Intuitive Preview of Upcoming Navigational Instructions

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an intuitive preview of upcoming navigational instructions are provided. One example method for providing navigational instruction includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices, navigational information describing a sequence of navigational maneuvers associated with a route. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver. The method includes displaying, by the one or more computing devices, a user interface providing a sequence of indicators respectively representing the sequence of navigational maneuvers. A space between each indicator and the previous sequential indicator is proportional to the distance between the navigational maneuver represented by such indicator and the navigational maneuver represented by the previous sequential indicator.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing navigational instruction, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by one or more computing devices, navigational information describing a sequence of navigational maneuvers associated with a route, wherein the navigational information further describes a distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver; and   displaying, by the one or more computing devices, a sequence of indicators respectively representing at least a portion of the sequence of navigational maneuvers;   wherein the sequence of indicators are not overlaid upon a map; and   wherein a space between each indicator and the previous sequential indicator is proportional to the distance between the navigational maneuver represented by such indicator and the navigational maneuver represented by the previous sequential indicator.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining, by the one or more computing devices, a current speed at which a user is travelling; and   identifying, by the one or more computing devices, which of the sequence of navigational maneuvers the user is expected to reach within a threshold amount of time based at least in part on the current speed at which the user is travelling;   wherein the sequence of indicators provided in the user interface represent only the navigational maneuvers that the user is expected to reach within the threshold amount of time.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining, by the one or more computing devices, when one of the sequence of navigational maneuvers has been performed; and   removing from the user interface, by the one or more computing devices, the indicator representing the completed navigational maneuver when it is determined that such navigational maneuver has been performed.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sequence of indicators included in the user interface are presented at different positions along a first axis of the user interface that is representative of distance. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sequence of indicators comprises a sequence of graphical icons respectively describing the sequence of navigational maneuvers. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first axis comprises a y-axis of a display, and wherein the method further comprises scrolling, by the one or more computing devices, the sequence of indicators upwards along the y-axis as a user progresses along the route. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein scrolling, by the one or more computing devices, the sequence of indicators upwards along the y-axis as a user progresses along the route comprises introducing, by the one or more computing devices, a newly displayed indicator onto a bottom of a display area of the display. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 periodically adjusting, by the one or more computing devices, a scale of the distance axis based at least in part on current speed.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sequence of indicators comprises a sequence of textual entries respectively describing the sequence of navigational maneuvers. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver comprises a driving distance associated with the route. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver comprises a current expected travel time determined based at least in part on the route and traffic data. 
     
     
         32 . A device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a positioning system; and   a display   wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining navigational information describing a route; 
 determining a current position of the device; 
 determining a plurality of upcoming maneuvers based at least in part on the navigational information and the current position of the device; and 
 providing on the display a plurality of indicators respectively representing the plurality of upcoming maneuvers, wherein the plurality of indicators are not overlaid upon a map, wherein a space is provided between each pair of adjacent indicators, and wherein the space between each pair of adjacent indicators is proportional to a distance between the pair of maneuvers such pair of indicators represent. 
   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the distance between each pair of maneuvers comprises a driving distance. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the distance between each pair of maneuvers comprises a travel time. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the distance between each pair of maneuvers comprises a current expected travel time based at least in part on the route and obtained traffic data. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of indicators comprises one of a plurality of graphical icons or a plurality of textual entries. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein determining a plurality of upcoming maneuvers based at least in part on the navigational information and the current position of the device comprises:
 determining a current speed at which the device is travelling; and   identifying a plurality of expected maneuvers that the device will reach within a threshold amount of time based at least in part on the navigational information, the current position of the device, and the current speed at which the device is travelling;   wherein the plurality of indicators provided on the display respectively represent the plurality of expected maneuvers.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein:
 providing on the display the plurality of indicators respectively representing the plurality of upcoming maneuvers comprises providing on the display the plurality of indicators at a plurality of intervals along a y-axis of the display;   the interval between each pair of adjacent indicators is proportional to the distance between the pair of maneuvers such pair of indicators represent; and   the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform further operations, the further operations comprising scrolling the plurality of indicators upwards along the y-axis based at least in part on the current position of the device.   
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining navigational information describing a plurality of upcoming maneuvers, wherein a plurality of distances are respectively associated with the plurality of upcoming maneuvers; and   displaying, along a distance axis of a user interface, one or more indicators respectively representing at least a portion of the plurality of upcoming maneuvers, wherein the one or more indicators are displayed at respective positions along the distance axis that respectively correspond to the respective distances of the upcoming maneuvers from a current position.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the distance axis comprises a y-axis of the user interface;   the non-transitory computer-readable medium stores further instructions for performing further operations comprising scrolling the y-axis upwards as the plurality of upcoming maneuvers are performed.