Navigation systems and associated methods

• US 10,753,760 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• 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:
  US15/596,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20180094945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. A vehicle electronic system, comprising:

at least one processor;

memory circuitry;

an input/output (I/O) interface to couple to the at least one processor to one or more output devices;

a communications interface to transmit information to and receive information from a mobile device; and

at least one computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising;

identify a user of the mobile device;

cause an autonomous transfer of user information and information associated with each of a plurality of potential destinations associated with the identified user between the vehicle electronic system and the user'"'"'s mobile device, wherein the user information includes;

user preference information obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device; and

address information associated with each of the plurality of potential destinations obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

cause an autonomous selection of a preferred destination from the plurality of potential destinations received from the mobile device using at least a portion of the user preference information included in the received user information;

cause a determination of data corresponding to a route to the autonomously determined preferred destination and route preference information associated with the user retrieved by the at least one processor from the memory circuitry; and

cause a communication of the data corresponding to the route to the autonomously determined preferred destination to the one or more output devices.

2. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

cause communication of the address information from the user'"'"'s mobile device to the vehicle electronic system.

3. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

receive a request from the user specifying a type of destination;

wherein to cause the autonomous determination of the preferred destination for the user based on the received user information includes to cause the autonomous determination of a destination having the specified type.

4. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second input/output (I/O) interface to couple the at least one processor to at least one microphone; and

a third I/O interface to couple the at least one processor to at least one speaker.

5. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

cause the data corresponding to the route to the destination to be displayed on the one or more output devices, the one or more output devices including at least one display device.

6. The vehicle navigation method of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

cause a determination of a current location of a vehicle;

wherein the instructions that result in the operation to cause a determination of the data corresponding to the route to the destination result in operations that include;

cause a determination of data corresponding to a route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination.

26. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further result in operations that include to receive a request from the user specifying a destination identifier that does not include a physical destination address, and wherein to cause the autonomous determination of the preferred destination based on the user information includes to cause autonomous determination of a physical destination address associated with the specified destination identifier.

27. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1, wherein the communicated user information further includes preference information associated with the user, the preference information including one or more of a group that includes historical destination information, destination rating information, and/or one or more destination rating parameters.

7. A vehicle navigation method, comprising:

identifying a user of a mobile device;

receiving, by at least one vehicle electronic system processor via a communication interface, an autonomous transfer of user information from the mobile device, wherein the received user information includes;

user preference information obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device; and

address information associated with each of a plurality of potential destinations obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

autonomously selecting, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor and based on the received user information, a preferred destination from the plurality of potential destinations received from the mobile device using at least a portion of the user preference information included in the received user information;

determining, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor, data corresponding to a route to the autonomously determined preferred destination and route preference information associated with the user; and

communicating, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor via a second I/O interface, the data corresponding to the route to the autonomously determined preferred destination to one or more output devices.

8. The vehicle navigation method of claim 7 wherein communicating the data corresponding to the route to the destination to one or more output devices comprises:

causing, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor, a video display device to display the data corresponding to the route to the destination to one or more occupants of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle navigation method of claim 7 further comprising receiving, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor, a request from the user specifying a type of destination, and wherein autonomously determining the preferred destination based on the user information includes autonomously determining a destination having the specified type.

10. The vehicle navigation method of claim 7, comprising:

causing, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor, a determination of a current location of a vehicle;

wherein determining the data corresponding to the route to the destination includes determining data corresponding to a route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination.

28. The vehicle navigation method of claim 7, further comprising receiving, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor, a request from the user specifying a destination identifier that does not include a physical destination address, and wherein autonomously determining the preferred destination based on the user information includes autonomously determining a physical destination address associated with the specified destination identifier.

29. The vehicle navigation method of claim 7, wherein the received user information further includes preference information associated with the user, the preference information including one or more of a group that includes historical destination information, destination rating information, and/or one or more destination rating parameters.

11. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

means for receiving a communication from a user'"'"'s mobile device, the communication including user information that includes address information;

means for autonomously determining a destination based on the user information from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

means for determining data corresponding to a route to the destination; and

means for communicating the data corresponding to the route to the destination to one or more output devices.

12. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11 wherein the means for communicating the data corresponding to the route to the destination to one or more output devices comprises:

means for causing a video display device to display the data corresponding to the route to the destination to one or more occupants of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11 further comprising means for receiving a request from the user specifying a type of destination, and wherein autonomously determining the destination based on the user information includes autonomously determining a destination having the specified type.

14. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11, comprising:

means for causing a determination of a current location of a vehicle;

wherein the means for determining the data corresponding to the route to the destination includes;

means for determining data corresponding to a route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, result in operations comprising:

identify a user of a mobile device;

receive an autonomous transfer of user information from the mobile device, wherein the received user information includes;

user preference information obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device; and

address information associated with each of a plurality of potential destinations associated with the identified user and obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

autonomously select a preferred destination from the plurality of potential destinations received from the mobile device using at least a portion of the user preference information included in the received user information;

determine data corresponding to a route to the autonomously determined preferred destination and route preference information associated with the user; and

communicate the data corresponding to the route to the autonomously determined preferred destination to one or more output devices.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

cause a visual display device to display the data corresponding to the route to the destination to one or more occupants of the vehicle.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

receive a request from the user specifying a type of destination;

wherein to autonomously determine a destination based on the received user information includes to autonomously determine a destination having the specified type.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

cause a determination of a current location of a vehicle; and

determine data corresponding to a route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination.

30. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further result in operations comprising receiving, by the at least one vehicle electronic system processor, a request from the user specifying a destination identifier that does not include a physical destination address, and wherein to autonomously determine the destination based on the user information includes to autonomously determine a physical destination address associated with the specified destination identifier.

31. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the received user information further includes preference information associated with the user, the preference information including one or more of a group that includes historical destination information, destination rating information, and/or one or more destination rating parameters.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors;

a global positioning system;

at least one microphone;

at least one speaker;

one or more output devices; and

a vehicle electronic system coupled to the one or more, the global positioning system, and the at least one output device, the vehicle electronic system including;

at least one processor;

memory circuitry;

a first input/output (I/O) interface to couple to the at least one processor and to receive voice data from the at least one microphone;

a second I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and to the one or more output devices;

a third I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and to provide sound data from the at least one speaker;

a communications interface to transmit information to and receive information from a user'"'"'s mobile device; and

at least one computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising;

identify a user of a mobile device;

cause an autonomous transfer, via the communications interface, of user information and information associated with each of a plurality of potential destinations associated with the identified user between the vehicle electronic system and the user'"'"'s mobile device, wherein the user information includes;

user preference information obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device; and

address information associated with each of the plurality of potential destinations obtained from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

cause an autonomous selection of a preferred destination from the plurality of potential destinations received from the mobile device using at least a portion of the user preference information included in the received user information;

cause a determination of data corresponding to a route to the autonomously determined preferred destination and route preference information associated with the user retrieved by the at least one processor from the memory circuitry; and

cause a communication of the data corresponding to the route to the autonomously determined preferred destination to the one or more output devices.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

cause communication of the address information from the user'"'"'s mobile device to the vehicle electronic system.

21. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

receive a request from the user specifying a type of destination;

wherein to cause the autonomous determination of the preferred destination for the user based on the received user information includes to cause the autonomous determination of a destination having the specified type.

22. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

cause the data corresponding to the route to the destination to be displayed on the one or more output devices, the one or more output devices including at least one display device.

23. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

cause a determination of a current location of the vehicle;

wherein the instructions that result in the operation to cause a determination of the data corresponding to the route to the destination result in operations that include;

cause a determination of data corresponding to a route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination.

24. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further result in operations that include to receive a request from the user specifying a destination identifier that does not include a physical destination address, and wherein to cause the autonomous determination of the preferred destination based on the user information includes to cause autonomous determination of a physical destination address associated with the specified destination identifier.

25. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the communicated user information further includes preference information associated with the user, the preference information including one or more of a group that includes historical destination information, destination rating information, and/or one or more destination rating parameters.