Method and system for providing navigation assistance on a mobile device

• US 8,478,516 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Tanioka, Hideaki, Ito, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US12/781,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 709/203, 709/206, 707/1, 715/712, 358/453, 345/634, 348/807, 463/30, 736/07, 370/260, 455/414.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing navigation assistance on a mobile device are provided. A method may include extracting information from at least one of a first map image and an address image, wherein the first map image is a digitized picture of a non-digitized map and the address image is a digitized picture of a non-digitized written address. The method may also include communicating the extracted information to a mapping service server. The method may further include receiving, from the mapping service server in response to communicating the extracted information, a second map image including routing information for assisting navigation of a user of a mobile device. The method may additionally include displaying the second map image including the routing information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

extracting information from a first map image and an address image, wherein;

the first map image is a first digitized picture of a non-digitized map; and

the address image is a second digitized picture of a non-digitized written address;

communicating the extracted information to a mapping service server;

receiving, from the mapping service server in response to communicating the extracted information, a second map image including routing information for assisting navigation of a user of a mobile device;

displaying the second map image including the routing information; and

the extracted information includes any one of;

an approximate destination address associated with at least one of the destination symbol depicted in the first map image and the non-digitized written address; and

geographical coordinates associated with elements depicted in the first map image.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the non-digitized written address includes a handwritten address or a machine-printed address.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second map image includes one or more graphical elements that indicate at least one of:

a present location of the mobile device;

a starting location for navigation;

a destination location for navigation;

a route to be taken by the user of the mobile device in order to reach a desired location;

a geographical orientation of the second map image relative to cardinal directions; and

a geographical landmark.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elements depicted in the first map image include at least one of:

a street depicted in the first map image;

a landmark depicted in the first map image; and

one or more boundaries of the first map image.