Technique for audibly providing driving directions using a mobile telephone

A method for providing driving directions can include the step of within a mobile telephone device, associating one or more of audio files with enabling GPS coordinates. The audio files can include digitally encoded speech that specify driving instructions. Current GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone device can be ascertained. When the current GPS coordinates match enabling GPS coordinates, the audio file associated with the enabling GPS coordinates can be played.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of mobile telephony and vehicle navigation and, more particularly, to a technique for audibly providing driving directions using a mobile telephone.

2. Description of the Related Art

A number of relatively new technologies have enabled drivers to navigate to desired destinations with the aid of navigational computing devices. One such technology embeds a navigation system inside a vehicle, which can include a visual map through which a present vehicle location can be displayed as the vehicle travels along a roadway. Directional indications can be visually and audibly provided by such an in-vehicle navigation system. Vehicle navigation systems can be expensive to purchase and install, however, which has prevented their wide-spread adoption within the consuming marketplace. Further, drivers of in-vehicle navigation equipped vehicles often fail to utilize the navigation system due to expensive monthly service charges and long-term navigational system contracts, which the drivers do not wish to incur.

To overcome these limitations, a number of alternatives have been attempted. One alternative is to provide a lower-cost after market navigation system that can be more easily added to a vehicle. While this solution can ease entry costs that are otherwise associated with installation and purchase of an in-vehicle navigation system, the after market navigation systems still require a monthly service cost to operate, which can result in significant expenses. Additionally, many after market vehicle navigation systems provide visual navigational queues through a tiny display, which can be difficult and even dangerous for drivers to utilize.

Another alternative, which can have an even lower cost associated with it is to utilize a personal data assistant (PAD) or notebook computer communicatively linked to or otherwise equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) device to provide a driver with undatable maps and driving instructions. Both of these solutions suffer from the same deficiencies as after market navigation systems. Service charges can be required for use, and the provided driving instructions can be presented in a distracting manner. For example, a driver attempting to look at a map or instructions presented upon the screen of a PAD can miss a desired exit, can become involved in an accident, or can simply become lost in the process of manipulating the direction providing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a driving direction delivery solution that provides audible driving instructions from a mobile telephone in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. More specifically, a GPS enabled mobile telephone capable of playing audible files, such as MPEG-1 layer 3 format (MP3) files, can be used for vehicle navigation purposes. A mobile telephone user can download a series of audio files, each containing a driving instruction. Each downloaded audio file can be associated with GPS coordinates or a GPS coordinate range. When the current location of the mobile telephone, as determined by the GPS components, is within a GPS coordinate range or approximately equals the GPS coordinates associated with an audio file, the audio file can be played.

It should be appreciated that the present solution permits mobile telephone users to be provided with driving instructions for any vehicle they are traveling within, which can be beneficial as compared to vehicle-specific navigational devices. Additionally, a mobile telephone owner utilizing the subject matter taught herein can download a series of driving instructions before traveling using capabilities inherent within an already owned device. These driving instructions can be played at a later time, even at times when the mobile telephone is not able to receive a signal from a mobile telephone tower. Accordingly, the solution presented does not require a constant connection to function. Hence, the service cost per user can be very low. For example, mobile telephone carriers may choose to provide the navigational service as a standard feature of a mobile telephony service package. In another example, a third party provider can provide the navigational service for a very modest charge, which may even be a free add-supported service.

The invention disclosed herein can be implemented in accordance with a variety of different aspects. For example, one aspect of the present invention discloses a mobile telephony device that includes GPS electronics, an audio transducer, and a data store. The GPS electronics can be configured to determine GPS coordinates of the mobile telephony device. The audio transducer can be configured to audibly present at least one audio file. The data store can be configured to store one or more audio files and associated enabling GPS coordinates. The mobile telephone device can be programmatically configured to compare GPS coordinates determined by the GPS electronics against enabling GPS coordinates stored within the data store. Upon a favorable comparison, the mobile telephone device can play the audio file associated with the favorably compared enabling GPS coordinates via the audio transducer.

Another aspect of the present invention can include a method for providing driving directions. The method can include the step of, within a mobile telephone device, associating one or more of audio files with enabling GPS coordinates. The audio files can include digitally encoded speech that specify driving instructions. Current GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone device can be ascertained. When the current GPS coordinates match enabling GPS coordinates, the audio file associated with the enabling GPS coordinates can be played.

It should be noted that various aspects of the invention can be implemented as a program for controlling computing equipment to implement the functions described herein, or a program for enabling computing equipment to perform processes corresponding to the steps disclosed herein. This program may be provided by storing the program in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, any other recording medium, or can also be provided as a digitally encoded signal conveyed via a carrier wave. The described program can be a single program or can be implemented as multiple subprograms, each of which interact within a single computing device or interact in a distributed fashion across a network space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram illustrating a system100for providing driving directions in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. System100can include a directional server130, a computer120, and a mobile telephone102.

