Navigational coordinate systems in conjunction with transports and/or mobile devices

• US 8,744,748 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Rajarshi, Das, Saumitra Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US13/046,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20110251787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/468, 701/472, 701/483, 701/484, 701494-499, 701/500
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, apparatuses, articles, and means for determining at least one navigational coordinate system to be utilized in conjunction with transports and/or mobile devices. For certain example implementations, a method by a mobile device that is at least proximate to a transport may comprise identifying a first navigational coordinate system, with the first navigational coordinate system being associated with the transport and enabling navigation within at least one navigable area of the transport. A second navigational coordinate system may also be identified. The mobile device may determine to utilize at least one of the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system based, at least in part, on one or more predetermined conditions. Other example implementations are described herein.

Claims

1. A method by a mobile device that is at least proximate to a transport, the method comprising:

identifying, by the mobile device, a first navigational coordinate system, the first navigational coordinate system being associated with the transport and enabling navigation within at least one navigable area of the transport;

identifying, by the mobile device, a second navigational coordinate system; and

determining, by the mobile device, to utilize the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system or a combination thereof, based at least in part, on one or more predetermined conditions, comprising determining that the transport is substantially stationary at a port; and

linking, by the mobile device, the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system such that a first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system is seamlessly displayed with a second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system are capable of moving relative to each other.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system are capable of moving relative to each other at least in a vertical direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a local navigational coordinate system that is referenced to a building structure and that enables navigation within the building structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a global navigational coordinate system that is referenced to an earth-centered coordinate system;

and wherein the transport is capable of changing location on the global navigational coordinate system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining to utilize at least the first navigational coordinate system;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

utilizing the first navigational coordinate system to provide navigational-related information to a user associated with the mobile device to facilitate movement of the user within the at least one navigable area of the transport.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one signal via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing information from one or more inertial sensors of the mobile device to produce processed information,

wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises verifying an association of the processed information with at least one signature indicating movement of the transport relative to a global navigational coordinate system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises ascertaining at least one satellite-based position fix indicating whether the transport has moved.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises detecting at least one indication by a user to zoom-in to or zoom-out of a display of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one message via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport, the at least one message adapted to instruct the mobile device to utilize at least the first navigational coordinate system.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining one or more second coordinates that are defined according to the second navigational coordinate system, the one or more second coordinates to correspond to one or more first coordinates that are defined according to the first navigational coordinate system, wherein said linking further comprises linking the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system using at least the one or more second coordinates.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining one or more messages indicating a change in a position of the first navigational coordinate system relative to the second navigational coordinate system; and

updating said linking of the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system responsive to the change in the position so that at least one route may be correctly determined between a first point of interest of the first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system and a second point of interest of the second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transport comprises a ship, and the port includes a dock;

and wherein the change in the position comprises at least a vertical movement of the ship relative to the dock.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining one or more signals representative of at least one heading of the transport relative to at least one reference datum;

estimating the at least one reference datum based, at least in part, on information from one or more sensors of the mobile device to ascertain at least one estimated reference datum; and

orienting a map of at least a portion of the transport that is displayed on a screen of the mobile device based, at least in part, on the at least one estimated reference datum and the at least one heading of the transport, the map being associated with at least the first navigational coordinate system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

obtaining the one or more signals representative of the at least one heading of the transport from one or more wireless signals that are derived from at least one shipboard sensor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

obtaining the one or more signals representative of the at least one heading of the transport from one or more signals that are derived from satellite positioning system data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the transport comprises a cruise ship, and the at least one heading of the transport comprises at least one heading of the cruise ship;

and wherein the at least one reference datum comprises at least an approximate magnetic north.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining emergency routing instructions at the mobile device, the emergency routing instructions being based, at least in part, on a location of an emergency at the transport and on multiple locations corresponding to multiple mobile devices that are present at the transport.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the emergency routing instructions are adapted to direct at least one passenger to one or more evacuation resources of the transport using the mobile device.

21. A mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

at least one memory to store instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to;

identify a first navigational coordinate system, the first navigational coordinate system being associated with a transport and enabling navigation within at least one navigable area of the transport;

identify a second navigational coordinate system; and

determine to utilize the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system or a combination thereof, based at least in part, on one or more predetermined conditions, comprising at least one determination that the transport is substantially stationary at a port; and

link the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system such that a first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system is seamlessly displayed with a second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system are capable of moving relative to each other.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a local navigational coordinate system that is referenced to a building structure and that enables navigation within the building structure.

24. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a global navigational coordinate system that is referenced to an earth-centered coordinate system;

and wherein the transport is capable of changing location on the global navigational coordinate system.

25. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein to determine to utilize at least one of the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions to determine to utilize at least the first navigational coordinate system;

and wherein said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to;

utilize the first navigational coordinate system to provide navigational-related information to a user associated with the mobile device to facilitate movement of the user within the at least one navigable area of the transport.

26. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one signal via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport.

27. The mobile device of claim 21, further comprising:

one or more inertial sensors,

wherein said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to process information from the one or more inertial sensors to produce processed information; and

wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises verification of an association of the processed information with at least one signature indicating movement of the transport relative to a global navigational coordinate system.

28. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises ascertainment of at least one satellite-based position fix indicating whether the transport has moved.

29. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises detection of at least one indication by a user to zoom-in to or zoom-out of a display of the mobile device.

30. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one message via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport, the at least one message adapted to instruct the mobile device to utilize at least the first navigational coordinate system.

31. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to:

obtain one or more second coordinates that are defined according to the second navigational coordinate system, the one or more second coordinates to correspond to one or more first coordinates that are defined according to the first navigational coordinate system,

wherein to link the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions to link the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system using at least the one or more second coordinates.

32. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to:

obtain one or more messages indicating a change in a position of the first navigational coordinate system relative to the second navigational coordinate system; and

update the linking of the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system responsive to the change in the position so that at least one route may be correctly determined between a first point of interest of the first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system and a second point of interest of the second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

33. The mobile device of claim 21, further comprising:

one or more sensors; and

a screen,

wherein said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to;

obtain one or more signals representative of at least one heading of the transport relative to at least one reference datum;

estimate the at least one reference datum based, at least in part, on information from the one or more sensors to ascertain at least one estimated reference datum; and

orient a map of at least a portion of the transport that is displayed on the screen based, at least in part, on the at least one estimated reference datum and the at least one heading of the transport, the map being associated with at least the first navigational coordinate system.

34. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein to obtain one or more signals representative of at least one heading of the transport said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions to:

obtain the one or more signals representative of the at least one heading of the transport from one or more wireless signals that are derived from at least one shipboard sensor.

35. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein to obtain one or more signals representative of at least one heading of the transport said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions to:

obtain the one or more signals representative of the at least one heading of the transport from one or more signals that are derived from satellite positioning system data.

36. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein said one or more processors are further configured to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to:

obtain emergency routing instructions at the mobile device, the emergency routing instructions being based, at least in part, on a location of an emergency at the transport and on multiple locations corresponding to multiple mobile devices that are present at the transport.

37. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein the emergency routing instructions are adapted to direct at least one passenger to one or more evacuation resources of the transport using the mobile device.

38. An apparatus comprising:

means for identifying a first navigational coordinate system, the first navigational coordinate system being associated with a transport and enabling navigation within at least one navigable area of the transport;

means for identifying a second navigational coordinate system; and

means for determining to utilize the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system or a combination thereof, based at least in part, on one or more predetermined conditions, comprising at least one determination that the transport is substantially stationary at a port; and

means for linking the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system such that a first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system is seamlessly displayed with a second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system are capable of moving relative to each other.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a local navigational coordinate system that is referenced to a building structure and that enables navigation within the building structure.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a global navigational coordinate system that is referenced to an earth-centered coordinate system;

and wherein the transport is capable of changing location on the global navigational coordinate system.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for utilizing the first navigational coordinate system to provide navigational-related information to a user associated with the apparatus to facilitate movement of the user within the at least one navigable area of the transport.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one signal via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising means for processing information from one or more inertial sensors associated with the apparatus to produce processed information;

and wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises verification of an association of the processed information with at least one signature indicating movement of the transport relative to a global navigational coordinate system.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises ascertainment of at least one satellite-based position fix indicating whether the transport has moved.

46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises detection of at least one indication by a user to zoom-in to or zoom-out of a display associated with the apparatus.

47. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one message via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport, the at least one message adapted to instruct the apparatus to utilize at least the first navigational coordinate system.

48. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for obtaining one or more second coordinates that are defined according to the second navigational coordinate system, the one or more second coordinates to correspond to one or more first coordinates that are defined according to the first navigational coordinate system,

wherein said means for linking further comprises means for linking the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system using at least the one or more second coordinates.

49. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for obtaining one or more messages indicating a change in a position of the first navigational coordinate system relative to the second navigational coordinate system; and

means for updating the linking of the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system responsive to the change in the position so that at least one route may be correctly determined between a first point of interest of the first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system and a second point of interest of the second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

50. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for obtaining emergency routing instructions at the apparatus, the emergency routing instructions being based, at least in part, on a location of an emergency at the transport and on multiple locations corresponding to multiple mobile devices that are present at the transport.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the emergency routing instructions are adapted to direct at least one passenger to one or more evacuation resources of the transport using the apparatus.

52. An article comprising:

at least one non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to;

identify a first navigational coordinate system, the first navigational coordinate system being associated with a transport and enabling navigation within at least one navigable area of the transport;

identify a second navigational coordinate system; and

determine to utilize the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system or a combination thereof, based at least in part, on one or more predetermined conditions, comprising at least one determination that the transport is substantially stationary at a port; and

link the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system such that a first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system is seamlessly displayed with a second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

53. The article of claim 52, wherein the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system are capable of moving relative to each other.

54. The article of claim 52, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a local navigational coordinate system that is referenced to a building structure and that enables navigation within the building structure.

55. The article of claim 52, wherein the second navigational coordinate system comprises a global navigational coordinate system that is referenced to an earth-centered coordinate system;

and wherein the transport is capable of changing location on the global navigational coordinate system.

56. The article of claim 52, wherein to determine to utilize at least one of the first navigational coordinate system or the second navigational coordinate system the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to determine to utilize the first navigational coordinate system;

and wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

utilize the first navigational coordinate system to provide navigational-related information to a user associated with a mobile device to facilitate movement of the user within the at least one navigable area of the transport.

57. The article of claim 52, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one signal via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport.

58. The article of claim 52, wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to process information from one or more inertial sensors of a mobile device to produce processed information;

and wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises verification of an association of the processed information with at least one signature indicating movement of the transport relative to a global navigational coordinate system.

59. The article of claim 52, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises ascertainment of at least one satellite-based position fix indicating whether the transport has moved.

60. The article of claim 52, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises detection of at least one indication by a user to zoom-in to or zoom-out of a display of a mobile device.

61. The article of claim 52, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions comprises obtaining at least one message via at least one transmitter that is fixed to the transport, the at least one message adapted to instruct a mobile device to utilize at least the first navigational coordinate system.

62. The article of claim 52, wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

obtain one or more second coordinates that are defined according to the second navigational coordinate system, the one or more second coordinates to correspond to one or more first coordinates that are defined according to the first navigational coordinate system,

wherein to link the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to link the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system using at least the one or more second coordinates.

63. The article of claim 52, wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

obtain one or more messages indicating a change in a position of the first navigational coordinate system relative to the second navigational coordinate system; and

update the linking of the first navigational coordinate system and the second navigational coordinate system responsive to the change in the position so that at least one route may be correctly determined between a first point of interest of the first map associated with the first navigational coordinate system and a second point of interest of the second map associated with the second navigational coordinate system.

64. The article of claim 52, wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

obtain one or more signals representative of at least one heading of the transport relative to at least one reference datum;

estimate the at least one reference datum based, at least in part, on information from one or more sensors of a mobile device to ascertain at least one estimated reference datum; and

orient a map of at least a portion of the transport that is displayed on a screen of the mobile device based, at least in part, on the at least one estimated reference datum and the at least one heading of the transport, the map being associated with at least the first navigational coordinate system.

65. The article of claim 52, wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

obtain emergency routing instructions at a mobile device, the emergency routing instructions being based, at least in part, on a location of an emergency at the transport and on multiple locations corresponding to multiple mobile devices that are present at the transport.

66. The article of claim 65, wherein the emergency routing instructions are adapted to direct at least one passenger to one or more evacuation resources of the transport using the mobile device.