Method and apparatus for providing routes using auto ferries and channels

• US 20020077746A1
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Horizon Navigation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Horizon Navigation, Inc.
• Inventors: Ceylan, Timur, Hivka, Peter, Zuber, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/737,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A method for calculating a route in a navigation system is disclosed. A route from a source location to a destination is calculated. The route comprises two or more route segments including at least one route segment crossing a water channel. A notification is generated to indicate existence of the route segment that crosses the water channel. When a route confirmation is received, the calculated route is used. When a route rejection is received, an alternate route is calculated.

Claims

1. In a navigation system, a method comprising:

calculating a route from a source location to a destination location, the calculated route comprising two or more route segments, at least one route segment crossing a water channel; and

generating a notification to indicate existence of the route segment that crosses the water channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a notification to indicate unavailability of an alternate route when no alternate route is available, wherein the alternate route does not comprise a route segment crossing the water channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the alternate route is available, travel information related to taking the alternate route is provided.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a ferry service is used to cross the water channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein travel information related to taking the ferry service is provided.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the travel information related to taking the ferry service comprises ferry travel time and ferry schedule.

7. A navigation system, comprising:

a processor;

a first storage unit coupled with the processor, the first storage unit having a map database comprising data representing water-crossing route segments;

a second storage unit coupled with the processor, the second storage unit having computer instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

calculate a route from a source location to a destination location, the calculated route comprising two or more route segments, at least one route segment is a water-crossing route segment; and

generate a notification to indicate existence of the water-crossing route segment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to generate a notification to indicate unavailability of an alternate route when no alternate route is available.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein when the alternate route is available, travel information related to taking the alternate route is provided.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a ferry service is used to cross the water channel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein travel information related to taking the ferry service is provided.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the travel information related to taking the ferry service comprises ferry travel time and ferry schedule.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for providing an option to confirm the route and an option to reject the route.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, where in the means for providing the option to reject the route further comprises means for calculating an alternate route.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a notification to the user to indicate unavailability of the second route when no second route is available.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein calculating the second route comprises:

calculating a travel information related to taking the second route, and

notifying the user travel information related to the second route.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein guiding the user to the destination using the first route comprises notifying the user ferry travel time and ferry schedule.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

means for storing a map database comprising route segments associated with a ferry link;

means for performing a route calculation to find a route comprising at least one route segment associated with the ferry link; and

means for providing route guidance using the route after generating an alert to indicate that the route comprise the route segment associated with the ferry link.

16. A method, comprising:

calculating a first route based on a destination from a current position of a user, the first route comprising a route segment associated with a ferry link class, wherein a ferry link class is assigned to a route that requires taking a ferry across a water channel;

alerting the user that the first route requires taking the ferry;

providing the user an option to confirm the first route and an option to reject the first route;

guiding the user to the destination using the first route when the user confirms the first route; and

calculating a second route which does not include a route segment associated with the ferry link class when the user rejects the first route.

20. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a digital processing system, and which, when executed by the digital processing system, cause the system to perform a method comprising:

calculating a route from a source location to a destination location, the calculated route comprising two or more route segments, at least one route segment crossing a water channel, the destination location entered by a user; and

generating a notification to the user to indicate existence of the route segment that crosses the water channel.