Method and system for a real-time distributed navigation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for determining a user'"'"'s location, comprising:
- receiving a position signal;
determining a first approximation of the user'"'"'s location using the position signal;
generating a first set of candidates corresponding to locations in close proximity to the first approximation of the user'"'"'s location;
prompting the user to perceive a vicinity of the user;
receiving at least one selected candidate from among the first set of locations according to a predetermined criteria; and
determining a second approximation of the user'"'"'s location based upon the at least one selected candidate.
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Abstract
An Interactive Real-Time Distributed Navigation system is disclosed. In the present invention a user'"'"'s location is determined by generating a position signal at the user'"'"'s location. Through wireless communication between the user and distributed navigation servers, the user is presented with a list of candidate locations. The user'"'"'s choice from the candidate list are then used by the navigation servers to obtain an accurate measurement of the user'"'"'s location. Having established a user'"'"'s location, the system proceeds to provide navigational prompts to the user to reach a final destination.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for determining a user'"'"'s location, comprising:
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receiving a position signal;
determining a first approximation of the user'"'"'s location using the position signal;
generating a first set of candidates corresponding to locations in close proximity to the first approximation of the user'"'"'s location;
prompting the user to perceive a vicinity of the user;
receiving at least one selected candidate from among the first set of locations according to a predetermined criteria; and
determining a second approximation of the user'"'"'s location based upon the at least one selected candidate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
determining a path from the starting point to a destination;
presenting navigational directions to the user leading the user from the starting point to the destination.
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3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining a user'"'"'s intermediate locations along the path from the starting point to the destination.
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4. The method of claim 2 wherein a first intermediate location from the user'"'"'s intermediate locations is ambiguous.
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5. The method of claim 4 wherein ambiguity in the first intermediate location is removed through steps comprising:
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determining a first approximation of the first intermediate location;
generating a first set of candidates corresponding to locations in close proximity to the first approximation of the first intermediate location;
prompting the user to perceive a first intermediate vicinity of the user;
receiving at least one selected candidate from among the first set of candidates according to a predetermined criteria; and
determining a second approximation of the first intermediate location based upon the at least one selected candidate.
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6. The method of claim 3 wherein the user'"'"'s intermediate location are not ambiguous.
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7. The method of claim 2 wherein presenting navigational directions to the user is paused.
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8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
determining the user'"'"'s paused location, wherein the paused location is not ambiguous.
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9. The method of claim 8 wherein presenting navigational directions to the user is resumed from the paused location to the destination.
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10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of candidates are described as streets, intersections, buildings, points of interest or landmarks.
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11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of candidates includes one candidate.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one candidate is automatically assigned as the selected candidate.
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13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of candidates is presented textually to the user.
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14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of candidates is presented graphically to the user.
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15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of candidates is presented audibly to the user.
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16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of candidates is presented by a person.
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17. A method for determining a user'"'"'s location comprising the steps of:
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receiving a position signal;
determining a first approximation of the user'"'"'s location using said position signal;
querying a database of location information based upon said first approximation;
generating a first set of candidates corresponding to locations in close proximity to the first approximation of a user'"'"'s location;
prompting the user to perceive a vicinity of the user;
receiving at least one selected candidate from among the first set of locations according to a predetermined criteria;
determining a second approximation of the user'"'"'s location based upon said at least one selected candidate, wherein said second approximation is more accurate than said first approximation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of providing navigational prompts to a user comprising the steps of:
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receiving a destination;
receiving a position signal;
determining a first approximation of a user'"'"'s location using said position signal;
querying a database of location information based upon said first approximation;
generating a first set of candidates corresponding to locations in close proximity to the first approximation of a user'"'"'s location;
prompting the user to perceive a vicinity of the user;
receiving at least one selected candidate from among the first set of locations according to a first predetermined criteria;
determining a second approximation of the user'"'"'s location based upon said selected candidate, wherein said second approximation is more accurate than said first approximation;
determining a path from the second approximation to the destination according to a second predetermined criteria;
providing prompts to the user describing said path. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification