System and Method for Off Route Processing

• US 20070288162A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Furukawa, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker

Abstract

A system and method for off route processing is disclosed. The system and method can be used to provide information when an off route condition occurs. The system and method can include provisions to make modifications in the way navigation information is displayed. The system and method can also provide a selectable re-route mode and selectable re-route information.

Claims

8. A method for providing navigation information comprising the steps of:

retrieving information related to a selected re-route mode;

sensing an off route condition; and

executing an off route process based on the selected re-route mode and in response to the off route condition.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein re-route information is prepared if an automatic mode is the selected re-route mode.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein a query is sent if an inquire mode is the selected re-route mode.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the query is configured to be sent to a user and asks the user if re-route information is needed.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the re-route information is prepared if the user requests the re-route information.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the re-route information is not prepared if the user does not request the re-route information.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method waits for a request for the re-route information if a manual mode is selected as the re-route mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the re-route information is prepared if the user requests the re-route information.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the re-route information is not prepared if the user does not request the re-route information.

47. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the step of sensing an off route condition includes the steps of:

receiving information related to the off route condition from an on board unit that is associated with a motor vehicle; and

receiving information related to the position of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the step of executing the off route process includes the steps of;

preparing re-route directions; and

sending the re-route directions to the on board unit.

56. The method according to claim 8, wherein the selected re-route mode is a combination of two or more of the possible re-route modes.

17. A method for processing an off-route condition and providing re-route directions comprising the steps of:

receiving information related to an off-route condition from an on board unit that is associated with a motor vehicle;

receiving information related to the position of the motor vehicle;

preparing re-route directions; and

sending the re-route directions to the on board unit.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a distance to a destination is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein a distance to a route is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein simplicity of the re-route directions is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein a user preference is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

22. A method for preparing content including navigation information configured for delivery to an on board unit comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one content preference;

preparing the navigation information based on the content preference; and

sending the navigation information to the on board unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the content preference is related to a level of detail of the navigation information.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the content preference includes information related to a content setting.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the content setting includes information related to a selection of or more different kinds of content.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein one of the kinds of content is navigation information.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein one of the kinds of content is traffic information.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the content preference includes information related to a content mode.

29. A method for preparing content including navigation information configured for delivery to an on board unit comprising the steps of:

determining a detail mode from a plurality of possible detail modes, the detail mode corresponding to a level of detail;

preparing the navigation information having a first level of detail if a first detail mode is determined;

preparing the navigation information having a second level of detail if a second detail mode is determined; and

wherein the first level of detail is greater than the second level of detail.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the navigation information is delivered to an on board unit.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the navigation information is prepared having a third level of detail if a third detail mode is selected, the third level of detail including less details than the first level of detail but including more detail than the second level of detail.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the first level of detail includes substantially all available details.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein the second level of detail includes text and omits graphics.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein a connection between a service provider and the on board unit is maintained if the first detail mode is determined.

35. The method according to claim 29, wherein different detail modes correspond to different subscription levels.

36. The method according to claim 29, wherein the detail mode is based on a user'"'"'s selection.

37. The method according to claim 29, wherein the detail mode is based on bandwidth information corresponding to available network bandwidth capacity.

38. The method according to claim 29, wherein the detail mode is based on both a user'"'"'s selection and bandwidth information corresponding to available network bandwidth capacity.

39. The method according to claim 29, wherein traffic information having a first level of detail is prepared if the first detail mode is determined.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein traffic information having a second level of detail is prepared if the second detail mode is determined;

wherein the first level of detail of traffic information is different than the second level of traffic information.

41. The method according to claim 29, wherein weather information is selectively provided.

73. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for navigation information from the on board unit;

receiving at least one content preference along with the request for navigation information;

preparing the navigation information based on the content preference; and

sending the navigation information to the on board unit.

74. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a content preference;

preparing first navigation information having a first level of detail;

preparing second navigation information having a second level of detail;

wherein the first level of detail is different than the second level of detail;

wherein the first navigation information and the second navigation information are used to construct a map showing both the first navigation information and the second navigation information together.

75. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a content preference from the on board unit related to the amount of available bandwidth;

preparing navigation information based on the content preference; and

sending the navigation information to the on board unit.

76. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of available bandwidth between a service provider and an on board unit;

preparing navigation information based on the amount of available bandwidth; and

sending the navigation information to the on board unit.

77. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

determining bandwidth available to the on board unit;

determining a level of detail of the navigation information, wherein the level of detail is related to the available bandwidth;

preparing first navigation information having a first level of detail; and

sending the first navigation information to the on board unit.

