Map navigation with suppression of off-route feedback near route terminus

• US 8,615,359 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Alam, Mudassir, Bharathan, Aarti, Candelas Gonzalez, Juan Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US13/269,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 340988-996
• US Class Current: 701/410
• 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 21/3626 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

Abstract

A terminus buffer area (e.g., an end-of-route buffer area) is provided in a map navigation tool to allow suppression of off-route feedback (e.g., audio or visual warnings or alerts) in some circumstances, such as when a mobile computing device (e.g., a smart phone) that implements the tool enters the buffer area. The map navigation tool can output off-route feedback when the user strays from a route, but also can suppress the off-route feedback when the user is within the buffer area. In addition to suppression of off-route feedback, a map navigation tool also can disable off-route feedback when a user crosses an arrival threshold and enters an arrival area, such that the tool does not output off-route feedback regardless of the user'"'"'s location or movements once the user has entered the arrival area. The arrival area can be within an end-of-route buffer area.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

by a computing device implementing a map navigation tool;

identifying a current location of the computing device;

identifying a terminus location associated with a route defined by the map navigation tool, wherein the terminus location is surrounded by a terminus buffer area;

determining whether the current location is within the terminus buffer area by;

calculating a distance between the current location and the terminus location; and

comparing the calculated distance to a terminus buffer value that represents the distance from the terminus location to an extent of the terminus buffer area; and

selectively suppressing off-route feedback based on the determining, wherein;

if the current location is within the terminus buffer area, off-route feedback is suppressed;

otherwise, if the current location is outside the terminus buffer area, off-route feedback is not suppressed.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to an off-route event, outputting the off-route feedback when the off-route feedback is not suppressed.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to an off-route event, calculating a new route based on the current location when the off-route feedback is not suppressed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to an off-route event, omitting output of the off-route feedback when the off-route feedback is suppressed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a smart phone, and wherein idle timer reset functionality remains enabled for the smart phone when the off-route feedback is suppressed.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamic zoom functionality remains enabled when the off-route feedback is suppressed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein orientation of a view of a map is such that heading of progress along the route is upward in the view of the map when the off-route feedback is suppressed.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a smart phone having a touchscreen and tap input functionality such that a tap input on the touchscreen causes a next item in a list of directions associated with the route to be announced when the off-route feedback is suppressed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the terminus location is an end location.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining whether the current location is within a second terminus buffer area associated with the route, wherein the second terminus buffer area surrounds a start location associated with the route.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminus buffer area is a circle, and wherein the terminus buffer value is the radius of the circle.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the terminus buffer value is greater than a position error value, and wherein the position error value represents an error in identifying the current location of the computing device.

13. At least one computer-readable memory having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that cause a computer to perform a method comprising:

identifying a first location of a smart phone that implements a map navigation tool that defines a route, wherein the first location is an off-route location;

outputting off-route feedback based at least in part on the off-route location;

identifying a second location of the smart phone;

determining that the second location is within an end-of-route buffer area associated with an end location of a route defined by the map navigation tool by;

calculating a distance between the second location and the end location; and

comparing the calculated distance to an end-of-route buffer value that represents the distance from the end location to an extent of the end-of-route buffer area;

suppressing the off-route feedback based on the second location within the end-of-route buffer area;

identifying a third location of the smart phone;

determining that the third location is within an arrival area associated with the end location of the route; and

disabling the off-route feedback based on the third location within the arrival area.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 13, wherein the end-of-route buffer area is larger than the arrival area associated with the end location of the route.

15. The computer-readable memory of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a fourth location of the smart phone;

determining that the fourth location is outside the end-of-route buffer area associated with the end location of the route defined by the map navigation tool; and

re-enabling off-route feedback based on the fourth location being outside the end-of-route buffer area.

16. A computing device implementing a map navigation tool, the computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising;

identifying a current location of the computing device;

determining whether the current location is within a terminus buffer area associated with a route defined by the map navigation tool by;

calculating a distance between the current location and a terminus location within the terminus buffer area; and

comparing the calculated distance to a terminus buffer value that represents the distance from the terminus location to an extent of the terminus buffer area; and

suppressing off-route feedback when the current location is within the terminus buffer area.

17. The computing device of claim 16 wherein the computing device is a smart phone.

18. The computing device of claim 16, further comprising a touchscreen, and wherein the method further comprises in response to receiving touch input on the touchscreen, causing a next item in a list of directions associated with the route to be announced when the off-route feedback is suppressed.

19. The computing device of claim 16, further comprising a GPS receiver, and wherein the current location of the computing device is identified using the GPS receiver.