Conditionally Changed Presentation Patents (Class 701/457)
  • Patent number: 8825394
    Abstract: A system having a user interface which presents map data Dmap. An analysis unit analyzes map data Dmap, determining a quality Q for these map data Dmap which are to be presented. The determination is based on whether the respective map data Dmap are available and/or reliable. The quality Q is presented graphically by a presentation unit. The risk of wrong decisions being taken on the basis of deficient map data Dmap is reduced considerably, since the user can easily decide whether there are reliable map data or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 8786467
    Abstract: A method and a system for displaying an airport or runway moving map with traffic information on a display screen in the cockpit or flight deck of an aircraft. Symbology representing surface and near-surface aircraft and surface vehicle traffic and associated traffic data are filtered to prevent or limit clutter on the display screen. Traffic symbology is automatically and manually filtered to display only relevant traffic. Traffic data is selectively displayed and displayed as/when relevant or needed. The displayed traffic information may be derived from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, traffic information system-broadcast, automatic dependent surveillance-rebroadcast, traffic collision avoidance system or other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe, Stephen Bernard Ortman, Jean Marie Crane
  • Patent number: 8781735
    Abstract: Example techniques and systems include generating cluster information to consolidate multiple locations. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a computing device, a plurality of location identifiers corresponding to a plurality of locations at which a mobile computing device was previously located, defining, by the computing device, a plurality of geographic regions based at least in part on the plurality of location identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of geographic regions defines a physical area in which at least one of the plurality of locations is located, selecting, by the computing device, a subset of the plurality of geographic regions based on respective distances between a current location of the mobile computing device and a respective reference point within each of the geographic regions, and outputting, by the computing device and for display, an indication of the subset of the plurality of geographic regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Tushar Udeshi, Dale Hawkins, Tom Carl Stamm, Guang Yang
  • Patent number: 8756009
    Abstract: A portable apparatus includes a position detection unit, an azimuth detection unit, a map image a display control unit acquisition unit, and an orientation detection unit. The position detection unit detects a position of the portable apparatus. The azimuth detection unit detects an azimuth of the portable apparatus. The map image acquisition unit acquires a map image within a range based on the position and the azimuth. The display control unit displays the acquired map image on a display unit. The orientation detection unit detects an orientation of the portable apparatus. The display control unit displays the map image on the display unit according to the detected orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Hirozumi Arai
  • Patent number: 8751077
    Abstract: A route planning device includes: a search unit that searches for a plurality of facilities located near the minimum-cost route from a current position to the destination, where the battery can be charged; a guided route calculation unit that sets a waypoint on the minimum-cost route via which the moving object can be guided to each facility, and calculates a guided route from the waypoint to the each facility and a first power requirement indicating an amount of power required to travel through the guided route; and a facility designating unit that designates a target facility to which the moving object is to be guided, based upon third power requirements each calculated by adding a second power requirement, indicating an amount of power required to allow the moving object to travel from the current position to the waypoint, to the first power requirement and remaining power in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hiruta, Mariko Okude, Masatoshi Kumagai
  • Patent number: 8744755
    Abstract: There is provided a navigation device including a position information acquisition section which acquires a current position, a final destination setting section which sets a final destination, a stop-off genre setting section which sets a genre of a facility to be stopped at, a stop-off point selection section which selects a stop-off point based on a route to the final destination, and a route guidance section which performs notification of a route to the stop-off point at a branch point between the route to the final destination and the route to the stop-off point, shows a route to the stop-off point when entering the route to the stop-off point from the branch point, and switches a guidance destination to the final destination when arriving at the stop-off point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8731824
    Abstract: A vehicle display system includes a display having a display screen which displays an image and provides a touch screen user interface. A controller of the display includes a touch detector which detects a number of fingers touched to a predetermined portion of the display screen, as well as a direction and distance of movement of the number of fingers away from the predetermined portion of the display screen. A navigation mode determiner of the controller determines a navigation mode based on the detected number of fingers. A navigation feature determiner of the controller determines a navigation direction and navigation rate based on the detected direction and distance the number of fingers is moved. An image navigation controller of the controller controls the display to navigate the image displayed on the display screen according to the determined navigation mode, navigation direction, and navigation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Arthur Alaniz, Fuminobu Kurosawa, Yoshiyuki Habashima
