Navigation Patents (Class 701/400)
  • Patent number: 8965688
    Abstract: A system and method for locating, tracking, and/or monitoring the status of personnel and/or assets (collectively “trackees”), both indoors and outdoors, is provided. Tracking data obtained from any number of sources utilizing any number of tracking methods may be provided as input to a mapping application. The mapping application generates position estimates for trackees using a suite of mapping tools to make corrections to the tracking data. The mapping application further uses information from building data, when available, to enhance position estimates. Indoor tracking methods including sensor fusion methods, map matching methods, and map building methods may be implemented compute a more accurate tracking estimate for trackees. Outdoor tracking methods may be implemented to enhance outdoor tracking data by combining tracking estimates such as inertial tracks with magnetic and/or compass data if and when available, and with GPS, if and when available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TRX Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Amrit Bandyopadhyay, Daniel Hakim, Benjamin E. Funk, Eric Asher Kohn, Carole A. Teolis, Gilmer Blankenship
  • Patent number: 8965675
    Abstract: A system for navigation along a desired route on a desired future date may include a map interface operable to display a traffic condition and a travel time received via a communication network, and an automobile navigation network communicatively coupled to the communication network. The automobile navigation network may estimate the traffic condition and the travel time for travel along the desired route on the desired future date based on historical travel information, current traffic information and current weather information. Information regarding the estimated travel conditions may be automatically communicated to the map interface. The traffic condition may include geographic location information and/or route information. The historical travel information may include historical traffic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Gary R. Ignatin
  • Patent number: 8965623
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for attending to an environmental condition by an electronic cleaning device. A computer receives one or more data signals from one or more sensors through a network, with each of the one or more sensors associated with a physical location. The computer determines that due to an environmental condition a signal strength of the one or more data signals received from the one or more sensors is out of a threshold value range. The computer determines an optimal route from a current location of the electronic cleaning device to the one or more physical locations of the one or more sensors associated with the one or more data signals experiencing signal strength out of the threshold value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 8965681
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for caching data in mobile devices to improve field assessment capabilities in a relief management system. The system analyzes captured geolocation information associated with one or more mobile field devices to identify a set of data to be cached by a mobile field device. The system then communicates the set of data to be cached to the mobile field device. The data cached is predicated upon the predicted likely location of field assessment operations and the data includes server-side image tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Global Relief Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Gray, Arthur Peter, III, Mark A. Jadkowski
  • Patent number: 8965696
    Abstract: A method of displaying navigational instructions when a navigation application is running in a background mode of an electronic device is provided. The method displays a non-navigation application in the foreground on a display screen of the electronic device. The method displays a navigation bar without a navigation instruction when the device is not near a navigation point. The method displays the navigation bar with a navigation instruction when the device is near a navigation point. In some embodiments, the method receives a command to switch from running the navigation application in the foreground to running another screen view in the foreground. The method then runs the other screen view in the foreground while displaying a navigation status display on an electronic display of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel van Os, Emanuele Vulcano, Bradford A. Moore, Andrew B. Cato
  • Publication number: 20150051830
    Abstract: A computer receives input to generate a route. The route is generated according to the input. Custom route data is received indicating a first portion of the route, the first portion of the route being a portion of the route for which audio navigational assistance is to be provided. Navigational instructions as a route is traversed, wherein audio navigational assistance is provided for the first portion of the route but not for a second portion of the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Salman Nazir Shami
  • Patent number: 8958983
    Abstract: A server arranged to process GPS data to generate enhanced map data is disclosed. The enhanced map data includes a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by a map. In at least one embodiment, the server is connected with a wireless telecommunications transceiver arranged to receive GPS fixes by wireless telecommunication from a plurality of navigation devices and send the received GPS fixes to the server, the server includes a processor arranged to generate at least one speed profile for each segment from the GPS fixes from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment, and the server is arranged to subsequently cause the transceiver to send the speed profiles to the navigation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Peter Mieth, Ian Malcolm Atkinson, Martin Wolf, Ben Rutten, Karine Hilbrandie
