Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TRAVEL INFORMATION ON
A HANDLEBAR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[1]. The present technology relates to the field of navigation systems. More
specifically,
the present technology disclose a method and system for providing travel
information
on a handlebar of a vehicle, in particular a single-track vehicle, such as,
but not
limited to, a bicycle.
BACKGROUND
[2].With the growth of eco-friendly trend in the means of transportation, the
use of
single-track vehicle as a mean of travelling between two points have increased
in
recent years. This trend can be noticed even more in large urban cities.
[3].Moreover, with the advance in technology, it is easier for drivers to
verify their
trajectory by accessing devices, such as smartphones, to verify their
trajectory when
travelling. Needless to say, the use of the hands being crucial in directing
the single-
track vehicle, one must stop whenever desiring to interact with the smartphone
to, for
example, verify the trajectory.
[4].It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of
the
inconveniences present in the prior art.
SUMMARY
[5]. The present invention comprises an device installed on a handlebar of a
single-track
vehicle. The driver inputs his or her destination into a mobile application
which is
synchronized with the device. The device comprises a halo-shaped display which
provides direction information to the driver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[6].Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of a system 100,
the
system 100 being suitable for implementing non-limiting embodiments of the
present
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technology. It is to be expressly understood that the system 100 is depicted
merely as
an illustrative implementation of the present technology.
[7].This description is not intended to define the scope or set forth the
bounds of the
present technology. In some cases, what are believed to be helpful examples of
modifications to the system 100 may also be set forth below. This is done
merely as
an aid to understanding, and, again, not to define the scope or set forth the
bounds of
the present technology. These modifications are not an exhaustive list, and,
as a
person skilled in the art would understand, other modifications are likely
possible.
Further, where this has not been done (i.e. where no examples of modifications
have
been set forth), it should not be interpreted that no modifications are
possible and/or
that what is described is the sole manner of implementing that element of the
present
technology. As a person skilled in the art would understand, this is likely
not the case.
In addition, it is to be understood that the system 100 may provide in certain
instances
simple implementations of the present technology, and that where such is the
case
they have been presented in this manner as an aid to understanding. As persons
skilled in the art would understand, various implementations of the present
technology may be of a greater complexity.
[8]. The system 100 comprises a single-track vehicle device 102. As it will be
described
in more detail below, suffice to say for now that the single-track vehicle
device 102 is
an apparatus designed to be installed on a handlebar of a single-track
vehicle, and is
directed to providing routing instructions visually to the user operating the
single-
track vehicle device using a halo-shape display 504. Even though reference is
made to
a handlebar, it should be understood that the single-track vehicle device 102
may be
installed on other parts of the vehicle such as a frame of the vehicle.
Although the
single-track vehicle device 102 is depicted as being circular, it is not
limited as such.
[9]. The manner in which the halo-shaped display is implemented is not
limited, and may
comprise of a halo-shaped light-emitting diode (LED) capable of emitting a
plurality
of colors. In some non-limiting embodiment, the LEDs are dispersed so as to
form a
circle or a portion of circle suitable for displaying circular visual
indications to the
user operating the vehicle. In some non limiting embodiment, the halo-shape
display
504 may comprise a set of LED individually controllable. In some non-limiting
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embodiments, the single-track vehicle device also comprises of a button 510
situated
at the center of the halo-shape display 504, a front light 506 (depicted in
Fig. 5), as
well as a speaker 508 (depicted in Fig. 5).
[10]. The single-track vehicle device is coupled to the electronic device via
a
communication link 106. The electronic device 108 is typically associated with
a user
(not depicted) and, as such, can sometimes be referred to as a "client
device". It
should be noted that the fact that the electronic device 108 is associated
with the user
does not mean to suggest or imply any mode of operation ¨ such as a need to
log in, a
need to be registered or the like.
[11]. In the context of the present specification, unless provided expressly
otherwise,
"electronic device" is any computer hardware that is capable of running
software
appropriate to the relevant task at hand. Thus, some (non-limiting) examples
of
electronic devices include personal computers (desktops, laptops, netbooks,
etc.),
smartphones, and tablets. It should be noted that a device acting as an
electronic
device in the present context is not precluded from acting as a server to
other
electronic devices. The use of the expression "an electronic device" does not
preclude
multiple client devices being used in receiving/sending, carrying out or
causing to be
carried out any task or request, or the consequences of any task or request,
or steps of
any method described herein.
