Marine Navigation System

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a marine navigation system for identifying and tracking users traveling on watercraft over a body of water. The marine navigation application can be easily installed on a portable electronic device and works in conjunction with GPS and other sensors for providing various features to the user. The marine navigation system allows a user to share their current location with their family and friends while boating. The marine navigation system also provides a method for reaching a destination location, and displays a route across the body of water.

Claims

1. A navigation location system for use with a recreational watercraft and comprising: a smart device, wherein the smart device is comprised of cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity capability, a memory, and a GPS interoperability; a series of navigational charts on the smart device relating to recreational waterways, the series of navigational charts used for determining a position of the recreational watercraft on a body of water; a selection menu, the selection menu allowing a user to select from a plurality of navigational options; and a display for displaying at least one of the series of navigational charts and a selected navigational option.

2. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of navigational options includes at least one of a speed, a distance remaining to a destination, a favorite destination, and a traffic on the water status.

3. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the display provides the position of the recreational watercraft on the body of water.

4. The navigation location system of claim 3, wherein the smart device further comprises a contact list, and further wherein the navigation location system transmits the position of the recreational watercraft on the body of water to at least one contact on the contact list.

5. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the smart device includes at least one of a processor, a digital signal processor, a processing module, a dedicated hardware, and an application specific integrated circuit.

6. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the recreational watercraft is one of a boat, a pleasure craft, a motorboat, a sailboat, a houseboat, a canoe, a kayak and a paddleboard.

7. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the series of navigational charts are retrieved from a remote server.

8. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the series of navigational charts are retrieved from the memory of the smart device.

9. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the series of navigational charts are accessed via a world wide web and downloaded to the memory of the smart device.

10. The navigation location system of claim 1, wherein the selection menu provides at least one of a bearing, a range and a closest point of approach calculation for the display.

11. A smart phone navigation system for use with a recreational watercraft and comprising; a smart phone having a memory and a Wi-Fi, a cellular and a GPS connectivity; a series of navigational charts depicting a plurality of recreational waterways in a geographic area; a display for displaying at least one of the series of navigational charts on the smart phone; a processor for calculating a position of the recreational watercraft on a select one of the plurality of recreational waterways, the processor further providing a nautical bearing, a range and a closest point of approach calculations for the display; and a contact list provided on the smart phone, wherein at least one entry in the contact list receives the position of the recreational watercraft.

12. The smart phone navigation system of claim 11, wherein the processor calculates a speed, a distance remaining to a destination, and an amount of traffic on the water for illustration on the display.

13. The smart phone navigation system of claim 12, wherein the display illustrates the position of the recreational watercraft on a select one of the plurality of recreational waterways.

14. The smart phone navigation system of claim 11, wherein the series of navigational charts are stored in the memory.

15. The smart phone navigation system of claim 11, wherein the smart phone further includes a digital signal processor, a processing module, and an application specific integrated circuit.

16. The smart phone navigation system of claim 11, wherein the series of navigational charts are accessed from a world wide web via the Wi-Fi connection or the cellular connection.

17. A method of using a recreational watercraft navigational system comprising the steps of; providing a recreational watercraft; selecting a waterway; initiating a smart device; choosing a navigational chart based on the selected waterway; transmitting a request for GPS information; receiving a response to the transmitted request, the response providing an information relating to a position of the recreational watercraft on the selected waterway; displaying the position on the navigational chart; and transmitting the position to a remote third party.

18. The method of using a recreational watercraft navigational system of claim 17, including a further step of updating the position for the remote third party after the step of transmitting the position.

19. The method of using a recreational watercraft navigational system of claim 17, wherein the response comprises a speed of the recreational watercraft.

20. The method of using a recreational watercraft navigational system of claim 17, wherein the smart device comprises a memory, a processor and a plurality of navigational charts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the marine navigation application of the present invention installed on a smart phone in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a user selecting a destination on a map of the marine navigation application of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the map showing a potential route across an open body of water and to the selected destination on one possible embodiment of the marine navigation application of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of one possible embodiment of a circuit utilized for the marine navigation application of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0027] FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of a user using one possible embodiment of the marine navigation application of the present invention on a portable electronic device in accordance with the disclosed structure to receive a location from a remote user; and

[0028] FIG. 5b illustrates a perspective view of a user using one possible embodiment of the marine navigation application of the present invention on a portable electronic device in accordance with the disclosed structure to navigate the watercraft to a desired destination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0030] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel marine navigation application and system for navigating open bodies of water. The marine navigation application enables a user to view real-time positioning on nautical maps on any smartphone, tablet device or the like. More specifically, the application utilizes a plurality of GPS sensors, which are receivers with antennas that use a satellite-based navigation system with a network of 24 satellites in orbit around the Earth to provide position, velocity, and timing information. The data collected by the GPS sensors is then plotted on digital nautical charts uploaded into the software to locate the user or other users on a body of water. Additionally, the marine navigation application enables the user to determine speed, distance and/or time remaining to the destination, mark or identify favorite destinations, assess traffic on the water, and access other useful information. Also, the navigation system of the present invention allows the users to share their current location with their family members and friends, thereby allowing them to track their position on the body of water, which increases maritime safety.

