US 11,576,817 B1Granted

Selective information provision and indoor navigation assistance for the visually impaired

AssigneeAmerican Printing House for the Blind, Inc.

InventorsDaniel Keith Creasy, John Karr, Mark Klarer, Rob Meredith, Larry Skutchan, Joe Wegner

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A software application and system may be configured to enable a smartphone or other device to be used by a visually impaired person to receive voice navigation guidance during a directed exploration of an area. Directed exploration uses combinations of location data, directional data, and orientation data from the configured device to determine a direction that user wishes to explore, and only providing narrated results for streets, businesses, and other points of interest in that direction. The system may also utilize sets of wireless indicators positioned within indoor areas to provide accurate positioning to particular locations and floors within buildings.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An explorer device comprising:

(a) a location service operable to provide device information indicating a relative orientation of the explorer device;
(b) an indicator monitor operable to wirelessly receive local indicator data from one or more location indicators when they are within range of the indicator monitor;
(c) a feedback device;
(d) a processor configured to:
(i) determine a direction that the explorer device is directed based on the device information from the location service;
(ii) determine a current location of the explorer device based on at least one of:
(A) the local indicator data received by the indicator monitor;
and
(B) the device information received from the location service;
(iii) identify a set of mapped objects based on the direction and the current location, wherein the set of mapped objects correspond to a physical object or a physical location;
and
(iv) provide information associated with the set of mapped objects via the feedback device;
wherein the processor is configured to, when determining the current location of the explorer device, determine whether the explorer device is indoors based on at least one of:
(A) the local indicator data received by the indicator monitor;
and
(B) the device information received from the location service
wherein, responsive to determining the explorer device is indoors, the processor is configured to:
(I) determine:
(1) a unique identifier,
(2) a latitude and a longitude, and
(3) a distance from the explorer device,
for each of the one or more location indicators within range of the indicator monitor;
and
(II) determine the current location of the explorer device based on:
(1) the unique identifier,
(2) the latitude and the longitude, and
(3) the distance from the explorer device;
for a set of the one or more location indicators within range of the indicator monitor.

25 more elements

A method comprising:

(a) receiving, from a location service, device information indicating a relative orientation and a relative location of an explorer device;
(b) receiving, from an indicator monitor, local indicator data from one or more location indicators within range of the indicator monitor;
(c) determining, based on the device information received from the location service, a direction that the explorer device is directed in;
(d) determining, based on at least one of:
(i) the local indicator data;
and
(ii) the device information,
a current location of the explorer device, wherein determining the current location of the explorer device comprises determining whether the explorer device is indoors based on at least one of:
the local indicator data received by the indicator monitor, and the device information;
(e) identifying, based on the direction and the current location, a set of mapped objects, wherein the set of mapped objects corresponds to a physical object or a physical location;
(f) providing, using a feedback device, information associated with the set of mapped objects;
and
(g) responsive to determining the explorer device is indoors:
(i) determining:
(1) a unique identifier,
(2) a latitude and a longitude, and
(3) a distance from the explorer device,
for each of the one or more location indicators within range of the indicator monitor;
(ii) determining the current location of the explorer device based on:
(1) the unique identifier,
(2) the latitude and the longitude, and
(3) the distance from the explorer device;
and
(iii) identifying a floor level that the explorer device is on based on the current location.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/713,627Filed 5 Apr 2022 · continuation
Priority: 24 Jan 2018
Granted: 14 Feb 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

A61F 9/08
Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting in contact-lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind;…:…
A61H 3/061
Walking aids for blind persons: with electronic detecting or guiding means
A61H 3/066
Walking aids for blind persons: installations on the floor, e.g. special surfaces, to guide blind persons
G01C 21/3629
Details of the output of route guidance instructions: guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech

Family

Application62/709,635Us provisional application · filed 24 Jan 2018
Application16/254,780Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Jan 2019
US 11,318,050 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2019/0224049 A1Published application
US 11,576,817 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.