Device position method and apparatus using celestial objects

• US 8,620,582 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Dods, Jeffrey Alton Hugh, Almalki, Nazih, Snow, Christopher Harris, Oliver, Robert George
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/984,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/513
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/02 by astronomical means G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

A system and method of determining a position of an electronic device is presented herein. An image is displayed having at least one celestial object and a celestial object indicator for selecting a celestial object. The celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object. Data indicating a relative angle of the device with respect to the Earth in at least two dimensions is received at the processor. The time when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object is determined. The position of the electronic device is determined by comparing the location of the celestial object in the image data and relative angle information at the time of the indication to a database at least partially stored on the electronic device in response to an indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object.

Claims

1. A method for determining a position of an electronic device, comprising:

receiving, at a processor in the electronic device, image data containing at least one celestial object image;

causing, by the processor, a display of the at least one celestial object and a celestial object indicator for selecting a celestial object, on a display;

receiving, at the processor, data indicating a relative angle of the device, when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object, with respect to the Earth in at least two dimensions;

receiving, by the processor, the time when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object;

determining, by the processor, a position of the electronic device by comparing the location of the celestial object in the image data and relative angle information at the time of the indication to a database at least partially stored on the electronic device in response to an indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object; and

causing, by the processor, a display of a current position of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the angle data is received from at least one sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the least one sensor is at least one of an accelerometer and a magnetometer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the angle data contains three dimensions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a list of celestial objects and receiving a selection of one of the listed celestial objects to be used in the comparison.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the celestial object indicator displayed is selected in dependence upon a selected celestial object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the celestial object indicator is sized to provide for substantially complete overlaying of the celestial object indicator on the at least one celestial object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the celestial object is one of a star, planet, Moon and Sun.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object is based upon an input received from a predetermined key.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object is determined based upon determining a vector relative to the brightest point on the display relative to the celestial object indicator.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the celestial object is selected based upon the time at the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the celestial object is chosen as the Sun if the time is during daylight hours and the celestial object is one of the Moon or North Star if the time is during the night.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display; and

a processor coupled to the display, the processor configured to execute instructions to;

receive image data containing at least one celestial object;

cause a display of the at least one celestial object and a celestial object indicator for selecting a celestial object, on the display;

overlay the celestial object indicator on the at least one celestial object;

receive data indicating a relative angle of the device, when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object, with respect to the Earth in at least two dimensions;

determine the time when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object;

determine a position of the electronic device by comparing the location of the celestial object in the image data and relative angle information at the time of the indication to a database at least partially stored on the electronic device in response to an indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object; and

cause a display of a current position of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a camera module configured to acquire said image data of at least one celestial object.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor for obtaining the relative angle of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of an accelerometer and a magnetometer.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a removable memory device, wherein the removable memory device stores the database.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a wireless communication module, wherein the wireless communication module provides connectivity to a remote database.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication module is one of a Wifi module and cellular module.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instruction to cause a processor to:

receive image data containing at least one celestial object;

cause a display of the at least one celestial object and a celestial object indicator for selecting a celestial object, on the display;

overlay the celestial object indicator on the at least one celestial object;

receive data indicating a relative angle of the device, when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object, with respect to the Earth in at least two dimensions;

determine the time when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object;

determine a position of the electronic device by comparing the location of the celestial object in the image data and relative angle information at the time of the indication to a database at least partially stored on the electronic device in response to an indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object; and

cause a display of a current position of the electronic device.