Method and apparatus for providing an alert utilizing geographic locations

• US 7,787,857 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Peterman, Glenn T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/423,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041- 2, 455/412.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/9, 340/426.19, 340/426.2, 340/426.22, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation device (10) and method that are operable to provide an alert by comparing user geographic locations. The navigation device (10) generally includes a location determining component (14) operable to determine a current geographic location of the device (10), a memory (16) operable to store data corresponding to a previous geographic location of the device (10), a processor (12), and a display (20). The processor (12) is operable to compare the current geographic location of the device (10) to the previous geographic location of the device (10) and generate an alert based upon the comparison. The display (20) is operable to provide a visual indication of the generated alert. Such a configuration enables an attention-getting alert to be automatically provided even if a user is severely injured or incapacitated.

Claims

1. A wearable navigation device comprising:

a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the device;

a memory operable to store data corresponding to a previous geographic location of the device;

a processor coupled with the location determining component and the memory, the processor operable to compare the current geographic location of the device to the previous geographic location of the device and generate an alert when the comparison indicates that the device has not moved beyond a range during an interval; and

a display coupled with the processor, the display operable to provide a visual indication of the generated alert.

2. The device of claim 1, further including a housing to house at least portions of the location determining component, the memory, the processor, and the display, the housing operable to be affixed to a user'"'"'s arm.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor compares the current geographic location of the device to the previous geographic location of the device and generates the alert when the current geographic location of the device is within a predetermined range from the previous geographic location of the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to couple with a heart rate monitor to acquire a user heart rate and generate the alert utilizing both the geographic location comparison and the acquired heart rate.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the provided visual indication of the alert includes a message selected from the group consisting of user contact information, user medical information, first responder instructions, suggested user actions, and combinations thereof.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the provided visual indication of the alert is flashed on the display.

7. The device of claim 1, further including a speaker coupled with the processor, the speaker operable to provide an audible indication of the generated alert.

8. The device of claim 1, further including a user interface coupled with the processor and operable to receive a mode input from a user, wherein the processor generates the alert by comparing the geographic locations only when the mode input corresponds to an exercise mode.

9. The device of claim 1, further including a user interface coupled with the processor and operable to receive a status input from a user, wherein the processor generates the alert only if the status input is not received within a predetermined time after a prompting by the display.

10. The device of claim 1, further including a communications element coupled with the processor and operable to communicate with an external source, the communications element operable to provide an indication of the alert to the external source.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the communications element is operable to communicate with a communications network and provide an indication of the alert to a device coupled with the network.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the communications element is operable to directly communicate with a cellular phone to instruct the cellular phone to call a predetermined phone number to provide an indication of the alert.

13. A wearable navigation device comprising:

a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the device;

a memory operable to store data corresponding to a previous geographic location of the device;

a user interface operable to receive a status input from a user;

a processor coupled with the location determining component, the memory, and the user interface, the processor operable to—

compare the current geographic location of the device to the previous geographic location of the device to determine if the current geographic location is within a predetermined range from the previous geographic location,

if the current geographic location is within the predetermined range from the previous geographic location, generate a prompt for the status input, and

if the status input is not received within a predetermined time after prompting, generate an alert;

a display coupled the processor, the display operable to—

provide a visual indication of the status input prompt, and

provide a visual indication of the generated alert comprising a flashing message selected from the group consisting of user contact information, user medical information, first responder instructions, suggested user actions, and combinations thereof; and

a housing to house at least portions of the location determining component, the memory, the processor, and the display, the housing operable to be affixed to the user'"'"'s arm.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is operable to couple with a heart rate monitor to acquire a user heart rate and generate the alert utilizing both the geographic location comparison and the acquired heart rate.

15. The device of claim 13, further including a speaker coupled with the processor, the speaker operable to provide an audible indication of the generated alert.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the user input is further operable to receive a mode input from the user and the processor generates the alert based upon the geographic location comparison only when the mode input corresponds to an exercise mode.

17. The device of claim 13, further including a communications element coupled with the processor and operable to communicate with a communications network to provide an indication of the alert to a device coupled with the communications network.

18. The device of claim 13, further including a communications element coupled with the processor and operable to directly communicate with a cellular phone to instruct the cellular phone to call a predetermined phone number to provide an indication of the alert.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the device takes action to conserve power once the alert is generated.

20. A wearable navigation device comprising:

a location determining component, comprising a GPS receiver, operable to determine a current geographic location of the device;

a memory operable to store data corresponding to a previous geographic location of the device;

a user interface operable to receive a status input from a user;

a processor coupled with the location determining component, the memory, and the user interface, the processor operable to

confirm that the device is in an exercise mode,

compare the current geographic location of the device to the previous geographic location of the device to determine if the device has moved less than a predetermined range over a predetermined interval,

if the device has moved less than a predetermined range over a predetermined interval, generate a prompt for the status input,

if the status input is not received within a predetermined time after prompting, generate an alert, and

take action to conserve power once the alert is generated;

a display coupled the processor, the display operable to—

provide a visual indication of the status input prompt, and

provide a visual indication of the generated alert comprising a flashing message;

a speaker coupled with the processor, the speaker operable to provide an audible indication of the generated alert; and

a housing to house at least portions of the location determining component, the memory, the processor, and the display, the housing operable to be affixed to the user'"'"'s arm.