Computer method and apparatus for filling in an entry field using geographical proximity and character criteria

• US 7,668,647 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avidyne Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avidyne Corporation
• Inventors: Barber, Frederic D., Kroese, Stephen C., Lindsley, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/786,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/14, 701/16, 701/23, 701/25, 701/35, 701/26, 701/122, 701/201, 701/204, 701/206, 701/210, 701/209, 701/300, 340/995.1, 340/979, 244/183, 342/33
• US Class Current: 701/206
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

Entering an identifier to select a navigational waypoint requires “head-down” time, resulting in less time for operating a vehicle. Accordingly, a technique for selecting a navigational waypoint for use is provided. The present invention includes receiving a partially entered identifier identifying, in part, a navigational waypoint for use, searching for the navigational waypoint for use from amongst a plurality of identifiers using the partially entered identifier and a search criterion other than a criterion based on a pre-existing ordering of the plurality of identifiers, and completing the partially entered waypoint identifier based on results from the searching. The completed waypoint identifier forms a user-selectable navigational waypoint for use. The present invention uses as a search criterion a geographical relationship between a location of each identifier of the plurality and a reference location/area to reduce the number of user-entered characters needed to select a navigational waypoint, thereby reducing “head-down” time.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for selecting a navigational waypoint for use, the method comprising:

receiving a partially entered waypoint identifier identifying, in part, a navigational waypoint for use;

searching for the navigational waypoint for use from amongst a plurality of waypoint identifiers using the partially entered waypoint identifier and a search criterion other than a criterion based on a pre-existing ordering of the plurality of waypoint identifiers; and

completing the partially entered waypoint identifier based on results from the searching, the completed waypoint identifier forming a user-selectable navigational waypoint for use;

wherein searching includes;

(i) searching for the navigational waypoint for use using as the search criterion a geographical relationship between a location of each waypoint identifier of the plurality of waypoint identifiers and a reference location; and

(ii) returning as the result of the searching, a first waypoint identifier, in an event the geographical relationship is that the distance between the location of the first waypoint identifier and the reference location is within a vicinity term, and returning at least a second waypoint identifier, in an event the geographical relationship is that the distance between the location of the second waypoint identifier and the reference location is within the vicinity term.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving a partially entered waypoint identifier includes receiving zero or more characters.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein searching includes returning as a result of the searching, a first waypoint identifier, in an event the first waypoint identifier is a first single occurrence of the partially entered waypoint identifier followed by a character from a set of characters, and at least a second waypoint identifier in an event the second waypoint identifier is a first single occurrence of the partially entered waypoint identifier followed by a next character from the set of characters.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

increasing the vicinity term in an event a number of results returned from searching is small in number; and

decreasing the vicinity term in an event the number of results returned from searching is large in number.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing the vicinity term in accordance with an application.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the pre-existing ordering is any:

an alphanumerical ordering and an order in which waypoint identifiers are stored.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein completing includes completing the partially waypoint identifier for use in a navigational application including any of:

aeronautical, terrestrial, and nautical.

8. A computer implemented method for filling in an entry field, the method comprising:

generating an initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers from a database of waypoint identifiers using a reference position and a vicinity term;

generating a final vicinity list of waypoint identifiers from the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers using a search string followed by a character from a set of characters;

generating an autofill list of waypoint identifiers from the database of waypoint identifiers using the search string followed by a character from the set of characters; and

generating a GeoFill list of waypoint identifiers from a combination of the final vicinity list of waypoint identifiers and the autofill list of waypoint identifiers using the search string followed by a character from the set of characters, the GeoFill list of waypoint identifiers being used to fill in the entry field.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein generating the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers includes populating the list with waypoint identifiers from the database in an event the distances from the waypoint identifiers to the reference position are within the vicinity term.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein generating the autofill list of waypoint identifiers includes populating the list with:

i) a first waypoint identifier from the database in an event the first waypoint identifier is a first single occurrence of the search string followed by the character from the set of characters, and ii) at least one second waypoint identifier from the database in an event the least one second waypoint identifier is a first single occurrence of the search string followed by a next character from the set of characters.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein generating the final vicinity list of waypoint identifiers includes populating the list with:

i) a first waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the first waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by the character from the set of characters, and ii) at least one second waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the at least one second waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by a next character from the set of characters.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein generating the final vicinity list of waypoint identifiers includes populating the list with a waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the waypoint identifier is a preferred single occurrence of the search string followed by a character from the set of characters and there is more than one occurrence of the search string followed by the character from the set of characters in the initial vicinity list.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein generating the GeoFill list of waypoint identifiers includes:

populating the list with;

i) a first waypoint identifier from the final vicinity list in an event the first waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by a character from the set of characters or ii) a first waypoint identifier from the autofill list; and

populating the list with;

i) at least one second waypoint identifier from the final vicinity list in an event the at least one waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by a next character from the set of characters or ii) at least one second waypoint identifier from the autofill list.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein generating the GeoFill list of waypoint identifiers includes preferring a waypoint identifier from the final vicinity list over a waypoint identifier from the autofill list.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

increasing the vicinity term in an event the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers is small in number; and

decreasing the vicinity term in an event the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers is large in number.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising changing the vicinity term in accordance with an application.

