Driver information system

• US 20040104842A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Brown, Steven, Knockeart, Ronald P., Asher, Harry, Rode, Melvin A., Drury, Bob
• Granted Patent: US 6,812,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.13
• 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 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• 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: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• 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: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• 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 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

An information system for providing services including traffic and navigation services, as well as other information services to a driver. One versions of the system makes use of existing components of a wireless telephone system, for example, by using the input and output capabilities of a telephone handset. Another version is a portable system that includes multiple switches for initiating access to a remote server in one of a number of operating modes. For instance the system has switches for initiating traffic information, roadside assistance, personal information, or emergency modes. The system includes a positioning system for generating position data related to a geographic location of the system, and a wireless communication device. The system also includes an audio output device, such as a speaker for presenting the received information. The system can also include a storage for a unique identification of the information system. This identification is passed to the remote server through the wireless communication device. Another version of the system provides both autonomous and client-server based navigation services in which a removable database supports route planning in a limited area and a remote server supports route planning outside that area.

Claims

1. A driver information system comprising:

a handset module, including

a display,

a keyboard, and

an audio device for receiving and playing acoustic information;

a communication module, including

a wireless communication interface for accepting data signals from a server; and

a computer coupled to the handset module and to the communication module, wherein the computer is programmed to perform the functions of

(a) coupling the handset module to the communication module to provide telephone communication services to a user of the handset module, including accepting telephone dialing commands entered by the user on the keyboard and coupling the audio device to a telephone communication channel through the communication module,

(b) accepting driver information commands entered by the user through the handset module,

(c) retrieving information through the wireless communication interface from the server in response to the driver information commands, and

(d) presenting the retrieved information to the user.

2. The driver information system of claim 1 wherein the function of presenting the retrieved information includes displaying the retrieved information on the display of the handset module.

3. The driver information system of claim 1 wherein the function of presenting the retrieved information includes displaying the retrieved information on the display coupled to the computer.

4. The driver information system of claim 1 wherein the function of presenting the retrieved information includes playing the retrieved information on the audio device of the handset module.

5. The driver information system of claim 1 further comprising a positioning system coupled to the computer, and the computer is further programmed to perform the functions of

(e) accepting a geographic position of the system from the positioning system, and

(f) providing the position to the server through the communication interface.

6. A portable information system comprising:

a plurality of switches for initiating access to a remote server in one of a corresponding plurality of operating modes;

a positioning system for generating position data related to a geographic location of the system;

a wireless communication device coupled to the switches and to the positioning system for passing the generated position data to a remote server in response to a signal from the switches, and then receiving information from the server; and

an audio output device coupled to the wireless communication device for presenting the received information.

7. The information system of claim 6 further comprising a storage for a unique identification of the information system coupled to the wireless communication device for passing the unique identification to the remote server.

8. The information system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of switches includes a switch for initiating a traffic information mode.

9. The information system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of switches includes a switch for initiating a roadside assistance mode.

10. The information system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of switches includes a switch for initiating a personal information mode.

11. The information system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of switches includes a switch for initiating a emergency mode.

12. A method of providing information to a mobile user comprising:

generating a initiation signal in response to an input from the mobile user;

accepting position data related to the geographic location of the user from a positioning system;

establishing a communication session with a remove server over a wireless communication channel;

providing the position data to the remote server;

accepting information from the remote server;

presenting the accepted information as an acoustic signal to the mobile user.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising retrieving a unique identifier and providing the identifier to the remote system;

whereby the accepted information from the remote server depends on the provided identifier.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein generating the initiation signal includes generating a signal identifying one of a plurality of operating modes, and wherein the information accepted from the remote server depends on the operating mode.

15. An in-vehicle navigation system for providing route information through a road network comprising:

a first stored database including information related to roads in the road network within a first geographic area; and

an onboard computer programmed to perform the functions of

(a) accepting a specification of a starting and an ending location in the road network,

(b) if the starting and the ending locations are within the first geographic area, planning a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations, and

(c) if the starting or the ending locations are not within the first geographic area, communicating with a remote server computer to retrieve a information related to a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations.

16. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 15 wherein the first stored database is stored on a removable storage medium.

17. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 15 further comprising a second stored database including information related to major roads in the road network within a second geographic area, wherein the first geographic area includes a common area within the second geographic area, and the first stored database includes information about roads in the common area that is not included in the second stored database.

18. A method of providing navigation information comprising:

accepting a specification of starting and an ending location in a roadway network;

accessing a second stored database that includes information related to major roads in the road network within a second geographic area;

accessing a first stored database that includes information related to roads in the road network within a first geographic area, wherein the first geographic area includes a common area within the second geographic area, and the first stored database includes information about roads in the common area that is not included in the second stored database;

if the starting and the ending locations are within the first geographic area, planning a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations; and

if the starting or the ending locations are not within the first geographic area, communicating with a remote server computer to retrieve a information related to a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising accepting the first stored database from a removable storage medium.

20. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a printed map illustrating a geographic area, including a representation of a roadway network in the geographic area, and annotations identifying geographic features in the geographic area;

an input device for accepting an annotation from the printed map identifying a chosen geographic feature;

an onboard computer for receiving the accepted annotation and providing a planned route to the chosen geographic feature through the roadway network; and

an output device for presenting the planned route information.

21. The vehicle navigation system of claim 20 wherein the input device is a keypad on a telephone handset, and the output device is a display on the telephone handset.

22. The vehicle navigation system of claim 20 wherein the geographic features include road segments in the roadway network.

23. The vehicle navigation system of claim 20 wherein the geographic features include points of interest on the roadway network.

24. The vehicle navigation system of claim 20 wherein the annotations identifying the chosen geographic feature include coordinate values of the geographic features.

25. The vehicle navigation system of claim 20 wherein the annotations identifying the chosen geographic feature include a coded representation of a road segment in the roadway network.

26. A method of providing navigation information comprising:

providing a printed map illustrating a geographic area that includes a representation of a roadway network in the geographic area and annotations identifying geographic features in the geographic area;

accepting on an input device an annotation from the printed map identifying a chosen geographic feature;

planning a route to the chosen geographic feature through the roadway network; and

presenting on an output device the planned route information.

27. A vehicle information system comprising:

a translucent overlay including printed map illustrating a roadway network;

a display for accepting the translucent overlay, including a plurality of controlled light sources that when activated are visible through the accepted overlay; and

an onboard computer programmed to provide information by activating one or more of the controlled light sources.

28. A method for proving guidance information to a driver of a vehicle comprising:

providing a translucent overlay which includes printed markings;

placing the overlay over a graphic display having a plurality of light sources;

illuminating one or more of the light sources to indicate a location of the vehicle in relation to the printed markings.