Computing navigation device with enhanced route directions view

• US 8,359,157 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Figueroa, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/099,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/213, 701/400, 701/409, 701/426, 701/438, 707/743, 707/802
• US Class Current: 701/430
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn

Abstract

Systems, methods and a graphical user interface are provided for enhancing a computing navigation device route directions view. A system is disclosed including a computing navigation device configured to identify a route for travel. The route includes one or more geographic locations along the route. The computing navigation device is further configured to receive media from a media service via a computer network, wherein each media includes associated geographic information indicating that the media relates to the one or more geographic locations. The computing navigation device is further configured to display the media in a route directions view of a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A system for enhancing a computing navigation device route directions view, comprising:

a computing navigation device configured to;

execute a route module, the route module configured to identify a route for travel, the route including one or more geographic locations along the route;

execute a graphical user interface including a settings interface configured to receive a user selected extended data parameter to selectively download media that have been captured under a selected predetermined condition;

execute a media module, the media module configured to send a request to a media service via a computer network, the request comprising the user selected extended parameter and one or more of coordinates and cardinal direction of the geographic locations of the route, and the media module being further configured to receive, responsive to the request, media from the media service, wherein each media includes associated geographic information indicating that the media relates to the one or more geographic locations, and wherein at least some of the media at the media service includes metadata to identify the media as having been captured under predetermined conditions at the one or more geographic locations, wherein the metadata identifies the media as being one or more extended data types being selected from the group consisting of weather information, traffic conditions, road conditions, time, date, day, and night; and

execute a map module, the map module being configured to contact a map service via the computer network and download a map and one or more graphical elements from the map service indicative of the route for travel,

wherein the graphical user interface module is further configured to display the media in a route directions view of the graphical user interface in response to a user input to display the media.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the route is a planned route for travel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the route is a detected route of travel, and wherein the computing navigation device further includes a global positioning system receiver configured to determine the one or more geographic locations along the route.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein media includes images and/or video.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the route module is further configured to receive global position coordinates from a GPS system indicative of a detected route of travel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes a route pane for displaying the route, and a media pane for displaying the media.

7. A method for enhancing a computing navigation device route directions view comprising:

sending, a route request to a map service via a computer network for a planned route from a user input starting point to a user input destination point;

receiving, responsive to the route request, a route for travel, the route including one or more geographic locations along the route;

receiving a user selected extended data parameter for selecting one or more extended data types, wherein the extended data types are selected from the group consisting of weather information, traffic conditions, road conditions, time, date, day, and night;

sending a request to a media service via the computer network, the request comprising the user selected data parameter and one or more of coordinates and cardinal direction of the geographic locations of the route;

receiving, responsive to the request, media corresponding to the geographic locations along the route, from the media service via the computer network, wherein each media includes associated geographic information indicating that the media relates to one or more of the geographic locations;

displaying one or more route elements for traveling to the geographic locations along the route; and

displaying the media associated with the geographic locations in a graphical user interface in response to a user input to display the media.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the route elements include graphical elements displayed on a map.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the route elements include text elements configured to provide instructions to traverse the route for travel.

10. A graphical user interface of an enhanced computing navigation device route directions view comprising:

a route pane configured to display a route including one or more route elements, each route element having an associated geographic location along the route, the route and route elements being received, responsive to a route request, from a map service via a computer network;

a settings interface configured to receive a user selected extended data parameter to selectively download media that have been captured under a selected predetermined condition; and

a media pane configured to display media corresponding to the one or more geographic locations along the route in response to a user input to display the media, the media including geographic information used to associate the media with the geographic locations, and being downloaded responsive to a request from a media service via the computer network, the request comprises the user selected data parameter, wherein at least some of the media downloaded from the media service includes metadata to identify the media as having been captured under predetermined conditions at the one or more geographic locations, wherein the geographic information includes one or more of coordinates and cardinal direction of the geographic locations of the route.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the media includes images and/or video.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 11, wherein the images include one more of a street view, an aerial view, and video depicting movement along the route.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the one or more route elements include graphical elements displayed on a map and/or textual elements providing instructions to traverse the route.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 10, further comprising a settings interface configured to receive a user selected extended data parameter for selecting one or more extended data types wherein the extended data types are selected from the group consisting of weather information, traffic conditions, road conditions, time, date, day, and night.