TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVE NAVIGATION BASED ON USER PREFERENCES

• US 20080208469A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L., Pirtle, John D., Schebesch, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In a navigation device in accordance with the invention, user profiles may be stored and used to navigate a user who may be driving in a vehicle, on foot, or in other mode of transportation. Each user profile corresponds to one of the user'"'"'s personae. For example, the user business profile corresponding to the user'"'"'s business persona may be different from the user personal profile corresponding to the user'"'"'s personal persona. For instance, the user business profile may include fine-dining type restaurants for business meetings while the user personal profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants for personal dining. The inventive navigation device provides the user with a navigated route, together with information concerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, blockages may also be established using the device to avoid selected areas, e.g., high crime areas, in the navigated route, or to block transmission of selected information concerning, e.g., uninteresting facilities and events, to the inventive navigation device.

Claims

1-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A portable device for navigation, which enables a user to carry the device along a planned route, comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

storage for storing data, the data including data concerning a desired destination;

a processor coupled with the GPS receiver and the storage, and configured to calculate a location of the device as a function of the received signals and to cause a route to the desired destination to be planned, the route being planned for travel by vehicle; and

an output element coupled with the processor for providing instructions to navigate along the route to the desired destination.

55. The device of claim 54 being connectable to a system of a vehicle.

56. The device of claim 55, when connected to the system of the vehicle, being capable of providing the instructions via audio media.

57. The device of claim 54 being operable to communicate with a server via a communication network.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein the route is planned by the server.

59. The device of claim 57 wherein the communication network includes a wireless communications network.

60. The device of claim 54 wherein the processor is coupled with a modem.

61. The device of claim 54 being connectable to a computer system.

62. The device of claim 54 further comprising an interface enabling a user to enter or select the desired destination.

63. The device of claim 54 wherein the output element includes a display.

64. An electronic device, comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals from outside the device;

at least one memory for storing data, the data including data concerning a desired destination, and connection data concerning a party;

a processor configured to calculate a location of the device as a function of the received signals, and to cause a route to the desired destination to be planned;

an output element for providing instructions to navigate along the planned route; and

an interface for receiving a user entry causing a retrieval of the connection data from the memory, wherein the retrieved connection data is used to establish a communications connection to communicate with the party.

65. The device of claim 64 further comprising a transceiver for establishing the communications connection.

66. The device of claim 64 wherein the connection data is stored in a record.

67. The device of claim 64 wherein the connection data includes a telephone number.

68. The device of claim 64 wherein the communications connection includes a telephonic connection.

69. The device of claim 64 wherein the interface enables a user to enter or select the desired destination.

70. The device of claim 64 wherein the signals are GPS signals.

71. A method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

receiving signals from outside the device;

storing data which includes data concerning a desired destination, and connection data concerning a party;

calculating a location of the device as a function of the received signals;

causing a route to the desired destination to be planned;

providing instructions to navigate along the planned route; and

allowing a user entry to cause a retrieval of the connection data, wherein the retrieved connection data is used to establish a communications connection to communicate with the party.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the connection data is stored in a record.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein the connection data includes a telephone number.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein the communications connection includes a telephonic connection.

75. The method of claim 71 further comprising allowing a user to enter or select the desired destination.

76. The method of claim 71 wherein the signals are GPS signals.

77. Software including machine readable instructions stored in a tangible medium for performing a process, the process comprising:

receiving signals;

storing data which includes data concerning a desired destination, and connection data concerning a party;

calculating a location as a function of the received signals;

causing a route to the desired destination to be planned;

providing instructions to navigate along the planned route; and

allowing a user entry to cause a retrieval of the connection data, wherein the retrieved connection data is used to establish a communications connection to communicate with the party.

78. The process performed by the software of claim 77 wherein the connection data is stored in a record.

79. The process performed by the software of claim 77 wherein the connection data includes a telephone number.

80. The process performed by the software of claim 77 wherein the communications connection includes a telephonic connection.

81. The process performed by the software of claim 77 further comprising allowing a user to enter or select the desired destination.

82. The process performed by the software of claim 77 wherein the signals are GPS signals.