Having Audio Or Visual Route Guidance Patents (Class 701/431)
  • 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: 8583374
    Abstract: Methods and systems for route summarization are described herein. The method includes generating a route from an origin to a destination, the route including a plurality of maneuvers. One or more maneuvers are removed from the plurality of maneuvers. A summarized route is generated that reflects the removal of the one or more maneuvers from the plurality of maneuvers such that the summarized route has fewer maneuvers than the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Morten Just Petersen, Noam Ben Haim, Jens Riegelsberger
  • Patent number: 8583365
    Abstract: A route guide method includes collecting state information of respective points of interest (POIs) and storing the collected state information in a state information database, extracting state information of one or more candidate POIs with reference to the state information database according to a request for the state information of the one or more candidate POIs, and applying the extracted state information of the candidate POIs to routes to the respective POIs to guide a user along the routes to the respective candidate POIs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: In Sung Jang, Moonsoo Lee, Kyoung Hwan An, Kyoung-Wook Min, Ju Wan Kim
  • 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: 8543290
    Abstract: An information processing unit displays a pop-up window in a display area of a display unit when the own vehicle is in an area of a set distance or less away from an extracted intersection, when the own vehicle stops, when a brake switch is ON, and when a display request for an image of traffic conditions of vehicles at the intersection by the driver is recognized. If an accelerator operation is performed in a predetermined way after the pop-up window is displayed, the display of the pop-up window is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuyoshi Takazawa, Norimasa Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8543323
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for generating a street map that includes a position identifier that identifies a location on the street map. The method and system may also generate and display a plurality of images representative of the location of the position identifier. A user may interact with a position identifier or one of several scroll icons to view images of other locations on the street map and/or to obtain driving directions between two locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Gold, Timothy Caro-Bruce, Huy T. Ha, John Alan Hjelmstad, Christopher Aaron Volkert
  • Patent number: 8543332
    Abstract: A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Arnold Chester McQuaide, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8543333
    Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for browsing spot information, adapted to an electronic device, are provided. In the present method, a plurality of spot information are retrieved, in which each of the spot information at least comprises a picture and a location of a spot. Next, an electronic map is displayed and a spot marker is marked at the spot location of each spot information on the electronic map. Meanwhile, a spot browsing bar is displayed on a side of the electronic map and the spot pictures of the spot information are sequentially displayed in the spot browsing bar. When a select operation of a certain spot marker on the electronic map is received, the spot browsing bar is scrolled to show the spot picture corresponding to the selected spot marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Po-Yen Lee, Chien-Wen Chen, Pai-Chang Yeh, Li-Wen Lian
  • Patent number: 8543293
    Abstract: Route guidance apparatuses, methods, and programs determine a guidance intersection in front of a movable body in a direction of travel along a navigation route. The apparatuses, methods, and programs acquire a shape of the guidance intersection, determine an exit road on which the movable body leaves the guidance intersection, and determine whether the determined exit road is one of a plurality of roads connected to the guidance intersection that exist in an area extending in the same direction as the determined exit road. When the determined road is one of the plurality of roads that exist in the area extending in the same direction as the exit road, the apparatuses, methods, and programs associate each of the plurality of roads with an identification information item usable to identify a connecting relationship with the guidance intersection, and provide guidance using the identification information item associated with the exit road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Tanizaki
  • Patent number: 8538679
    Abstract: An enhanced geocoding module may be used to determine various physical addresses located on the same street. The enhanced geocoding module may create a grid around a predetermined location and request the physical addresses of various coordinate points located on the grid. Additional features of the module may include a display that displays the grid with physical addresses located on the same street, various statistics related to a user of the enhanced geocoding module, and a color-coded scheme that indicates the status of individuals/groups located at the physical addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Oberweis Dairy, Inc.
