SYNCHRONIZING MOBILE AND VEHICLE DEVICES

• US 20090005070A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Gregory N., Forstall, Scott, Tiene, Kevin, Borchers, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Location information is received at a mobile device from the memory of a vehicle device. The mobile device is updated based on the location information. Sensor data is received from at least one sensor measuring movement of the mobile device, and an estimated location of the mobile device is calculated based at least in part on the location information and the sensor data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a mobile device, location information stored in a memory of a vehicle device;

updating a mobile device based on the location information, where the mobile device is proximate to the location of the vehicle device;

receiving sensor data from at least one sensor measuring movement of the mobile device; and

calculating an estimated location of the mobile device based at least in part on the location information and the sensor data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle device comprises a GPS system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle device comprises a GPS receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is located within the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer, a gyro, or a compass.

6. The method of claim 1, where the mobile device is in communication with the vehicle device during the updating of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is in communication with the vehicle device via a wireless communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a current location of the vehicle device, a location of a desired destination, a location of an object, or navigation information.

9. A method, comprising:

transmitting to a vehicle device location information stored in a memory of a mobile device; and

updating the vehicle device based on the location information, where the mobile device is proximate to the location of the vehicle device,

wherein the location information is accessible to a user via at least one interface with the vehicle device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle device comprises a GPS system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle device comprises a GPS receiver.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the location information to vehicle device data prior to updating the vehicle device based on the location information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein updating the vehicle device based on the location information occurs after a determination that the location information does not exist in the vehicle device data.

14. The method of claim 9, where the mobile device is in communication with the vehicle device during the updating of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile device is in communication with the vehicle device via a wireless communication.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the location information comprises the identity of an object, an identity of a geographical location, a geographical location of a desired destination, a geographical location of an object, or navigation information.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

transmitting to a vehicle device contact information stored in a memory of a mobile device; and

updating the vehicle device based on the contact information, where the mobile device is proximate to the location of the vehicle device,

wherein the contact information is accessible to a user via at least one interface with the vehicle device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the contact information comprises a telephone number, an address, a name, or an email address.

19. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

one or more processors;

a memory;

a motion sensor; and

a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the program including;

instructions for calculating an estimated current location of the device, the calculation being based at least in part on location information provided by a second device proximate to the portable electronic device and received sensor data from at least one sensor of the portable electronic device.

20. A method, comprising:

coupling a first device to a second device, where the first device is proximate to the second device;

updating the first device with location information from the second device; and

calculating an estimated location of the first device based at least in part on the location information from the second device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

updating the second device with location information from the first device.