With Map Display Patents (Class 340/990)
  • Patent number: 10002381
    Abstract: Geospatial compatibility between consumers and providers of goods or services is identified. The system allows consumers to find service providers with service areas encompassing their location or merchants within a desired shopping area, and allow consumers to query about consumers within a specified area, for example to identify a potential customer base or consider regional advertising. A digital map interface allows users to enter one or more locations or areas of interest and later performs location or area additions, modifications or removals. The system provides the geospatially matched consumers and vendors with information on how to contact one another, but is kept simple by leaving actual contact between the matched parties to separate outside communication channels independent of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Justin Streich
  • Patent number: 9998869
    Abstract: A method for determining vehicle location via a mobile computing device includes: determining, by an application of the mobile computing device, a first signal strength corresponding to a communications component of a vehicle and a first mobile device location corresponding to the first signal strength; detecting, by the application, a signal drop event corresponding to a loss of the signal corresponding to the communications component of the vehicle; determining, by the application, in response to detecting the signal drop event, the first mobile device location corresponding to the first signal strength as the vehicle location based on the first mobile device location being the most recent location at which a recorded signal strength was at a highest level; and providing, by the application, a notification indicating the vehicle location to a user of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Hassan Elnajjar, Steven P. Schwinke, Dwayne A. Crocker, Nathaniel H. Williams, Aditya S. Kamini
  • Patent number: 9995586
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for assigning identifiers to geographic locations within digital map data, comprising selecting a region within the map data, dividing the region into a first plurality of cells each uniquely addressable by an identifier of a first length, selecting a portion of the region and dividing the portion into a second plurality of cells each uniquely addressable by an identifier of a second length, wherein the second length is shorter length than the first length and a geographic location within the portion of the region may be uniquely identified by an identifier of the first length and an identifier of the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: STICHTING MAPCODE FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Pieter Andreas Geelen
  • Patent number: 9996605
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects include a temporal relational database management system initiating a set of operations. A set of columns in a transaction time temporal table is identified for change categorization. A change categorization model is constructed. The change categorization model is based on a set of changes with respect to the set of columns in the transaction time temporal table. The change categorization model uses a cluster analysis technique. Based on the change categorization model, a group of change categories for a set of rows coupled with the set of columns in the transaction time temporal table is determined. Based on the change categorization model, a first change category of the group of change categories is established in a first row of the set of rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Charron, Kyle E. Gilbertson, Rafal P. Konik, Nicholas T. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 9984300
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing system, an image processing method, and a program capable of suitably performing the association of a person appearing in a picture in accordance with a highly reliable user input. This image processing system includes: an input unit for receiving an input of pictures captured by multiple video cameras; a person-to-be-tracked registration unit capable of registering one or more persons appearing in the pictures input from the input unit; a moving image display unit for displaying, on a display device, the pictures input by the input unit, and a UI generation unit capable of registering that the person appearing in the displayed pictures and the person registered by the person-to-be-tracked registration unit are the same person, or not the same person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Miyano
  • Patent number: 9984574
    Abstract: A method and system for management and anticipatory deployment of autonomously controlled vehicles are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include calculating the geographic locations and periods of time where self-driving vehicles might experience the greatest probability of being requested to provide transportation services to passengers or cargo, and then communicating the resulting locations and times to self-driving vehicles, causing the vehicles to deploy themselves to those certain locations at those certain times, all prior to and in anticipation of specific requests being initiated by users or entities for such transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Tribal Rides, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt R. Laetz
  • Patent number: 9983019
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a navigation system of a motor vehicle for searching for possible destinations, wherein a processing device of the navigation system is used: to receive a search input from a user, to search a first database and a second database for suitable database entries in each case on the basis of the search input and in this case to provide a first and a second results list of suitable database entries. The first database stores database entries that indicate geographical regions, and the second database stores database entries that indicate road names and/or special destinations. For each road name and/or special destination the second database indicates a reference to at least one geographical region. The processing devices determine entry pairs that each contain a database entry from the first results list and a database entry from the second results list as the possible destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Koertge, Dominik Gusenbauer
  • Patent number: 9983014
    Abstract: A travel route guide device includes a travel route calculation unit that calculates a travel route from a current position to a destination based on current position information, destination information, and a remaining amount of power of an electric vehicle, and information on a remaining power amount recovery facility. The travel route guide device includes a region division unit that divides a region including the travel route calculated by the travel route calculation unit into a plurality of local regions. The travel route device includes a constraint condition determination unit that determines a constraint condition for a monitoring variable. The travel route device includes a recalculation determination unit that monitors the monitoring variable corresponding to the local region including a position of the electric vehicle, and requests the travel route calculation unit to calculate the travel route when a value of the monitoring variable deviates from the constraint condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kitajima, Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 9984149
