Real-time virtual earth driving information

• US 7,564,377 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lombardi, Steve, Dekate, Amit, Lawler, Stephen, Gounares, Alexander, Schwartz, Joseph, Kimchi, Gur, Kuppusamy, Ashok, Endres, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US11/335,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/995.13, 340/995.12
• US Class Current: 340/995.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user'"'"'s mapped location and/or a user preference.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining and displaying real-time driving information;

comprising;

at least one processor that executes the following computer executable components stored on at least one computer readable storage medium;

a receiver component that receives traffic data and vicinity information from at least one user;

a stitching component that associates a time-stamp with the traffic data and the vicinity information and converts the traffic data and associated time-stamp into a retrievable format, current data, historical information and predicted future information is provided to a user based in part on the time-stamp; and

a rendering component that provides a visual representation of navigational information to another user located in proximity to the vicinity information, delaying transit time of information between at least two of the receiver component, stitching component or rendering component.

2. The system of claim 1, the stitching component further evaluates a projected route and retrieves an alternate route to be displayed to a user.

3. The system of claim 1, the rendering component further provides the user non-traffic related data relating to a current condition.

4. The system of claim 3, the non-traffic related data is one of a projected driving distance, an estimated amount of remaining fuel, a low-fuel indicator, a building name, and a local retail establishment information.

5. The system of claim 1, the rendering component provides routing information based in part on an anticipated user route received at the receiver component.

6. The system of claim 1, the rendering component recommends an alternative route if a road segment criteria does not meet a predefined threshold.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a community traffic service that obtains traffic data from a plurality of traffic subscribers.

8. The system of claim 1, the receiver component further collects a user driving habit and provides a virtual driving score.

9. The system of claim 1, the visual representation is displayed on a windshield.

10. A method for providing a user with data relating to a current user location, comprising:

employing at least one processor to execute computer executable instructions stored on at least one computer readable storage medium to perform the following acts;

receiving traffic data and vicinity information from at least one user;

receiving an anticipated route of a user;

associating a time-stamp with the traffic data and the vicinity information;

converting the traffic data and associated time-stamp into a retrievable format;

providing a visual representation of navigational information to another user located in proximity to the vicinity information;

delaying transit time of information between at least two of the receiving of the traffic data, the associating of the time stamp or the providing of the visual representation;

providing the user with historical information and predicted future information based in part on the time-stamp.

11. The method of claim 10, retrieving current information relative to the anticipated user route, further comprising:

receiving route information from at least one other user located along the anticipated user route;

storing the received route information in a readily retrievable format; and

accessing the route information based in part on a current location of the user.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing car-to-car communication for an active safety support.

13. The method of claim 10, displaying information pertinent to the anticipated user route, further comprising placing a subset of retrieved current information on a vehicle windshield such that the subset of the retrieved current information is overlaid on an actual location associated with the subset of the retrieved current information as perceived by a user through the windshield.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

anticipating a user desired information; and

displaying the anticipated user desired information in conjunction with the current information.

15. The method of claim 14, the user desired information comprising at least one of a projected driving distance, an estimated amount of remaining fuel, a low-fuel indicator, a building name, a local retail establishment information, an active safety support, and an alternate route.

16. The method of claim 10, displaying the current information comprising:

receiving a route segment attributed speed and a reported speed;

comparing the attributed speed to the reported speed; and

notifying the user if the reported speed is different from the attributed speed by a predetermined amount.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a route segment attributed speed and a reported speed; and

anonymously reporting the attributed speed and the reported speed to a traffic agency.

18. A system for providing instantaneous traffic data;

comprising;

at least one processor;

at least one computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor implement components comprising;

means for receiving traffic data from a plurality of users;

means for associating the received traffic data with a location and a time;

means for maintaining the received traffic data and the associated location and time in a retrievable format;

means for aggregating the received traffic data to form a comprehensive data image;

means for displaying the comprehensive data image and associated location and time to a user in substantially a same location at substantially a same time as the plurality of users wherein the transit time of information between at least two of the means for receiving traffic data, means for associating the received traffic or means for displaying the comprehensive data image, is delayed; and

means for providing the user with current information, historical information and predicted future information based in part on the received traffic data and associated location and time.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for providing the user with non-traffic related data based in part on a current condition of a user device or a current condition of an environment.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for recommending a route to the user based in part on the received traffic data and an anticipated user route.