Off-board navigation system with personalized navigation database

• US 20020177948A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Upparapalli, Karunanidhi, Spencer, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• 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 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

An off-board navigation system includes a remote unit and a supply location. In operation, a navigation system user requests a desired route to a destination. Capability information relating to the user'"'"'s CPU and storage device capacities are also preferably provided to the supply location. Using the extensive database available at the supply location, the supply location calculates a recommended route to the desired destination in relation to the desired POIs. If the estimated size of the requested route meets the capabilities of the remote unit the supply location creates a filter using the requested parameters and applied to the extensive database at the supply location. In one embodiment, the filtered map area includes a width vector W defined substantially perpendicular to the recommended route R. In another embodiment, the filtered map area is defined in relation to a plurality of nodes N along the recommended route R. A perimeter P is defined around each node N along the recommended route R. Moreover, the type of road can be adjusted to meet the capability information relating to the user'"'"'s CPU and storage device.

Claims

1. A method for guiding a user of an off-board vehicle navigation system along a recommended route, said method comprising the following steps:

a.) requesting a route to a destination and requesting a desired category of points of interest from a remote unit;

b.) receiving said request from said step a.) at a supply location;

c.) calculating a recommended route to said destination in relation to said desired category of points of interest on a database of roads and a plurality of points of interest located at said supply location;

d.) filtering said database to provide a filtered map area including said recommended route and a point of interest within said desired category of points of interest; and

e.) transmitting said filtered map area to said remote unit.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

sending information to said supply unit from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said information.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

sending information defining a width substantially perpendicular to said recommended route from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said width information.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

sending information defining a capability of said remote unit from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said capability information.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step d.) includes filtering said database in relation to a road type within said map database of roads.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step d.) includes filtering said database in relation to a plurality of nodes along said recommended route.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

sending information defining a perimeter around each of a plurality of nodes along said recommended route from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said perimeter information.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

sending information defining a capability of said remote unit from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of a perimeter around each of a plurality of nodes along said recommended route in response to said capability information.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 including sending information from said remote unit to said supply unit via a wireless communication link.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

sending information defining a capability of said remote unit from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of a perimeter around each of said recommended point of interest within said category of desired points of interest in response to said capability information.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said desired category of points of interest is selected from a plurality of categories each including a plurality of points of interest.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of categories is selected from a group comprising restaurants, lodgings, historical sites, beaches, and shopping.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said remote unit includes a personal computer.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step d.) includes a plurality of said points of interest within said desired category of points of interest.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said remote unit is located within a vehicle.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a step of guiding a vehicle along said recommended route using map matching on said filtered map area transmitted in said step e.).

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said step f.) includes sizing a perimeter around each of a plurality of nodes along said recommended route in response to said capability information.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said step f.) includes sizing a width substantially perpendicular to said recommended route in response to said capability information.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 further including an error check step, said error check step including estimating a size of said filtered map area in relation to a distance to said destination.

21. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said sizing information of said step b.) is definable by a user.

25. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step h.) includes guiding said vehicle along said recommended route using map matching on said filtered map area transmitted in said step g.).

17. A method for guiding a user of an off-board vehicle navigation system along a recommended route, said method comprising the following steps:

a.) requesting a route to a destination and requesting a desired category of points of interest from a plurality of categories from a remote unit;

b.) sending sizing information at least partially defining a filtered map area;

c.) receiving said request from said step a.) and said sizing information from said step b.) at a supply location;

d.) calculating a recommended route to said destination in relation to said desired category of points of interest on a database of roads and a plurality of points of interest located at said supply location;

e.) filtering said database to provide said filtered map area including said recommended route and at least one point of interest within said desired category of points of interest;

f.) determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said sizing information received in said step c.);

g.) transmitting said filtered map area to said remote unit; and

h.) guiding a vehicle along said recommended route on said filtered map area transmitted in said step g.).

22. A method for guiding a user of an off-board vehicle navigation system along a recommended route, said method comprising the following steps:

a.) requesting a route to a destination and requesting a desired category of points of interest from a plurality of categories from a remote unit;

b.) sending capability information defining a capability of said remote unit from said remote unit;

c.) receiving said request from said step a.) and said capability information from said step b.) at a supply location;

d.) calculating a recommended route to said destination in relation to said desired category of points of interest on a database of roads and a plurality of points of interest located at said supply location;

e.) filtering said database to provide a filtered map area including said recommended route and at least one point of interest within said desired category of points of interest;

f.) determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said capacity information of said step b.);

g.) transmitting said filtered map area to said remote unit; and

h.) guiding a vehicle along said recommended route on said filtered map area transmitted in said step g.).

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said step f.) includes said supply unit determining sizing of a perimeter around each of a plurality of nodes along said recommended route in response to said capability information sent in said step b.).

24. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said step f.) includes said supply unit determining sizing of a width substantially perpendicular to said recommended route in response to said capability information sent in said step b.).

27. A method as recited in claim 26 further including:

sending information to said supply unit from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said information.

28. A method as recited in claim 26 further including:

sending information defining a width substantially perpendicular to said recommended route from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said width information.

29. A method as recited in claim 26 further including:

sending information defining a capability of said remote unit from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said capability information.

30. A method as recited in claim 26 further including:

sending information defining a perimeter around each of a plurality of nodes along said recommended route from said remote unit; and

said supply unit determining sizing of said filtered map area in response to said perimeter information.

31. A method as recited in claim 26 wherein said desired category of points of interest is selected from a plurality of categories each including a plurality of points of interest.

26. A method for guiding a user of an off-board vehicle navigation system along a recommended route, said method comprising the following steps:

a.) requesting a route to a destination and requesting a desired category of points of interest from a remote unit;

b.) receiving said request from said step a.) at a supply location;

c.) calculating a recommended route to said destination in relation to said desired category of points of interest on a database of roads and a plurality of points of interest located at said supply location;

d.) filtering said database to provide a filtered map area including said recommended route and a point of interest within said desired category of points of interest;

e.) transmitting said filtered map area to said remote unit; and

f.) guiding a vehicle along said recommended route using map-matching on said filtered map area transmitted in said step e.).