Navigation systems and associated methods

• US 9,651,395 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rosario, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/692,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2476 Speech or voice synthesisers, e.g. using a speech chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• 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 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

Claims

1. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to:

determine information associated with a desired route for a vehicle;

determine contextual information associated with the vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the desired route and the contextual information, a direction for presentation to one or more users, wherein the contextual information comprises sensor data collected by at least one sensor associated with the vehicle, wherein the sensor data comprises images of;

the exterior of the vehicle,

an exterior of at least one first vehicle,

at least one non-vehicular object, or

text on at least one sign;

identify the at least one first vehicle based at least in part on the exterior of the at least one first vehicle; and

direct output, of the determined direction, to a display, wherein the output comprises at least one audio or visual instruction indicating the vehicle'"'"'s location relative to the first vehicle based at least in part on the identification of the at least one first vehicle.

2. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

receive data collected by at least one image sensor associated with the vehicle; and

evaluate the received data in order to determine the contextual information.

3. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

identify additional information;

process the identified additional information to generate a aural language output; and

direct output of the generated natural language output.

4. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the computer-executable instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

determine a location of the vehicle; and

identify, based at least in part upon the determined location, a point of interest as the additional information.

5. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the computer-executable instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

identify at least one of the one or more users; and

determine, as the additional information;

user-specific information associated with the identified at least one user.

6. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the one or more users include a driver, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

determine a current task of the driver; and

direct output of the generated natural language output based upon an evaluation of the current task.

7. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the natural language output comprises a question, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

identify at least one of the one or more users; and

personalize the question based at least in part upon the identification of the one or more users.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, by a navigation system comprising one or more computer processors, information associated with a desired route for a vehicle;

determining, based at least in part by the navigation system, contextual information associated with the vehicle;

determining, based at least in part by the navigation system based upon desired route and the contextual information, a direction for presentation to one or more users wherein the contextual information comprises sensor data collected by at least one sensor associated with the vehicle, wherein the sensor data comprises images of;

the exterior of the vehicle,

an exterior of at least one first vehicle,

at least one non-vehicular object, or

text on at least one sign;

identifying the at least one first vehicle based at least in part on the exterior of the at least one first vehicle; and

causing to output, by the navigation system, the determined direction to a display, wherein the output comprises at least one audio or visual instruction indicating the vehicle'"'"'s location relative to the first vehicle based at least in part on the identification of the at least one first vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying contextual information comprises:

receiving, by the navigation system, data collected by at least one image sensor associated with the vehicle; and

evaluating, by the navigation system, the received data in order to determine the contextual information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying contextual information comprises identifying at least one of (i) traffic information or (ii) crime information.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein generating a direction comprises generating a natural language direction.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the navigation system, at least one user preference,

wherein the desired route is determined based at least in part upon the at least one user preference.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying, by the navigation system, additional information;

processing, by the navigation system, the identified additional information to generate a natural language output; and

outputting, by the navigation system, the generated natural language output.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying additional information comprises:

determining, by the navigation system, a location of the vehicle; and

identifying, by the navigation system based at least in part upon the determined location, a point of interest.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying additional information comprises:

identifying, by the navigation system, at least one of the one or more users; and

determining, by the navigation system, user-specific information associated with the identified at least one user.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more users include a driver, and further comprising:

determining, by the navigation system, a current task of the driver,

wherein outputting the generated natural language output comprises selectively outputting the generated natural language output based upon an evaluation of the current task.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a natural language output comprises generating a question, and further comprising:

receiving, by the navigation system, a response to the question; and

processing, by the navigation system, the received response.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating a question comprises:

identifying at least one of the one or more users; and

personalizing the question based at least in part upon the identification of the one or more users.

19. A system comprising:

at least one memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine information associated with a desired route for a vehicle;

determine contextual information associated with the vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the desired route and the contextual information, a direction for presentation to one or more users, wherein the contextual information comprises sensor data collected by at least one sensor associated with the vehicle, wherein the sensor data comprises images of;

the exterior of the vehicle,

an exterior of at least one first vehicle,

at least one non-vehicular object, or

text on at least one sign;

identify the at least one first vehicle based at least in part on the exterior of the at least one first vehicle; and

cause to output the determined direction to a display, wherein the output comprises at least one audio or visual instruction indicating the vehicle'"'"'s location relative to the first vehicle based at least in part on the identification of the at least one first vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is configured to identify contextual information by executing the computer-executable instructions to:

receive data collected by at least one image sensor associated with the vehicle; and

evaluate the received data in order to determine the contextual information.