IP Library Granted Patent US 8,355,862
Granted Patent B2
US 8,355,862 · App. 11/969,901 · Granted Jan 15, 2013

Graphical user interface for presenting location information

Inventors: Mike Matas (San Francisco, CA); Gregory N. Christie (San Jose, CA); Christopher Blumenberg (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,355,862
App. No.
11/969,901
Granted
Jan 15, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting location information. A first geographic area in which a device is currently located is estimated using a first positioning system. A second geographic area in which the device is currently located is estimated using a second positioning system. A first map view including an indication of the first geographic area on the first map view is presented if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area. A second map view including an indication of the second geographic area is presented if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

Claims (51)

1. A method comprising:

estimating a first current position of a device and a first geographic area at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position using a first positioning system;

estimating a second current position of the device and a second geographic area at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position using a second positioning system; and

providing for display an indication of either the first estimated current position or the second estimated position based on whether the first estimated geographic area is contained within the second estimated geographic area, providing for display the indication including:

providing for display a first map view, including the first geographic area as the indication of the first estimated current position on the first map view, if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area; or

providing for display a second map view, including the second geographic area as the indication of the second estimated current position, if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first positioning system is associated with a first level of positional accuracy, and the second positioning system is associated with a second level of positional accuracy that is lower than the first level of accuracy.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating a first geographic area using a first positioning system comprises:

using the first positioning system to estimate the first current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position, wherein the first geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating a second geographic area using a second positioning system comprises:

using the second positioning system to estimate the second current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position, wherein the second geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, if the indication of the first geographic area is presented:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the first geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, if the indication of the second geographic area is presented:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the second geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

7. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

estimating a first current position of a device and a first geographic area at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position using a first positioning system;

estimating a second current position of the device and a second geographic area at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position using a second positioning system; and

providing for display an indication of either the first estimated current position or the second estimated current position based on whether the first estimated geographic area is contained within the second estimated geographic area, providing for display the indication including:

providing for display a first map view, including the first geographic area as the indication of the first estimated current position on the first map view, if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area; or

providing for display a second map view, including the second geographic area as the indication of the second estimated current position, if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the first positioning system is associated with a first level of positional accuracy, and the second positioning system is associated with a second level of positional accuracy that is lower than the first level of accuracy.

9. The device of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

using the first positioning system to estimate the first position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position, wherein the first geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

10. The device of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

using the second positioning system to estimate the second current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position, wherein the second geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

11. The device of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

generate route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the first geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

present the route information.

12. The device of claim 7 , the operations further comprising instructions to:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the second geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

13. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory storage medium, operable to cause a portable device to perform operations comprising:

estimating a first current position of a device and a first geographic area at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position using a first positioning system;

estimating a second current position of the device and a second geographic area at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position using a second positioning system; and

providing for display an indication of either the first estimated current position or the second estimated current position based on whether the first estimated geographic area is contained within the second estimated geographic area, providing for display the indication including:

providing for display a first map view, including the first geographic area as the indication of the first estimated current position on the first map view, if the first geographic area is contained within the second geographic area; or

providing for display a second map view, including the second geographic area as the indication of the second estimated current position, if the first geographic area is not contained within the second geographic area.

14. The product of claim 13 , wherein the first positioning system is associated with a first level of positional accuracy, and the second positioning system is associated with a second level of positional accuracy that is lower than the first level of accuracy.

15. The product of claim 13 , wherein estimating a first geographic area using a first positioning system comprises:

using the first positioning system to estimate the first current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the first estimated current position, wherein the first geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

16. The product of claim 13 , wherein estimating a second geographic area using a second positioning system comprises:

using the second positioning system to estimate the second current position of the device and an error region associated with and at least partially surrounding the second estimated current position, wherein the second geographic area comprises the estimated error region.

17. The product of claim 13 , the operations further comprising, if the indication of the first geographic area is presented:

generating route information for a route, wherein an a first endpoint of the route is a centroid of the first geographic area and a second endpoint is another geographic location; and

providing the route information for display.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2008
From: MATAS, MIKE; CHRISTIE, GREGORY N.; BLUMENBERG, CHRISTOPHER
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 021000/0155 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090177385A1 · Jul 9, 2009