[12]. The electronic device 108 comprises hardware and/or software and/or
firmware
(or a combination thereof), as is known in the art, to execute a mobile
application 110.
Generally speaking, the purpose of the mobile application 110 is a computer
program
designed to run on the electronic device 108. As it will be described in more
precision
below, suffice to say for now that the mobile application 108 's software may
or may
not have been previously installed on the electronic device 108. Briefly
speaking, in
the latter case, the user of the electronic device 108 can access via the
communication
network 104, the online store 112 to download and install the online mobile
application 114. In one embodiment, the mobile application 110 is an
application
provided from Les Solutions CycleLabs Inc.
[13]. In a non-limiting embodiment, the mobile application 110 is a route
planning
software designed to plan a route between two geographical points. The manner
in
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which the route planning software is implemented is well known to a person
skilled in
the art and will not be described further herein. Suffice to say that the
mobile
application 110 running on the mobile device 108 is configured to receive
inputs from
the user (not depicted) operating the electronic device 108, the input being
indicative
of the geographical locations (i.e. starting point and destination point).
[14]. How the communication link 106 is implemented is not particularly
limited and
will depend on how the single-track vehicle device 102 is implemented. Merely
as an
example and not as a limitation, in those embodiments of the present
technology
where the single-track vehicle device 102 is implemented as a wireless
communication device, the communication link 106 can be implemented as a
wireless
communication link such as but not limited to Bluetoothe, and can include a 3G
communications network link, a 4G communications network link, a Wireless
Fidelity, or WiFi0, for short, Bluetootht, or the like.
[15]. It should be expressly understood that implementations for the single-
track
vehicle device 102, and the communication link 106 are provided for
illustration
purposes only. As such, those skilled in the art will easily appreciate other
specific
implementational details for the single-track vehicle device 102. As such, by
no
means examples provided herein above are meant to limit the scope of the
present
technology.
[16]. Generally speaking, in order for the single-track vehicle device 102 to
be
successively coupled to the electronic device 108 (comprising the mobile
application
110), the single-track vehicle device 102 must be registered with the
electronic device
108. As such, each of the single-track vehicle device 102 and the electronic
device
108 comprises a registration module (depicted in Fig. 3 and 2 respectively as
sync
module 222 and sync module 312). The manner in which the registration is made
is
generally known in the art and will not be described much. As such, just as an
example, a unique serial number of the single-track vehicle device 102 could
be used
as a registration key which is to be inputted in the mobile application 110.
Once the
registration is over, synchronization of the single-track vehicle device 102
and the
electronic device 108 occurs whenever a communication link 106, such as, but
not
limited to Bluetooth0, is established between them.
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[17]. The electronic device 108 is coupled to the communication network 104
via a
dedicated link (not depicted). How the dedicated link is implemented is not
limited,
and may be implemented in a similar manner to the communication link 106. In
some
non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the communication network
104
can be implemented as the Internet. In other embodiments of the present
technology,
the communications network 104 can be implemented differently, such as any
wide-
area communications network, local-area communications network, a private
communications network and the like.
[18]. Also coupled to the communications network 116 is a server 116. In some
embodiments of the present technology, the server 116 can be implemented as a
conventional computer server. In an example of an embodiment of the present
technology, the server 116 can be implemented as a De11TM PowerEdgeTM Server
running the MicrosofiTM Windows ServerTM operating system. Needless to say,
the
server 116 can be implemented in any other suitable hardware and/or software
and/or
firmware or a combination thereof. In the depicted non-limiting embodiment of
present technology, the server 116 is a single server. In alternative non-
limiting
embodiments of the present technology, the functionality of the server 116may
be
distributed and may be implemented via multiple servers (not depicted).
[19]. The implementation of the server 116 is well known. However, briefly
speaking,
the server 116 comprises a communication interface (not depicted) structured
and
configured to communicate with various entities (such as the electronic device
108,
for example and other devices potentially coupled to the communications
network
104) via the communications network 104. The server 116 further comprises at
least
one computer processor (not depicted) operationally connected with the
communication interface and structured and configured to execute various
processes
to be described herein.