  • Patent number: 8706409
    Abstract: Vehicle management systems and associated processes can consider energy consumption when selecting routes for fleet vehicles. Vehicle management systems and associated processes are described that, in certain embodiments, evaluate vehicle energy usage based on factors such as terrain or elevation, vehicle characteristics, driver characteristics, road conditions, traffic, speed limits, stop time, turn information, traffic information, and weather information, and the like. The features described herein may also be implemented for non-fleet vehicles, such as in personal vehicle navigation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Telogis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Mason, Jason Koch, Howard Jelinek
  • Publication number: 20140107917
    Abstract: A navigation device includes an icon display unit for displaying icons representing predetermined display objects located on a predetermined road ahead of the current location in an elongated display area of a display unit in a linear fashion along a length direction of the display area preferentially in order of proximity to the current location and a predefined distance display unit for displaying an image indicating the predefined distance from the current location in the display area when the icons are displayed. The icon display unit stationarily displays the icons representing display objects located farther than the predefined distance from the current location and movably displays an icon representing a display object located within the predefined distance so that the icon moves towards the current location in accordance with the movement of the current location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Akira Kazawa, Satoru Kono, Mitsunori Koyatsu, Masahiro Kida
  • Patent number: 8681176
    Abstract: A map server generates vector descriptors and corresponding style identifiers for rendering a map image. Each vector descriptor indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format, and each style identifier identifies a style according to which the corresponding map element is rendered. The map server then causes map data including the vector descriptors and the style identifiers to be transmitted to the client device via a communication network. When the map server receives a request for style data for modifying a map image at the client device, the map server generates a description of visual characteristics for one or more styles identified by the style identifiers included in the map data previously provided to the client device and causes the description of visual characteristics to be transmitted to the client device for applying to the vector descriptors at the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Maurer, Sean Egan, Brian Cornell
  • Patent number: 8660795
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus has a road learning function. When a new road is learned and a new road link is connected to one of a map road link present in a ready-made map data and a previously-learned road link, the navigation apparatus designates the one of the map road link and the learned road link as a base link and generates a supplement link that extends along the base link from a base-link-side end point of the new road link to an end point of the base link. The navigation apparatus specifies an entrance link and an exit link connected to a process target point on the guidance route, and determines content of the route guidance by using the base link corresponding to the supplement link when the entrance link or the exit link is the supplement link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syo Shimomura, Seiji Kato
  • Patent number: 8655586
    Abstract: An intelligent driving range system for a vehicle for automatically communicating a one-way driving range or a two-way (i.e. round-trip) driving range to a user of the vehicle. The driving range system utilizes a processor for determining whether to select the one-way distance range or the two-way distance range for communication. The processor determines the current driving range and may interface with a vehicle positioning system or navigation components for determining the current location of the vehicle. Either the one-way driving range or the two-way driving range is selected and communicated to the user of the vehicle. The selection may be based upon the current location of the vehicle. The driving range may be communicated by displaying a range map, by displaying a visual notification, or by sounding an audible notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Jotanotivc
  • Patent number: 8606457
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically adjusting the output of presentation content based upon vehicle conditions. The method determines whether one of a plurality of vehicle conditions exists, such as conditions related to vehicle speed, rate of change in vehicle speed, rate of change in vehicle direction, vehicle emergencies, cellular phone or headphone activation, radar detector activation, noise level decibels above a certain value, etc. The method determines an output format based on the determined vehicle conditions. The method outputs at least a portion of the presentation content based on the determined output format. The determined output format includes display format information, such as text font or icon size information or map detail. The presentation content can also include audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Promind Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gilad Odinak, Hakan Kostepen
  • Patent number: 8606516
    Abstract: A user interface for use in a vehicle navigation and traffic information device. Various adaptable menu commands and intuitive UI elements are provided to ease user navigation of the interface and to minimize driver distraction while providing information in an optimized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dash Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurie J. Vertelney, Daniel M. Kohn, Steven C. Wollenberg, Brian E. Smartt, Paul J. Lima, Eric S. Wels
  • Patent number: 8606493
