Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-08-28
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S208000, C701S213000, C342S357490, C455S090300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282491
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The present invention relates to a telematic device for a motor vehicle. The term telematics, in particular traffic telematics, refers to systems that are used for communications, instrumentation and control, and information technology in the field of transportation. The control and display device described in German Patent No. 90 07 501 U1 can be regarded as a device of this type. In the case of this device, a navigation instrument is additionally built into the housing of a car radio, with navigation instructions being output on a display. A wireless telephone with a dialing keypad is connected to a communications port on this device, with the wireless telephone being positioned in a different location in the vehicle.
The many different types of communications equipment in use today in motor vehicles give rise to the problem that each device takes up a certain amount of space in the vehicle. The individual devices are frequently installed in the vehicle's trunk, which means that the full trunk capacity is no longer available. A further disadvantage is the fact that the individual devices must be connected via power supply lines and data or information lines. Aside from the many different types of lines needed, the devices also require a certain amount of additional assembly work, which can sometimes be quite complex. Because the vehicle power system is also subject to a great deal of radio interference due to the various control devices and power consumers, complicated interference suppression measures must additionally be provided for the individual pieces of communications equipment. Another problem is that each device has its own control logic, amplifier, input keys and displays, etc., making it difficult to use synergistic effects due to the inability to make multiple use of the individual components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The telematic device according to the present invention has the advantage that the individual communications devices are provided in the same housing, with the dimensions of this housing being designed so that it can be installed in a bay provided for this purpose in the vehicle, for example in the car radio bay. This advantageously results in much less wiring, easier installation, and more reliable operation, due to less radio interference. One particular advantage is that the wireless telephone is equipped with a GSM module which can be used to transmit digitized data such as a location calculated with a GPS module, a desired destination, and text to a central station. The digitized transmission is highly resistant to disturbance, since noise signals and interference (fading) are largely suppressed. Through data exchange, the telematic device can thus control a wide variety of information such as route data, the traffic situation, and vehicle security. It can be produced relatively easily and economically in the form of a compact unit.
One particular advantage of the present invention is that the external central station can compute a route to a desired destination and transmit it to the vehicle device. The individual components, e.g., a CD-ROM drive with a digitized map and a sophisticated computation program do not have to be built into the telematic device installed in the vehicle. A further advantage is that the telematic device requires only a relatively small storage capacity to store the route transmitted by the central station and output it on the telematic device display.
Because the telematic device determines the instantaneous vehicle position, a specific partial area, preferably along the route, can be defined and the specific traffic situation in this area can be detected. Depending on the traffic situation, an alternative route is requested on the basis of the data available for this partial area, allowing the vehicle to move toward its destination with as few obstacles as possible.
Another advantage is that the GSM module can be used to transmit additional information from the central station to the vehicle device so that desired destinations, such as hotels, gas stations, parking lots, banks, etc. can be easily located.
The telematic device can also be advantageously used to protect against theft or misuse of the vehicle, because the telematic device allows the vehicle to be used only if the user has been adequately identified. If not, an emergency signal is automatically sent to the central station in the case of unauthorized vehicle use, so that the vehicle owner or the police can be notified directly if the vehicle is stolen.
In order to trace the vehicle more easily, authorization for a limited driving area or direct intervention in the engine management system can be provided, due to the fact that the vehicle position is always known. This makes it difficult to continue driving or flee with the vehicle.
Another particular advantage is that the telematic device can be used to make an emergency call to the central station in the event of an accident or vehicle breakdown, thus allowing the user to request assistance quickly.
Another advantageous application is to use the telematic device not only to reserve a parking place but also to pay the incurred fees with a debit card, for example a chip card or the like, so that the driver does not have to additionally stop and pay before leaving the parking lot.
The telematic device can be advantageously equipped with additional devices, for example a CD-ROM drive on which a digital map is stored. If the central station becomes overloaded, particularly in densely populated areas, the telematic device can calculate a route itself, based on the digital road map, which makes it independent of the route suggested by the central station.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4785463 (1988-11-01), Janc et al.
patent: 5173710 (1992-12-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 5218618 (1993-06-01), Sagey
patent: 5223844 (1993-06-01), Mansell et al.
patent: 5422816 (1995-06-01), Sprague et al.
patent: 90 07 501 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 43 22 288 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 44 45 582 (1996-03-01), None
patent: WO 94 15412 (1994-07-01), None
Aumayer Richard
Bochmann Harald
Vahle Andreas
Arthur Gertrude
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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