OPEN AREA MAPS WITH RESTRICTION CONTENT

• US 20100023249A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: MAYS, Joseph P., Stroila, Matei N., Seegers, Peter A., Gale, William N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

Open area maps and related systems and methods are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person walks about. A restriction associated to a passageway within the image is generated. The image is used to generate a routable map for point-to-point routing. Routing through or around the restriction is based on whether or not criteria for passing the restriction is met.

Claims

1. A method of generating an open area map, the method comprising:

receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person walks about;

generating a restriction associated to a passageway within the image; and

using the image to generate a routable map for point-to-point routing,

wherein routing through or around the restriction is based on whether or not criteria for passing the restriction is met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the restriction comprises forming a line having a length that covers the associated passageway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction corresponds to at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:

a key, a badge, a code, a retinal scan, a finger print, a time of day, money, height, and weight.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria corresponds to information of a user of the open area map, the information corresponding to content selected from the group consisting of:

physical information, authorization information, and monetary information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria corresponds to a time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria for passing the restriction is considered for only one direction through the restriction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the layout comprises an image of a building floor plan.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a grid on the image of the layout.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein using the image to generate the routable map comprises:

generating a plurality of reference regions; and

compiling the plurality of reference regions and the restriction with the grid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the plurality of reference regions comprises:

identifying a plurality of reference image objects in the image; and

generating the plurality of reference regions by forming borders corresponding to the respective reference image objects.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the borders comprises vectorizing a portion of a binarized image.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein the restriction is associated with at least one tile associated with a gate, an opening, a door, or a connection.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the grid and the restriction are in separate spatial layers prior to compilation.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein the point-to-point routing comprises generating a path via adjacent tiles.

15. A method of routing in an open area map, the method comprising:

identifying a destination selected in the open area map, the open area map including an image of a real-world pedestrian area;

calculating a route from an origin point to the selected destination in the open area map; and

querying for pedestrian information corresponding to a conditional barrier associated with the open area map.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein querying for the pedestrian information comprises notifying a user about the conditional barrier or a condition thereof via visual or audio content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pedestrian information is received after the notification.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a path through the conditional barrier and to the selected destination is generated if the pedestrian information meets the requirements of the conditional barrier.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a route circumventing the conditional barrier is calculated if the pedestrian information does not meet the requirements of the conditional barrier.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein querying for the pedestrian information comprises retrieving the pedestrian information that is inputted prior to calculating the route.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a path from the origin point, through the conditional barrier, and to the selected destination is generated if the pedestrian information meets the requirements of the conditional barrier.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein a path from the origin point to the selected destination that bypasses the conditional barrier is generated if the pedestrian information does not meet the requirements of the conditional barrier.

23. An open area map comprising:

an image of a floor plan corresponding to a walkable area; and

a restriction barrier associated with the image, the restriction barrier corresponding to a real-world condition for passing through a sub-area of the walkable area,

wherein the open area map is configured for point-to-point routing based, in part, on the restriction barrier.