Methods, device and systems for determining route metrics using stored route information

• US 8,437,951 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard Dietrich, Vander Veen, Raymond Paul, Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine, Yach, David Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/559,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 701408-423, 701/454, 4554561-4565, 340992-994
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a method, computer program product, mobile device or a system allowing for determining various route metrics based on stored route records associated with routes traversed by the mobile device. The determination of a route metric may utilize processing of a single route record or multiple route records. Exemplary route metrics include route timing metrics such as lap times, or route record metrics. Configurations of computer program products, mobile devices and systems for enabling the determination of various route metrics are also described.

Claims

1. A method of determining one or more route metrics for a mobile device configured to allow a determination of its location, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if a reference stimulus is actuated;

obtaining and storing in real-time a route record comprising a plurality of sample sets, said sample sets comprising simultaneous time and location data of said mobile device traversing a route after the actuation of the reference stimulus; and

processing previously stored sample sets to at least partially determine said one or more route metrics,

wherein said processing includes comparing the location data of previously stored sample sets to determine one or more matched sample sets, said comparing based on a match criterion, and determining one or more route timing metrics at least partially using the time data of said matched sample sets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing is performed in real-time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing is performed using previously stored sample sets of the same route record or using previously stored sample sets of different route records.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a sample set is determined as a matched sample set if a comparison of its location data satisfies a match criterion with the location data of a lap reference sample set obtained at the actuation of a lap reference stimulus, and the time data of said matched sample set and lap reference sample set is used to determine a lap time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said route timing metric is a lap time, a split time, an estimated time of arrival, an average lap speed, an instantaneous velocity, or an instantaneous acceleration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said match criterion is satisfied if the location data of a first previously stored sample set is within a chosen or pre-determined range of the location data of a second previously stored sample set.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing includes interpolating or extrapolating the location data of previously stored sample sets to determine sample sets of said route record, wherein at least a part of said sample sets is inaccurate, based on an accuracy criterion.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating one or more data files, wherein one or more of the sample sets includes one or more data files, said one or more data files indicative of one or more of an image, text or audio.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining of said route metrics is performed by said mobile device, by a communicatively linked server, or by a communicatively linked peer mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring data with one or more peer mobile devices or servers, communicatively linked with said mobile device, said data indicative of one or more of the sample sets.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least part of said transfer of data occurs in real-time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said sample sets is obtained from a user of said mobile device.

13. A method of determining one or more route metrics for a mobile device configured to allow a determination of its location, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if a reference stimulus is actuated;

obtaining and storing in real-time a route record comprising a plurality of sample sets, said sample sets comprising simultaneous time and location data of said mobile device traversing a route after the actuation of the reference stimulus; and

processing previously stored sample sets to at least partially determine said one or more route metrics,

the method further comprising;

obtaining one or more parameters of a custom route;

obtaining information for a region proximal to or including a reference point defined by the location data of said mobile device at the actuation of said reference stimulus; and

identifying if any, utilizing at least partially said information for the region and said parameters, one or more routes within said region satisfying said parameters, for selection of a custom route therefrom based on said processing of the previously stored sample sets.

14. A computer program product configured to determine one or more route metrics for a mobile device configured to allow a determination of its location, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having code embedded therein which, when loaded into a memory and executed on an associated processor, is adapted to perform:

determining if a reference stimulus is actuated;

obtaining and storing in real-time a route record comprising a plurality of sample sets, said sample sets comprising simultaneous time and location data of said mobile device traversing a route after the actuation of the reference stimulus; and

processing previously stored sample sets to at least partially determine said one or more route metrics,

wherein said processing includes comparing the location data of previously stored sample sets to determine one or more matched sample sets, said comparing based on a match criterion, and determining one or more route timing metrics at least partially using the time data of said matched sample sets.

15. A computer program product configured to determine one or more route metrics for a mobile device configured to allow a determination of its location, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having code embedded therein which, when loaded into a memory and executed on an associated processor, is adapted to perform:

determining if a reference stimulus is actuated;

obtaining and storing in real-time a route record comprising a plurality of sample sets, said sample sets comprising simultaneous time and location data of said mobile device traversing a route after the actuation of the reference stimulus; and

processing previously stored sample sets to at least partially determine said one or more route metrics,

wherein said processing includes interpolating or extrapolating the location data of previously stored sample sets to determine sample sets of said route record, wherein at least a part of said sample sets is inaccurate, based on an accuracy criterion.

16. A mobile device configured to determine one or more route metrics, said mobile device comprising:

a sensing module configured to determine whether a reference stimulus is actuated;

a location identification module configured to obtain location data of said mobile device, after receiving a notification from the sensing module that the reference stimulus is actuated; and

a processing module operatively coupled to the sensing module and the location identification module, said processing module configured to obtain time data in a simultaneous fashion with the location identification module obtaining the location data, said time and location data at least partially defining a sample set and a plurality of sample sets defining a route record, said processing module further configured to process previously stored sample sets to at least partially determine said one or more route metrics,

wherein the processing module is configured to compare the location data of previously stored sample sets to determine one or more matched sample sets, said comparing based on a match criterion, and to determine one or more route timing metrics at least partially using the time data of said matched sample sets.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the processing module is configured to interpolate or extrapolate the location data of previously stored sample sets to determine sample sets of said route record, wherein at least a part of said sample sets is inaccurate, based on an accuracy criterion.

18. The mobile device of claim 16, further comprising a data collection module configured for collection data indicative of one or more of an image, text, monitoring data and audio, wherein each piece of data can be associated with one or more of the sample sets.

19. The mobile device of claim 16, further comprising a user interface configured to signal a user of the mobile device if said previously stored sample sets or said route metrics at least partially do not meet a performance criterion.