  • Patent number: 8958987
    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 center 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Emmanuel Dewas, Vincent Savarit, Francois Coulmeau
  • Patent number: 8958988
    Abstract: A system for identifying a fastest possible travel route is disclosed. A traveler data processor collects traffic speed data and associates the traffic speed data with road segments. The road segments collectively represent one or more possible travel routes from a start point to an end point. A forecast engine determines a predicted travel time for each of the road segments based on, for example, the traffic speed data for each of the road segments. A routing engine determines the fastest possible travel route from the start point to the end point. The fastest possible travel route is the possible travel route from the one or more possible travel routes with the shortest predicted travel time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Pelmorex Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Andre Gueziec
  • Patent number: 8957355
    Abstract: Inertial measurement unit apparatus for use with guidance systems are disclosed herein. An example guidance system includes an inertial measurement unit removably coupled in a cavity of a guidance wafer via an access port of the guidance wafer defining a port axis that is non-parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the guidance wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Angelo Truncale, James K. Gingrich, Stephen T. Butscher, Joseph E. Justin
  • Publication number: 20150046076
    Abstract: The present invention relates to vehicles, specifically to an improved navigation system. In order to provide a technology, which will permit drivers of vehicles to better predict consumption and to conserve energy, for example energy in the form of electric battery power or fuel, and to extend the vehicle's driving range, a method for optimizing a driving range of a vehicle, the method typically comprising the following steps: a) predicting driving routes based on a determined start and target route points based on a stored road network model; b) providing additional situation related data comprising environmental factors; c) calculating energy consumption of energy stored on board the vehicle for the predicted driving routes based on the situation related data; and d) determining a most economical route with regards to a minimized energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: VICINITY SOFTWARE LIMITED
    Inventor: Con William Costello
  • Patent number: 8954263
    Abstract: A navigation device is configured to allocate display setting such as color schemes and screen contents to at least one ambient lighting condition, monitors and evaluates a signal indicative of ambient lighting conditions and determines whether display settings for the current ambient lighting conditions are already in use and to change display settings so that they suit current ambient lighting conditions if needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8954266
    Abstract: Providing directions from point A to point B may be treated as an information retrieval problem. In one example, actual routes that are traveled by people are received, and are stored in a database. When a person requests directions from point A to point B, a system searches the database to determine whether a route from A to B exists. If the route does exist, then the route may be provided as directions in response to the request. If no such route exists, then the system looks in the database for routes that have some amount of overlap with each other, and attempts to construct a route from A to B by joining known routes that overlap with each other. Rules may govern the degree of overlap that routes are to have before they can be joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Eyal Ofek, Jeffrey Couckuyt, Gur Kimchi, Brian Beckman
  • Publication number: 20150039219
    Abstract: A navigation device, when a vehicle travels through an area in which the use of an ETC device provided in the vehicle is not possible, can prevent that vehicle from being guided along an ETC device utilization rout. The navigation device sets, for each area, whether or not the use of the ETC device is possible; performs a first route search using a first cost condition regarding the route cost of an ETC device utilization route; performs a second route search using a second cost condition regarding a route cost for which the route cost of an ETC device utilization route is higher than with the first cost condition; and, on the basis of a setting status for whether or not the use of the ETC device in each area is possible, controls whether to perform the first route search or the second route search.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yamaki, Yukio Sato
  • Publication number: 20150039220
    Abstract: A navigation module and method for providing an INS/GNSS navigation solution for a moving platform, comprising a receiver for receiving absolute navigational information from an external source (e.g., such as a satellite), means for obtaining speed or velocity information and an assembly of self-contained sensors capable of obtaining readings (e.g., such as relative or non-reference based navigational information) about the moving platform, and further comprising at least one processor, coupled to receive the output information from the receiver, sensor assembly and means for obtaining speed or velocity information, and operative to integrate the output information to produce a navigation solution. The at least one processor may operate to provide a navigation solution by using the speed or velocity information to decouple the actual motion of the platform from the readings of the sensor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jacques Georgy, Aboelmagd Noureldin
