Method and apparatus for an integrated personal navigation system

1. A method of utilizing a personal navigation system comprising:

providing navigation to a user, the navigation specifying directions from a first location to a second location;

automatically determining a mode of travel of the user, the automatically determined mode of travel selected from among: a motorized vehicle, a muscle-powered vehicle, and ambulatory motion; and

calculating the directions based on the mode of travel, the mode of travel defining a set of constraints for the navigation, such that a route selection is altered based on the mode of travel, wherein the set of constraints includes one or more of traffic level, one way streets, walking paths, presence of sidewalks, presence of bicycle paths, and change in elevation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically detecting a change in the mode of travel of the user; and

recalculating the directions based on the change.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the mode of travel comprises:

utilizing a sensor to determine a type of movement executed by the user carrying the device; and

classifying the type of movement to identify the mode of travel.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein utilizing the sensor to determine the type of movement comprises:

identifying a cadence window for a movement;

determining if a motion signature associated with the movement matches the identified cadence window; and

classifying the movement.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a location, speed, and bearing of the device based on a global positioning system (GPS) signal; and

utilizing the GPS signal to calculate the navigation.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining an estimated location, speed, and bearing of the device based on motion sensor data; and

utilizing the motion sensor data with the navigation.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

when the GPS signal is not available, utilizing the motion sensor data to continue providing navigation.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

evaluating an accuracy of the motion sensor data for the user's location, speed, and bearing based on the received GPS data.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initially providing navigation via a first route for travel via a motorized vehicle;

detecting a change of the mode based on identifying user motions corresponding to a user exiting the motorized vehicle; and

providing a navigation via a second route, for travel via ambulatory motion, the second route based on constraints associated with ambulatory motion.

10. A personal navigation system including modes, comprising:

a mode selector to automatically determine a mode of travel of the user, the mode of travel selected from among: a motorized vehicle, a muscle-powered vehicle, and ambulatory motion; and

a direction calculator to provide navigation based on the mode of travel, the direction calculator receiving input from a mode logic, to route based on constraints associated with the determined mode of travel of the user, wherein the set of constraints includes one or more of traffic level, one way streets, walking paths, presence of sidewalks, presence of bicycle paths, and change in elevation.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mode of travel comprises one of: motorized vehicle, muscle-powered vehicle, and ambulatory motion.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

the mode selector further to detect a change in the mode of travel of the user; and

the direction calculator further to recalculate the navigation based on the change.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the mode of travel comprises the mode selector receiving sensor data and utilizing the sensor data to determine a type of movement executed by the user carrying the device, and classifying the type of movement to identify the mode of travel.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein utilizing the sensor data to determine the type of movement comprises identifying a cadence window for a movement, determining if a motion signature associated with the movement matches the identified cadence window, and if so, classifying the movement.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a GPS location logic to determine a location, speed, and bearing of the device based on a global positioning system (GPS) signal, the direction calculator using the GPS signal to calculate the navigation.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a sensor location logic to determine an estimated location, speed, and bearing of the device based on sensor data, the navigation module using the sensor data with the navigation.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

the navigation module utilizing the sensor location logic determined data when the GPS signal is not available to continue providing navigation.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

an evaluation logic to compare the GPS location data and the sensor location data, and adjust the calculations for the sensor location data when a systemic error is identified.

19. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

navigation module initially providing navigation for travel via a motorized vehicle;

the mode selector detecting a change of the mode when a user exits the motorized vehicle; and

the navigation module providing a navigation for travel via ambulatory motion, the direction calculator calculating an updated route, based on the constraints associated with ambulatory motion.

20. A personal navigation system comprising:

a mode selector to utilize sensor data to automatically determine a mode of travel of a user, the mode selected from among motorized vehicle, muscle-powered vehicle, and ambulatory motion;

a navigation module to calculate a navigational path for a user based on the mode of movement, the path meeting a plurality of constraints associated with the mode of movement, the constraints including one or more of: road data and traffic data.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:

the mode selector to determine a change in the mode of movement of the user; and

the navigation module receiving the change in the mode from the mode selector, and recalculating the navigational path based on the change in the mode of movement.

22. A personal navigation system comprising:

user context logic to determine a user's current context in using the personal navigation system, the context logic to identify a switch in context when detecting the user exiting a vehicle; and

navigation module to provide navigation based on the user's current context and location information, a route selected based on constraints associated with the user's current context, such constraints including one or more of: speed limits, directionality, traffic levels, bike lane availability, walking paths, vertical change, and public transportation options.

23. The personal navigation system of claim 22 , further comprising:

a global positioning system calculator to determining a location, speed, and bearing of the device based on the global positioning system (GPS) signal;

a motion sensor to determine an estimated location, speed, and bearing of the device based on motion sensor data; and

a processor to evaluate an accuracy of the motion sensor data for the user's location, speed, and bearing based on the received GPS data.

24. The personal navigation system of claim 22 , wherein the navigation module initially provides navigation via a first route for travel via a motorized vehicle; and

the user context logic to detect a change of the user context based on identifying user motions corresponding to a user exiting the motorized vehicle; and

the navigation module to provide a navigation via a second route, for travel via ambulatory motion, the second route based on constraints associated with ambulatory motion.