Patent Application
20100204914
The present invention relates generally to mobile navigation systems, and specifically to application programs for such systems.
A “widget” is a self-contained software module that provides a certain single-purpose interactive service. The widget accesses and uses data available from the operating system or from another application in order to display information to the user. Common computer desktop widgets show the user the latest news, weather, the time, a calendar, a dictionary, a map program, a calculator, or photographs from an album, for example.
Widgets are used in mobile devices for various purposes. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0144661, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a graphical user interface implemented on a “SmartPhone” device, which includes wireless connectivity features. A plurality of different widgets may be displayed on the device. These widget include a listing of movies, music, weather information, stock market information, travel information, and navigation information.
As another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0276318, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a navigation device running basic navigation framework software, supporting a complete navigation content provision framework. The framework can support a fixed set of plug-in software object types, which can provide data and additional functionality to the navigation device. Plug-in software objects can be downloaded to the navigation device from a server which is also part of the framework. The download can be via a wireless network, during operation of the navigation device, and in response to user selections on the navigation device.
The description above is presented as a general overview of related art in this field and should not be construed as an admission that any of the information it contains constitutes prior art against the present patent application.
Embodiments of the present invention that are described hereinbelow provide software widgets for enhancing the functionality of mobile navigation devices.
There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for communication, including running a navigation application on a mobile navigation device, which has a display and communicates over a wireless network with a navigation server, so as to present to a user navigation instructions from the navigation server on the display of the mobile navigation device. A widget chosen by the user is activated to run on the mobile navigation device in conjunction with the navigation application. Responsively to activating the widget, an interactive user interface element is overlaid on the navigation instructions on the display, indicating an availability of a location-based service at a location specified by the navigation instructions. Upon receiving an input from the user via the interactive user interface element invoking the service, the service is provided to the user at the specified location via the mobile navigation device while continuing to present the navigation instructions.
Typically, the navigation instructions include a map presented on the display of the mobile navigation device, and overlaying the interactive user interface element includes marking the specified location on the map. Providing the service may include initiating the service at the specified location after the user has navigated to the specified location in response to the navigation instructions.
In a disclosed embodiment, activating the widget includes receiving from the user a selection of the widget from a menu presented on the display of the mobile navigation device.
In some embodiments, providing the service includes establishing communication between the mobile navigation device and a provider of the service at the location. Establishing the communication may include conveying to the provider of the service an indication of the specified location. Additionally or alternatively, establishing the communication includes initiating the communication between the mobile navigation device and a network end-node other than the navigation server.
In one embodiment, providing the service includes furnishing the service, such as a paid parking service, to a vehicle in which the user is traveling.
There is also provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, apparatus for communication, including a memory and a processor, which is configured to read navigation information from the memory and to communicate over a wireless network with a mobile navigation device running a navigation application, so as to cause the mobile navigation device to present navigation instructions to a user on a display. The processor is configured, upon selection by the user of a widget to run in conjunction with the navigation application, to download the widget over the wireless network to the mobile navigation device, so that when run on the mobile navigation device, the widget causes an interactive user interface element to be overlaid on the navigation instructions on the display so as to indicate an availability of a location-based service at a location specified by the navigation instructions. Upon receiving an input from the user via the interactive user interface element invoking the service, the processor causes the service to be provided to the user at the specified location via the mobile navigation device while continuing to present the navigation instructions.
There is additionally provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a computer software product, including a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a processor in a mobile navigation device, which has a display and communicates over a wireless network with a navigation server, and which runs a navigation application so as to present to a user navigation instructions from the navigation server on the display, cause the processor to activate a widget chosen by the user to run on the mobile navigation device in conjunction with the navigation application, and responsively to activating the widget, to overlay on the navigation instructions on the display an interactive user interface element indicating an availability of a location-based service at a location specified by the navigation instructions, and to receive an input from the user via the interactive user interface element invoking the service, so as to cause the service to be provided to the user at the specified location via the mobile navigation device while continuing to present the navigation instructions.
The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings in which:
Personal navigation systems provide the user of a mobile navigation device with navigation instructions, typically in the form of a map with graphical directions and/or verbal guidance (printed on screen or enunciated by speech synthesis). A “mobile navigation device,” in the context of the present patent application and in the claims, means a portable computing device with a processor, display and communication interface, which runs a client navigation software application and communicates with a server in order to receive navigation instructions. Mobile navigation devices may thus include dedicated navigation devices, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and computers designed for mobile use.