[0031] The application is also capable of communicating with various tracking systems such as the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the coastal authorities, the Coast Guard and the like for increased safety. The marine navigation application may be connected to a wireless network in order to enable a user to more easily share his or her current location with any of the contacts stored on the portable electronic device on which the application is being utilized. Therefore, the present invention provides a way for family members and friends to easily locate and track a friend or loved one on an open body of water.

[0032] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the marine navigation application of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The marine navigation or “Float and Find” application 100 is a software/mobile application for providing location and navigation data while travelling via a watercraft over any body of water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, bays, oceans or the like. The float and find software application 100 can be easily installed on any portable electronic device 110, such as a smartphone, tablet device, laptop, or the like by downloading the application onto the device 110.

[0033] The portable user device 110 is further comprised of an operating system, such as Android, iOS, or any other compatible operating system known in the state of the art. As described more fully below, the device 110 comprises a plurality of GPS sensors, an antenna, an accelerometer, one or more magnetic sensors, a processor, a memory, an input interface, a display interface, a wireless connectivity chipset and other components commonly known in the art to be part of a smart device, which are used by the marine navigation application 100 to provide the desired features to the user. The marine navigation application 100 is an improved navigation application for use by recreational watercraft users, and which allows the users to view marine routes across water bodies to different destinations, and that provides speed, direction and other relevant information for the user.

[0034] The marine navigation application 100 includes access to various nautical charts and marine maps stored in the memory of the handheld device 110, when the application 100 is properly stored on the device 110. Alternatively, the required nautical maps or charts can be downloaded and updated from servers while the device 110 is connected to a wireless connection network such as Wi-Fi, or the like. The stored or real-time downloaded nautical charts are received by the navigation application 100 when the application is initiated by the user. Once the navigation application 100 collects the map data either from device 110 memory or from the above referenced servers, the marine navigation application 100 presents the map data to the display 112 of the electronic device 110 held by user 120. The nautical charts downloaded are preferably authentic and approved charts from sources such as NOAA data for USA, UKHO data for UK/Ireland, CHS data for Canada, and other maritime sources.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a user selecting a destination on a map of the marine navigation application 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. More specifically, FIG. 2 shows a user interface 102 of the marine navigation application 100 displayed on a display interface 112 of the handheld electronic device 110. The device 110 may include any type of display unit such as LED, OLED, or the like, and can be of any size as per the requirements of the user. Once the marine navigation application 100 is opened by the user by clicking the application icon of the application 100, the application 100 shows the pre-stored nautical map 200 or downloads the required map 200 from servers over a wireless network connection such as Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi connection icon 240 is displayed on the user interface 102 to show that the user device 110 is connected to a wireless connection, and further shows the strength of the wireless network as well. The user interface 102 displays the uploaded nautical map or chart 200 and overlays a current location 210 of the user travelling on a watercraft over a water body. The boat is displayed as a boat icon 230 on the user interface to convey the mode of travelling. In the event that the Wi-Fi signal is lost, the nautical map 200 will continue to be displayed, showing the end destination, the approximate rate of travel, and the position of the watercraft based on the last GPS information received. In this way, the individual can continue his or her journey along the previously selected path. Once the Wi-Fi signal is restored, the navigation application 100 will update the available information, and make any necessary corrections to the display on the nautical map 200.

[0036] As referenced above, the handheld electronic device 110 comprises a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver (not shown), which is embedded in the device 110 and collects GPS signals from satellites orbiting the Earth to provide current location information 210 to the marine navigation application 100. By way of background, the Global Positioning System is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of satellites orbiting the Earth and transmitting signals. The GPS receiver locks onto the signal of at least three GPS satellites to calculate the GPS receiver's latitude, longitude, and altitude. The GPS receiver then provides the calculated latitude, longitude, and altitude data, as well as date, time and status data to a processor of the electronic device 110. In one embodiment of the present invention, the GPS receiver may be any commercially available GPS receiver.

[0037] Once the GPS receiver collects the location information, such as latitude, longitude and altitude data, it is sent to the processor of the electronic device 110, and the processor processes the collected location data. The marine navigation application 100 then overlays the processed latitude, longitude and altitude information to display a current user's location 210 on the nautical map 200. As best shown on FIG. 2, the user may also select a particular destination location 220 on the map 200 by searching on a destination search bar of the marine navigation application 100. Alternatively, the user may tap on any location of the nautical map 200 to select the desired destination 220.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the nautical or geographical map 200 showing route across the open water to the selected destination 220 on the marine navigation application 100 of the present invention and in accordance with the disclosed structure. More specifically, the user interface 102 of the marine navigation application 100 utilizes the user's current location 210 (determined from the interaction of the GPS sensors with the GPS satellites orbiting the Earth) and the destination location 220 selected by the user to calculate a preferred route 300 to the selected destination 220 across the waterway or other body of water.

