Navigation Patents (Class 701/400)
  • Publication number: 20130325342
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a navigation application. The navigation application includes an interface for receiving data describing junctures along a route from a first location on a map to a second location on the map. The data for each juncture includes a set of angles at which roads leave the juncture. The navigation application includes a juncture decoder for synthesizing, from the juncture data, instruction elements for each juncture that describe different aspects of a maneuver to be performed at the juncture. The navigation application includes an instruction generator for generating at least two different instruction sets for a maneuver by combining one or more of the instruction elements for the juncture at which the maneuver is to be performed. The navigation application includes an instruction retriever for selecting one of the different instruction sets for the maneuver according to a context in which the instruction set will be displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Seejo K. Pylappan, Emanuele Vulcano, Bradford A. Moore, Marcel van Os
  • Publication number: 20130325315
    Abstract: An approach for presenting a comparison of progress information associated with transport modes, routes, or a combination thereof is described. A transport comparison platform determines progress information for at least one device associated with at least one mode of transport, at least one route, or a combination thereof. The transport comparison platform determines other progress information associated with at least another mode of transport, at least another route, or a combination thereof. The transport comparison platform causes, at least in part, a presentation of a comparison of the progress information against the other progress information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome Beaurepaire
  • Publication number: 20130325335
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for determining an eco-route using a state of charge (SOC) consumption ratio that includes an eco-driving logic for an electric vehicle configured to apply a cost function to select an eco-route in a navigation system, decide an optimal eco-route of the cost function from an SOC ratio map having information on a mileage with respect to an SOC consumption ratio, and provide the determined optimal eco-route as a travel route of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jungdo Kee, Seunggil Choi, Jaeok Lee
  • Patent number: 8600754
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for providing informational updates, such as directional updates, to a user of a computing device are disclosed. The method and system may recognize an active conversation and monitor the conversation for a lull. During a detected lull, the method and system may deliver the informational updates. Certain embodiments may include receiving a voice update while the user is using other functionality of the computing device, such as a telecommunication function. Embodiments may also include scheduling an update window within which the update may be delivered. The update window may be a predetermined time window in which a voice update is broadcast, for example. Embodiments may also include alerting the user to a pending update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Bohuslav Rychlik
  • Patent number: 8600674
    Abstract: A prediction method that estimates the real-time position of a mobile device based on previously observed data is provided. The present invention can be used in real-time navigation, including providing real-time alerts of an upcoming destination and notifications of emergency events in close geographic proximity. The prediction method utilizes neural networks and/or functions generated using genetic algorithms in estimating the mobile device's real-time position. The prediction method provides reliable Location-Based Services (LBS) in events where traditional positioning technologies become unreliable. It is also seamless, as the user remains unaware of any interruption in accessing the positioning technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Sean J. Barbeau, Philip L. Winters, Rafael Perez, Miguel Labrador, Nevine Georggi
  • Patent number: 8600658
    Abstract: A mapping system tailors maps and directions for bicyclists. The mapping system stores map data including data about the suitability for biking along roads in a road network. A cost model, including a turn model, a hill model, and a penalty/bonus model is applied to the road network. The turn model models how long it takes to traverse an intersection. The hill model models a bicyclist's speed based on the road grade. The penalty/bonus model adjusts the calculated cost of a road segment under the turn model and hill model to take account of steep hills and other unfavorable or favorable conditions along the road segment for bicycling. The mapping system generates one or more routes between an origin and destination. The generated route that has the lowest adjusted cost is determined to be a recommended route. The mapping system formats maps and/or directions to display recommended routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Leen, Scott T. Shawcroft, Iljya Kalai, Andrew M. Schwerin, Jonah Jones
  • Patent number: 8600659
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for identifying points of interest are provided. The system may include an interface module, a route module, a search module, and a rank module. The interface module may be configured to receive a request to identify points of interest along a travel route, the request including a predetermined distance and a search term. The route module may be configured to obtain, from a database, a set of travel decision nodes along the travel route. The search module may be configured to perform, for each travel decision node in the set of travel decision nodes, a search for points of interest within the predetermined distance of the travel decision node based on the search term. The rank module may be configured to prioritize the points of interest identified by the search. After the points of interest are prioritized, the interface module may output the prioritized points of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Steffi Scherzinger