[20]. Within some embodiments, the server 116 can access a web service 118 and
a
web service 120. Generally speaking, the web services 118 and 120 are
applications
executed by or via the server 116, which application is geared towards
addressing one
or more of user's needs or problems. For example, a map service, being an
example
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of the web service 118, is geared to solving a user problem of determining a
particular
route from Point A to Point B. In some non-limiting embodiments of the present
technology, the electronic device 108 accesses the web service 108 by
inputting the
starting point and the destination point in the mobile application 110 running
on the
electronic device 108. In another example, a meteorological service, being an
example of the web service 120, is geared to providing the user with
meteorological
data to the electronic device 108, the data being indicative of meteorological
data of
the area around the starting and finishing point, upon receiving the purported
trajectory.
[21]. In some embodiments, the server 116 may comprise of an API library 122
which
provides a library of API functions provided by the web services 118 and 120.
For
example, provided that the web service 118 corresponds to Google MapTM, the
electronic device 108 can access the API library 122 to retrieve the Google
MapTM
API and process the optimal route for the inputted points within the
electronic device
108.
[22]. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary architecture 200 of the
electronic
device 108 capable of running the mobile application 110. In some non-limiting
embodiments of the present technology, the user of the electronic device 108
initiates
the mobile application 110 by selecting the mobile application 110 on a
display
interface 214, and inputs data indicative of a starting point and a finish
point. For
example, the user may enter (Montreal, Quebec) as the starting point, and
(Brossard,
Quebec) as the finish point. In some non-limiting embodiments the electronic
device
108 comprises a GPS module 220 which contains data indicative of the
geolocation
of the electronic device 108. As such, the GPS module 220 may give the user
the
choice of selecting the current location of the electronic device 108 as the
starting
point, or alternatively the finish point.
[23]. The inputted data, as well as the geolocation of the electronic device
108 from the
GPS module 220, are transmitted to the running mobile application 110, and
transmitted in a data packet 211 to the server 116 using a communication
module 202.
[24]. Upon determining a route by the server 116 via the web service 118, the
server
transmits a data packet 212 to the mobile application 110 via the
communication
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module 202, the data packet 212 containing data indicative of a proposed route
for
travelling from Montreal, Quebec to Brossard, Quebec, using a single-tracked
vehicle,
such as a bicycle. In some non-limiting embodiments, the data packet 212 may
contain a plurality of potential route to be displayed on the display
interface 214 of
the electronic device, thereby providing the user with a choice of selecting
the route.
[25]. Alternatively, the electronic device 108 can retrieve from the API
library, for
example, the Google MapTM API, and process the optimal route for the inputted
points.
[26]. In some non-limiting embodiments, the server 116 can also be configured
to
retrieve meteorological data in the area around the electrical device 108 from
the web
service 120, to include it within the data packet 212. For example, upon
determining
by the server 116 that the user has requested a route from Montreal, Quebec to
Brossard, Quebec at 17:30, the data packet 122 may include for example, data
indicative of the time of the sunset, retrieved from the web service 120. In a
further
example, the server may include in the data packet 122 for example, data
indicative of
meteorological factors that may affect the vision of the user operating the
single-track
vehicle, such as, but not limited to rain and/or fog.
[27]. Upon approval, or selection of the proposed route by the user (such
approval or
selection being made using the display interface 214), the mobile application
110
instantiate the selected trajectory route. In some non-limiting embodiments of
the
present technology, the GPS module 220 continuously feed data indicative of
the
geolocation of the electronic device 108 to the mobile application 110,
allowing the
mobile application 110 to incrementally update the trajectory information
provided to
the user in real-time.
[28]. In another embodiment, the mobile application may allow the user to set
objective
parameters, such as the target calories burned, or target speed, or desired
time frame
to complete the trajectory.
[29]. In some non-limiting embodiments, the architecture 200 comprises a
memory 216
which stores data provided by the mobile application 110. The memory 216
stores
previous and/or current routing information. More precisely, the memory 216
stores
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data for each synchronized sessions between the registered electronic device
108 and
the single-track vehicle device 102.
