Projected way-finding

• US 8,849,570 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Russ, V. Kevin, Snavely, John A., Burtner, Edwin R., Sands, Ian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell, Dana
• Application Number:
  US12/407,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• US Class Current: 701/523
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

Navigation information may be provided. First, a destination location may be received at a portable device. Next, a current location of the portable device maybe detected. Then, at least one way-point may be calculated based on the current location and the destination location. An orientation and a level of the portable device may be determined and the at least one way-point may then be projected from the portable device.

Claims

1. A portable device having navigation capability, the portable device comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

receive a destination location;

receive a current location of the portable device;

determine an orientation of the portable device;

determine a level of the portable device;

determine at least one way-point to the destination location based at least in part on the current location and the destination location;

provide instructions for projecting turn information corresponding to the at least one way-point based at least in part on the orientation and the level; and

cause a projection of the turn information in accordance with the instructions on a proximal surface being navigated, the projected turn information comprising a projection of;

current direction information, and

next-turn information corresponding to a next-turn for the at least one way-point.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to receive the destination location from at least one of:

a user interface of the portable device and a remote computing device.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

determine a distance from the current location to the destination location; and

cause a projection of the distance.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one-way point comprises at least one of the following:

the next-turn information and a distance to a next-turn.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine the orientation of the portable device by reading data from an orientation detecting device integrated into the portable device.

6. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine the level of the portable device by reading data from at least one accelerometer integrated into the portable device.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine the current location of the portable device by reading data from a position detection device.

8. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit being operative to cause the projection of the turn information comprises the processing unit being operative to cause the projection of the turn information at an integrated projection device.

9. A method for providing navigation information to a portable device, the method comprising;

receiving a destination location for the portable device;

detecting a current location of the portable device;

determining an orientation of the portable device;

determining a level of the portable device;

retrieving by a computing device, at least one way-point based at least in part on the current location and the destination location; and

projecting, on a proximal surface being navigated, the at least one way-point based at least in part on the device orientation and the device level, wherein projecting the at least one way-point comprises a projection of current direction information, and next-turn information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a distance from the current location to the destination location; and

projecting the distance in proximity to the projected at least one way-point.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein retrieving the at least one way-point based at least in part on the current location and the destination location comprises calculating the next-turn information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the destination location for the portable device comprises receiving the destination location for the portable device from at least one of the following:

an external computing device, a user interface of the portable device, and another portable device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the orientation of the portable device comprises determining the orientation of the portable device by reading an integrated direction detection device of the portable device, and wherein determining the level of the portable device comprises determining the level of the portable device by reading at least one integrated accelerometer of the portable device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein retrieving the at least one way-point based at least in part on the current location and the destination location comprises retrieving the at least one way-point from a remotely operated way-finding application, the way-finding application being operative to:

receive the destination location and the current location and determine a route from the current location to the destination location.

15. A mobile communications device having navigation capability, the portable device comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

receive a destination location for the mobile communications device from at least one of the following;

a user interface of the mobile communications device and a remote computing device;

determine a current location of the mobile communications device;

calculate a route from the current location to the destination location;

determine at least one way-point of the route based at least in part on;

the current location, the route, and the destination location;

receive a first reading from a direction detection device operatively associated with the mobile communications device;

determine an orientation of the mobile communications device based on the first reading;

receive a second reading from at least one accelerometer operatively associated with the mobile communications device;

determine a level of the mobile communications device based on the second reading; and

cause, on a proximal surface being navigated, a projection of the at least one way-point based at least in part on;

the orientation of the mobile communications device and the level of the mobile communications device, the projection comprising a projection of;

a first turn information in a first portion of the projection, and

a next-turn information in a second portion of the projection.

16. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the projection simultaneously provides the first turn information and the next-turn information and a distance to a next-turn corresponding to the next-turn information.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

calculate a distance from the current location to the destination location, and

cause a projection of the distance along with the at least one way-point.

18. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein processing unit is further operative to receive the current location of the mobile communications device from an integrated position detection device operative to perform at least one of the following:

communicate with a positioning system and determine the current location by device triangulation.

19. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the mobile communications device is operative to provide voice and data services.

20. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit being operative to cause the projection of the at least one way-point comprises the processing unit being operative to cause the projection of the at least one way-point at an integrated micro-projection device.