In general, once the navigation application program is installed on a mobile navigation device, the functionality of the software cannot easily be changed or enhanced. To address this difficulty, embodiments of the present invention that are described hereinbelow provide widgets that can offer user-selectable add-on capabilities to the basic navigation program. Some of these widgets are characterized by a high degree of integration with the functionality of the application software, whereby the add-on capabilities of the widget take full advantage of the underlying navigation infrastructure.
In some embodiments of the present invention, a navigation application runs on a mobile navigation device, which communicates over a wireless network with a navigation server and presents navigation instructions to a user on the device display. The user may specify widgets to run on the mobile navigation device in conjunction with the navigation application. When the user activates a widget, a corresponding interactive user interface element is overlaid on the navigation instructions on the display, to indicate locations at which a certain location-based service is available. The interactive user interface element is able to accept an input from the user (by clicking on the user interface element, for example, or by voice input) invoking the service. Thus, the widget both guides the user to the location of the service and enables the user to request and receive the service at the specific location via the mobile navigation device, while continuing to present the navigation instructions.
Details of the implementation and functionality of such widgets, as well as examples of services that may be provided by the widgets, are shown in the figures and described further hereinbelow.
Device 26 is also configured to run a selection of widgets in conjunction with the navigation application. The widgets are represented by corresponding user interface elements 34, 36, 38. To activate a given widget, the user selects the corresponding user interface element. Element 34, for example, represents a route overview widget, which displays information about the route that the user is currently following, including features such as traffic along the way, distance covered, or distance or time remaining to the destination. Other widgets may relate to location-based services, i.e., goods, services and information that are available to the user at certain locations along or near the route. Widgets associated with these types of services are described in greater detail hereinbelow.
In order to obtain route information and location-based services, device 26 communicates with a navigation server 44. For this purpose, device 26 typically sends and receives data signals over a wireless network (such as a cellular communication network) to and from a network base station 40. The base station relays the data to and from server 44 via a packet network 42, such as the Internet. Server 44 comprises a processor 46, typically a general-purpose computer processor, which runs server-side navigation application software. A memory 48 contains navigation data used by the application in generating maps and navigation directions for download to device 26.
In addition, memory 48 holds widget software programs. When user 22 requests a given widget (by selecting the corresponding user interface element, in the present example), server 44 downloads the appropriate program to device 26. This approach conserves memory on device 26, since only selected widgets are present in the device memory, and also facilitates billing by the operator of server 44 for widget-based services. Alternatively, the client-side widget software may be pre-provisioned on device 26 and then activated when invoked by the user.
The widget client software running on device 26 interacts with the navigation client application installed on device 26 to request and receive information. Additionally or alternatively, the widget client software may interact with widget server software running on server 44 in order to request and receive location-based services. Further alternatively or additionally, the widget client software on device 26 may communicate via network 42 with another network end-node, such as a server 49, in connection with a given service.
As noted above, device 26 and server 44 each comprise one or more general-purpose processors, which are programmed in software to carry out the functions that are described herein. This software may be downloaded to the respective processor in electronic form, over a network, for example. Additionally or alternatively, the software may be stored on tangible computer-readable media, such as optical, magnetic, or electronic memory media.
When widget 51 is activated, it registers with application 50. The registration message notifies the application of the presence of the widgets and requests notification of specific events occurring in the application. An event in this context may be any sort of occurrence that the navigation system can register and respond to. Events may include, for example:
In the example shown in
The widget processes these data and then performs the action that it is programmed to carry out. For example, the widget may instruct application 50 to present new information on display 28. Additionally or alternatively, the widget may invoke a specific location-based service, such as those described hereinbelow.
System 20 is capable of supporting a wide variety of types of widgets. The widgets in the embodiments that follow, however, have the unique feature of enabling the user to access location-based services, using on-screen interactive elements that are closely integrated with navigation instructions. In particular, these widgets use navigation instructions that are overlaid graphically on the display provided by the mobile navigation device to show the availability of a location-based service at a certain location. When the user reaches the location in question, he or she can then invoke the interactive element in order to receive the service in question.
