Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-20
2001-07-24
Issing, Gregory C. (Department: 3662)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266614
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to global positioning systems (GPS) in automotive vehicles and in particular to global positioning systems which are utilized to identify a vehicle's location with respect to surrounding features. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a travel guide for an automotive vehicle system which employs global positioning system data to provide information regarding points of interest as well as directional information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Global positioning systems (GPS) are being utilized in a number of broad-based consumer environments, including within automotive vehicles. Several automobile manufacturers provide accessories allowing the driver to identify their location with respect to surrounding features (streets, buildings, etc.), and may provide a display assisting the driver in reaching their destination. Such capabilities have typically been limited, however, to providing information such as street names to the driver.
Entertainment devices for use in automobiles are becoming increasingly widespread. For example, in addition to conventional entertainment devices such as AM/FM radio receivers, cassette players, and compact disc (CD) players, it is now possible to purchase or lease integrated video cassette recorders (VCRs)/televisions, allowing videos to be displayed during the trip. Such features are especially beneficial to drivers travelling with young children, providing a distraction for such children.
It would be desirable to provide a system which utilizes the GPS coordinates of a present location to coordinate the provision of entertainment information to a vehicle driver and/or passenger(s). It would also be desirable for the entertainment information to be automatically and spontaneously provided to the travelers, interrupting or superseding any programs in progress to provide entertainment information keyed on location to avoid timing difficulties. It would further be advantageous to provide a system which also supports interactive applications with such entertainment information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A travel guide device includes a GPS receiver for determining a present location. Access to a database of points-of-interest, indexed by GPS location, is provided to permit timely presentation of audio narration or visual display of information relevant to the point-of-interest. A running, general area narrative and/or display may alternatively be provided. The travel guide device may provide educational and entertaining games, including interactive competitive games, relating to the points-of-interest and general area narratives. A navigation function includes automatic, intelligent collection of waypoints and general directions without stored, detailed maps of an area for which directions are being provided. Waypoint collections may be employed to document a route travel, to retrace the route, or for other purposes. A directory of locations such as restaurants, filling stations, and the like may be accessed by the travel guide device to determine GPS coordinates for a desired destination for general directions navigation. Communication facilities integrated into the travel guide device provide optional communications services, such as downloading a local directory for an area being entered.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5177685 (1993-01-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5664948 (1997-09-01), Dimitriadis et al.
patent: 5717392 (1998-02-01), Eldridge
patent: 5767795 (1998-06-01), Schaphorst
patent: 5802492 (1998-09-01), DeLorme et al.
patent: 5835881 (1998-11-01), Trovato et al.
patent: 6085148 (2000-07-01), Jamison et al.
Felsman Bradley Vaden Gunter & Dillon, LLP
Issing Gregory C.
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