Patent Publication Number: US-2013245930-A1

Title: Navigation system with point of interest relationship mechanism and method of operation thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a navigation system, and more particularly to a system for point of interest relationship mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Modern portable consumer and industrial electronics, especially client devices such as navigation systems, cellular phones, portable digital assistants, and combination devices, are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life including location-based information services. Research and development in the existing technologies can take myriad directions. 
     As users become more empowered with the growth of mobile location based service devices, new and old paradigms begin to take advantage of this new device space. There are many technological solutions to take advantage of this new device location opportunity. One existing approach is to use location information to provide navigation services such as a global positioning system (GPS) for a car or on a mobile device such as a cell phone, portable navigation device (PND) or a personal digital assistant (PDA). 
     Location based services allow users to create, transfer, store, and/or consume information in order for users to create, transfer, store, and consume in the “real world”. One such use of location based services is to efficiently transfer or route users to the desired destination or service. 
     Navigation systems and location based services enabled systems have been incorporated in automobiles, notebooks, handheld devices, and other portable products. Today, these systems aid users by incorporating available, real-time relevant information, such as maps, directions, local businesses, or other point of interest (POI). The real-time information provides invaluable relevant information. However, points of interest (POIs) not easily searchable are of paramount concern to the consumer. 
     Thus, a need still remains for a navigation system with point of interest relationship mechanism to support accurate searching points of interest by relationship. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems. 
     Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method of operation of a navigation system including: locating a target POI; generating a relationship for the target POI and a related POI; and generating a travel route based on the relationship to the target POI for displaying on a device. 
     The present invention provides a navigation system, including: a POI locator module for locating a target POI; a relationship module, coupled to the POI locator module, for generating a relationship for the target POI and a related POI; and a route generator module, coupled to the relationship module, for generating a travel route based on the relationship to the target POI for displaying on a device. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention have other steps or elements in addition to or in place of those mentioned above. The steps or elements will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description when taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a navigation system with point of interest relationship mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an example of a display on a display interface of the first device. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary block diagram of the navigation system. 
         FIG. 4  is a control flow of the navigation system. 
         FIG. 5  is a control flow of the containment relationship module. 
         FIG. 6  is a control flow of the adjacency relationship module. 
         FIG. 7  is a control flow of the across relationship module. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a method of operation of the navigation system in a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments would be evident based on the present disclosure, and that system, process, or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In order to avoid obscuring the present invention, some well-known circuits, system configurations, and process steps are not disclosed in detail. 
     The drawings showing embodiments of the system are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown exaggerated in the drawing FIGs. Similarly, although the views in the drawings for ease of description generally show similar orientations, this depiction in the FIGs. is arbitrary for the most part. Generally, the invention can be operated in any orientation. The embodiments have been numbered first embodiment, second embodiment, etc. as a matter of descriptive convenience and are not intended to have any other significance or provide limitations for the present invention. 
     One skilled in the art would appreciate that the format with which navigation information is expressed is not critical to some embodiments of the invention. For example, in some embodiments, navigation information is presented in the format of (X, Y), where X and Y are two ordinates that define the geographic location, i.e., a position of a user. 
     In an alternative embodiment, navigation information is presented by longitude and latitude related information. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the navigation information also includes a velocity element including a speed component and a heading component. 
     The term “relevant information” referred to herein comprises the navigation information described as well as information relating to points of interest to the user, such as local business, hours of businesses, types of businesses, advertised specials, traffic information, maps, local events, and nearby community or personal information. 
     The term “module” referred to herein can include software, hardware, or a combination thereof of the present invention in accordance with the context in which the term is used. For example, the software can be machine code, firmware, embedded code, and application software. Also for example, the hardware can be circuitry, processor, computer, integrated circuit, integrated circuit cores, a pressure sensor, an inertial sensor, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), passive devices, or a combination thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown is a navigation system  100  with point of interest relationship mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation system  100  includes a first device  102 , such as a client or a server, connected to a second device  106 , such as a client or server, with a communication path  104 , such as a wireless or wired network. 
     For example, the first device  102  can be of any of a variety of mobile devices, such as a cellular phone, personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, automotive telematic navigation system, or other multi-functional mobile communication or entertainment device. The first device  102  can be a standalone device, or can be incorporated with a vehicle, for example a car, truck, bus, or train. The first device  102  can couple to the communication path  104  to communicate with the second device  106 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is described with the first device  102  as a mobile computing device, although it is understood that the first device  102  can be different types of computing devices. For example, the first device  102  can also be a non-mobile computing device, such as a server, a server farm, or a desktop computer. 
     The second device  106  can be any of a variety of centralized or decentralized computing devices. For example, the second device  106  can be a computer, grid computing resources, a virtualized computer resource, cloud computing resource, routers, switches, peer-to-peer distributed computing devices, or a combination thereof. 
     The second device  106  can be centralized in a single computer room, distributed across different rooms, distributed across different geographical locations, embedded within a telecommunications network. The second device  106  can have a means for coupling with the communication path  104  to communicate with the first device  102 . The second device  106  can also be a client type device as described for the first device  102 . 
