Off-board navigational system

• US 20060100779A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Original Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Inventors: Vergin, William E.
• Application Number:
  US11/209,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A vehicle navigation system and method that enables a user to request and receive route instruction information based on traffic between frequent destination locations. The user may select frequent destination locations between which the user frequently travels, such as home and office. The user may select one of the frequent destination locations while located at the other frequent destination location and the system may query a call center to receive route instruction information based on current traffic information between the locations. Map and route information between the frequent destination locations may be stored in the vehicle navigation system and be retrieved to minimize or eliminate download time of the information when requested by the user.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

a receiver for receiving remotely generated signals containing route instruction information;

a storage device for storing map information including first and second repeat destination locations between which a user of the vehicle navigation system repeatedly travels;

a display device for displaying map information and route instruction information; and

a controller in communication with said receiver, storage device, and display device, and being configured to;

provide at least one selection option to the user to select the first or second repeat destination location to which navigation information is to be provided;

in response to a selection by the user of a selection option indicative of the first or second repeat destination location being selected as a current destination location, request route instruction information from a remote location based on traffic information between a current location and the selected repeat destination location;

retrieve at least a portion of the map information stored in said storage unit;

receive from said receiver the requested route instruction information between the current location and selected repeat destination location; and

display on said display device the route instruction information on the retrieved map information to provide route instructions to the user.

2. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a computing device at a call center configured to generate the route instruction information to communicate via the signals.

3. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to:

receive the first repeat destination location from the user;

receive the second repeat destination location from the user;

request the map information including the first and second frequent destination locations from a remote location; and

maintain the map information in said memory device until either the first or second repeat destination location is changed by the user.

4. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 3, further comprising a position detection unit, wherein said controller is further configured to:

receive a notification from the user that the vehicle navigation system is positioned at the first repeat destination location;

request the current location from said position detection unit; and

store the current location received from said position detection unit in said storage device.

5. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 4, further comprising a position detection unit, wherein said controller is further configured to:

receive a notification from the user that the vehicle navigation system is positioned at the second repeat destination location;

request the current location from said position detection unit; and

store the current location received from said position detection unit in said storage device.

6. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said controller is further configured to request the map information after both the first and second repeat destination locations are stored.

7. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selection option is a soft-button displayed on said display device.

8. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the current destination location is the same as the unselected first or second repeat destination location.

9. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the route instruction information includes traffic information and said controller is further configured to display the traffic information on the retrieved map information.

10. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said controller stores in said memory device route instruction information associated with no traffic problems as a primary maneuver.

11. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 10, wherein said controller stores in said memory device route instruction information associated with different traffic problems as different secondary maneuvers.

12. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 11, wherein the route instruction information includes an instruction to cause said controller to select the primary or particular secondary maneuver based on the traffic information.

13. A method for providing vehicle navigation, comprising:

receiving remotely generated signals containing route instruction information;

storing map information including first and second repeat destination locations between which a user of the vehicle navigation system repeatedly travels; and

providing at least one selection option to the user to select the first or second repeat destination location to which navigation information is to be provided;

in response to a selection by the user of a selection option indicative of the first or second repeat destination location being selected as a current destination location, requesting route instruction information from a remote location based on traffic information between a current location and the selected repeat destination location;

retrieving at least a portion of the stored map information;

receiving the requested route instruction information between the current location and selected repeat destination location; and

displaying the route instruction information on the retrieved map information to provide route instructions for vehicle navigation to the user.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising generating the route instruction information to communicate via the signals.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the first repeat destination location from the user;

receiving the second repeat destination location from the user;

requesting the map information including the first and second frequent destination locations from a remote location; and

maintaining the map information in said memory device until either the first or second repeat destination location is changed by the user.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a notification from the user of being positioned at the first repeat destination location;

determining the current location; and

storing the current location.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a notification from the user of being positioned at the second repeat destination location;

determining the current position; and

storing the current location.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising requesting the map information after both the first and second repeat destination locations are stored.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein said providing the at least one selection option includes displaying a soft-button.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the current destination location is the same as the unselected first or second repeat destination location.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the route instruction information includes traffic information, said displaying further including displaying the traffic information on the retrieved map information.

22. The method according to claim 13, further comprising storing route instruction information associated with no traffic problems as a primary maneuver.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising storing route instruction information associated with different traffic problems as different secondary maneuvers.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising selecting the primary or particular secondary maneuver based on the traffic information.