Patents by Inventor Michael Childs

Michael Childs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6898520
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for more efficient use of RAM and other resources in connection with a route calculation algorithm which quickly obtains a best or reasonable best path between two locations. The navigational aid device includes forced layer switching capabilities. The navigational aid device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The memory has cartographic data including any number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. The plurality of thoroughfares are organized in a hierarchy of detail levels. The processor operates on a route calculation algorithm to find a path between any two of the number of locations and the route calculation algorithm dynamically forces switching between different levels in the hierarchy of detail levels based on a set of criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Min H. Kao, Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050102101
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for calculating potential paths between source and destination locations. First and second map databases are provided that are indicative of roadway networks for geographic regions bounded by region edges and containing source and destination locations. The first and second map databases are non-adjacent, non-contiguous such that the region edges of the first map database are separate and distinct from region edges of the second map database. Potential paths are calculated through the roadway network of the first map database up to a node or segment at which each potential path intersects a region edge of the first map database, thereby defining a node/edge coordinate. A transition location is obtained in the second map database that geographically corresponds to the node/edge coordinate at which a given potential path intersected the region edge of the first map database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Darin Beesley, Michael Childs
  • Publication number: 20050090976
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating an impedance through a node at an intersection between roads in a roadway network. The impedance may be measured in time or distance, for example. Characteristic information describes at least one feature of the intersecting roads. One or more pieces of characteristic information may impact the impedance of traffic through an intersection and are used to estimate the impedance through the node. Examples of characteristic information are speed information, road-type, network routing level, intersection angle information, one-way, and cross traffic turn information. An impedance factor, or a cost, is assigned to each piece of characteristic information. The cost may be positive if the characteristic information adds impedance to the node, or negative if the characteristic information subtracts impedance from the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Darin Beesley, Michael Childs
  • Publication number: 20050065718
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for more efficient use of RAM and other resources in connection with a route calculation algorithm which quickly obtains a best or reasonable best path between two locations. The navigational aid device includes forced layer switching capabilities. The navigational aid device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The memory has cartographic data including any number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. The plurality of thoroughfares are organized in a hierarchy of detail levels. The processor operates on a route calculation algorithm to find a path between any two of the number of locations and the route calculation algorithm dynamically forces switching between different levels in the hierarchy of detail levels based on a set of criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Min Kao, Michael Childs, Darin Beesley
  • Patent number: 6856900
    Abstract: Devices, systems, functional data and methods are provided for an improved route generation in navigational enabled devices. The navigational device with route generation capabilities includes a processor communicating with a memory. The memory includes a current location of the device, one or more available locations, and a destination of the device. A display communicates with the processor and is capable of communicating at least a portion of a generated route for the device. In generating the route, the available locations are inspected repetitively and locations adjacent to a last selected location are inserted into a first data structure such that the first location of the first data structure is always a least cost location associated with all adjacent locations comprising the first data structure. The first location is then optionally inserted into a second data structure. The generated route includes the current location, one or more first locations, and the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
  • Patent number: 6856893
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating an impedance through a node at an intersection between roads in a roadway network. The impedance may be measured in time or distance, for example. Characteristic information describes at least one feature of the intersecting roads. One or more pieces of characteristic information may impact the impedance of traffic through an intersection and are used to estimate the impedance through the node. Examples of characteristic information are speed information, road-type, network routing level, intersection angle information, one-way, and cross traffic turn information. An impedance factor, or a cost, is assigned to each piece of characteristic information. The cost may be positive if the characteristic information adds impedance to the node, or negative if the characteristic information subtracts impedance from the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Michael Childs
  • Patent number: 6856899
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides more understandable, accurate and timely route calculation capabilities. The navigational aid device with route calculation capabilities includes a processor connected to a memory. The memory includes cartographic data and a desired destination, the cartographic data including data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types. A display is connected to the processor and is capable of displaying the cartographic data. The device is adapted to calculate a route to navigate to the desired destination. And, the device is adapted to adjust a starting point for the route calculation to an appropriate location such that the device is on the route at a time when the route calculation is completed. The device processes travel along the route, recognizes when the device has deviated from the route, and calculates a new route to navigate to the desired destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Jay Dee Krull, Michael Childs, Scott M. Burgett, Thomas H. Walters
  • Patent number: 6847890
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to account for insignificant route segments to enhance a route guidance experience. An electronic navigational aid device is provided according to one aspect. The device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The processor and memory are adapted to cooperate to provide route guidance that accounts for insignificant route segments. According to various embodiments, insignificant route segments are accounted for by nullifying and/or modifying route guidance maneuvers associated with the insignificant route segments. Other aspects are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
  • Patent number: 6839624
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to compress data, and in particular to code and decode data. One aspect of the present subject matter is a data structure. The data structure includes a field representing a decoding structure to decode canonical Huffman encoded data, and a field representing a symbol table. The decoding structure includes a field representing an accelerator table to provide a 2N-deep direct-index lookup to provide high-frequency symbols for high-frequency data and to provide bracketing indices for low-frequency data. The decoding structure also includes a field for a binary search table to provide a low-frequency symbol index using a binary search bounded by the bracketing indices provided by the accelerator table. The symbol table is adapted to provide a symbol associated with the low-frequency index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Stephen C. Robinson, Michael Childs, Chunyen Liu
  • Publication number: 20040215391
