METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATION AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF

A method for navigation is provided. The method includes the following steps. Generate a search request in response to manual operations and transmit the search request to a server. Receive a search result list including register users transmitted by the server. Select one or more register users in response to user selection operations. Generate a route inquire message and transmit the message to the server. Receive one or more replies, which transmitted by the electronic device of the selected register user and relayed by the server and display the one or more replies. An electronic device and a system for navigation are also provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a system1for navigation. The system1has a number of function modules which are applied on a server10or a number of electronic devices with functions of navigation. The server10is a server of the GPS navigation system. The electronic devices include at least one first electronic device11and a number of second electronic devices12. The first electronic device11and the second electronic devices12all communicate with the server10. The first electronic device11is configured for creating a request for route inquire in response to user inputs. The second electronic devices12are configured for replying the request.

The function modules of the system1includes a registration module103, a search module104, a message transmitting module105, a registration control module1141, a search control module1142, a selection module1143, an instant communication control module1144, a display control module1145, an edit module122and an interaction module123. The registration module103, the search module104, and the message transmitting module105are installed in the server1and run on the server1. The registration control module1141, the search control module1142, the selection module1143, the instant communication control module1144and the display control module1145are installed in a processor of the first electronic device11. The edit module122and the interaction module123are installed in a processor of the second electronic device12.

FIG. 3shows that the server10includes a user database101and a communication unit102. The user database101stores registration information of registered users. The communication unit102is configured for communicating with the first electronic devices11or the second electronic devices12.

FIG. 4shows that the first electronic device11includes a storage unit111, an input unit112, a GPS unit113, the processor114, a first communication unit115and a display unit116. The storage unit111, the input unit112, the GPS unit113, the first communication unit115and the display unit116are electrically connected to the processor111respectively.

The storage unit111stores an electronic map and at least one navigation applications. The electronic map is automatically updated when the navigation application is activated.

The input unit112is configured for generating corresponding input signals in response to applied operations. The input unit112is selected from the group consisting of: a touch screen, a keypad, a touchpad, a camera, or a microphone, for example.

The first communication unit115is configured for communicating with the server10.

The GPS unit113is configured for receiving real-time navigation messages transmitted from the satellite of the GPS navigation system. The processor114is configured for determining the coordinates of the first electronic device11according to the received navigation message and controlling the first communication unit115to transmit the determined coordinates of the first electronic device11to the server10.

The display unit116is configured for displaying information, such as the navigation map, the determined coordinates of the first electronic device11and so on.

FIG. 5shows that the second electronic device12includes a second communication unit121. The second communication unit121is configured for communicating with the server10.

The registration control module1141installed in the first electronic device11is configured for generating a register request in response to manual operations on the input unit112for a register on the server10, and further configured for controlling the first communication unit115to transmit the register request to the server10.

The registration module103is configured for controlling the communication unit102of the server10to receive the register request transmitted by and from the first electronic device11, and recording a user according to the register request, and generating a register code and further controlling the communication unit102of the server to transmit the register code to the first electronic device11.

The first communication unit115of the first electronic device11receives the register code and the storage unit111of the first electronic device11stores the register code.

The above described register request includes a number of information, such as personal information, if help was provided, the time period that help was provided, the residence, the familiar area, and the telephone number, for example. The registration module103is configured for controlling the storage of the above register information in the user database101of the server10.

The search control module1142installed in the first electronic device11is configured for generating a search request including the determined coordinates using the first electronic device11in response to the manual operations applied on the input unit112by a user, and further configured for controlling the first communication unit115to transmit the search request to the server10.

The search module103is configured for controlling the communication unit102of the server10to receive the search request transmitted by the first electronic device11and searching the database101of the server10according to the search request, and then generating a search result list which satisfies the search request and then controlling the communication unit102of the server10to transmit the search result list to the first electronic device11. In addition, the search result list includes a plurality of registered users.

The first communication unit115of the first electronic device11receives the search result list and the storage unit111of the first electronic device11stores the search result list. The selection module1143installed in the first electronic device11is configured for selecting one or more registered users in the search result list in response to the manual selection operations applied on the input unit112.

