Navigator database search methods

• US 9,037,409 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZAMA Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Ian Cummings
• Inventors: Cummings, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): OBISESAN, AUGUSTINE KUNLE
• Application Number:
  US12/115,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,570 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/533
• 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: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

Methods and associated apparatus allow a vehicle navigator to more efficiently search for locations in a database. According to one such method, a map is divided into tiles, and locations are associated within each tile with the tile the user is in. When queried by a user for a location, the system checks the tile currently occupied by the user to determine if it contains any of the desired locations. The system then checks the tile(s) adjacent to the currently occupied tile to determine if it contains any of the desired locations. The system then checks the tile(s) adjacent to b) to determine if it contains any of the desired locations, and the process is repeated, as necessary, until all tiles adjacent to tiles that have been checked are themselves checked that are to determine if locations matching the query are present. The position of the location(s) can then be communicated to the user. Alternative methods and system-level aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wireless client-server navigation system, comprising:

a mobile unit including;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting data representative of a criteria for selection of a location, data representing a route, and a request for data representative of a location,

a receiver for receiving the data representative of the location and associated data, and

a user interface for presenting representations of locations representations of additional time or distance to be added to a route if locations are added to said route; and

a central server including;

an input for receiving data describing map-related features in the form of line segments interconnecting points having coordinates,

a receiver for receiving the data, route, and request from the mobile unit,

a processor for searching a database of locations according to said criteria and computing additional distance and time if locations are added to said route; and

a transmitter for transmitting data representative of locations matching said criteria and associated data and data representative of additional distance and time to the mobile unit.

2. A wireless client-server navigation system, comprising:

a mobile unit including;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting data representative of a criteria for selection of a location, data representing a route, and a request for data representative of a location,

a receiver for receiving the data representative of the location and associated data, and

a user interface for presenting representations of locations and representative of a route; and

a central server including;

an input for receiving data describing map-related features in the form of line segments interconnecting points having coordinates,

a receiver for receiving the data, route, and request from the mobile unit,

a processor for searching a database of locations according to said criteria and amending said route to include one or more locations matching said criteria; and

a transmitter for transmitting data representative of locations matching said criteria and associated data and data representative of an amended route.