Presenting driving directions

• US 7,433,783 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gearhart, G. Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/853,331
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-213, 340988-99527
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

Techniques are provided for reducing the number of maneuvers presented in narrative driving directions for a route from an origin location to a destination location. Maneuvers are combined to reduce the number of maneuvers presented. Maneuvers may be combined based on a maneuver being associated with a highway interchange or maneuvers including a shared reference to a particular road.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the method comprising:

accessing route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generating maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

determining whether to eliminate maneuvers as redundant interchange maneuvers based at least in part upon two or more maneuvers being associated with a highway interchange; and

eliminating one or more maneuvers in response to a determination to eliminate maneuvers as redundant interchange maneuvers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating the eliminating to eliminate additional interchange maneuvers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein eliminating one or more maneuvers includes maneuvering redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether to eliminate maneuvers includes checking alternate road names.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein checking alternate road names includes determining whether an adjacent link involves a turn.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein only if a turn is not determined to be involved are maneuvers determined to be eliminated.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein eliminating one or more maneuvers includes eliminating an interchange maneuver only if the road name or any alternate road name of a first maneuver is the same as the road name or any alternate road name of a second maneuver.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling display of driving directions without the eliminated maneuver.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein enabling display of the driving directions includes enabling display of the driving direction on a system connected to an Internet service provider.

10. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program configured to display driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the medium comprising one or more code segments configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

determine whether to eliminate maneuvers as redundant interchange maneuvers based at least in part upon two or more maneuvers being associated with a highway interchange; and

eliminate one or more maneuvers in response to a determination to eliminate maneuvers as redundant interchange maneuvers.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to repeat the eliminating to eliminate additional interchange maneuvers.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein being configured to eliminate one or more maneuvers includes being configured to eliminate redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein being configured to determine whether to eliminate maneuvers includes being configured to check alternate road names.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein being configured to check alternate road names includes being configured to determine whether an adjacent link involves a turn.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more code segments are configured such that only if a turn is not determined to be involved are maneuvers determined to be eliminated.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein being configured to eliminate one or more maneuvers includes being configured to eliminate an interchange maneuver only if the road name or any alternate road name of a first maneuver is the same as the road name or any alternate road name of a second maneuver.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to enable display of driving directions without the eliminated maneuver.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein being configured to enable display of the driving directions includes being configured to enable display of the driving direction on a system connected to an Internet service provider.

19. A system for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

determine whether to eliminate maneuvers as redundant interchange maneuvers based at least in part upon two or more maneuvers being associated with a highway interchange; and

eliminate one or more maneuvers in response to a determination to eliminate maneuvers as redundant interchange maneuvers.