System and method for providing directions

• US 7,035,650 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Paul Andrew, Yu, Philip Shi-lung, Dinkin, Samuel, Boies, Stephen J., Levas, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/594,102
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455440-448, 455456-457, 701/200, 701/201, 701/211, 701/207, 701/209, 701/210, 342/357, 342/357.08, 342/464, 340/995.23, 340/995.28
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude

Abstract

A method for providing directions includes receiving at a server, from at least one fixed wireless communication device, information identifying a current location of a portable communication device. The portable communication device has short range wireless communication capability. The at least one fixed wireless communication device is located within a building. The method further includes identifying a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination within the building. The method also includes transmitting the direction of movement to the portable communication device from the server via a fixed wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A method for providing directions, comprising:

receiving at a server from at least one fixed wireless communication device information identifying a current location of a portable communication device having short range wireless communication capability, the at least one fixed wireless communication device located within a building;

identifying a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination within the building; and

transmitting the direction of movement to the portable communication device from the server via a fixed wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is in accordance with one of a Bluetooth specification and an Infrared Data Association (IRDA) specification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting uses a short-range high-frequency radio signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining multiple regions within which a direction of movement of the portable communication device can be detected.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a piconet using multiple transceivers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, or a portable computer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a map database.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a pre-plotted direction database.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an alternate direction database.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein accessing the alternate direction database is a result of an obstruction.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identification of a location of one of an emergency event and an obstruction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving the identification includes receiving a signal from one of a multiple of sensors.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving the identification includes receiving a signal from a network.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking the direction of movement of the portable communication device relative to the destination.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

recording tracking information representing the movement of the portable communication device relative to the destination.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether a movement of the portable communication device is towards the destination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, when the movement is not towards the destination, the method includes providing new directions.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information requesting an alternate route.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining an alternate route for the portable communication device based on a current location.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining an alternate route based upon an intended destination.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving adaptive route calculation information.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining the alternate route using the adaptive route calculation information so as to account for an amount of people flow towards the destination.

23. An apparatus for providing directions, comprising:

a memory;

a program stored in the memory;

a processor in communication with the memory, and configured to execute the stored program such that the apparatus;

receives information identifying a current location of a portable communication device having short range wireless communication capability;

identifies a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination; and

transmits the direction of movement to the portable communication device; and

a piconet in communication with the processor, the piconet including multiple transceivers.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the device conforms with one of a Bluetooth specification and an Infrared Data Association (IRDA) specification.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the portable communication device is one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, or a portable computer.

25. An apparatus for providing directions, comprising:

a memory;

a program stored in the memory;

a processor in communication with the memory, and configured to execute the stored program such that the apparatus;

receives information identifying a current location of a portable communication device having short range wireless communication capability;

identifies a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination; and

transmits the direction of movement to the portable communication device; and

a scatternet in communication with the processor.

27. A method for providing directions, comprising:

determining a current location of a portable communication device based on presence of the portable communication device within a reception range of a fixed wireless communication transceiver;

receiving information identifying the current location of the portable communication device;

identifying a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination; and

transmitting the direction of movement to the portable communication device;

wherein the fixed wireless communication device is located within a building and the destination is within the building.