Regenerating Entirely New Route From Current Position Patents (Class 701/416)
  • Patent number: 8918280
    Abstract: A method for providing trajectory planning for an aircraft based on constraint processing is disclosed. The method may be performed utilizing a computer or processor onboard the aircraft that is en route, through all phases of flight, to an end location. The trajectory planning method may comprise receiving a set of constraints during the flight of the aircraft; analyzing the set of constraints to determine an optimal trajectory between a current location of the aircraft and the end location, the optimal trajectory is determined based on compliance with the set of constraints; and dynamically adjusting the flight of the aircraft based on the optimal trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8874345
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an input size of a wheel of a vehicle, determining a derived speed of the vehicle that is based on the input size of the wheel, determining a reference speed of the vehicle as the vehicle moves, comparing the derived speed with the reference speed of the vehicle, and identifying an error in the input size of the wheel based on a difference between the derived speed and the reference speed. A system includes a control unit configured to determine a derived speed of a vehicle that is based on an input size of the wheel and a reference speed of the vehicle as the vehicle moves. The control unit compares the derived speed with the reference speed of the vehicle in order to identify an error in the input size of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vishram Vinayak Nandedkar, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Patricia Sue Lacy, Pavan Vempaty
  • Patent number: 8874361
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide for creating an accurate representation of a roadway network, such as for planning vehicle travel routes. Positioning data is obtained, such as GPS data points from a plurality of vehicles, which mark traces of vehicular travel. A location of a trace is clarified using adjustment forces that are related to the traces, for example, to form coherent groups of traces. From these groups of clarified traces, a graph line is created by merging the traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Krumm, Lili Cao
  • Patent number: 8855901
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining travel information that indicates travel patterns for a mobile computing device that is associated with a user; identifying a current context for the mobile computing device and the user; identifying one or more destination locations that the user has at least a threshold likelihood of travelling to with the mobile computing device based on the current context and the obtained travel information; generating a prediction that one or more events have at least a threshold probability of occurring along one or more of a plurality of routes for travelling to the identified one or more destination locations; selecting a particular route from the plurality of routes to recommend to the user based on the current context and the prediction of the one or more events; and providing route information that identifies the selected particular route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Leader, Andrew Kirmse
  • Patent number: 8843303
    Abstract: A method and related system is disclosed for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning of a vehicle's pre-planned route. The system receives a desired Risk Tolerance Level (RTL) for the pre-planned route from a decision maker. As a mission time progresses, changing threats pose an unknown level of risk to the vehicle and crew. The system receives an unplanned threat to mission success of the vehicle and qualifies the received unplanned threat with a Risk Type (RT). The system generates and evaluates possible 4-D re-routes based on the RTL and RT coupled with physical attributes of the possible 4-D re-route. Additionally, the re-planner associates a cost to each of the possible 4-D re-routes and presents ranked possibilities to the decision maker for selection and activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Yih Young, Kristen M. Jerome
  • Patent number: 8838379
    Abstract: The accuracy of a reverse geocode for a GPS fix in a mobile phone navigation device is improved significantly by considering together the user's last known location on an original route, the elapsed time between the last known location on the original route and the latest GPS fix, and the likelihood that the user could have travelled from the last known location on the original route to one of numerous candidate locations (generated from the reverse geocode) in the elapsed time. The navigation server relies only on a GPS fix, timestamps, and a back-end routing database to provide improved or superior accuracy of reverse geocoding a GPS fix (selection of a point on a road) when a relevant user has deviated from the intended route. The reverse geocoding allows for accurate and functional re-routing capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Barcklay, John Hahn, Kevin Tsurutome
  • Patent number: 8825388
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein may relate to methods, apparatuses, systems, devices or articles for generating or using an indoor likelihood heatmap, etc. For certain example implementations, a method for a device may comprise projecting multiple grid points over a schematic map of an indoor area, with the schematic map indicating multiple obstructions of the indoor area. Feasible paths between grid point pairs of the multiple grid points may be determined. For a particular grid point of the multiple grid points, a count of the feasible paths that traverse the particular grid point may be determined. A likelihood heatmap for use in one or more navigational applications may be generated based, at least in part, on the count. Other example implementations are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Behrooz Khorashadi, Rajarshi Gupta, Saumitra Mohan Das, Alok Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 8825377