     In another example, the first device  102  can be a particularized machine, such as a mainframe, a server, a cluster server, rack mounted server, or a blade server, or as more specific examples, an IBM System z10 ™ Business Class mainframe or a HP ProLiant ML™ server. Yet another example, the second device  106  can be a particularized machine, such as a portable computing device, a thin client, a notebook, a netbook, a smartphone, personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone, and as specific examples, an Apple iPhone™, Palm Centro™, or Moto Q Global™. 
     For illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is described with the second device  106  as a non-mobile computing device, although it is understood that the second device  106  can be different types of computing devices. For example, the second device  106  can also be a mobile computing device, such as notebook computer, another client device, or a different type of client device. The second device  106  can be a standalone device, or can be incorporated with a vehicle, for example a car, truck, bus, or train. 
     Also for illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is shown with the second device  106  and the first device  102  as end points of the communication path  104 , although it is understood that the navigation system  100  can have a different partition between the first device  102 , the second device  106 , and the communication path  104 . For example, the first device  102 , the second device  106 , or a combination thereof can also function as part of the communication path  104 . 
     The communication path  104  can be a variety of networks. For example, the communication path  104  can include wireless communication, wired communication, optical, ultrasonic, or the combination thereof. Satellite communication, cellular communication, Bluetooth, Infrared Data Association standard (IrDA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), and worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) are examples of wireless communication that can be included in the communication path  104 . Ethernet, digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber to the home (FTTH), and plain old telephone service (POTS) are examples of wired communication that can be included in the communication path  104 . 
     Further, the communication path  104  can traverse a number of network topologies and distances. For example, the communication path  104  can include direct connection, personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN) or any combination thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown an example of a display on a display interface  202  of the first device  102 . The display interface  202  can depict a relationship  204 , including a validated containment relationship  210 , a validated adjacency relationship  220 , a validated across relationship  230 , and a commonality relationship  240  for a target POI  252  and a related POI  256 . The display interface  202  can also depict a travel route  254  from a current location  250  of the navigation system  100  of  FIG. 1  to the target POI  252 . 
     The relationship  204  is defined as some interconnections between multiple items. The relationship  204  includes the validated containment relationship  210 , the validated adjacency relationship  220 , the validated across relationship  230 , and the commonality relationship  240  between multiple points of interest. The relationship  204  with the related POI  256  provides richness in describing location of the target POI  252  and helps user navigate to the target POI  252 . 
     The validated containment relationship  210  is defined as interconnections between a validated container POI  212  and a validated contained POI  214 . The validated contained POI  214  is a point of interest  206  located in an infrastructure or a building of the validated container POI  212 . For example, the validated contained POI  214  can be a Starbucks™ in a Safeway™. In this case, Starbucks™ and Safeway™ have the validated containment relationship  210 , Starbucks™ is the validated contained POI  214  in Safeway™, and Safeway™ is the validated container POI  212  that includes Starbucks™. Also for example, Sunnyvale Mall south entrance, the validated container POI  212 , has the validated containment relationship  210  with Macy&#39;s™, Old Navy™, Gymboree™ and so on which is the validated contained POI  214 . The validated containment relationship  210  helps identifying the little known point of interest  206 , and leading to the point of interest  206  by navigating to the validated container POI  212 . The validated container POI  212  can be a landmark for driving with intent to lead to the validated contained POI  214 . 
     The validated adjacency relationship  220  is defined as interconnections between a validated major adjacent POI  222  and a validated minor adjacent POI  224 . The validated minor adjacent POI  224  is defined as the point of interest  206  that has the validated adjacency relationship  220  with the validated major adjacent POI  222  when the validated minor adjacent POI  224  is geographically close to the validated major adjacent POI  222 . The validated adjacency relationship  220  does not need to be exactly right next to each other or sharing common wall. The validated minor adjacent POI  224  has the validated adjacency relationship  220  with the validated major adjacent POI  222  which is on the same side of a street block or a strip mall. 
     For example, That restaurant does not have a same address as the Sunnyvale Mall, and That restaurant is a little bit away from Sunnyvale Mall on the same side of the street. In this case, That restaurant has the validated adjacency relationship  220  with Sunnyvale Mall, That restaurant is the validated minor adjacent POI  224 , and Sunnyvale Mall is the validated major adjacent POI  222 . 
     The validated across relationship  230  defines the relationship  204  which a validated major across POI  232  is located across the street to a validated minor across POI  234 . The validated major across POI  232  and the validated minor across POI  234  do not have to be exactly opposite to each other. For example, Target™ does not have same address as Sunnyvale Mall, and Target™ is on the other side of the street from Sunnyvale Mall. In this case, Target™ has the validated across relationship  230  with Sunnyvale Mall, Target™ is the validated minor across POI  234 , and Sunnyvale Mall is the validated major across POI  232 . 
