Obtaining updated navigation information for road trips

• US 9,310,213 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dave, Swapnil R., Varoglu, Devrim
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US13/672,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 701/411, 701/422
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining updated navigation information are presented. A first computing device can receive routing information from a second computing device, where the routing information is indicative of a route determined by the second computing device to a destination. Subsequently, navigation instructions can be provided at the first computing device based upon the routing information received from the second computing device. The first computing device then can receive, from the second computing device, a change to the routing information. Thereafter, and responsive to receiving the change to the routing information, the first computing device can provide modified navigation instructions.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining updated navigation information, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first computing device, routing information from a second computing device, the routing information indicative of a first route determined by the second computing device to a stationary destination, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are to follow the first route to the destination;

providing navigation instructions at the first computing device based upon the routing information received from the second computing device;

receiving, by the first computing device, from the second computing device, a change to the routing information indicating an updated route to the destination;

responsive to receiving the change to the routing information, providing a notification indicating the first route and the updated route;

sending a request to the second computing device to provide the updated route; and

providing, by the first computing device, modified navigation instructions corresponding to the updated route responsive to receiving the updated route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the change to the routing information includes:

receiving a current position of the second computing device; and

determining that the current position of the second computing device is not along the first route associated with the routing information received from the second computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is registered as a follower of the second computing device.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first route includes at least one step, and

wherein the routing information includes information describing the at least one step, a current location of the second computing device, and the destination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change to the routing information includes data describing current traffic conditions and a change in one or more segments that make up the first route.

6. A navigation device, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

receive routing information from a computing device, the routing information indicative of a first route determined by the computing device to a stationary destination, wherein the computing device and the navigation device are to follow the first route to the destination;

provide navigation instructions based upon the routing information received from the computing device;

receive, from the computing device, a change to the routing information indicating an updated route to the destination;

responsive to receiving the change to the routing information, provide a notification indicating the first route and the updated route;

send a request to the computing device to provide the updated route; and

provide modified navigation instructions corresponding to the updated route responsive to receiving the updated route.

7. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the notification indicates that the routing information has changed.

8. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the notification includes a prompt to select whether to follow the first route or the updated route;

responsive to receiving a selection of the updated route, providing the modified navigation instructions; and

responsive to receiving a selection on the first route, continuing to provide the navigation instructions.

9. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the change to the routing information includes data describing current traffic conditions and a change in segments that make up the first route.

10. The navigation device of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a detour or waypoint based on the data describing the current traffic conditions.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage memory storing instructions for controlling one or more processors to perform operations for obtaining updated navigation information, the operations comprising:

receiving routing information from a computing device, the routing information indicative of a first route determined by the computing device to a stationary destination, wherein the computing device is to follow the first route to the destination;

providing navigation instructions based upon the routing information received from the computing device;

receiving, from the computing device, a change to the routing information indicating an updated route to the destination;

responsive to receiving the change to the routing information, providing a notification indicating the first route and the updated route;

sending a request to the computing device to provide the updated route; and

providing modified navigation instructions corresponding to the updated route responsive to receiving the updated route.

12. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11, wherein receiving, from the computing device, the change to the routing information includes:

receiving the change to the routing information via at least one server that is configured to coordinate sharing of the routing information.

13. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11, wherein receiving, from the computing device, the change to the routing information includes:

determining, based on navigation information received via at least one server that is configured to coordinate sharing of the routing information, that a route being taken by the computing device has changed.

14. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 13, wherein determining, based on the navigation information received via the at least one server, that the route being taken by the computing device has changed includes:

requesting updated routing information from the computing device.

15. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying a notification that indicates that the routing information has changed and that includes a description of a new route defined by the changed routing information.

16. A method of updating navigation information, the method comprising:

registering, by a first navigation device, to follow a shared route to a stationary destination, wherein a plurality of participants are to follow the shared route to the destination, the plurality of participants including a route leader;

providing, by the first navigation device, one or more navigation instructions associated with the shared route;

receiving, by the first navigation device, position information associated with one or more of the plurality of participants;

determining, by the first navigation device, that the first navigation device has passed the route leader along the shared route based on the position information; and

responsive to the determining, providing a notification including a prompt whether to update leader status information associated with the shared route to designate a participant associated with the first navigation device as the route leader.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the notification indicates that the first navigation device has passed the route leader, the method further comprising:

responsive to receiving a selection to designate the participant associated with the first navigation device as the route leader, modifying the shared route to update the leader status information associated with the shared route.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a notification to the plurality of participants indicating that the participant associated with the first navigation device is the route leader.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the leader status information is maintained on at least one server that coordinates sharing of the shared route among the plurality of participants.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing, by the first navigation device, one or more modified navigation instructions after updating the leader status information.

21. A navigation device, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

register to follow a shared route to a stationary destination, wherein a plurality of participants are to follow the shared route to the destination, the plurality of participants including a route leader;

provide one or more navigation instructions associated with the shared route;

receive position information associated with one or more of the plurality of participants;

determining, by the navigation device, that the navigation device has passed the route leader along the shared route based on the position information; and

responsive to the determining, providing a notification including a prompt whether to update leader status information associated with the shared route to designate a participant associated with the navigation device as the route leader.

22. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the notification indicates that the first navigation device has passed the route leader, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

responsive to receiving a selection to designate the participant associated with the first navigation device as the route leader, update leader status information maintained on at least one server that coordinates sharing of the shared route among the plurality of participants.

23. The navigation device of claim 22, wherein updating the leader status information maintained on the at least one server includes providing information identifying the navigation device and network information associated with the navigation device to the at least one server.

24. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

modify the shared route after updating the leader status information.

25. The navigation device of claim 24, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

provide one or more modified navigation instructions based on the modified shared route.