    Abstract: A source device can navigate towards a moving destination target device, such as when two mobile phones are moving towards each other. The source device can receive an initial position of the target and a route to the target. As the source device and target device simultaneously move, the route can be updated. For example, if a distance of movement exceeds a threshold (e.g., 1 mile) the route can be updated. In another embodiment, a target device can switch between position tracking devices so as to provide less accurate position information, but save power, or provide high accuracy position information at the cost of higher power consumption. Generally, the switching between position tracking devices and the frequency at which the route to the destination point can be based on the distance apart between the source device and target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Callaghan, Sergey Karamov, Sanjib Saha
  • Patent number: 8824337
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining shortest paths between a source node and a target node in a road network are disclosed. An example method includes determining a hierarchy of nodes with a number of levels of a first graph and calculating a first shortest path between the source node and the target node traversing a meeting node in the first graph. The number of levels in the first graph is reduced. One or more second shortest paths between the source node and the target node traversing one or more meeting nodes in the second reduced graph is determined. The first shortest path is assigned as a primary route and the one or more second shortest paths are assigned as alternate routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Geisberger
  • Patent number: 8788194
    Abstract: Disclosed is a navigation system which creates “environment contribution information” in accordance with a deviation (?(k)) between the total cost (C1(k)) of a first route (RT1(k)) which is searched by using a traffic information indicating the amount of cost required to pass through each link and the total cost (C2(k)) of a second route (RT2(k)) which is searched without using the traffic information. The traffic information used in searching the first route (RT1(k)) to a target position (TP(k)) of a vehicle (2) is used in searching a route to a shared target position by a navigation device (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sengoku, Yuichiro Ishido, Tadafumi Nogawa
  • Publication number: 20140200802
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are tools and techniques for providing optional re-routing. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a determination is made that a location of a computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location. Based on the determining, a re-route option is provided. Also, while the re-route option is available, a determination is made that a subsequent location of the computing device is on the predetermined route, or a re-route is performed responsive to receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Wen Danny Su, Aarti Bharathan, Adrian Solis, Jonathan Aroner
  • Patent number: 8762050
    Abstract: A fuel-saving path planning navigation system and a fuel-saving path planning method thereof. A plurality of sensors monitors a plurality of roads respectively and periodically report traffic information to a server. The server comprises a storing module and a processing module. The storing module stores the traffic information as history information. The processing module estimates how many vehicles on a road based upon the history information, calculates fuel consumption of each possible planned path including current fuel consumption based on real-time traffic and future fuel consumption based on the historical information, and plans a most fuel-efficient path. Also, the processing module recalculates fuel consumption of remaining path and changes the remaining path while fuel cost of a new path better 10% than the remaining path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Wen-Tsuen Chen, Po-Yu Chen, Yi-Min Guo
  • Patent number: 8738285
    Abstract: Techniques are described for generating and using information regarding road traffic in various ways, including by obtaining and analyzing road traffic information regarding actual behavior of drivers of vehicles on a network of roads. Obtained actual driver behavior information may in some situations be analyzed to identify decision point locations at which drivers face choices corresponding to possible alternative routes through the network of roads (e.g., intersections, highway exits and/or entrances, etc.), as well as to track the actual use by drivers of particular paths between particular decision points in order to determine preferred compound links between those decision point locations. The identified and determined information from the analysis may then be used in various manners, including in some situations to assist in determining particular recommended or preferred routes of vehicles through the network of roads based at least in part on actual driver behavior information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Inrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Scofield, Robert Cahn, Weimin Mark Wang, Alec Barker, Robert Frederick Leidle
  • Patent number: 8725341
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus guides a user to an appropriate terminal in an airport, for example, even when a schedule of an intended flight is changed. The above advantage is achieved by acquiring flight information of the intended flight from a flight information list that is delivered from an information distribution center and by determining, as a guidance destination, a terminal of the intended flight or a suitable airport facility after change of the flight schedule. The suitable guidance destination is determined not only by the changed flight schedule but also by a user purpose to go to the airport and an estimated arrival time of the user to the airport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8725326
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting a route to be authorized by a dispatcher for a vehicle to travel on a route network comprises a computer system that has a database having stored data relative to interconnecting route segments that make up the route network. Data relative to the origination location and the destination location is input into the computer system. The processor accesses the database and generates a predicted route with an origination location and destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Kapp, Eric Vorndran, Daniel Pagano, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Publication number: 20140114564
