VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH ROUTE UPDATING FEATURE

• US 20010014849A1
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation EEDS and Interiors Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: LEARMAN, STEPHEN J., KING, JOSEPH D., KEYES, STEVEN R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,351,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• 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: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle navigation system includes an update module that provides travel advisory information on a real time basis. The update module receives traffic advisory signals such as intelligent highway system signals, safety warning system signals and specially encoded traffic reports from radio stations. The travel advisory signals are utilized by the navigation system to provide a route guidance strategy to a driver that is not limited by the information from a prestored map database. While travelling, the update module continues to provide information that is utilized to generate an updated route as appropriate. Additionally, the vehicle navigation system preferably includes the ability to generate a beacon signal indicating that the vehicle is in a position or condition that presents a potential traffic hazard to other drivers. The beacon signal from the navigation system of this invention is one example of the kind of travel advisory signal that the inventive navigation system uses to generate an updated route guidance strategy.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

an input module that allows a vehicle operator to input a desired destination location;

a receiver supported on the vehicle that receives signals indicative of a current position of the vehicle;

a memory module that contains a prestored map database that includes a plurality of known location reference points;

an update module that receives at least one travel advisory signal indicative of a current traffic situation that is not contained in the prestored map database; and

an electronic controller that communicates with the update module, the input module, the receiver and the memory module and automatically generates a route guidance strategy to guide the operator from the current position to the desired location taking the travel advisory signal into consideration.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the travel advisory signal comprises at least one of the group consisting of a beacon signal from another vehicle, a safety warning signal, an intelligent highway signal, a collision avoidance signal and an encoded radio signal indicating a traffic condition.

3. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the electronic controller periodically communicates with the update module and wherein the electronic controller generates an updated route guidance strategy responsive to another travel advisory signal.

4. The system of

claim 3

, wherein the electronic controller continuously communicates with the update module and generates another route guidance strategy responsive to another travel advisory signal.

5. The system of

claim 3

, further comprising a display that provides a visible display indicating the route guidance strategy and information representing the current situation corresponding to the travel advisory signal.

6. The system of

claim 5

, further comprising a speaker that provides an audible indication of selected portions of the route guidance strategy and audible information representing the current situation corresponding to the travel advisory signal.

7. The system of

claim 1

, further comprising a transmitter supported on the vehicle that transmits a beacon signal that serves as a travel advisory signal indicating that the vehicle presents a potential current traffic situation.

8. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the beacon signal includes information indicative of the position of the vehicle relative to the prestored map database.

9. The system of

claim 7

, further comprising a switch that is selectively activated to activate the transmitter to generate the beacon signal.

10. The system of

claim 9

, wherein the vehicle includes hazard lights and the switch is automatically activated when the vehicle operator activates the hazard lights.

11. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the beacon signal includes information indicative of a condition of the vehicle.

12. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the electronic controller automatically determines that the vehicle presents a potential current traffic situation and automatically activates the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal.

13. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

a receiver that receives signals generated remotely from the vehicle which are indicative of a current position of the vehicle relative to preestablished reference points;

an electronic controller that communicates with the receiver and determines the current position of the vehicle; and

a transmitter that selectively transmits a beacon signal indicating that the vehicle is in a condition that presents a potential traffic hazard for other vehicles at the current position.

14. The system of

claim 13

, wherein the beacon signal includes information indicative of the position of the vehicle relative to the reference points.

15. The system of

claim 13

, further comprising a switch that is manually activated to activate the transmitter to generate the beacon signal.

16. The system of

claim 15

, wherein the vehicle includes hazard lights and the switch is simultaneously activated when the vehicle operator activates the hazard lights.

17. The system of

claim 13

, wherein the beacon signal includes information indicative of a condition of the vehicle.

18. The system of

claim 13

, wherein the electronic controller automatically determines that the vehicle presents a potential traffic hazard and automatically activates the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal.

19. A method of operating a vehicle navigation system having a receiver that receives signals indicative of a current position of the vehicle relative to established reference points on a prestored map database, comprising the steps of:

(A) determining a current position of the vehicle;

(B) determining a desired destination position for the vehicle;

(C) determining a current traffic situation that is not stored on the map database based upon a received traffic advisory signal; and

(D) determining a route guidance strategy using the current position of the vehicle, the desired destination from step (B), the map database; and

the current traffic situation from step (C).

20. The method of

claim 19

, wherein steps (C) and (D) are performed repeatedly and the method includes determining an updated route guidance strategy responsive to another current traffic situation from step (C).