Method and system for enabling an off board navigation solution

• US 7,856,315 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Goddard, Mark, Sheha, Michael A., Sheha, Angie
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/242,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 701201-213, 34099514-99526
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for providing off-board navigational information from a network server to a mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone. Specifically, upon receiving from the mobile communication device the real time location of the mobile communication device and a location or identification of a destination, the network server transmits to the mobile communication device routing information as well as audible navigation voice prompts. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the routing information includes maneuver information for traveling from the real location of the mobile communication device to the destination, and the audible navigation voice prompts provide data for generating audible turn-by-turn instructions for traveling from the real time location of the mobile communication device to the destination.

Claims

1. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination;

said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination, and

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, said audio information excluding at least one voice file already residing in said mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said real time location information contains GPS data, said GPS data indicating a geographical location of said mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said routing information further includes map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of said routing information is XML data.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting information representing a voice file residing in said mobile communication device.

4. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said map data including polyline map data of at least two different geographical resolutions.

5. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said map data including road attributes that indicate travel restrictions associated with a particular route included in said map data.

6. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said generated graphical map being a route snapshot representing a portion of said travel route between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination.

7. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination;

wherein said routing information includes maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination; and

wherein said routing information further includes audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts and a pronunciation code in accordance with said maneuver information.

9. A machine-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a processor to perform a method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an, address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, and

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, said audio information excluding at least one voice file already residing in said mobile communication device.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein:

said real time location information contains GPS data, said GPS data indicating a geographical location of said mobile communication device.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein:

said routing information further includes map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein:

at least a portion of said routing information is XML data.

26. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting information representing a voice file residing in said mobile communication device.

12. A machine-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a processor to perform a method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said map data including polyline map data of at least two different geographical resolutions.

13. A machine-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a processor to perform a method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said map data including road attributes that indicate travel restrictions associated with a particular route included in said map data.

14. A machine-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a processor to perform a method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said generated graphical map being a route snapshot representing a portion of said travel route between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination.

15. A machine-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a processor to perform a method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions using a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

transmitting, to a network server, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination;

receiving, from said network server, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, and

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts and a pronunciation code in accordance with said maneuver information.

17. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

receiving, from said mobile communication device, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination; and

transmitting, to said mobile communication device, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, wherein said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination, and

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, said audio information excluding at least one of the voice file already residing in said mobile communication device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said real time location information contains GPS data, said GPS data indicating a geographical location of said mobile communication device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said routing information further includes map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein:

at least a portion of said routing information is XML data.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving information representing a voice file residing in said mobile communication device.

20. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

receiving, from said mobile communication device, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination; and

transmitting, to said mobile communication device, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said map data including polyline map data of at least two different geographical resolutions.

21. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

receiving, from said mobile communication device, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination; and

transmitting, to said mobile communication device, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said map data including road attributes that indicate travel restrictions associated with a particular route included in said map data.

22. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

receiving, from said mobile communication device, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination; and

transmitting, to said mobile communication device, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination,

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts in accordance with said maneuver information, and

map data for generating a display of graphical map on said mobile communication device, said generated graphical map being a route snapshot representing a portion of said travel route between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination.

23. A method for providing real time off-board voice-enabled routing directions to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

receiving, from said mobile communication device, real time location information and destination information, said real time location information indicating a real time location of said mobile communication device, said destination information including one of an address of a destination and an identification of said destination; and

transmitting, to said mobile communication device, routing information for traveling from said real time location of said mobile communication device to said destination, said routing information including;

maneuver information for traveling between said real time location of said mobile communication device and said destination, and

audio information for generating audible navigation voice prompts and a pronunciation code in accordance with said maneuver information.