  • Patent number: 8600654
    Abstract: A route guidance device is provided with a two-dimensional road network for a route search, a three-dimensional road network for a route guidance, and guiding line shape data. The guiding line shape data is three-dimensional guidance display data for guiding an operator to go straight through, or to make a right turn, left turn, etc. at intersections in accordance with a passage mode, or to switch lanes before entering an intersection. A link node of the two-dimensional road network is associated with the guiding line shape data through the three-dimensional road network. The route search uses the two-dimensional road network, and the route guidance uses the guiding line shape data associated with the link node acquired by the route search. The present invention can realize an instinctively understandable route guidance that follows a passage mode without increasing a load of a route search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: GEO Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonari Kishikawa, Eiji Teshima, Masatoshi Aramaki, Hideyuki Shimozuru, Masaya Ada, Tatsuji Kimura, Satomi Baba, Kouhei Tou, Toru Irie
  • Patent number: 8600669
    Abstract: A mobile computing device, including a main body, a processor and associated memory housed within the main body, a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor, an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor, and a navigation module associated with the processor for determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventor: Alexei Skarine
  • Publication number: 20130317737
    Abstract: A method and device for determining a shifted circular segment on the basis of an initial circular segment, the shifted circular segment being shifted by a shift distance, the method being implemented by a computer dedicated to flight management, comprises: determining a shifted final point terminating a shifted circular segment, on the basis of the final point terminating the initial circular segment, through a shift of the final point determined on the basis of the shift distance and in the direction of shift, through the use of a straight line passing through the centre of the initial circular segment and the final point of the initial circular segment, and determining a shifted circular segment on the basis of the initial circular segment by construction of a circular segment between the shifted final point associated with the preceding shifted segment and the shifted final point associated with the shifted segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: THALES
  • Publication number: 20130317735
    Abstract: An approach for generating a panoramic image for depicting a selected travel route is described. A panoramic view generator processes and/or facilitates a processing of at least one route to cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one panoramic image representing the at least one route, wherein a first axis of the at least one panoramic image represents a time or a distance on the at least one route, and wherein a second axis represents one or more contextual parameters associated with the at least one route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Mann
  • Publication number: 20130317736
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed herein to determine an insurance policy benefit based on telematics data. The system includes a computer memory and a processor in communication with the computer memory. The computer memory stores data indicative of preliminary telematics data collected by a smartphone associated with a vehicle, including at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data collected prior to issuance of an insurance policy for the vehicle. The processor is configured to calculate and apply an initial insurance policy benefit in exchange for receiving the data indicative of actual telematics data. When the data indicative of the actual telematics data meets a pre-determined condition, the processor may compute a final insurance policy benefit and replace the initial insurance policy benefit with the final insurance policy benefit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Steven J. Fernandes, Steven R. Feero
  • Patent number: 8594840
    Abstract: An autonomous robot system including a transmitter disposed within a working area and a mobile robot operating within the working area. The transmitter includes an emitter for emitting at least one signal onto a remote surface above the working area. The mobile robot includes a robot body, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot over a surface within the working area, and a navigation system in communication with the drive system. The navigation system includes a receiver responsive to the emitted signal as reflected off of the remote surface and a processor connected to the receiver and configured to determine a relative location of the robot within the working area in response to the receiver responding to the reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Chiappetta, James Paul Frankel
  • Publication number: 20130311089
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method distilling three-dimensional structure to a two-dimensional raster with multiple discrete planes for purposes of safe and accurate route planning including a map generator (100), pixel encoder (102), map transformer (106), and route generator (108). The map generator (100) generates a raster map by populating a blank map canvas with raster and vector data on a per-pixel basis and obtains values for pixels from the pixel encoder (102). The pixel encoder (102) encodes type, plane, and elevator information of features into pixels. The map transformer (106) converts the map produced by the map generator (100) into a weighted graph of nodes and edges suitable for route generation. The route generator (108) generates routes using the graph produced by the map transformer (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: PRIMORDIAL
