Patents by Inventor Mike Iao
Mike Iao 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).
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Patent number: 9292093Abstract: An interface apparatus and method is disclosed for inputting information with a user's finger gesture while the user is driving with his two hands on a steering wheel. In one aspect, the interface apparatus includes a gesture sensor, a gesture processor, and a head-up display (HUD), where the gesture sensor and the gesture processor recognizes and interpret the information input by the user's finger gesture and such information is displayed on the HUD. In one embodiment, a plurality of point of interest (POI) icons are displayed on the HUD after the user inputs at least one letter into the system and the user can select the POI by his/her finger gesture. In another embodiment, the gesture sensor can recognize the user's finger gesture in non-alphabet characters.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Mike Iao
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Patent number: 9074907Abstract: A navigation method and apparatus is designed to efficiently retrieve the information on the scenic byways and to visit such scenic byways through calculated routes. The navigation method and system performs a scenic byway mode in which operations and screen displays are specially designed for efficiently retrieving and selecting a desired scenic byway and scenic places to visit. The navigation method and system allows the user to efficiently search the information and select the scenic byway and scenic places to visit. The navigation method and system stores the information on the scenic byways in the map database and facilitates retrieval thereof in response to the request by the user. Alternatively, the information on the scenic byways and scenic places can be retrieved from the remote data server through wireless communication.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Kenny Chen, Andrew De Silva, Raymond Linn, Peachawat Peachavanish, Jianning Zhuang, Mike Iao, Hirofumi Onishi
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Patent number: 9052212Abstract: A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Linh Doan, Mike Iao
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Patent number: 8731820Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Kenny Chen, Mike Iao, Hikaru Wako, Andrew De Silva
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Publication number: 20130076615Abstract: An interface apparatus and method is disclosed for inputting information with a user's finger gesture while the user is driving with his two hands on a steering wheel. In one aspect, the interface apparatus includes a gesture sensor, a gesture processor, and a head-up display (HUD), where the gesture sensor and the gesture processor recognizes and interpret the information input by the user's finger gesture and such information is displayed on the HUD. In one embodiment, a plurality of point of interest (POI) icons are displayed on the HUD after the user inputs at least one letter into the system and the user can select the POI by his/her finger gesture. In another embodiment, the gesture sensor can recognize the user's finger gesture in non-alphabet characters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Inventor: Mike Iao
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Publication number: 20120283946Abstract: A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventors: Linh Doan, Mike Iao
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Publication number: 20120232794Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Kenny Chen, Mike Iao, Hikaru Wako, Andrew De Silva
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Patent number: 8255150Abstract: A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Linh Doan, Mike Iao
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Publication number: 20120191344Abstract: A display method and apparatus in a navigation system to provide lane complexity information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the navigation system provides guidance information by displaying one or more color indicators on each lane to indicate lane complexity thereon. The lane complexity can be determined by the number of freeways connected at an interchange or how many lane changes the driver has to make before approaching the maneuver point. In another embodiment, each lane on the map is highlighted with the same color as each color indicator which is located on or above the lane. In a further embodiment, a lane and an exit may be highlighted to differentiate from the lane which the vehicle is currently is travelling on to remind the driver of the exit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Mike Iao, Andrew De Silva, Mari Hatazawa
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Method and apparatus for enhancing search results by extending search to contacts of social networks
Publication number: 20120066202Abstract: A information search method extends to a social networking site to search information by a contact name and other elements as location-based information, relationship, product, etc. The method includes the steps of receiving a search term specified by a searcher, detecting whether WHO is specified in the search term to determine whether search should extend to human contacts in social networking services, identifying WHAT from the search term and determining a nature of WHAT from the search term; sending the search term to a social networking service to retrieve relevant information; and presenting the retrieved information arranged in a predetermined order on a display or by audible sound and optionally a geographic information to retrieve information.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Mari Hatazawa, Mike Iao, Andrew De Silva -
Patent number: 7991546Abstract: A display method and apparatus for a navigation system promotes to quickly search a desired on a map image with respect to an order of distance from a current vehicle position or other reference position. On the screen of the navigation system, it displays a specially designed screen to implement the city search operation which includes a state selection box and a city selection box. The navigation system detects the search direction specified by the user and moves the cursor to the location of the candidate city in response to every operation of the input device in the order of distance in the specified direction. Thus, the user is able to find the city by its relative location to the current vehicle position or other reference location, thereby enabling to quickly and intuitively search the target city.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Mike Iao
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Patent number: 7991545Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a desired point of interest (“POI”) for a navigation system displays matching brand icons associated with POIs to assist the user in finding an intended POI. When the user inputs characters indicating a POI name or a POI type, or selecting a POI type from a list, the navigation system displays brand icons of the POI name or POI type. When the user selects one of the brand icons, the navigation system lists the POIs associated with the brand icons in the predetermined order such as distance from the current vehicle position. Since the number of brand icons are limited, and each brand icon has a readily recognizable image, the user can quickly find a desired POI by selecting a brand icon.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Andrew De Silva, Mike Iao, Kenny Chen
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Publication number: 20100268448Abstract: A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventors: Linh Doan, Mike Iao
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Publication number: 20090150069Abstract: A display method and apparatus for a navigation system promotes to quickly search a desired on a map image with respect to an order of distance from a current vehicle position or other reference position. On the screen of the navigation system, it displays a specially designed screen to implement the city search operation which includes a state selection box and a city selection box. The navigation system detects the search direction specified by the user and moves the cursor to the location of the candidate city in response to every operation of the input device in the order of distance in the specified direction. Thus, the user is able to find the city by its relative location to the current vehicle position or other reference location, thereby enabling to quickly and intuitively search the target city.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventor: Mike Iao
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Publication number: 20090018766Abstract: A navigation method and apparatus is designed to efficiently retrieve the information on the scenic byways and to visit such scenic byways through calculated routes. The navigation method and system performs a scenic byway mode in which operations and screen displays are specially designed for efficiently retrieving and selecting a desired scenic byway and scenic places to visit. The navigation method and system allows the user to efficiently search the information and select the scenic byway and scenic places to visit. The navigation method and system stores the information on the scenic byways in the map database and facilitates retrieval thereof in response to the request by the user. Alternatively, the information on the scenic byways and scenic places can be retrieved from the remote data server through wireless communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Kenny Chen, Andrew De Silva, Raymond Linn, Peachawat Peachavanish, Jianning Zhuang, Mike Iao, Hirofumi Onishi
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Publication number: 20080154488Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a desired point of interest (“POI”) for a navigation system displays matching brand icons associated with POIs to assist the user in finding an intended POI. When the user inputs characters indicating a POI name or a POI type, or selecting a POI type from a list, the navigation system displays brand icons of the POI name or POI type. When the user selects one of the brand icons, the navigation system lists the POIs associated with the brand icons in the predetermined order such as distance from the current vehicle position. Since the number of brand icons are limited, and each brand icon has a readily recognizable image, the user can quickly find a desired POI by selecting a brand icon.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Andrew De Silva, Mike Iao, Kenny Chen
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Publication number: 20080140307Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Kenny Chen, Mike Iao, Hikaru Wako, Andrew De Silva