ROUTE-MATCHING METHOD FOR USE WITH VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

• US 20080046174A1
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Johnson, Richard A
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments

Abstract

A method for matching navigational routes that are generated by separate route generators and are used by vehicle navigation systems. According to one embodiment, a user previews a first navigational route generated by a first route generator, such as those incorporated in a navigation-related website. From this first navigational route, a variety of location markers corresponding to different points along the route are generated. The location markers are then sent to a second route generator used by a vehicle navigation system, so that it can generate a second navigational route that is similar to the first route. The second navigational route is then sent to a navigation unit located on the vehicle, so that the driver can be given directions that generally correspond to the first navigational route which they initially reviewed on the navigation-related website.

Claims

1. A route-matching method for use with a vehicle navigation system, comprising the steps of:

(a) utilizing a first route generator to generate a first navigational route having a plurality of location markers, wherein coordinate information is provided for each of said location markers;

(b) providing said plurality of location markers to a second route generator;

(c) utilizing said second route generator and said plurality of location markers to generate a second navigational route; and

(d) providing said second navigational route to a vehicle navigation unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of obtaining a start point and an end point through a web-based user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said web-based user interface interacts with said first route generator to generate said first navigational route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of location markers includes a start point, an end point, and a plurality of maneuver points along said first navigational route.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said coordinate information includes longitude and latitude coordinates for each of said location markers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said longitude and latitude coordinates are provided as GPS coordinates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said second route generator is part of a telematics-based vehicle navigation system and is located at a call center.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said second route generator is part of an autonomous vehicle navigation system and is located within vehicle hardware.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second navigational routes are substantially similar.

10. A method for synchronizing navigational routes, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a plurality of location markers corresponding to a first navigational route, wherein coordinate information is provided for each of said location markers;

(b) utilizing said plurality of location markers with said coordinate information to generate a second navigational route that is similar to said first navigational route, and;

(c) providing said second navigational route to a vehicle navigation unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of location markers are generated from said first navigational route.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said first navigational route is generated from said plurality of location markers.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of obtaining a start point and an end point through a web-based user interface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said web-based user interface interacts with a first route generator to generate said first navigational route.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of location markers includes a start point, an end point, and a plurality of maneuver points along said first navigational route.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said coordinate information includes longitude and latitude coordinates for each of said location markers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said longitude and latitude coordinates are provided as GPS coordinates.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said second route generator is part of a telematics-based vehicle navigation system and is located at a call center.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein said second route generator is part of an autonomous vehicle navigation system and is located within vehicle hardware.

20. A system for coordinating navigational routes, comprising:

a navigation-related website having a first route generator, said first route generator generates a first navigational route and a plurality of location markers each having coordinate information;

a telematics-based vehicle navigation system having a call center with a second route generator and having a navigation unit located on the vehicle, said second route generator utilizes said plurality of location markers to generate a second navigational route that is similar to said first navigational route, and;

a communications network being coupled to said navigation-related website and said telematics-based vehicle navigation system, wherein said call center sends said second navigational route to said navigation unit located on the vehicle over said communications network.