    Inventors: Erik Stephen Freed, Kyle Kenneth Estes, Randy Len Milbert
  • Publication number: 20130311079
    Abstract: A method and system for searching for items is provided. The method includes receiving, from a user, description data describing search requirements associated with a requested physical object to be located. Locations of the user are monitored and a request to locate the physical object is transmitted to video data retrieval devices. In response, video data associated with associated physical objects and location data for associated locations are retrieved. Distances and relative velocities between current locations of the user and each location of each physical object are calculated. In response, recommendations associated with traveling to view each physical object are generated and presented to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 8589063
    Abstract: A navigation device includes a processor, a memory accessible by the processor, and a device to determine at least one physical parameter applied to the navigation device and to output information indicative of the at least one parameter to the processor. In at least one embodiment, the processor is arranged to determine a road-surface feature based upon the received information and to store road-surface quality information in the memory indicating the location of the road-surface feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventor: Jeroen Trum
  • Patent number: 8588821
    Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes receiving, at a mobile computing device including one or more processors, an input from a user, the input indicating a weather severity threshold for providing a notification at the mobile computing device. The technique includes determining one or more locations where the mobile computing device is likely to be, indicative of a likely location of a user, during a future period of time based on user-related data. The technique includes receiving a weather prediction for the future period of time for each of the one or more locations. The technique also includes automatically outputting the notification when the weather prediction for at least one of the one or more locations exceeds the weather severity threshold and at a time depending on distances between the one of more locations and a home location of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Hewinson
  • Patent number: 8589069
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a location of a mobile device, and automatically identifying a point-of-interest (POI) located within a predetermined distance of the location. The method also includes providing, on a user interface of the mobile device, a rating control for allowing the user to rate the identified POI, and receiving the rating for the identified POI from the user, using the rating control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: April R. Lehman
  • Patent number: 8589065
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems for parking based route navigation and/or parking resource management are disclosed to facilitate navigation to parking spots associated with a destination and/or management of respective parking spots. Navigation may be provided to a parking spot based upon parking criteria (e.g., such as distance to a destination and/or costs associated with the parking spot). Additionally, navigation (e.g., instructions, alternate transport, such as public transit) from the parking spot to the destination may be provided. Parking spots may be reserved by a parking management system based upon reservations received through a parking based route navigation system. Travelers may be re-routed based upon parking factors (e.g., traffic around a parking location, parking density, etc.). Accordingly, travelers may be routed to a destination in a more efficient manner and/or a management system may price and/or allocate parking spots in a desired manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: INRIX, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Scofield, Kush G. Parikh
  • Patent number: 8589064
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for selecting and presenting a route to a user. An exemplary embodiment includes storing a plurality of associations, each association between a route taken by a user and at least one safety characteristic of the route. Received from a particular user is a request for at least one recommended route to a destination point. A query is formulated based on user specified parameters, including an origination point, the destination point, and a safety characteristic, to obtain routes taken by other users. A plurality of routes taken by other users based on a safety characteristic of the routes and related to at least one of the origination point and the destination point is retrieved from the associations. At least one recommended route is recommended to the user based on at least one of the retrieved routes that most closely matches the specified parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Scenera Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mona Singh
  • Publication number: 20130304368
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a trajectory for a vehicle, wherein the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) for the vehicle; identifying a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), the desired terminal position (P), and the linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by a requirement (e.g., specification) that a magnitude of a velocity of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a threshold value for the velocity. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS pic
    Inventors: George Morgan Mathews, Markus Deittert, Arthur George Richards
  • Publication number: 20130304382