    Abstract: A source device can navigate towards a moving destination target device, such as when two mobile phones are moving towards each other. The source device can receive an initial position of the target and a route to the target. As the source device and target device simultaneously move, the route can be updated. For example, if a distance of movement exceeds a threshold (e.g., 1 mile) the route can be updated. In another embodiment, a target device can switch between position tracking devices so as to provide less accurate position information, but save power, or provide high accuracy position information at the cost of higher power consumption. Generally, the switching between position tracking devices and the frequency at which the route to the destination point can be based on the distance apart between the source device and target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Callaghan, Sergey Karamov, Sanjib Saha
  • Patent number: 8706402
    Abstract: In a vehicle control, a future travel locus of a vehicle is computed by using an evaluation function, and travel road surface information regarding a travel road surface on which the vehicle travels is stored. According to the travel road surface information stored, a convergence criterion for the evaluation function is variably set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Koji Nakai
  • Patent number: 8706397
    Abstract: A system for providing navigation information is provided. A navigation server receives route information from multiple mobile devices. A storage module stores the route information received from the mobile devices as aggregated route information. In response to receipt of a request for direction information from a starting location to a destination location, a route calculation module calculates one or more potential routes from the starting location to the destination location. An optimal route determination module determines which route of the one or more potential routes is an optimal route. The optimal route is determined based on the aggregated route information and a preselected criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew Adler
  • Patent number: 8700328
    Abstract: Configurations are disclosed for providing diversity in transit routes to determine optimal public transit routes for journeys or trips between a source station and a target station. The subject technology performs a forward and backward search of a generated query graph (based on a query between the source and target stations). An arrival label set is determined according to a specified queue order and domination function that takes into account different criteria, such as a duration time and an associated penalty of a label. The arrival label set is then filtered to remove dominated labels. The subject technology then determines one or more optimal paths from the source station to the target station based on the filtered label set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Veselin Raychev, Lucien Pech
  • Patent number: 8700316
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are tools and techniques for providing optional re-routing. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a determination is made that a location of a computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location. Based on the determining, a re-route option is provided. Also, while the re-route option is available, a determination is made that a subsequent location of the computing device is on the predetermined route, or a re-route is performed responsive to receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Wen Danny Su, Aarti Bharathan, Adrian Solis, Jonathan Aroner
  • Patent number: 8700327
    Abstract: A method of determining routes for use in navigation is disclosed. The method includes steps of calculating a current route, calculating an alternative route and comparing the difference in times along each route with a minimum time difference. The minimum time difference is calculated using a dynamic threshold value that varies according to the difference in distances along the current route and the alternative route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cesar Cabral
  • Patent number: 8694243
    Abstract: An optimization method for a navigation device includes recording a plurality of coordinate variation data, analyzing the plurality of coordinate variation data to generate an analysis result, generating at least one behavior rule according to the analysis result, and adjusting a navigation result of the navigation device according to the at least one behavior rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Sung Chang
  • Patent number: 8688371
    Abstract: The automatic generation of multiple sets of directions for navigating geographically to a specific destination without specification of an origin. Based on the destination, candidate roads or other transportation conduits are selected for analysis. Candidate meta-departure points are analyzed and selected along the roads based on distribution about the destination, cardinal directions relative to the destination, road metadata, distance to the destination, driving time, and other factors. The number of departure points generated to represent routes to the destination from the several logical cardinal directions is minimized. The generated departure points also represent routes that a majority of people would likely take to the destination. Additionally, the generated departure points originate from places that users are likely to be familiar with and can get to without additional guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Cheung, Jeffrey D. Couckuyt, Markus Jansen
  • Patent number: 8688372
    Abstract: A computer determines an optimal route to a destination. The computer identifies the present position of a navigation device with a user selecting a destination. The computer acquires current information comprising road, business hour, traffic congestion patterns, a plurality of conveyance modes, and time buffer information relative to the present position and the selected destination to store in the memory. A route identification unit identifies, from the acquired current information, an optimal route from the current position to the selected destination. The computer stores the acquired information in the memory of the navigation device and identifies an optimal route from the current position to the selected destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Robert R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8688379
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for determining one or more possible destinations that may be reached using a hierarchy of maps. The system may be configured to receive search parameters indicating a starting point and an allotted cost and identify a set of nodes on a first level map that may be reached given the allotted cost. If further level maps in the hierarchy of maps are to be searched, the system may identify nodes in other level maps in the hierarchy of maps that may be reached given the remaining allotted cost and add the identified nodes to the set of nodes. Based on the set of nodes, the system may calculate the area that may be reached from the starting point given the allotted cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Brian McGill
