Navigation device and method for issuing warnings

• US 20080215238A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Gretton, Pieter Geelen, Robert Pocknell, Rory Jones, Sven-Erik Jurgens
• Original Assignee: Mark Gretton, Pieter Geelen, Robert Pocknell, Rory Jones, Sven-Erik Jurgens
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Gretton, Mark, Jones, Rory, Jurgens, Sven-Erik, Pocknell, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/907,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method enabling a navigation device to output a warning; determining, within the navigation device, whether or not at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met; and outputting the warning upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to enable the navigation device to output a warning and to determine, within the navigation device, whether or not at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met; and an output device to output the warning upon the processor determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

enabling a navigation device to output a warning;

determining, within the navigation device, whether or not at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met; and

outputting the warning upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning is enabled at least one of automatically and upon receipt of an indication of a selection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a plurality of selectable warnings on an integrated input and display device of the navigation device and receiving an indication of at least one selected warning, wherein the navigation device is subsequently enabled to output each at least one selected warning upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of each at least one selected warning is met.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a plurality of warnings are selectable and enableable together.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes at least one of a speed warning, a relatively sharp turn warning, and a proximity warning.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the proximity warning is one regarding proximity to at least one of a church and school.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining includes determining whether or not the navigation device is within a distance of at least one of a church and school.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising suppressing output of the warning, upon determining that at least one other parameter governing suppressing of the output of the warning is met.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising suppressing output of the warning, upon determining that at least one other parameter governing suppressing of the output of the warning is met.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the output of the warning is suppressed based upon a determination that a vehicle in which the navigation device is located is operating within a reference time period.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the output of the warning is suppressed based upon a determination that a vehicle in which the navigation device is located is operating on a highway.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting includes at least one of a visual and an audible output.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the outputting includes at least an audible output.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a plurality of selectable audible warnings on an integrated input and display device of the navigation device and receiving an indication of at least one selected audible warning, wherein the navigation device is subsequently enabled to output the selected audible warning upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the selected audible warning is met.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location, wherein the determining of whether or not at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met, takes place subsequent to enabling the warning and determining the route.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining of the at least one parameter includes determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes an element to trigger the warning, wherein the warning is output subsequent to determining that the determined route of travel includes an element to trigger the warning.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the element to trigger the warning includes at least one of a determined speed, a relatively sharp turn along the determined route, and at least one of a church and school along the determined route of travel.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes a speed warning and wherein the outputting includes a change in color of at least a portion of the display upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes a speed warning and wherein the outputting includes display of a symbol on a portion of the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes a speed warning and wherein the outputting includes a first change of a display characteristic of at least a portion of the display upon determining that a first parameter governing output of the warning is met and a second change of a display characteristic of at least a portion of the display upon determining that a second parameter governing output of the warning is met.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes a relatively sharp turn warning and wherein the determining includes determining whether or not a turn exists, along a planned route of travel of a vehicle in which the navigation device is located, that includes a change of direction greater than a threshold.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, upon determining at least one turn exists along the planned route of travel of a vehicle in which the navigation device is located, that includes a change of direction greater than the threshold, a location of the turn is marked.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the sharp turn warning is output upon determining that a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is within a threshold distance of the marked location of any determined existing at least one turn.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sharp turn warning is not output upon determining that a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the outputting includes an audible output.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the audible sharp turn warning is not output upon determining that a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

27. 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.

28. 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 15.

29. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor to enable the navigation device to output a warning and to determine, within the navigation device, whether or not at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met; and

an output device to output the warning upon the processor determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

30. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the warning is enabled at least one of automatically and upon receipt of an indication of a selection.

31. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the output device includes an integrated input and display device to display a plurality of selectable warnings, the processor being further useable to receive an indication of at least one selected warning, wherein the navigation device is subsequently enabled to output each at least one selected warning upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the each at least one selected warning is met.

32. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein a plurality of warnings are selectable and enableable together.

33. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the warning includes at least one of a speed warning, a relatively sharp turn warning, and a proximity warning.

34. The navigation device of claim 33, wherein the proximity warning is one regarding proximity to at least one of a church and school.

35. The navigation device of claim 34, wherein the determining by the processor includes determining whether or not the navigation device is within a distance of at least one of a church and school.

36. The navigation device of claim 29, further comprising suppressing output of the warning, upon determining that at least one other parameter governing suppressing of the output of the warning is met.

37. The navigation device of claim 35, wherein the processor is further useable to suppress output of the warning, upon determining that at least one other parameter governing suppressing of the output of the warning is met.

38. The navigation device of claim 37, wherein the output of the warning is suppressed by the processor based upon a determination that a vehicle in which the navigation device is located is operating within a reference time period.

39. The navigation device of claim 37, wherein the output of the warning is suppressed by the processor based upon a determination that a vehicle in which the navigation device is located is operating on a highway.

40. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the output device includes at least one of a visual and an audible output device.

41. The navigation device of claim 35, wherein the output device includes at least an audible output device.

42. The navigation device of claim 41, wherein the output device includes an integrated input and display device to display a plurality of selectable audible warnings and the processor is useable to receive an indication of at least one selected audible warning, wherein the navigation device is subsequently enabled to output the selected audible warning upon the processor determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the selected audible warning is met.

43. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the processor is further useable to determine a route of travel, in the navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location, wherein the determining of whether or not at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met, takes place subsequent to enabling the warning and determining the route of travel.

44. The navigation device of claim 43, wherein the determining of the at least one parameter by the processor includes determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes an element to trigger the warning, wherein the warning is output subsequent to determining that the determined route of travel includes an element to trigger the warning.

45. The navigation device of claim 44, wherein the element to trigger the warning includes at least one of a determined speed, a relatively sharp turn along the determined route, and at least one of a church and school along the determined route.

46. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the warning includes a speed warning and wherein the outputting includes a change in color of at least a portion of the display upon the processor determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

47. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the warning includes a speed warning and wherein the outputting includes display of a symbol on a portion of the integrated input and display of the navigation device, upon determining that each at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

49. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the warning includes a speed warning and wherein the outputting includes a first change of a display characteristic of at least a portion of the display upon determining that a first parameter governing output of the warning is met and a second change of a display characteristic of at least a portion of the display upon determining that a second parameter governing output of the warning is met.

50. The navigation device of claim 29, wherein the warning includes a relatively sharp turn warning and wherein the determining includes determining whether or not a turn exists, along a planned route of travel of a vehicle in which the navigation device is located, that includes a change of direction greater than a threshold.

51. The navigation device of claim 50, wherein, upon the processor determining at least one turn exists along the planned route of travel of a vehicle in which the navigation device is located, that includes a change of direction greater than the threshold, a location of the turn is marked.

52. The navigation device of claim 51, wherein the sharp turn warning is output upon the processor determining that a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is within a threshold distance of the marked location of any determined existing at least one turn.

53. The navigation device of claim 52, wherein the sharp turn warning is not output upon determining that a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

54. The navigation device of claim 52, wherein the output device includes an audible output device.

55. The navigation device of claim 54, wherein output of the audible sharp turn warning is stopped upon the processor determining that a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.