Window-oriented displays for travel user interfaces

• US 9,285,587 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inrix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inrix Incorporated
• Inventors: Scofield, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/839,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/425, 701/426, 701/439, 345 7- 9, 359630-633
• 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 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle

Abstract

Vehicular travel may be facilitated by user interfaces presenting travel information. Such user interfaces often involve visual displays positioned peripherally to a window through which an individual operates the vehicle (e.g., displays mounted in a dash or console) and/or non-visual interfaces (e.g., audio, speech recognition, and manual controls). While presenting visuals on the window obscuring the view of the individual may present safety concerns, peripherally presented visual interfaces that distract the gaze of the individual may raise comparable or greater concerns. Instead, visual user interfaces may be displayed on the window through which the individual operates the vehicle (e.g., a windshield or individual eyewear) to presents visuals representing travel information received from a travel service, such as routing, traffic congestion, highlighting vehicles or routes, and rendering non-visible objects (e.g., obscured traffic control signals). Such user interfaces enable user interaction while allowing the individual to maintain gaze through the window.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating an individual operating a vehicle while looking through a window, the system comprising:

a display device coupled with the window; and

a travel information component comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor;

upon receiving travel information from a travel service relating to a travel region of the vehicle;

identify an object that is visible through the window, and that relates to the travel information received from the travel service;

identify an object position at which the object is viewable through the window; and

instruct the display device to display on the window;

a visual indicator overlaying the object position at which the object is visible through the window; and

at a second position on the window not overlapping the visual indicator, a travel information visual of the travel information that is associated with the object.

2. The system of claim 1:

the system further comprising a geopositioning device configured to identify a location of the vehicle; and

the travel information component configured to send the location of the vehicle to the travel service.

3. The system of claim 1, the display device comprising a projector device configured to project the display onto the window.

4. The system of claim 1, the display device comprising a liquid crystal display integrated with the window.

5. The system of claim 1, the window comprising eyewear worn by the individual while operating the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1:

the system comprising;

a gesture detector configured to;

monitor the individual to detect gestures; and

upon detecting a gesture, translate the gesture into user input associated with the object.

7. The system of claim 6:

the gesture detector comprising at least one accelerometer worn on an appendage of the individual; and

the gesture detector configured to monitor acceleration of the accelerometer to detect the gesture of the appendage of the individual.

8. The system of claim 1:

the system comprising;

a gaze detector configured to;

monitor an eye gaze of the individual; and

upon detecting a gaze position through the window, translate the gaze position into user input associated with the object.

9. The system of claim 7:

the eye gaze of the individual further comprising a focal depth; and

the gaze detector further configured to;

monitor the focal depth of the eye gaze of the individual; and

upon detecting the focal depth of the eye gaze on the window, translate the gaze position into user input associated with the object.

10. A nonvolatile computer-readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor of a device, cause the device to facilitate an individual operating a vehicle while looking through a window, by:

upon receiving travel information from a travel service relating to a travel region of the vehicle;

identifying an object that is visible through the window, and that relates to the travel information received from the travel service;

identifying an object position at which the object is visible through the window; and

displaying on the window, overlaying the object position at which the object is visible through the window, a visual indicator of the object; and

at a travel information position that is visually associated with the visual indicator, a travel information visual that relates the travel information associated with the object.

11. A method of facilitating an individual operating a vehicle while looking through a window, the method using a device having a processor and comprising:

executing on the device instructions configured to;

upon receiving travel information from a travel service relating to a travel region of the vehicle;

identify an object that is visible through the window, and that relates to the travel information received from the travel service;

identify an object position at which the object is visible through the window; and

display on the window, overlaying the object position at which the object is visible through the window, at least one visual indicator that relates the travel information with the object; and

at a travel information position that is visually associated with the visual indicator, a travel information visual that relates the travel information associated with the object.

12. The method of claim 11, the travel information selected from a travel information set comprising:

a travel map of the travel;

a travel route;

a travel route instruction;

a traffic congestion location;

a road hazard location;

a refueling location;

a travel way descriptor;

a status indicator of the vehicle;

a location of a second vehicle; and

a travel visit suggestion.

13. The method of claim 11, displaying the travel information visual associated with the object position comprising:

selecting the travel information position to align the travel information visual with the object position at which the object is visible through the window.

14. The method of claim 13, the visual indicator of the object further comprising a highlight applied to the object visible through the window.

15. The method of claim 11:

the window presenting to the individual;

a primary viewing area associated with operation of the vehicle by the individual, and

a peripheral viewing area that is not associated with operation of the vehicle by the individual; and

displaying the travel information visual on the window further comprising;

displaying the travel information visual on the window in the peripheral viewing area.

16. The method of claim 11:

the individual having a second device comprising an output component; and

the instructions further configured to send the at least one travel information visual of the travel information to the second device for presentation by the output component to the individual.

17. The method of claim 11:

the individual having a second device comprising an input component; and

the instructions further configured to receive from the second device user input received by the input component.

18. The method of claim 11:

user input of the individual describing at least one travel region property of the travel region of the individual; and

the instructions further configured to send the at least one travel region property to the travel service.