  • Patent number: 8682574
    Abstract: Adaptive navigation techniques are disclosed that allow navigation systems to learn from a user's personal driving history. As a user drives, models are developed and maintained to learn or otherwise capture the driver's personal driving habits and preferences. Example models include road speed, hazard, favored route, and disfavored route models. Other attributes can be used as well, whether based on the user's personal driving data or driving data aggregated from a number of users. The models can be learned under explicit conditions (e.g., time of day/week, driver ID) and/or under implicit conditions (e.g., weather, drivers urgency, as inferred from sensor data). Thus, models for a plurality of attributes can be learned, as well as one or more models for each attribute under a plurality of conditions. Attributes can be weighted according to user preference. The attribute weights and/or models can be used in selecting a best route for user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Golding, Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8674854
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traffic control apparatus and method. The traffic control apparatus includes a navigation route database (DB) for storing navigation routes of a vehicle for respective navigational situations. A vehicle situation information collection unit collects current navigational situation information of the vehicle. A preferred route extraction unit extracts a preferred navigation route of the vehicle corresponding to the collected current navigational situation information from the navigation route DB. A predicted route estimation unit estimates a predicted navigation route of the vehicle based on the extracted preferred navigation route with reference to a traveling state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Lee, Jong-Wook Han, Hyun-Sook Cho
  • Patent number: 8635023
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to localizing mobile devices. In one example, a first location method associated with a first accuracy value may be used to estimate a location of the mobile device. A confidence circle indicative of a level of confidence in the estimation of the location is calculated. The confidence circle may be displayed on a mobile device. When other location methods become available, the size of the displayed confidence circle may be expanded based on information from an accelerometer of the client device or the accuracy of the other available location methods. This may be especially useful when the mobile device is transitioning between areas which are associated with different location methods that may be more or less accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sorelle Alaina Friedler, Mohammed Waleed Kadous, Andrew Lookingbill
  • Publication number: 20140019038
    Abstract: A high integrity navigation system and method are provided. The method comprises performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of a desired flight path of an aircraft, for example an approach to an airport, and comparing the CRC with a stored CRC performed on the identified flight path. If the comparison exceeds a first threshold, a first alert is provided wherein the pilot is to perform a published missed approach. A second alert, also requiring a missed approach, is provided when one or more comparisons are performed of a sensor position of the aircraft with the high integrity flight path; a defined flight path with the high integrity flight path; and the sensor position with an aircraft position determined by a flight management system, and thresholds are exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Christopher John Shehi, Reginald Crocker, Kimberly TenPasBell, James Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130345962
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a device that stores a novel navigation application. The application in some embodiments includes a user interface (UI) that has a display area for displaying a two-dimensional (2D) navigation presentation or a three-dimensional (3D) navigation presentation. The UI includes a selectable 3D control for directing the program to transition between the 2D and 3D presentations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcel van Os, Christopher Blumenberg, Bradford A. Moore, Emanuele Vulcano
  • Patent number: 8615358
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a telematics enabled mobile vehicle communication system. The method includes receiving a navigation request from a user interface to a telematics unit, receiving a location signal defining an approximate geographic location of the telematics unit to the telematics unit, analyzing the navigation request and the location signal to produce a navigation route defined by a plurality of navigation points including an initial navigation point and one or more additional navigation points, producing a local navigation zone and a global navigation zone based on the analyzed location signal wherein each navigation zone defines a geographic area concentrically radiating from a known geographic location, determining which navigation zone the initial navigation point is within, and producing navigation instructions that provide direction to navigation points along the navigation route and are based on the determined navigation zone and the navigation route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Ronald W. Fraser, James J. Piwowarski, Mark J. Glaza, John P. Weiss
  • Patent number: 8612136
    Abstract: The present invention provides system and method for creation of a road map, the system comprising a plurality of navigation devices; and an application server to receive from the plurality of navigation devices time series of location points, and to create a road map based on the time series of location points. The method comprising receiving location points from plurality of navigation devices, along with respective time stamps indicating the time of recordation of each of the location points; identifying at least one route according to the location points and respective time stamps; and creating a road map based on the at least one route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: WAZE Mobile ltd.