    Inventors: Akash Takyar, Shaifali Garg
  • Publication number: 20130226450
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for supporting the safe navigation of ships based on mobile terminals which can prevent accidents at sea including marine collisions between small ships sailing near the coastline. The method for supporting the safe navigation of a ship in conjunction with a mobile terminal carried by a crew member of a ship includes collecting information about the navigation of the ship by a safe ship navigation supporting apparatus positioned in the ship, collecting information about surrounding ship through group communication with a server corresponding to the surrounding ship, converting a chart transmitted from a ground server into a format compatible with the mobile terminal, and applying safe navigation information created on the basis of the information about the navigation and the information about the ship to the converted chart, and providing the crew member with the safe navigation information through the mobile terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND ELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho PARK, Byung-Tae JANG, Dong-Sun LIM
  • Patent number: 8521422
    Abstract: A navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Wistrand
  • 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: 8510038
    Abstract: A route guidance system includes: a current position detecting unit; a display condition determination processing unit that determines, for each of pieces of lane data that correspond to a lane list display section set in a forward direction of a vehicle position, whether a display condition for creating a lane list is satisfied, based on the pieces of lane data; a display setting processing unit that sets a piece of the lane data that satisfies the display condition as a display target; and a list display processing unit that displays the lane list based on the piece of the lane data that has been set as the display target. Thus, the piece of the lane data that satisfies the display condition is set as the display target, and the lane list is displayed based on the piece of the lane data that has been set as the display target. Consequently, the size of the lane list can be prevented from becoming too large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanizaki, Kiyohide Kato, Kenichi Murata, Kiyokazu Okada
  • Patent number: 8510032
    Abstract: A method for speech recognition includes providing a source of geographical information within a vehicle. The geographical information pertains to a current location of the vehicle, a planned travel route of the vehicle, a map displayed within the vehicle, and/or a gesture marked by a user on a map. Words spoken within the vehicle are recognized by use of a speech recognition module. The recognizing is dependent upon the geographical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Zhongnan Shen, Fuliang Weng, Zhe Feng
  • Patent number: 8504298
    Abstract: A facility-around-route retrieval device includes a map disk 3 for storing map data and facility data, a route calculation unit 13 for calculating a route to a destination by using the map data stored in the map disk, a facility retrieval condition setting unit 16 for setting a facility retrieval condition, and a facility-around-route retrieval unit 17 for retrieving, in a case where a facility around the route calculated in the route calculation unit is retrieved in accordance with the condition set in the facility retrieval condition setting unit, the facility present only on a side of a traveling lane of a vehicle of a divided road from the facility data stored in the map disk when the route includes the divided road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8483956
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of portable electronic device with guide function includes a housing, a processing unit, a command unit, and a guiding unit. The processing unit and the guiding unit are positioned inside the housing, and the command unit is positioned at least partially outside of the housing. The processing unit is electrically connected to the command unit and the guiding unit. Operating the command unit, the portable electronic device with guide function is actuated into guiding mode controlled by the processing unit. The guiding unit sends detection signals to detect obstacles, receives feedback signals from the obstacles, the processing unit receives the feedback signal from the guiding unit to generate corresponding obstacle types and distance according to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8483943
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and prompting, upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, a user of the navigation device to enable output of a warning to break from driving a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, during travel along the determined route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Rory Jones, Sven-Erik Jurgens
  • Patent number: 8478307
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user of a source computing device with the ability to communicate with a destination communication device, while using a navigation application that provides directions to a geographical location associated with the destination communication device. Specifically, the source computing device may provide within the navigation application a mechanism, such as a selectable item, that upon selection allows the user to communicate with the destination communication device without exiting the navigation application that is providing directions to the geographical locations associated with the destination communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Hayes
  • Patent number: 8473194
