Mobile navigation system operating with a remote server

• US 9,528,843 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Original Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Inventors: Pu, Kent Qing, Li, Hui Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US14/826,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20150354977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 701/411, 701/420, 701/533, 340/990, 340/8.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• 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 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

A client navigation system establishes a wireless connection to a navigation server on a computer network. The client requests a route by uploading start and destination specifications. The server calculates an optimal route based on real-time data available on the network. A generic natural language description is used to specify the optimal route downloaded to the client. The natural language description is a plain text description for each link using pre-defined generic terms. The client interprets the route, interfaces with the local mapping data and reconstructs the optimal route. The route is subsequently displayed and highlighted on the client.

Claims

1. A method for navigation in a mobile device integrated with phone functions so that the mobile device makes or receives calls via a cellular telephonic network, the method comprising:

displaying on an electronic map a current location of the mobile device determined from wireless signals, the electronic map being locally generated in the mobile device;

accepting an inquiry from a user for a destination;

communicating with a server over a wireless data network;

sending the inquiry to the server, wherein the inquiry includes the current location and the destination, the server is configured to calculate a route from the current location to the destination using real time data to ensure that the route is optimum;

receiving routing data from the server, wherein the routing data is a plain text description for each link in the route using pre-defined generic terms;

reconstructing the route from the routing data by interfacing with local mapping data in a format required by the mobile device; and

displaying on a display screen the route from the current location to the destination, wherein the route is highlighted on the electronic map, the electronic map is automatically updated to accommodate an indication that the mobile device has been travelling from the current location.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said reconstructing the route from the routing data is performed in the mobile device with respect to the local mapping data cached or preloaded therein.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the local mapping data is not updated when the routing data is detected supported by the local mapping data already in the mobile device.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising updating automatically the local mapping data when the routing data is detected unsupported by the local mapping data already in the mobile device before said reconstructing the route from the routing data is performed in the mobile device.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the routing data from the server is in a format acceptable to other navigation devices from different vendors each running local mapping database software.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the routing data from the server is compatible with a local map in the mobile device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inquiry further includes a preference defined by a user of the mobile device, and wherein the server is configured to calculate the route further in consideration of the preference.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the optimal route is calculated in consideration of the preference.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is configured to keep a profile of the user, and the optimal route is calculated in consideration of the profile.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said accepting an inquiry from a user for a destination comprises:

receiving an initial portion of the destination; and

completing the destination automatically without requiring the user to enter a remaining portion of the destination.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said reconstructing the route from the routing data comprises:

determining a starting point of the route in accordance with the current position;

reading the routing data;

and

superimposing the route on the local map, wherein the route is highlighted.

12. A method for navigation in a mobile device integrated with phone functions so that the mobile device makes or receives calls via a cellular telephonic network, the method comprising:

receiving in a server an inquiry from the mobile device over a wireless data network, wherein the inquiry includes a current location and a destination, the current location is determined in the mobile device and the destination is entered by a user into the mobile device;

calculating in the server a route from the current location to the destination using real time data to ensure that the route is optimum;

downloading routing data from the server to the mobile device, wherein the routing data is a plain text description for each link in the route using pre-defined generic terms;

causing the mobile device to reconstruct the route from the routing data, wherein the mobile device is caused to display on a display screen thereof the route from the current location to the destination, the route is highlighted on the electronic map, the electronic map is automatically updated to accommodate an indication that the mobile device has been travelling from the current location.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the routing data is in a format such that the routing data is readable by a plurality of mobile devices from different vendors.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the route is reconstructed from the routing data in a format required by the mobile device by interfacing with local mapping data cached or preloaded therein.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the local mapping data is not updated when the routing data is detected supported by the local mapping data already in the mobile device.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising downloading automatically updated local mapping data to the mobile device when the routing data is detected unsupported by the local mapping data already in the mobile device before the route is reconstructed from the routing data in the mobile device.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the routing data from the server is acceptable to other navigation devices from different vendors each running local mapping database software.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the server is configured to keep a profile of the user, and the optimal route is calculated in consideration of the profile.