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for more efficient use of RAM and other resources in connection with a route calculation algorithm which quickly obtains a best or reasonable best path between two locations. The navigational aid device includes forced layer switching capabilities. The navigational aid device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The memory has cartographic data including any number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. The plurality of thoroughfares are organized in a hierarchy of detail levels. The processor operates on a route calculation algorithm to find a path between any two of the number of locations and the route calculation algorithm dynamically forces switching between different levels in the hierarchy of detail levels based on a set of criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: GARMIN LTD., a Cayman Islands corporation
    Inventors: Min H. Kao, Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
  • Patent number: 6775612
    Abstract: A GPS enabled personal digital assistant (PDA) is provided. A housing of the PDA includes a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The memory has provided thereto cartographic data including any number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. A display is operably coupled to the processor, the display viewable at a front face of the housing. And, a GPS patch antenna is operably coupled to the processor and is located above the display within the housing to receive GPS signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Min H. Kao, Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
  • Publication number: 20040153239
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides more understandable, accurate and timely route calculation capabilities. The navigational aid device with route calculation capabilities includes a processor connected to a memory. The memory includes cartographic data and a desired destination, the cartographic data including data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types. A display is connected to the processor and is capable of displaying the cartographic data. The device is adapted to calculate a route to navigate to the desired destination. And, the device is adapted to adjust a starting point for the route calculation to an appropriate location such that the device is on the route at a time when the route calculation is completed. The device processes travel along the route, recognizes when the device has deviated from the route, and calculates a new route to navigate to the desired destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: GARMIN LTD., a Cayman Islands Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Dee Krull, Michael Childs, Scott M. Burgett, Thomas H. Walters
  • Publication number: 20040143533
    Abstract: There is provided computerised apparatus and a method of converting a financial portfolio strategy into a set of tactics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher William Preist, Michael Child, Marco Casassa Mont
  • Patent number: 6708112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for calculating potential paths through a roadway network defined at least partially by separate, but adjacent data maps. First and second data maps are provided that are indicative of roadway networks for different geographic regions bounded by region edges, at least one of which is common to both geographic regions. The data maps are adjacent, and one data map contains the first location while the other data map contains a roadway segment over which the potential paths may travel. Potential paths are planned from the first location through the first data map. When a current potential path intersects an edge of the first data map, the intersection is identified by coordinate data. A transition point is located in an adjacent data map based on the location where the current potential path intersects the edge of the firs data map. The calculation method and apparatus continue from the transition point through the second data map toward the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd
    Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Michael Childs
  • Publication number: 20040049338
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating an impedance through a node at an intersection between roads in a roadway network. The impedance may be measured in time or distance, for example. Characteristic information describes at least one feature of the intersecting roads. One or more pieces of characteristic information may impact the impedance of traffic through an intersection and are used to estimate the impedance through the node. Examples of characteristic information are speed information, road-type, network routing level, intersection angle information, one-way, and cross traffic turn information. An impedance factor, or a cost, is assigned to each piece of characteristic information. The cost may be positive if the characteristic information adds impedance to the node, or negative if the characteristic information subtracts impedance from the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Michael Childs
  • Patent number: 6704645
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating an impedance through a node at an intersection between roads in a roadway network. The impedance may be measured in time or distance, for example. Characteristic information describes at least one feature of the intersecting roads. One or more pieces of characteristic information may impact the impedance of traffic through an intersection and are used to estimate the impedance through the node. Examples of characteristic information are speed information, road-type, network routing level, intersection angle information, one-way, and cross traffic turn information. An impedance factor, or a cost, is assigned to each piece of characteristic information. The cost may be positive if the characteristic information adds impedance to the node, or negative if the characteristic information subtracts impedance from the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Michael Childs
  • Patent number: 6687615
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides more understandable, accurate and timely route calculation capabilities. The navigational aid device with route calculation capabilities includes a processor connected to a memory. The memory includes cartographic data and a desired destination, the cartographic data including data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types. A display is connected to the processor and is capable of displaying the cartographic data. The device is adapted to process the device's location and travel along a planned route. And, the device is adapted to dynamically calculate a new route to the desired destination with a preference for avoiding a particular portion of a thoroughfare or one or more different thoroughfares in a previous route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Jay Dee Krull, Michael Childs, Shane R. Runquist
  • Patent number: 6675093
    Abstract: Devices, systems, functional data and methods are provided for an improved route generation in navigational enabled devices. In generating the route, the available locations are inspected repetitively and locations adjacent to a last selected location are inserted into a first data structure such that the first location of the first data structure is always a least cost location associated with all adjacent locations comprising the first data structure. The first location is then optionally inserted into a second data structure. The generated route includes the current location, one or more first locations, and the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Childs, Darin J. Beesley
  • Patent number: 6650996
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to compress data, and in particular to code and decode data. One aspect of the present subject matter is a data structure. The data structure includes a field representing a decoding structure to decode canonical Huffman encoded data, and a field representing a symbol table. The decoding structure includes a field representing an accelerator table to provide a 2N-deep direct-index lookup to provide high-frequency symbols for high-frequency data and to provide bracketing indices for low-frequency data. The decoding structure also includes a field for a binary search table to provide a low-frequency symbol index using a binary search bounded by the bracketing indices provided by the accelerator table. The symbol table is adapted to provide a symbol associated with the low-frequency index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Darin J. Beesley, Stephen C. Robinson, Michael Childs, Chunyen Liu
  • Patent number: 6647337
    Abstract: A name of a thoroughfare is identified from at least one name for the thoroughfare in reference to a set of criteria. In one example, the set of criteria includes whether or not the thoroughfare is an interstate, whether or not a name is shielded, has a suffix, and/or has an identified prefix. Interstate thoroughfares are often identified by a shielded name of the interstate thoroughfare, and non-interstate thoroughfares are often identified by a non-shielded name of the non-interstate thoroughfare. The identified name includes a name which is most recognized or well-known for navigating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Childs, Shane R. Runquist