Dynamic natural guidance

Abstract

In one embodiment, dynamic natural guidance is generated for a route between an origin and a destination. A controller receives data indicative of a location of the mobile device and data indicative of at least one movable object detected in a vicinity of the mobile device. The data indicative of at least one movable object may be collected by a camera and analyzed. The analysis may include one or more of image processing techniques, temporal measurement, and tracking of movable objects. The controller generates a guidance command based on the location of the mobile device. The guidance command references the at least one movable object detected in the vicinity of the mobile device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an image acquisition device configured to capture a series of image data describing one or more movable objects in a geographic area in a vicinity of a mobile device;   position circuitry configured to calculate a location of the mobile device associated with a road segment; and   a controller configured to track movement of the one or more movable objects in the series of image data and generate a guidance command based on the movement of the one or more movable objects and the road segment associated with the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether one of the one or more movable objects is usable for the guidance command. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine visibility from the road segment to a subsequent road segment or a sign corresponding to a subsequent road segment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller generates the guidance command in response to the visibility from the road segment to the subsequent road segment or the sign corresponding to the subsequent road segment. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects includes a first object and a second object, wherein the controller is configured to compare distances to the first object and the second object to a turn-by-turn-direction included in the guidance command. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to select the one or more movable objects based on a suitability characteristic. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the suitability characteristic includes an identity of the one or more movable objects, a time elapsed that the movable object has been stationary, or a degree to which the or more movable objects stand out from the surroundings. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies a past velocity or acceleration of the one or more movable objects and selects the one or more movable objects for the guidance command based on the past velocity or acceleration. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device is a camera or a ranging device mounted to a vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 identifying a series of data describing one or more movable objects in a geographic area in a vicinity of a mobile device;   determining a location of the mobile device;   identifying a route from the location of the mobile device to a destination;   tracking movement of the one or more movable objects in the series of data; and   generating a guidance command based on the movement of the one or more movable objects and a reference point in the route from the location of the mobile device to the destination.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining whether one of the or more movable objects is usable for guidance command.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the location of the mobile device corresponds to a road segment, the method further comprising:
 determining visibility from the road segment to a subsequent road segment or a sign corresponding to a subsequent road segment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 generating the guidance command in response to the visibility from the road segment to the subsequent road segment or the sign corresponding to the subsequent road segment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 comparing distances to a first object and a second object to a turn-by-turn-direction included in the guidance command; and   selecting the first object based on distance to the turn-by-turn direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 selecting the one or more movable objects based on a suitability characteristic including an identity of the movable object, a time elapsed that the movable object has been stationary, or a degree to which the one or more movable objects stand out from the surroundings.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a past velocity or acceleration of the one or more movable objects; and   selecting the one or more movable objects for the guidance command based on the past velocity or acceleration.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed are operable to:
 identify a series of data describing one or more movable objects in a geographic area in a vicinity of a mobile device;   determine a location of the mobile device;   track movement of the one or more movable objects in the series of data; and   generate a guidance command based on the movement of the one or more movable objects and the location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , the instructions when executed are operable to:
 identify a road segment associated with the location of the mobile device, wherein the guidance command is based on visibility from the road segment.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , the instructions when executed are operable to:
 compare distances to a first object and a second object to a turn-by-turn-direction included in the guidance command; and   select the first object based on distance to the turn-by-turn direction.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , the instructions when executed are operable to:
 select the one or more movable objects based on a suitability characteristic including an identity of the one or more movable objects, a time elapsed that the one or more movable objects have been stationary, or a degree to which the one or more movable objects stand out from associated surroundings.