Optional re-routing

• US 9,163,951 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Su, Chien-Wen Danny, Bharathan, Aarti, Solis, Adrian, Aroner, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUD, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US14/213,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20140200802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 701/416, 701/417, 701/411, 701/421, 701/300
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein are tools and techniques for providing optional re-routing. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a determination is made that a location of a computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location. Based on the determining, a re-route option is provided. Also, while the re-route option is available, a determination is made that a subsequent location of the computing device is on the predetermined route, or a re-route is performed responsive to receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display.

Claims

1. In a computing device that implements a map navigation tool, a method comprising:

determining that a location of the computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location;

based on the determining, providing a re-route option; and

while the re-route option is available;

receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display of the computing device; and

responsive to receiving the touch-anywhere input event, re-routing comprising determining an updated route from a current location of the computing device to the end location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the re-route option comprises:

displaying a re-route option notice.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the re-route option comprises:

presenting an audio alert that a tap can be used to recalculate a new route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-routing further comprises retrieving a list of directions from the current location of the computing device to the end location, the list of directions indicating the updated route;

and

displaying the list of directions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the list of directions is in an order, the order beginning with a first list item associated with the current location;

and

providing an audio announcement of the first list item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the location of the computing device is not on the predetermined route comprises:

calculating a distance between the location and the predetermined route;

comparing the distance with a threshold distance; and

determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, based on the determining that the location of the computing device is not on the predetermined route, providing an alert that the location is not on the predetermined route, the alert comprising an off-route audio cue, an off-route speech announcement, displayed text, a map orientation, or a de-emphasized list item.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing feedback during the re-routing, the feedback comprising an audio progress indicator, a progress speech announcement, or a displayed progress indicator.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, receiving a user input event during the re-routing;

and

responsive to the user input event, repeating the feedback.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the user input event comprises a tap.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the computing device is a second location of the computing device, and wherein the determining that the second location of the computing device is not on the predetermined route comprises:

comparing a threshold distance with a first distance between a first location of the computing device and the predetermined route;

determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded;

based on the determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded, extending the threshold distance to an extended threshold distance;

comparing the extended threshold distance with a second distance between the second location and the predetermined route; and

determining that the extended threshold distance has been exceeded.

12. A computing device that includes a processor, memory and storage media, the storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing the computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

determining that a location of the computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location;

based on the determining, providing a re-route option; and

while the re-route option is available;

receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display of the computing device; and

responsive to receiving the touch-anywhere input event, re-routing comprising determining an updated route from a current location of the computing device to the end location.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein providing the re-route option comprises:

displaying a re-route option notice.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein providing the re-route option comprises:

presenting an audio alert that a tap can be used to recalculate a new route.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the re-routing further comprises retrieving a list of directions from the current location of the computing device to the end location, the list of directions indicating the updated route;

and

displaying the list of directions.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the determining that the location of the computing device is not on the predetermined route comprises:

calculating a distance between the location and the predetermined route;

comparing the distance with a threshold distance; and

determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded.

17. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

based on the determining that the location of the computing device is not on the predetermined route, providing an alert that the location is not on the predetermined route, the alert comprising an off-route audio cue, an off-route speech announcement, displayed text, a map orientation, or recolored directions.

18. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the location of the computing device is a second location of the computing device, and the determining that the second location of the computing device is not on the predetermined route comprises:

comparing a threshold distance with a first distance between a first location of the computing device and the predetermined route;

determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded;

based on the determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded, extending the threshold distance to an extended threshold distance;

comparing the extended threshold distance with a second distance between the second location and the predetermined route; and

determining that the extended threshold distance has been exceeded.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein a first check comprises the determining that the threshold distance has been exceeded, and a consecutive check comprises the determining that the extended threshold distance has been exceeded.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

determining that a location of the computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location;

based on the determining, providing a re-route option, the providing the re-route option comprising displaying a re-route option notice in a list of directions for the predetermined route and presenting an audio alert that a tap can be used to recalculate a new route;

also based on the determining, providing an alert that the location is not on the predetermined route, the alert comprising an off-route audio cue, an off-route speech announcement, displayed text, a map orientation, or a de-emphasized list item;

while the re-route option is available, receiving a tap input event on a touchscreen display of the computing device; and

responsive to receiving the tap input event on the touchscreen display of the computing device, re-routing, wherein the re-routing comprises recalculating a new route from a current location of the computing device.