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods 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 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Gold, Timothy Caro-Bruce, Huy T. Ha, John Alan Hjelmstad, Christopher Aaron Volkert
  • Patent number: 8600667
    Abstract: A method of providing location based entertainment with a personal navigation device includes determining if a user wishes to start an entertainment program on the personal navigation device that provides localized entertainment and starting the entertainment program using content about a current location of the personal navigation device in response to the user wishing to start the entertainment program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventor: Paul Ranford
  • Patent number: 8600669
    Abstract: A mobile computing device, including a main body, a processor and associated memory housed within the main body, a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor, an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor, and a navigation module associated with the processor for determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventor: Alexei Skarine
  • Patent number: 8589071
    Abstract: A runway indicator is displayed overlying a target runway for providing supplementary guidance to support the pilot's ability to fly a stabilized approach. The highlighted runway position indicator provides cues to verify that the aircraft is continuously in a position to complete a normal landing using normal maneuvering during the instrument segment of an approach and includes a landing threshold, a landing zone on the runway, an approach line leading to the runway, an outline highlighting the sides and ends of the runway, a rectangle larger than and surrounding the runway, and a visual precision path approach indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thea L. Feyereisen, Ivan Sandy Wyatt, Gang He, Glenn Connor
  • Patent number: 8583367
    Abstract: A user selects route preferences related to weighing or considering different factors when determining a requested candidate route to a destination and chooses a candidate route ranking. A motor vehicle detects a condition associated with a vehicle state. The motor vehicle displays the candidate route based on the detected vehicle condition in a preselected order determined by the route ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Mineta, Maja Kurciska, Lisa Umeda
  • Patent number: 8521421
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for identifying a location of interest between a user and an identified endpoint and creating a user preference profile containing at least one location of interest to the user. A sampling bandwidth is designated based on current distance to the identified endpoint, wherein the navigation unit dynamically expands the sampling bandwidth as the user approaches within a predetermined distance of the endpoint. At least one user preference profile location of interest is selected that is within the sampling bandwidth that is between the user and the indentified endpoint. A sampling vector is computed for the at least one location of interest within the sampling bandwidth, and the user is alerted to the sampling vector for the at least one location of interest within the sampling bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Dwight C. Olson, Gary M. Nath
  • Patent number: 8515669
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing an improved view of a location in a spatial environment. A current image associated with a current location of a geographic area is displayed. A user-selected point on the current image is received. A target location of the geographic area is determined based on the user-selected point. A distance between the current location and the target location is determined. A determination is made as to whether the distance between the current location and the target location is greater than a distance threshold. If this distance is greater than the distance threshold, then a far distance process configured to determine and display a first target view of the target location is performed. If this distance is not greater than the distance threshold, then a near distance process configured to determine and display a second target view of the target location is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pasquale DeMaio, Kristoffer Bernt Henriksson, Blaise Hilary Aguera-Arcas
  • Patent number: 8504297
    Abstract: A map display device that displays a map image around a vehicle position includes a display unit; a first storage unit storing map data including road data of a road and road-related information related to the road; a second storage unit storing adjustment data based on a relationship between display positions of the road data and the road-related information; and a map display control unit for calculating the display position of the road-related information based on the adjustment data for the individual road, and displaying the road-related information on a screen of the display unit. A road width to be displayed o the screen may be determined in accordance with the number of lanes and a road type. The adjustment data may be a distance between the display positions of the road and the road-related information, and may be determined in accordance with the road type and the road width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc
    Inventors: Kazuomi Chiba, Yukio Sato
  • 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: 8494689
    Abstract: A method of controlling movement of an agent operating within an autonomous system includes determining, using a processing device associated with the agent, a highest attraction point for the agent on a line of optimal transmission between a detected event within an area of surveillance by the autonomous system and a base station within the autonomous system, and calculating an attraction force for the agent, based on the line of optimal transmission and location of the detected event; determining proximity of the agent to one or more additional agents operating within the autonomous system, and calculating a repulsion force for the agent so as to maintain a minimum separating distance between the agent and the one or more additional agents; calculating a resultant force for the agent based on the attraction force and the repulsion force; and changing a direction of the agent based on the resultant force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey D. Ashton
