Compass heading display for a computerized mobile device

• US 8,924,178 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Mendis, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/198,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A method for displaying a compass heading implemented by a computerized mobile device includes displaying a compass heading on a display of a computerized mobile device according to a compass onboard the computerized mobile device if the computerized mobile device is traveling below a motion threshold. The method also includes displaying a compass heading on a display of a computerized mobile device according to a compass heading calculated using at least two coordinates for the computerized mobile device if the computerized mobile device is traveling above the motion threshold.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a compass heading, the method implemented by a computerized mobile device and comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a plurality of coordinates from a global positioning system, each coordinate representative of a location of the computerized mobile device;

selecting, by the one or more processors, at least two coordinates by determining a distance between first and second coordinates received successively in time, and discarding the first coordinate if the distance between the first and second coordinates exceeds a distance threshold;

storing, by the one or more processors, the at least two coordinates in a memory of the computerized mobile device;

retrieving, by the one or more processors, the at least two coordinates from the memory;

determining, by the one or more processors, if the computerized mobile device is traveling above or below a motion threshold using the at least two coordinates;

retrieving, by the one or more processors, a compass heading from an onboard compass and displaying the compass heading from the onboard compass on a display unit of the computerized mobile device if the computerized mobile device is traveling below a motion threshold; and

determining, by the one or more processors, a compass heading using the at least two coordinates and displaying the compass heading determined from the at least two coordinates on the display unit of the computerized mobile device if the computerized mobile device is traveling above the motion threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motion threshold is a velocity threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising calculating, by the one or more processors, the velocity of the computerized mobile device from a distance traveled by the computerized mobile device over a unit of time.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising calculating, by the one or more processors, the distance using the at least two coordinates.

5. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a computerized mobile device, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a plurality of coordinates from a global positioning system, each coordinate representative of a location of the computerized mobile device;

select at least two coordinates from the plurality of coordinates by determining a distance between first and second coordinates received successively in time, and by discarding the first coordinate if the distance between the first and second coordinates exceeds a distance threshold;

store the at least two coordinates in a memory of the computerized mobile device;

retrieve the at least two coordinates from the memory;

determine if the computerized mobile device is traveling above or below a motion threshold using the at least two coordinates;

retrieve a compass heading from an onboard compass and control a display unit to display the compass heading from the onboard compass if the computerized mobile device is traveling below a motion threshold; and

determine a compass heading using the at least two coordinates and control the display unit to display the compass heading determined from the at least two coordinates if the computerized mobile device is traveling above the motion threshold.

6. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 5, wherein the motion threshold is a velocity threshold.

7. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 6, having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to calculate the velocity of the computerized mobile device from a distance traveled by the computerized mobile device over a unit of time.

8. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7, computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to calculate the distance using the at least two coordinates.

9. A computerized mobile device comprising:

a display unit;

an onboard compass unit;

a global positioning system receiver; and

a processor coupled to the display unit, the onboard compass unit, the global positioning system receiver and a memory, the processor programmed to;

receive a plurality of coordinates via the global positioning system receiver, each coordinate representative of a location of the computerized mobile device;

select at least two coordinates from the plurality of coordinates by determining a distance between first and second coordinates received successively in time, and by discarding the first coordinate if the distance between the first and second coordinates exceeds a distance threshold;

store the at least two coordinates in the memory;

retrieve the at least two coordinates from the memory;

determine if the computerized mobile device is traveling above or below a motion threshold using the at least two coordinates;

retrieve a compass heading from the onboard compass and control the display unit to display the compass heading from the onboard compass if the computerized mobile device is traveling below a motion threshold; and

determine a compass heading using the at least two coordinates and control the display unit to display the compass heading determined from the at least two coordinates if the computerized mobile device is traveling above the motion threshold.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the motion threshold is a velocity threshold.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to calculate the velocity of the computerized mobile device using a distance traveled by the computerized mobile device over a unit of time.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is programmed to calculate the distance traveled by the computerized device using the at least two coordinates for the computerized mobile device.