    Abstract: Navigation systems, methods, and programs acquire deviated point information regarding a deviated point where a vehicle traveling a set route has deviated the route, and acquire post-deviation travel history information regarding a travel history after a deviated vehicle has deviated the route at the deviated point. The systems, methods, and programs determine based on the post-deviation travel history information for each of the deviated vehicles whether the deviated vehicle has traveled along a reroute set after deviating the route at the deviated point, and judges whether a rate of the deviated vehicles which were determined as having traveled along the reroute is a first predetermined value or more. If the rate of the deviated vehicles which were determined as having traveled along the reroute is the first predetermined value or more, the systems, methods, and programs determine that guidance of the route is not appropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, FUJITSU TEN LIMITED, FUJITSU LIMITED, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nomoto, Ichiro Usami, Kensuke Hanaoka, Sayaka Yoshizu, Hironobu Sugimoto, Takao Suzuki, Hiroshi Takeuchi, Shohji Ueoka, Hideaki Miyazaki, Toshifumi Obayashi, Takayuki Suzumiya
  • Publication number: 20130304369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trajectory for a vehicle are disclosed, wherein, the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) and a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), desired terminal position (P), and linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by requirements (e.g., specifications) that: (i) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively large when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the velocity of the vehicle; and (ii) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively small when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially parallel to the velocity of the vehicle. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: George Morgan Mathews, Markus Deittert, Arthur George Richards
  • Publication number: 20130304383
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selecting landmarks for navigation. In one embodiment, a system comprises an IMU that provides inertial measurements for a vehicle and at least one image sensor that acquires measurements of the vehicle's environment. The system also comprises a processing unit that calculates a navigation solution for the vehicle based on the inertial measurements, identifies a plurality of landmarks in the acquired measurements, and identifies a plurality of usable landmarks from the plurality of landmarks. The processing unit also selects a subset of useable landmarks from the plurality of useable landmarks such that the subset of landmarks has a smaller dilution of precision (DOP) than other possible subsets of landmarks from the plurality of useable landmarks, and calculates an updated navigation solution from the subset of landmarks. The DOP is an amplification factor of measurement errors derived from the geometry of the subset of useable landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Vibhor L. Bageshwar, Yunqian Ma, Shrikant Rao
  • Patent number: 8583359
    Abstract: In a method for the input of a destination, first of all a category selection is made, destinations corresponding to the category selection subsequently being offered for selection, at least a portion of the destinations being assigned to at least one subordinate category that, in each instance, has a superordinate category, characterized in that a category selection is made such that in each case, a superordinate category is displayed for the category selection or the superordinate category is replaced by one or the plurality of categories subordinate to it, and in each instance, a replacement is made when the number of subordinate categories with respect to a superordinate category is less than a predefined first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Walkling, Marco Fiedler, Henry Brandes, Holger Listle, Ralf Osmers, Thomas Klein, Joerg Krewer, Stefan Lueer
  • Patent number: 8583360
    Abstract: A navigation system determines its usage mode. In some embodiments, a method comprises determining a usage mode of a navigation system based on at least one of an acceleration indicator, a speed indicator, and a magnet sensor. The usage mode is at least one of a pedestrian mode, a vehicular mode, an aerial mode, a train mode, and a marine mode. The method further comprises configuring a navigation subsystem based on the usage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Deric W. Waters, Tarkesh Pande
  • Patent number: 8583363
    Abstract: Alternative routes to an optimal route may be determined and presented to a user via a computing device. Alternative routes are selected from candidate routes that meet admissibility criteria. In an implementation, admissibility of a candidate route (in order for it to be considered an alternative route) may be determined based on three criteria: “limited sharing”, “local optimality”, and “stretch” such as “uniformly bounded stretch”. Limited sharing refers to the amount of difference between the alternative route and the optimal route, local optimality refers to lack of unnecessary detours, and uniformly bounded stretch refers to a length of the shortest path to travel between two points on the alternative route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ittai Abraham, Daniel Delling, Andrew V. Goldberg, Renato F. Werneck
  • Patent number: 8584015
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for generating a geographically based slideshow of a user's digital media items such as photos or videos. A slideshow framework receives user-specified digital images, ordering them according to time of capture, organizing the ordered images into groups, each group corresponding to a different geographical region, and generating a slideshow of the user-specified images using maps of the different geo-graphical regions and visual transitions between the different geographical regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Van Osten
  • Publication number: 20130297207
