FOLLOW-ME APPLICATION

• US 20150192420A1
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Burton, Victor, Watters, Brendan Murphy, Hines, Gordon John, Morin, Drew A.
• Application Number:
  US14/591,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20150192420A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A follow-me application can be configured to generate a follow-me identifier (ID) that uniquely identifies a particular route traveled by a computing device executing the follow-me application. The follow-me application can also be configured to determine route data for the particular route traveled. The route data characterizes turn-by-turn directions to facilitate travel along the particular route by another computing device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory machine readable medium having machine executable instructions comprising a follow-me application, the follow-me application being configured to:

generate a follow-me identifier (ID) that uniquely identifies a particular route traveled by a computing device executing the follow-me application; and

determine route data for the particular route traveled, wherein the route data characterizes turn-by-turn directions to facilitate travel along the particular route by another computing device.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the turn-by-turn directions correspond to maneuvers taken by the computing device along the route.

3. The medium of claim 2, wherein the turn-by-turn direction characterizes at least one of street names and landmarks.

4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the determining is based on a monitored position and a velocity of the computing device relative to map data that characterizes a geographic map.

5. The medium of claim 1, wherein the follow-me application is further configured to output a barcode that encodes the follow-me ID.

6. The medium of claim 1, wherein the follow-me application is further configured to update the route data in near real-time as the computing device travels to a destination.

7. The medium of claim 6, wherein a frequency for updating the route data is based on a frequency of detecting turn/route decisions and a velocity of the computing device.

8. The medium of claim 6, wherein the follow-me application is further configured to:

receive location information of the other computing device that is traversing the particular route; and

output a map that includes a near real-time position of the computing device and the other computing device.

9. The medium of claim 1, wherein the route data is stored at a follow-me server.

10. A computing device comprising:

a location sensor configured to determine location information for the computing device, the location information characterizing a location of the computing device;

a memory configured to store machine readable instructions; and

a processing unit configured to access the memory and execute the machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions comprising a follow-me application being configured to;

provide a follow-me identifier (ID) that uniquely identifies a particular route taken by a leader;

receive route data characterizing the particular route; and

output a map that includes a portion of the particular route and a current location of the computing device that is based on the location information.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the follow-me application is further configured to:

monitor the location of the computing device relative to the particular route; and

provide route finding assistance in response to determining that the computing device has deviated from the particular route.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the route finding assistance characterizes instructions for returning to a point at which the computing device deviated from the particular route.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the route finding assistance characterizes instructions for traveling to a point on the particular route that is nearest to the location of the computing device.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the route finding assistance characterizes instructions for traveling to a point on the particular route that is determined to have at least one of the shortest expected traveling time and the least number of turns from a current location of the computing device.

15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the follow-me application is further configured to receive an update to the route data.

16. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the follow-me application is further configured to output a location of the leader.

17. A follow-me server comprising one or more computing devices, the follow-me server being configured to:

receive a follow-me identifier (ID) for a route; and

determine route data for the route based on location information of a leader, wherein the route data characterizes turn-by-turn directions for travelling along a route taken by the leader.

18. The follow-me server of claim 17, wherein the determination is based on a comparison of the location information relative to map data.

19. The follow-me server of claim 17, wherein the turn-by-turn directions characterize street names.

20. The follow-me server of claim 17, wherein the follow-me server is further configured to store the route data for the route in a route database, wherein the route data is indexed by the follow-me ID.