Conducting localized searches in a wireless client-server navigation system

• US 8,116,974 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZAMA Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Ian Cummings
• Inventors: Cummings, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US12/114,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for conducting searches and generating routes to selected points of interest using a wireless client-server (WCS) navigator. A method includes the step of requesting, at a mobile unit, information about one or more locations meeting certain criteria. Locations meeting the criteria are displayed on the display screen at the location of the user and, if a location is selected, a route to include the selected location is automatically generated. Guidance regarding how to travel to the selected location may also be provided. If the user is already en route to a destination when a route to a selected location is requested, the navigator may generate a route that includes both the original destination and the selected new location. If the user is already en route to a destination when locations matching criteria are requested, along with the locations displayed the navigator may provide information to the user as to the total travel time or distance of a route passing through the original destination and a new location or the additional travel time or distance in comparison to the original route. The method may further include the step of requesting information about a class of locations such as restaurants.

Claims

1. A method of providing guidance with a wireless client-server navigation system to a location matching criteria, comprising the steps of:

following an original route to a destination;

receiving, at a mobile client, data representative of criteria for locations;

transmitting the data representative of the criteria for locations from the mobile client to a central server;

searching a database of locations at the central server for locations matching the criteria;

generating new routes, each of which includes a found location and the destination of the original route;

transmitting data representative of, and associated with, found locations matching the criteria from the central server to the mobile client;

presenting, at the mobile client, representations of the found locations and associated data;

presenting, at the mobile client, representations of additional distance or travel time of the new routes, or incremental distance or travel time of the new routes as compared to the original route;

receiving, at the mobile client, data representative of a selection of one of the found locations; and

providing guidance with the mobile client from the mobile client'"'"'s location to the selected location.