[30]. For example, the memory 216 may contain information about the previous
and/or
current routes' starting points and finish points. Moreover, the memory 216
may
contain user data associated with the previous and/or current routes. For
example, the
memory may store the average speed of the single-tracked vehicle for the
totality of
the trip, the average speed at segmented portions of the route, the distance,
the
amount of burned calories. In further non-limiting embodiments, the data
stored in the
memory 216 may be accessed by the user operating the mobile application 110,
and/or shared on social web platform (such as FacebookTm). By storing the last
point
of synchronized session, the electronic device 108 allows the user to locate
his or her
parked single-track vehicle.
[31]. In a further non-limiting embodiment, the architecture 200 comprises a
communication application 208. Generally speaking, the communication
application
208 comprises of any types of application directed to communicating with
another
electronic device. For example, and not as a limitation, the communication
application can be an instant messaging software application such as
MessagesTM
operated by AppleTM or a telephone software application.
[32]. In another non-limiting embodiment, the mobile application 110 is
configured to
transmit, via the communication module 202, a data packet 218 to the single-
track
vehicle device 102. The data packet 218 comprises data indicative of the
routes to be
taken by the user in arriving at the destination point. Alternatively, or in
combination,
the data packet 211 comprises an indication of a receiving call or a message
directed
to the communication application 208.
[33]. In another embodiment, the data packet 218 also comprises of the
objective
parameters inputted by the user.
[34]. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary architecture 300 of the single-
track
vehicle device 102. The single-track vehicle device 102 comprises a
communication
module 302. The communication module 302 receives the data packet 218 from the
mobile application 110 via the communication module 202. Upon receiving the
data
packet 218, the communication module 302 transmits it to the processor 304.
The
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processor 304 processes the data packet 218 to convert the data contained
therein to
different readable instructions for each of the function modules 316
(comprising of a
display module 306, a speaker module 308, and light module 310).
[35]. For example, the processor 304 processes the data packet 218 to convert
the data
contained therein as instructions readable by the display module 306 for the
route
instructions and objective parameters. In some embodiments, the display module
306
controls the display of signal indications on the halo-shaped display 504.
[36]. For example, the processor 304 processes the data packet 218 to convert
the data
contained therein as instructions readable by a speaker module 308. The
speaker
module 308 can be implemented to receive the audio data and emit each route
instructions vocally to the user.
[37]. For example, the processor 304 processes the data packet 218 to convert
the data
contained therein as instructions readable by the light module 310 to light up
the light
506 (described below).
[38]. In some non-limiting embodiments, the data packet 218 already comprises
data
instructions readable for each of the function modules 316 when processed by
the
processor 204 of the electronic device 108. In such case, the processor 304
acts as a
parser of the different type of instructions to each of the function modules
316.
[39]. Fig. 4 is an illustration of the various exemplary visual signals that
may be
displayed to the user by the halo-shaped display 504. It is to be expressly
understood
that the visual signals displayed in Fig. 4 are exemplary, and although there
are only
11 visual signals illustrated, it is not limited as such.
[40]. Block diagram 402 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user that
the single-track vehicle device is ready for use. In other words, the single-
track
vehicle device 102 is synchronized with the electronic device 108 and has
received
the routing information (via data packet 218). As it can be seen, the center
circle (i.e.
button 510) emits a white light, whereas the outer circle 424 emits a green
light.
[41]. Block diagram 404 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user to
turn right. In some embodiments, the half circle 426 emits a green light.
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[42]. Block diagram 406 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user to
perform a sharp right turn. In some embodiments, the quarter circle 428 emits
a green
light.
[43]. Block diagram 408 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user to
perform a light right turn. In some embodiments, the quarter circle 430 emits
a green
light.
[44]. Block diagram 410 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user to go
straight. In some embodiments, the half circle 432 emits a green light.
[45]. Block diagram 412 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating a
special
requirement (for example, taking a ferry). In some embodiments, the button 510
emits
a yellow light.
[46]. Block diagram 414 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user to
perform a U-turn. In some embodiments, the half circle 436 emits a red light.