  • Patent number: 8949024
    Abstract: Described are a method and a system for localization of a vehicle. The method includes the acquisition of SPR images of a subsurface region along a vehicle track. Acquired SPR images are compared to SPR images previously acquired for a subsurface region that at least partially overlaps the subsurface region along the vehicle track. In some embodiments, the comparison includes an image correlation procedure. Location data for the vehicle are determined based in part on location data for the SPR images previously acquired for the second subsurface region. Location data can be used to guide the vehicle along a desired path. The relatively static nature of features in the subsurface region provides the method with advantages over other sensor-based navigation systems that may be adversely affected by weather conditions, dynamic features and time-varying illumination. The method can be used in a variety of applications, including self-driving automobiles and autonomous platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Byron McCall Stanley, Matthew Tyler Cornick, Charles Michael Coldwell, Jeffrey Charles Koechling, Beijia Zhang
  • Patent number: 8947433
    Abstract: An apparatus for visualizing data includes memory for storing sensor data and a processor. The processor is configured to generate a map of a geographic area, and to display at a first location on the map at least one icon graphically representing a measurement of the sensor at the first location over a period of time and graphically representing the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Bak, Irina Dumitrescu, Juerg von Kaenel, Gilad M. Saadoun, Xing Zhi Sun
  • Patent number: 8949019
    Abstract: A communication device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes a process including calculating an amount of electricity available in a second device while a first communication unit and a second communication unit with each other, determining a first generation unit to be a generation unit, when the amount of electricity thus calculated is smaller than a predetermined amount, out of the first generation unit that generates navigation information based on information acquired by an information acquisition unit and a second generation unit, and controlling the second device so as to stop supplying power to the second generation unit and to output the navigation information generated by the first generation unit when the first generation unit is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: David Thach, Atsushi Ike, Yutaka Tamiya, Ryosuke Oishi
  • Publication number: 20150032364
    Abstract: A navigation includes a next audio output state storage that stores, as a next audio output, an audio output which is started the next time when one audio output is completed, a next audio output state determiner that determines whether or not to output the next audio output on the basis of both the storing state of the next audio output and current navigation information, and an output determiner that, when a plurality of playback requests coincide, outputs an audio output having a higher one of priorities acquired from the priority holder, and stores an audio output having a lower one of the priorities in the next audio output state storage as a next audio output, and that determines an audio output to be played back according to the determination by the next audio output state determiner when one audio output is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8942919
    Abstract: A battery electric vehicle (BEV) navigation routing system and routing methods are presented, in which a traveling route is determined from the current vehicle location to the destination location by preferentially selecting low speed routes over higher speed routes if the present state of charge of the vehicle battery is insufficient to reach the destination location using shortest time or shortest distance routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert M. Uyeki, Naoya Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8941656
    Abstract: A method for visualizing data includes generating on a display device a map including a first location and generating on the display device at least one icon graphically representing measurements of the sensor at the first location over a period of time and graphically representing the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Bak, Irina Dumitrescu, Juerg von Kaenel, Gilad M. Saadoun, Xing Zhi Sun
  • Publication number: 20150025788
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping. In one version mapping can be carried out. Vehicles may carry scanners used for mapping and three-dimensional modeling. Surveillance and monitoring methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen B. Crain, Joseph V.R. Paiva, Dennis H. Cowdrick
  • Patent number: 8938348
    Abstract: A method determines a run-curve of a motion of a vehicle as a function of at least a speed of the vehicle and a position of the vehicle in a continuous space. First, the method determines Markov decision process (MDP) with respect to a set of anchor states selected from the continuous space, such that a control moving the vehicle to a state transitions the MDP to an anchor state with a probability determined as a function of a distance between the anchor state and the state in the continuous space, and solves the MDP subject to constraints to determine an MDP policy optimizing a cost function representing a cost of the motion of the vehicle. Next, the method determines the run-curve based on the MDP policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Nikovski, Bernard Lidicky
  • Patent number: 8938360