     The commonality relationship  240  defines the secondary relationship based on the validated containment relationship  210  which the validated contained POI  214  is not located in the validated container POI  212  in some areas. For example, Starbucks™ and Wells Fargo™ can be typically found in Safeway™. The commonality relationship  240  helps navigating to Safeway™ first, but there is no Wells Fargo™ in the Safeway™ in some areas. The commonality relationship  240  can help to find nearby Wells Fargo™. 
     The related POI  256  is defined as the point of interest  206  which has the relationship  204  with the target POI  252  being selected or searched. The navigation system  100  can search or calculate the travel route  254  for the target POI  252  based on the relationship  204  with the related POI  256 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown an exemplary block diagram of the navigation system  100 . The navigation system  100  can include the first device  102 , the communication path  104 , and the second device  106 . The first device  102  can send information in a first device transmission  308  over the communication path  104  to the second device  106 . The second device  106  can send information in a second device transmission  310  over the communication path  104  to the first device  102 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is shown with the first device  102  as a client device, although it is understood that the navigation system  100  can have the first device  102  as a different type of device. For example, the first device  102  can be a server. 
     Also for illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is shown with the second device  106  as a server, although it is understood that the navigation system  100  can have the second device  106  as a different type of device. For example, the second device  106  can be a client device. 
     For brevity of description in this embodiment of the present invention, the first device  102  will be described as a client device and the second device  106  will be described as a server device. The present invention is not limited to this selection for the type of devices. The selection is an example of the present invention. 
     The first device  102  can include a first control unit  312 , a first storage unit  314 , a first communication unit  316 , a first user interface  318 , and a location unit  320 . The first device  102  can be similarly described by the first device  102 . 
     The first control unit  312  can include a first control interface  322 . The first control unit  312  can execute a first software  326  to provide the intelligence of the navigation system  100 . The first control unit  312  can be implemented in a number of different manners. For example, the first control unit  312  can be a processor, an embedded processor, a microprocessor, a hardware control logic, a hardware finite state machine (FSM), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a combination thereof. The first control interface  322  can be used for communication between the first control unit  312  and other functional units in the first device  102 . The first control interface  322  can also be used for communication that is external to the first device  102 . 
     The first control interface  322  can receive information from the other functional units or from external sources, or can transmit information to the other functional units or to external destinations. The external sources and the external destinations refer to sources and destinations external to the first device  102 . 
     The first control interface  322  can be implemented in different ways and can include different implementations depending on which functional units or external units are being interfaced with the first control interface  322 . For example, the first control interface  322  can be implemented with a pressure sensor, an inertial sensor, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), optical circuitry, waveguides, wireless circuitry, wireline circuitry, or a combination thereof. 
     The location unit  320  can generate location information, current heading, and current speed of the first device  102 , as examples. The location unit  320  can be implemented in many ways. For example, the location unit  320  can function as at least a part of a global positioning system (GPS), an inertial navigation system, a cellular-tower location system, a pressure location system, or any combination thereof. 
     The location unit  320  can include a location interface  332 . The location interface  332  can be used for communication between the location unit  320  and other functional units in the first device  102 . The location interface  332  can also be used for communication that is external to the first device  102 . 
     The location interface  332  can receive information from the other functional units or from external sources, or can transmit information to the other functional units or to external destinations. The external sources and the external destinations refer to sources and destinations external to the first device  102 . 
     The location interface  332  can include different implementations depending on which functional units or external units are being interfaced with the location unit  320 . The location interface  332  can be implemented with technologies and techniques similar to the implementation of the first control interface  322 . 
     The first storage unit  314  can store the first software  326 . The first storage unit  314  can also store the relevant information, such as advertisements, point of interest (POI), navigation routing entries, reviews/ratings, feedback, traffic patterns, or any combination thereof. 
     The first storage unit  314  can be a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, an internal memory, an external memory, or a combination thereof. For example, the first storage unit  314  can be a nonvolatile storage such as non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), Flash memory, disk storage, or a volatile storage such as static random access memory (SRAM). 
     The first storage unit  314  can include a first storage interface  324 . The first storage interface  324  can be used for communication between the location unit  320  and other functional units in the first device  102 . The first storage interface  324  can also be used for communication that is external to the first device  102 . 
     The first storage interface  324  can receive information from the other functional units or from external sources, or can transmit information to the other functional units or to external destinations. The external sources and the external destinations refer to sources and destinations external to the first device  102 . 
     The first storage interface  324  can include different implementations depending on which functional units or external units are being interfaced with the first storage unit  314 . The first storage interface  324  can be implemented with technologies and techniques similar to the implementation of the first control interface  322 . 
     The first communication unit  316  can enable external communication to and from the first device  102 . For example, the first communication unit  316  can permit the first device  102  to communicate with the second device  106  of  FIG. 1 , an attachment, such as a peripheral device or a computer desktop, and the communication path  104 . 
     The first communication unit  316  can also function as a communication hub allowing the first device  102  to function as part of the communication path  104  and not limited to be an end point or terminal unit to the communication path  104 . The first communication unit  316  can include active and passive components, such as microelectronics or an antenna, for interaction with the communication path  104 . 