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting a location based search for event cartridges is provided. A database of cartridges is maintained. Each cartridge includes a sequence of triggerable events and origin geolocational data for a start location for execution of the triggerable events. A server is operatively coupled to the database and interfaces to a user device having a display and user input controls. A user request from the user device is processed. The user request, including a location of the user device, is received. The cartridges are searched by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge. Those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device are selected. The selected cartridges are provided to the user device as a menu on the display and are further selectable through the user input controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Irish, Elias C. Alvord
  • Patent number: 8471729
    Abstract: A road-vehicle communication system enabling resumption of the transmission/reception from the rest of data between the vehicle and the road if the transmission/reception is interrupted. Specifically, the road-vehicle communication system includes a roadside apparatus for distributing a content and a vehicle-mounted device which can play a distributed content, the roadside apparatus is connected communicatively with the vehicle-mounted device, and a series of contents are distributed from the roadside apparatus to the vehicle-mounted device. The roadside apparatus includes a control unit for determining a content which the roadside apparatus starts transmitting to the vehicle-mounted device, which is a communication party, from among the series of contents and distributing the other contents succeeding the determined transmission start content. Thus, if the transmission/reception of data between the road and vehicle is interrupted, the transmission/reception can be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventors: Kouji Kuga, Hideyuki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 8467962
    Abstract: A navigation system includes a lane information acquiring unit 27 for acquiring both the number of lanes of a road which forms an intersection, and lane information which defines a road branching off from each of the lanes, a lane direction determining unit 28 for determining the direction of each of the lanes on the basis of both the lane information acquired by the lane information acquiring unit, and a road attribute of an incoming road coming into the intersection and a road attribute of an outgoing road extending from the intersection, the road attributes of the incoming and outgoing roads being included in map data acquired by a map data acquiring unit, and a lane information display unit 29 for displaying the direction of each of the lanes determined by the lane direction determining unit with an arrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Irie, Naomiki Komatsu, Yoshiki Akashi, Kumi Nishibashi
  • Patent number: 8467951
    Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating a potential route from a current location to a destination; assigning a steady state change indicator to a route characteristic of the potential route for maintaining a steady state of a vehicle; calculating a total steady state change for the potential route based on the steady state change indicator; and determining a selected route based on the potential route with the total steady state change that is the lowest for displaying on a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Telenav, Inc.
    Inventor: Aliasgar Mumtaz Husain
  • Patent number: 8463545
    Abstract: A navigation system, device and method for assisting a mobile user in navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a processing unit configured to execute a navigation program, output peripherals, to provide navigation instructions to the mobile user, the device having access to a satellite radiolocalization module, arranged to acquire the current location, to a map database, containing cartographic information, and to a sensor peripheral; the navigation program being further arranged to generate navigation instructions according to a computed route based on the acquired current location, the cartographic information and a desired destination; the device having a normal operation mode and at least one low-power mode, wherein the navigation device is configured to change mode according to the one or more of the following data: the current location; the computed route; data provided from the sensor peripheral; and by the corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lewis Boore, Ron Torten
  • Patent number: 8447514
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal 10 has a navigation function to perform a route guidance from a present location to a destination by utilizing a network 100 and a GPS signal. A geomagnetism sensor 46, a direction detecting circuit 44 and a gyro sensor 48 detects a traveling direction of the mobile communication terminal 10 (user). The CPU 20 determines whether or not the traveling direction and a direction of the route designated by the navigation function are coincident with each other by the processing in a step S7. Then, if the traveling direction and the direction of the route designated by the navigation function are not coincident with each other, the LED 38 notifies what direction the user has to go by emitting light in any one of red, yellow and orange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8442760
    Abstract: A GPS receiver is used to receive a signal from GPS satellites, and a current vehicle position is detected based on the received signal. A control unit estimates the current vehicle position based on a travel speed of a vehicle from a vehicle speed sensor and a travel direction of the vehicle from a direction sensor. After correcting the estimated current vehicle position based on the current vehicle position from the GPS receiver, a power supply to the GPS receiver is turned off, and thereafter an error of the estimated current vehicle position is calculated based on an error accumulated for a certain time period regarding the speed and the direction. When the error of the estimated current vehicle position exceeds an error tolerance, the power supply for the GPS receiver is restarted to correct the estimated current vehicle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuusuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8432270
