IP Library Granted Patent US 7,065,448
Granted Patent B1
US 7,065,448 · App. 10/674,822 · Granted Jun 20, 2006

Presenting driving directions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,065,448
App. No.
10/674,822
Granted
Jun 20, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques are provided for reducing the number of maneuvers presented in narrative driving directions for a route from an origin location to a destination location. Maneuvers are combined to reduce the number of maneuvers presented. Maneuvers may be combined based on a maneuver being associated with a highway interchange or maneuvers including a shared reference to a particular road.

Claims (54)

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the method comprising:

accessing route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generating maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combining a first maneuver with a second maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver being associated with a highway interchange and the second maneuver being associated with the highway interchange; and

presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

repeating the combining to identify additional interchange maneuvers; and

eliminating redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a system connected to an Internet service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a printer associated with the user system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with the user system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions on a personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with a vehicle on-board navigation system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises presenting driving direction text that starts with “Merge onto” and includes text associated with a particular a road name, wherein the road name text is appended with “via” and an exit number associated with the combined maneuver.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises presenting driving direction text that starts with “Merge onto” and includes text associated with a particular a road name, wherein the road name text is appended with “via” and exit information associated with the combined maneuver.

10. A computer-implemented method for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the method comprising:

accessing route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generating maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combining a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road; and

presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein combining the first maneuver with the second maneuver to produce the combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including the reference to the particular road comprises combining a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road unless intersection between the first maneuver and the second maneuver includes an intersecting forward link.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on a user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a system connected to an Internet service provider.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a printer associated with the user system.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with the user system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions on a personal digital assistant.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein presenting the combined route maneuver on the user system comprises displaying the combined route maneuver in driving directions that are displayed by a display device associated with a vehicle on-board navigation system.

17. A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to display driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information;

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver being associated with a highway interchange and the second maneuver being associated with the highway interchange; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

18. The medium of claim 17 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to:

repeat the combining to identify additional interchange maneuvers; and

eliminate redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

19. A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to display driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the one or more code segments are configured to combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road unless intersection between the first maneuver and the second maneuver includes an intersecting forward link.

21. A system for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information;

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver being associated with a highway interchange and the second maneuver being associated with the highway interchange; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to:

repeat the combining to identify additional interchange maneuvers; and

eliminate redundant interchange maneuvers such that a particular highway or a particular interstate is only included in one interchange maneuver for the route.

23. A system for displaying driving directions having multiple maneuvers, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

access route information for a route from an origin to a destination;

generate maneuvers for the route based on the route information; and

combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road; and

present the combined route maneuver on a user system.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the processor is configured to combine a first maneuver with a second maneuver to produce a combined route maneuver based at least in part upon the first maneuver including a reference to a particular road unless intersection between the first maneuver and the second maneuver includes an intersecting forward link.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034541/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR AND THE DOC DATE, IDENTIFIED ON ATTACHED SHEETS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029317 FRAME 0861. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INCORRECT ASSIGNOR AND DOCUMENT DATE OF PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ASSIGNMENT.. Recorded Jan 9, 2013
From: MAPQUEST, INC.
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029622/0406 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2012
From: AOL INC.
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029317/0861 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 16, 2010
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N A
To: AOL INC; AOL ADVERTISING INC; GOING INC; LIGHTNINGCAST LLC; MAPQUEST, INC; NETSCAPE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION; QUIGO TECHNOLOGIES LLC; SPHERE SOURCE, INC; TACODA LLC; TRUVEO, INC; YEDDA, INC
Reel/Frame 025323/0416 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 14, 2009
From: AOL INC.; AOL ADVERTISING INC.; BEBO, INC.; ICQ LLC; GOING, INC.; LIGHTNINGCAST LLC; MAPQUEST, INC.; NETSCAPE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION; QUIGO TECHNOLOGIES LLC; SPHERE SOURCE, INC.; TACODA LLC; TRUVEO, INC.; YEDDA, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICAN, N.A. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023649/0061 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2008
From: AOL LLC
To: MAPQUEST, INC.
Reel/Frame 021691/0705 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2008
From: AMERICA ONLINE, INC.
To: AOL LLC
Reel/Frame 021118/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2004
From: GEARHART, G. DUANE
To: AMERICA ONLINE INC.
Reel/Frame 014979/0826 →