Method and apparatus for orienting a map display in a mobile or portable device

• US 6,366,856 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US09/718,267
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213, 701/220, 701/224, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 731/78.R, 342/357, 342/450, 342/457
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/28 Electromagnetic compasses with north seeking magnetic elements and having electric pick-offs G01C17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A method apparatus for orienting a map display in a mobile or portable device. An electronic compass is integrated with a hand-held portable or mobile mapping device and an electronic compass bearing is used to calculate an offset value with respect to the map default orientation. The map is thus reoriented in the display to the direction of the device. In an alternative embodiment, a GPS receiver is also integrated with the device. A heading fix is calculated from two or more GPS position fixes to determine orientation of the device. When a heading fix is unavailable, such as at initial start-up of the device, a compass heading is used in lieu of the GPS heading fix to orient the map on a display.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a map memory;

a GPS receiver operable to output position fixes;

a compass operable to output compass headings;

a controller coupled to said memory and operable to recall a map therefrom, and coupled to said GPS receiver and operable to calculate a heading fix based on a first and a second position fix read therefrom, and coupled to said compass and operable to read a compass heading therefrom;

a display coupled to said controller, and wherein

said controller calculates a map offset value indicative of the difference between said heading fix and the orientation of said map, and if said heading fix is unavailable, said controller calculates an offset value indicative of the difference between said compass heading and the orientation of said map and said controller is operable to write said map to said display in accordance with said offset value.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein said controller repeats the calculation of said offset value and rewrites said map to said display in accordance therewith.

3. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein said controller repeats periodically.

4. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein said controller repeats when said second GPS position fix is offset from said first GPS position fix by at least a threshold value.

5. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein said controller repeats when said offset value indicative of the difference between the compass heading and the orientation of a map exceeds a threshold value.

6. A method of orienting a map display in a mobile device, comprising the steps of:

reading a first and a second GPS location fix and calculating a GPS heading fix indicative of the direction of motion of the mobile device;

upon determining that a GPS heading fix is unavailable, reading a compass heading indicative of the orientation of the mobile device;

calculating an offset value indicative of the difference between said GPS heading fix and the orientation of a map;

otherwise calculating an offset value indicative of the difference between the compass heading and the orientation of a map, and

writing said map to a display in accordance with said offset value.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

updating the map orientation by repeating said reading, calculating and writing steps.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said updating step is repeated periodically.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said updating step is repeated when said second GPS position fix is offset from said first GPS position fix by at least a threshold value.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said writing step is executed when said offset value indicative of the difference between the compass heading and the orientation of a map exceeds a threshold value.