Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Determination of travel data based on the start point and...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-07-03
Gregory, Bernarr E. (Department: 3662)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Determination of travel data based on the start point and...
C701S200000, C701S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256580
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a process for the transmission of route information defining a route of a vehicle in a traffic network, which route is suggested as a navigation aid, from a central traffic station to a terminal unit in a vehicle, a central bureau and a terminal unit.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The transmission of route information defining a route of a vehicle in a traffic network, which route is suggested as a navigation aid, from a central traffic station to a terminal unit in a vehicle is usually carried out via mobile radio, resulting in rising telecommunications costs as the extent of transmitted route information increases. However, it is required for end user comfort and for a reliable, clear definition of a route that complex intersections in particular are described as ergonomically and as completely as possible. When there is a complete digital map of the traffic network in a terminal unit of a vehicle, a complex intersection located ahead of the terminal unit user in the driving direction can also be displayed completely and therefore with a high degree of end user convenience and low error probability. However, the problem in this respect is that the digital map in the terminal unit diverges from the digital map in the central station after a period of time due to construction sites, large events, new roads, changes in driving direction on roads, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to enable comfortable navigation with the least possible transmission of information.
The invention enables a comfortable navigation. The extent of route information for navigation aid which is to be transmitted for this purpose from a central traffic station to a terminal unit is small. Information about the section between two path points is transmitted with route information concerning a path point. The route serving as navigation aid which is suggested through route information, for example, upon request by the terminal unit to a central station accompanied by indication of the terminal unit location and the desired target location, is transmitted through path points on the suggested route, wherein path points are defined wherever it is recommended that the vehicle turn off from a road on which it is located. Accordingly, there is no need for continuous information for the vehicle about the driving direction the vehicle must take at turns, etc., between two path points.
The additional information which defines the next path point following in the driving direction of the suggested route can be indicated in different ways. In particular, the added information can define the length of the section of road to be driven between two path points. The user of a terminal unit who is informed about the section length can accordingly prepare for the time of the next turnoff. The additional information about the next path point following a path point can also contain information on turn possibilities between the two path points; for this purpose, the indications of turn possibilities can include the number of left-turn possibilities and/or the number of right-turn possibilities. When turn possibilities of this kind are displayed (acoustically and/or optically) in the terminal unit, the user can be provided with information capable of easy evaluation.
The direction in which the vehicle must turn on the suggested route is advisably included in the transmission at a path point, whereupon it can be displayed by the terminal unit for the user. The direction can be transmitted as left; right; straight; sharp left, etc. or as a compass direction such as north; west; east; south; southwest, etc. or in both ways, so that clear turn information can be generated for the user of the terminal unit.
Particularly when there is no digital map of the traffic network in the terminal unit, it is advisable when the name of the road to be turned onto is transmitted in order to inform the user of the terminal unit about this.
The transmission from the central traffic station to the terminal unit is advisably carried out in a wireless manner, especially via mobile radio.
The process can be implemented in a central station and in a terminal unit as a program.
Further features and advantages of the invention are indicated in the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5508917 (1996-04-01), Siegle et al.
patent: 5678194 (1997-10-01), Grube et al.
patent: 5699255 (1997-12-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5839086 (1998-11-01), Hirano
patent: 5867110 (1999-02-01), Naito et al.
patent: 5875412 (1999-02-01), Sulich et al.
patent: 6009403 (1999-12-01), Sato
patent: 6044312 (2000-03-01), Sudo et al.
Meis Josef
Parra Andreas
Stangier Peter
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Gregory Bernarr E.
Mannesmann AG
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