Patent Publication Number: US-2015066360-A1

Title: Dashboard display navigation

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the complicated world of driving and directions, help arrived with the advent of global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation systems. Navigation systems assist drivers in navigating unfamiliar territory with confidence. Physical roadmaps have become tools of the past. Navigation systems help direct drivers to their destinations, with turn-by-turn directions and map displays, and can provide information on points of interest (POIs) such as gas stations, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and ATMs. 
     Navigation systems are capable of providing a wealth of information in a variety of formats. However, the typical display associated with a navigation system presents the user with only one set of information at a time. The user can switch between various modes to search or view a listing of POIs, stored destinations, turn-by-turn directions, map display, traffic prediction data, safety alerts, weather information or other location and route information. Although certain navigation systems make use of a “split-screen” for displaying both a route map and driving directions, traditional techniques for requesting and switching between various sets of navigation information are often tedious and can result in driver distraction. In many instances, the driver is hindered by having to choose between one set of pertinent navigation information or another. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of certain aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present certain concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The disclosure disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, includes systems and methods that facilitate the display of related navigation information and content on a plurality of display devices associated with a vehicle navigation system. One such system can include a plurality of display devices, a location determining component for determining a location of a vehicle and other navigation information, and an input component for receiving user input. To increase safety and convenience of use for navigation devices installed in automobiles, a navigation system includes a plurality of displays for displaying related sets of navigation information in response to an intuitive user input such as a gesture. Utilizing the disclosed system and methods, a driver can easily access a wide variety of navigation information with minimal effort and distraction. 
     In an embodiment, in response to a user input, a map including a chosen destination or POI is displayed on a center console touchscreen display. The driver may perform a flicking gesture at the touchscreen and related content, for example, turn-by-turn directions, are displayed at the vehicle meter display located at or near the vehicle&#39;s dashboard gage cluster. 
     In another aspect, the disclosure can include methods for providing related sets of navigation information utilizing a plurality of display devices. One example method can include the acts of receiving a request for navigation information, displaying a first set of navigation information, receiving a gesture input in relation to a second display and displaying a related set of navigation information at the second display. Such a method can also include the acts of receiving a plurality of user inputs and simultaneously displaying related and distinct sets of information on a plurality of display devices. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosure are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the disclosure can be employed and the disclosure is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates navigation information displays associated with a navigation system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates navigation information displays associated with a navigation system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example flow chart of operations for providing navigation information in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a system for providing navigation information in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example driver&#39;s view of a system for providing navigation information in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the disclosure. 
     As used in this application, the terms “component” and “system” are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms “driver” and “user” are used interchangeably to refer to a user of the system and method. While in many instances the driver and user are the same entity, it is to be appreciated that a driver, passenger or other user may make use of all or a portion of the features of the disclosed system and method. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a simplified view of a vehicle center console display  104  and meter display  106 . For the purposes of this disclosure, a meter display refers to a display located at or near the vehicle dashboard instrument cluster that commonly includes a collection of gages, for example, odometer, speedometer, fuel gage, tachometer, oil pressure, engine coolant temperature and the like. The center console display  104  and meter display  106  are connected to and in communication with a vehicle navigation system  400  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). As a popular transportation tool, many vehicles are equipped with electronics such as global positioning systems (GPS) based navigation according to users&#39; needs. The GPS based navigation system is a mature product in the market. Utilizing a GPS receiver that receives information from GPS satellites to calculate the users&#39; position in real time, together with an electronic map and display screen, users can know their positions, areas, directions and vehicle speed, accurately locate where they are and easily navigate to where they want to go. 
     In an aspect, center console display  104  includes a touch sensitive screen  108 . In an embodiment, the front surface of the center console display  104  may be touch sensitive and capable of receiving input by a user touching the surface of the screen  108 . In addition to being touch sensitive, center console display  104  can display navigation information to a user. 
     In addition to touch sensing, center console display  104  may include areas that receive input from a user without requiring the user to touch the display area of the screen. In an embodiment, a gesture capture component  110  is separate from center console display  104 . For example, center console display  104  may be configured to display content to the touch sensitive screen  108 , while at least one other area may be configured to receive input via a gesture capture component  110 . Gesture capture component  110  includes a gesture capture area (not shown). Gesture capture component  110  can receive input by recognizing gestures made by a user within gesture capture area. Gesture capture and gesture recognition can be accomplished utilizing known gesture capture and recognition systems and techniques including cameras, image processing, computer vision algorithms and the like. 
     Vehicle navigation system  400  may include other devices for capturing user input, for example, ports, slots and the like. These features may be located on one or more surfaces of the center console display  104  or may be located near the center console display  104 . The system  400  may communicate with one or more of these features that may be associated with other devices. For instance, the system  400  may communicate with a smart-phone, tablet, and/or other computer that has been associated with the vehicle to utilize the display and/or features of the other device. 
