Patents by Inventor Pieter Geelen

Pieter Geelen 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).

  • Publication number: 20150032368
    Abstract: This invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising: a processor (210) that is configured to generate a navigation map of a local environment (497); and a display (240) controllable by said processor (200) to display said navigation map and any markers (489) that relate to marked locations within said local environment (497); characterised in that the navigation device (200) further comprises: an indicator generation module (490) for generating an indicator (491) for each of any marked locations outside of said local environment, said processor (210) being responsive to said indicator generation module (490) to control said display (240) to display any generated indicators (491) in said navigation map (497). A method of generating a navigation map and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Kees Wesselius
  • Patent number: 8914224
    Abstract: This invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising: a processor (210) that is configured to generate a navigation map of a local environment (497); and a display (240) controllable by said processor (200) to display said navigation map and any markers (489) that relate to marked locations within said local environment (497); characterized in that the navigation device (200) further comprises: an indicator generation module (490) for generating an indicator (491) for each of any marked locations outside of said local environment, said processor (210) being responsive to said indicator generation module (490) to control said display (240) to display any generated indicators (491) in said navigation map (497). A method of generating a navigation map and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Kees Wesselius
  • Patent number: 8890715
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus (200) comprises a processing resource (202) operably coupled to a receiver (224) for location-related data and arranged to perform, when in use, location determination. The processing resource (202) supports a parking location determination module (266). The parking location determination module (266) is arranged to determine when the location determined is substantially unchanged and to determine that the location determined constitutes a candidate parking location in response to the location determined remaining substantially unchanged relative to a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8751152
    Abstract: A method of indicating traffic delays in a navigation system for planning a route of a vehicle is set out. The method includes the steps of receiving traffic information comprising position information of each one of a number of delay incidents, determining a position of the vehicle on a planned route, determining a relevance of each one of the delay incidents on the planned route, based on the position information of the respective delay incident and on the position of the vehicle, selecting at least one delay incident on the planned route, based on the determined relevance of the respective delay incident, and communicating information concerning the selected delay incident to a user. A computer program for performing the method is also set out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Michiel Mayer
  • Publication number: 20140129134
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for display of a location of a navigation device; determining at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device; comparing the determined GPS location to stored map information and converting the determined GPS location into a text readable form; and displaying the text readable form of the determined GPS location on an integrated input and display of the navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to receive a request for display of a location of a navigation device, to determine at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device, to compare the determined GPS location to stored map information and to convert the determined GPS location into a text readable form; and an integrated input and display device to display the text readable form of the determined GPS location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Alexander Ribbink
  • Patent number: 8700311
    Abstract: A method and navigation device are disclosed which allow for switching the display of map information, depending on the current position and the availability of relatively more detailed map information. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving information of a current position and displaying map information including the current position on a navigation device; determining relative map information coverage for the current position; and switching the displayed map information to display map information of relatively more detailed coverage of the current position, upon determining that map information of relatively more detailed coverage of the current position is displayable. The method may include determining a travel route based upon a travel destination input into a navigation device and determining whether or not, based upon the current position information, travel along the route enters a region wherein the relatively more detailed map information is displayable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: William Deurwaarder, Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8670727
    Abstract: A method of discovering connection specific settings from a mobile unit for a telecommunications connection at a navigation device is disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, the method may include establishing a wireless connection between the mobile unit and the navigation device to retrieve preliminary information from the mobile device, querying of a plurality of entries in a database within the navigation device based on the preliminary information, attempting to establish the telecommunications connection using the queried entries, and storing the entry resulting in a successful establishment of the telecommunications connection as the connection specific settings for the mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Edwin Neef, Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8635017
    Abstract: An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Rory Jones
  • Patent number: 8600668
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for display of a location of a navigation device; determining at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device; comparing the determined GPS location to stored map information and converting the determined GPS location into a text readable form; and displaying the text readable form of the determined GPS location on an integrated input and display of the navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to receive a request for display of a location of a navigation device, to determine at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device, to compare the determined GPS location to stored map information and to convert the determined GPS location into a text readable form; and an integrated input and display device to display the text readable form of the determined GPS location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Alexander Ribbink
