Device, system and method of landmark-based and personal contact-based route guidance

• US 9,562,781 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Ettinger, Esther Abramovich
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/563,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20150094950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 701/450, 701/400, 701/409, 701/410, 701/408, 701/420, 701/425, 701/428, 701/522, 701/426, 701/430, 701/438, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.24, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects

Abstract

A mapping system is disclosed that provides route guidance in the form of a map and verbal or textual directions which includes reference to both landmarks and personal contacts. Landmarks and contacts can be rated for suitability in providing route guidance. Depending on the rating, guidance using landmarks or personal contacts can be preferentially used in place of or to supplement guidance based on the underlying road network.

Claims

1. A mapping system implemented on a computer processor and configured to provide at least one of route guidance and reassurance from an origin to a destination, comprising:

a database implemented on a one or more computer storage devices containing;

landmark information including for each landmark;

a text description;

a location;

a category of landmark; and

a route guidance and reassurance ratings comprising at least one of;

multiple user defined rating of at least one of;

 

accuracy; and

 

usefulness;

single user defined rating of at least one of;

 

accuracy; and

 

usefulness;

fee based ratings; and

a road-based routing information including for a plurality of road segments;

a text description of each road segment and attribution; and

a location of each road segment; and

the computer processor controlling a route guidance generator to accept a user input with respect to how to implement route guidance and reassurance based on one or more of the route guidance and reassurance ratings and a preference for landmark based route guidance and reassurance or road-based route guidance and reassurance.

2. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein the:

route guidance and reassurance ratings are, at least in part, derived from how often a driver following a calculated route deviates from the calculated route at locations where the rated route guidance was used.

3. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein the route guidance and reassurance rating values associated with landmarks is in part based on the visibility of each landmark from locations along a calculated route.

4. The mapping system of claim 1 further comprising:

a map generator configured to generate a map depicting a calculated route and showing indications on the generated map corresponding to the generated route guidance and reassurance information in the vicinity of the corresponding location of the generated route guidance and reassurance information.

5. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein the route guidance and reassurance comprises at least one of an audio instruction and a textual instruction.

6. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein a calculated route is the route at least in part based on having a plurality of route guidance and reassurance information with a high route guidance and reassurance rating value and not necessarily the shortest route.

7. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein the landmark information, further comprises information which includes one or more of an associated icon, an image, a logo, and an indication of how to utilize each piece of further information for route guidance and reassurance.

15. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein the user input can include a preference to use guidance and reassurance that was input by the user.

16. The mapping system of claim 1 wherein the user can input landmark information and one or more of:

control access to the inputted landmark information for other users, rate the inputted landmarks and categorize the landmarks as being personal.

17. The mapping system of claim 16 wherein the user inputted landmark information is derived from personal contacts.

18. The mapping system of claim 16 wherein the user inputted landmarks are stored on a portable device separate from publicly accessible landmarks.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform the steps comprising:

providing a database implemented on one or more computer storage devices containing;

landmark information including for each landmark;

a text description;

a location;

a category of landmark; and

a route guidance rating comprising at least one of;

multiple user defined rating of at least one of;

 

accuracy; and

 

usefulness,

single user defined rating of at least one of;

 

accuracy; and

 

usefulness;

fee based ratings; and

a road-based routing and reassurance information including for a plurality of road segments;

a text description of each road segment and attribution; and

a location of each road segment; and

providing the computer processor controlling a route guidance generator to accept a user input with respect to how to implement route guidance and reassurance based on one or more of the route guidance and reassurance ratings and a preference for landmark based route guidance and reassurance or road-based route guidance and reassurance.

9. A computer implemented method configured to provide route guidance and reassurance from an origin to a destination, comprising:

storage in one or more databases of;

landmark information including for each landmark;

a text description;

a location;

a category of landmark; and

a route guidance and reassurance ratings comprising at least one of;

multiple user defined rating of at least one of;

 

accuracy; and

 

usefulness;

single user defined rating of at least one of;

 

accuracy; and

 

usefulness;

fee based ratings; and

a road-based routing and reassurance information including for a plurality of road segments;

a text description of each road segment and attribution; and

a location of each road segment; and

the computer processor controlling a route guidance generator to accept a user input with respect to how to implement route guidance and reassurance based on one or more of the route guidance and reassurance ratings and a preference for landmark based route guidance and reassurance or road-based route guidance and reassurance.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the route guidance and reassurance rating values associated with landmarks is in part based on the visibility of each landmark from locations along a calculated route.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the route guidance and reassurance rating values associated with landmarks is in part based on whether the location of the landmark is in the direction of travel along a calculated route but not necessarily on the route or visible during travel along the route.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating a map, using a map generator, depicting a calculated route and showing indications on the generated map corresponding to the generated route guidance and reassurance information in the vicinity of the corresponding location of the generated route guidance information.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the route guidance and reassurance information comprises at least one of an audio instruction and a textual instruction.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein a calculated route is the route at least in part based on having a plurality of route guidance and reassurance information with a high route guidance rating value and not necessarily the shortest route.