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the same are provided. In the method, position information of a different bicycle user or bicycle riding course information is displayed. Riding information of the different bicycle user is displayed or the bicycle riding course information is changed according to weather or the like. The method provides a navigation screen for bicycle riding and supports prevention of bicycle theft and accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Li Na Lee, I Su Byun, Woo Jin Suh, Sang Hyuck Lee, Jee In Lee
  • Patent number: 8428873
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable displaying a plurality of driving direction steps that form a driving directions path between a start address and a destination address; receiving input selecting a driving direction step of said plurality of driving direction steps; and displaying a panoramic image of a geographic area where a driving action associated with said selected driving direction step would be performed by a driver. In other embodiments, the panoramic image is replaced and/or complemented with one or more of 3D models, full-motion video, full-motion video of 360 degrees images, and live feeds from video cameras to provide enhanced driving directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Chau, Stephane Lafon, Jie Shao, Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Luc Vincent
  • Patent number: 8428869
    Abstract: A system allows a user to select an individual address from the multiple addresses for additional information on that particular address. Multiple addresses can be viewed together on a map for selection purposes. Selection of a particular address can trigger new GUIs for presentation of context information for a particular location to a user. Context information can include differing map views, e.g., map view, satellite view, terrain view, etc., landmarks, photos taken from that particular address, local businesses, telephone numbers for that particular address, etc. Presentation of context information can assist a user in making a more informed decision as to which addresses from multiple presented possible addresses to select. Context information provide criteria to select and/or rule out a particular address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Regan Gill, Darrell Sano, Kevin Masao Tsurutome
  • Patent number: 8428872
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for receiving and displaying a taxiway navigation route on a control display unit having at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. A plurality of taxi route segments are received from an entry field. The plurality of taxi route segments include at least a first taxi route segment and a second taxi route segment. The taxi route segments are assigned to separate display lines in the order in which the taxi route segments were received to form a taxiway navigation route. The taxi route segments are displayed on the control display unit in the order in which the taxi route segments were received. The display line in which the first taxi route segment is to be assigned can be selected. In addition, navigation data corresponding to the taxi route segments can be identified, retrieved, and assigned to the respective taxi route segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Robert P. Smith, Roglenda R. Bowe, Andrew D. Neff
  • Patent number: 8423279
    Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes: a road-information storage unit storing road information; a traffic-signal information storage unit to store information regarding a traffic-signal change timing; a receiving unit to receive other-vehicle information; an obtaining unit to obtain host-vehicle information; a determining unit to determine whether the other vehicle becomes an obstacle to the host vehicle; and a calculating unit to calculate a recommended speed based on the host-vehicle information, the road information, and information regarding the traffic-signal change timing, when the other vehicle is determined to not become an obstacle to the host vehicle, and calculate the recommended speed based on the host-vehicle information, the road information, the information regarding the traffic-signal change timing, and an arrival delay time for avoiding an obstacle caused by the other vehicle, when the other vehicle is determined to become the obstacle to the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Eiji Kitagawa, Takuro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20130085630
    Abstract: A fishfinder data display device is provided. The display device includes a memory for storing fishfinder data obtained by a fishfinder detecting underwater and a location where the fishfinder data is acquired so as to associate the fishfinder data with the location, a display unit for displaying an image created based on the fishfinder data, and a controller, when an operator performs a specifying operation to a predetermined part of the image displayed by the display unit, for reading the location corresponding to the fishfinder data based on the specified predetermined part of the image from the memory, and causing an autopilot device to execute an autopilot operation with the location as a destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: FURUNO Electric Company, Limited
    Inventor: FURUNO Electric Company, Limited
  • Publication number: 20130080048
    Abstract: A method of calculating an accuracy of measuring a location, and a method and apparatus to measure a location of a terminal using the accuracy of measuring the location, are provided. The method of calculating the accuracy of measuring the location of the terminal includes providing a map corresponding to a location measurement type that is used in the terminal. The method further includes reading, from the map, map information of a predetermined area including the location of the terminal. The method further includes calculating the accuracy of measuring the location with the location measurement type based on the map information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eung Sun KIM, Dohyung PARK, Yong KIM
