Tracking and guidance architecture and method

• US 8,160,812 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ng, Sei Y., Stone, M. Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US11/851,200
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/206, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213, 701/300, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/411, 701/412, 701/418, 701/419, 701/425, 701/426, 701/428, 701/431, 701/439, 701/532, 701/537, 701/538, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/991, 340/992, 340/993, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.16, 340/995.17, 340/995.19, 34099523-99525
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A tracking and guidance system is provided. The system comprises a first device configured to transmit a location of the first device. The system further comprises a second device configured to receive the location from the first device, to display the location on a common map view, to receive inputs comprising a drawn directional data and a verbal directional data, and to transmit the drawn and verbal directional data to the first device, wherein the drawn and verbal directional data is received by the first device and the drawn directional data is displayed on the common map view displayed by the first device.

Claims

1. A tracking and guidance system for providing directions to a mobile device comprising:

a first mobile device configured to display a common map view and location of the first mobile device, and configured to transmit the common map view and location of the first mobile device to a second device; and

the second device configured to receive and display the common map view and the location of the first mobile device, to receive user inputs comprising a user drawn directional data and a verbal directional data, and to transmit the user drawn directional data and the verbal directional data to the first mobile device;

wherein the user drawn directional data and the verbal directional data are received by the first mobile device and the user drawn directional data is displayed on the common map view displayed by the first mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the first mobile device is determined by a global positioning system receiver of the first device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, a personal data assistant, and a laptop computer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first mobile device is in communication with a laptop and wherein the laptop displays the user drawn directional data on the map view displayed by the laptop.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the first mobile device is repeatedly updated on the common map view.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user drawn directional data comprises at least one of a route, a symbol, a landmark, and a guidepost.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user drawn directional data is provided by one of a mouse, a stylus pen, a touch pen, an electronic pen, an ultrasonic pen, an optical grid, a notepad, a tablet, a touch screen, and a touch pad.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the common map view displayed by the first mobile device consists of substantially the same common map view displayed by the second device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user drawn directional data is overlaid on the common map view displayed by the first mobile device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the user drawn directional data is coordinated with a navigation system.

11. A method of providing directions to a mobile user, the method comprising:

receiving a location of a first device by a second device;

displaying the location on a common map view displayed by the second device;

receiving user inputs by the second device comprising a user drawn directional data on the common map view and a verbal directional data;

transmitting the user drawn directional data and the verbal directional data from the second device to the first device; and

displaying the user drawn directional data on the common map view displayed by the first device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device is selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, a personal data assistant, and a laptop computer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the first device is occasionally updated on the common map view.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user drawn directional data comprises at least one of a route, a symbol, a landmark, and a guidepost.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the user drawn directional data is harmonized with a navigation system.

16. A tracking and guidance system comprising:

a database configured to store completed routes, travel times, and user feedbacks, wherein at least one of the completed routes is supplemented with user drawn directional data;

a first terminal configured to transmit a location of the first terminal and a desired destination of the first terminal; and

a server configured to receive the location of the first terminal and the desired destination of the first terminal, to retrieve a plurality of the completed routes from the database, to analyze at least portions of the plurality of the completed routes to determine a recommended route to the desired destination, and to transmit to the first terminal the recommended route to the desired destination;

wherein the recommended route to the desired destination is received by the first terminal and displayed on a map view displayed by the first terminal and the first terminal provides user feedback about the recommended route to the server after the first terminal arrives at the desired destination.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location of the first device is determined by a global positioning system receiver of the first device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first terminal is one of a cell phone, a personal data assistant, and a laptop computer.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the completed routes are analyzed by the server according to the corresponding travel time of each completed route and the corresponding user feedback regarding each completed route.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the recommended route to the desired destination combines portions of at least one of the completed routes.