Employing Map Database System Patents (Class 701/532)
  • Patent number: 9002384
    Abstract: A dual position display is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention include simultaneously displaying at least two geographic locations for a single device. In some embodiments, a received position of the device is displayed, the received position being received from the on-line, real-time mapping system and being indicated on a map display by a first icon. In at least some embodiments, the current position of the device as indicated by the positioning receiver is also displayed, the current position of the device being indicated on the map display by a second icon displayed simultaneously with the first icon. In at least some embodiments, the map display continues to display the received position as a previous position that corresponds to a loss of communication of the positioning data between the device and the mapping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Peter D. Hallenbeck
  • Publication number: 20150094955
    Abstract: A method of providing destination information to a user through a location-based service includes: determining whether the user has approached a destination along a guided route for the user based on mapped location information for the user, the destination being designated by the user; and activating a visual notification function associated with the destination when the user is determined to have approached the destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Yoon Shick LEE, Min Sik PARK, Min Oh KIM
  • Publication number: 20150094956
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at least one information feed are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one content via at least one automated feed. The method associates the at least one content to one or more geographical locations on a map, wherein the one or more geographical locations are determined from the at least one content. The method then presents an access to the at least one content to a user via the map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Yih-Farn Chen, Giuseppe Di Fabbrizio, David Gibbon, Rittwik Jana, Serban Jora, Bernard S. Renger, Bin Wei
  • Publication number: 20150094952
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed pertain to the use of user equipment (UE) for the generation of a 3D exterior envelope of a structure based on captured images and a measurement set associated with each captured image. In some embodiments, a sequence of exterior images of a structure is captured and a corresponding measurement set comprising Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) measurements, wireless measurements (including Global Navigation Satellite (GNSS) measurements) and/or other non-wireless sensor measurements may be obtained concurrently. A closed-loop trajectory of the UE in global coordinates may be determined and a 3D structural envelope of the structure may be obtained based on the closed loop trajectory and feature points in a subset of images selected from the sequence of exterior images of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Leo MOEGLEIN, Christopher BRUNNER, Arvind RAMANANDAN, Mahesh RAMACHANDRAN, Abhishek TYAGI, Murali Ramaswamy CHARI
  • Publication number: 20150094954
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes hierarchically road map data having third-, second-, and first-layer data respectively representing a high, intermediate, and low road rank. The layer data are contiguously disposed in a storage portion in the order of the road ranks. The first- and second-layer data include area data about individual zones into which a region corresponding to the third-layer data is divided. According to a read request designating a bunch of area data, a cached portion of the designated bunch of area data is obtained from a cache area. The remaining portion is obtained from the storage portion such that an address range of the storage portion from the start point to the end point of the remaining portion is collectively read while area data not designated by the read request but positioned between the remaining portion are additionally read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Takamitsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8996576
    Abstract: ZIP code connection matrices are created for use in insurance ratemaking by identifying common borders of geographically defined regions. ZIP codes and associated cartographic boundaries are read from a database. Pairs of coordinates for the boundaries are stored in a matrix and values are calculated that represent each pair of coordinates in the matrix. The calculated values are stored in an encoded coordinates matrix and used to determine common segments. A connection matrix is formed representing connections among ZIP codes. A neighborhood matrix is then calculated, which stores values that represent an indication of closeness of each ZIP code in the neighborhood matrix to a target ZIP code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventor: Richard G. Woll
  • Patent number: 8990015
    Abstract: In a method for course prediction in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles, a dynamic course hypothesis is created on the basis of vehicle-dynamics data of the vehicle, which method includes the following steps: creating an infrastructure course hypothesis on the basis of data from at least one information source that describe the traffic infrastructure; calculating, on the basis of features of the information source, a weighting factor that describes the reliability of the infrastructure course hypothesis; and fusing the infrastructure course hypothesis with the dynamic course hypothesis, with weighting in accordance with the calculated weighting factor, to produce a definitive course hypothesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Silvia Citelli
  • Publication number: 20150081215
