AUTO MAPPING THROUGH LOCATION BASED TRIGGERS

• US 20070129082A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discrete Wireless Incorporated (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Discrete Wireless Incorporated (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Thacher, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration

Abstract

An automated map generator that can be used for creating new maps for uncharted areas, augmenting uncompleted maps, or creating maps for areas that are changing dynamically. One or more mobile devices include location based technology that operates to identify a current location for the mobile device and report that location to the map creation application. If the location of the mobile device is within an active mapping region, the map creation device can instruct the mobile device to report its location on a more frequent basis and then commence to map out the route to the mobile device. As the route is mapped out, a new map of the territory is created. As subsequent devices enter into that area (including navigational systems), the updated mapping information is provided to the device and can then be augmented by future location readings or can simply be used by the device.

Claims

1. A system for updating and creating mapping information for an active mapping region, the system comprising:

a control system;

a plurality of mobile devices with each mobile device including a GPS receiver and a radio transceiver, the mobile device being operable to communication with the control system via the radio transceiver;

each of the plurality of mobile devices being operable to;

periodically obtain a current location reading from the GPS receiver; and

transmit the current location reading to the control system;

the control system being operable, in response to receiving the current location reading from a first mobile device;

determine if the current location reading falls within an active mapping zone; and

in response to a positive determination that the current location reading falls within the active mapping zone, update mapping information for the active mapping zone with the received location reading.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each mobile device is further operable to transmit the current location reading to the control system at a first time interval.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system is further operable to, in response to a positive determination that the current location reading falls within the active mapping zone, request the first mobile device to enter a rapid monitor mode.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein in response to receiving the request to enter the rapid monitor mode, the first mobile device is further operable to transmit the current location reading to the control system at a second time interval, the second time interval being more frequent than the first time interval.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second time interval is around once every second.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the control system is further operable to:

subsequent to determining that the current location reading is within the active mapping zone, determining that a subsequent current location reading is outside of the active mapping zone; and

in response, cease updating the mapping information for the active mapping zone.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein in response to determining that the subsequent current location reading is outside of the active mapping zone, the control system is further operable to request the first mobile device to exit the rapid monitor mode.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control system is further operable to, subsequent to determining that the current location reading falls within or near the active mapping zone, send current mapping information for the active mapping zone to the first mobile device.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a navigational system that is operable to interface with a mobile device to receive the current mapping information for the active mapping zone.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the control system can simultaneously receive a current location reading from a second mobile device and if that current location reading is within the active mapping zone, to update the mapping information for the current mapping zone and request the second mobile device to enter into a rapid monitor mode.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the processor is operable to transmit the current location reading to the map creation system at the first or second rate in response to receiving a request from the map creation system.

11. A mobile device for providing mapping information to a map creation system, the mobile device comprising:

a location information receiver; and

a radio transceiver;

a processor communicatively coupled to the location information receiver and the radio transceiver, and in response to instructions included in a memory component, is operable to;

receive location readings from the location information receiver;

transmit a current location reading to the map creation system at a first rate when the mobile device is outside of an active mapping zone; and

transmit a current location reading to the map creation system at a second rate when the mobile device is within an active mapping zone, the second rate being faster than the first rate.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to transmit the current location reading to the map creation system at the second rate in response to detecting that the current location falls within the active mapping zone.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to transmit the current location reading to the map creation system at the first rate in response to detecting that the current location falls outside of the active mapping zone.

15. A method for updating and creating mapping information for an active mapping region, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining location readings from a location system at a normal rate;

detecting that the current location reading falls within an active mapping zone; and

in response to a positive determination that the current location reading falls within the active mapping zone, updating mapping information for the active mapping zone with the received current location reading and commence obtaining the location readings at a rapid rate.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

detecting that the current location reading falls outside of the active mapping zone; and

in response to such determination, ceasing to update the mapping information for the active mapping zone and revert to obtaining the location readings at the normal rate.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location readings can be obtained from multiple devices.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the current location readings are provided by a mobile device and wherein in response to a positive determination that the current location reading falls proximate to the active mapping zone, further comprising the steps of:

determining if current mapping information exists for the active mapping zone; and

if current mapping information exists, providing the current mapping information to the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile device interacts with a navigational system and further comprises the steps of:

if the navigational system is proximate to the active mapping zone, providing the current mapping information to the navigational system; and

if the navigational system enters into the active mapping zone, displaying the current mapping information.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the current location readings are provided by a navigational system and wherein in response to a positive determination that the current location reading falls proximate to the active mapping zone, further comprising the steps of:

determining if current mapping information exists for the active mapping zone; and

if current mapping information exists, providing the current mapping information to the navigational system.