  • Patent number: 8406994
    Abstract: Improved designs of navigation devices or systems are disclosed. A navigation device presents a digital map resembling an ambient environment with a certain level of realism, where various objects resembling major structures or signs are presented or superimposed in the map. Depending on the time of the day or the weather condition of the time, the map or the objects therein is caused to be altered correspondingly in a tone that reflects the time or weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
    Inventors: Kent Qing Pu, Ivan Angelov, David Thieme
  • Patent number: 8401781
    Abstract: Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fernando Pedrazzoli Pazos, Jacques C. Van Belle
  • Patent number: 8392111
    Abstract: A method, medium, and system providing an updating traveling route to a user. The navigation system includes a route selecting unit to select an optimal route for an item to traverse based on calculated performance indexes of a plurality of alternative routes for the traversal, a performance index calculating unit to recalculate the performance indexes of the alternative routes during a current traversal of the selected optimal route based on received external information regarding sections of available traversals after a predetermined point in each alternative route beyond a current point of the current traversal, and a route changing unit to selectively update the optimal route during the current traversal based on the recalculated performance indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-seob Ryu, Jong-ho Lea, Yong-beom Lee
  • Patent number: 8392118
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method of locating a vehicle, comprising: a) connecting a removable locator device to the vehicle, said locator device automatically noting when it has been connected to the vehicle and then using locating technology to retrieve, at regular intervals, location coordinates for the current location of said locator device, said location coordinates approximating the location of the vehicle; b) sensing a loss of connection between the locator device and the vehicle; c) automatically storing, as a waypoint on the locator device, the last location coordinates retrieved prior to sensing said loss of connection; and, d) removing the locator device from the vehicle to enable use of the locator device to return to the stored waypoint, wherein the stored waypoint represents the approximate location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Harris Korn, Chris Chaggares
  • Patent number: 8380430
    Abstract: A portable transceiver for locking and locating an automobile, includes a remote keyless entry system for locking the automobile; a locating device determining a location of the transceiver, wherein the remote keyless entry system and the locating device are housed in a pocket sized housing; and a processor deriving directional information from a current location to a waypoint, wherein in response to an activation of the remote keyless entry system, the locating device determines the waypoint corresponding substantially to that of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Malone, James R. Tranchina, John DiCroce, Shane Wilson
  • Publication number: 20130041584
    Abstract: A communication controller transmits current location information of a subject apparatus to another pre-registered apparatus, and receives current location information of the another pre-registered apparatus. A location relationship determiner determines whether the subject apparatus precedes the another apparatus in a heading direction. An operation mode determiner operates the subject apparatus as a main device when it is determined that the subject apparatus precedes the another apparatus in the heading direction, and operates the subject apparatus as a sub device when it is determined that the subject apparatus does not precede the another apparatus in the heading direction. A function selector activates a function of transmitting heading direction information to the another apparatus when the subject apparatus is determined to be a main device, and activates a function of receiving the heading direction information from a main device when the subject apparatus is determined to be a sub device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kiyofumi TABATA
  • Patent number: 8374791
    Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is performed by a navigation system. A preferred name of a feature visible from a road segment is obtained in a native language from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The parts-of-speech of the preferred name are identified and converted into a target language text providing the preferred name in a target language. A guidance message includes the target language text in the target language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventor: David J. Holsinger
  • Patent number: 8374779
    Abstract: A navigation device which stores a captured image of an area ahead of user in a moving direction after turning at an intersection and displays the captured image before turning at the intersection, includes: a first storage unit (HDD recording/playback unit 14) storing a map; a display unit (display unit 18); and a control unit (control unit 10) displaying the map on the display unit, and the navigation device further includes a second storage unit (HDD recording/playback unit 14) storing a captured image of an area to be entered after a turn is made at an intersection, and the control unit displays the captured image stored in the second storage unit on the display unit before a mobile body reaches the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yuichi Abe, Ryo Watanabe, Kazuhiro Yamane, Tomoyuki Yoshimura, Tadashi Sakai, Toshiyuki Irie, Tomoaki Maeta, Kazuya Murakami
  • Publication number: 20130030696