  • Patent number: 8483954
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing instructions to a destination that is revealed upon arrival may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of context associated with a user, determine a destination for the user based on the context and user information, provide for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination, and reveal the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Arto Juhani Lehtiniemi, Antti Johannes Eronen, Jukka Holm
  • Patent number: 8423288
    Abstract: A computing device can access a calendar entry having an associated time and an associated location, in a calendar application. The computing device can dynamically determine an estimated travel time to the location associated with the calendar entry. The computing device can provide an alarm indication for the calendar entry at a time based on the estimated travel time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey G. Stahl, Teck Yang Lee
  • Publication number: 20130054137
    Abstract: A portable apparatus includes a position detection unit, an azimuth detection unit, a map image a display control unit acquisition unit, and an orientation detection unit. The position detection unit detects a position of the portable apparatus. The azimuth detection unit detects an azimuth of the portable apparatus. The map image acquisition unit acquires a map image within a range based on the position and the azimuth. The display control unit displays the acquired map image on a display unit. The orientation detection unit detects an orientation of the portable apparatus. The display control unit displays the map image on the display unit according to the detected orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Hirozumi ARAI
  • Patent number: 8386173
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a level of map detail for content displayed on a personal navigation device includes displaying a map of a current location of the personal navigation device on a display of the personal navigation device, calculating a current speed of the personal navigation device, adjusting a level of map detail according to the current speed of the personal navigation device to create an updated map, and displaying the updated map on the display of the personal navigation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventors: Hrvoje Muzina, Hayden James Rosser
  • Publication number: 20130046462
    Abstract: A runway indicator is displayed overlying a target runway for providing supplementary guidance to support the pilot's ability to fly a stabilized approach. The highlighted runway position indicator provides cues to verify that the aircraft is continuously in a position to complete a normal landing using normal maneuvering during the instrument segment of an approach and includes a landing threshold, a landing zone on the runway, an approach line leading to the runway, an outline highlighting the sides and ends of the runway, a rectangle larger than and surrounding the runway, and a visual precision path approach indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Thea L. Feyereisen, Ivan Sandy Wyatt, Gang He, Glenn Connor
  • Patent number: 8335642
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for displaying a symbol representing an aircraft. The symbol is displayed representing the aircraft at a location on a map at a first level of detail. The symbol represents a position of the aircraft on the map, moves on the map in a manner that represents movement of the aircraft with respect to features on the map, has a fixed level of detail that does not change as levels of detail change for the map, and has an anchor point at a first point on the symbol in which the anchor point is used as a point of rotation for the symbol. A second point is identified for the anchor point on the symbol such that view point of the symbol at the second level of detail remains fixed relative to the display of the symbol at the first level of detail. The map is displayed at the second level of detail. The symbol is displayed on the map using the second point for the anchor point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick Ralf Wipplinger, Rick Ellerbrock
  • Patent number: 8332144
    Abstract: The image correction method and system for navigation device with portable navigation unit converts an image based on projection to a first display into a suitable image on a second display such that the area of the second display is used economically and efficiently while maintaining some elements of the image in substantially common aspect ratio between the images on the first display and on the second display. The image correction method determines the ratio of the second display, determines if image correction is required, and checks a correction table and performs image correction according to correction rules to generate the corrected image for projecting on the second display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc
    Inventors: Melvin Bernard Diaz, Tsutomu Tommy Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8315795
    Abstract: Even if a detailed map being displayed is continuously scrolled, the place of the detailed map being displayed is kept to a wide-area map. A map display system having a map display for displaying a plurality of maps and an information distribution server which is connected to the map display through a communication means and distributes map data to the map display comprises a display means for displaying a first map capable of being scrolled and a second map including the scope of the first map, a scroll control means for scrolling the first map, a condition judging means for judging whether or not to control the display form of the second map according to the result of the scroll of the first map by the scroll control means and a condition for controlling the display form of the second map set in advance, and a reduced scale control means for controlling the display form of the second map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Navitime Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8290707
