Electronic device and navigation method for tracking target device

• US 9,207,083 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Drive Netherlands BV
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Ming-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US13/956,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 701/412, 701/431, 701/468, 701/517, 701/521, 340/539.21, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route

Abstract

In a navigation method for tracking a second electronic device using a first electronic device, the first electronic device receives position information of the second electronic device. A position of the second electronic device is marked on a navigation map stored in the first electronic device. The first electronic device is directed to track the second electronic device according to the marked position on the navigation map.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented navigation method for tracking a second electronic device using a first electronic device, the first electronic device comprising a first global positioning system (GPS), and the second electronic device comprising a second GPS, the method comprising:

receiving position information of the second electronic device;

acquiring position information of the first electronic device from the first GPS;

calculating a distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device according to the position information of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

choosing a navigation map according to the position information of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

marking a position of the second electronic device on the navigation map;

starting to track the second electronic device when the distance is greater than a threshold value;

directing the first electronic device to track the second electronic device according to the marked position on the navigation map; and

stopping tracking the second electronic device when the distance is less than the threshold value.

2. The method according to amended claim 1, further comprising:

sending a tracking request from the first electronic device to the second electronic device; and

in response to receiving an accepted response from the second electronic device, implementing the step of receiving position information of the second electronic device.

3. The method according to amended claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updated position information of the second electronic device at each predetermined time interval;

updating the marked position of the second electronic device on the navigation map according to the updated position information; and

directing the first electronic device to track the second electronic device according to the updated marked position on the navigation map.

4. The method according to amended claim 1, wherein the position information comprises longitude, latitude, and altitude of the position of the second electronic device.

5. The method according to amended claim 1, wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device communicates over a wireless network.

6. An electronic device in communication with a target electronic device, comprising:

a first global positioning system (GPS);

at least one processor; and

a storage device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

receive position information of the target electronic device;

acquire position information of the electronic device from the first GPS;

calculate a distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device according to the position information of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

choose a navigation map according to the position information of the electronic device and the target electronic device;

mark a position of the target electronic device on the navigation map;

start to track the second electronic device when the distance is greater than a threshold value;

direct the electronic device to track the target electronic device according to the marked position on the navigation map; and

stop tracking the second electronic device when the distance is less than the threshold value.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor further:

sends a tracking request from the electronic device to the target electronic device; and

in response to receiving an accepted response from the target electronic device, starts to receive position information of the target electronic device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor further:

receives updated position information of the target electronic device at each predetermined time interval;

updates the marked position of the target electronic device on the navigation map according to the updated position information; and

directs the electronic device to track the target electronic device according to the updated marked position on the navigation map.

9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the position information comprises longitude, latitude, and altitude of the position of the target electronic device.

10. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the electronic device and the target electronic device communicates over a wireless network.

11. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first electronic device, causes the first electronic device to perform a navigation method for tracking a second electronic device, the first electronic device further comprising a first global positioning system (GPS), and the second electronic device comprising a second GPS, the method comprising:

receiving position information of the second electronic device;

acquiring position information of the first electronic device from the first GPS;

calculating a distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device according to the position information of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

choosing a navigation map according to the position information of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

marking a position of the second electronic device on the navigation map;

starting to track the second electronic device when the distance is greater than a threshold value;

directing the first electronic device to track the second electronic device according to the marked position on the navigation map; and

stopping tracking the second electronic device when the distance is less than the threshold value.

12. The non-transitory storage medium according to amended claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

sending a tracking request from the first electronic device to the second electronic device; and

in response to receiving an accepted response from the second electronic device, implementing the step of receiving position information of the second electronic device.

13. The non-transitory storage medium according to amended claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving updated position information of the second electronic device at each predetermined time interval;

updating the marked position of the second electronic device on the navigation map according to the updated position information; and

directing the first electronic device to track the second electronic device according to the updated marked position on the navigation map.

14. The non-transitory storage medium according to amended claim 11, wherein the position information comprises longitude, latitude, and altitude of the position of the second electronic device.

15. The non-transitory storage medium according to amended claim 11, wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device communicates over a wireless network.