    Abstract: A guidance apparatus for guiding to a predetermined orientation includes a detection section configured to detect a contact of an object via a contact surface; a measurement section configured to measure an orientation of the guidance apparatus; a calculation section configured to calculate a direction of the predetermined orientation relative to the orientation measured by the measurement section; and a vibration section configured to generate vibration if the contact of the object is detected by the detection section either within an area including the direction, or within another area other than the area including the direction, among a plurality of areas partitioning the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kato, Katsuaki Akama
  • Publication number: 20150019120
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a driving guide of a vehicle are provided and include a sensor unit that has at least one sensor mounted within the vehicle. In addition, a controller is configured to sense obstacles positioned at a front and side of the vehicle using sensing information received from the sensor unit and arrange data for the obstacles based on an angle to determine whether a passage is present in front of the vehicle. In addition, the controller is configured to provide the driving guide of the checked passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ki Cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20150019132
    Abstract: A vehicle system enabling a processor to calculate the most efficient route to a destination based on estimated energy usage, vehicle data, and other inputs until the final destination is reached. The vehicle system may receive location related data that may include the current vehicle location and one or more destination points. The vehicle system may receive one or more energy usage affecting parameters from a vehicle related system. The system may calculate a most efficient route based on the location related data and the one or more energy usage affecting parameters and present the most efficient route to a device. The vehicle system may repeat the steps of receiving, calculating, presenting until a destination is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Erica Klampfl, Ryan Abraham McGee, Daniel Reich, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • Patent number: 8935091
    Abstract: High resolution images are imprinted onto precise and consistent lawns and fields by use in combination of a global positioning system; a processor for generating a desired pattern which is translated into patterning instructions; and a patterning implement which is used for generating detailed patterns and for imprinting said patterns on any of natural or artificial lawns and fields, covered areas, and landscapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Pete J. Davis
  • Patent number: 8935014
    Abstract: A method and system for gathering information from and setting up a surveillance network within an earth-surface environment that includes inserting one or more mobile robotic devices having a sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, and a navigation subsystem into an earth-surface environment. The mobile robotic device may be configured into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses, and directed using the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment. The environment may be monitored and sensed information collected may be stored or communicated to a remote location. The mobile robotic device may be configured to operate with a vehicle carrier to facilitate insertion and deployment of the robotic vehicle into the earth-surface environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sarcos, LC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Marc X. Olivier, Ralph W. Pensel, Fraser M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150012208
    Abstract: An application and method can takes a trip route and maps the addresses of a user's contacts along the route. The application and method can identify which contacts are within a predetermined distance from the route, maps them, and can instantly email these contacts to notify them that the user of the application will be passing by their location. The contacts can be manually entered by the user or can be imported from various email providers, various social media platforms, or other contact storing programs. The application can periodically synchronize with the contact sources to be sure the information in the application is current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Russel Aaron Abrams
  • Patent number: 8930130
    Abstract: A method for constructing a flight trajectory of an aircraft, comprises a step of computing a sequence of state vectors (Ei) representing the trajectory of the aircraft; a state vector (Ei+1) being determined on the basis of the state vector (Ei) preceding it by means of: a step of computing the speed components (Vi+1), consisting in determining: a flight setpoint, by selecting an objective navigation point, a joining strategy adapted to the flight setpoint and to the flight domain (DV) by means of a predefined library (LSr) of joining strategies, a manoeuvre by means of the flight domain (DV), making it possible to follow the joining strategy towards the flight setpoint; a step of computing the other components of the state vector (Ei+1), on the basis of the components of the speed vector (Vi+1) and of the preceding state vector (Ei).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Romain Courteville, Bertrand Barnetche
  • Patent number: 8930129
    Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: operating a communication unit for establishing a communication link between a first device and a second device; receiving a user defined destination; displaying a first location and a first route to the user defined destination on the first device and the second device, where the first location represents the location of the first device; and displaying a second location and a second route to the user defined destination on the first device and the second device, where the second location represents the location of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Telenav, Inc.