The instant communication control module1144installed in the first electronic device11is configured for generating a route inquire message containing register codes of the selected register users in response to the manual operations applied on the input unit112, and further controlling the first communication unit115to transmit the route inquire message to the server10. The above described route inquire message includes one or more register codes and the content of route inquire such as “I′m in Kunlun road, how can I get to Kunshan road”.

The communication unit102of the server10receives the message transmitted by the first electronic device11. The message transmitting module104is configured for transmitting the message to one or more of the second electronic devices12which are associated with one or more register codes of the selected registered users.

The second communication unit121of the second electronic device12receives the message. The interaction module123is configured for analyzing the message. The edit module122is configured for editing a reply to the message in response to editing operations. The interaction module123is further configured for transmitting the reply to the server10. The above described editing operations are selected from a group consisting of: operations of character inputting, operations of voice inputting, operations of inserting interception of map, etc.

The communication unit102of the server10receives the reply transmitted by the second electronic device12. The message transmitting module104is further configured for controlling the communication unit102of the server10to transmit the reply to the first electronic devices11. The above described reply includes a subject-matter including buildings and/or an exact road information such as “go straight and turn right at the first crossing”.

The first communication unit115of the first electronic device11receives the reply transmitted by the server10. The display control module1145is configured for controlling the display unit116of the first electronic device11to display the reply.

The first electronic device11can navigate again according to the received reply. Furthermore, the user also can arrive at the destination according to the received reply without the help of the navigation of electronic device11.

It is to be understood, in the embodiment, the first electronic device11and the second electronic device12both have functions of navigation, route inquire and reply to route inquire from others, and the first electronic device11and the second electronic device12both include corresponding functional modules. In an alternative embodiment, the second electronic device12has no functions of navigation and route inquire, and the second electronic device12has a function for reply to route inquire.

FIG. 6shows a flowchart of a method for registration before a first time for navigating of the electronic device11ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment. The first electronic device11includes an input unit112. The input unit112is configured for generating input signals in response to the input operations applied thereon. The method typically includes the following steps, each of which is related to the various components contained in the server10, the first electronic device11and the second electronic device12.

In step S61, the registration control module1141generates a register request in response to the manual operations applied on the input unit112of the first electronic device11and controls the first communication unit115of the first electronic device11to transmit the register request to the server10.

In step S62, the registration module103registers a user according to the register request, and generates a register code, and further controls the communication unit102of the server10to transmit the register code to the first electronic device11.

In step S63, the first communication unit115of the first electronic device11receives the register code and stores the register code to the storage unit111.

FIGS. 7A and 7Btogether constitute a single flowchart of a method for navigation for the electronic device11ofFIG. 1, in accordance with the embodiment. The first electronic device11includes an input unit112. The input unit112is configured for generating input signals in response to input operations applied thereon. The method typically includes the following steps, each of which is related to the various components contained in the server10, the first electronic device11, and one or more second electronic devices12.

In step S71, the search control module1142generates a search request using the first electronic device in response to the manual operations applied on the input unit112of the first electronic device11, and controls the communication unit115of the first electronic device11to transmit the search request to the server10.

In step S72, the search module103searches the user database101according to the search request, and generates a search result list meeting the search request and further controls the communication unit102of the server10to transmit the search result list to the first electronic device11.

In step S73, the first communication unit115of the first electronic device11receives the search result list and the storage unit111stores the search result list.

In step S74, the selection module1143selects one or more register users from the search result list in response to manual selection operations applied on the input unit112of the first electronic device11.

In step S75, the instant communication control module119generates a route inquire message which includes one or more register codes of the selected register users and further controls the first communication unit115of the first electronic device11to transmit the message to the server10.

In step S76, the message transmitting module104transmits the message to the one or more second electronic devices12associated to the one or more register codes which are included in the message at the same time.

In step S77, the interaction module123analyzes the message.

In step S78, the edit module122edits a reply to the message in response to manual editing operations and the interaction module123transmits the reply to the sever10.

In step S79, the message transmitting module104transmits the reply to the first electronic device11.

Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of various embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.