Gesture based interaction with traffic data

• US 9,046,924 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pelmorex Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Blanquart, Briac, Gueziec, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): HAJNIK, DANIEL F
• Application Number:
  US12/881,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20100333045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/20 3D [Three Dimensional] animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

Gesture based interaction with traffic data is disclosed. A virtual broadcast presentation may be generated based on dynamic information such as traffic information, weather information, or other information that may be featured on a virtual broadcast presentation. A gesture made by a user is detected and processed to determine an input command associated with the detected gesture. The virtual broadcast presentation may be manipulated based on the input command.

Claims

1. A method for gesture based interaction with dynamic traffic data, the method comprising:

generating a real time virtual broadcast presentation based on dynamic traffic data received from one or more information sources in real time; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

processes information related to a first gesture performed by a user interacting with the virtual broadcast presentation, the first gesture detected by a sensor coupled to a computing device, wherein the first gesture is associated with a first input command that selects a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation, and wherein the first gesture is a movement of a first hand performed by the user in front of the sensor without touching the sensor or the computing device;

processes information related to a second gesture performed by the user, the second gesture detected by the sensor during detection of the first gesture, wherein the second gesture is associated with a second input command that modifies a view of the virtual broadcast presentation by performing a functionality associated with the selected soft key, and wherein the second gesture is a movement of a second hand performed by the user in front of the sensor without touching the sensor or the computing device;

determines the first and second input commands associated with the detected first and second gestures by comparing each of the detected first and second gestures to a plurality of previously identified gestures stored in a database, wherein the database is customizable by the user; and

manipulates the real time virtual broadcast presentation based on the first and second input commands.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the real time virtual broadcast presentation is further based on dynamic weather data received from one or more information sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the real time virtual broadcast presentation is three-dimensional.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein further execution of the instructions processes information related to a third gesture performed by the user, the third gesture detected by a sensor coupled to the computing device, wherein the third gesture is associated with a third input command.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third input command selects an interactive element displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interactive element is a traffic alert.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the interactive element is a live camera showing a real time traffic condition associated with a real world location of the live camera.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the third input command includes calculating an estimated travel time between two user selected locations, the two user selected locations being interactive elements displayed within the real time virtual broadcast presentation, and wherein the first selected location corresponds to a first location designated as a starting point and the second selected location corresponds to a second location designated as an end point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein calculating the estimated travel time is based on a designated time of day.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the third input command includes calculating an estimated travel distance between two user selected locations, the two user selected locations being interactive elements displayed within the real time virtual broadcast presentation, and wherein the first selected location corresponds to a first location designated as a starting point and the second selected location corresponds to a second location designated as an end point.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the real time virtual broadcast presentation includes rotating or tilting a view of the real time virtual broadcast presentation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the real time virtual broadcast presentation includes zooming in or zooming out of the real time virtual broadcast presentation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the real time virtual broadcast presentation includes scrolling through the real time virtual broadcast presentation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the real time virtual broadcast presentation includes displaying information regarding a user selected interactive element included in the real time virtual broadcast presentation.

15. A system for gesture based interaction with dynamic traffic data, the system comprising:

a processor; and

memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to;

detect a first gesture performed by a user interacting with a real time virtual broadcast presentation, the first gesture detected by a sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the first gesture is associated with a first input command that selects a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation, and wherein the first gesture is a movement of a first hand performed by the user in front of the sensor without touching the sensor;

detect a second gesture performed by the user, the second gesture detected by the sensor during detection of the first gesture, wherein the second gesture is associated with a second input command that modifies a view of the virtual broadcast presentation by performing a functionality associated with the selected soft key, and wherein the second gesture is a movement of a second hand performed by the user in front of the sensor without touching the sensor;

determine the first and second input commands associated with the detected first and second gestures by comparing each of the detected first and second gestures to a plurality of previously identified gestures stored in a database, wherein the database is customizable by the user;

generate the real time virtual broadcast presentation based on dynamic traffic data received from one or more information sources in real time; and

manipulate the real time virtual broadcast presentation based on the first and second input commands.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein further execution of the instructions processes information related to a third gesture performed by the user, the third gesture detected by a sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the third gesture is associated with a third input command, and the third input command selects an interactive element included in the real time virtual broadcast presentation.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to inform the user that the interactive element is selectable.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to determine an estimated travel time or travel distance between two user selected locations.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a program embodied thereon, the program executable by a processor to perform a method for gesture based interaction with dynamic traffic data, the method comprising:

generating a real time virtual broadcast presentation based on dynamic traffic data received from one or more information sources in real time;

processing information related to a first gesture performed by a user interacting with the virtual broadcast presentation, the first gesture detected by a sensor coupled to a computing device, wherein the first gesture is associated with a first input command that selects a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation, and wherein the first gesture is a movement of a first hand performed by the user in front of the sensor without touching the sensor or the computing device;

processing information related to a second gesture performed by the user, the second gesture detected by the sensor during detection of the first gesture, wherein the second gesture is associated with a second input command that modifies a view of the virtual broadcast presentation by performing a functionality associated with the selected soft key, and wherein the second gesture is a movement of a second hand performed by the user in front of the sensor without touching the sensor or the computing device;

determining the first and second input commands associated with the detected first and second by comparing each of the detected first and second gestures to a plurality of previously identified gestures stored in a database, wherein the database is customizable by the user; and

manipulating the real time virtual broadcast presentation based on the first and second input commands.