Graphical user interface for presenting location information

• US 8,355,862 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Matas, Mike, Christie, Gregory N., Blumenberg, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US11/969,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,836 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/209, 455/456.1, 455/457
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting location information. A first geographic area in which a device is currently located is estimated using a first positioning system. A second geographic area in which the device is currently located is estimated using a second positioning system. A first map view including an indication of the first geographic area on the first map view is presented if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area. A second map view including an indication of the second geographic area is presented if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

estimating a first current position of a device and a first geographic area at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position using a first positioning system;

estimating a second current position of the device and a second geographic area at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position using a second positioning system; and

providing for display an indication of either the first estimated current position or the second estimated position based on whether the first estimated geographic area is contained within the second estimated geographic area, providing for display the indication including;

providing for display a first map view, including the first geographic area as the indication of the first estimated current position on the first map view, if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area;

or

providing for display a second map view, including the second geographic area as the indication of the second estimated current position, if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first positioning system is associated with a first level of positional accuracy, and the second positioning system is associated with a second level of positional accuracy that is lower than the first level of accuracy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating a first geographic area using a first positioning system comprises:

using the first positioning system to estimate the first current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position, wherein the first geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating a second geographic area using a second positioning system comprises:

using the second positioning system to estimate the second current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position, wherein the second geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the indication of the first geographic area is presented:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the first geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the indication of the second geographic area is presented:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the second geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

7. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

estimating a first current position of a device and a first geographic area at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position using a first positioning system;

estimating a second current position of the device and a second geographic area at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position using a second positioning system; and

providing for display an indication of either the first estimated current position or the second estimated current position based on whether the first estimated geographic area is contained within the second estimated geographic area, providing for display the indication including;

providing for display a first map view, including the first geographic area as the indication of the first estimated current position on the first map view, if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area;

or

providing for display a second map view, including the second geographic area as the indication of the second estimated current position, if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first positioning system is associated with a first level of positional accuracy, and the second positioning system is associated with a second level of positional accuracy that is lower than the first level of accuracy.

9. The device of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

using the first positioning system to estimate the first position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position, wherein the first geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

10. The device of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

using the second positioning system to estimate the second current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position, wherein the second geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

11. The device of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

generate route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the first geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

present the route information.

12. The device of claim 7, the operations further comprising instructions to:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the second geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

13. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory storage medium, operable to cause a portable device to perform operations comprising:

estimating a first current position of a device and a first geographic area at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position using a first positioning system;

estimating a second current position of the device and a second geographic area at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position using a second positioning system; and

providing for display an indication of either the first estimated current position or the second estimated current position based on whether the first estimated geographic area is contained within the second estimated geographic area, providing for display the indication including;

providing for display a first map view, including the first geographic area as the indication of the first estimated current position on the first map view, if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area;

or

providing for display a second map view, including the second geographic area as the indication of the second estimated current position, if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

14. The product of claim 13, wherein the first positioning system is associated with a first level of positional accuracy, and the second positioning system is associated with a second level of positional accuracy that is lower than the first level of accuracy.

15. The product of claim 13, wherein estimating a first geographic area using a first positioning system comprises:

using the first positioning system to estimate the first current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position, wherein the first geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

16. The product of claim 13, wherein estimating a second geographic area using a second positioning system comprises:

using the second positioning system to estimate the second current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position, wherein the second geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

17. The product of claim 13, the operations further comprising, if the indication of the first geographic area is presented:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the first geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.