    Abstract: A vehicle management system is described herein that can perform a variety of features related to managing fleets of vehicles. For example, the vehicle management system includes a routing module that can perform a variety of functions. Some of these functions can include determining a first route between locations using a simplified routing network and then determining a second route between the locations using a more exhaustive routing network. Further, the routing module can store information about the natural flow through intersections, improving control of routes through intersections. Some or all of these features may be used together, or any of these features may be omitted in any given embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Ralph James Mason, Mark Fryer, David John Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8577598
    Abstract: A method for presenting a route includes receiving a starting point and a destination point and computing a route that includes a route segment between the two points. The method further includes determining, based on a user's travel history, whether the route segment is an unfamiliar segment, and identifying, based on the user's travel history, a road that is familiar to the user. The method includes providing, in a format that distinguishes the familiar road from the computed route, the computed route and the familiar road relative to the unfamiliar segment for presentation of the familiar road within a scaled range of the unfamiliar segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Scenera Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mona Singh
  • Patent number: 8577594
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for route navigation for multiple destinations. Route parameters can be received and a route (140, 142) can be generated for multiple destinations (132, 134). An estimated time of arrival can be calculated for each destination. An updated estimated time of arrival can be generated for one of the destinations. A messaging service message including the updated time of arrival can be sent to a recipient (122, 124) associated with the respective destination if the updated time of arrival deviates from the original estimated time of arrival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., David J. Krause
  • Patent number: 8576055
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assisting system for a vehicle, for expecting a risk of colliding upon a moving object (or a moving obstacle), including a pedestrian, more correctly, but without annoying a driver, excessively, by estimating the risk to be excessively high, comprises a moving object detecting means for detecting a moving object existing on periphery of the vehicle; a footway boundary detecting means for detecting a position and a configuration of a footway boundary object on periphery of the vehicle; a risk estimation means for estimating a risk that the moving object detected by said moving object detecting means collides on the vehicle; and an alarm means for calling an attention to a driver of the vehicle, upon basis of the risk of collision estimated by the risk estimation means, wherein the risk of collision between the moving object, which is detected by the moving object detecting means, and that vehicle is estimated by taking at least the position information of the moving object, the position i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Hara, Yuji Hosoda, Masashi Koga
  • Patent number: 8577593
    Abstract: A method for producing navigation instructions is disclosed. The method includes generating a navigation route. The generated navigation route is translated from textual instructions and/or audio prompts to sign language symbols, and the sign language symbols are provided to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Oesterling, Julianne Petschke, Mark J. Glaza
  • Patent number: 8577554
    Abstract: Devices, methods and systems describe a turn signal activation system. As the navigation system determines that the vehicle is approaching a turn or other operation, the turn signal may be automatically activated in the appropriate direction (e.g., right-turn signal for a right turn, and a left-turn signal for a left turn). Once the navigation system determines that it is appropriate to deactivate the turn signal, the turn signal may be automatically deactivated. In this fashion, other drivers on the road may be able to anticipate the actions of the vehicle based on the activation and deactivation of the turn signals, and thereby prevent accidents from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Wolterman
  • Publication number: 20130289874
    Abstract: The travel plan generation method includes a maximum speed limit section setting step of setting a maximum speed limit section, a low speed allowed section setting step of setting a low speed allowed section which is in front of the maximum speed limit section on the route and is in a low speed allowable distance range from the maximum speed limit section, and a travel plan generation step of generating a travel plan in which the speed of the vehicle is limited to a speed limit or less in the maximum speed limit section and the speed of the vehicle is not reduced to a low discomfort speed or less in sections other than the maximum speed limit section and the low speed allowed section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20130289870
    Abstract: A collaborative control method for tracking Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs) and manifolds on flows employs at least three autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) each equipped with a local flow sensor. A first flow sensor is a tracking sensor and the other sensors are herding sensors for controlling and determining the actions of the tracking sensor. The AUVs are deployed in a body of water whereby the tracking sensor is positioned with respect to the herding sensors such that the herding sensors maintain a straddle formation across a boundary. A local flow velocity measurement is obtained from each AUV; and based on the local flow velocity measurements a global flow structure that is useful for plotting an optimal course for a vessel between two or more locations is predicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ira B. Schwartz, Mong-ying Ani Hsieh, Eric Forgoston