    Inventors: Uri Levine, Amir Shinar, Ehud Shabtai
  • Patent number: 8600663
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a sail assist device, which includes a wind direction sensor for measuring a wind direction, a ship position acquiring module for acquiring a latitude and a longitude of the ship, and a display module for calculating a layline based on the latitude and longitude of the ship, a latitude and a longitude of a target position of the ship, and the wind direction, with the target position being a reference, and displaying a target mark indicating the target, a ship mark indicating the ship, and the layline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Yugo Kubota, Hiroshi Yoshii, Ikuo Ezaki
  • Patent number: 8589073
    Abstract: A method for distributed traffic navigation in a vehicular network is presented. At each vehicle entering the network, information associated with the vehicular network is acquired and stored, and destination addresses are broadcasted as route requests. At each vehicle in the network, the stored information is updated through vehicle to vehicle communication. At each junction, a header vehicle is selected for listening for broadcasts to determine the presence of a matrix. If the matrix is not present, the matrix is initialized based on the stored information of the header vehicle. The header vehicle further estimates travel time on the road segments based on the matrix, calculates a backlog indicator based on the segment travel time and the route requests. The header vehicle further updates the matrix and generates a route based on the matrix. The matrix is broadcasted from the header vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratul K. Guha, Wai Chen
  • Patent number: 8583352
    Abstract: A method and hold path computation system for automatically generating a hold path for an aircraft flying in a holding pattern, wherein the holding pattern is defined by one or more orbits within a selectable holding area are provided. The system includes a processor configured to receive a hold departure time indicating a time the aircraft is to leave the hold path to meet a required time of arrival (RTA) at a waypoint, determine a present position of the aircraft within the holding pattern, and determine an amount of time to complete a current hold orbit. The processor is also configured such that if the determined amount of time to complete a current hold orbit is less than or equal to the hold departure time, maintain the aircraft flying in the holding pattern and determine an amount of time by which to shorten the next orbit to exit the holding pattern at the hold departure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Kenneth Klooster, Joachim Karl Ulf Hochwarth
  • 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: 8577599
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle navigation accurately calculates travel times between locations and serves a vehicle driver request for the shortest time route. A navigation server compiles data of common road segments between two locations that are contained in route requests and subsequently calculates travel time between the two locations. When subsequent route requests contain further information pertaining to the same locations, the navigation server updates the travel time. Consequently, the navigation server can calculate the travel times of different routes from the same source vehicle location and destination location. When a vehicle driver requests directions from the vehicle's current location to a destination, the navigation server then provides directions for the shortest time route to the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Richard A. Johnson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130261914
    Abstract: A control system that makes adjustments, such as limiting the maximum speed or maximum torque in a vehicle, is provided. These adjustments can be based on knowledge about the vehicle and trip, and on the estimated energy remaining. The control system is applicable to a wide range of vehicles, including ground, air, water, and sea vehicles, as well as vehicles powered by battery, electricity, compressed natural gas, or even liquid fuel propulsion systems. The control system may be used to adjust vehicle operation in route to assure the vehicle reaches a destination and to inform or counteract a human vehicle operator. Control system can also be used in racing applications to calculate the fastest-possible race speed and drive torque for a given race length; or alternatively, in endurance racing or delivery applications to optimize the vehicle speed and/or drive torque for a given race length or route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: W. Morrison Consulting Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. INGRAM, Robert Ussery, William M. Yates, III
  • Patent number: 8543331
    Abstract: An electronic map device apparatus, and an associated method, creates a route between a route source and a route destination for display at the electronic map device. Locations, area, and features that a user does not desire to encounter during travel along the route are identified and form exclusion information. The exclusion information is entered by way of a user interface. The exclusion information is utilized in the formation of the selected route. A mapping that identifies the selected route is displayed at a display device of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marie Risov, Kas Kasravi, Corey W. Wick
  • Patent number: 8538694
    Abstract: A system may include a processing device and a routing application included on the processing device. The routing application may be configured to receive a destination location for a vehicle; determine a fuel efficiency of the vehicle; and determine a route for the vehicle from a current location to the destination location, the route being based on the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, a fuel capacity of the vehicle, an amount of fuel remaining for the vehicle, and navigation information including the location of at least one charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian E. Conway
  • Patent number: 8538452