     A map including present location, route and destination indicators is displayed on the center console display  104  in response to a user request for navigation information. The driver  112 , or other user, may perform a gesture  114  at the touchscreen  104  in relation to the meter display  106 , or other display. In response to the gesture, the system displays related navigation information, for example, turn-by-turn directions, route guidance, traffic data, point of interest listing, point of interest information, weather information, safety alert, travel time, present location information, destination or other navigation related information at the meter display  106 . 
     Gesture input  114  can include any action or gesture performed by the driver and recognized by the system  400 . The gesture input  114  can be a tapping, dragging, swiping, flicking, or pinching motion of the user&#39;s finger or fingers  112  at the touch sensitive screen  108  of center console display  104 . A flick gesture may be performed by placing a finger on the touch sensitive screen  108  and quickly swiping it in the desired direction. A tapping gesture can be performed by making a quick up-and-down motion with a finger, lightly striking the touch sensitive screen  108 . A pinching gesture may be performed placing two fingers a distance apart on the screen and moving them toward each other without lifting them from the screen. 
     In aspects, gesture input  114  includes a gesture at a first display with special relation to a second display and/or subsequent displays. Gesture input  114  can include, for example, any of a flicking gesture or other motion in the direction of a second display, a gesture or other motion away from a second display, a gesture or other motion at an angle from or towards a second display, and most any other gesture performed in relation to a second display. 
     User input can include a three-dimensional gesture  116  captured and recognized by gesture capture component  110 . The gesture input  116 , in the direction of display  118 , can cause the system  400  to display navigation information on display  118  that is related to but different from the navigation information provided at another display within the driver&#39;s view. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a map including present location, route and destination indicators is displayed on a vehicle center console display  104  based on a user request for navigation information. In response to a gesture, or other user input, the system displays related navigation information  202  on meter display  106 . For example, turn-by-turn directions, route guidance, traffic data, point of interest listing, point of interest information, weather information, safety alert, travel time, present location information, destination or other navigation related information can be displayed at the meter display  106 . Meter display  106  can include speedometer display  204 . 
     In an embodiment, user input can include a combination of a gesture input and a voice input, for example, the driver may perform a flicking gesture at the at the touch sensitive screen  108  of center console display  104  in the direction of the meter display  106  and issue the voice command “turn-by-turn”. The navigation system  400  displays turn-by-turn directions on the meter display  106  that correspond to the map route provided on display  104 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment, the driver may perform a gesture at the at the touch sensitive screen  108  of center console display  104  with special relation to the meter display  106  while issuing the voice command “turn-by-turn”. For example, the driver may perform a negative velocity gesture (e.g. away from the meter display  106 ) at the touch sensitive screen  108  with relation to the meter display  106 . The navigation system  400  displays turn-by-turn directions on the meter display  106  that correspond to the map route provided on the center console display  104 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a computer implemented method  300  of providing related and distinct sets of navigation information in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the one or more methodologies shown herein, e.g., in the form of a flow chart, are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the disclosure is not limited by the order of acts, as one or more acts may, in accordance with the disclosure, occur in a different order and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with the disclosure. 
     Method  300  can begin at  302  by receiving a user intiated request for navigation information. For example, the system  400  receives a user request for driving directions to a particular address. At  304 , the navigation system provides a first set of navigation information. For example, in reponse to the user&#39;s request for driving directions to a particular address, the system displays a map including a present location, suggested route and destination indicators at a touchscreeen display. 
     At act  306 , the system receives a gesture input from the user. The user may perform a gesture input, e.g. a flicking gesture, at the touchcreeen display. At  308 , in response to the user input, the system provides a second set of related but different navigation information at a second display. The system can display, for example, traffic alert information on a meter display in reponse to the flicking gesture input. 
     At  310 , subsequent user inputs (e.g., voice, gesture, touch, motion, etc.) are received by the navigation sytem. At  312 , subsequent related sets of navigation information are provided, at subsequent displays within view of the user, in reponse to the subsequent inputs received at  310 . 
       FIG. 4  and the following discussion provide a description of a navigation system and suitable computing environment in which embodiments of one or more of the provisions set forth herein can be implemented. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a navigation system  400  including a computing device configured to implement one or more embodiments provided herein. In one configuration, the computing device can include at least one location determining component  402 , processing unit  406  and memory  408 . Depending on the configuration and type of computing device, memory  408  may be volatile, such as RAM, non-volatile, such as ROM, flash memory, etc., or a combination of the two. This configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 4  by dashed line  404 . 
