Systems and methods for identifying missing signage

• US 8,676,506 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: LaLiberte, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US13/296,607
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 340/995.2, 348/116, 712/10, 711/119
• US Class Current: 701/527
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Methods and systems for identifying missing signage are described herein. The method includes generating a route from an origin to a destination, the route having a plurality of maneuvers. The method further includes receiving missing signage information from a first device, the missing signage information relating to one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers, and providing the missing signage information and at least one of the one or more related maneuvers to a second device.

Claims

1. A method for identifying missing signage, the method executed by a computer system and comprising:

generating a route from an origin to a destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

receiving missing signage information from a first device, a least some portion of the missing signage information being manually input into the first device by a user of the first device, the missing signage information comprising an alleged location of missing signage and relating to one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers; and

providing the missing signage information and at least one of the one or more related maneuvers to a second device such that the missing signage information is displayed to a user of the second device in association with at least one of the one or more related maneuvers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the missing signage information further comprises one or more images of the alleged location of the missing signage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a mobile device having a wireless location system, the wireless location system generating the alleged location of the missing signage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless location system comprises a global positioning system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless location system comprises cell phone tower triangulation.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless location system comprises coarse wi-fi location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more landmarks from the first device relating to the one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers; and

providing the one or more landmarks to the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving feedback from a user of the second device as to the accuracy of the alleged location of missing signage received from the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the missing signage information to a governmental agency tasked with addressing missing signage.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving updated missing signage information from at least one of the first device or second device, the updated missing signage information relating to the status of the missing signage.

11. A system comprising one or more processing devices and a network interface, the one or more processing devices configured to:

identify a sequence of maneuvers, the sequence of maneuvers comprising instructions defining a route from an origin to a destination;

receive, via the network interface, missing signage information from a first device, the first device being configured to receive from a user of the first device manual input corresponding to at least some portion of the missing signage information, the missing signage information comprising an alleged location of missing signage and relating to one or more maneuvers of the sequence of maneuvers; and

provide, via the network interface, the missing signage information and at least one of the one or more related maneuvers to a second device such that the missing signage information is displayed to a user of the second association with at least one of the one or more related maneuvers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

receive, via the network interface, one or more landmarks from the first device relating to the one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers; and

provide, via the network interface, the one or more landmarks to the second device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to receive, via the network interface, feedback from a user of the second device as to the accuracy of the alleged location of missing signage received from the first device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to provide, via the network interface, the missing signage information to a governmental agency tasked with addressing missing signage.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to receive, via the network interface, updated missing signage information from at least one of the first device or second device, the updated missing signage information relating to the status of the missing signage.

16. A system for reporting missing signage comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

one or more processors; and

at least one memory coupled to the one or more processors, the at least one memory comprising computer-readable instructions for execution by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising;

presenting a user interface on the display device, the user interface including route from an origin to a destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

presenting a reporting interface with the plurality of maneuvers, the reporting interface configured to receive missing signage information comprising an alleged location of missing signage and associated with one or more of the plurality of maneuvers of the route upon user interaction with the reporting interface;

receiving a manual user input of at least some portion of the missing signage information through the input device directed to the reporting interface; and

sending the missing signage information and at least one of the plurality of maneuvers to a second device such that the missing signage information is presented to a user of the second device in association with at least one of the plurality of maneuvers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the missing signage information further comprises one or more images of the alleged location of the missing signage.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations comprise:

presenting a user interface comprising a map that depicts the route.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the operations comprise:

presenting the reporting interface overlying at least a portion of the route on the map.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the reporting interface is further configured to receive user feedback as to the accuracy of the alleged location of missing signage upon user interaction with the reporting interface.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the reporting interface is further configured to receive updated missing signage information relating to the status of the missing signage upon user interaction with the reporting interface.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the reporting interface is further configured to receive one or more landmarks relating to the one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers upon user interaction with the reporting interface.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the reporting interface is configured to allow a user to select a portion of the route on the map associated with the missing signage information upon user interaction with the reporting interface.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the reporting interface is configured to allow a user to select landmarks on the map relating to the one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers upon user interaction with the reporting interface.