Adaptive Mobile Device Navigation

• US 20090005975A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• 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 8,204,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams

Abstract

Adaptive mobile device navigation system, methods, and apparatus provide location information for a mobile device performing location estimation using dead reckoning. Multiple estimation modes can be selected including a mode for restricting measured movements to surrounding streets. Updated location fixes can be obtained through turn comparison with surrounding map information and user feedback. User feedback prompts can include photographs having geographic tag information corresponding to locations near an estimated location of the device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing a position in memory;

receiving sensor data related to movement of a device;

comparing the sensor data to map data corresponding to the stored position; and

determining an estimated current device location, the determination being based at least in part on the stored position, received sensor data, and an interpretation of the received sensor data as corresponding to movement along at least one pathway defined by the map data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathway is a street.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathway is a sidewalk.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a gyroscope.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a compass.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a turn in the movement of the device based on the received sensor data; and

identifying a candidate location defined by the map data based on the estimated current device location and the detected turn.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying a candidate location defined by the map data based on the estimated current device location and the detected turn comprises identifying a candidate location defined by the map data having characteristics consistent with characteristics of the detected turn.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying a candidate location defined by the map data based on the estimated current device location and the detected turn comprises identifying a candidate location defined by the map data if the estimated device location is within a threshold distance of the candidate location.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying a candidate location defined by the map data based on the estimated current device location and the detected turn comprises identifying a candidate location defined by the map data if an angle of the detected turn is within a threshold number of degrees of an angle of a turn at the candidate location defined by the map data.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing a position in memory;

receiving sensor data from at least one motion sensor measuring movement of a device;

determining an estimated current device location, where the determination is based at least in part on the stored position and received sensor data;

comparing the sensor data to map data corresponding to the stored location; and

requesting feedback regarding the comparison.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein requesting feedback comprises displaying a prompt.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing a second position in memory, the second position being established by a response to the prompt.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the prompt requests verification of the estimated current device location relative to a location defined in the map data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the prompt is displayed in response to the estimated current device location being within a threshold distance of the location defined in the map data.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the prompt is displayed upon the estimated current location of the device being a threshold distance from the stored position.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the prompt is displayed following an amount of elapsed time since the position was stored in memory.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the prompt is displayed upon the detection of a turn.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the prompt includes a photograph.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the photograph includes geographical tagging information corresponding to a location that is within a threshold distance of the estimated current location of the device.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying a photograph from a database of photographs, the photograph including geographical tagging information corresponding to a location that is within a threshold distance of the estimated current location of the device; and

displaying the identified photograph on the device.

22. 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 a prior device location, received sensor data from the motion sensor, and an interpretation of the received sensor data as corresponding to movement along at least one pathway present in map information of an area surrounding the prior device location.

23. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining a device location of a mobile device;

receiving sensor data related to movement of the mobile device;

determining an estimated device location based on the device location and sensor data;

comparing the estimated device location to map data; and

verifying the estimated device location based on the comparison.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein comparing the estimated device location to map data comprises:

comparing characteristics of the received sensor data to characteristics of a candidate location defined by map data of an area surrounding the device location.

25. A computer program product, encoded on a computer readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

storing a position in memory;

receiving sensor data related to movement of a device;

comparing the sensor data to map data corresponding to the stored position; and

determining an estimated current device location, the determination being based at least in part on the stored position, received sensor data, and an interpretation of the received sensor data as corresponding to movement along at least one pathway defined by the map data.