End user image open area maps

• US 8,396,257 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Seegers, Peter A., Mays, Joseph P., Gale, William N., Stroila, Matei N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fitzpatrick, Atiba O
• Application Number:
  US13/554,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20120281017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 235 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/113, 382/285, 701/201, 701/202, 701/23, 701/208, 701/209, 701/200, 701/207, 705/1.1, 713/168
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/383 Indoor data
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Systems, devices, applications, and methods for generating an open area map are disclosed. For example, a software application is configured to run on a computing platform of an end user. The end user generates an image of a layout of a walkable area. The software application performs a method of generating an open area map based on the image. The method includes applying an array of uniformly spaced objects on the image. A routable map is generated as a function of the array. The routable map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by an end user device to a remote device, an image of a layout representing a real-world area in which a pedestrian moves about, the image generated by an end user associated with the end user device;

receiving, by the end user device, a routable open area map generated by the remote device, the routable open area map generated as a function of a grid applied on the image, the grid including a plurality of contiguous tiles and having a shape that corresponds to a pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area, the shape having a boundary that corresponds to barriers in the layout; and

providing, by the end user device, the end user with point-to-point routing within the routable open area map,

wherein providing point-to-point routing comprises generating a path via adjacent tiles within the routable open area map, the path being formed of any adjacent tiles of the plurality of contiguous tiles such that any area of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area can be routed to.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the point-to-point routing comprises providing point-to-point routing within the routable open area map, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is generated by the end user using the end user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the layout comprises a scanned copy or a photo of a hand-drawing of the layout, and wherein the hand-drawing is on a writable medium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the layout comprises an image of a building floor plan.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, by a remote device, an image of a layout of a real-world area generated by an end user;

applying, by the remote device, a grid on the image, the grid including a plurality of contiguous tiles and having a shape that corresponds to a pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area, the shape having a boundary that corresponds to barriers in the layout;

generating, by the remote device, a routable map based on the grid; and

providing, by the remote device, the routable map to the end user,

wherein the routable map is configured to provide the end user with point-to-point routing within the layout, and

wherein the point-to-point routing comprises a path via adjacent tiles generated within the routable map, the path being formed of any adjacent tiles of the plurality of contiguous tiles such that any area of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area can be routed to.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the image of the layout comprises a scanned copy or a photo of a hand-drawing of the layout, and wherein the hand-drawing is on a writable medium.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the routable map is configured to provide the end user with point-to-point routing within the layout, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a display; and

a processor operable to transmit, to a remote device, an image of a layout of a real-world area generated by an end user,

wherein the processor is further operable to receive, by the remote device, a routable open area map generated by the remote device as a function of a grid applied on the image, the grid including a plurality of contiguous tiles and having a shape that corresponds to a pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area, the shape having a boundary that corresponds to barriers in the layout,

wherein the processor is further operable to provide, on the display for the end user, point-to-point routing within the routable open area map, and

wherein the processor is further operable to provide, within the point-to-point routing, a path generated via adjacent tiles within the routable open area map, the path being formed of any adjacent tiles of the plurality of contiguous tiles such that any area of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area can be routed to.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an input device operable to allow the end user to generate the image.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the image of the layout comprises a scanned copy or a photo of a hand-drawing of the layout, and wherein the hand-drawing is on a writable medium.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the image of the layout comprises an image of a building floor plan.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the point-to-point routing is provided, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store an image of a graphical representation of a real-world area, the graphical representation generated by an end user; and

a processor configured to apply a grid on the image of the graphical representation, the grid comprising a plurality of contiguous tiles and having a shape that corresponds to a pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area, the shape having a boundary that corresponds to barriers in the layout, the processor further configured to generate a routable open area map based on the grid,

wherein the routable open area map is configured to provide the end user with point-to-point routing within the graphical representation, the point-to-point routing comprising a path generated via adjacent tiles within the routable open area map, the path being formed of any adjacent tiles of the plurality of contiguous tiles such that any area of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area can be routed to.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the routable open area map is configured to provide the end user with point-to-point routing, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-accessible sub-area within the real-world area.

16. A method comprising:

transmitting, by an end user device to a remote device, an image of a layout representing a pedestrian-walkable area, the image generated by an end user associated with the end user device;

receiving, by the end user device, a routable open area map generated by the remote device, the routable open area map generated as a function of a grid applied on the image; and

providing, by the end user device, the end user with point-to-point routing within the routable open area map,

wherein providing the point-to point routing comprises providing point-to-point routing within the routable open area map, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-walkable area.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a display; and

a processor operable to transmit, to a remote device, an image of a layout of a pedestrian-walkable area generated by an end user,

wherein the processor is further operable to receive, by the remote device, a routable open area map generated by the remote device as a function of a grid applied on the image,

wherein the processor is further operable to provide, on the display for the end user, point-to-point routing within the routable open area map, and

wherein the point-to-point routing is provided, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-walkable area.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store an image of a graphical representation of a pedestrian-walkable area, the graphical representation generated by an end user; and

a processor configured to apply a grid on the image of the graphical representation, the processor further configured to generate a routable open area map based on the grid,

wherein the routable open area map is configured to provide the end user with point-to-point routing within the graphical representation, and

wherein the routable open area map is configured to provide the end user with point-to-point routing, not based solely on pre-determined routes, as a function of the grid, via any areas of the pedestrian-walkable area.