REAL TIME TRAVEL DIRECTOR

• US 20130173151A1
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Design Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Design Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Freeman, Mitchael C., Freeman, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/466
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

A method for navigating through a predefined space is described herein. The method includes receiving, by a remote unit, a signal indicative of a selection of at least one destination category, wherein the selected destination category is associated with a plurality of destination locations. A position of each of the plurality of destination locations is determined within the predefined space. A final destination location is determined within the predefined space, an origination location of the remote unit is determined, and a first route is determined from the origination location to the final destination. The first route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

Claims

1. A method for navigating through a predefined space comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a remote unit, a signal indicative of a selection of at least one destination category, the at least one destination category being associated with a plurality of destination locations;

determining a position of each of the plurality of destination locations within the predefined space;

determining a final destination location within the predefined space;

determining an origination location of the remote unit; and

determining a first route from the origination location to the final destination, the first route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of signature signals from a plurality of signature signal sources, each signature signal of the plurality of signature signals being indicative of a location of an associated signature signal source; and

determining a position of the remote unit within the predefined space based on the received plurality of signature signal sources.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of determining a progress of the remote unit along the first route based on the determined position of the remote unit.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the position of the remote unit is along the first route; and

responsively displaying a notification message if the remote unit has deviated from the first route.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising the step of determining a second route from the remote unit position to the final destination location if the position of the remote unit has deviated from the first route.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining at least one categorical attribute associated with the selected destination category; and

optimizing the first route as a function of the at least one categorical attribute.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a priority between destination locations; and

optimizing the first route as a function of the determined priority.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a planned period of time to travel the first route;

determining a position of the remote unit along the route; and

determining an elapsed period of time from the origination location to the remote unit position.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying a notification message if the elapsed time is different than the planned period of time.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining the first route including a plurality of route segments, each route segment being defined between each destination location; and

assigning a planned period of time of travel to each of the route segments.

11. A system for use in navigating through a predefined space, comprising:

a plurality of signature signal sources located in respective predetermined positions within the predefined space; and

a remote unit adapted to be coupled to a vehicle, the remote unit including a controller for receiving a signal indicative of a selection of at least one destination category, the at least one destination category being associated with a plurality of destination locations, each destination location of the plurality of destination locations associated with a corresponding signature signal source, the controller for determining a position of each of the plurality of destination locations within the predefined space, for determining a final destination location within the predefined space, for determining an origination location of the remote unit, and for determining a first route from the origination location to the final destination, the first route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, the controller for receiving a plurality of signature signals from each of the plurality of signature signal sources, wherein each signature signal of the plurality of signature signals being indicative of a location of an associated signature signal source, and for determining a position of the remote unit within the predefined space based on the received plurality of signature signal sources.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, the controller for determining a progress of the remote unit along the first route based on the determined position of the remote unit.

14. A system in accordance with claim 12, the controller for determining if the position of the remote unit is along the first route, and for responsively displaying a notification message if the remote unit has deviated from the first route.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, the controller for determining a second route from the determined remote unit position to the final destination location if the position of the remote unit has deviated from the first route.

16. A system in accordance with claim 11, the controller for determining at least one categorical attribute associated with the selected destination category, and for optimizing the first route as a function of the at least one categorical attribute.

17. A system in accordance with claim 11, the controller for determining a priority between destination locations, and for optimizing the first route as a function of the determined priority.

18. A system in accordance with claim 11, the controller for determining a planned period of time to travel the first route, for determining a position of the remote unit along the first route, and for determining an elapsed period of time from the origination location to the remote unit position.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, the controller for displaying a notification message if the elapsed time is different than the planned period of time.

20. A system in accordance with claim 18, the controller for determining the first route including a plurality of route segments, each route segment being defined between each destination location, and for assigning a planned period of time of travel to each of the route segments.

21. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer executable instructions thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

receive a user selection of at least one destination category, the at least one destination category being associated with a plurality of destination locations;

determine a position of each of the plurality of destination locations within the predefined space;

determine a final destination location within the predefined space;

determine an origination location of the remote unit; and

determine a first route from the origination location to the final destination, the first route including each destination location included in the selected destination category.

22. The one or more computer-readable storage media according to claim 21, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

receive a plurality of signature signals from a plurality of signature signal sources, each signature signal of the plurality of signature signals being indicative of a location of an associated signature signal source; and

determine a position of the remote unit within the predefined space based on the received plurality of signature signal sources.

23. The one or more computer-readable storage media according to claim 22, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

determine if the position of the remote unit is along the first route; and

determine a second route from the remote unit position to the final destination location if the position of the remote unit has deviated from the first route.

24. The one or more computer-readable storage media according to claim 21, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

determine a priority between destination locations; and

optimize the first route as a function of the determined priority.

25. The one or more computer-readable storage media according to claim 21, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

determine a planned period of time to travel the first route;

determine a position of the remote unit along the first route; and

determine an elapsed period of time from the origination location to the determined remote unit position.