Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Determination of travel data based on the start point and...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-01-23
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Determination of travel data based on the start point and...
C701S204000, C701S209000, C701S210000, C340S994000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178378
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention pertains to a method of operating a navigation system for motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Two fundamentally different navigation systems for motor vehicles are known in which, in the first case, all necessary map data are available on board the motor vehicle, and in the second case, a central navigation computer is used to request navigation data. The former solution has the disadvantage that the available data rapidly becomes obsolete and therefore does not always take current conditions into account. These navigation processes are not dealt with by the present invention.
In the case of the process under discussion here the user of the vehicle enters a starting point and a trip destination through an input device (mobile radio apparatus or terminal). As the starting point the vehicle position currently determined by a global positioning system may be adopted automatically. This data is transmitted by mobile radio to a central navigation computer. This is done by telephone call to an operator, verbally or by entering the data directly into the navigation computer at a terminal. The navigation computer determines a trip route thus assuring that this is done by using very current map data and including current traffic information (traffic jams, road barriers, construction sites, etc.). The determined trip route is transmitted to the mobile radio and represented by suitable means for outputting the travel route. Such a process is utilized, for example, in the apparatus according to DE 44 29 121 C1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the invention is to develop further the process for operating a navigation system in such a way that the benefit to the user is increased without a significant added cost.
Not only the starting point and destination but additionally also the desired arrival time are entered and transmitted to the navigation computer. On the basis of these input data, the navigation computer can calculate the anticipated travel time including the current and/or predicted traffic situation and the anticipated weather conditions from which a necessary departure time is obtained.
Advantageously, according to one example, this invention provides a method of operating a navigation system for motor vehicles in which a location and a destination are entered through an input device and transmitted by mobile radio to a central navigation computer, and a travel route is transmitted to the mobile radio with inclusion of route network data and traffic-related additional information by the navigation computer, comprising the steps of: receiving the location, the destination and a desired arrival time at the input device; transmitting the location, the destination and the desired arrival time to the navigation computer; computing a trip starting time based on route network data and transportation traffic data; and outputting a trip start or wake-up call to one of (a) a mobile radio and (b) a telephone number for the purpose of communicating the trip starting time for travel from the location to the destination.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5724243 (1998-03-01), Westerlage et al.
patent: 5774827 (1998-06-01), Smith, Jr. et al.
patent: 5790974 (1998-08-01), Tognazzini
patent: 5797113 (1998-08-01), Kambe et al.
patent: 5842146 (1998-11-01), Shishido
patent: 5892463 (1999-04-01), Hikita et al.
patent: 5933100 (1999-08-01), Golding
patent: 6006159 (1999-12-01), Schmier et al.
patent: 6028537 (2000-02-01), Suman et al.
Japanese patent abstract A 2-107917.
Chin Gary
General Motors Corporation
Simon Anthony Luke
LandOfFree
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