Patent Application
20060085128
The present invention relates to the field of directional devices, specifically devices that use the global positioning system.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based radio-navigation system comprising a constellation of satellites and a network of ground stations used for monitoring and control. A minimum of 24 GPS satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of approximately 11,000 miles providing users with accurate information on position, velocity, and time anywhere in the world and in all weather conditions.
GPS is operated and maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).The Interagency GPS Executive Board (IGEB) manages GPS, while the U.S. Coast Guard acts as the civil interface to the public for GPS matters. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating and applying the use of GPS as it pertains to aviation.
GPS, formally known as the Navstar Global Positioning System, was initiated in 1973 to reduce the proliferation of navigation aids. By creating a system that overcame the limitations of many existing navigation systems, GPS became attractive to a broad spectrum of users worldwide. GPS has been successful in virtually all navigation applications, and because its capabilities are accessible using small, inexpensive equipment, GPS is being utilized in a wide variety of applications across the globe.
Current GPS devices are complex. They generally require significant knowledge of maps and navigation. Some stores catering to hikers offer 4 hour classes in “how to use a GPS,” illustrating the complexity of current devices.
All of the current applications of GPS technology require either extensive knowledge of mapping and navigation, or expensive large screen displays integrated with complex user interfaces. There is a need to applications of the technology that make the benefits available to people without specialized navigation expertise and without undue expense and size.
The present invention provides a user experience greatly simplified from prior art GPS devices. The invention provides for storage of one or more locations, by simple user interactions tailored to the specific interaction environment. The invention also provides for determination of the current location of the user. The invention compares the current location to a selected stored location to determine a direction from the present location to the stored location. The invention also provides a determination of the present orientation of a display, relative to, as an example, magnetic north. The present orientation of the display can be combined with the determined direction to determine a configuration of the display that indicates a direction of travel toward the stored location. The invention can comprise a vehicle security system controller, and the operation of the invention integrated with the operation of the locking/unlocking of the vehicle.
The present invention provides a user experience greatly simplified from prior art GPS devices. The invention provides for storage of one or more locations, by simple user interactions tailored to the specific interaction environment. The invention also provides for determination of the current location of the user. The invention compares the current location to a selected stored location to determine a direction from the present location to the stored location. The invention also provides a determination of the present orientation of a display, relative to, as an example, magnetic north. The present orientation of the display can be combined with the determined direction to determine a configuration of the display that indicates a direction of travel toward the stored location.
A GPS receiver 101 uses information from the GPS system to determine the present location of the receiver 101. That location can be stored in a location storage facility 102 at the direction of a user via a user input function 107. In some embodiments locations can be stored in the location storage facility by directly loading locations, without requiring that the apparatus be physically present at the location to be stored. That location can also be used as an input to a comparator 103. The other input to the comparator can be a location accessed from the location storage facility 102, which in some embodiments stores a single location, and in others can store a plurality of locations. In embodiments storing a plurality of locations, the stored location for input to the comparator can be selected based on input from a user 107. The comparator 103 can determine an absolute direction from the present location to the stored location.
A direction sensor 104 can determine the absolute orientation of a display 106. That orientation can then be combined 105 with the absolute direction to determine a direction relative to the display from the present location to the stored location. That direction can then be indicated on the display 106, providing the user with an indication of the direction to travel toward the stored location, without requiring any special navigation skills or maps. The direction sensor can be a static direction sensor, or a sensor that does not require motion of the device to determine the present orientation. A magnetic compass is a common example of a static direction sensor, and can be integrated with the GPS receiver in the present invention. Alternatively, the GPS sensor itself can be used to determine the most recent position history of the apparatus, providing an orientation based thereon. This non-static direction sensor can be less user-friendly in some applications, since the apparatus will not reflect changes in orientation of the apparatus if the user stops moving to turn and evaluate directions.
The implementation of the functionality described can be tailored to the specific application. GPS receivers are commonly available in the art, with various levels of performance, integration, and price. Microcontrollers suitable for implementing the control, user interface, display, and location manipulation are commonly available. A wide variety of displays can be suitable; price, performance, reliability, size, or other application constraints can guide the choice of display.