[0039] More specifically, the route 300 may be calculated between the current location 210 and the destination location 220 based on various user selected parameters, such as shortest distance, historical route patterns, and others. Further, weather condition information may also be collected from the servers by the navigation application 100 and be factored into consideration when recommending the most appropriate route 300, or adjusting the same from time to time during transit to adjust for newly received or additional information. More specifically, based on user specified and other parameters, an optimized route 300 is initially calculated and is overlaid onto the map 200 on the display interface 112 of the handheld electronic device 110. However, adverse weather conditions, such as storms, excessive rainfall, or other similar harsh weather conditions, such as wind, hail and the like, might make it difficult for a user to travel over the body of water using the initially calculated route 300. Therefore, the marine navigation application 100 of the present invention considers the weather parameter on an ongoing basis to enable the user to travel safely over the body of water. The overlay of the route 300 may be any solid or semi-transparent, color-coded lines on a map, and based on pre-determined settings by the user.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of one possible embodiment of a circuit utilized for the marine navigation application 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. More specifically, FIG. 4 shows the various components of the handheld electronic device 110 which may be used in conjunction with the marine navigation application 100. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic device 110 includes a GPS receiver 400 and an antenna 410 for receiving GPS signals from the various SPS satellites orbiting the Earth. The GPS signals include information such as latitude, longitude, altitude and other relevant information. The device 110 further includes a processor 420, which receives and processes the GPS signal information so that it can be used to calculate a location. The processor 420 may include one or more of a system processor, a digital signal processor, a processing module, a dedicated hardware, an application specific integrated circuit, or other circuitry capable of executing software instructions and processing data.

[0041] The processed location information is then forwarded to the marine navigation application 100 for overlaying the location of the user on the map 200. The device 110 further comprises a wireless connection chipset 440, such as Wi-Fi chip or any other wireless connection chipset, that enables the device 110 to connect to remote servers while travelling on the body of water, and when no cellular network coverage is available. The wireless connection chipset 440 further enables the marine navigation application 100 to download the nautical maps 200 from the servers for overlaying location information on the downloaded maps 200. In another embodiment, the user may share the processed location information with their family and friends over the wireless network connection provided by the wireless connection chipset 440.

[0042] The portable electronic device 110 further includes a memory 460, which may be used to store the various nautical maps 200 which are utilized by the marine navigation application 100. The memory 460 may also store software instructions of the marine navigation application 100, and any information saved on the marine navigation application 100. The device 110 also comprises an input interface 450, such as a keypad, for inputting various data such as destination data on the marine navigation application 100, and a display unit/interface 112 that displays the user interface 102 of the marine navigation application 100. The device 110 may further include other sensors 430, such as a magnetometer, an accelerometer, inertial sensors, a gyroscope, a temperature sensor and others to provide various other information, data and details to calculate direction, speed and other parameters for the marine navigation application 100.

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, the marine navigation application 100 works in conjunction with the user's contact book stored of the electronic device 110 to enable the user to track and share his or her location. More specifically, the user connects the marine navigation application 100 to a wireless network connection 440 and selects an option available on the user interface 102 to share a current location 210 of the user with a person from the contact list. The user then selects a contact from the contact book to share the real-time location 210 with, and the accurate and current location 210 is then shared with the selected contact over a wireless network connection 440. If a user has a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number set, then the user's watercraft may also be visible on global internet Automatic Identification Systems (AIS systems) like Marine Traffic, ShipFinder and AIS Hub. An indicator light may also be included on the application display to show the status of the location transmission. The marine navigation application 100 also allows the user's position to be shared when the application is closed or running in the background.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of marine navigation application 100 of the present invention used on a portable electronic device in accordance with the disclosed structure. More specifically, FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of a user 510 using one possible embodiment of the marine navigation application 100 of the present invention on a portable electronic device 110 in accordance with the disclosed structure to, for example, receive a location from a remote user, while travelling on a boat or other watercraft 500 over a body of water 520. Similarly, FIG. 5b illustrates a perspective view of the user 510 using the marine navigation application 100 of the present invention on a portable electronic device 110 to navigate the watercraft 500 to a desired destination on the body of water 520.

[0045] In an embodiment of the present invention, the marine navigation application 100 may be utilized by any user such as travelers, mariners, oceanographers or the like. The use of marine navigation application 100 is not limited, and can also be used for underwater surveying, buoy placement, and navigational hazard location and mapping, so long as the user device 110 is waterproof or has been provided with a waterproof housing. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the marine navigation application and system 100 may have a group feature that allows a group of users such as family members, friends to send and receive messages either privately or to everyone in the group using the group name. In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the marine navigation application and system 100 may enable features such as speed measurement, distance measurement, direction indication, location sharing and tracking, travel time, weather forecast, bearing, and others for providing convenience to the user 510.

[0046] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “marine navigation application”, “marine navigation system”, “location tracking system” and “float and find” are interchangeable and refer to the marine navigation system 100 of the present invention.

[0047] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the marine navigation system 100 of the present invention and its various structural components can be any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the interface and features of the marine navigation application 100 and its various components, as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes and sizes of the marine navigation application 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. The marine navigation application 100 and its components may have any features that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits need and/or preference of the navigators and travelers.

[0048] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.