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for supporting cognitive radio access by communication mode guide data in a mobile terminal supporting a multi communication mode. When the mobile terminal supporting the multi communication mode needs to change an available communication mode according to a movement situation, the mobile terminal can select an optimal available communication mode at the current location, the movement spot or the movement prediction spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hongsoog Kim, Namhoon Park
  • Patent number: 8538684
    Abstract: A method of GPS navigation includes receiving a request for a new route, determining the new route, removing known GPS signal-loss areas from the new route to create a loss-free route, and providing the loss-free route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 8532923
    Abstract: A pedestrian route navigation system (“PRNS”) in a vehicle capable of determining a route from a final parking position of the vehicle to a predetermined destination, comprising a final parking position unit and a pedestrian route calculation unit. The PRNS may include a display unit capable of outputting data concerning the route to the predetermined destination, and a transmitting/receiving unit capable of transmitting the data to a mobile information unit of the user of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Bruelle-Drews
  • Patent number: 8532926
    Abstract: A map information processing device includes a map information storage unit 23 for storing map information, a sensor information input unit 22 for inputting sensor information used for calculation of a current position, a navigation processing unit 25 for calculating the current position by using the map information read from the map information storage unit, and the sensor information inputted from the sensor information input unit, and for, when determining that the above-mentioned calculated current position is in a tunnel shown by the read map information, and when this tunnel branches into tunnel sections at a forward position, calculating a distance to each of all tunnel end points to generate a map image about a map including this calculated distance, and an output control unit 26 for outputting the map image generated by the navigation processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Ikeuchi, Makoto Mikuriya, Masaharu Umezu, Yasushi Kodaka, Kosei Uchino
  • Patent number: 8527195
    Abstract: A method of dynamically selecting a routing service including receiving a route request at a call center from a telematics unit via a wireless connection, determining a vehicle communication configuration responsive to the request, determining map data availability responsive to the request and selecting a routing service option based on the vehicle communication configuration determination and the map data availability determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Fraser, Carl W. Shonk, Mark J. Glaza
  • Patent number: 8515598
    Abstract: A device for aiding the flight management of an aircraft includes a calculation device for determining in real time an updated lateral trajectory that the aircraft will follow and a display device for displaying this updated lateral trajectory on a cockpit screen of the aircraft. Consequently, the crew of the aircraft is able to readily visualize and understand the updated lateral trajectory that will put the aircraft back on the original course as a result of the display on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Pascale Louise, Thierry Bourret, Marie-Odile Plantecoste, Charles Renault Lerberquer
  • Patent number: 8498758
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating altitude data and/or height data are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data from an external source such as a global positioning system (“GPS”); receives navigation data from multiple internal sources; receives object data representative of terrain or surface feature elevation; determines an instant measurement of aircraft altitude as a function of these inputs; and generates aircraft altitude data responsive to such determination. In an additional embodiment, the processor receives reference point data representative of the elevation of the stationary reference point (e.g., a landing threshold point); determines an instant measurement of aircraft height as a function of this input and the instant measurement of aircraft altitude; and generates aircraft height data responsive to such determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A Bell, James H. Doty, Sarah Barber, Felix B. Turcios
  • Patent number: 8467960
    Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system for a vehicle and a vehicle navigation system are provided, where an initial route to a destination is determined, the initial route that includes a plurality of links, each of which is associated with an initial cost. The initial route may be calculated such that it passes within a predetermined distance of one or more predetermined waypoints. One or more of the predetermined waypoints may be designated as an obligatory waypoint, which will be taken into account when calculating a new route. The initial cost associated with a link in the initial route may be decreased and a new route calculated in the event the vehicle deviates from the initial route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Ansgar Rinscheid
  • Patent number: 8452531
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a route guiding system and a method thereof. The route guiding system in accordance with the present invention determines whether a user is approaching a crossway point based on the user's current position. In case the user is determined to approach a crossway point, other crossway points having a road connecting to this crossway point and scenic spots along such crossway points are searched from the electronic map. Finally, such roads connecting to these crossway points and relevant information concerning these scenic spots are displayed. In this fashion, the user can move randomly for promenade along the streets according to the scenic spot information displayed on the route guiding system without specifically setting any destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: MiTAC International Corp.
    Inventor: Wei-Yi Lo