VEHICLE ROUTING AND GUIDANCE SYSTEM

• US 20010001847A1
• Filed: 08/26/1998
• Published: 05/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: HESSING, BERND
• Granted Patent: US 6,334,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times

Abstract

The vehicle routing and guidance system includes a vehicle-based navigation system (35) located in a vehicle, which includes an input device (38) for entry of one or more destinations (B) to which the vehicle is to travel and a self-locating device for determining location of the vehicle, a superordinate server system (12) for making navigational information available to the navigation system, for determining a route (16) to the destination or destinations (B) provided to the navigation system and for dividing the route (16) piecewise into route sections (34), and transmitter and receiver devices for at least temporarily establishing communication between the server system (12) and the navigation system (35) to transmit the route sections (34) separately to the navigation system (35) so that the route (16) is transmitted in a piecewise manner to the navigation system (35).

Claims

1. A vehicle routing and guidance system comprising

a vehicle-based navigation system (35) located in a vehicle, said navigation system (35) including an input device (38) for entry of at least one destination (B) to which the vehicle is to travel and a self-locating means for determining location of the vehicle,

a superordinate server system (12) for making navigational information available to the navigation system, said superordinate server system including means for determining a route (16) to said at least one destination (B) and means for dividing the route (16) into route sections (34), and

transmitter and receiver means for at least temporarily establishing communication between the server system (12) and the navigation system (35), said transmitter and receiver means including means for transmitting said route sections (34) individually and separately to said navigation system (35) so that said route (16) is transmitted in a piecewise manner to said navigation system (35).

2. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the server system (12) includes means for selecting an individual one of said route sections (34) for transmission according to said location of said vehicle determined in said navigation system (35).

3. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the central server (12) includes means for ascertaining an actual location of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 2

, wherein the server system (12) includes means for considering new traffic information (18) arising after start of travel of the vehicle from a starting point (A) of the route (16) during preparation of route sections (34) of the route (16) still to be traveled over by the vehicle.

5. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 4

, wherein the server system (12) includes means for storing a map (10) including regions (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) through which the route sections (34) pass, wherein the regions have predetermined boundaries according to choice.

6. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 5

, wherein the server system (12) includes means for transmitting a transition point (32) between the regions (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) to the navigation system (35) as an autonomous intermediate destination hidden from the operator of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 6

, wherein the navigation system (35) has means for erasing a route section (34) already present in the navigation system (35) when a new one of said route sections (34) is transmitted to the navigation system (35).

8. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 6

wherein said self-locating means for the location of the vehicle includes means for determining a deviation of an actual position of the vehicle from the route (16) and the server central (12) includes means for automatically taking into account a change of the route (16) resulting therefrom.

9. A vehicle routing and guidance system comprising

a vehicle-based navigation system (35) located in a vehicle,

a superordinate server system (12) for making navigational information available to the navigation system, said superordinate server system including means for establishing a communications link (14) between the navigation system (35) and the server system (12) prior to start of travel of the vehicle for transmission of a most updated route (16) for vehicle travel to a predetermined destination (B) from the server system (12) to the navigation system (35), and

transmitter and receiver means for at least temporarily establishing communication between the server system (12) and the navigation system (35).

10. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 9

, wherein the navigation system (35) has a memory (38) including means for storage of a plurality of individually selectable routes (16) that are updated by the server system (12) by means of the communications link (14).

11. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 9

, wherein the communications link (14) is wireless or a wire connection.

12. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 9

, wherein the server system (12) includes means for copying the route (16) to the navigation system (35) prior to vehicle travel and means for transmitting changes in route sections (34) still not traveled over during travel of the vehicle over the route (16) to the navigation system.

13. The vehicle routing and guidance system as defined in

claim 9

), wherein a plurality of destinations (B) are provided to the navigation system (35) and the server system (12) includes means for preparing the route for travel of the vehicle to all of said destinations.