Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-18
2001-11-06
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
C701S201000, C701S208000, C701S211000, C701S214000, C342S357490, C342S357490, C342S357490, C340S988000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314365
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to providing navigation services to portable communications devices, such as cellular phones, pagers, PalmPilot®-type devices or other types of portable phone devices.
There are various different types of portable navigation systems that provide navigation-related features. One type of portable navigation system has a geographic database physically installed with the portable navigation system unit. This type of portable navigation system is sometimes installed in vehicles. Because this type of navigation system has its own geographic database, it is relatively autonomous, e.g., it can provide navigation-related features during normal operation without the need to obtain data or programs from an outside source. However, with this type of navigation system there is a need to install updated geographic data in the system from time-to-time. Also, the navigation features provided by this type of navigation system are limited to the data contained in the geographic database physically installed with the navigation system, i.e., it cannot be used to provide navigation-related services about geographic features that are not represented by the on-board geographic database.
Another type of navigation system does not use a geographic database installed locally with the navigation system unit. Instead, this type of navigation system uses a wireless communication link to access a remote geographic database. This type of navigation system does not require that updated geographic data be obtained from time-to-time for the in-vehicle navigation system because the remote geographic database can be updated as frequently as needed.
Another type of navigation system combines a local geographic database (i.e., one that is physically installed with the navigation system) and a remote database. The local database is used whenever possible but the remote database is used to obtain data which is not available locally. This type of navigation system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,789, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Each of the different types of navigation systems described above can be used with some kind of positioning system hardware component. The positioning system hardware component may implemented using any of various types of technology, such as GPS technology, dead reckoning technology (inertial sensors), or a combination of GPS and dead reckoning technology. The positioning system hardware component may be part of the navigation system or may be a standalone component. The positioning system hardware component determines where the navigation system is located. Using the information provided by the positioning system hardware component and data from a geographic database (wherever it is located), the navigation system can provide useful navigation-related features, such as determining a route from the current location of the navigation system to a desired destination or identifying all the businesses of a particular type close to the current location of the navigation system.
Although navigation systems, like those described above, provide many useful features, there is still a need for additional types of systems that can provide navigation services to users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address these and other objectives, the present invention comprises a method and system for providing navigation services to portable communications devices, such as cellular phones, pagers, personal information managers, PalmPilot®-type devices and other types of wireless phone devices. A cellular phone user uses a cellular phone to request navigation services. The cellular phone is located in a geographic area that has a cellular phone location determining system that determines the positions of cellular phones used throughout the area. The cellular phone location determining system is used to determine one or more locations of the cellular phone used to request the navigation services. A map matching program uses a map database that contains data indicating the locations of roads located throughout the geographic area to relate the position of the cellular phone to one or more roads. Optionally, a direction of travel of the cellular phone can be determined by the map matching program using data indicating multiple positions of the cellular phone over time. Data indicating the position of the cellular phone used to request the navigation services with respect to roads located in the geographic area is combined with the request for navigation services at a navigation services server. The navigation services server determines a response to the request for navigation services taking into account the location and/or direction of travel of the cellular phone.
In a further aspect of this system and method, the response to the request for navigation services may include instructions that are provided to the cellular phone user as the cellular phone user is traveling in the geographic area. As an example, if the requested navigation services include driving instructions to a desired destination, it is preferable that appropriate instructions be provided as the required driving maneuver is being approached. In order to provide these instructions in a timely manner, the cellular phone location determining system continues to determine the position of the cellular phone as the cellular phone user proceeds toward the desired destination. Data indicating the positions of the cellular phone user continue to be matched to roads represented by the map database using the map matching program as the cellular phone user follows the driving instructions and proceeds toward the destination. Based upon the positions of the cellular phone along roads, appropriate driving instructions are provided to the cellular phone user at appropriate times, such as when the required driving maneuvers are being approached. In this manner, the cellular phone user can be provided with navigation services similar to those provided by navigation systems.
In another alternative embodiment, the cellular phone is provided with positioning system hardware, such as a GPS system, by which the location of the cellular phone can be determined. According to this embodiment, the cellular phone is used to make a request for navigation services and the request is accompanied by data indicating the location of the cellular phone as determined by the positioning system hardware located in, or in communication with, the cellular phone. Using a map matching program, the location of the cellular phone is referenced to the road network represented by data contained in a map database. A navigation services server receives the request and provides a response taking into account the location of the cellular phone referenced to the road network.
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Arthur Gertrude
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Kaplan Lawrence M.
Kozak Frank J.
Navigation Technologies Corp.
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