     Location determining component  402  can include most any components for obtaining and providing navigation related information, including but not limited to, GPS antenna, GPS receiver for receiving signals from GPS satellites and detecting location, direction sensor for detecting the vehicle&#39;s direction, speed sensor for detecting travel distance, map database, point of interest database, other databases and database information and other associated hardware and software components. 
     Navigation system  400  can include one or more input devices  412  such as keyboard, mouse, pen, audio or voice input device, touch input device, infrared cameras, video input devices, gesture recognition module, or any other input device. 
     In embodiments, the system  400  can include additional input devices  412  to receive input from a user. User input devices  412  can include, for example, a push button, touch pad, touch screen, wheel, joystick, keyboard, mouse, keypad, or most any other such device or element whereby a user can input a command to the system. Input devices can include a microphone or other audio capture element that accepts voice or other audio commands. For example, a system might not include any buttons at all, but might be controlled only through a combination of gestures and audio commands, such that a user can control the system without having to be in physical contact with the system. 
     One or more output devices  414  such as one or more displays  420 , including a vehicle center console display, video terminal, projection display, vehicle meter display, heads-up display, speakers, or most any other output device can be included in navigation system  400 . The one or more input devices  412  and/or one or more output devices  414  can be connected to navigation system  400  via a wired connection, wireless connection, or any combination thereof. Navigation system  400  can also include one or more communication connections  416  that can facilitate communications with one or more devices including display devices  420 , and computing devices  422  by means of a communications network  418 . 
     Communications network  418  can be wired, wireless, or any combination thereof, and can include ad hoc networks, intranets, the Internet, or most any other communications network that can allow navigation system  400  to communicate with at least one other display device  420  and/or computing device  422 . 
     Example display devices  420  include, but are not limited to, a vehicle center console display, touchscreen display, video terminal, projection display, liquid crystal display, vehicle meter display, and heads-up display. For some iterations, this display device may contain application logic for the control and rendering of the experience. 
     Example computing devices  422  include, but are not limited to, personal computers, hand-held or laptop devices, mobile devices, such as mobile phones, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), wearable computers, such as Google Glass™, media players, tablets, and the like, multiprocessor systems, consumer electronics, mini computers, distributed computing environments that include most any of the above systems or devices, and the like. Although computing device  422  can be a smart phone for certain users of system  400 , computing device  422  can be substantially any computing device, which can include, for example, tablets (e.g. Kindle®, Nook®, Galaxy Note®, iPad®, etc.), cellular/smart phones or PDAs (e.g., Android®, iPhone®, Blackberry®, Palm®, etc.). 
     The operating environment of  FIG. 4  is one example of a suitable operating environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the operating environment. Example computing devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, mobile devices, such as mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), media players, tablets, and the like, multiprocessor systems, consumer electronics, mini computers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. 
     Generally, embodiments are described in the general context of “computer readable instructions” or modules being executed by one or more computing devices. Computer readable instructions are distributed via computer readable media as will be discussed below. Computer readable instructions can be implemented as program modules, such as functions, objects, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), data structures, and the like, that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the computer readable instructions can be combined or distributed as desired in various environments. 
     In these or other embodiments, navigation system  400  can include additional features or functionality. For example, navigation system  400  can also include additional storage such as removable storage or non-removable storage, including, but not limited to, magnetic storage, optical storage, and the like. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 4  by storage  410 . In certain embodiments, computer readable instructions to implement one or more embodiments provided herein are in storage  410 . Storage  410  can also store other computer readable instructions to implement an operating system, an application program, and the like. Computer readable instructions can be loaded in memory  408  for execution by processing unit  406 , for example. 
     In an aspect, the term “computer readable media” includes computer storage media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions or other data. Memory  408  and storage  410  are examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, or most any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computing device of navigation system  400 . Any such computer storage media can be part of navigation system  400 . 
     In an embodiment, computer-readable medium includes processor-executable instructions configured to implement one or more embodiments of the techniques presented herein. Computer-readable data, such as binary data including a plurality of zero&#39;s and one&#39;s, in turn includes a set of computer instructions configured to operate according to one or more of the principles set forth herein. In one such embodiment, the processor-executable computer instructions is configured to perform a method, such as at least a portion of one or more of the methods described in connection with embodiments disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the processor-executable instructions are configured to implement a system, such as at least a portion of one or more of the systems described in connection with embodiments disclosed herein. Many such computer-readable media can be devised by those of ordinary skill in the art that are configured to operate in accordance with the techniques presented herein. 