    Abstract: A mobile computing device, including a main body, a processor and associated memory housed within the main body, a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor, an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor, and a navigation module associated with the processor for determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Alexei Skarine
  • Patent number: 8290706
    Abstract: A map data display control apparatus includes: a position information acquiring section acquiring position information; a latitude determining section determining whether a latitude identified by the acquired position information is in the excess of a predetermined latitude threshold or not; a display range calculating section calculating a display range for displaying a map with reference to a position identified by the acquired position information based on the result of the determination made by the latitude determining section; and a rendering section rendering a map associated with the reference position based on the calculated display range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masanao Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20120253666
    Abstract: Movement guidance display systems, methods, and programs display a movable body that is located in a shielded space shielded by shielding members. The systems, methods, and programs display a vicinity image on a display device showing a vicinity environment outside the shielded space by translucently displaying the shielding members. The displayed vicinity image has a viewpoint from an inside of the shielded space. The systems, methods, and programs display shape determining objects superimposed on the shielding members in the vicinity image. The shape determining objects indicate a shape of the shielded space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhide ADACHI, Ryoji KOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8280628
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide navigation devices (10) and methods for receiving and/or forming geoblogs. The provided navigation devices (10) are generally operable to retrieve a geoblog utilizing the current geographic location of the device (10) and a user input, form a geoblog utilizing the current geographic location of the device (10) and selected pre-defined comment, and/or automatically title a geoblog utilizing a current geographic location of the device (10). Such configurations and variations thereof enable users to easily share information related to a geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: David A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8280630
    Abstract: A navigation device is provided that presents a travel direction of a vehicle at a guide point along with a map around the vehicle, without significantly reducing a display area of the map around the vehicle. The navigation device of the present invention includes current position locating means 9 for locating the current position of a vehicle, storage means 25 for storing map data, display means 19 for displaying a guidance screen that includes a map 41 around the current vehicle position with use of the map data, and operation means formed by a plurality of keys 45, 49, 65, 67 and 69 displayed on the display means 19 and a touch panel 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Otani, Ikunori Hisada, Yuta Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20120226439
    Abstract: A navigation device includes a display, a positioning system to receive geographical information, a storage unit for storing the received geographical information and a plurality of applications, and a processor. The processor acquires parameter of the navigation device, and switches the navigation device between a two-dimensional navigation mode and a three-dimensional navigation mode based on a comparison result between the acquired parameters and a preset parameter in the navigation device. A related navigation mode switch method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YAO-CHEN CHAN
  • Patent number: 8260550
    Abstract: A navigation system is provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system includes a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location. The navigation system also includes a presentation element coupled to the navigation processor, the presentation element configured to provide navigation instructions to the operator. A selection module is coupled to or incorporated into the navigation processor, and the selection module is configured to select a cartographic resolution from a plurality of different cartographic resolutions, resulting in a selected cartographic resolution. The presentation element provides navigation instructions for at least a portion of the proposed route, using the selected cartographic resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew M. Highstrom, Andrew W. Gellatly, Cody R. Hansen, John P. Weiss, Bhavna Mathur
  • Patent number: 8249806
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for varying the intensity of a visual aid depicted on an aircraft display unit. Visual aids could represent visible features such as markings on a runway surface. Data representative of visual aids may be provided by a navigation reference data source with errors inherent in the data which may be measured by one or more quality parameters. Also, errors associated with quality parameters are inherent in navigation data which provided positional information. Because of these errors, the depiction of visual aids on an egocentric display unit may appear misaligned with the corresponding visible feature. To compensate for the misalignment, an image generating processor generates visual aid data representative of at least one variable-intensity visual aid, wherein the intensity of each visual aid varies and such variation is based upon at least one quality parameter of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick D. McCusker
  • Publication number: 20120209519