    Abstract: A system and method synthesizing images of a locale to generate a composite image that provide a panoramic view of the locale. A video camera moves along a street recording images of objects along the street. A GPS receiver and inertial navigation system provide the position of the camera as the images are being recorded. The images are indexed with the position data provided by the GPS receiver and inertial navigation system. The composite image is created on a column-by-column basis by determining which of the acquired images contains the desired pixel column, extracting the pixels associated with the column, and stacking the columns side by side. The composite images are stored in an image database and associated with a street name and number range of the street being depicted in the image. The image database covers a substantial amount of a geographic area allowing a user to visually navigate the area from a user terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Enrico Di Bernardo, Luis F. Goncalves
  • Publication number: 20150081216
    Abstract: A technique is described for providing travel information for route segments repeatedly covered by a vehicle, wherein the travel information is indicative of map data changes extractable from map data update information. A method aspect comprises the steps of determining whether the vehicle is likely to travel along repeatedly covered route segments; selecting map data changes that are associated with the repeatedly covered route segments the vehicle is likely to travel; and generating travel information on basis of the selected map data changes and providing the travel information to a driver. Provided are also a computer program product and a device implementing the described method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ELEKTROBIT AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Florian Bartels
  • Publication number: 20150081157
    Abstract: A method of coordinating a plurality of road vehicles includes obtaining information related to a first vehicle that is relevant to a road trip with which the first vehicle and at least a second vehicle are involved, uploading the information to a server wirelessly, and downloading the information from the server wirelessly to at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence Banasky, JR., Thomas Joseph Hermann, Mark Wisnewski
  • Patent number: 8984445
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for geo-locating images may generally include receiving, by one or more computing devices, a request to geo-locate an image on a map and, in response to the request, providing for display a user icon on the map. In addition, the method may include determining a current geographic location of the user icon on the map, providing for display a textual representation of the current geographic location, receiving data indicative of the user icon being moved across at least a portion of the map and updating the textual representation of the current geographic location as the user icon is moved across the at least a portion of the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Zhou Bailiang
  • Patent number: 8983778
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for generating intersection data for paths in a map region. The method receives a set of junctions at which paths intersect in the map region. For a particular junction of at least two paths, the method automatically determines whether any of the other junctions in the map region satisfy criteria to be part of a single intersection with the particular junction. When at least one of the other junctions satisfies the criteria, the method automatically combines the other junctions that satisfy the criteria with the particular junction into a single intersection for use in performing mapping operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul S. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20150066360
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing navigation information are discussed. To increase safety and convenience of use for vehicle navigation devices, a navigation system includes a plurality of displays for displaying related and distinct sets of navigation information in response to an intuitive user input such as a gesture. One such system can include a plurality of display devices, a location determining component for determining a location of a vehicle and other navigation information, and an input component for receiving user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: David M. Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20150066366
    Abstract: A method, implemented in a computer system, may comprise maintaining by the computer system map data divided into at least a first pre-selected map portion and a second pre-selected map portion different from the first pre-selected map portion. The computer system may receive a request for transmission of the first pre-selected map portion to a vehicle navigation unit, and transmit a payment request indicating a payment amount associated with the first pre-selected map portion. The computer system may also receive an indication of payment of the payment amount, and transmit over a wireless network the first pre-selected map portion to the vehicle navigation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Hc Pang, Stefano Villanti
  • Patent number: 8971640
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for graphical overlay object translation. One of the methods includes receiving a first plurality of first feature points, each first feature point being associated with a plurality of feature descriptors and a respective location on the first digital image. The method includes receiving a second plurality of second feature points, each second feature point being associated with a plurality of feature descriptors and a respective location on the second digital image. The method includes determining the translation offset for the second digital image from the first digital image by matching locations of the first feature points with locations of the second feature points without regard to the feature descriptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Keir B. Mierle
  • Patent number: 8972173
    Abstract: A method for determining the length of the route travelled by a vehicle using a position measuring device that records positions of the vehicle and a digital road map, which is composed of road segments of known segment lengths. The method including recording positions of the vehicle on the route by means of the position measuring device, matching the recorded vehicle positions to a sequence of road segments, and determining the route length from the segment lengths of these road segments, wherein from the angle between at least two consecutive road segments and an assumed road width of the two road segments, a turn-off route of the vehicle from the one road segment into the other road segment is calculated. The calculated turn-off route is taken into consideration in the determination of the route length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
