Method and apparatus for sending, retrieving and planning location relevant information

• US 7,271,742 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Networks In Motion Incorporated (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Angie, Petilli, Stephen, Sheha, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/378,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.19, 340/995.24, 340/995.27, 701/208, 701/209, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/995.24
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• 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: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sending and retrieving location relevant information to a user by selecting and designating a point of interest that is displayed on a graphical user interface and sending the location information associated with that point of interest to a receiver that is also selected using the graphical user interface. The location relevant information may also include mapped routes, waypoints, geo-fenced areas, moving vehicles etc. Updated location relevant information may also be continuously sent to the user while generating updated mapping information on the graphical user interface. The present invention may be practiced by using communication devices such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistance, in-vehicle navigation systems, or a mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium for use in a communication device having a processor, a data storage medium, an input device, and a display device for providing a graphical interface, said graphical interface including a movable graphical pointer for selecting and moving graphical icons displayed on the graphical interface, said computer-readable medium including executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of:

displaying a user graphical icon representing a user;

displaying a point-of-interest graphical icon representing a point of interest; and

in response to a command signal, sending, to the user, location information associated with the point of interest, said command signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the point-of-interest graphical icon towards the user graphical icon.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the step of displaying a graphical representation of a map.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the step of receiving location information associated with the point of interest.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the step of displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the user and a location of the point of interest.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the step of receiving location information associated with the user.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the location information associated with the user is retrieved from the data storage medium.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the location information associated with the user is retrieved from the receiver communication device.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein said processor further executes the step of receiving updated location information associated with the user.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the step of:

receiving a location information of the communication device;

displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the communication device and a location of the user.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the steps of displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the communication device and a location of the point of interest.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said communication device is a personal computer.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the steps of:

receiving location information associated with the user indicating a location of the user;

displaying a graphical representation of a first route connecting between the location of the user and a location of the point of interest;

receiving updated location information associated with the user indicating an updated location of the user;

displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the updated location of the receiver and the location of the point of interest.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said processor further executes the step of altering the graphical representation of the first route.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said processor further executes the step of deleting the display of the graphical representation of the first route.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said processor further executes the step of requesting permission from the user to send data to the user.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said processor further executes the step of sending to the user route information associated with the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said processor further executes the steps of:

sending to the user first route information associated with the first route; and

sending to the user second route information associated with the second route.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said processor further executes the steps of:

displaying a second point-of-interest graphical icon representing a second point of interest; and

in response to a route recalculation signal, displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest, said route recalculation signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the second point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical representation of the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the processor further executes the steps of:

displaying a second point-of-interest graphical icon representing a second point of interest;

in response to a route recalculation signal, displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest, said route recalculation signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the second point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical representation of the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest; and

sending to the user route information associated with the second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest.

20. In a communication device, said sender communication device including a data storage medium, an input device, and a display device for providing a graphical interface, said graphical interface including a movable graphical pointer for selecting and moving graphical icons displayed on the graphical interface, a programmed processor for executing the steps of:

displaying a user graphical icon representing a receiver;

displaying a point-of-interest graphical icon representing a point of interest; and

in response to a command signal, sending, to the user, location information associated with the point of interest, said command signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the point-of-interest graphical icon towards the user graphical icon.

21. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the step of displaying a graphical representation of a map.

22. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the step of receiving location information associated with the point of interest.

23. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the step of displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the user and a location of the point of interest.

24. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the step of receiving location information associated with the user.

25. The programmed processor of claim 24, wherein the location information associated with the user is retrieved from the data storage medium.

26. The programmed processor of claim 24, wherein the location information associated with the user is retrieved from a user communication device.

27. The programmed processor of claim 24, wherein said processor further executes the step of receiving updated location information associated with the user.

28. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the step of displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the communication device and a location of the user.

29. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said communication device is a personal computer.

30. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the steps of:

receiving location information associated with the user indicating a location of the user;

displaying a graphical representation of a first route connecting between the location of the user and a location of the point of interest;

receiving updated location information associated with the user indicating an updated location of the user;

displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the updated location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

31. The programmed processor of claim 30, wherein said processor further executes the step of altering the graphical representation of the first route.

32. The programmed processor of claim 30, wherein said processor further executes the step of deleting the display of the graphical representation of the first route.

33. The programmed processor of claim 20, wherein said processor further executes the step of requesting permission from the user to send data to a user communication device.

34. The programmed processor of claim 23, wherein said processor further executes the step of sending to the user route information associated with the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

35. The programmed processor of claim 30, wherein said processor further executes the steps of:

sending to the user first route information associated with the first route; and

sending to the user second route information associated with the second route.

36. The programmed processor of claim 23, wherein said processor further executes the steps of:

displaying a second point-of-interest graphical icon representing a second point of interest; and

in response to a route recalculation signal, displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest, said route recalculation signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the second point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical representation of the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

37. The programmed processor of claim 34, wherein the processor further executes the steps of:

displaying a second point-of-interest graphical icon representing a second point of interest;

in response to a route recalculation signal, displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the 1ocation of the second point of interest, said route recalculation signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the second point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical representation of the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest; and

sending to the receiver communication device route information associated with the second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest.

38. A method of sending location information using a communication device, said communication device including a processor, a data storage medium, an input device, and a display device for providing a graphical interface, said graphical interface including a movable graphical pointer for selecting and moving graphical icons displayed on the graphical interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical icon representing a user;

displaying a point-of-interest graphical icon representing a point of interest; and

in response to a command signal, sending, to the user, location information associated with the point of interest, said command signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical icon.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of displaying a graphical representation of a map.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of receiving location information associated with the point of interest.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the user and a location of the point of interest.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of receiving location information associated with the user.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the location information associated with the user is retrieved from the data storage medium.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the location information associated with the user is retrieved from a user communication device.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of receiving updated location information associated with the user.

46. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of displaying a graphical representation of a route connecting between a location of the communication device and a location of the user.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein said communication device is a personal computer.

48. The method of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

receiving location information associated with the indicating a location of the receiver;

displaying a graphical representation of a first route connecting between the location of the and a location of the point of interest;

receiving updated location information associated with the indicating an updated location of the user;

displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the updated location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of altering the graphical representation of the first route.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of deleting the display of the graphical representation of the first route.

51. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of requesting permission from the user to send data to a user communication device.

52. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of sending to the user route information associated with the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

sending to the user first route information associated with the first route; and

sending to the user second route information associated with the second route.

54. The method of claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a second point-of-interest graphical icon representing a second point of interest; and

in response to a route recalculation signal, displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest, said route recalculation signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the second point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical representation of the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a second point-of-interest graphical icon representing a second point of interest;

in response to a route recalculation signal, displaying a graphical representation of a second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest, said route recalculation signal being generated by moving the graphical pointer to select and move the second point-of-interest graphical icon towards the graphical representation of the route connecting between the location of the user and the location of the point of interest; and

sending to the user route information associated with the second route connecting between the location of the user, the location of the point of interest, and the location of the second point of interest.