Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-30
2001-02-06
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S117000, C701S201000, C701S210000, C701S211000, C340S988000, C340S990000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185503
ABSTRACT:
The disclosure of the following priority application is incorporated herein by reference: Japanese Patent Application No. 8-138860 filed May 31, 1996.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system that is capable of reporting traffic control information and traffic jam information transmitted from the outside of the vehicle to the driver by voice.
2. Description of the Related Art
Navigation systems that display traffic information sent through an FM multiplex broadcast wave, a light beacon or a radio wave beacon on a display screen using graphics or text are known. Also known are navigation systems which, by setting a route from the current vehicle position to a destination, provide course guidance along the course at guide points such as intersections. In such navigation systems, if there is, for instance, a location where lane traffic control is being implemented, an access ramp is closed or the traffic is jammed on the route that has been set, it is desirable to report that information promptly by voice to the driver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system that reports on traffic control points and traffic jam locations on a route by voice.
A navigation system according to the present invention comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside and a reporting device that, when the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that there are a plurality of locations which may constitute a hindrance to traveling on the route that has been set, calculates the distances from the current position detected by the detection device to the locations that may constitute a hindrance and then issues a voice report on the nearest one. A location that may constitute a hindrance refers to a location where the traffic is jammed or a traffic control point. The length of the traffic jam may be reported in addition to the distance to the traffic jam location.
When there are a plurality of traffic jam locations or traffic control points, a voice report may be issued on all of them. Only traffic jam locations or traffic control points that are within a specific distance from the current position may be reported. When the reception device has received information on a traffic jam location for the first time, it is desirable to report on the distance to the traffic jam location regardless of the distance from the current position to the traffic jam location.
In addition, a navigation system according to the present invention comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside, a reporting device that, when the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that there is a traffic jam location on the route that has been set, calculates the distance from the current position detected by the detection device to the traffic jam location and issues a voice report, a means for prohibition that prohibits operation of the reporting device after the reporting device issues a report on the traffic jam location once until a specific change from the state that has been reported occurs. The specific change in this context refers to an instance of the distance from the current position to the tail end of the traffic jam location has been equal to or greater than a first specific value in a previous report becoming reduced to less than the first specific value. However, even when the distance to the tail end of a traffic jam location is reduced to less than the first specific value, it is desirable to prohibit another report on a traffic jam location if the difference between the previously reported distance to a traffic jam location and the newly received distance to a traffic jam location is smaller than a second specific value.
In the navigation system according to the present invention, a means for distance calculation that calculates the traveling distance starting from a point at which the reporting device reports a traffic jam location may be further provided to prohibit operation of the reporting device until the traveling distance thus calculated is equal to or greater than a specific value. In addition, in the navigation system according to the present invention, a means for time calculation that calculates the length of time elapsing from a point at which the reporting device reports a traffic jam location may be further provided to prohibit operation of the reporting device until the length of time elapsing thus calculated is equal to or greater than a specific length of time.
A navigation system according to the present invention further comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside and a reporting device that, when the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that a traffic control point and a traffic jam location are present on the route that has been set, does not issue a voice report on a traffic jam location that is situated beyond the traffic control point, but calculates the distance from the current position to a traffic jam location preceding the traffic control point and issues a voice report.
A navigation system according to the present invention further comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside and a reporting device that, when the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that a traffic control point and a traffic jam location are present on the route that has been set, calculates the distance from the current position detected by the detection device to the traffic control point and the distance from the current position to the traffic jam location and issues successive voice reports.
A navigation system according to the present invention further comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside and a reporting device that, when the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that there is a traffic jam location on the route that has been set, if the current position detected by the detection device is within the traffic jam location, calculates the distance from the current position to the front end of the traffic jam location and issues a voice report.
A navigation system according to the present invention further comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination and course guidance to be provided at guide points, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside, an operating member that is operated in order to implement voice course guidance and a reporting device that issues the course guidance when the operating member is operated and following the course guidance thus issued, if the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that there is a traffic jam location on the route that has been set, calculates the distance from the current position detected by the detection device to the traffic jam location and issues a voice report.
A navigation system according to the present invention further comprises a means for route setting that sets a route to a destination, a position detection device that detects a current position, a reception device that receives traffic information from outside and a reporting device that, when the traffic information received by the reception device indicates that there is a traffic ja
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Evenson McKeown Edwards & Lenahan PLLC
Hernandez Olga
Xanavi Informatics Corporation
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