    Inventors: Katharina Kaes, Jasja Tijink, Oliver Nagy
  • Patent number: 8972188
    Abstract: An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Harold Goddjn
  • Publication number: 20150057930
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for event-based location sampling for map-matching are provided herein. A method includes determining a location of an object via a device associated with the object; determining one or more temporal sampling periods of one or more location information sensors at one or more sampling regions based on (i) said location of the object and (ii) one or more items of map-matching information; capturing one or more motion-related events associated with the object via the one or more location information sensors during the determined one or more temporal periods; and generating a trajectory of the object based on the one or more captured motion-related events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vinay K. Kolar, Ravindranath Kokku, Venkatadheeraj Pichapati
  • Patent number: 8965693
    Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium are disclosed that can detect an address, geographic coordinates or business name in text displayed on a device and geocode or reverse geocode, respectively, the address/business name or geographic coordinates to provide geocoded data. The detecting and geocoding/reverse geocoding can be performed automatically. The geocoded data can be displayed in-place with the text in a user interface of the device or be provided to another application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Piemonte
  • Patent number: 8965597
    Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr, I
  • Patent number: 8965669
    Abstract: To provide remote services, including dynamic, interactive assistance to electric vehicle (EV) users, a central server is arranged for electronic communications with EVs (15) and with client devices (11). The server also communicates with at least one EV charging station network, which in turn communicate with individual charging stations (30). Remote services may include trip planning, locating charging stations, checking availability and suitability of charging stations, making reservations at charging stations, and updating plans en route. The server collects data from the EV and analyzes the data to determine various statistics. The system advises a user on readiness of the EV to complete a proposed trip before recharging the EV batteries. Client devices may include smart phones, computers, or a head unit in the EV. Application software programs are executable on the client devices to provide user interfaces for accessing the remote services and for communicating with the central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Fisher, Bheemrao Zhade
  • Publication number: 20150051833
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus comprises a processing resource operably coupled to a receiver for location-related data and arranged to perform, when in use, location determination. The processing resource supports a parking location determination module the parking location determination module is arranged to determine when the location determined is substantially unchanged and to determine that the location determined constitutes a candidate parking location in response to the location determined remaining substantially unchanged relative to a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Pieter Geelen
  • Patent number: 8954274
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 8954278
    Abstract: A speed profile dictionary and associated lookup tables are disclosed. A set of distinct speed profiles is defined using a statistical analysis routine. Preferably, the statistical analysis routine uses clustering. The speed profiles are then matched to location codes identifying physical locations on a road network and days of the week. Applications using historic traffic data may use the speed profile dictionary and one or more lookup tables instead of a complete historic traffic database, thereby reducing the amount of memory needed to store historic traffic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Toby S. Tennent, Michael L. Aper, Matthew G. Lindsay, Gary R. Rockwood
  • Publication number: 20150039227
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for providing a surrounding area search result. A search system may include a searcher configured to search for a reference location in response to a nearby point of interest (POI) search request based on the reference location, and to search for POIs located around the reference location, and a display configured to display a search result about the POIs based on each reference location when at least two reference locations are retrieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Yeon Jung KIM
  • Patent number: 8947433
    Abstract: An apparatus for visualizing data includes memory for storing sensor data and a processor. The processor is configured to generate a map of a geographic area, and to display at a first location on the map at least one icon graphically representing a measurement of the sensor at the first location over a period of time and graphically representing the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Bak, Irina Dumitrescu, Juerg von Kaenel, Gilad M. Saadoun, Xing Zhi Sun
  • Patent number: 8949021
    Abstract: A method of processing probe trace data to determine a measure of correlation of a probe trace with other probe traces comprises obtaining a map that associates a parameter space with a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one correlation value is assigned to each of the plurality of pixels, and determining a correlation score for a probe trace by mapping the probe trace to at least one pixel of the map and determining the correlation score for the probe trace from at least one correlation value of the at least one pixel to which the probe trace is mapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: TomTom North America, Inc.