     The first communication unit  316  can include a first communication interface  328 . The first communication interface  328  can be used for communication between the first communication unit  316  and other functional units in the first device  102 . The first communication interface  328  can receive information from the other functional units or can transmit information to the other functional units. 
     The first communication interface  328  can include different implementations depending on which functional units are being interfaced with the first communication unit  316 . The first communication interface  328  can be implemented with technologies and techniques similar to the implementation of the first control interface  322 . 
     The first user interface  318  allows a user (not shown) to interface and interact with the first device  102 . The first user interface  318  can include an input device and an output device. Examples of the input device of the first user interface  318  can include a keypad, a touchpad, soft-keys, a keyboard, a microphone, or any combination thereof to provide data and communication inputs. 
     The first user interface  318  can include a first display interface  330 . The first display interface  330  can include a display, a projector, a video screen, a speaker, or any combination thereof. 
     The first control unit  312  can operate the first user interface  318  to display information generated by the navigation system  100 . The first control unit  312  can also execute the first software  326  for the other functions of the navigation system  100 , including receiving location information from the location unit  320 . The first control unit  312  can further execute the first software  326  for interaction with the communication path  104  via the first communication unit  316 . 
     The second device  106  can be optimized for implementing the present invention in a multiple device embodiment with the first device  102 . The second device  106  can provide the additional or higher performance processing power compared to the first device  102 . The second device  106  can include a second control unit  334 , a second communication unit  336 , and a second user interface  338 . 
     The second user interface  338  allows a user (not shown) to interface and interact with the second device  106 . The second user interface  338  can include an input device and an output device. Examples of the input device of the second user interface  338  can include a keypad, a touchpad, soft-keys, a keyboard, a microphone, or any combination thereof to provide data and communication inputs. Examples of the output device of the second user interface  338  can include a second display interface  340 . The second display interface  340  can include a display, a projector, a video screen, a speaker, or any combination thereof. 
     The second control unit  334  can execute a second software  342  to provide the intelligence of the second device  106  of the navigation system  100 . The second software  342  can operate in conjunction with the first software  326 . The second control unit  334  can provide additional performance compared to the first control unit  312 . 
     The second control unit  334  can operate the second user interface  338  to display information. The second control unit  334  can also execute the second software  342  for the other functions of the navigation system  100 , including operating the second communication unit  336  to communicate with the first device  102  over the communication path  104 . 
     The second control unit  334  can be implemented in a number of different manners. For example, the second control unit  334  can be a processor, an embedded processor, a microprocessor, a hardware control logic, a hardware finite state machine (FSM), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a combination thereof. 
     The second control unit  334  can include a second controller interface  344 . The second controller interface  344  can be used for communication between the second control unit  334  and other functional units in the second device  106 . The second controller interface  344  can also be used for communication that is external to the second device  106 . 
     The second controller interface  344  can receive information from the other functional units or from external sources, or can transmit information to the other functional units or to external destinations. The external sources and the external destinations refer to sources and destinations external to the second device  106 . 
     The second controller interface  344  can be implemented in different ways and can include different implementations depending on which functional units or external units are being interfaced with the second controller interface  344 . For example, the second controller interface  344  can be implemented with a pressure sensor, an inertial sensor, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), optical circuitry, waveguides, wireless circuitry, wireline circuitry, or a combination thereof. 
     A second storage unit  346  can store the second software  342 . The second storage unit  346  can also store the relevant information, such as advertisements, points of interest, navigation routing entries, reviews/ratings, feedback, traffic patterns, or any combination thereof. The second storage unit  346  can be sized to provide the additional storage capacity to supplement the first storage unit  314 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the second storage unit  346  is shown as a single element, although it is understood that the second storage unit  346  can be a distribution of storage elements. Also for illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is shown with the second storage unit  346  as a single hierarchy storage system, although it is understood that the navigation system  100  can have the second storage unit  346  in a different configuration. For example, the second storage unit  346  can be formed with different storage technologies forming a memory hierarchal system including different levels of caching, main memory, rotating media, or off-line storage. 
     The second storage unit  346  can be a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, an internal memory, an external memory, or a combination thereof. For example, the second storage unit  346  can be a nonvolatile storage such as non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), Flash memory, disk storage, or a volatile storage such as static random access memory (SRAM). 
     The second storage unit  346  can include a second storage interface  348 . The second storage interface  348  can be used for communication between the location unit  320  and other functional units in the second device  106 . The second storage interface  348  can also be used for communication that is external to the second device  106 . 
     The second storage interface  348  can receive information from the other functional units or from external sources, or can transmit information to the other functional units or to external destinations. The external sources and the external destinations refer to sources and destinations external to the second device  106 . 
     The second storage interface  348  can include different implementations depending on which functional units or external units are being interfaced with the second storage unit  346 . The second storage interface  348  can be implemented with technologies and techniques similar to the implementation of the second controller interface  344 . 