    Abstract: In a method for operating an infotainment system of a motor vehicle for searching in a database in which at least one database entry with a distinct object identifier and corresponding metadata is stored a search term is entered into an input field of an input unit. During entering of the search term an input completion unit searches through a search history for a search term that matches the partial input already present in the input field. The input unit then completes the partial input in the search field on the basis of the search term found in order to provide an input suggestion. When the search term is entered, additionally a searching unit searches in the database for at least one database entry which has an object identifier or metadata that at least partially matches the partial input and/or updated content in the input field and this database entry is displayed to the user in a selection list that is different from the input field for selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Toralf Schumann
  • Patent number: 9976859
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided which receive requests for map data, and generate virtual tables for accessing underlying navigational map data. Navigational functionality may be offered through structured query language (SQL) commands for all kinds of navigation data by the use of virtual tables. By offering functionality through SQL commands map developers benefit because there is no difference in accessing low-level data of the navigation database and higher-level functionality such as displaying map components. The commands used to send information to the graphic user interface, the navigation core, as well as the data access layer may all be accessed using virtual tables and SQL commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Martin Pfeifle
  • Patent number: 9978090
    Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product optimizes shopping for one or more desired items. An identification of a desired item, which is initially available for purchase at a first physical store, is received. An identity of a second shopper, who also wants the desired item and is currently shopping for the desired item, is received. One or more processors then determine a likelihood of the first shopper arriving at the first physical store before the second shopper purchases a last available instance of the desired item in the first physical store. In response to determining that the first shopper will arrive at the first physical store before the last available instance of the desired item has been purchased by the second shopper, the first shopper is provided with an identity of the first physical store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Judith H. Bank, Lisa M. Bradley, Michael P. Etgen, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9970775
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining alternative navigational routes. An example method may comprise: determining a first route to a destination, the route comprising a plurality of edges of a graph representing a map of navigable paths, wherein each edge represents a path connecting two vertices and each vertex represents at least one of: an endpoint of a path or a junction of two or more paths; and determining a second route to the destination from a point located at least a defined distance from a junction comprised by the first route, along an edge not comprised by the first route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Tsirkin
  • Patent number: 9970765
    Abstract: A positional change calculation processing unit and a positioning signal processing unit obtain the current position. Network information indicating information about a route at the time of moving from one point to another point is stored in a storage unit. A navigation processing unit searches for the route to a destination point by using the network information. When the moving route based on the position obtained by the positional change calculation processing unit and the positioning signal processing unit is different from the searched route then the route is re-searched in the search condition according to the moving route. When the user intends to move on a route different from the searched route, the search condition is changed according to the moving route and the route is researched according to the intention of the user and the user is automatically guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Syunsuke Bamba
  • Patent number: 9972210
    Abstract: A method and system for ascertaining at least one traffic-related local information item for a vehicle includes a reception device in a radio system to receive sent data from a radio system in at least one other vehicle in the vicinity of the one vehicle as defined by the reception range of the reception device. The reception device is configured for the vehicle-internal capture and evaluation of data for at least one operating variable from the one vehicle. The traffic-related local information item is ascertained from the received data from the other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Aunkofer, Marc Menzel, Ulrich Stählin
  • Patent number: 9971475
    Abstract: To provide an electronic apparatus capable of easily and accurately performing an operation of changing a display. A navigation system displays standard map information in small scale on a liquid crystal display device, and displays status information on movement speed of a vehicle or guidance information on distance and direction to a cross point to turn next on a head-up display device. Only while a contact of a contact body on a surface of a touchpad continues to be detected, first scaled-up map information as the scaled-up standard map information continues to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device instead of the standard map information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: PIONEER CORPORATION, TOHOKU PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Abe, Koji Sasahara, Takeru Miki
  • Patent number: 9971470
