Real-time navigation system for mobile environment

• US 7,389,179 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TeleNav Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TeleNav Incorporated
• Inventors: Glebov, Alexander G., Meshenberg, Ruslan Adikovic, Dhanani, Salman, Jin, Haiping
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thu V.
• Application Number:
  US10/714,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20040220726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-201, 701206-209, 701/211, 701/213, 455/414
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• 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: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• 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 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A system and method for providing navigational information to a user connected in real-time, such as through a wireless telephone, PDA, or other device. The system provides navigational information to the user in the form most useful to the user, such as according to landmarks, or the number of blocks until the next action. The system also provides directions to points of interest along the user'"'"'s route. Further, the system allows the user to suspend and resume a session. Also, the system varies the sampling rate at which the user'"'"'s location is examined, to enhance efficiency and convenience.

Claims

1. A method for providing navigational information to a user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a real-time connection with the user;

receiving the user'"'"'s location in real time;

generating navigational information for the user using at least one automated processor;

the processor being capable of providing automated navigation information to the user and controlling suspension and re-establishment of the connection with the user;

providing said navigational information to the user;

suspending the connection with the user;

storing trip information regarding the user'"'"'s position and destination at the time the connection was suspended;

re-establishing a real-time connection with the user; and

providing further navigational information to the user, at least partly based on the stored trip information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of re-establishing a real-time connection with the user, the step of determining if the user'"'"'s previous trip was suspended.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of re-establishing a real-time connection with the user, the step of querying the user to determine if the user is resuming a suspended call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the step of suspending the connection with the user, the step of instructing the user to suspend the call.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of instructing the user to resume the call.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of instructing the user to resume the call comprises instructing the user to resume the call after a given period of time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of instructing the user to resume the call comprises instructing the user to resume the call at a given time.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of instructing the user to resume the call comprises instructing the user to resume the call when the user has reached a specified landmark.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of suspending the call to the user, the step of providing the user with non-navigational programming.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-navigational programming comprises music pre-selected by the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing further navigational information to the user comprises providing navigational information in speech format over a connection comprising a telephone network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing further navigational information to the user comprises providing navigational information in text format.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing further navigational information to the user comprises providing navigational information in graphical format.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing further navigational information comprises transmitting navigational information over a wireless connection.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the step of suspending the connection with the user, the step of conveying to the user the mileage until the next navigational action required by the user.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the step of suspending the connection with the user, the step of conveying to the user the mileage until the user reaches said destination.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating navigational information to the user is fully automated, such that the automated processor can perform the step without assistance from a human operator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing navigational information to the user is fully automated, such that the automated processor can perform the step without assistance from a human operator.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating navigational information to the user and the step of providing navigational information to the user are fully automated, such that the automated processor can perform the steps without assistance from a human operator.

20. A method of providing wireless telephone service to a plurality of subscribers, comprising the steps of:

establishing a real-time connection with the subscriber at least in part through a wireless telephone network;

receiving the subscriber'"'"'s location in real time;

generating navigational information for the subscriber using at least one automated processor;

the processor being capable of providing automated navigation information to the user and controlling suspension and re-establishment of the connection with the user;

providing said navigational information to the subscriber;

suspending the connection with the subscriber;

storing trip information regarding the subscriber'"'"'s position and destination at the time the connection was suspended;

re-establishing a real-time connection with the subscriber; and

providing further navigational information to the subscriber, at least partly based on the stored trip information.

21. A system for providing location information to a user, comprising:

an interface communicating with the user over a communications network;

an automated processor connected to the interface and configured to generate navigational information based at least in part on information received from the user;

the processor being capable of providing automated navigation information to the user and controlling suspension and re-establishment of the connection with the user;

said automated processor configured to suspend interaction with the user and to later resume interaction with the user;

a storage device connected to the processor and configured to store user information, said user information comprising location and destination information for the user;

a transmission device connected to a network, through which the generated navigational information is conveyed to the user.

22. The system of claim 21, said user information further comprising the location of the user at the time the processor suspended interaction with the user.

23. The system of claim 21, said storage device comprising a database of user information, said database comprising an indication of whether the user has suspended a call for a trip.

24. The system of claim 23, said database further comprising resumption information, said resumption information comprising the user'"'"'s expected location upon resumption of interaction with the user.

25. A wireless telephone system providing service to a plurality of users, comprising:

an interface communicating with the user over a communications network;

an automated processor connected to the interface and configured to generate navigational information based at least in part on information received from the user;

the processor being capable of providing automated navigation information to the user and controlling suspension and re-establishment of the connection with the user;

said automated processor configured to suspend interaction with the user and to later resume interaction with the user;

a storage device connected to the processor and configured to store user information, said user information comprising location and destination information for the user; and

a transmission device connected to a network, through which the generated navigational information is conveyed to the user.

26. A system for providing navigational information to a user, comprising:

interface means for communicating with the user over a communications network;

automated processor means for generating navigational information based at least in part on information received from the user;

the processor being capable of providing automated navigation information to the user and controlling suspension and re-establishment of the connection with the user;

suspension means for suspending interaction with the user and to later resume interaction with the user;

storage means for storing user information, said user information comprising location and destination information for the user;

transmission means for conveying the generated navigational information to the user.