    Abstract: A method and system for creating a sky visibility map, using data from a vehicle and its neighbors. A host vehicle with satellite-based navigation capability measures the quality of signals it receives from available satellites, where azimuth and elevation angles of the satellites are known from an ephemeris or almanac. The host vehicle also receives satellite signal data from surrounding vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Using data from all of the vehicles, a sky visibility map is constructed, indicating where obstructions to satellite visibility exist for different locations. The sky visibility map is used to anticipate satellite signal quality. A driving environment classification can be used to configure other vehicle systems. The sky visibility map can also be constructed without using data from surrounding vehicles; the host vehicle can store its satellite signal data long-term and use it to estimate satellite visibility when returning to a location previously visited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Chaminda Basnayake
  • Patent number: 8234066
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aircraft that may have a fuselage and a cockpit located within the fuselage. A display may be located within the cockpit, with the display being controlled by a display control system. The display control system may have a graphical user interface module that generates at least one of a primary display or a context display, and receives at least one user input, and an image control module. The image control module may generate primary display data for display on the primary display based on the at least one user input. The image control module may determine, based on the primary display data, whether the context display is displayed, and may automatically display the context display as an overlay in a corner portion of the primary display when the at least one user input causes a portion of information associated therewith to be unavailable for display on the primary display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wipplinger, Rick W. Ellerbrock, Thorsten Wiesemann
  • Patent number: 8204687
    Abstract: A display route creation method includes: a route determination step in which a route determination section determines a route based on a departure point and a destination set on a map; a directional sign information extraction step in which a read section reads out directional sign information existing on the route from a map information storage section; and a route creation step in which a merging section merges a display image portion indicating the road direction included in the directional sign information and the route to create a display route in which the route and display image portion are integrated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Izumi Urano, Satoshi Suzuno, Atsushi Asai
  • Patent number: 8200416
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a displaying a moving map display for an aircraft is provided. The method includes determining a route of intended travel of the aircraft on the moving map display, determining a rank of relative importance of a plurality of aeronautical symbols displayed on the moving map display based on the determined route of intended travel, and de-emphasizing at least one navigation symbol with the moving map display based on the at least one navigation symbol determined rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Sven D. Aspen
  • Publication number: 20120101725
    Abstract: A boundary definer defines an outer boundary of a region as a series of interconnected generally linear segments joined at one or more nodes. A concave surface identifier or data processor identifies each concave surface associated with a corresponding concave node. At least one subdivision line is established to divide the region into subdivided areas, where the subdivision line interconnects at or near two nonadjacent ones of the concave nodes. The data processor or row orientation module determines a direction of orientation of rows for a planned path of the vehicle within each subdivided area. A path planning module or data processor interconnects the planned paths within or between subdivided areas to each other by planned interconnection paths between termination points of the rows or at the nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Ritesh Kondekar
  • Patent number: 8126645
    Abstract: A direction indication device of a global positioning system which is composed of a host having a voice device and a display panel. An exterior of the display panel is enclosed with a cover, on which an indication unit is installed and includes at least one illumination element. Each illumination element represents a direction indication. An interior of the host also includes a navigation module which produces a navigation signal and a direction indication module which produces an indication signal on the indication unit. After the direction indication module has received the navigation signal, the illumination element representing the direction will produce light to represent the direction indicated by the navigation signal, such that a driver can be indicated the direction on the display panel without watching at the global positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Cheng-Chien Hsu
  • Patent number: 6374155
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot system allocates mapping, localization, planning and control functions to at least one navigator robot and allocates task performance functions to one or more functional robots. The at least one navigator robot maps the work environment, localizes itself and the functional robots within the map, plans the tasks to be performed by the at least one functional robot, and controls and tracks the at least one functional robot during task performance. The at least one navigator robot performs substantially all calculations for mapping, localization, planning and control for both itself and the functional robots. In one implementation, the at least one navigator robot remains stationary while controlling and moving the at least one functional robot in order to simplify localization calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Personal Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret A. Wallach, Harvey A. Koselka, David L. Gollaher