System and method for selective navigation tracking

• US 7,412,325 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Union Beach Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Tannenbaum, Mary C., Tannenbaum, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/200,730
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/204
• 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

Abstract

There is disclosed systems and methods for controlling the communication of navigation positioning information from a source of the information to another device for tracking purposes. In one embodiment, a user having a communicating device that maintains a record of its present location establishes a communication link to one or more selected targets and then grants permission to his/her device to continually send updates of his/her device'"'"'s position to the selected other devices. When the devices are converging, the receiving device can display the FTA of the sending device. These updated communications can be on a data channel of a voice communication device if desired.

Claims

1. A method of providing positional information, said method comprising:

sending from a mobile device to a receiving device selected by said sending mobile device at least one current navigational position of said mobile device,

at said receiving device determining from received ones of said current navigational position of said sending mobile device if said mobile device and said receiving device are physically converging; and

at said receiving device and based upon a determination of convergence, providing to a user of said receiving device an estimated time of convergence of said mobile sending device and said receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

at said receiving device providing to a user the current navigational position of said mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

at said receiving device and based on a determination of non-convergence, providing to a user of said receiving device an estimated time of arrival of said mobile device at a destination other than said receiving device.

4. A method of providing navigational assistance, said method comprising:

sending from a sending mobile device to a receiving device selected by said sending mobile device at least one navigational position of said sending device,

obtaining in machine readable form from said receiving device at least one navigational instruction pertaining to the navigational position of said receiving device, said obtained instruction based upon said sent navigation position;

sending from said sending device to said receiving device in machine readable form a periodic update of the navigational position of said sending device;

at said receiving device determining if said sending device and said receiving device are physically converging; and

at said receiving device and based upon a determination of convergence, providing to a user of said receiving device updated estimated times of said convergence.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said received navigational instruction comprises a set of navigational updates for the location of said receiving device.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said received navigational instruction comprises instructions for physically converging said sending and receiving devices.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending from said mobile device an identity of at least one point of interest; and

wherein said received navigational instruction comprises;

a location of said at least one point of interest.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending from said sending device to said receiving device in machine readable form a periodic update of the navigational position of said sending device; and

at said receiving device providing to a user of said receiving device the current navigational position of said sending device.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending from said sending device to said receiving device in machine readable form a periodic update of the navigational position of said sending device; and

at said receiving device providing back to said sending device navigational instructions based at least in part on said periodic updated navigational position.