    Inventor: Qian Chen
  • Patent number: 8928698
    Abstract: Road information is compressed for map tiles of a map containing a network of roads. The map can have different sets of tiles for each zoom level. For a given zoom level, road segments can be grouped based on the class of the roads (e.g., interstate highway, state highway, divided highway, side street, etc.). The road segments of a particular class can be combined into paths, and a representative segment can be chosen for each path. The features of the representative segment can be used in displaying the corresponding path, thereby reducing the size used to store the path in a map tile. This reduce-size map tile can be transmitted more efficiently due to the smaller size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Imran A. Pirwani, Pinaki Sinha
  • Patent number: 8930132
    Abstract: A system, method, device, computer program, user interface, and apparatus for method of transmitting content to a user equipment. The method includes receiving an intent from a user of the user equipment; gathering a time window of validity for the intent; receiving location information from the user equipment; determining a mode of transportation based on the location information; and, for the duration of the time window, querying a location database of points of interest (POIs) to retrieve candidate POIs that match the user intent and are located within reach of the user equipment based on the time left of the time window and the mode of transportation; presenting the candidate POIs to the user equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Asha Vellaikal, Anant Akinchan, Chai Geller
  • Patent number: 8930123
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods for utilizing crowdsourcing probes to obtain traffic information are described. Such traffic information includes location, date, time, speed, and speed limit information. Embodiments allow for the determination of traffic intensity, or road congestion, through the calculation of a road speed capacity factor. Embodiments provide that the traffic information and traffic intensity information may be visualized through a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Biplav Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8930081
    Abstract: A system for indicating an impending vehicle maneuver within a predetermined distance is provided. The system includes a navigational system and a control module. The navigational system receives a vehicle destination and determines a current geographical vehicle position. The navigational system determines if the impending vehicle maneuver is required within the predetermined distance based on the vehicle destination and the current geographical vehicle position. The control module is in communication with the navigational system and a handwheel. The control module sends a signal that creates a steering assist torque in the handwheel if the impending vehicle maneuver is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Bolourchi, Timothy W. Kaufmann, Ashok Chandy
  • Publication number: 20150006072
    Abstract: A comprehensive system to optimize utilization of transportation resources, including public vehicles such as municipal buses, quasi-public vehicles such as university and corporate campus shuttles, private vehicles, and freight carriers (all participating vehicles collectively, “Transportation Assets”) and provide superior, expedient, efficient, and economical transportation options to prospective passengers or cargo items (each, a “Rider”). A central tracking and guidance system (the “Coordination System”) will monitor the current itineraries, present locations, capabilities, and operator-designated preferences of Transportation Assets. A Rider seeking transportation will be directed to a point of rendezvous with a Transportation Asset on the basis of computer or smartphone-provided destination and price preference information given by such Rider, and such Rider's mobility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremy Kasile Goldberg, Jonathan Davis Seder
  • Publication number: 20150006071
    Abstract: A method for providing trip planning and route update is provided. The method includes receiving traffic demand data including a plurality of planned trips, each including an origin location, a destination location, a planned route, a planned departure time, and an end time. The method further includes building a traffic prediction model by aggregating the traffic demand data, and generating a traffic prediction for a specified trip. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SAP AG
    Inventor: Danqing Cai
  • Patent number: 8924141
    Abstract: An information providing apparatus makes a decision, when an information providing deciding unit decides that driving support information is to be provided, as to whether the output of the voice information about the driving support information responding to a command from the information providing deciding unit and the output of the voice information about route guidance info nation responding to a command from a route guidance unit overlap each other or not, and controls, when they overlap each other, the output of voice information by an information providing output unit in such a manner as to prevent the output of the voice information about the driving support information from overlapping with the output of the voice information about the route guidance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Sugawara, Masayoshi Ono, Shigeki Morita
  • Patent number: 8922358
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display plane and a control unit. The display plane configured to display a first display portion that shows a locomotion region in the first locomotion mode in a display region based on the output request and a future locomotion distance of the vehicle and a second display portion that shows a locomotion region in the second locomotion mode next to the first display portion in the display region. The control unit configured to control an image displayed in the display plane. The control unit changes a border between the first display portion and the second display portion based on the future locomotion distance in accordance with an estimation result of displacement of a switching point between the first locomotion mode and the second locomotion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Handa
  • Patent number: 8924147
    Abstract: A system, method, device, computer program, user interface, and apparatus to associate an object of interest of a map in a location database with a geo-fence. The method includes selecting a first time interval; selecting a mode of transportation; determining terrestrial routes starting from the object of interest; for each determined terrestrial route, determining an end point that can be reach on the terrestrial route within the first time interval using the selected mode of transportation; and storing a geo-fence for the first time interval and mode of transportation in associating with the determined end points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Asha Vellaikal, Anant Akinchan, Chai Geller
  • Publication number: 20140379248
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more navigation or positioning operations or techniques using, for example, a non-map-based location or routing interface for use in or with mobile communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Lionel Jacques Garin, Ayman Fawzy Naguib, Eric Kendall Holm, Niccolo A. Padovani, Saumitra Mohan Das, Andrew C. Blaich