    Inventor: James Alan Witmer
  • Patent number: 8949025
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for improving the accuracy of GNSS data are provided. Specifically, embodiments of the invention can advantageously use sensor input to improve the accuracy of position fixes. The use of physical sensors in navigation systems is deemed particularly advantageous, especially where altitude data derived from the pressure sensor is calibrated with and/or blended with GNSS altitude data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Lionel J. Garin
  • Patent number: 8948794
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating provision of a map resource. A method may include causing a request for a plurality of portions of a map to be sent to a map source. The method may further include receiving the requested plurality of portions of the map in a single response message. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Tochukwu Iwuchukwu
  • Publication number: 20150032368
    Abstract: This invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising: a processor (210) that is configured to generate a navigation map of a local environment (497); and a display (240) controllable by said processor (200) to display said navigation map and any markers (489) that relate to marked locations within said local environment (497); characterised in that the navigation device (200) further comprises: an indicator generation module (490) for generating an indicator (491) for each of any marked locations outside of said local environment, said processor (210) being responsive to said indicator generation module (490) to control said display (240) to display any generated indicators (491) in said navigation map (497). A method of generating a navigation map and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Kees Wesselius
  • Patent number: 8942731
    Abstract: There is provided an information delivery apparatus including a receiving portion to receive location information of a mobile communication terminal at a given time and acquired date and time of the location information from the terminal, an event information storage portion to store event information including an event place, date and time, a delivery terminal selecting portion to select the mobile communication terminal to which the event information is to be delivered based on the location information and the acquired date and time of the location information and on the event place, date and time, and an event information delivery portion to deliver the event information to the selected mobile communication terminal. The delivery terminal selecting portion selects the mobile communication terminal whose location indicated by location information is within a predetermined range and whose acquired date and time of the location information are before the event date and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Takehara, Yoichiro Sako, Masamichi Asukai, Taiji Ito, Akinobu Sugino, Akane Sano, Yoshiteru Kamatani, Kazunori Hayashi, Takayasu Kon, Yasunori Kamada
  • Patent number: 8942893
    Abstract: A boom is attached to an application vehicle for applying a product during an agricultural application. The boom includes one or more sections that can be dynamically adjusted to satisfy one or more adjustment criteria. A boom controller communicates actuation commands to a boom adjustment system to dynamically adjust the shape of the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Uriel Rosa, Arthur F. Lange, John William Peake, Gurcan Aral, Gregory Daniel Chiocco
  • Patent number: 8941656
    Abstract: A method for visualizing data includes generating on a display device a map including a first location and generating on the display device at least one icon graphically representing measurements of the sensor at the first location over a period of time and graphically representing the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Bak, Irina Dumitrescu, Juerg von Kaenel, Gilad M. Saadoun, Xing Zhi Sun
  • Publication number: 20150025802
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a control unit for determining whether an approach route to a branch point, which is a route guidance object, and an exit route from the branch point correspond to a learned road link of a learned road data. The control unit provides a normal guidance, instructing a progress direction guidance for the branch point, when none of the approach and exit routes is determined to correspond to a learned road link. Alternatively, the control unit provides a learned road guidance, which is different from the normal guidance, when at least one of the approach route and the exit route is determined to correspond to a learned road link, where the learned road guidance reflects the learned road link in the route guidance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: DENSO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8935046
    Abstract: Techniques are described for visualizing a roadway transition along an ascertained route course for a navigation device. In an implementation, the navigation device may include a display and a data processing device to identify a roadway transition from a first road onto a second road along an ascertained route course and present navigation information in a first and second operating mode. The second operating mode may include roadway transition visualization generated by dynamically superpositioning a first visualization layer, which may include road characteristics and location information, and a second visualization layer, which may include the ascertained route course along the identified roadway transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias MĂĽhlfelder, Jochen Katzer
  • Publication number: 20150012214
