Navigation device and method for conserving power

• US 20080167797A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Jones, Rory
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,804 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• 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

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining, in a navigation device, at least one of, when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold; and placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine at least one of, when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold, the processor placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, in a navigation device, at least one of,

when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and

when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold; and

placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing of the navigation device in a power conserving mode includes at least relatively dimming a backlight of an integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least relatively dimming includes turning the backlight off.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising taking the navigation device out of the power conserving mode upon at least one of:

determining that a warning is to be output to an integrated input and display device of the navigation device;

determining that an instruction is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, within at least one of a distance less than a second distance threshold and a time less than a second time threshold;

determining an indication of contact on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device; and

determining receipt of an incoming signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the incoming signal includes at least one of an incoming message signal, and an incoming phone call signal.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising relatively brightening the backlight of the integrated input and display device of the navigation device upon at least one of:

determining that a warning is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device;

determining that an instruction is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, within at least one of a distance less than a second distance threshold and a time less than a second time threshold;

determining an indication of contact on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device; and

determining receipt of an incoming signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the incoming signal includes at least one of an incoming message signal, and an incoming phone call signal.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising turning on the backlight of the integrated input and display device of the navigation device upon at least one of:

determining that a warning is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device;

determining that an instruction is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, within at least one of a distance less than a second distance threshold and a time less than a second time threshold;

determining an indication of contact on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device; and

determining receipt of an incoming signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the incoming signal includes at least one of an incoming message signal, and an incoming phone call signal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of selectable power conserving mode options to a user of the navigation device, wherein the navigation device is placed in the selected power conserving mode upon the determination being made.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

providing feedback to a user of the navigation device, upon placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the feedback is at least one of visual and audible.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the feedback includes at least one of a blinking LED on an integrated input and display device of the navigation device and a periodically output audible message.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing of the navigation device in the power conserving mode includes at least one of pausing and temporarily ceasing an update of a display of an integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing in the power conserving mode only occurs upon the determination being made and subsequent to receipt of an indication of a selection by a user, to enter the power conserving mode.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selection is received at least one of before and after the determination is made, and subsequent to a prompt.

17. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim 1.

18. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim 4.

29. The navigation device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

an output device to provide feedback to a user of the navigation device, upon the processor placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode.

30. The navigation device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the output device is at least one of a visual and audible output device and wherein the feedback is at least one of visual and audible.

31. The navigation device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the output device includes at least one of an integrated input and display device and an audible output device and wherein the feedback includes at least one of a blinking LED on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device and an audible message periodically output via the audible output device.

19. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor to determine at least one of,

when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and

when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold, the processor placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made.

20. The navigation device of claim 19, wherein the placing of the navigation device in a power conserving mode includes the processor controlling at least a relative dimming of a backlight of an integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

21. The navigation device of claim 20, wherein the at least relative dimming includes the processor controlling turning the backlight off.

22. The navigation device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further useable to take the navigation device out of the power conserving mode upon the processor at least one of:

determining that a warning is to be output to an integrated input and display device of the navigation device;

determining that an instruction is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, within at least one of a distance less than a second distance threshold and a time less than a second time threshold;

determining an indication of contact on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device; and

determining receipt of an incoming signal.

23. The navigation device of claim 22, wherein the incoming signal includes at least one of an incoming message signal, and an incoming phone call signal.

24. The navigation device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further useable to control relatively brightening of the backlight of the integrated input and display device of the navigation device upon the processor at least one of:

determining that a warning is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device;

determining that an instruction is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, within at least one of a distance less than a second distance threshold and a time less than a second time threshold;

determining an indication of contact on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device; and

determining receipt of an incoming signal.

25. The navigation device of claim 24, wherein the incoming signal includes at least one of an incoming message signal, and an incoming phone call signal.

26. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further useable to control turning on the backlight of the integrated input and display device of the navigation device upon the processor at least one of:

determining that a warning is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device;

determining that an instruction is to be output to the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, within at least one of a distance less than a second distance threshold and a time less than a second time threshold;

determining an indication of contact on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device; and

determining receipt of an incoming signal.

27. The navigation device of claim 26, wherein the incoming signal includes at least one of an incoming message signal, and an incoming phone call signal.

28. The navigation device of claim 19, further comprising:

an integrated input and display device to display a plurality of selectable power conserving mode options to a user of the navigation device, wherein the navigation device the processor is further useable to place the navigation device in the selected power conserving mode upon the determination being made by the processor.

32. The navigation device of claim 19, wherein the processor placing the navigation device in the power conserving mode includes the processor at least one of pausing and temporarily ceasing an update of a display of an integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

33. The navigation device of claim 19, wherein the processor placing the navigation device in the power conserving mode only occurs upon the determination being made and subsequent to receipt, by the processor, of an indication of a selection by a user, to enter the power conserving mode.

34. The navigation device of claim 33, wherein the selection is received by the processor at least one of before and after the determination is made, and subsequent to a prompt.