42. A system for maintaining a connection between a service provider and a remote on board unit, the system establishing an initial time;

determining a time of termination;

establishing a waiting time between the initial time and a time of delivery;

monitoring the connection between the service provider and the on board unit; and

sending dummy data at the time of delivery if no activity has occurred during the waiting time.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein the time of termination is a time when a wireless network terminates the connection between the service provider and the on board unit.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein the time of delivery is established before the time of termination so that delays associated with the transmission of the dummy data is accommodated.

45. The system according to claim 42, wherein the dummy data is ignored by a party receiving the dummy data.

46. The system according to claim 42, wherein a new initial time is established if activity is detected during the waiting time.

49. A method for providing navigation information comprising the steps of:

offering a user four possible re-route modes at the same time, the four possible re-route modes including;

total driving distance to destination, driving distance to route, simplicity of re-route directions and user preferences;

retrieving information from an on board unit associated with a motor vehicle related to a manually operator selected re-route mode that has been selected by the operator of the motor vehicle;

wherein the selected re-route mode is at least one of the possible re-route modes;

sensing an off route condition by receiving information related to an off-route condition from the on board unit;

receiving information related to the position of the motor vehicle; and

executing an off route process based on the selected re-route mode and in response to the off route condition.

50. The method for providing navigation information according to claim 49, wherein the step of executing the off route process includes a step for preparing re-route directions.

51. The method for providing navigation information according to claim 50, wherein the step of executing the off route process includes a step of sending the re-route directions to the on board unit.

52. The method according to claim 49, wherein a distance to a destination is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

53. The method according to claim 49, wherein a distance to a route is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

54. The method according to claim 49, wherein simplicity of the re-route directions is a factor that is considered in preparing the re-route directions.

55. The method according to claim 49, wherein the user preference is combined with another of the possible re-route modes to form the selected re-route mode.

57. A method for preparing navigation information for delivery to an on board unit comprising the steps of:

receiving a content preference;

preparing first navigation information having a first level of detail;

preparing second navigation information having a second level of detail;

wherein the first level of detail is different than the second level of detail;

wherein the first navigation information and the second navigation information are used to construct a map showing both the first navigation information and the second navigation information together.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the map is sent to an on board unit.

59. The method according to claim 57, wherein the first level of detail is greater than the second level of detail.

60. The method according to claim 57, wherein the content preference is related to a level of detail of the navigation information.

61. A method for preparing navigation information for delivery to an on board unit comprising the steps of:

receiving a content preference from the on board unit related to the amount of available bandwidth;

preparing navigation information based on the content preference;

sending the navigation information to the on board unit.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein a level of detail of the navigation information is varied based on the content preference.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the level of detail is selected based on the amount of available bandwidth.

64. A method for preparing navigation information for delivery to an on board unit comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of available bandwidth between a service provider and an on board unit;

preparing navigation information based on the amount of available bandwidth;

sending the navigation information to the on board unit.

1. A system for displaying navigation information comprising:

a display including a region, the region providing a visible portion of the display and displaying a map and an indicia, the indicia representing a motor vehicle;

the system having a first condition wherein the indicia is on a route and wherein the indicia remains at a substantially fixed position with respect to the region;

the system having a second condition wherein the indicia is spaced from the route and wherein a modification is made to keep the route and the indicia within the region.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the modification includes a change in scale of the map.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the scale is increased to show a larger geographical area as the indicia moves further away from the route.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the scale is decreased to show a smaller geographical area as the indicia moves closer to the route.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the scale is returned to an original scale when the indicia returns to the route.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the modification includes movement of the indicia from the fixed position.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the indicia returns to the fixed position when the indicia returns to the route.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the step of preparing navigation information includes a step of selecting a detail mode of a map based on the amount of available bandwidth.

66. The method according to claim 64, wherein text only navigation information is prepared in the step of preparing navigation information.

66-1. The method according to claim 64, wherein text only navigation information is prepared when the amount of available bandwidth is generally lower than a normal amount of available bandwidth.

67. A method for sending navigation information to an on board unit comprising the steps of:

determining bandwidth available to the on board unit;

determining a level of detail of the navigation information, wherein the level of detail is related to the available bandwidth;

preparing first navigation information having a first level of detail; and

sending the first navigation information to the on board unit.

68. The method according to claim 67, wherein content in addition to the navigation information is sent along with the navigation information to the on board unit.

69. The method according to claim 67, wherein the content includes traffic information.

70. The method according to claim 67, wherein the level of detail includes first map details.

71. The method according to claim 70, wherein the level of detail includes second map details, and wherein second map details includes less details than first map details.

72. The method according to claim 70, wherein the level of detail includes text only.