurality of destination locations;

determine a position of each of the plurality of destination locations;

determine a final destination location from the plurality of destination locations; and

determine each of the first route and the second route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to simultaneously display each of the first route and the second route on the remote unit.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 19, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

determine an estimated travel time associated with each of the first and the second routes; and

display the estimated travel times on the display device, each estimated travel time being displayed with the corresponding route.

21. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

determine a current position of the remote unit along the user selected route;

determine a progress of the remote unit along the user selected route as a function of the current position; and

display an indication of the determined progress on the remote unit.

22. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 21, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to display a directional notification on the remote unit, the directional notification being indicative of a change in direction along the user selected route with respect to the current position of the remote unit.

23. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 21, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to determine a remaining travel time from the current position to the destination location and display the remaining travel time on the display device.

24. The one or more computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to provide a credit to an account stored in a database when the remote unit has reached the destination location.