  • Patent number: 8554471
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for conveying information relationships. In one embodiment, the method includes prompting, in a navigation device, at least one of input and selection of a travel destination and a desired arrival time at the travel destination; calculating an arrival time during travel to the travel destination; and outputting via the navigation device, during travel to the travel destination, an indication of a relationship between the desired arrival time and the calculated arrival time. In another embodiment, the method includes inputting a travel destination on a navigation device; determining a travel route to the input travel destination; calculating a speed in a navigation device during travel to the travel destination along the determined route; and outputting, via the navigation device, an indication of a relationship between a permitted speed and the calculated speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Erik Thomassen
  • Patent number: 8538391
    Abstract: A portable GPS navigation device displays map information and navigation instructions; the device (a) includes a two-way wireless transceiver operable to connect to a mobile telephone; (b) is operable to enable a user to control one or more functions of the mobile telephone and (c) includes an audio output and a microphone to enable a voice call to be made using the mobile telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8532678
    Abstract: A portable GPS navigation device displays map information and navigation instructions; the device (a) includes a two-way wireless transceiver operable to connect to a mobile telephone; (b) is operable to enable a user to control one or more functions of the mobile telephone and (c) includes an audio output and a microphone to enable a voice call to be made using the mobile telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8525704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a display image including a map view and route information, the map view being a three dimensional perspective elevation view. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: determining, from height information associated with a map object to be displayed in the display image, whether the object obscures a line of sight to the route information in the three dimensional perspective elevation; and displaying the map object in a format that is dependent on whether the map object is determined to obscure the line of sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, James Tebbutt
  • Publication number: 20130218453
    Abstract: A navigation device comprises a processing section (520); and an output section (530) for providing an output responsive to the processing section; wherein the processing section (520) has access to map data (540) and avoidance data (550), the avoidance data (550) including information for identifying undesirable locations, and the processing section (520) is arranged to: receive location information representing a geographical location and direction of travel in relation to the map data (540); and establish, based on the location information and map data (540), whether the geographical location and direction of travel approach a navigation decision point having a plurality of navigation choices, where each navigation choice corresponds to an onward route leaving the navigation decision point; determine, based on the map data (540) and avoidance data (550), for at least one onward route leaving the navigation decision point, whether the onward route unavoidably includes an undesirable location; and provide re
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Publication number: 20130211705
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a route-planning device (200;302) comprising a storage section (230;308) storing map information, the map information including information identifying a plurality of potential positions, each potential position corresponding to a position at which a location of a predetermined type might potentially be found; and a search route module (490) arranged to determine a search route visiting at least one of the potential positions, the determination of the search route using a predetermined efficiency measure based on likelihood of finding a location of the predetermined type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: TOMTOM INTERNATIONAL B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Jacob Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 8498804
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining, in a navigation device, at least one of, when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold; and placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine at least one of, when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold, the processor placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Rory Jones
  • Patent number: 8483943
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and prompting, upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, a user of the navigation device to enable output of a warning to break from driving a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, during travel along the determined route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Rory Jones, Sven-Erik Jurgens
  • Patent number: 8423291
    Abstract: A navigation device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a storage device to store map information and points of interest (POIs), the POIs including description information and location information; and a display to display stored POIs at a location of the map information, based upon the location information, POIs being selectively retrievable from a remote location for subsequent storage and display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8423292
    Abstract: The present application relates to a navigation device carried by a vehicle. The navigation device is arranged to display navigation directions on a display, the navigation directions taking the form of a path representative of a planned route to be followed by the vehicle. The navigation device is further arranged to receive a feed from a camera. The navigation device is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image from the feed from the camera and the navigation directions on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Marc Mattu
  • Patent number: 8407003
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Sven Jurgens, Rory Jones, Mareije Roosen, Sergei Kucheiko, Edwin Neef, Karine Hilbrandie