[47]. Block diagram 416 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user that
he or she has arrived to the destination. In some embodiments, the button 438
emits a
green light.
[48]. Block diagram 418 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user that
there will be a turn (in this case a right turn) in less than 50 meters. In
some
embodiments the half circle 440 emits a yellow light.
[49]. Block diagram 420 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating how
the user
is achieving that he has inputted. In some embodiments, this is done by
filling the
halo-shape display 504 in proportion to the percentage of the achieved
objective. For
example, if the user has set an objective of, for example, burning 100 Kcal
and has
achieved 50Kcal, or achieve a constant speed of 50km/hr and has achieved a
constant
speed of 25km/hr, the halo-shape display 504 will be half filled with green
light.
[50]. Block diagram 422 illustrates an exemplary visual signal indicating the
user that
he or she received a call or a message on the communication application 208.
In some
embodiments, this is done by a green light emitting on the center of the halo-
shape
display 504 (i.e. the button 510).
[51]. Again, it is to be expressly understood that the illustrations provided
in Fig. 4 are
for exemplary purposes only, and are in no way intended to limit the scope of
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present technology. As such, alternative embodiments may include emitting the
light
in an intermittent fashion for certain indication requiring user attention.
Furthermore,
the use of green, yellow, red lights are non-limitative and other combinations
are also
possible.
[52]. Further example of other embodiments may include a visual signal
indicative of
proximity between the single-track vehicle 102 and the electronic device 108
in
response to the automatic synchronization between the single-track vehicle
device
102 with the electronic device 108
[53]. Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the present technology in an
assembled
state. More precisely, Fig. 5 depicts a single-track vehicle device 102
installed on a
handlebar 502 of a single-track vehicle.
[54]. The manner in which the single-track vehicle device 102 is installed to
the
handlebar 502 is not limited, and may be, for example, by installing a support
board
(not depicted) on the handlebar, and then installing the single-track vehicle
device
102 on the support board. In a non-limiting embodiment, the installation of
the of the
single-track vehicle device 102 to the handlebar 502 may be done using
specially
designated screws, further requiring a unique key to unlock and separate the
single-
track vehicle device 102 from the handlebar 502.
[55]. Also depicted in Fig. 5 are the electronic device 108, the mobile
application 110,
and the data packet 218. It will be remembered that the data packet 218 may
contain
at least one of five types of data: i) route instruction data; ii) audio data;
iii)
meteorological data, iv) an indication of a receiving call or a message
directed to the
communication application 208; and v) the objective set by the user. It will
be
remembered as well that each of the data type contained in the data packet 218
may
have an outcome function on the single-track vehicle device 102.
[56]. As such, the route instruction data, as well as the indication of a
receiving call or
message and the objective, once processed by the processor 304, are
transmitted to
the user visually on the halo-shape display 504, in the manner, for example,
as set
forth in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the audio data, containing audio data associated
with the
route instructions are transmitted audibly to the user via the speaker 508. In
some
non-limiting embodiment, the data indicative of the receiving call or message
may
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also trigger the speaker 508 to provide an alarm sound to the user. Lastly,
the
meteorological data contain instructions for the processor 304 to trigger the
light
module 310. For example, if the user has started a route using the mobile
application
from Montreal, Quebec, to Brossard, Quebec at 17:00, and it is determined that
the
sunset is to occur at 17:15, the processor 304 will instruct the light module
310 for the
front light 506 to lighten up at the predefined time 17:15. Alternatively, if
the user has
started a route using the mobile application from Montreal, Quebec, to
Brossard,
Quebec at 5:00, and it is determined that the sunrise occur at 5:15, the
processor 304
will instruct the light module 310 for the front light 506 to lighten up right
away and
close the light at the predefined time 5:15.
[57]. In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the user can
interact
with the button 510 to change the content displayed on the halo-shape display
504.
For example, by interacting with the button 510, the user can switch between
the
halo-shape display 504 displaying the route instructions (for example, blocks
404 to
418 of Figure 4) and the objective parameters (for example, block 420). Some
content
displayed on the halo-shape display does not require an interaction with the
button
510, such as the indication, by the halo-shape display 504 of the receiving
call or
message by the electronic device 108.
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