     The second communication unit  336  can enable external communication to and from the second device  106 . For example, the second communication unit  336  can permit the second device  106  to communicate with the first device  102  over the communication path  104 . 
     The second communication unit  336  can also function as a communication hub allowing the second device  106  to function as part of the communication path  104  and not limited to be an end point or terminal unit to the communication path  104 . The second communication unit  336  can include active and passive components, such as microelectronics or an antenna, for interaction with the communication path  104 . 
     The second communication unit  336  can include a second communication interface  350 . The second communication interface  350  can be used for communication between the second communication unit  336  and other functional units in the second device  106 . The second communication interface  350  can receive information from the other functional units or can transmit information to the other functional units. 
     The second communication interface  350  can include different implementations depending on which functional units are being interfaced with the second communication unit  336 . The second communication interface  350  can be implemented with technologies and techniques similar to the implementation of the second controller interface  344 . 
     The first communication unit  316  can couple with the communication path  104  to send information to the second device  106  in the first device transmission  308 . The second device  106  can receive information in the second communication unit  336  from the first device transmission  308  of the communication path  104 . 
     The second communication unit  336  can couple with the communication path  104  to send information to the first device  102  in the second device transmission  310 . The first device  102  can receive information in the first communication unit  316  from the second device transmission  310  of the communication path  104 . The navigation system  100  can be executed by the first control unit  312 , the second control unit  334 , or a combination thereof. 
     For illustrative purposes, the second device  106  is shown with the partition having the second user interface  338 , the second storage unit  346 , the second control unit  334 , and the second communication unit  336 , although it is understood that the second device  106  can have a different partition. For example, the second software  342  can be partitioned differently such that some or all of its function can be in the second control unit  334  and the second communication unit  336 . Also, the second device  106  can include other functional units not shown in  FIG. 3  for clarity. 
     The functional units in the first device  102  can work individually and independently of the other functional units. The first device  102  can work individually and independently from the second device  106  and the communication path  104 . 
     The functional units in the second device  106  can work individually and independently of the other functional units. The second device  106  can work individually and independently from the first device  102  and the communication path  104 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the navigation system  100  is described by operation of the first device  102  and the second device  106 . It is understood that the first device  102  and the second device  106  can operate any of the modules and functions of the navigation system  100 . For example, the first device  102  is described to operate the location unit  320 , although it is understood that the second device  106  can also operate the location unit  320 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown a control flow of the navigation system  100 . The navigation system  100  can include a POI locator module  402 . The POI locator module  402  locates the target POI  252  and outputs a geo-location  408  associated with the target POI  252 . 
     The geo-location  408  is defined as the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object. For example, the global positioning system (GPS) for the car or the mobile device such as the cell phone, portable navigation device (PND), the personal digital assistant (PDA), or an internet-connected computer terminal. The geo-location  408  can refer to the practice of assessing the location, or to the actual assessed location. 
     The navigation system  100  can also include a relationship module  410 , coupled to the POI locator module  402 . The relationship module  410  generates the relationship  204  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  using the geo-location  408  of the points of interest  206  of  FIG. 2 . 
     The relationship module  410  can include a containment relationship module  414 . The containment relationship module  414  generates the validated containment relationship  210  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  based on the geo-location  408  of the points of interest  206 . The process of the containment relationship module  414  will be detailed later in the specification. 
     The relationship module  410  can also include an adjacency relationship module  430 , coupled to the POI locator module  402 . The adjacency relationship module  430  generates the validated adjacency relationship  220  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  using the geo-location  408  of the points of interest  206 . The process of the adjacency relationship module  430  will be detailed later in the specification. 
     The relationship module  410  can also include an across relationship module  440 , coupled to the POI locator module  402 . The across relationship module  440  generates the validated across relationship  230  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  using the geo-location  408  of the points of interest  206 . The process of the across relationship module  440  will be detailed later in the specification. 
     The relationship module  410  can also include a commonality relationship module  450 , coupled to the containment relationship module  414 . The commonality relationship module  450  generates the commonality relationship  240  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  based on the validated container POI  212  and the validated contained POI  214  from the containment relationship module  414 . 
     The navigation system  100  can also include a route generator module  470 , coupled to the relationship module  410 . The route generator module  470  generates the travel route  254  for the user to navigate to the target POI  252 . For example, the route generator module  470  can generate the travel route  254  based on the target POI  252  for displaying on the first device  102  of  FIG. 1 . The route generator module  470  can generate the travel route  254  from the current location  250  of  FIG. 2  of the navigation system  100  to the target POI  252 . 
     The POI locator module  402  can be implemented by the navigation system  100 . The POI locator module  402  can be implemented by the second control unit  334  of  FIG. 3 , and can make use of the second storage unit  346  of  FIG. 3 , the second software  342  of  FIG. 3 , the second communication unit  336  of  FIG. 3 , or some combination thereof. 
