Presenting driving directions

• US 7,065,448 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gearhart, G. Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/674,822
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-213, 340988-99527
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

Techniques are provided for reducing the number of maneuvers presented in narrative driving directions for a route from an origin location to a destination location. Maneuvers are combined to reduce the number of maneuvers presented. Maneuvers may be combined based on a maneuver being associated with a highway interchange or maneuvers including a shared reference to a particular road.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the method comprising:

accessing route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generating maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combining a first maneuver with a second maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver being associated with a highway interchange and the second maneuver being associated with the highway interchange; and

presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

repeating the combining to identify additional interchange maneuvers; and

eliminating redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a system connected to an Internet service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a printer associated with the user system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with the user system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions on a personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with a vehicle on-board navigation system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises presenting driving direction text that starts with “

Merge onto” and

includes text associated with a particular a road name, wherein the road name text is appended with “

via” and

an exit number associated with the combined maneuver.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises presenting driving direction text that starts with “

Merge onto” and

includes text associated with a particular a road name, wherein the road name text is appended with “

via” and

exit information associated with the combined maneuver.

10. A computer-implemented method for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the method comprising:

accessing route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generating maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combining a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road; and

presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein combining the first maneuver with the second maneuver to produce the combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including the reference to the particular road comprises combining a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road unless intersection between the first maneuver and the second maneuver includes an intersecting forward link.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a system connected to an Internet service provider.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a printer associated with the user system.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with the user system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions on a personal digital assistant.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with a vehicle on-board navigation system.

17. A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to display driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information;

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver being associated with a highway interchange and the second maneuver being associated with the highway interchange; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

18. The medium of claim 17 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to:

repeat the combining to identify additional interchange maneuvers; and

eliminate redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

19. A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to display driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the one or more code segments are configured to combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road unless intersection between the first maneuver and the second maneuver includes an intersecting forward link.

21. A system for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information;

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver being associated with a highway interchange and the second maneuver being associated with the highway interchange; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to:

repeat the combining to identify additional interchange maneuvers; and

eliminate redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

23. A system for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the processor is configured to combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road unless intersection between the first maneuver and the second maneuver includes an intersecting forward link.