Networked navigation system

• US 7,881,861 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Typhoon IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Skypebble Associates LLC
• Inventors: Kravets, Leonid, Hwang, Timothy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US12/200,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 340/995.12, 340/995.13, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

A method of providing alternate route possibilities to a first vehicle operator using a first networked navigation device includes determining a first route between a starting position and a travel destination. An alternate route request is transmitted to a second networked navigation device for a portion of the route between the starting position and the travel destination. The alternate route is received from the second navigation device. The determined first route and the received alternate route are presented to the first vehicle operator, including usage data for the alternate route.

Claims

1. A method of providing alternate route possibilities between a starting position and a travel destination to a first vehicle operator using a first networked navigation device from at least one second networked navigation device, the method comprising:

determining a first route between the starting position and the travel destination;

transmitting an alternate route request to the at least one second networked navigation device for at least a portion of the first route between the starting position and the travel destination, the at least one second networked navigation device having an assigned or determined home locale;

receiving at least one alternate route from the at least one second networked navigation device; and

presenting the determined first route and the received at least one alternate route to the first vehicle operator, wherein the presenting includes usage data for the at least one alternate route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first networked navigation device and the at least one second networked navigation device are members of a standing group for sharing route preference data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first vehicle operator, a selection of one of the at least one alternate routes;

storing the selected alternate route; and

providing the stored route to another networked navigation device requesting travel routes in the proximity of the starting position and the travel destination.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data provides the first vehicle operator with a comparative gauge for selecting one of the at least one alternate routes instead of the first route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first networked navigation device and the at least one second networked navigation device are connected by a peer-to-peer communication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the peer-to-peer communication is facilitated by a central server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically selecting an alternate route based on the usage data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the alternate route is based at least in part on a frequency of use of the alternate route by a second vehicle operator.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the alternate route is based at least in part on a time of day travel will occur.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate route is calculated based on route preference data stored by the at least one second networked navigation device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the route preference data is collected as a driver associated with the at least one second networked navigation device traverses road segments in the home locale.

12. A system for providing alternate route possibilities between a starting position and a travel destination to a first vehicle operator using a first networked navigation device from at least one second networked navigation device, the system comprising:

a routing module configured to determine a first route between the starting position and the travel destination provided by a first vehicle operator;

a transmitting module configured to transmit an alternate route request to the at least one second networked navigation device for at least a portion of the first route between the starting position and the travel destination, the at least one second networked navigation device having an assigned or determined home locale;

a receiving module configured to receive at least one alternate route from the at least one second networked navigation device;

a presentation module configured to present the determined first route and the received at least one alternate route to the operator of the first vehicle, wherein the presenting includes usage data for the at least one alternate route.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an input module configured to receive, from the first vehicle operator, a selection of one of the alternate routes;

a memory module configured to store the selected alternate route; and

a forwarding module configured to provide the stored route to another networked navigation device requesting travel routes in the proximity of the starting position and the travel destination.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the usage data provides the first vehicle operator with a comparative gauge for selecting one of the at least one alternate routes instead of the first route.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitting module is further configured for connecting by a peer-to-peer communication.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a selection module configured to automatically select an alternate route based on the usage data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein selecting the alternate route is based at least in part on a frequency of use of the alternate route by a second vehicle operator.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein selecting the alternate route is based at least in part on a time of day travel will occur.

19. An article of manufacture for providing alternate route possibilities between a starting position and a travel destination to a first vehicle operator using a first networked navigation device from at least one second networked navigation device, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

determining a first route between the starting position and the travel destination;

transmitting an alternate route request to the at least one second networked navigation device for at least a portion of the first route between the starting position and the travel destination, the at least one second networked navigation device having an assigned or determined home locale;

receiving at least one alternate route from the at least one second networked navigation device; and

presenting the determined first route and the received at least one alternate route to the first vehicle operator, wherein the presenting includes usage data for the at least one alternate route.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, from the first vehicle operator, a selection of one of the at least one alternate routes;

storing the selected alternate route; and

providing the stored route to another networked navigation device requesting travel routes in the proximity of the starting position and the travel destination.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the usage data provides the first vehicle operator with a comparative gauge for selecting one of the at least one alternate routes instead of the first route.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the first networked navigation device and the second networked navigation device are connected by a peer-to-peer communication.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising automatically selecting an alternate route based on the usage data.