System and method for refining navigation input

Abstract

A user inputs indicates a first destination with a wide level of specificity. A mobile device navigates towards a first location 104 corresponding to the first destination. While navigating towards the first location 104 is ongoing and before reaching the first location 104, if a first criteria is satisfied, the mobile device prompts 108 for an input for determining a second location 110 corresponding to a second navigation destination with a second level of specificity. If the second input satisfies a second criteria, the mobile device directs navigation towards a second location corresponding to the second destination. Preferably, the first criteria includes an indication that the specificity level of the first location defines an area larger than a threshold area. Or a confidence parameter may be below a confidence threshold. Or the first location may cover a geographical area that is accessible by multiple routes (e.g., highways). Preferably, the second criteria comprises the second level of specificity being more specific than the first level of specificity.

Claims

26 08 251. A method comprising:at a computing system in communication with one or more input devices:receiving, via the one or more input devices, a first input indicating a first navigation destination at a first level of specificity;directing navigation towards a first location corresponding to the first navigation destination;while navigating towards a first location corresponding to the first navigation destination is ongoing and before reaching the first location, in accordance with a determination that one or more first criteria are satisfied, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when the first navigation destination corresponds to more than a threshold number of potential navigation destinations, and that is not satisfied when the first navigation destination corresponds to fewer than the threshold number of potential navigation destinations, prompting for input for determining a second location corresponding to a second navigation destination, the second navigation destination having a second level of specificity, more specific than the first level of specificity;receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input in response to the prompt; andin accordance with a determination that the second input satisfies one or more second criteria, directing navigation towards the second location corresponding to the second navigation destination.26 08 252. The method of claim 1, wherein the first navigation destination at the first level of specificity corresponds to a first plurality of candidate navigation destinations, and the second navigation destination at the second level of specificity corresponds to a second plurality of candidate navigation destinations, wherein the second plurality of candidate navigation destinations is a subset of the first plurality of candidate navigation destinations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second navigation destination is within a region defined by the first navigation destination.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second navigation destination is determined using data from the first input and data from the second input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when the first navigation destination corresponds to an area larger than a threshold area, and that is not satisfied when the first navigation destination corresponds to an area smaller than the threshold area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when a confidence parameter associated with the first location is less than a threshold confidence, and that is not satisfied when the confidence parameter associated with the first location is greater than the threshold confidence.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:26 08 25while the navigation towards the first navigation destination is ongoing and in accordance with a determination that the one or more first criteria are not satisfied, forgoing prompting for input for determining the respective navigation destination having the second level of specificity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when a current navigation position is within a threshold distance of the first location, and that is not satisfied when the current navigation position is outside the threshold distance of the first location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when more than a threshold portion of the navigation from a starting location for the navigation to the first location is complete, and that is not satisfied when less than the threshold portion of the navigation from the starting location to the first location is complete.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when an estimated time of arrival at the first location is within a threshold duration of a current time, and that is not satisfied when the estimated time of arrival at the first location is outside the threshold duration of the current time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when more than a threshold portion of an estimated travel time from a starting location for the navigation to the first location has passed after initiating the navigation towards the first location, and that is not satisfied when less than the26 08 25threshold portion of the estimated travel time from the starting location to the first location has not passed after initiating the navigation towards the first location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include acriterion that is satisfied when a current navigation position is within a threshold distance from a point of divergence between a plurality of navigation paths to the first location, and that is not satisfied when the current navigation position is outside the threshold distance from the point of divergence.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria include acriterion that is satisfied when a current navigation position is within a threshold duration of an estimated time of arrival at a point of divergence between a plurality of navigation paths to the first location, and that is not satisfied when the current navigation position is outside the threshold duration of the estimated time of arrival at the point of divergence.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is determined in accordance with user history or preferences associated with the first location.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:after receiving the second input and initiating the navigation towards the second location:in accordance with a determination that one or more third criteria are satisfied, prompting for input for determining a third location corresponding to a third26 08 25navigation destination, the third navigation destination having a third level of specificity, more specific than the second level of specificity;receiving, via the one or more input devices, a third input in response to the prompt; andin accordance with a determination that the third input satisfies one or more fourth criteria, directing navigation towards the third location corresponding to the third navigation destination.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first criteria includeat least one of:a criterion that is satisfied based on a current state of traffic from a current navigation position to the first location;a criterion that is satisfied based on a current state of weather at the first location;a criterion that is satisfied based on a current state of activity of others at the first location;a criterion that is satisfied based on calendar data associated with a user of the computing system; ora criterion that is satisfied based on a number of people participating in the navigation towards the first location.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting for input includes suggesting a respective navigation destination having a third level of specificity, more specific than the first level of specificity.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform a method of any of claims 1-17.

19. An electronic device, comprising:memory; andone or more processors configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-17.26 08 25

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