Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-27
2003-03-04
Cumming, William (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C701S209000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06529736
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a navigation configuration utilizing a communications network and a corresponding method. Road users (i.e. automobile owners) are dependent on an abundance of information; they must know, among other things, the safest and quickest way to reach their destination. Navigation systems provide the road user with support and help in this task. For some time there have been motor-vehicle-supported navigation systems, integrated driver info systems (IDIS), the navigable database of which is hard-coded on a CD. These motor-vehicle-supported navigation systems are autonomous devices without any connection to an infrastructure and to current traffic events.
In addition, “macroscopic” traffic guidance systems such as interchange road signs on sign gantries, guidance computers for global control of traffic flows on freeways and feeders, traffic light controls, road condition monitoring and speed direction must also be mentioned.
Most recently, solutions have been sought for combining the systems with one another in order to obtain current and accurate data on the traffic situation and to convey the data to the road user in a form which can be absorbed as easily as possible. Systems have been developed which make use of infrared beacons (proximity beacons) set up by the roadside in order to transmit local traffic information into the vehicle. These so-called “ALI-SCOUT” systems are pioneering in their functionality but have the severe disadvantage that no investors can be found for setting up the required expensive beacons to provide complete coverage.
A route recommendation system, where current traffic data are fed in centrally, is described in the article titled “Verkehrsdienste Online”, (On-line Traffic Services), Funkschau No. 10/99, p. 34 ff. This system automatically determines the location data of a user via a radio cell in which a mobile telephone is registered. The user can make a selection from the information for a certain freeway section or for the area around the current location via a keypad of his mobile telephone.
Apart from a mere interrogation of congestion reports, this system also provides automatic route planning and an indication of the traveling route on a display in the vehicle.
The user has to enter the desired destination. Using this input and the current location of the user, a central computer calculates the shortest route taking into consideration the obstacles that can be recognized from the traffic messages. This route is transmitted via a short message service of the global system for mobile communications (GSM) mobile radio and is outputted as a table on the display. All nodes on the route at which the road user can respond are listed.
This known navigation system has the disadvantage that the route is indicated on a display of a device installed in the vehicle.
In this navigation device, the location data of the user are only determined when the destination is input and thus the vehicle which is at a specific node is not “actively” tracked during the entire trip. The advantage of the navigation information is therefore lost if a recommendation is not followed. The further optimum route is only calculated after a new inquiry and is again subject to costs. In addition, the known system does not in any way utilize the resources of the network structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a navigation configuration and a method utilizing a communications network, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this general type, which provides a driver with inexpensive route information throughout the entire trip from outside of the vehicle.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a navigation system formed of a communications network containing a navigation database having navigation data for navigating. A route planning system for determining global navigation information is connected to the navigation database. A processing system is connected to the navigation database and the route planning system. An access device for accessing the communications network over an air interface and containing an input device for inputting a destination is provided. A location determining device for determining location data of a user is provided. The location determining device is connected to the access device and outputs the location data. A route control system is connected to the location determining device and to the route planning system through one of the communications network and the access device. The route control system periodically or continuously evaluates the location data output by the location determining-device and compares current location data of the user with the global navigation information. A media transfer function device is connected to the route control system. An output device is connected through the media transfer function device to the route control system, the output device outputs local navigation information derived from the global navigation information and the location data.
The invention includes the essential concept of utilizing a communications network for navigation, especially a mobile radio network which can be accessed for navigation through to the mobile radio terminal or a mobile data terminal, and of transmitting current information from a central computer to the mobile radio terminal and displaying it there in a user-selectable format (e.g. as voice output).
The navigation database is preferably adaptive, i.e. dynamically variable in order to be able to include the current traffic situation in the process of navigation. Since this solution provides adequate computer and storage capacity (in the network), information can be combined in almost any way (e.g. connected to other databases, especially a classified directory database, traffic radio database, rail traffic database or local traffic database). Thus, as well as road information, special terms can also be entered as destination input.
The navigation database preferably has connection matrices which contain path/time forecasts for the connection elements. These values adapt themselves to the current time of day and are overwritten by the current traffic situation.
The communications network preferably contains a central network data processing system (a powerful computer having a large, complex database that can answer a large number of requests within a short time) or is connected to such a system. In particular, the system can take the form of a server of a data service (e.g. Internet, WAP, SMS)I of a service control node in an intelligent network or other service node, depending on the embodiment.
The access device to the communications network preferably contains a mobile radio terminal and interfaces already existing in the network (e.g. SCP-HLR interface and SQL/ODBC interworking). Using the mobile radio terminal has the advantage that the road user can always carry the access device with him independently of the choice of transport device and even when he is on foot.
Advantageously, special user profiles are provided and this configuration is thus applicable to various groups of people. For example, an audio indication for blind people and visually impaired people is provided or, for example, a voice input for car drivers who have problems with operating the device manually.
In addition, the navigation information is displayed by automatic outputs without additional user input.
By combining the navigation database with other databases, the user can request this navigation service for various kinds of transport and a change of the type of transport can be proposed to the user on the basis of the current traffic situation.
The user can preferably select an optimization criterion for the global navigation information (e.g. shortest distance, shortest traveling time, most cost-effective connection etc.).
The navigation system is advantageously distr
Cumming William
Greenberg Laurence A.
Locher Ralph E.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
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