Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-08-28
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S213000, C340S990000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282494
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a customer-settled voice navigation apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a customer-settled voice navigation apparatus which incorporates with functions of a global positioning system and a voice-recorder and can be settled by the customer as well as be applied to a car navigation device or a portable navigation device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Upon the opening of radio communication systems and the progression of technique, radio communication has been popularized in light of the large demand. The opening of the global satellite positioning system (GPS) particularly leads to the development of another type of customized product A famous product which has applied the GPS technology is a car navigation device. By means of the car navigation device, a car driver can quickly ascertain where he is and can reach any place he wants via the most direct route which requires the least time.
Some of the conventional GPS navigation devices have been provided with a voice navigation function. However, the content of such a voice navigation is determined and set by manufacturer and therefore is incapable of being changed. Furthermore, such content may be not sufficient or suitable for practical use and thus cannot meet the user's requirements. In another type of navigation device, data in a text form can be inputted and then be shown to the user by voice via a so-called text-to-speech conversion technique. However, the content of such a data is also predetermined and set by the manufacturer and thus has the same problems as the fore-stated. More particularly, the sound of the voice may not be acknowledged by the user or may not appeal to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a customer-settled navigation apparatus in which the user can settle any customized map navigation data with voice and the data being set can be outputted in his own voice to any place designated and thereby an effective and practical navigation apparatus is available.
To achieve the above object a customer-settled navigation apparatus to according to the present invention comprises a satellite positioning signal receiving unit for receiving a GPS signal; a signal control unit for executing signal control and data processing and obtaining a real-time condition including coordinate data representative of the place where the navigation apparatus is located and its related data in accordance with the GPS signal; a map data supply unit for supply to the control unit map data pertinent to the area in which the navigation apparatus is located; a carte display unit for showing the location of the navigation being imaged in the map in accordance with the coordinate data and the map data; a navigating condition setting unit for setting navigating condition; an audio input unit for inputting any navigating information corresponding to the navigating condition via voice; a navigation information storage unit for storing the voice navigating information; a navigating condition comparing unit for determining whether the navigating condition match the real-time condition; and an audio output unit for outputting corresponding voice navigating information stored in the storage unit according to the-navigating condition at the timing the navigating condition matches the real-time condition,
According to the above construction, a user would be able to quickly input any desired navigating information by means of speaking and voice recording at any location and the navigation information will be automatically output to the user with voice. Thus, the user could pay fill attention to what he is doing, such as driving or walling. Moreover, the content of the voice navigation information can be changed at any time. Therefore, a customized, convenient and a customer-settled navigation apparatus is available.
In one preferred embodiment, this invention further comprises a navigation condition selection unit used for selecting the kind of the navigation condition to be set so as to input different kinds of navigating conditions. According to the preferred embodiment the user could settle any kind of navigating conditions he desires, such as location, time, speed, height, and direction, etc., according to his actual needs. Thus, the convenience of the navigation apparatus is progressed.
In another preferred embodiment, this invention further comprises an instant recording setting unit used to make the navigation apparatus serve as a message recorder so as to immediately perform an instant voice recording without setting a navigation condition.
In another further preferred embodiment this invention further comprises a voice output requiring unit for checking the content of the navigation information being settled as well as instantly outputting the message input from a message recorder.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the map data supply unit is constructed by a card-inserting structure. Thus, any map of any place as well as any information could be inputted to the navigation apparatus as a background data via cards storing pertinent information.
These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment of his invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
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patent: 5177685 (1993-01-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5736941 (1998-04-01), Schulte et al.
patent: 5774071 (1998-09-01), Konishi et al.
patent: 5835881 (1998-11-01), Trovato et al.
patent: 5850618 (1998-12-01), Suetsugu et al.
patent: 6085148 (2000-07-01), Jamison et al.
patent: 6104980 (2000-08-01), Sato et al.
Chin Gary
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Holux Technology, Inc.
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