OBTAINING UPDATED NAVIGATION INFORMATION FOR ROAD TRIPS

• US 20140129143A1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dave, Swapnil R., Varoglu, Devrim
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/537
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining updated navigation information are presented. A first computing device can receive routing information from a second computing device, where the routing information is indicative of a route determined by the second computing device to a destination. Subsequently, navigation instructions can be provided at the first computing device based upon the routing information received from the second computing device. The first computing device then can receive, from the second computing device, a change to the routing information. Thereafter, and responsive to receiving the change to the routing information, the first computing device can provide modified navigation instructions.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining updated navigation information, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first computing device, routing information from a second computing device, the routing information indicative of a route determined by the second computing device to a destination;

providing navigation instructions at the first computing device based upon the routing information received from the second computing device;

receiving, by the first computing device, from the second computing device, a change to the routing information; and

providing, by the first computing device, modified navigation instructions responsive to receiving the change to the routing information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the change to the routing information includes:

receiving a current position of the second computing device;

determining that the current position of the second computing device is not along the route associated with the routing information received from the second computing device; and

sending a request to the second computing device to provide an updated route.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is registered as a follower of the second computing device.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the route includes at least one step, and

wherein the routing information includes information describing the at least one step, a current location of the second computing device, and the destination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change to the routing information includes data describing current traffic conditions.

6. A navigation device, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

receive routing information from a computing device, the routing information indicative of a route determined by the computing device to a destination;

provide navigation instructions based upon the routing information received from the computing device;

receive, from the computing device, a change to the routing information; and

provide modified navigation instructions responsive to receiving the change to the routing information.

7. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

display a notification that the routing information has changed, prior to providing the modified navigation instructions.

8. The navigation device of claim 7, wherein the notification includes a prompt to select whether to provide the modified navigation instructions.

9. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the change to the routing information includes data describing current traffic conditions.

10. The navigation device of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a detour or waypoint based on the data describing the current traffic conditions.

11. A computer-readable storage memory storing instructions for controlling one or more processors to obtain updated navigation information, the instructions comprising:

receiving routing information from a computing device, the routing information indicative of a route determined by the computing device to a destination;

providing navigation instructions based upon the routing information received from the computing device;

receiving, from the computing device, a change to the routing information; and

providing modified navigation instructions responsive to receiving the change to the routing information.

12. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11, wherein receiving, from the computing device, the change to the routing information includes:

receiving the change to the routing information via at least one server that is configured to coordinate sharing of the routing information.

13. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11, wherein receiving, from the computing device, the change to the routing information includes:

determining, based on navigation information received via at least one server that is configured to coordinate sharing of the routing information, that a route being taken by the computing device has changed.

14. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 13, wherein determining, based on the navigation information received via the at least one server, that the route being taken by the computing device has changed includes:

requesting updated routing information from the computing device.

15. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

displaying a notification that indicates that the routing information has changed and that includes a description of a new route defined by the changed routing information.

16. A method of updating navigation information, the method comprising:

registering, by a first navigation device, to follow a shared route having one or more participants, the one or more participants including at least one route leader;

providing, by the first navigation device, one or more navigation instructions associated with the route;

receiving, by the first navigation device, position information associated with one or more participants; and

determining, based on the position information, whether to update leader status information associated with the route.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining, based on the position information, whether to update the leader status information associated with the route includes:

determining whether the first navigation device has passed the at least one route leader along the shared route.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

updating the leader status information based on determining to update the leader status information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the leader status information is maintained on at least one server that coordinates sharing of the shared route among the one or more participants.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing, by the first navigation device, one or more modified navigation instructions after updating the leader status information.

21. A navigation device, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

register to follow a shared route having one or more participants, the one or more participants including at least one route leader;

provide one or more navigation instructions associated with the route;

receive position information associated with one or more participants; and

determine, based on the position information, whether to update leader status information associated with the route.

22. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

update leader status information maintained on at least one server that coordinates sharing of the shared route among the one or more participants, based on determining to update the leader status information associated with the route.

23. The navigation device of claim 22, wherein updating the leader status information maintained on the at least one server includes providing information identifying the navigation device and network information associated with the navigation device to the at least one server.

24. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

modify the shared route after updating the leader status information.

25. The navigation device of claim 24, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

provide one or more modified navigation instructions based on the modified shared route.