Other user interface elements 56, 58 in
At this point, user 22 may choose one of the hot spots, by touching or clicking on the corresponding icon, for example, at a hot spot selection step 64. If necessary, device 26 may then generate new navigation instructions directing the user to the location of the selected hot spot, or may download these instructions from server 44. The navigation instructions are presented to the user on display 28, at a direction presentation step 66.
The hot spot widget may monitor the distance of device 26 from the selected hot spot. When device 26 is within a certain range, the widget may instruct the WiFi interface of device 26 to begin scanning for an access point signal and may check the signal strength, at a signal checking step 68. Device 26 continues to present navigation instructions until it receives a strong WiFi signal. At that point, the hot spot widget notifies the user that WiFi communication is available. Device 26 connects to the hot spot (automatically, or under the control of the widget or of the user directly), and communications proceed, at a hot spot communication step 70.
User 22 activates the parking service by selecting the corresponding widget, at a widget selection step 72. As in the preceding embodiment, the user may select the widget by clicking or pressing on a corresponding user interface element 86. In response to the user selection, device 26 requests and receives from server 44 (or from another server) an overlay for map 30 showing the locations of available parking spaces near the current route. The user may choose one of the parking locations on display 28, at a location selection step 76. Device 26 will then present navigation directions on display 28 to guide the user to the selected parking location, at a direction presentation step 78.
When user 22 reaches the chosen parking location, he parks vehicle 24, at a parking step 80. If there is a charge for the parking service, the parking widget will then open a payment window 88 on display 28, at a payment request step 82. The window may open at the request of the user, or it may alternatively open automatically when the widget receives information that the vehicle has stopped in the selected parking location. The widget is able to determine the parking location automatically, based on location information reported by device 26, and reports the location to a parking server (such as server 49 in
The user then selects a “PAY” button on display 28 in order to confirm the payment, at a payment confirmation step 84. The parking fee may be charged to the user's cellular account or to some other pre-paid or post-paid account. As noted above, there is no need for the user to input any location information, since the parking widget has already reported the location to the parking service. Thus, the widget aids the user (and the service provider) both in guiding the user to the service location and in collecting payment for the service.
The hot spot and parking widgets described above are just two examples among many types of widgets that are supported by embodiments of the present invention. Generally speaking, widgets can be of various types, for instance:
Further examples of specific widgets that can be offered in system 20 are described in the above-mentioned U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/151,530.
Each widget 51 has the following attributes:
On the client side (i.e., in device 26), mobile navigation application 50 uses a number of software engines 100, which are responsible, inter alia, for emitting events that cause widgets to execute. For example, each time the location of the device changes, a locationChanged( ) event is emitted. A software wizard may be provided to enable the developer to register a given widget so that it will receive specified events from a predefined list.
Typical engine types and corresponding events include:
At startup of application 50, and thereafter when the user requests a new widget, a widget synchronizer 102 downloads the requested widgets from a widget manager 104 running on processor 46 of server 44. The widget manager may also trigger and track billing for widgets. A widget parser 106 analyzes the widgets that have been downloaded and performs the following operations:
Widget container 108 runs the widget code and takes appropriate action on each received event. For example, the widget container may modify graphical elements (“paint”) on display 28 of device 26, and it may invoke widget executers 110 to carry out server actions when required.
It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not disclosed in the prior art.
WSL is a scripting language that supports the feature set of the widgets and enables developers to define new widgets quickly and easily. WSL allows the developer to set up descriptive attributes of the widget (name, description, which widget container to attach to); the visual attributes of the widget (colors, fonts, images, layers, etc); the events it is registered to receive; the data to be displayed; and the URL for server actions. WSL also supports conditions, variables and mathematical functions that can be defined in order to support more advanced widgets. As noted above, parser 106 compiles and translates the script into an active object that implements the widget. The WSL script can be stored and transmitted to device 26 in compact binary format.
The script listed below belongs to a route overview widget. The widget creates a graphical overlay on the route map including the following elements:
The widget is attached to the navigation widget container and listens to the following events:
The widget uses the following data:
The widget defines the following variables:
The widget is defined by the following WSL code:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/151,530, filed Feb. 11, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61151530 | Feb 2009 | US |
