TOUCH-BASED EXPLORATION OF MAPS FOR SCREEN READER USERS

• US 20130332070A1
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fleizach, Christopher B., Hudson, Reginald D., Pedersen, Michael M., White, Samuel C., Lopes Da Silva, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/438
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

An electronic device can provide an interactive map with non-visual output, thereby making the map accessible to visually impaired users. The map can be based on a starting location defined based on a current location of the electronic device or on a location entered by the user. Nearby paths, nearby points of interest, or directions from the starting location to an ending location can be identified via audio output. Users can touch a screen of the electronic device in order to virtually explore a neighborhood. A user can be alerted when he is moving along or straying from a path, approaching an intersection or point of interest, or changing terrains. Thus, the user can familiarize himself with city-level spatial relationships without needing to physically explore unfamiliar surroundings.

Claims

1. A method for presenting map information to a user, the method comprising:

accessing a map, the map including a set of paths;

receiving, via an input component of an electronic device, an input from the user;

determining an input-space point within an input space corresponding to the input;

associating the input-space point with a geographic location identified by the map;

determining whether the geographic location coincides with a path of the set of paths; and

providing, via an output component of the electronic device, non-visual output that indicates whether the geographic location coincides with the path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-visual output comprises an audio output.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a frequency of the audio output depends on whether the geographic location coincides with the path of the set of paths.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of paths includes a set of streets.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-visual output indicates whether the location is veering off of the path, the path being associated with a previous input.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon determining that the geographic location coincides with the path of the set of paths:

determining a nearby second path that insects with the path; and

audibly identifying the nearby second path.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising audibly identifying places near the geographic location.

8. A method for presenting map information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving, via an input component of an electronic device, an input trajectory from a user, the input trajectory including a motion from a first input point to a second input point;

associating the input trajectory with a geographic trajectory;

determining a characteristic of the geographic trajectory, wherein the characteristic characterizes a degree to which the geographic trajectory tracks a trajectory of a path or route; and

providing, via an output component of the electronic device, non-visual output that indicates the characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first input point is associated with the path or route.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising associating the first input point of the input trajectory with an estimate of a current location of the user.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the characteristic indicates a closest distance between a current point of the input trajectory and the trajectory of the path or route.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the characteristic is repeatedly determined and the non-visual output that identifies the characteristic is repeatedly provided as the user completes the input trajectory.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining a point of interest near an intermediate point along the geographic trajectory or near an ending point of the geographic trajectory; and

.

providing, via the output component of the electronic device, non-visual output that identifies the point of interest.

14. A method for presenting map information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more input components of an electronic device, a destination input from the user, the destination input identifying a destination location;

determining a geographic destination location based on the destination input;

determining a geographic starting location;

receiving, via the one or more input components, an origination input from a user;

determining an origination input-space point within an input space to be associated with the geographic starting location, the origination input-space point being determined based on the origination input;

determining a destination input-space point within the input space to be associated with the geographic destination location;

determining directions between the geographic starting location and the geographic ending location;

providing, via an output component of the electronic device, non-visual output that identifies at least part of the directions;

receiving, via the one or more input components, movement input from the user; and

providing, via the output component device, non-visual output that indicates whether the movement input is tracking the directions.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising detecting that the movement input successfully tracked a portion of the directions;

and, upon the detection, providing non-visual output that identifies a next portion of the directions.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the geographic starting location is determined based on a current location of the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the origination input includes touching a location of a screen of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the destination input identifies the type of location.

19. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen configured to receive inputs from a user;

an output component configured to provide outputs to the user;

a processor coupled to the touchscreen and the output component; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a method comprising;

accessing a map, the map including a set of paths;

receiving, via the touchscreen, an input from a user;

determining an input-space point within an input space corresponding to the input;

associating the input-space point with a geographic location identified by the map;

determining whether the geographic location coincides with a path of the set of paths; and

providing, via the output component, non-visual output that indicates whether the geographic location coincides with the path.

20. The mobile electronic device of claim 19 wherein the non-visual output indicates whether the location is veering off of the path, the path being associated with a previous input.

21. The mobile electronic device of claim 19 wherein the output component includes a motor capable of vibrating the mobile electronic device.

22. The mobile electronic device of claim 19 further comprising:

a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver configured to receive GPS signals, wherein the method further comprises determining a current location of the mobile electronic device based on received GPS signals, and wherein the path includes a path associated with the current location.

23. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen configured to receive inputs from a user;

an output component configured to provide outputs to the user;

a processor coupled to the touchscreen and the output component; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a method comprising;

receiving, via the touchscreen, an input trajectory from a user, the input trajectory including a motion from a first input point to a second input point;

associating the input trajectory with a geographic trajectory;

determining a characteristic of the geographic trajectory, wherein the characteristic characterizes a degree to which the geographic trajectory tracks a trajectory of a path or route; and

providing, via the output component device, non-visual output that identifies the characteristic.

24. The mobile electronic device of claim 23 wherein the output component includes a speaker and the non-visual output includes an audio output having a frequency indicative of the characteristic.

25. The mobile electronic device of claim 23 wherein the output component includes a speaker and the non-visual output includes an audio output having a sound type indicative of the characteristic.

26. A method for presenting geographical information to a user, the method comprising:

automatically detecting, using a measurement collected by a sensor of an electronic device, a first location of the electronic device;

projecting a second location of the electronic device along a forward direction based on the first location;

identifying a geographical feature at or near the second location; and

providing, via an output component of the electronic device, non-visual output that identifies the geographical feature.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein second location is projected using a cached map.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising detecting a velocity of the electronic device, wherein the second location is a projection distance away from the first location, the projection distance depending on the detected velocity.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising detecting a velocity of the electronic device, wherein the forward direction is defined based on a direction of the detected velocity.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising detecting an orientation of the electronic device, wherein the forward direction is defined based on a direction of the detected orientation.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

detecting an orientation of the electronic device;

detecting a velocity of the electronic device;

comparing a magnitude of the velocity to a threshold;

defining the forward direction based on a direction of the detected velocity when the magnitude exceeds the threshold; and

defining the forward direction based on a direction of the detected orientation when the magnitude does not exceed the threshold.