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a navigation application with a novel declutter navigation mode. In some embodiments, the navigation application has a declutter control that when selected, directs the navigation application to simplify a navigation presentation by removing or de-emphasizing non-essential items that are displayed in the navigation presentation. In some embodiments, the declutter control is a mode-selecting control that allows the navigation presentation to toggle between normal first navigation presentation and a simplified second navigation presentation, which below is also referred to as a decluttered navigation presentation. During normal mode operation, the navigation presentation of some embodiments provides (1) a representation of the navigated route, (2) representations of the roads along the navigated route, (3) representation of major and minor roads that intersect or are near the navigated route, and (4) representations of buildings and other objects in the navigated scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Cooper, Bradley L. Spare, Jonathan L. Berk
  • Patent number: 9959757
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for automatically determining or fine-tuning bus service schedules for bus stops along a route. One example method includes causing reception of GPS data from a plurality of buses or uses from along a transit route, the GPS data comprised of a plurality of location points and associated temporal data, aggregating the location data by route and direction to determine a trip count, causing reception of at least one bus stop location, partitioning the associated temporal data into a number of clusters in accordance with the trip count, calculating a mean arrival time at the at least one bust stop for each cluster, and generating, using a processor, at least one service schedule for the at least one bus stop, wherein the mean arrival time of each cluster represents the service schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leo Modica, Leon Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9953536
    Abstract: A method includes maintaining vehicle accident occurrence information, wherein the vehicle accident occurrence information includes accident location information, accident occurrence date information, and accident occurrence time information and identifying, based at least in part on the accident location information, one or more accident-prone locations. When a vehicle enters an area comprising one of the accident-prone locations, a notification is made that the vehicle has entered the area comprising one of the accident-prone locations. In addition, in response to a query, a visual representation of one of the accident-prone locations is displayed, along with accident occurrence date information and accident occurrence time information associated with the accident-prone location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
    Inventor: Ronald Stewart Kerr
  • Patent number: 9952059
    Abstract: A method for delivering information to a user terminal is provided. The method includes obtaining user data. The user data may include a plurality of user activity locations and corresponding user activity time. The method may further include identifying a first position and a second position based on the user activity locations and the user activity time, selecting a travel path based on the first position and the second position, determining a user activity area based on the selected travel path, and sending content to the user terminal based on the user activity area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
    Inventors: Lei Pang, Depin Zhang
  • Patent number: 9950692
    Abstract: In an on-board communication system, an on-board device transmits detection signals from a plurality of antennas disposed in a vehicle, and a plurality of portable devices each receive the detection signals and transmit response signals corresponding to the received detection signals. Each portable device measures an elapsed time from when the processing start signal is received, and (i) transmits a first response signal that includes information corresponding to the received detection signals, and (ii) when a specified time has elapsed from receipt of the processing start signal, transmits a second response signal including the same information as the information included in the first response signal. Position detection of the portable devices is performed based on the response signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akiyo Watanabe, Atsushi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9945686
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing personalized route information involves gathering a plurality of past location indicators over time for a wireless client device, determining a future driving objective using the plurality of previously-gathered location indicators, obtaining real-time traffic data for an area proximate to the determined driving objective, and generating a suggested route for the driving objective using the near real-time traffic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Henry Allan Rowley, Shumeet Baluja
  • Patent number: 9945960
    Abstract: A street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Patent number: 9939283
    Abstract: When an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user during a period in which a navigation server is not available for a mobile device while a navigation function, which uses the navigation server providing distribution function of map data and route search function, of the mobile device is being utilized in a navigation device, the navigation function provided in the navigation device itself is activated and is caused to perform destination setting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9939286
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a controller to process a travel assistance request for communication through a satellite and terrestrial mobile communication network. Data related to multiple assistance providers can be received in response to the request. At least one criterion can be processed for the assistance providers based on, for example, historical trip data. The assistance providers can be graphically represented for user selection based on the criterion. Data related to a selected assistance provider can be displayed, including navigation data to and/or from the assistance provider. In another embodiment, the travel assistance request can be communicated to a service center through the network. The service center can communicate data related to an assistance provider, including navigation data to and/or from the assistance provider. A rating of the assistance provider can be communicated to a specified community-of-interest through the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stefan Bernard Raab, David Robert Zufall, Gerard Daniel Mulford, Mariam Aghdasi Sorond, Marcus John Le Maitre
  • Patent number: 9936350
    Abstract: A system and a plurality of methods for location detection are disclosed. In some cases, the user's present location is represented by a circle, having a center and a radius, where the radius is indicative of the accuracy of the present location. The desired destination location, or geofence, is also defined as a circle, having a center and a radius. The various methods disclosed are used to determine when a user has entered or exited the geofence. In some embodiments, these methods attempt to minimize power consumption or another parameter. In another embodiment, the methods attempt to achieve the highest degree of accuracy possible or required for the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: two forty four a.m. LLC
