Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-10-02
Gregory, Bernarr E. (Department: 3662)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S207000, C701S208000, C701S209000, C701S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298304
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to vehicle navigation apparatus.
Vehicle navigation systems can be divided into two types, one that holds route information locally in the vehicle, and another in which the vehicle accesses a remote data base providing route information.
The second type of system has advantages. Whereas locally held information will become out of date and need to be up dated by each user at the respective local station, a central data base can be continually updated. A user will, accordingly have up-to-date information whenever it is required. Additionally a system in which route information is held locally must store all the information a user is likely to require. This is expensive in terms of memory and also route calculation time. In central information system, the user needs only send start and endpoint information and receive a suggested route from the central database. This requires less memory storage capacity, and is more versatile as route information can be kept current on a daily, hourly, or on a more frequent basis.
Centrally determined route guidance (CDRG) which only yields an optimal path suffers from a lack of route alternatives once the driver leaves the optimal path. If this happens accidentally the driver would like to have a recovery option, either a newly planned route or a return to the previously determined route. A quick corrective response of the route guidance system is often necessary which could be difficult for the optimal path CDRG due to latency in the planning time.
Problems occur with receiving route information from a central database when a driver deviates from the provided route. This could be accidental as a result of a navigation error or necessary because of an unforeseen route blockage. If a large region surrounding the suggested route is mapped, there is more tolerance to driving errors but there is also likely to be additional cost to the user in terms of terminal memory.
Current systems usually rely on local CD-ROM based route guidance software and are sold by several vendors (Bosch/Blaupunkt, Philips, Alpine, Siemens, Delco, Marelli). They are autonomous in the sense that they do not have to contact a service provider. But the CD_ROM database gradually becomes obsolete and usually contains too much information to the user and also indicates alternative routes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle navigation system comprising: a route calculator for providing a suggested route for a vehicle between journey start and end points, and for calculating, for selected positions in a detour region bordering the suggested route, respective detour routes for returning the vehicle to the suggested route; means for determining the selected position within the detour region closest to the vehicle; and means responsive to the means for determining for providing detour route guidance instructions for returning the vehicle to the suggested route.
The invention provides the advantage that, the memory required to hold data for an individual journey is relatively small, and that by providing information to return to a suggested journey at selected positions, the requirement for detailed information on all areas along the journey route is reduced.
The route calculator is preferably located remote from the vehicle and means is provided for loading the suggested route and detour routes into a processor travelling with the vehicle. This allows a centrally held data base to supply the route information. This has advantages in terms of relevance of information. It is easier for a single centrally located database to be kept updated.
The vehicle navigation system preferably provides a plurality of detour route choices for each selected position. This allows the user to select the most appropriate return route for the prevailing circumstances. Individual ones of the plurality of detour routes from a selected point can be given a priority or weighting based upon predetermined or user selectable criteria. This provides the option to select a detour route that provides for example, the quickest, shortest in distance or least congested return to the suggested route.
The vehicle navigation system may provide the route guidance instructions aurally or visually.
The vehicle navigation system could operate in response to user input information in order to determine the selected position closest to the vehicle. This could, however, be achieved automatically with an appropriate position sensing device. Such a device could use existing GPS information to locate specific points. This information could be supplemented with direction information from a direction sensor to provide information allowing the closest selected position in the direction of travel to be selected. In an automated system, the driver may be prompted to return to the suggested route. These instructions could be given without the driver needing to be aware of a departure from the suggested route. It may, however be advantageous to indicate to the driver that an error has been made in order to prompt more careful adherence to the instructions for the future.
The selected points are preferably regularly spread throughout a defined detour region, ideally each road intersection would be provided as a selected point. A new suggested route and selected point detour information is preferably calculated if the vehicle moves outside the detour region.
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Gregory Bernarr E.
Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
Perman & Green LLP
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