Systems and Methods for Smart City Search

• US 20100049696A1
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Map Tool Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magellan Navigation Incorporated (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: LOKSHIN, Anatole M., MAO, Ailin
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A method, machine-readable medium, and system involve receiving user input with a navigation device regarding a desired city name. A determination is made regarding whether the user input matches city names in a Last Used City List (LUCL). A Global City List (GCL) is consulted when the user input does not match the city names in the LUCL. A matching city name is selected as a best candidate.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving, with a navigation device, user input regarding a desired city name;

determining whether the user input matches a city name in a Last Used City List (LUCL);

consulting a Global City List (GCL) when the user input does not match the city name in the LUCL; and

selecting a matching city name as a best candidate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the best candidate.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the matching city name most recently used as the best candidate from the Last Used City List (LUCL) sorted by time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the consulting a Global City List (GCL) comprises having the GCL in alphabetical order.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the consulting a Global City List (GCL) comprises:

determining whether the number of matching city names exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

selecting the matching city name that is geographically nearest to the navigation device as the best candidate when the number of matching city names does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the consulting a Global City List (GCL) comprises reducing the number of matching city names to a predetermined threshold by picking first predetermined number of matches and disregarding the remainder when the number of matching city names exceeds the predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a list key of the navigation device when the number of matching city names in the Global City List (GCL) does not exceed a predetermined threshold;

receiving an indication of selection of the list key; and

listing the matching city names.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sorting the matching city names by geographic distance.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an indication to display the matching city names in alphabetical order; and

displaying the matching city names in alphabetical order.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

checking the number of matching city names in the Global City List (GCL); and

receiving further user input regarding the desired city name until the number of matching city names does not exceed the predetermined threshold before the enabling, the receiving, and the listing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the consulting a Global City List (GCL) with spatial index comprises:

selecting cities which are within a first predetermined geographic distance from the navigation device;

determining whether city names match a substring entered by a user; and

selecting the matching city name that is geographically nearest to the navigation device as the best candidate when the matching city names are within the first predetermined geographic distance from the navigation device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the consulting a Global City List (GCL) further comprises determining whether the matching city names are within a second predetermined geographic distance from the navigation device when no matching city names are found within the first predetermined geographic distance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein consulting the Global City List (GCL) further comprises selecting a first of the matching city names in the GCL as the best candidate when none of the matching city names are within the second predetermined geographic distance.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein consulting the Global City List (GCL) further comprises selecting the matching city name that is geographically nearest to the navigation device as the best candidate when the matching city names are within the second predetermined geographic distance.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second predetermined geographic distance is greater than the first predetermined geographic distance.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input includes voice commands.

17. The method of claim 2, further comprising disregarding the best candidate presented previously and displaying a next best candidate, if a user does not select the previously presented best candidate and continues entering characters.

18. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions for a processor, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving, with a navigation device, user input regarding a desired city name;

determining whether the user input matches city names in a Last Used City List (LUCL);

consulting a Global City List (GCL) when the user input does not match the city names in the LUCL; and

selecting a matching city name as a best candidate.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the consulting a Global City List (GCL) comprises:

determining whether the number of matching city names exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

selecting the matching city name that is geographically nearest to the navigation device when the number of matching city names does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

20. A system comprising:

means for receiving user input regarding a desired city name;

means for determining whether the user input matches city names in a Last Used City List (LUCL);

means for consulting a Global City List (GCL) when the user input does not match the city names in the LUCL; and

means for selecting a matching city name as a best candidate.