    Inventor: Charles Carter Jernigan
  • Patent number: 9928763
    Abstract: A guide display device which is installed in a predetermined direction includes: a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction; a first light source which illuminates the first screen; a cover which is provided above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projects in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device; a second light source which illuminates the area on which the shadow is cast; and a controller which causes at least the second light source to perform optical communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamasaki, Masaaki Ikehara
  • Patent number: 9921075
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for performing route guidance using text includes obtaining an optimal route that connects a start point and an end point of a route input by a user; comparing a route history stored in a memory with the optimal route and extracting a route portion from the optimal route, the route portion being replaceable by a route portion in the route history; creating route guidance for the route portion extracted from the optimal route by using a text indication known to the user, the known text indication specifying the replaceable route portion in the route history; and creating route guidance for a route portion in the optimal route, the route portion being not replaceable by a route portion in the route history, by using a new text indication that specifies the route portion that is not replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayoshi Teraguchi
  • Patent number: 9922062
    Abstract: A high-performance gridded database protocol for storing, arranging, and extracting gridded data includes associating values for a single grid cell and storing them together to extract as many useful values as possible from a single read operation. Gridded data is stored in a geographically-indexed cylindrical grid that permits efficient data extraction for a particular location while maximizing efficiency of read operations. Cylinders of values are built by grouping grids that are related to each other so that when data for a location is to be extracted, a minimal number of read operations is needed to retrieve an entire stack of data relevant to the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CLEARAG, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Rand, John J. Mewes, Leif Pedersen, Kristopher A. Zarns, Dustin Salentiny
  • Patent number: 9909895
    Abstract: In a method for providing adaptive audio guidance, determining, by one or more processors, a route of a computing device, wherein the route is from an initial location of the computing device to a destination. Determining, by one or more processors, an estimated time of arrival at which the computing device would arrive at the destination. Prompting, by one or more processors, a user to input a desired arrival time. Determining, by one or more processors, whether to provide audio guidance based on a determination of whether the estimated time of arrival is within a pre-determined time period before the desired arrival time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9910724
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for fast and accurate identification of message-based application programming interface (API) calls in applications. A set of compliance rules is obtained from a compliance rule store. A request to analyze an application is received. An application analysis is performed by scanning the application to identify one or more public APIs invoked by the application. The set of compliance rules are enforced on the application based at least in part on the application analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AIRWATCH LLC
    Inventor: Chaoting Xuan
  • Patent number: 9909881
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a curved portion of a road with insufficient superelevation. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where curved sections of roads have insufficient superelevation (banking), i.e., where the superelevation is below a threshold. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the location of insufficient superelevation. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 9909899
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal capable of providing POI information suitable to user environments and a control method thereof, and a mobile terminal according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include a display unit configured to display map data; and a controller configured to detect user preference information associated with a place from the plurality of communication terminals, detect POI information from a server, detect candidate POI information based on the detected POI information and the user preference information, detect representative POI information from the candidate POI information based on user schedule information, and display the representative POI information on the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sooyeon An, Jeongeun Shin, Seungman Kim, Mingoo Kim, Kwangjae Lee
  • Patent number: 9909886
    Abstract: Computer implemented methods are disclosed for providing geographical information to a user. One method may include receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter and calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data. The method may also include identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user and identifying a range extending around each intermediate break point location, and potential break points. A step may also be executed in which a density or type of points of interest within each potential break point may be evaluated by the electronic device and a recommended for a break point made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Mapquest, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Duane Gearhart, Scott W. Steinke
  • Patent number: 9913101
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a mobile device telemetry system is disclosed. The method and apparatus relate to a telematics furtherance visualization system. The system can sense mobile device remote observation misalignment risk and reconcile mobile device remote observation alignment by communicating a subsequent log of mobile device vector data for rendering a sequence of next positions in the furtherance of a mobile device. The system can also provide an adaptive rendering based upon a phase shift, a log of mobile device vector data, or predictive rendering until receipt of the next subsequent log of mobile device vector data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Charles Cawse, Pieter Albert Venter, Ilya Basiuk
  • Patent number: 9900434
