Dynamic destination navigation system

• US 9,638,535 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Paek, Tim, Bahl, Paramvir, Bennett, Paul N.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US14/679,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• 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 21/3438 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: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a method for navigating to dynamic destinations. The method includes associating a leader mobile device with a follower mobile device. The method also includes displaying, on the follower mobile device, a first path from a follower vehicle to a first location of a leader vehicle. The follower vehicle is associated with the follower mobile device. The leader vehicle is associated with the leader mobile device. The method further includes displaying, on the follower mobile device, a second path from the follower vehicle to a second location of the leader vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for improved navigation to dynamic destinations, comprising:

a processing unit; and

a system memory, wherein the system memory comprises code that directs the processing unit to;

generate a caravan comprising a leader and one or more followers;

determine that a former follower is no longer following the leader based on predetermined conditions;

remove the former follower from the caravan based on the determination; and

notify a member of the caravan that the former follower has left the caravan.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the leader is associated with a leader mobile device, and a leader vehicle, and wherein the followers are associated with one or more follower mobile devices, and one or more follower vehicles.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein determining that the former follower is no longer following the leader comprises determining that one of the follower vehicles is no longer following the leader vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein notifying the member comprises notifying the leader mobile device.

5. The system of claim 2, comprising code that directs the processing unit to:

display a user selection on the leader mobile device, wherein the user selection initiates a conversation between the leader and the former follower; and

display the user selection on a mobile device associated with the former follower.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising code that directs the processing unit to notify all members of the caravan that the former follower has left the caravan.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising code that directs the processing unit to:

display a user selection on the follower mobile devices, wherein the user selection initiates a conversation between the former follower; and

display the user selection on a mobile device associated with the former follower.

8. A method for improving navigation to dynamic geographic destinations, comprising:

generating a caravan comprising a leader and one or more followers, wherein the followers are following the leader;

determining that a former follower is no longer following the leader based on predetermined conditions;

removing the former follower from the caravan based on the determination; and

notifying a member of the caravan that the former follower has left the caravan.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the leader is associated with a leader mobile device, and a leader vehicle, and wherein the followers are associated with one or more follower mobile devices, and one or more follower vehicles.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that the former follower is no longer following the leader comprises determining that one of the follower vehicles is no longer following the leader vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein notifying the member comprises notifying the leader mobile device.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising:

displaying a user selection on the leader mobile device, wherein the user initiates a conversation between the leader and the former follower; and

displaying the user selection on a mobile device associated with the former follower.

13. The method of claim 8, comprising notifying all members of the caravan that the former follower has left the caravan.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising:

displaying a user selection on the follower mobile devices, wherein the user selection initiates a conversation between the former follower, and all remaining followers; and

displaying the user selection on a mobile device associated with the former follower.

15. One or more computer-readable storage media, comprising code that directs a processing unit to:

generate a caravan comprising a leader and one or more followers, wherein the followers are following the leader;

determine that a former follower is no longer following the leader based on predetermined conditions;

remove the former follower from the caravan based on the determination; and

notify a member of the caravan that the former follower has left the caravan.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the leader is associated with a leader mobile device, and a leader vehicle, and wherein the followers are associated with one or more follower mobile devices, and one or more follower vehicles.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein determining that the former follower is no longer following the leader comprises determining that one of the follower vehicles is no longer following the leader vehicle.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein notifying the member comprises notifying the leader mobile device.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, comprising code that directs the processing unit to:

display a user selection on the leader mobile device, wherein the user selection initiates a conversation between the leader and the former follower; and

display the user selection on a mobile device associated with the former follower.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, comprising code that directs the processing unit to notify all members of the caravan that the former follower has left the caravan.