The apparatus comprises a GPS receiver, location storage facility, comparator, and orientation determination as discussed before. In operation, a user input (such as pressing a button) causes the present location of the apparatus to be stored in the location storage facility. When integrated with an automobile keyless entry device, the button that locks the doors can be used as the signal to store the present location in the location storage facility. The user can then carry the apparatus as the user moves away from the stored location, for example on a hike or across a parking structure to an entertainment venue. When later the user desires to return to the stored location, for example to find the car after the hike or the entertainment program, the apparatus can indicate the direction to travel as discussed below. The apparatus can indicate the direction to travel continuously, or can indicate the direction in response to a user input (such as pressing a button). Indication responsive to an input can reduce the power requirements of the display. The “lock” button can be used to store the then-current location, such that no incremental action by the user is required to “remember” the location of the vehicle. The user can use the “unlock” button to request direction to the vehicle; for example when the unlock button is pressed, the device can indicate the direction to the car. To avoid premature unlocking, the apparatus can only send the unlock signal to the vehicle if the device is within a threshold distance from the vehicle. For example, pressing the unlock button when over one hundred yards from the vehicle might initiate only the GPS direction indication but no signal to the vehicle; pressing between 30 and one hundred yards might initiate the GSP direction indication and a “honk horn” or “flash lights” signal to the vehicle; pressing at less than 30 yards might initiate the GPS signal, the honk or flash signal, and an unlock signal.
The apparatus can determine the direction relative to the display as lying in one of three sections A, B, C A direction in section B indicates that the stored location is to the right of a line defined by the display; in the figure an axis of the apparatus is used as the defining line. A direction in section C indicates that the stored location is to the left of the line. A direction in section A indicates that the stored location is approximately in line with the line. The indicator corresponding to the direction can be highlighted; as an example, the indicators can be light emitting diodes (LEDs), energized to illuminate when the direction corresponds to the section to which the LED corresponds.
As an example, as the user decides to return to the stored location, for example to a car previously locked with an integrated apparatus according to the present invention, a red light can be generated by an LED 303, indicating that the car is to the right of the current direction pointed by the apparatus. The user can turn the apparatus to the right until the red light is extinguished and a green light generated by an LED 302, indicating that the car is ahead. The user can then travel in the direction indicated until the car is in visible range. If, as an example, the user passes the car with the car on the left, the green light will be extinguished and a red light generated by an LED 301, indicating that the user needs to travel to the left to find the car. Turning so that the green light is illuminated will return the user to a direct path to the car or other stored location.
The apparatus allows reliable return to the car or other stored location, even if there are obstacles (e.g., traffic patterns or walkways) that force temporary travel not in direct line to the car or other stored location, and even if such obstacles have changed since the original travel away from the car (e.g., different traffic patterns after an entertainment event, or exiting a venue from a different port, or traveling to multiple sites before desiring to return directly to the car or other stored location). It also allows a person with imperfect memory of the location of the car or other stored location to reliably find the car or other stored location, either a forgetful user or another person.
Alternative displays can also be used. As one example, a single line or arrow can be displayed, oriented directly along the determined direction to the car or other stored location, instead of separate indicators. The apparatus then serves like a traditional compass, except that instead of pointing north and requiring orienteering skills to navigate, the apparatus simply points the direction the user should go. As another example, a single indicator 402, like that shown in
The display 506 can communicate the index of the currently active stored location in the plurality of stored locations (“to loc 5” in the figure). The display can also communicate the distance from the present location of the apparatus to the currently active stored location (“123.4 yd” in the figure). In this way, the user can know the distance to any of a plurality of stored locations; for example the distance to a car, to a stream crossing, and to a scenic viewpoint. The direction indicators 501, 502, 503 can be used in a similar manner as described for the previous example embodiment, with a first indicator 501 indicating that the direction to the currently active stored location is to the left of an axis line, a second indicator 502 indicating that the direction to the currently active stored location is substantially in line with an axis line, and a third indicator 503 indicating that the direction to the currently active stored location is to the right of the axis line. The user can thus easily find the direction and distance to any of the plurality of stored locations. A user can use the apparatus to remember the location of a start of a hike, then remember subsequent locations along the hike (e.g., forks in a trail, points of interest, obstacle crossings, etc.). Once stored in the apparatus, the apparatus allows the user to easily find the way back to a stored location, without requiring special navigation skills or specific order of travel. The display can be continuous, or can be selectively energized to conserve power, for example in battery-operated applications.
The particular sizes and equipment discussed above are cited merely to illustrate particular embodiments of the invention. It is contemplated that the use of the invention may involve components having different sizes and characteristics. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/619,592, “User-friendly Directional Device,” filed Oct. 15, 2004, incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60619592 | Oct 2004 | US |
