Navigation method and system for dynamic access to different degrees of navigation function

• US 20040181334A1
• Filed: 03/15/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Tatsuo, Blumbergs, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 6,898,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A navigation method and system allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions while a vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding vehicles and obstacles as detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. The navigation method includes the steps of detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary, detecting other vehicles and obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor and measuring distances therefrom when the vehicle is in motion, evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions, and changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor of the navigation system where selection of the entries is limited by the degree of accessibility.

Claims

1. A navigation method of changing accessibility to functions of navigation system installed in a user vehicle, comprising the following steps of:

detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary;

detecting other vehicles and obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor provided on the user vehicle and measuring distances from the other vehicles and obstacles when the vehicle is in motion;

evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions surrounding the user vehicle; and

changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor where selection of the entries is limited by the degree of accessibility.

2. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein a number of said entries that can be displayed on the monitor of the navigation system when the vehicle is in motion is smaller than that can be displayed on the monitor when the vehicle is stationary.

3. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes a step of displaying accessible entries on the monitor and disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions.

4. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes a step of displaying accessible entries on the monitor by allowing positioning of highlight on the accessible entries while disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions by disabling positioning of the highlight on said other entries.

5. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility includes a step of changing display of accessible entries on the monitor every time when the degree of accessibility changes from a previous degree.

6. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of determining the range of driving conditions includes a step of producing two or more different ranges of driving conditions in response to results of evaluating the data from the sensor.

7. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of determining the range of driving conditions includes a step of producing two or more different ranges of driving conditions by evaluating the data from the sensor, and wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility includes a step of prohibiting any access to the navigation functions when the range of driving conditions indicates that risk involved is highest.

8. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility includes a step of assigning an initial highlight position to an entry at a center of accessible entries on the monitor.

9. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility includes a step of changing a highlight position on the accessible entries in a closed loop manner so that the highlight position continuously moves in an upward or downward direction in response to user'"'"'s key operations.

10. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility includes a step of assigning a most frequently used entry to a center of the monitor and entries next frequently used to near the center of the monitor and assigning an initial highlight on the entry at the center of the monitor, thereby minimizing a number of key operations for selecting an entry.

11. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes a step of displaying accessible entries on the monitor and disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions, and wherein said accessible entries are limited within a selected column when two or more columns of entries are provided for the monitor.

12. A navigation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes a step of displaying an enabled area consisting of accessible entries and a disabled area consisting of non-accessible entries and shifting the enabled area a predetermined delay time after positioning a highlight on an end of the enabled area.

13. A navigation system installed in a user vehicle, comprising:

means for detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary;

means for detecting other vehicles and obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor provided on the user vehicle and measuring distances from the other vehicles and obstacles when the vehicle is in motion;

means for evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions surrounding the user vehicle; and

means for changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor of the navigation system where selection of the entries is limited by the degree of accessibility.

14. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein a number of said entries that can be displayed on the monitor of the navigation system when the vehicle is in motion is smaller than that can be displayed on the monitor when the vehicle is stationary.

15. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes means for displaying accessible entries on the monitor and disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions.

16. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes means for displaying accessible entries on the monitor by allowing positioning of highlight on the accessible entries while disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions by disallowing positioning of the highlight on said other entries.

17. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility includes means for changing display of accessible entries on the monitor every time when the degree of accessibility changes from a previous degree.

18. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for determining the range of driving conditions includes means for producing two or more different ranges of driving conditions in response to results of evaluating the data from the sensor.

19. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for determining the range of driving conditions includes means for producing two or more different ranges of driving conditions by evaluating the data from the sensor, and wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility includes means for prohibiting any access to the navigation functions when the range of driving conditions indicates that risk involved is highest.

20. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility includes means for assigning an initial highlight position to an entry at a center of accessible entries on the monitor.

21. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility includes means for changing a highlight position on the accessible entries in a closed loop manner so that the highlight position continuously moves in an upward or downward direction in response to user'"'"'s key operations.

22. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility includes means for assigning a most frequently used entry to a center of the monitor and entries next frequently used to near the center of the monitor and assigning an initial highlight on the entry at the center of the monitor, thereby minimizing a number of key operations for selecting an entry.

23. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes means for displaying accessible entries on the monitor and disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions, and wherein said accessible entries are limited within a selected column when two or more columns of entries are provided for the monitor.

24. A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions includes means for displaying an enabled area consisting of accessible entries and a disabled area consisting of non-accessible entries and shifting the enabled area a predetermined delay time after positioning a highlight on an end of the enabled area.