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for assigning identifiers to geographic locations within digital map data, comprising selecting a region within the map data, dividing the region into a first plurality of cells each uniquely addressable by an identifier of a first length, selecting a portion of the region and dividing the portion into a second plurality of cells each uniquely addressable by an identifier of a second length, wherein the second length is shorter length than the first length and a geographic location within the portion of the region may be uniquely identified by an identifier of the first length and an identifier of the second length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Pieter Andreas Geelen
  • Patent number: 8930141
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer program and user interface where the apparatus includes at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to: display a perspective view of a geographical location at a first scale in a first region of a display; identify a point of interest associated with the geographical location; and display the identified point of interest at a second scale in a second region of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Robert Wither, Ray William Rischpater, Carmen Esther Au, Petri Piippo, Tuomas Vaittinen, David Racz
  • Patent number: 8930023
    Abstract: A robot having a signal sensor configured to measure a signal, a motion sensor configured to measure a relative change in pose, a local correlation component configured to correlate the signal with the position and/or orientation of the robot in a local region including the robot's current position, and a localization component configured to apply a filter to estimate the position and optionally the orientation of the robot based at least on a location reported by the motion sensor, a signal detected by the signal sensor, and the signal predicted by the local correlation component. The local correlation component and/or the localization component may take into account rotational variability of the signal sensor and other parameters related to time and pose dependent variability in how the signal and motion sensor perform. Each estimated pose may be used to formulate new or updated navigational or operational instructions for the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Steffen Gutmann, Ethan Eade, Philip Fong, Mario Munich
  • Publication number: 20150006075
    Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer-readable media routing users for determining a parking route near a user's destination. A request for parking near a destination and user parking criteria are obtained. A list of parking spaces based on the destination and near the user parking criteria are determined, and a parking route from the user's current location that traverses the list of parking spaces is also determined. The first portion of the parking route between the user's current location and the first parking space is determined. Additional portions of the parking route to additional parking spaces are provided until parking termination criteria are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Ali Ajdari Rad
  • Patent number: 8924156
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program and user interface wherein the method includes: obtaining coordinate information from a first application where the coordinate information uniquely identifies an address as a location in a coordinate space; storing, using a second application, the coordinate information so that the coordinate information is associated with contact information indicative of the address; detecting user selection of a control element associated with the stored contact information; and in response to the detection of the user selection of the control element providing the coordinate information to the first application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Ari O. Tourunen, Timo V. Kinnunen, Aqdas A. Malik, Suvi M. Peltomaki
  • Patent number: 8924145
    Abstract: Provided is a Web bulletin board system (10) capable of lessening the burden in forming a travel plan when a group of people plan a trip. This Web bulletin board system (10) comprises a center server (20) which deems character strings indicated by predetermined symbols in messages in a chat to be destinations and automatically generates a list of destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Nara, Noriyuki Abe, Kimio Okamoto, Takashi Shioya, Hiroaki Takatsuki, Takaaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 8918275
    Abstract: With use of GPS, an action-history recording apparatus obtains latitudes and longitudes representing places of user's action where a user is acting, and stores action-history data containing place names indicating the places of user's action at a predetermined processing timing. In the case where, the place of user's action is a specific place unique to the user, where the user visits customarily or frequently, the user is allowed to enter an arbitrary name independent of the latitude and longitude. The name entered by the user is used as a pace name to be contained in action-history data. In this way, the apparatus obtains a place name appropriate for the user and the user can use the name conveniently as the place name of the user's action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Sakazaki
  • Patent number: 8918274
    Abstract: A navigation system may display route information that includes a display of the fixtures that are located on or near the route. The fixtures may be selected and inserted into the digital map as graphical objects. The graphical objects may be classified into a class and at least one sub-class. The classification data may be used to select and generate the graphical objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Marek Strassenburg-Kleciak, Hendrik Meyer
  • Patent number: 8918277
