Navigation tags

• US 7,505,849 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Saarikivi, Ilari
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/553,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,136 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 701/213, 342/451, 342/464, 342/463, 342/386, 180/169
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for navigating within a navigation area (2), wherein a plurality of navigation tags (1) have been mounted at predetermined positions within the navigation area (2). To solve the object of the invention to provide a method and system for accurate and flexible navigating in various types of navigation scenarios, the method comprises the steps of: determining a sequence of navigation tags (1), which are associated with a desired route within the navigation area (2), based on the positions of the navigation tags (7) and on topographic information (8) on the navigation area (2); and navigating the route by passing navigation tags (1) of the sequence of navigation tags, whereby passing of a navigation tag is acknowledged (12, 13). The invention further relates to a system and a computer program product for navigating within a navigation area (2).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile navigation unit, a sequence of navigation tags transferred from a host unit in parts, wherein said sequence of navigation tags is associated with a desired route within a navigation area, in which a plurality of navigation tags are mounted at predetermined positions, and determining said sequence based on said positions of said navigation tags and on topographic information on the navigation area, and

navigating said route by passing navigation tags of said sequence of navigation tags, wherein passing of a navigation tag is acknowledged, and wherein transfer of each part of said sequence of navigation tags is initiated by said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transfer of said sequence of navigation tags is performed via a wired link between host unit and mobile navigation unit or via a wireless link.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile navigation unit is capable of indicating information on a navigation tag that should be passed next.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said information on said navigation tag that should be passed next comprises a direction and/or distance to said next navigation tag, and/or an identifier of said next navigation tag.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said identifier is a colour and/or a number and/or a symbol.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said information on said navigation tag that should be passed next is indicated optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag is performed automatically or manually and updates said indication of said information on said navigation tag that should be passed next.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said automatic acknowledgement is based on a wireless link between mobile navigation unit and navigation tag.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said manual acknowledgement is based on a wired connection between mobile navigation unit and navigation tag, or by interaction between a user of said mobile navigation unit and said mobile navigation unit.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said navigation tag itself is capable of storing information and wherein said information is transferred to said mobile navigation unit when said navigation tag is passed.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said information comprises a position of said navigation tag and/or information on a location within said navigation area where said navigation tag is mounted.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein positions of said navigation tags are determined by a terrestrial or satellite-based positioning system and/or by maps and/or plans of the navigation area.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile navigation unit is integrated into or compatible to one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant and a GPS receiver.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile navigation unit is integrated into or compatible to a mobile phone associated with a mobile radio system, wherein a core network of said mobile radio system can gain access to said host unit, and wherein said sequence of navigation tags is transferred to said mobile navigation unit via an air interface of said mobile radio system.

15. A computer-readable medium stored with software code portions for performing the method of claim 1 when said software code portions are run on a computer.

16. A mobile navigation unit comprising:

an interface configured to receive a sequence of navigation tags from a host unit in parts, wherein said sequence of navigation tags is associated with a desired route within a navigation area, in which a plurality of navigation tags are mounted at predetermined positions, and is determined based on said positions of said navigation tags and on topographic information on said navigation area; and

an acknowledgement component configured to acknowledge passing of a navigation tag, when said route is navigated by passing navigation tags of said sequence of navigation tags, wherein transfer of each part of said sequence of navigation tags is initiated by said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag.

17. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 16, wherein said mobile navigation unit is configured to receive said sequence of navigation tags from said host unit via a wired link or via a wireless link.

18. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 16, wherein said mobile navigation unit is configured to indicate information on the navigation tag that should be passed next.

19. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 18, wherein said mobile navigation unit is configured to indicate said information on said navigation tag that should be passed next optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically.

20. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 18, wherein said mobile navigation unit is configured to automatically or manually acknowledge passing of a navigation tag, and to update said indication of said information on said navigation tag that should be passed next.

21. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 20, wherein said automatic acknowledgement is based on a wireless link between mobile navigation unit and navigation tag.

22. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 20, wherein said manual acknowledgement is based on a wired connection between mobile navigation unit and navigation tag, or on an interaction between a user of said mobile navigation unit and said mobile navigation unit.

23. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 16, wherein said navigation tag itself is configured to store information, and wherein both said navigation tag and said mobile navigation unit are configured to transfer said information from said navigation tag to said mobile navigation unit when said navigation tag is passed.

24. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 16, wherein said mobile navigation unit is integrated into one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant and a GPS receiver.

25. The mobile navigation unit according to claim 16, wherein said mobile navigation unit is integrated into or compatible to a mobile phone associated with a mobile radio system, wherein a core network of said mobile radio system can gain access to said host unit, and wherein said sequence of navigation tags is transferred to said mobile navigation unit via an air interface of said mobile radio system.

26. A mobile navigation unit, comprising:

means for receiving a sequence of navigation tags from a host unit in parts, wherein said sequence of navigation tags is associated with a desired route within a navigation area, in which a plurality of navigation tags is mounted at predetermined positions, and is determined based on said positions of said navigation tags and on topographic information on said navigation area; and

means for acknowledging passing of a navigation tag, when said route is navigated by passing navigation tags of said sequence of navigation tags, wherein transfer of each pat of said sequence of navigation tags is initiated by said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag.

27. A method, comprising:

determining, at a host unit, a sequence of navigation tags that is associated with a desired route within a navigation area, in which a plurality of navigation tags are mounted at predetermined positions, based on said positions of said navigation tags and on topographic information on said navigation area; and

transferring said sequence of navigation tags in parts to a mobile navigation unit to allow said mobile navigation unit to navigate said route by passing navigation tags of said sequence of navigation tags, wherein passing of a navigation tag is acknowledged, and wherein transfer of each part of said sequence of navigation tags is initiated by said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said transfer of said sequence of navigation tags is performed via a wired link between host unit and mobile navigation unit or via a wireless link.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said mobile navigation unit is integrated into or compatible to a mobile phone associated with a mobile radio system, wherein a core network of said mobile radio system can gain access to said host unit, and wherein said sequence of navigation tags is transferred to said mobile navigation unit via an air interface of said mobile radio system.

30. A computer-readable medium stored with software code portions for performing the method of claim 27 when said software code portions are run on a computer.

31. A host unit comprising:

a processor configured to determine a sequence of navigation tags that is associated with a desired route within a navigation area, in which a plurality of navigation tags are mounted at predetermined positions, based on said positions of said navigation tags and on topographic information on said navigation area; and

an interface configured to transfer said sequence of navigation tags in parts to a mobile navigation unit to allow said mobile navigation unit to navigate said route by passing navigation tags of said sequence of navigation tags, wherein passing of a navigation tag is acknowledged, and wherein transfer of each part of said sequence of navigation tags is initiated by said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag.

32. The host unit according to claim 31, wherein said transfer of said sequence of navigation tags is performed via a wired link between host unit and mobile navigation unit or via a wireless link.

33. The host unit according to claim 32, wherein said mobile navigation unit is integrated into or compatible to a mobile phone associated with a mobile radio system, wherein a core network of said mobile radio system can gain access to said host unit, and wherein said sequence of navigation tags is transferred to said mobile navigation unit via an air interface of said mobile radio system.

34. A host unit comprising:

means for determining a sequence of navigation tags that is associated with a desired route within a navigation area, in which a plurality of navigation tags is mounted at predetermined positions, based on said positions of said navigation tags and on topographic information on said navigation area; and

means for transferring said sequence of navigation tags in parts to a mobile navigation unit to allow said mobile navigation unit to navigate said route by passing navigation tags of said sequence of navigation tags, wherein passing of a navigation tag is acknowledged, and wherein transfer of each part of said sequence of navigation tags is initiated by said acknowledgement of said passing of a navigation tag.