Sharing Navigation Data Among Co-Located Computing Devices

• US 20180332432A1
• Filed: 05/14/2018
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Harding, Dean, Foster, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,492,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• 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: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

This document describes systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for sharing navigation data among computing devices. The techniques can include identifying, by a first computing device, a second computing device, based on the first computing device detecting an audio signal emitted by one or more speakers of the second computing device, wherein the second computing device is running a navigation application that has been programed to navigate a geographic route. Using information encoded in the audio signal that was emitted by the one or more speakers of the second computing device, the first computing device can determine the geographic route that the navigation application running on the second computing device has been programmed to navigate. A representation of the geographic route can be displayed on an electronic display of the first computing device.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A computer-implemented method for sharing navigation data among co-located computing devices, comprising:

receiving, at a first computing device that is running a navigation application that has been programmed to navigate a geographic route, a request from a second computing device for the first computing device to share the geographic route with the second computing device;

in response to receiving the request, generating an audio signal that is encoded with information that is usable by the second computing device to determine the geographic route being navigated by the navigation application of the first computing device; and

emitting the audio signal with one or more speakers of the first computing device or one or more speakers of a vehicle for detection by the second computing device.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

in response to receiving the request from the second computing device for the first computing device to share the geographic route with the second computing device;

(i) determining an identity of the second computing device or an identity of a user of the second computing device, and

(ii) based on the identity of the second computing device or the identity of the user of the second computing device, determining whether the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein:

the first computing device generates the audio signal and causes the audio signal to be emitted in response to determining that the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device; and

the first computing device is configured, in response to determining that the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is not authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device, to not share with the second computing device the information that is usable by the second computing device to determine the geographic route being navigated by the navigation application of the first computing device.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein determining whether the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device comprises determining whether a social media account of a user of the first computing device is connected to a social media account of the user of the second computing device.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein determining whether the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device comprises determining whether the user of the second computing device is listed in a contact list for a user of the first computing device.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving by the first computing device, at a time that is after the audio signal is caused to be emitted for detection by the second computing device and while the navigation application running on the first computing device continues to navigate the route, a second audio signal emitted by the second computing device that is encoded with information usable to determine a different, second route to the destination or another destination; and

in response to receiving the second audio signal, automatically determining the second route and re-programming the navigation application running on the first computing device to navigate the different, second route.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein:

the first computing device is a mobile computing device or is at least a portion of an integrated navigation computer system installed in a vehicle, and

the second computing device is a mobile computing device.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein a center frequency of the audio signal is at least 20 kilohertz.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the audio signal encodes an address that indicates a location on a computer network at which information that specifies the geographic route can be accessed.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, comprising emitting the audio signal with the one or more speakers of the vehicle for detection by the second computing device.

30. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a first computing device that is running a navigation application that has been programmed to navigate a geographic route, a request from a second computing device for the first computing device to share the geographic route with the second computing device;

in response to receiving the request, generating an audio signal that is encoded with information that is usable by the second computing device to determine the geographic route being navigated by the navigation application of the first computing device; and

emitting the audio signal with one or more speakers of the first computing device or one or more speakers of a vehicle for detection by the second computing device.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 30, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the request from the second computing device for the first computing device to share the geographic route with the second computing device;

(i) determining an identity of the second computing device or an identity of a user of the second computing device, and

(ii) based on the identity of the second computing device or the identity of the user of the second computing device, determining whether the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 31, wherein:

the first computing device generates the audio signal and causes the audio signal to be emitted in response to determining that the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device; and

the first computing device is configured, in response to determining that the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is not authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device, to not share with the second computing device the information that is usable by the second computing device to determine the geographic route being navigated by the navigation application of the first computing device.

33. The computer-readable media of claim 31, wherein determining whether the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device comprises determining whether a social media account of a user of the first computing device is connected to a social media account of the user of the second computing device.

34. The computer-readable media of claim 31, wherein determining whether the second computing device or the user of the second computing device is authorized to receive navigation data shared by the first computing device comprises determining whether the user of the second computing device is listed in a contact list for a user of the first computing device.

35. The computer-readable media of claim 30, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving by the first computing device, at a time that is after the audio signal is caused to be emitted for detection by the second computing device and while the navigation application running on the first computing device continues to navigate the route, a second audio signal emitted by the second computing device that is encoded with information usable to determine a different, second route to the destination or another destination; and

in response to receiving the second audio signal, automatically determining the second route and re-programming the navigation application running on the first computing device to navigate the different, second route.

36. The computer-readable media of claim 30, wherein:

the first computing device is a mobile computing device or is at least a portion of an integrated navigation computer system installed in a vehicle, and

the second computing device is a mobile computing device.

37. The computer-readable media of claim 30, wherein a center frequency of the audio signal is at least 20 kilohertz.

38. The computer-readable media of claim 30, wherein the audio signal encodes an address that indicates a location on a computer network at which information that specifies the geographic route can be accessed.

39. A first computer device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause performance of operations comprising;

receiving, at the first computing device while the first computing device is running a navigation application that has been programmed to navigate a geographic route, a request from a second computing device for the first computing device to share the geographic route with the second computing device;

in response to receiving the request, generating an audio signal that is encoded with information that is usable by the second computing device to determine the geographic route being navigated by the navigation application of the first computing device; and

emitting the audio signal with one or more speakers of the first computing device or one or more speakers of a vehicle for detection by the second computing device.