Method and apparatus for GPS services based on client and server architecture

• US 8,600,664 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Original Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Inventors: Pu, Qing Kent, Li, Hui Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US13/492,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 541 Days
• Field of Search: 701/451, 701/428, 701408-410, 701/412, 701/440, 701/441, 701/444, 701/468, 701/414, 701/415, 701418-421, 701/423, 701/431, 701/532, 701/538, 701/455, 340/995.12, 340/998, 340/995.2, 340/995.19, 340/995.23, 340/995.16, 340/989, 340990-993, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 701/420
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

A client navigation system establishes a wireless connection to a navigation server on a computer network. The client requests a route by uploading start and stop specifications. The server calculates an optimal route based on real-time data available on the network. A generic natural language description is used to specify the optimal route downloaded to the client. The natural language description is independent from the local mapping database software on the client and includes a plain text description for each link using pre-defined generic terms. The client interprets the route, interfaces with the local mapping database and reconstructs the optimal route using a mapping reconstruction algorithm. The route is displayed on the client navigation system using whatever mapping database is present.

Claims

1. A method for navigation in a mobile device integrated with phone functions so that the mobile device makes or receives calls, the method comprising:

receiving signals from at least three satellites disposed for global positioning system (GPS);

displaying on a local map a current location of the mobile device determined from the signals, the local map being generated from a mapping database in the mobile device;

accepting an inquiry in voice from a user to a destination;

communicating with a server over a wireless link;

sending the inquiry to the server, wherein the inquiry includes the current location and the destination, the server is configured to determine a route from the current location to the destination;

receiving routing data from the server;

matching a turning street in the routing data with a cross street by a fuzzy logic process to account for differences in spelling and for differences in street names between the routing data and the mapping database; and

displaying on a display screen the route from the current location to the destination, wherein the route is superimposed on the local map, the map is automatically scrolled to accommodate an indication that the mobile device has been travelling from the current location.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving from the server real-time information about the route, and wherein the server receives the real-time information from other resources available on the Internet.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the routing data received from the server is a plain text description for each link in the route using pre-defined generic terms and is compressed before being sent to the mobile device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the routing data received from the server is in a nature language, independent from the mapping database in the mobile device and thus acceptable to other navigation devices each running a local mapping database.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

interpreting the routing data to reconstruct the route from the description.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said interpreting the routing data to reconstruct the route from the description comprises:

determining a starting point of the route in accordance with the current position;

reading a next link in the routing data;

following listed roads one by one in accordance with respective indicated directions; and

superimposing the route on the local map, wherein the route is highlighted.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a starting position as an entry typed or voiced in by the user and treating the current location as the starting position.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising determining a map around the starting position and displaying the map with the starting position highlighted.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying on a display screen the route from the current location to the destination comprises:

reconstructing the route from the routing data in accordance with the mapping database in the mobile device; and

comparing a cross street name with the routing data to account for differences in spelling and for differences in street names.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless link is selected from a group consisting of a data network and a cellular network.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is configured to:

determine the route being optimal based on real-time information provided by other database; and

formatting the route data in accordance with a natural language, the routing data including a starting point and an ending point, followed by at least a number of links with a name, a distance and a turning orientation.

12. A mobile device capable of making or receiving phone calls, the mobile device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive signals from at least three satellites disposed for global positioning system (GPS);

a displayer driver for displaying on a local map a current location of the mobile device determined from the signals, the local map being generated from a mapping database in the mobile device;

a user interface to accept an inquiry in voice from a user to a destination;

a wireless interface to facilitate communication between the mobile device and a server over a wireless link;

a module executed to perform operations of;

sending the inquiry including a starting position to the server, wherein the server is configured to determine a route from the starting position to the destination;

receiving routing data from the server;

matching a turning street in the routing data with a cross street by a fuzzy logic process to account for differences in spelling and for differences in street names between the routing data and the mapping database; and

displaying on a display screen the route from the starting position to the destination, wherein the route is superimposed on the local map, the map is automatically scrolled to accommodate an indication that the mobile device has been moved from the starting position.

13. The mobile device as recited in claim 12, wherein the routing data further includes real-time information about the route, and wherein the server receives the real-time information from other resources available on the Internet.

14. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein the routing data received from the server is a plain text description for each link in the route using pre-defined generic terms, independent from the mapping database in the mobile device, thus acceptable to other navigation devices each running a local mapping database.

15. The mobile device as recited in claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

interpreting the routing data to reconstruct the route from the description.

16. The mobile device as recited in claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a starting point of the route in accordance with the starting position;

reading a next link in the routing data;

following listed roads one by one in accordance with respective indicated directions; and

superimposing the route on the local map, wherein the route is highlighted in the local map.

17. The mobile device as recited in claim 16, wherein the starting position is an entry typed or voiced in by the user.

18. The mobile device as recited in claim 16, wherein the starting position is the current location detected by the mobile device.

19. The mobile device as recited in claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

reconstructing the route from the routing data in accordance with the mapping database in the mobile device; and

comparing a cross street name with the routing data to account for differences in spelling and for differences in street names.

20. The mobile device as recited in claim 12, wherein the wireless link is selected from a group consisting of a data network and a cellular network.