  • Publication number: 20130289877
    Abstract: A method of guidance by radio focusing includes a “visitor” entity heading towards a radio source of number k=1 (or k=klast) by observing intensity of the radio source of number k=1 (or k=klast) as measured by an “Evisitor” communicating device carried by the visitor, until the visitor reaches the source of number k=1 (or k=klast). The visitor heads in succession for k=1, 2, . . . , klast-1 (or in reverse) from a radio source of number k towards a radio source of number (k+1) (or (k?1)) by observing intensity of the source (k+1) (or (k?1)), until the visitor reaches the source (k+1) (or (k?1)). Each radio source is a virtual radio source as produced by a respective signal k or by superposing a plurality of respective signals k. Each signal is transmitted by a respective communicating device ER.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: ORANGE
    Inventors: Dinh Thuy Phan Huy, Nadine Malhouroux Gaffet
  • Patent number: 8571787
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing navigation information via electronic equipment includes dynamically displaying a first route from a current location to a desired location; and dynamically displaying a second route to at least one point of interest. The first route is automatically displayed at a first zoom level, and the second route is automatically displayed at a second zoom level, wherein the first and second zoom levels are independent of one another. The apparatus and method can further use electronic equipment to identify at least one point of interest along a planned route, including comparing a user selected characteristic to at least one characteristic of a plurality of potential points of interest, said potential points of interest being within a predetermined range of the planned route; and identifying as a point of interest any of the plurality of potential points of interest that have at least one characteristic that satisfies the user selected characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Magnus Jendbro
  • Patent number: 8571579
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for displaying location information on a mobile device. The location information can include direction, distance, positional coordinates, etc. The mobile device's display displays an image captured using the mobile device's camera. A selection input is received to identify an object in the image. A facing direction of the mobile device is detected using the mobile device's magnetometer. The mobile device determines a bearing to the object relative to the mobile device's facing direction. The mobile device then determines a distance between the mobile device and the object. The obtained or computed location data is overlaid on the image, thereby augmenting the image. The location data can include at least a direction indicator of the object and the distance between the mobile device and the object, whereby the direction indicator can be determined using the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Jeffery Lindner
  • Publication number: 20130282269
    Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a calculated route using waypoints associated with a traveled route. A traveled route platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more location logs to determine one or more waypoints, wherein the one or more location logs include, at least in part, one or more location samples for at least one device on a traveled route. The traveled route platform then processes and/or facilitates a processing of the one or more waypoints via one or more routing engines to determine a calculated route as a representation of the traveled route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jaakko Hannukainen, Antti Johannes Eronen, Jussi Leppanen, Amir Abdi, Henri Puranen
  • Publication number: 20130282270
    Abstract: A method and device for compressing route data are provided. A predefined route which includes a plurality of route elements characterizing the route is made available. Depending on a predefined division parameter, the predefined route is divided into partial routes. With respect to the partial routes, those route elements which are required to reconstruct the partial route by way of a route calculation on the basis of optimization of a predefined quality criterion are determined as compressed route elements. The compressed route elements of the component routes are assigned to a compressed route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Marcello TAVA, Stefan FEIT
  • Publication number: 20130282283
    Abstract: Various examples are disclosed of how to leverage technology in a vehicle to provide various services in a convenient manner. For example, the pairing of the portable device with the on-board computer of the vehicle may be utilized as a level of authorization to provide certain services in a more automated and/or convenient way to the vehicle driver or other occupant of the vehicle, such as by authenticating wireless transactions with entities external to the vehicle using device pairing technology, and by modifying vehicle navigation routes to include suggested nearby points of interest that may be determined to be of particular value to a vehicle occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Laura C. Bondesen, Alicia C. Jones, David C. McCoy, Shaun J. Abraham
  • Patent number: 8566029
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes identifying points-of-interest (POIs) associated with one or more of multiple, selected geographic areas, and determining, for each of the multiple geographic areas, a score associated with the identified POIs. The actions also include generating a combined score for each identified POI based on the determined scores associated with the respective POI, selecting a subset of the identified POIs based at least on the combined scores, and displaying a link to the POIs in the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Lopatenko, Hyung-Jin Kim, Soham Mazumdar
  • Patent number: 8565984
