Race route distribution and route rounding display systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10488204-B2
Application number	US-201715721658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide race route distribution and/or display for mobile structures. A race route distribution and/or display system includes a race route generator, a distribution server, a display board, various race route receivers, and/or a user interface, each of which may be used in conjunction with operation of one or more mobile structures participating in a race to receive a race route from the race route generator and/or distribution server. A race route receiver may include and/or be configured to communicate with a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, actuators/controllers, and/or corresponding interface modules. The logic device may be adapted to receive the race route and display various portions of the race route to a user using intuitive symbols and/or adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of the mobile structure accordingly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a logic device configured to communicate with a user interface for a mobile structure, wherein the logic device is adapted to:
receive a series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs;
receive rounding characteristics associated with the received waypoints and/or routelegs; and
display the series of waypoints and/or routelegs and waypoint rounding indicators corresponding to the received rounding characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
determine a race route from the series of racemarks; and
display the race route to a user of the mobile structure.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
display a routing interface comprising a route selection interface and/or one or more route information interfaces to the user of the mobile structure prior to displaying the race route to the user.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
determine one or more routeleg bearings, routeleg distances, routeleg traversal times, rounding characteristics, and/or other route information associated with the determined race route; and
display a routing interface comprising one or more route information interfaces corresponding to the determined one or more routeleg bearings, routeleg distances, routeleg traversal times, rounding characteristics, and/or other route information to the user of the mobile structure.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
receive the rounding characteristics and/or the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs from a route distribution server.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
receive the rounding characteristics and/or the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs as user input provided to the user interface.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
display a routing interface comprising one or more route information interfaces to the user of the mobile structure prior to displaying the series of waypoints and/or routelegs and waypoint rounding indicators to the user.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs comprises a series of race route identifiers, and wherein the logic device is adapted to:
receive a racemark database from a route distribution server and/or as user input provided to the user interface prior to receiving the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs comprises a virtual aid to navigation (ATON);
the rounding characteristic comprises identification information associated with the virtual ATON; and
the logic device is configured to receive the virtual ATON wirelessly using a VHF receiver.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is adapted to:
display the series of waypoints and/or routelegs and waypoint rounding indicators as a navigational chart comprising a plurality of waypoint symbols, wherein the waypoint rounding indicators are configured to graphically show a clockwise and/or counterclockwise rounding characteristic for at least one waypoint symbol on the navigational chart.

11. A method comprising:
receiving a series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs;
receiving rounding characteristics associated with the received waypoints and/or routelegs; and
displaying the series of waypoints and/or routelegs and waypoint rounding indicators corresponding to the received rounding characteristics.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a race route from the series of racemarks; and
displaying the race route to a user of the mobile structure.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
displaying a routing interface comprising a route selection interface and/or one or more route information interfaces to the user of the mobile structure prior to displaying the race route to the user.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining one or more routeleg bearings, routeleg distances, routeleg traversal times, rounding characteristics, and/or other route information associated with the determined race route; and
displaying a routing interface comprising one or more route information interfaces corresponding to the determined one or more routeleg bearings, routeleg distances, routeleg traversal times, rounding characteristics, and/or other route information to the user of the mobile structure.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving the rounding characteristics and/or the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs from a route distribution server.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving the rounding characteristics and/or the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs as user input provided to the user interface.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying a routing interface comprising one or more route information interfaces to the user of the mobile structure prior to displaying the series of waypoints and/or routelegs and waypoint rounding indicators to the user.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs comprises a series of race route identifiers, the method further comprising:
receiving a racemark database from a route distribution server and/or as user input provided to the user interface prior to receiving the series of racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
at least one of the racemarks, waypoints, and/or routelegs comprises a virtual aid to navigation (ATON); and
the rounding characteristic comprises identification information associated with the virtual ATON.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying the series of waypoints and/or routelegs and waypoint rounding indicators as a navigational chart comprising a plurality of waypoint symbols, wherein the waypoint rounding indicators are configured to graphically show a clockwise and/or counterclockwise rounding characteristic for at least one waypoint symbol on the navigational chart.

Assignees

• Flir Systems

Inventors

• Rivers Mark

Classifications

• G01S15/86

  Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection · CPC title

• G01S13/937

  of marine craft · CPC title

• G01S13/862

  Combination of radar systems with sonar systems · CPC title

• G01S13/867

  Combination of radar systems with cameras · CPC title

• H04W4/024

  Guidance services · CPC title