     The term computer readable media includes most any communication media. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions or other data in a “modulated data signal” such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , in accordance with an embodiment, the disclosure can include a volumetric or three-dimensional heads-up display (HUD)  502 , or video display showing a camera view. The disclosure provides a device, system and method for simultaneously providing a driver with related and distinct sets of navigation information. In an embodiment, navigation information is capable of being observed on a HUD within a vehicle or video display. Utilizing the HUD, visual information can be projected into the driver&#39;s field of view, creating the possibility for the driver&#39;s eyes to remain on the road while information is presented. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , an interior portion  500  of a vehicle as viewed by a driver is depicted. The volumetric heads up display  502  creates an overlaid front view  504  that appears to be at one or more focal planes. The overlaid front view  504  projected on the HUD  502  can include turn-by-turn navigation information  508 . A navigation map is display on the vehicle center console display  104  and distinct but related navigation and/or POI information may be displayed on the vehicle meter display  106 , personal computing device  510  and other display devices within view of the driver. In an embodiment, the vehicle center console display  104  is a touchscreen display. 
     In an aspect, a user requests navigation information from the navigation system  400  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) at the vehicle center console display  104 . For example, the input of a request for directions to a particular point of interest can cause the navigation system  400  to display a map, including indicators of the vehicle&#39;s present location, route and chosen destination, at the vehicle center console display  104 . The user can perform a flicking gesture in the direction of the meter display  106  at the touchscreen of the vehicle center console display  104 . Related but distinct navigation information is displayed at the meter display  106  in response to the input of the flicking gesture. 
     Similarly, the user can perform a flicking gesture at the touchscreen of the vehicle center console display  104  in the direction of the HUD  502  causing turn-by-turn navigation information  508  to be displayed in the overlaid front view  504  projected on the HUD  502 . A subsequent flicking gesture in the direction of the computing device  422  causes additional distinct but related navigation information to be displayed on personal computing device  422 . In an aspect, walking directions, point of interest information, tourist information, hours of operation, advertising and most any other navigation information can be displayed at personal computing device  422 . 
     In an embodiment, in response to a user request for navigation information, the navigation system  400  displays a first set of navigation information. A first set of navigation information can include, for example, a map and indicators of the vehicle&#39;s present location, route and chosen destination. The navigation system  400  can provide a second set of related and different navigation information at another display at the request of the user. The user may request additional navigation information by inputting a command utilizing, for example, a gesture. 
     In an aspect, a flicking gesture at the touchscreen  108  of the vehicle center console display  104  causes turn-by-turn directions to be displayed at HUD  502 . A second flicking gesture in the direction of the meter display  106  causes any of a map, route guidance, traffic data, point of interest listing, point of interest information, weather information, safety alert, travel time, present location, destination and/or route information to be displayed on the meter display  106 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment, a gesture at the touchscreen  108  of the vehicle center console display  104  causes additional navigation information, for example, walking directions, point of interest hours of operation, POI phone number, tourist information, advertising or most any other information to be displayed at the personal computing device  510 . 
     In an embodiment, the type and placement of the navigation information provided is configurable. For example, the system  400  may be configured to provide related but distinct navigation information at a number of display devices in a particular order. For example, a first gesture input causes navigation information to be displayed at a center console display, a second gesture input causes related navigation information to be displayed at a meter display, a third gesture input causes related navigation information to be displayed or projected onto a HUD, a fourth gesture causes navigation information to be displayed on personal computing device and so on. 
     In other embodiments, the system  400  can be configured to provide related but distinct navigation information in a particular order. For example, a first gesture input causes map information to be displayed at a first display, a second gesture input causes turn-by-turn directions to be provided at a second display, a third gesture input causes traffic data to be provided at a third display and so on. 
     In further embodiments, the type of navigation information provided is based on the type of gesture input. For example, turn-by-turn directions are provided at a first display when the system receives a flicking gesture input at the touch screen  108 . Traffic alert information is provided at a second display when the system receives a pinching gesture input at the touch screen  108 . Estimated travel time, point of interest information, weather information safety alerts, and/or travel time is provided at a third display when the user inputs a double tap gesture. 
     In still further embodiments, a voice command input may be combined with a gesture input. For example, once a destination or point of interest has been identified and a first set of navigation information provided at the center console display  104 , the user may perform a flicking gesture at the touch sensitive screen  108  of center console display  104  in the direction of the HUD  502  and simultaneously input the voice command “traffic alerts”. The navigation system  400  provides traffic alert information corresponding to the map route shown on display  104 , on the HUD  502 . 
     In an aspect, once a destination or point of interest has been identified and a first set of navigation information provided at one of the center console display  104 , HUD  502  or meter display  106 , the user may provide a gesture input, e.g. flicking motion. In response to the gesture input, the navigation system  400  provides POI information at the personal computing device  422 . For example, when the chosen POI is a restaurant or retail establishment, the system can display useful information such as restaurant reviews, menu, hours of operation, phone number and the like, at personal computing device  422 . In other aspects, walking directions, tourist information, advertising and most any other information of interest can be provided at personal computing device  422 . 
     What has been described above includes examples of the disclosure. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the disclosure, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the disclosure are possible. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.