Systems, apparatus and methods for delivery of location-oriented information

• US 8,914,232 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2238366 Ontario Inc.
• Original Assignee: 2238366 Ontario Inc.
• Inventors: Ma, Maran, Cheng, Janice, Rajagopal, Namratha, Fang, Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US13/560,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 701/28, 701/409, 701/426, 701/428, 701/431, 701/436, 701/438
• US Class Current: 701/438
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers

Abstract

An augmented reality guiding system for delivery of location-oriented information, including a location server, a database coupled to the location server, and at least one mobile locating device. The database is configured to store target information relating to target points of interest. Each mobile locating device has a positioning module, an imaging module, a spatial orientation detection module, a display module, and at least one wireless communication module. Each mobile locating device is configured to receive target information relating to at least one target points of interest from the location server, and display the target information by visually augmenting at least one image on the display module.

Claims

1. An augmented reality guiding system for delivery of location-oriented information, comprising:

a) a location server;

b) a database coupled to the location server and configured to store target information relating to target points of interest; and

c) at least one mobile locating device, each mobile locating device having a positioning module configured to determine location information for that locating device, an imaging module configured to capture at least one image of at least some of a field of vision for that locating device, a spatial orientation detection module that outputs heading, roll, and pitch data to determine spatial information of that locating device, a display module configured to provide visual feedback, and at least one wireless communication module configured to communicate with the location server;

d) wherein each mobile locating device is configured to be able to receive target information relating to at least one target points of interest from the location server, and based on the target information and the location information and spatial information for that locating device, display the target information relating to the target point of interest by visually augmenting the at least one captured image on the display module; and

e) wherein at least one of the target points of interest is a mobile object and the at least one mobile locating device is adapted to dynamically locate the mobile object.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the target information includes at least one of location information indicative of a location of each target point of interest, spatial orientation information indicative of spatial information relating to each target point of interest, permission information for determining whether the target information is accessible or relevant, and grouping information about how each target point of interest is organized.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the target points of interest is a mobile locating device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each locating device is further configured so that, when a target point of interest is not within the field of vision the visually augmenting of the at least one captured image includes indicating a direction from the locating device to a location of the target point of interest.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the target points of interest is non-mobile.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each locating device is configured to store target information relating to at least one of the target points of interest in a data storage module locally on the locating device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each locating device is configured to allow one or more of the target points of interest to be added and stored in at least one of a data storage module and the location server.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging module, positioning module, spatial orientation detection module, input module, display module, and communication module are integrally coupled.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning module and spatial orientation detection module are removably coupled to the locating device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the positioning module and spatial orientation module are configured to communicate with the input module, display module, and communication module using a wireless interface.

11. A mobile locating device for an augmented-reality guiding system, comprising:

a) a positioning module configured to determine a location information for the locating device;

b) an imaging module configured to capture at least one image of at least some of a field of vision for the locating device;

c) a spatial orientation detection module that outputs heading, roll, and pitch data to determine spatial information for the imaging module of the locating device;

d) a display module configured to provide visual feedback; and

e) at least one wireless communication module configured to communicate with a location server;

f) wherein the location server is in communication with a database configured to store target information relating to target points of interest, the mobile locating device is configured to be able to receive target information relating to at least one target points of interest from the location server; and

based on the target information and the location information and spatial information for the locating device, display the target information relating to the target point of interest by visually augmenting the at least one captured image on the display module; and

g) wherein at least one of the target points of interest is a mobile object and the at least one mobile locating device is adapted to dynamically locate the mobile object.

12. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein the target information includes at least one of location information indicative of a location of each target point of interest, spatial orientation information indicative of spatial information relating to each target point of interest, permission information for determining whether the target information is accessible or relevant and grouping information about how each target point of interest is organized.

13. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the target points of interest is another mobile locating device.

14. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein each locating device is further configured so that, when a target point of interest is not within the field of vision the visually augmenting of the at least one captured image includes indicating a direction from the locating device to a location of the target point of interest.

15. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the target points of interest is non-mobile.

16. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein the locating device is configured to store target information relating to at least one of the target points of interest in a data storage module locally on the locating device.

17. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein the locating device is configured to allow one or more of the target points of interest to be added and stored in at least one of a data storage module and the location server.

18. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein the imaging module, positioning module, spatial orientation detection module, input module, display module, and communication module are integrally coupled.

19. The mobile locating device of claim 11, wherein the positioning module and spatial orientation detection module are removably coupled to the locating device.

20. A mobile locating device for an augmented-reality guiding system, comprising:

a) a positioning module configured to determine a location information for the locating device;

b) an imaging module configured to capture at least one image of at least some of a field of vision for the locating device;

c) a spatial orientation detection module that determines spatial information for the imaging module of the locating device;

d) a display module configured to provide visual feedback; and

e) at least one wireless communication module configured to communicate with a location server;

f) wherein the location server is in communication with a database configured to store target information relating to target points of interest, the mobile locating device is configured to be able to receive target information from the location server; and

based on the target information and the location information and spatial information for the locating device, dynamically display the target information relating to the target point of interest by visually augmenting the at least one captured image on the display module, wherein at least one of the target points of interest is a mobile object and the at least one mobile locating device is adapted to dynamically locate the mobile object.