  • Patent number: 8918277
    Abstract: A method for recognizing road signs in the vicinity of a vehicle and for synchronization thereof to road sign information from a digital map where, in the case of a recognition of road signs, road-sign recognition data are generated, navigation data being provided for localizing the vehicle in digital map data, and the road-sign recognition data being synchronized to the map data. To be able to provide unambiguous and the most accurate possible and thus improved road sign information to be output to the driver in the context of such a method, in the case of a discrepancy between the map data and the road-sign recognition data, the decision is made with the aid of reliability factors for the camera and map as to whether the data from the digital map or the road-sign recognition data are output in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Niem, Philipp Ibele
  • Publication number: 20140371984
    Abstract: Methods of assessing driver behavior include monitoring vehicle systems and driver monitoring systems to accommodate for a driver's slow reaction time, attention lapse and/or alertness. When it is determined that a driver is drowsy, for example, the response system may modify the operation of one or more vehicle systems. The systems that may be modified include: visual devices, audio devices, tactile devices, antilock brake systems, automatic brake prefill systems, brake assist systems, auto cruise control systems, electronic stability control systems, collision warning systems, lane keep assist systems, blind spot indicator systems, electronic pretensioning systems and climate control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kin C. Fung, Timothy J. Dick
  • Publication number: 20140365107
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a calendar application for associating travel times with appointments in a calendar. For an appointment in a calendar, the calendar application creates a representation of the travel time to display in the calendar layout. The calendar application provides a travel time tool to create the travel time representation for an appointment. The travel time representation is an item in the calendar UI just like an appointment is an item in the calendar UI. The travel time item represents the estimated time required to travel between a particular location and the location of the appointment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lala Dutta, Jeffrey Harris
  • Publication number: 20140365113
    Abstract: A method for providing navigation instructions on a device is described. As the device traverses a navigated route according to a first mode of transportation, the method displays a first turn-by-turn navigation presentation defined for the first mode. Based on data gathered by the device, the method determines that the device is navigating the route according to a second mode of transportation. The method automatically displays a second, different turn-by-turn navigation presentation defined for the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christine B. McGavran, Bradford A. Moore, Christopher D. Moore, Harold O. Habeck, Marcel van Os, Wesley Yue, Eric L. Grundstrom
  • Patent number: 8909466
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for hybrid off-board vehicle navigation are disclosed. In the system, a multi-stop route package is created and sent from a route server to a navigation device. The route package can include a collection of vehicle attributes and corresponding road restrictions for guiding the vehicle towards its destination. The server can optionally push the route package to the vehicle in an email message or other stored communication. When an off-route condition is detected, the navigation device can send a route request to the server that includes the vehicle attributes and the corresponding road restrictions. The server can respond with a partial route correction that is determined based on the vehicle attributes and road restrictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Rogers, Matt Crowder, Kerry Somerville, Richard Pearlman, Matthew Chaffin, Bert Yagrich
  • Patent number: 8909465
    Abstract: A user may indicate a preference of a route when alternative routes are available between an origin and a destination. The mapping system may enable a user to identify a region, a point or a set of points to help control, guide or otherwise influence the determination of a route favored by the user. While the identified region, point or set of points may be included in the route, the identified region, point or set of points need not necessarily be included in the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: MapQuest, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Nesbitt
  • Publication number: 20140358438
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method, apparatus and computer program product for the collaborative presentation of information relating to a travel route. In particular, the method may include providing for display of primary information on a display of a first device, providing for display of ancillary of information on a display of a second device, receiving location information at the first device, and updating the ancillary information provided for display on the display of the second device in response to receiving the location information at the first device. The primary information may include route-guidance information for a route. The ancillary information may include information associated with the route. The ancillary information may include additional information relative to the primary information. The ancillary information may include point-of-interest information along the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Here Global B.V.
    Inventors: Karoline Cerny, Karen Janssen, Elena Rovati
  • Publication number: 20140358439
    Abstract: An approach is provided for determining a request by a user to initiate route calculation to at least one destination. The approach involves determining one or more items of interest associated with the user. The approach also involves determining availability information of the one or more items of interest at the at least one destination. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a presentation of at least one message regarding the availability information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Maguy Jamain, Jerome Beaurepaire
  • Publication number: 20140358435
    Abstract: A request is received from a route traveler for a suggested departure time associated with travel to a destination. Community event and social media information, related to events and activities near a travel route to the destination, is evaluated. The suggested departure time is determined based upon the community event and social media information related to the events and activities near the travel route to the destination. The suggested departure time determined based upon the community event and social media information related to the events and activities near the travel route to the destination is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Denise A. Bell, Pamela F. Geiger, Leah A. Lawrence, Irgelkha D. Mejia