17. A computer apparatus to fill in an entry field, the apparatus comprising:

an initial vicinity list generator to generate an initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers from a database of waypoint identifiers using a reference position and a vicinity term;

a final vicinity list generator coupled to the initial vicinity generator to generate a final vicinity list of waypoint identifiers from the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers using a search string followed by a character from a set of characters;

an autofill list generator to generate an autofill list of waypoint identifiers from the database of waypoint identifiers using the search string followed by a character from the set of characters; and

a GeoFill list generator coupled to the final vicinity list generator and the autofill list generator to generate a GeoFill list of waypoint identifiers from a combination of the final vicinity list and the autofill using the search string followed by a character from the set of characters, the GeoFill list of waypoint identifiers being used to fill in the entry field.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the initial vicinity list generator includes a logic unit to include waypoint identifiers from the database in an event the distance from the waypoint identifiers to the reference position are within the vicinity term.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the autofill list generator includes a logic unit to include:

i) a first waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the first waypoint identifier is a first single occurrence of the search string followed by the character from the set of characters, and ii) at least one second waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the least one second waypoint identifier is a first single occurrence of the search string followed by a next character from the set of characters.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the final vicinity list generator includes a logic unit to include:

i) a first waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the first waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by the character from the set of characters, and ii) at least one second waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the at least one second waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by a next character from the set of characters.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the final vicinity list generator includes a logic unit to include a waypoint identifier from the initial vicinity list in an event the waypoint identifier is a preferred single occurrence of the search string followed by a character from the set of characters and there is more than one occurrence of the search string followed by the character from the set of characters in the initial vicinity list.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the GeoFill list generator includes a logic unit to include:

i) a first waypoint identifier from the final vicinity list in an event the first waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by a character from the set of characters or ii) a first waypoint identifier from the autofill list, and iii) at least one second waypoint identifier from the final vicinity list in an event the at least one waypoint identifier is a geographically closest single occurrence of the search string followed by a next character from the set of characters or iv) at least one second waypoint identifier from the autofill list.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the logic unit prefers a waypoint identifier from the final vicinity list over a waypoint identifier from the autofill list.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a vicinity term increaser coupled to the initial vicinity list generator to increase the vicinity term in an event the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers is small in number; and

a vicinity term decreaser coupled to the initial vicinity list generator to decrease the vicinity term in an event the initial vicinity list of waypoint identifiers is large in number.

25. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a vicinity term changing to change the vicinity term in accordance with an application.

26. A computer system selecting a navigational waypoint for use, the system comprising:

(A) a digital processor configured to execute a set of processes including;

receiving a partially entered waypoint identifier identifying, in part, a navigational waypoint for use;

searching for the navigational waypoint for use from amongst a plurality of waypoint identifiers using the partially entered waypoint identifier and a search criterion other than a criterion based on a pre-existing ordering of the plurality of waypoint identifiers; and

completing the partially entered waypoint identifier based on results from the searching, the completed waypoint identifier forming a user-selectable navigational waypoint for use;

wherein searching includes;

(i) searching for the navigational waypoint for use using as the search criterion a geographical relationship between a location of each waypoint identifier of the plurality of waypoint identifiers and a reference location; and

(ii) returning as the result of the searching, a first waypoint identifier, in an event the geographical relationship is that the distance between the location of the first waypoint identifier and the reference location is within a vicinity term, and returning at least a second waypoint identifier, in an event the geographical relationship is that the distance between the location of the second waypoint identifier and the reference location is within the vicinity term;

(B) a memory accessible to the digital processor, the memory storing the plurality of waypoint identifiers;

(C) a data entry device communicatively coupled to the digital processor, the data entry device enabling partially partial entry of the waypoint identifier; and

(D) a display controlled by the digital processor, the display displaying the formed user-selectable navigational waypoint for use.

27. An apparatus for selecting a navigational waypoint for use, the apparatus comprising:

receiving means receiving a partially entered waypoint identifier identifying, in part, a navigational waypoint for use;

search means searching for the navigational waypoint for use from amongst a plurality of waypoint identifiers using the partially entered waypoint identifier and a search criterion other than a criterion based on a pre-existing ordering of the plurality of waypoint identifiers; and

completion means completing the partially entered waypoint identifier based on results from the means for searching, the completed waypoint identifier forming a user-selectable navigational waypoint for use;

wherein searching by the search means includes;

(i) searching for the navigational waypoint for use using as the search criterion a geographical relationship between a location of each waypoint identifier of the plurality of waypoint identifiers and a reference location; and

(ii) returning as the result of the searching, a first waypoint identifier, in an event the geographical relationship is that the distance between the location of the first waypoint identifier and the reference location is within a vicinity term, and returning at least a second waypoint identifier, in an event the geographical relationship is that the distance between the location of the second waypoint identifier and the reference location is within the vicinity term.