The directional server130can be a computing device capable of providing driving instructions, driving maps, and other travel information when provided with a starting location and a destination location. The directional server130can utilize data contained within data store132to generate the driving instructions and related information. Additionally, user-specific travel information and user-profile information can be maintained in data store132. The directional server130can be communicatively linked to computer120via network140and can be communicatively linked to mobile telephone102via network144. Additionally, computer120and mobile telephone102can exchange data through network142.

In one embodiment, the directional server130can be a Web server that provides driving directions to users interfacing with the directional server130through a Web site. The directional server130is not limited in this regard, however, and can in various other embodiments be implemented as a Web service, a distributed software component, a remote data service, and the like, each of which can provide directional information to computer120and/or mobile telephone102.

The driving instructions provided by the directional server130can include spoken directions encoded within one or more audio files. The spoken instructions can be customized for a user-specified language. The audio files can be encoded in any of a variety of formats, including but not limited to, an MPEG-1 layer 3 (MP3) format, a WINDOWS Media Audio (WMA) format, an Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) format, a Waveform Audio (WAV) format, a telephony audio format (VOX), an Ogg Vorbis (OGG) format, and the like.

The directional server130can be configured to detect an audio format that is compatible with the mobile telephone102and can generate, convert, or otherwise adapt the audio files containing the driving instructions to the detected format. The directional server130can also provide software plug-in modules to the mobile telephone102and/or computer120so that the audio file receiving device can be software enhanced to play the audio files including the driving instructions.

The driving instructions provided by the directional server130can be directional or direction-less instructions. Direction-less instructions can be instructions, such as “turn east”, “take exit 512,” and the like, that are independent of a direction of travel. Directional instructions can be instructions, such as “turn left”, “turn right”, “you missed your exit”, and the like, that are dependant upon the direction of travel. When directional instructions are provided by the directional server130, multiple sets of conditionally enabled instructions can be provided, where the conditions pertain to the direction of travel.

The mobile telephone102can receive audio files112containing driving instructions along with associated GPS coordinates114produced by the directional server130and provided to the mobile telephone102, either directly from the directional server130or indirectly from computer120. The mobile telephone102can store this received driving information in data store110, which can be a memory of the mobile telephone102. Additionally, a series of conditionally enabled or trip specific audio files and associated GPS coordinates can be stored in data store110.

Trip table116, for example, can represent a currently enabled set of audio files112and GPS coordinates114established for a specific trip. Other trip tables116can be present within data store110, which can be selectively enabled or disabled responsive to user selections, mobile telephone locations, and/or externally provided instructions.

The mobile telephone102can include audio transducer104for audibly presenting the audio files112. The mobile telephone can also include GPS electronics106for determining location coordinates for the mobile telephone. These location coordinates can be compared against the GPS coordinates114, using circuitry and software within the mobile telephone102. When matches result from the comparisons, one or more events can be triggered, which can result in an associated audio file112being played via audio transducer104. In one embodiment, the GPS electronics106can function independent of whether the mobile telephone is receiving a telephony signal.

As used herein, the mobile telephone102can include a hand-held communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more ground stations, each ground station providing mobile telephony services for a geographic area or cell. In addition to the transceiver for communicating with the ground stations, the mobile telephone102can include additional communication equipment, such as BLUETOOTH, WIFI (802.11 protocol), infra-red (IR), or other transceiving electronics for wirelessly exchanging data with computer120and/or directional server130. Further, communications can be established with the mobile telephone102and a remote data source using one or more communication ports (not shown), such as a serial port, a FIREWIRE port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a compact flash port, a memory card port, and the like.

Data stores110and132can store information in any recording medium, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Further, each of the data stores110and132can utilize any information retention technique including a file-based storage technique or a database storage technique. Moreover, each of the data stores110and132can be a storage area fixed to a geographical location or a storage area distributed across a network space.

Networks140,142and144can represent any communication mechanism capable of conveying digitally encoded information. Networks140,142and144can include a telephony network such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a mobile telephone network, a computer network such as a local area network or a wide area network, a cable network, a satellite network, a broadcast network, and the like. Further, networks140,142and144can use wireless as well as line-based communication pathways. Networks140,142, and144can include not only long and intermediate distance communication pathways, but can also include one or more short-distance data pathways, such as in-device information buses, circuit board etched communication lines, communication cables such as FIREWIRE or USB cables, and the like. Moreover, digitally encoded information can be conveyed via networks140,142, and144in accordance with any communication protocol, such as a packet-based communication protocol or a circuit based communication protocol.

