Apple patent filing involves ‘navigation peek ahead/behind’ features in its Maps app

Apple has filed for a patent (number 10,514,270) for “navigation peek ahead and behind in a navigation app” that hints are future features for its Maps app.

In the patent filing, Apple says that many current map-based apps are designed for a variety of different devices (e.g., desktops, laptops, tablet devices, smartphones, handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers, etc.) and for various different purposes (e.g., navigation, browsing, sports, etc.). Most of them generate displays of a map based on map data that describes relative locations of streets, highways, points of interest, etc., in the map. 

Some provide a navigation feature that provides the user with turn-by-turn instructions to a destination. However, Apple says that most of these apps don’t have sophisticated features that users want. Among them:

° The ability to slide out a currently displayed turn-by-turn navigation instruction from the display area to slide in a future turn-by-turn navigation instruction. As the future turn-by-turn navigation instruction slides in, the navigation application displays in the display area a location that corresponds to the future turn-by-turn navigation instruction. 

° A peek view that shows a direction, from the current location of the user, to the location for upcoming navigation instruction (such as when to turn).

° Horizontal swipes to move the banners when the navigation application presents navigation instructions for a walking route.

Here’s Apple’s summary of the patent: “A method of providing a sequence of turn-by-turn navigation instructions on a device traversing a route is provided. Each turn-by-turn navigation instruction is associated with a location on the route. As the device traverses along the route, the method displays a turn-by-turn navigation instruction associated with a current location of the device. 

“The method receives a touch input through a touch input interface of the device while displaying a first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a first map region that displays the current location and a first location associated with the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction. In response to receiving the touch input, the method displays a second turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a second map region that displays a second location associated with the second turn-by-turn navigation instruction. Without receiving additional input, the method automatically returns to the display of the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and the first map region.”