     For example, the POI locator module  402  can receive the target POI  252  from the second communication unit  336  and store the target POI  252  in the second storage unit  346  by utilizing the second control unit  334 . The POI locator module  402  can also utilize the second control unit  334  to operate the second software  342  to generate the geo-location  408  and store the geo-location  408  in the second storage unit  346 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the POI locator module  402  is described as being implemented by the second control unit  334 , although it is understood that the POI locator module  402  can be implemented differently. For example, the POI locator module  402  can utilize the first control unit  312  of  FIG. 3  retrieve the geo-location  408  from the first storage unit  314  of  FIG. 3 . The POI locator module  402  can utilize the first control unit  312  to control the first software  326  of  FIG. 3  to operate the first communication unit  316  of  FIG. 3  and transit the geo-location  408  to the second storage unit  346 . 
     The relationship module  410  can be implemented by the navigation system  100 . The relationship module  410  can be implemented with the first control unit  312  of  FIG. 3  and can make use of the first software  326  of  FIG. 3 , the first storage unit  314  of  FIG. 3 , the first communication unit  316  of  FIG. 3 , or some combination thereof. For example, the relationship module  410  can receive the geo-location  408  and store the geo-location  408  in the first storage unit  314  by utilizing the first control unit  312 . 
     The relationship module  410  can use the first communication unit  316  to receive the geo-location  408  from the second software  342  which can be implemented by the second control unit  334  and then store the geo-location  408  in the first storage unit  314 . The relationship module  410  can utilize the first control unit  312  to operate the first software  326  to generate the validated containment relationship  210 , the validated adjacency relationship  220 , the validated across relationship  230 , the commonality relationship  240 , or a combination thereof for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the relationship module  410  is described as being implemented by the first control unit  312 , with values being stored in the first storage unit  314 , although it is understood that the relationship module  410  can be implemented differently. For example, the relationship module  410  can be implemented by the second control unit  334 , with the geo-location  408  being stored in the second storage unit  346  of  FIG. 3 . Also for example, the second control unit  334  can generate the relationship  204  and use the second communication unit  336  of  FIG. 3  to send the relationship  204  to the first storage unit  314 . 
     The route generator module  470  can be implemented by the navigation system  100 . The route generator module  470  can be implemented with the first control unit  312  of  FIG. 3  and can make use of the first software  326  of  FIG. 3 , the first storage unit  314  of  FIG. 3 , the first communication unit  316  of  FIG. 3 , or some combination thereof. 
     For example, the route generator module  470  can receive the relationship  204  from the relationship module  410  and store the relationship  204  in the first storage unit  314  by utilizing the first control unit  312 . Also for example, the route generator module  470  can receive the target POI  252  from the first communication unit  316  and store the target POI  252  in the first storage unit  314  by utilizing the first control unit  312 . The route generator module  470  can also utilize the first control unit  312  to operate the first software  326  to generate the travel route  254  based on the relationship  204  to the target POI  252  for displaying on the first device  102 . 
     For illustrative purposes, the route generator module  470  is described as being implemented by the first control unit  312 , although it is understood that the route generator module  470  can be implemented differently. For example, the route generator module  470  can utilize the second control unit  334  to retrieve the relationship  204  from the second storage unit  346 . The route generator module  470  can utilize the second control unit  334  to control the second software  342  to operate the second display interface  340  of  FIG. 3  to display the travel route  254 . 
     The modules can be implemented with hardware implementations, including hardware acceleration units (not shown) in the first control unit  312  or the second control unit  334 , or separate hardware blocks (not shown)/functional units (not shown) in the first device  102  or the second device  106  of  FIG. 1  outside the first control unit  312  and the second control unit  334 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown a control flow of the containment relationship module  414 . The containment relationship module  414  generates the validated containment relationship  210 , including the validated container POI  212  and the validated contained POI  214 , for the target POI  252  of  FIG. 4  and the related POI  256  of  FIG. 4 . 
     The containment relationship module  414  can include an address module  502 . The address module  502  generates an initial containment relationship  516 , including an initial container POI  517  and an initial contained POI  518 , and a probability  522  from an address  504  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . The initial containment relationship  516  can be determined based on same address but different suite number, or same address but different brand name. For example, there are many doctors in El Camino Hospital located at 701 El Camino Real, Mountain View, Calif. The initial container POI  517  is El Camino Hospital and the initial contained POI  518  is the doctor. Also for example, CPAs are contained in CPA firm, lawyers are contained in law firm, and dentists are contained in dental poly clinics. 
     The probability  522  is defined as the degree of certainty which is described in terms of a numerical measure and this number is between 0 and 1. For example, if there are 99 related POIs  256  for the target POI  252 , and the relationship module  410  of  FIG. 4  generates the same relationship  204  of  FIG. 2  among 97 of the points of interest  206  of  FIG. 2 , then the probability  522  of the relationship  204  for the target POI  252  is 0.97. 
     The containment relationship module  414  can also include a popularity module  506 . The popularity module  506  generates the initial containment relationship  516  and the probability  522  based on a popularity  508  or a crowd-source  510  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . 