    Abstract: A steering system for a work vehicle towing a towed implement is described. A steering control unit is coupled to a location signal generation arrangement on the vehicle, a steering actuator, a memory for storing desired path data of the implement and a slope sensor for detecting a lateral inclination of the work vehicle or the implement. The steering control unit calculates a lateral offset compensation value to steer the work vehicle such that the implement is moved on the desired path and a slope offset compensation value based upon a signal from the tilt sensor to compensate for slope forces pulling the implement down a lateral slope. A steering signal is sent to the steering actuator based upon the lateral offset compensation value and the slope offset compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Comany
    Inventors: Robert Lynn Mayfield, Andrew Karl Wilhem Rekow
  • Patent number: 8565944
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing a list of alternate diversion airports that is based on up-to-date and accurate information received electronically at the aircraft. The list of alternate diversion airports may be prioritized according to a normal mode when the aircraft is operating under normal flight conditions, or a non-normal mode when the aircraft is operating in an emergency situation. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a system includes an alternate airport diversion planner program that generates the list of alternate diversion airports based on diversion planning information received at an aircraft. The alternate airport diversion planner program subsequently receives periodic updates of the diversion planning information, which is used to update the list of alternate diversion airports that is provided to a pilot of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gary R. Gershzohn
  • Patent number: 8566028
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for autonomously determining a set of destinations. A landmark module stores a plurality of landmarks from a database. An identification module identifies a first current location and direction of the vehicle. In response to receiving a help command from the help button, a destination module determines a first set of destinations from the plurality of landmarks, the first current location, and the first current direction. A prompt module audibly prompts a driver to navigate the vehicle to the first set of destinations. A navigation module determines if the driver is navigating towards the first direction. In response to the driver not navigating the vehicle toward at least one destination of the first set of destinations, the navigation module may direct the identification module to identify a second current location and direction of the vehicle and the destination module to determine a second set of destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Bradicich, Richard Edwin Harper, William Joseph Piazza
  • Patent number: 8566022
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying a location of a mobile computing device. A first location estimate of a mobile computing device and an accuracy of the first location estimate is determined at a mobile computing device based on wireless signals received from one or more beacons. A time period based on the accuracy of the first location estimate is determined. One or more subsequent location estimates of the mobile computing device and respective accuracies are determined. The determination of the subsequent location estimates is stopped at an end of the time period. A preferred location estimate from the determined location estimates is determined at the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Starenky, Alex Kennberg
  • Patent number: 8560222
    Abstract: Methods of locating a vehicle are disclosed. Location coordinates are received at regular intervals via a handheld locator device for the current location of the handheld locator device. The handheld locator device detects the cessation of the presence of the vehicle. The location coordinates last-received before the detection of the cessation of the presence of the vehicle are stored automatically, and represent the approximate location of the parked vehicle when the cessation of the presence of the vehicle is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Harris Korn, Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: 8560235
    Abstract: An absolute-movement-path calculating apparatus includes a direction acquiring part detecting a movement direction of the terminal at a given timing; a movement-distance calculating part calculating a movement distance of the terminal at the given timing; a relative-movement-path calculating part calculating a relative movement path based on the number of steps and a user's step length and storing the relative movement path; an absolute-position acquiring part acquiring an absolute position of the terminal, and storing the absolute position; and an absolute-movement-path calculating part calculating, each time the absolute positions are stored, a correction value from the relationship between at least two absolute positions and the relative positions corresponding to the absolute positions and calculating an absolute movement path of the terminal indicated by the absolute coordinate from the correction value and the relative movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kyouko Okuyama, Shinichiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8560221
    Abstract: To use the same onboard apparatus and navigation system in many kinds of vehicles. A table in which manufacturers and vehicle types are connected with designs and functions has been previously stored in a navigation system module 21. The navigation system module 21 itself sends the center controller 11 a query about vehicle information (the country that manufactured, manufacturer, vehicle type, using country, manufacturing number), recognizes the vehicle information supplied from the center controller 11, and automatically sets the screen design, function, etc., suitable to the vehicle on which the onboard apparatus is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Hasegawa, Takumi Arie, Hiroshi Amano