It should be appreciated that the arrangements shown inFIG. 1are for illustrative purposes only and that the invention is not limited in this regard. Instead, system100is to include all derivative structures that one of ordinary skill in the art could use to implement the functionality detailed herein. For example, the computer120and directional server130can each be implemented in a distributed or centralized fashion, although each is illustrated as a single device. Additionally, GPS electronics106can be substituted with other location specifying electronics, such as telemetric electronics based upon signal strength and cell tower locations, and need not be based upon GPS specific technologies. Further, the audio transducer104may not include a speaker integrated within the mobile telephone102, but can instead utilize speakers external to the mobile telephone102that receive audio transmitted by mobile telephone102. For example, sound from the mobile telephone102can be played through headphones communicatively linked to the mobile telephone102through an audio/video port.

FIG. 2is a flow chart illustrating a method200for providing driving instructions in accordance to an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The method200can be performed in the context of system100or any other system in which driving instructions are to be audibly presented based upon location coordinates.

Method200can begin in step205, where a user can access a Web site, using a computer with an Internet connection or through a mobile telephone. The mobile telephone can use a visual, voice, or multimodal browser to access the Web site. Accessing the Web site can require user registration and may require that accessing users pay a service fee.

In step210, the user can specify trip information that includes a starting and ending point for a trip. In step215, a network component linked to the Web site, such as a component of a Web server serving the Web site, can determine driving directions and route options for traveling from the starting point to the ending point. In step220, the network component can also generate location markers associated with points along the determined driving pathway. Each location marker can be associated with a set of GPS coordinates. In step225, the network component can construct audio files containing speech-based driving instructions and can associate each of these audio files with a location marker.

In step230, the audio files, driving instructions, GPS coordinates, and the like can be transferred from the network component to a remote location, such as to the computing device accessing the Web site. In step235, the transferred data can be further conveyed to a mobile telephone. In step240, a vehicle that includes the mobile telephone can begin traveling from the designated starting point to the ending point.

In step245, as the vehicle travels, GPS coordinates associated with the current position of the mobile telephone can be compared against GPS coordinates corresponding to the location markers. In step250, when a match is found the method can proceed to step255, where the associated audio file can be played. Otherwise, the method can proceed from step250to step260.

In step260, the mobile telephone device can check for user input. The user input can be, for example, a request to replay an audio file or a request for supplemental information regarding the audio file. When there is user input, the method can loop to step255, where appropriate programmatic actions responsive to the user input can be taken by the mobile telephone. When no user input is received, the method can continue to step265, where the mobile telephone can be checked for events relating to travel path update requests.

When the travel path is to be updated, the method can proceed from step265to step270, where the mobile telephone can connect to the Web site. The Web site can modify trip parameters and audio files, can provide GPS coordinate updates, and can provide other trip related information to the mobile device. When the travel path is not to be updated, the method can proceed from step265to step275. In step275, a determination can be made as to whether the end point has been reached or whether the trip has been aborted. If not, the method can loop to step245, where other GPS coordinates for the current location of the mobile telephone can be determined. If the trip has completed, the method can progress to step280. In step280, the mobile telephone can optionally be cleared of the no-longer needed trip information. Alternatively, the trip information can be disabled. New trip information can also be enabled or acquired from the Web site, such as trip information needed for a return trip.

FIG. 3is a flow chart illustrating a method300for audibly playing files associated with location coordinates using a mobile telephone in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The method300can be performed in the context of system100or method200, but is not to be construed as limited in this regard. That is, the method300can be performed in the context of any GPS enabled mobile telephone, having a memory for storing audio files and a transducer for playing the stored audio files.

Method300can begin in step305, where one or more audio files contained within a mobile telephone can be associated with enabling GPS coordinates. In step310, current GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone can be ascertained. It should be appreciated that mobile telephones can be configured in numerous fashions and have device-specific GPS capabilities, capabilities that can be user-configurable.

In step315, a determination can be made as to whether the mobile telephone is configured for latitude-based comparisons. If so, in step320, the current GPS coordinates can include a current latitude, which can be compared against enabling GPS latitude coordinates. For example, each set of enabling GPS coordinates can have a lower latitude range and an upper latitude range, against which the current latitude is compared.

In step325, a determination can be made as to whether the mobile telephone is configured for longitude comparisons. If so, the method can proceed from step325to step330, where longitude coordinates for the phone can be compared against enabling GPS longitude coordinates. In step335, a determination can be made as to whether the mobile telephone is configured for altitude comparisons. If so, altitude coordinates for the phone can be compared against enabling GPS altitude coordinates, as shown by step340.

When the comparisons of steps320,330, and/or340match one or more enabling GPS coordinates, the method can proceed to step350. Otherwise, the method can proceed from step345to step310. In step350, the audio file associated with the GPS coordinates can be audibly presented. The method can loop from step350to step310, where additional GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone can be determined.