    Abstract: A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a navigation system of a user's vehicle. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map relative to the user's current location. The user may select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine location. The collection, charging and distribution machine locations displayed may also be based on a physical distance or driving time from the current location of the user mobile device or vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: GOGORO, INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Tsung Wu, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Jung-Hsiu Chen
  • Patent number: 8364397
    Abstract: Methods, systems and program products provide pictorial information relevant to a geographic location, through selecting characteristics relevant to geographic locations, searching pictorial image databases for images having an embedded tags associated with the characteristics, retrieving image files from databases having embedded tags correlated to characteristics and visually depicting a physical appearance or an attribute of a location, analyzing characteristics image files and responsively selecting preferred image data, formatting preferred image data for presentation to a user, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to a user in association with geographic locations. Characteristic include global positioning satellite coordinates. Image data may be selected having preferred image resolutions or perspectives. Formatting pictorial information may comprise synthesizing photographs into a constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II, Neil A. Katz, Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 8364389
    Abstract: Systems and methods are providing for interfacing an electronic device with a bicycle system. The electronic device can receive the output from sensors coupled to the bicycle and generate riding characteristics for display to the user. The electronic device can in addition receive communications from other electronic devices and provide the communications to the user. In some embodiments, the electronic device can be paired with the devices of one or more other cyclists so that the cyclists can share riding characteristics and other information. This can allow the cyclists to ride as a team and better assist each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse L. Dorogusker, Anthony Fadell, Andrew Hodge, Allen P. Haughay, Jr., Scott Krueger, James Eric Mason, Donald J. Novotney, Emily Clark Schubert, Policarpo Wood, Timothy Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130024110
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Harris Korn
  • Patent number: 8359141
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and tangible medium using row sensing for calibrating geographical positions for guiding a farm implement and calibrated geographical positions for steering a vehicle along a row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Arthur F. Lange
  • Publication number: 20130018578
    Abstract: A navigation device that includes a map data base in which map information is stored and a positioning unit that determines a current position based upon a radio wave signal received from a satellite, contains: a tunnel detection unit that detects a tunnel that is present ahead on a road where the navigation device is moving; a travel data acquisition unit that acquires travel data of another vehicle from an information center; and a position estimation unit that in case the tunnel detection unit detects a presence of a tunnel ahead on a road and the travel data acquisition unit acquires from the information center travel data of another vehicle that has traveled through the detected tunnel, estimates a current position of the navigation device in the detected tunnel using a travel speed in the detected tunnel in the acquired travel data as a movement speed of the navigation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsuo, Katsuaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8355865
    Abstract: A system is provided for providing travel time information for a plurality of positions on an electronic map. The system provides map data including information on road segments, determines a plurality of road segment travel times based on the map data, selects a plurality of positions for which travel time information is to provided, determines a travel time for each of these positions in dependence on the road segment travel times, and displays an optical indicator for the travel times on an electronic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Oliver Wagner
  • Patent number: 8352180
    Abstract: The present application relates to a device, such as a navigation device, for vehicular and non-vehicular use, e.g. by pedestrians. The device is arranged to receive a feed from a camera. The navigation device is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image from the feed from the camera and virtual signage on the display. The virtual signage relating to roads, buildings, points of interest and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Marc Mattu
  • Patent number: 8352102
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is an interactive navigation device comprising at least one navigation screen making it possible to display a graphical representation of at least one flight plan, a flight plan being composed of points and of segments. The device comprises means for displaying several flight plans simultaneously on the navigation screen at the same time as flight information text fields associated with the points of the said flight plans, the flight information fields being displayed in a manner contiguous with the points associated with them so as to be able to compare them conveniently. The device also comprises means for displaying on the navigation screen flight information fields associated with the segments of the flight plans, the said flight information fields being displayed in a manner contiguous with the segments associated with them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Guy Deker, Emmanuel Roux