     The popularity  508  is defined as more people drive to the initial container POI  517  than the initial contained POI  518 . The point of interest  206  is determined to be the initial container POI  212  when the number of trips users drive to the target POI  252  or the related POI  256  is meeting or exceeding a popularity threshold  509 . On the other hand, the point of interest  206  is the initial contained POI  214  when the number of trips users drive to the target POI  252  or the related POI  256  is below the popularity threshold  509 . 
     For example, there are 990 people drive to Sunnyvale Mall, but only 10 people drive to Macy&#39;s™. The popularity module  506  can determine that Sunnyvale Mall is the initial container POI  517 , Macy&#39;s™ is the initial contained POI  518 . 
     The popularity module  506  can also generate the initial containment relationship  516  and the probability  522  based on the crowd-source  510  when more users explicitly report driving to the initial container POI  517  than driving to the initial contained POI  518 . For example, there are 500 users report driving to Stanford Mall, but only 5 people report driving to Banana Republic™ through a survey. The popularity module  506  can determine that Stanford Mall is the initial container POI  517 , Banana Republic™ is the initial contained POI  518 . 
     The containment relationship module  414  can also include a drivability module  512 . The drivability module  512  generates the initial containment relationship  516 , including the initial container POI  517  and the initial contained POI  518 , and the probability  522  based on a drivability  514  of the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . 
     The drivability  514  can be determined based on how many users search for the initial contained POI  518  but end up driving to the initial container POI  517 . For example, the drivability  514  to a doctor in Kaiser Permanente is 0, but the drivability  514  to Kaiser Permanente is 1. Kaiser Permanente is a single geocodable address that can be driven to. 
     Also for example, there are a lot of users search for California Pizza Kitchen and end up driving to Valley Fair South Entrance. The drivability module  512  can determine that Valley Fair South Entrance is the initial container POI  517  and California Pizza Kitchen is the initial contained POI  518 . 
     The containment relationship module  414  can also include a containment generation module  520 . The containment generation module  520  determines the validated containment relationship  210 , including the validated container POI  212  and the validated contained POI  214 , based on the initial containment relationship  516  and the probability  522  from the address module  502 , the popularity module  506 , and the drivability module  516 . The containment generation module  520  determines the initial containment relationship  210  with the highest value of the probability  522  to be the validated containment relationship  210 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown a control flow of the adjacency relationship module  430 . The adjacency relationship module  430  generates the validated adjacency relationship  220 , including the validated major adjacent POI  222  and the validated minor adjacent POI  224 , for the target POI  252  of  FIG. 4  and the related POI  256  of  FIG. 4 . 
     The adjacency relationship module  430  can include an adjacent popularity module  602 . The adjacent popularity module  602  generates an initial adjacency relationship  606 , including an initial major adjacent POI  608 , an initial minor adjacent POI  609 , and the probability  522  based on the popularity  508  being meeting or exceeding the popularity threshold  509  of  FIG. 5  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . 
     For example, Sunnyvale mall is on the same side of the road as That restaurant which is less than 0.1 mile or a block or two away from Sunnyvale Mall. There is more users drive to Sunnyvale Mall than to That Restaurant. The adjacent popularity module  602  determines that Sunnyvale Mall is the initial major adjacent POI  608  and That Restaurant is the initial minor adjacent POI  609 . 
     If the popularity  508  for the target POI  252  is very high, being meeting or exceeding an extreme popularity threshold  603 , and the distance between the initial major adjacent POI  222  and the initial minor adjacent POI  224  is more than 0.1 mile, the distance window for the initial major adjacent POI  222  that is extremely popular could be expanded up to 0.2 mile. For example, there are more people driving to Sunnyvale Railway Station which is 0.2 miles away from That restaurant than to Sunnyvale Mall which is 0.1 mile away from That restaurant. Sunnyvale Railway Station is the initial major adjacent POI  222  and That restaurant is the initial minor adjacent POI  224  since Sunnyvale Railway Station is an extremely popular POI even though it is 0.2 miles away from That Restaurant. That Restaurant has the initial adjacency relationship  220  with Sunnyvale Railway Station instead of Sunnyvale Mall. 
     The adjacency relationship module  430  can also include an adjacent crowd-source module  604 . The adjacent crowd-source module  604  generates the initial adjacency relationship  606 , including the initial major adjacent POI  608  and the initial minor adjacent POI  609 , and the probability  522  based on the crowd-source  510  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . The crowd-source  510  is explicitly reported from users about trips to the target POI  252  through internet survey, user feedback, or a combination thereof. 