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for a scalable computer-telephony integration system. Various aspects may include storing sets of call agent login information for several call agents within the computer-telephony integration system and across several independent computing systems in a contact center login database. Additionally, various aspects may include generating several contact center service categories and sets of contact information for each contact center service category, which may be stored in a contact center directory database. When an incoming call is received from a customer, various aspects may include obtaining customer call information from the customer and generating a customer call key, which may be stored as a reference to the customer call information in a contact center customer call information database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron C. Kammeyer, Randall J. Kirchner, Christopher L. Ward, Louis A. Littell
  • Patent number: 9898178
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can provide a particular map portion out of a plurality of map portions representing a particular region. An instruction to zoom in, to a requested zoom level, with respect to the particular map portion can be received. It can be determined that a set of four map portions for representing the particular map portion at the requested zoom level is yet to be available. The set of four map portions for representing the particular map portion at the requested zoom level can be acquired. An enlarged version of the particular map portion can be provided, based on the requested zoom level, as a preview for the set of four map portions. The enlarged version of the particular map portion can be provided while the set of four map portions is being acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomasz Zawada, Kunal Bhalla, Jason Michael Carreiro
  • Patent number: 9892550
    Abstract: Methods for rendering three-dimensional photo meshes having dynamic content include: (a) detecting a shadow in a three-dimensional photo mesh; (b) removing the shadow from the three-dimensional photo mesh to form a modified photo mesh having a shadow-free texture; (c) simulating a real-time condition in the modified photo mesh; and (d) rendering an image that shows an effect of the real-time condition. Systems for rendering three-dimensional photo meshes having dynamic content are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Xiang Ma, Xin Chen, Hang Dou
  • Patent number: 9886519
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting webpage layout are disclosed. The method includes calculating a width for displaying an image on a webpage; determining whether the image is inserted in a segment of text of the webpage; and adjusting the size of the image display based on a mobile terminal's screen width and the width for displaying the image, if the image is inserted in the segment of text of the webpage. The disclosed methods and systems adjust the images on a webpage based on the width of the image and the screen width of a mobile terminal. As such, an adjusted webpage can be viewed by scrolling up and down the display screen. In addition, a user's online experience may be further improved by adjusting the images on the webpage to be left justified and aligned with the text on the page. A user does not need to scroll horizontally (e.g., from left to right) to read the webpage including the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: UC MOBILE LIMITED, GUANGZHOU UCWEB COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jie Liang
  • Patent number: 9869558
    Abstract: A map data storage device, a map data updating method, and a computer program that can shorten the time required for a map data updating process. In the case where map data stored in a navigation-side local DB of a navigation apparatus are to be updated, the navigation apparatus updates the map data stored in the navigation-side local DB on the basis of map updating data received from a map distribution center, and prepares a data reference index that associates a PID (universal identification information) included in the map data with a record number (internal identification information) included in the map data on the basis of the updated map data. After that, in the case where an application is executed by the navigation apparatus, the prepared data reference index is referenced to access the map data stored in the navigation-side local DB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Takahata, Kimiyoshi Sawai, Motohiro Nakamura, Tomoki Kodan, Toshio Nomura
  • Patent number: 9869564
    Abstract: A navigation application that provides a dynamic set of warnings based on a set of collected and calculated data. The navigation application collects a series of data and identifies a set of critical points along the route. The navigation application analyzes the collected data to determine whether to provide a navigation warning to the user. The navigation application uses the collected data to determine whether a navigation instruction for the critical point should be modified to account for different driving conditions. Finally, the navigation application of some embodiments determines a timing for when a navigation instruction should be provided to the user, ensuring that the instruction is presented to the user with sufficient time to safely adjust their behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Glenn D. MacGougan, Laurent Charignon
  • Patent number: 9870402
    Abstract: A distributed storage device according to the present invention includes: a plurality of storage nodes, the plurality of storage nodes includes: a data storage unit that accumulates stream data output from a device; a first time frame generation unit that generates a time frame synchronized with another storage node and associates a data element included in stream data accumulated in the data storage unit with one of time frames; a data selection unit that selects a data element associated with a predetermined time frame from the stream data accumulated in the data storage unit, based on an access request from a client terminal; and a data transmission unit that transmits a data element selected by the data selection unit to the client terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dai Kobayashi, Satoshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 9864959
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable device for presenting geographically relevant content are provided. They can include reading a remote internet protocol address of a user computing device based on an initial request for content from the user computer device, determining a primary home airport based on the internet protocol address of the user computing device and searching a database for an available flight and hotel package having a flight originating at the primary home airport. They can also include identifying a preferred flight and hotel package from among a plurality of available flight and hotel packages having flights originating at the primary home airport by eliminating travel packages from among the plurality of available flight and hotel packages that have destinations unlikely to be popular for a particular geographic region associated with the internet protocol address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BOOKIT OPERATING LLC
    Inventor: Arthur P. Finlaw
  • Patent number: 9858819