    Abstract: A method for recognizing road signs in the vicinity of a vehicle and for synchronization thereof to road sign information from a digital map where, in the case of a recognition of road signs, road-sign recognition data are generated, navigation data being provided for localizing the vehicle in digital map data, and the road-sign recognition data being synchronized to the map data. To be able to provide unambiguous and the most accurate possible and thus improved road sign information to be output to the driver in the context of such a method, in the case of a discrepancy between the map data and the road-sign recognition data, the decision is made with the aid of reliability factors for the camera and map as to whether the data from the digital map or the road-sign recognition data are output in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Niem, Philipp Ibele
  • Patent number: 8912900
    Abstract: An information acquisition device, includes: a positioning unit that measures a current position and acquires positional information thereof; an information acquisition unit that acquires information; a storage unit that stores information acquired by the information acquisition unit and positional information acquired by the positioning unit; and a control unit that causes the positioning unit to perform positioning, while the information acquisition unit is activated, at an interval shorter than while the information acquisition unit is stopped, and causes positional information acquired while the information acquisition unit is activated, outside a time period determined in advance with a time in which acquisition of information was performed by the information acquisition unit as a reference point, among positional information acquired in the positioning unit, to be thinned and stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Toda
  • Publication number: 20140365120
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method, for a mobile device, for controlling an interactive communication system of a vehicle that includes a display screen. If the display screen is touch-sensitive, the method provides a first user interface display that includes a first map the presentation of which is modifiable with touch input received through the touch-sensitive screen. If the display screen is not touch-sensitive, the method provides a second user interface display that includes a second map the presentation of which is modifiable through physical controls mounted in the vehicle. In some embodiments, if the touchscreen meets a particular set of characteristics, the first map presentation is directly modifiable with gestural input received through the display screen. If the display screen does not meet the particular set of characteristics, the first map presentation is modifiable with different, non-gestural touchscreen input received through the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emanuele Vulcano, Bradford A. Moore, Jorge Fino
  • Publication number: 20140365121
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, a method may include receiving a floor map indicating a structural layout of a physical location, receiving a point-of-interest (POI) data structure representing a POI and POI metadata associated with the POI, POI data structure including a location of an associated POI that is associated with the POI, and the POI metadata including a POI type indicating a type of the associated POI, and a POI status indicating the status of the associated POI, annotating the floor map by overlaying on the selected floor map an indicator for each selected POI data structure such that the indicator is placed on the floor map at a location representing the physical location of the respective associated POI and indicates the type of the associated POI and the status of the associated POI, displaying a portion of the annotated floor map, and initiating a POI action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Troy CLINE, Ting HE, Wesley GERE, Jason L. GRAHAM, Kia BEHNIA
  • Patent number: 8909473
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at least one information feed are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one content via at least one automated feed. The method associates the at least one content to one or more geographical locations on a map, wherein the one or more geographical locations are determined from the at least one content. The method then presents an access to the at least one content to a user via the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Yih-Farn Chen, Giuseppe Di Fabbrizio, David Gibbon, Rittwik Jana, Serban Jora, Bernard S. Renger, Bin Wei
  • Publication number: 20140358436
    Abstract: A method and a system for generating a map using data of a position sensor of a vehicle are provided which are used to generate a map by collecting data of a position sensor disposed within a vehicle. The method includes collecting, by a controller, data from the position sensor disposed within the vehicle to sense the position of the vehicle and analyzing the collected data of the position sensor. In addition, the method includes automatically generating, by the controller, the map using the analyzed data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Min Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 8903590
    Abstract: The present description relates to a robot cleaner and to a method for controlling the same, which involve generating a map of an area to be cleaned in accordance with a travel mode command, and performing a cleaning operation by avoiding obstacles on the basis of the generated map upon receipt of a cleaning mode command. For this purpose, the robot cleaner of the present invention comprises: a travel unit which travels around the area to be cleaned upon receipt of the travel mode command; a detection unit which detects an object located in the area to be cleaned during travel performed in accordance with the travel mode command; and a control unit which generates a map of an area to be cleaned on the basis of the information on the location of an obstacle, if the detected object is the obstacle, and controls a cleaning operation on the basis of the generated map upon receipt of a cleaning mode command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeongshin Jeon