     The adjacency relationship module  430  can also include an adjacency generation module  610 . The adjacency generation module  610  generates the validated adjacency relationship  220 , including the validated major adjacent POI  222  and the validated minor adjacent POI  224 , based on the initial adjacency relationship  606  and the probability  522  from the adjacent popularity module  602  and the adjacent crowd-source module  604 . The adjacency generation module  610  determines the initial adjacency relationship  606  with the higher value of the probability  522  to be the validated adjacency relationship  220 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown a control flow of the across relationship module  440 . The across relationship module  440  generates the validated across relationship  230 , including the validated major across POI  232  and the validated minor across POI  234 , for the target POI  252  of  FIG. 4  and the related POI  256  of  FIG. 4 . The validated across relationship  230  is similar to the validated adjacency relationship  220  of  FIG. 2 , but the validated minor across POI  234  is located across the street to the validated major across POI  232 . The validated minor across POI  234  is on the other side of the street to the validated major across POI  232 . 
     The across relationship module  440  can include an across popularity module  702 . The across popularity module  702  generates an initial across relationship  706 , including an initial major across POI  708 , an initial minor across POI  709 , and the probability  522  based on the popularity  508  being meeting or exceeding the popularity threshold  509  of  FIG. 5  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . 
     For example, Sunnyvale mall is on the other side of the road as Target™ which is less than 0.1 mile or a block or two away from Sunnyvale Mall. There is more users drive to Sunnyvale Mall than to Target™. The across popularity module  702  determines that Sunnyvale Mall is the initial major across POI  708  and Target™ is the initial minor across POI  709 . 
     If the popularity  508  for the point of interest  206  of  FIG. 2  is very high, being meeting or exceeding the extreme popularity threshold  603 , and the distance between the initial major across POI  232  and the initial minor across POI  234  is more than 0.1 mile, the distance window for the initial major across POI  232  that is extremely popular can be expanded up to 0.2 mile. For example, there are more people driving to Sunnyvale Railway Station which is 0.2 miles away from Target™ than to Sunnyvale Mall which is 0.1 mile away from Target™. In this case, Sunnyvale Railway Station is the initial major across POI  232  and Target™ is the initial minor across POI  234  since Sunnyvale Railway Station is an extremely popular POI even though it is 0.2 miles away from Target™. Target™ has the initial across relationship  230  with Sunnyvale Railway Station instead of Sunnyvale Mall. 
     The across relationship module  440  can also include an across crowd-source module  704 . The across crowd-source module  704  generates the initial across relationship  706 , including the initial major across POI  708  and the initial minor across POI  709 , and the probability  522  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . The crowd-source  510  is generated base on internet surveys, user feedback, or a combination thereof, that users explicitly report trips to the point of interest  206 . 
     The across relationship module  440  can also include an across generation module  710 . The across generation module  710  generates the validated across relationship  230 , including the validated major across POI  232  and the validated minor across POI  234 , based on the initial across relationship  706  and the probability  522  from the across popularity module  702  and the across crowd-source module  704 . The across generation module  710  determines the initial across relationship  706  with the higher value of the probability  522  to be the validated across relationship  230 . 
     Thus, it has been discovered that the navigation system  100  of  FIG. 1  of the present invention furnishes important and heretofore unknown and unavailable solutions, capabilities, and functional aspects for generating the relationship  204  of  FIG. 2  using the geo-location  408  of  FIG. 4  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . The present invention generates the relationship  204 , including the validated containment relationship  210  of  FIG. 2 , the validated adjacency relationship  220 , the validated across relationship  230 , and the commonality relationship  240  of  FIG. 2  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . As a result, the user can use the navigation system  100  with more accurate information about the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . The navigation result is improved by calculating the travel route  254  of  FIG. 2  base on the relationship  204  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256 . 
     The physical transformation from displaying the travel route  254  calculated based on the relationship  204  to the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  results in movement in the physical world, such as people using the first device  102  of  FIG. 1 , the vehicle, or a combination thereof, based on the operation of the navigation system  100 . As the movement in the physical world occurs, the movement itself creates additional information that is converted back to the relationship  204  for the target POI  252  and the related POI  256  for the continued operation of the navigation system  100  and to continue the movement in the physical world. 
     The navigation system  100  describes the module functions or order as an example. The modules can be partitioned differently. For example, the POI locator module  402  of  FIG. 4  and the relationship module  410  of  FIG. 4  can be combined. Each of the modules can operate individually and independently of the other modules. 
     Furthermore, data generated in one module can be used by another module without being directly coupled to each other. For example, the route generator module  470  of  FIG. 4  can receive the geo-location  408  from the POI locator module  402 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , therein is shown a flow chart of a method  800  of operation of the navigation system  100  of  FIG. 1  in a further embodiment of the present invention. The method  800  includes: locating a target POI in a block  402 ; generating a relationship for the target POI and a related POI in a block  410 ; and generating a travel route based on the relationship to the target POI for displaying on a device in a block  470 . 
     The resulting method, process, apparatus, device, product, and/or system is straightforward, cost-effective, uncomplicated, highly versatile, accurate, sensitive, and effective, and can be implemented by adapting known components for ready, efficient, and economical manufacturing, application, and utilization. Another important aspect of the present invention is that it valuably supports and services the historical trend of reducing costs, simplifying systems, and increasing performance. These and other valuable aspects of the present invention consequently further the state of the technology to at least the next level. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the included claims. All matters hithertofore set forth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting sense.