    Abstract: A traffic control system is disclosed as having a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of each of a plurality of machines. The traffic control system may also have an onboard controller configured to regulate operation of the plurality of machines based on the location signal, a communication device, and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to determine a first route for a first of the plurality of machines, and to determine if a first lane of the first route is blocked by a second of the plurality of machines. The worksite controller may also be configured to determine if a second lane of the first route intersects with a second route of the second of the plurality of machines, and to selectively grant permission for travel of the first of the plurality of machines through the second lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dean G. Povey, Michael Siemer
  • Patent number: 9857194
    Abstract: A method performed by a computing system includes, with the computing system, providing a user with directions from a current location of the user to a destination, searching a database for a set of points of interest within a predefined distance from a route between the current location and the destination, the searching accounting for a deviation time value associated with each point of interest and a user received allotted time value, the allotted time value indicating a total amount of time the user has allotted for deviation from the route, the deviation time value indicating an estimated amount of time it takes to visit a corresponding point of interest, and presenting to the user, at least one point of interest with the corresponding visitation time value being less than the time deviation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RED HAT, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Vecera, Jiri Pechanec
  • Patent number: 9847018
    Abstract: A method and system for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device. The method and system include determining a group associated with the universal remote control based on a remote profile stored on at least one of: a memory of the universal remote control device, and a universal remote database hosted on an external server infrastructure. The method and system also include determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the group that is associated with the universal remote control device. The method and system additionally include determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device. The method and system further include applying the over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ray Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Bernardo Ferreira de Carvalho e Silva, Daniel Cristiano Rocha, David Skokna
  • Patent number: 9846715
    Abstract: By converting address information 200 input to a geocoding unit 10 into a tree structure formed hierarchically in an administrative district, generating address tree information obtained by associating latitude and longitude information with at least a node of the lowest layer in each branch of the tree structure and storing the address tree information thus generated in a high-speed accessible memory 14 to proceed a retrieval while tracing the address tree information in order from a parent node to a child node to narrow down a retrieval range, it is possible to efficiently search latitude and longitude information corresponding to given address information therefrom and to perform a retrieval at a higher speed as compared with the related art in which access is given to a conversion table stored in a disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: WINGARC1ST INC.
    Inventors: Taiyo Kato, Ko Shimazawa, Kosuke Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 9841288
    Abstract: An improved guidance system and method provide a packaged tour object having tour directions and media related to points of interest of a tour for playing via a telematics unit. A user is provided, via their telematics unit, with specific directions to access points of interest of the tour in a certain sequence, while the telematics unit optionally conveys media content to the user at appropriate points. The media content may be keyed to an upcoming site, and may comprise audio and/or visual information. In addition, user convenience information such as parking and ticketing information may be contained ion the packaged tour object for presentation via the telematics unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Chester A. Huber, Nebojsa Nedeljkovic, Richard A. Johnson, Laurence J. Tretyak
  • Patent number: 9829330
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for determining a route distance based on information for a route, comparing the route distance with a distance threshold, generating a list of points of interest (POIs) when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the list of POIs identifying POIs that are located along the route, grouping the POIs into one or more buckets based on location, calculating POI densities of the buckets based on the POIs included in each corresponding bucket, ranking the buckets based on the POI densities, providing POI information associated with the POIs included in the ranked buckets, wherein the POI information is provided based on the ranking of the buckets, and generating an electronic map display with the POI information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Mapquest, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Beyeler, G. Duane Gearhart
  • Patent number: 9829339
    Abstract: A live dynamic map that provides for increased convenience for a user at a venue is disclosed. The live dynamic map may be branded for a venue, shows points of interest and paths between locations, includes a messaging capability, and allows users to be social with one another as well as venue management. Live branded mapping may allow for similar engagement on a region-by-region, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, or even brand-by-brand basis. By engaging on a hyper-local level, the present mapping platform can better target user and payload delivering and improve upon business to consumer brand engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BLAZER AND FLIP FLOPS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua David Bass, Benjamin Harry Ziskind, Scott Sebastian Sahadi
  • Patent number: 9829328
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of calculating a route involving a freeway junction determines an undesired freeway junction that can pose a driving difficulty, and performs route recalculation that avoids the undesired freeway junction. A distance from a freeway entry to a freeway junction, or a number of freeway entries up to the freeway junction are used to determine the undesired freeway junction. A distance from the freeway junction to a freeway exit is also used to determine the undesired freeway junction. An intermediate point is set to recalculate a route that does not involve the freeway junction to create an overall route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamukai