Location based point of interest navigation system

• US 20080312822A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: McManus, Michael, Koempel, Jeremy, Lucas, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• 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: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position

Abstract

A navigation system for an automotive vehicle that travels on roads includes a vehicle positioning apparatus that determines location data associated with the vehicle. A source of attraction location data provides location data associated with a plurality of attractions that are of interest to a user of the vehicle. A processing device is communicatively coupled to the vehicle positioning apparatus and to the source of attraction location data. The processing device calculates a distance and direction from the vehicle to at least one of the attractions of interest. The calculating is based upon the location data associated with the vehicle and the location data associated with the attractions of interest. A graphical display arrangement is communicatively coupled to the processing device. The graphical display arrangement indicates the calculated distance and direction without graphically indicating orientation of roads on which the vehicle may travel.

Claims

1. A navigation system for an automotive vehicle that travels on roads, said system comprising:

a vehicle positioning apparatus configured to determine location data associated with the vehicle;

a source of attraction location data configured to provide location data associated with a plurality of attractions that are of interest to a user of the vehicle;

a processing device communicatively coupled to said vehicle positioning apparatus and to said source of attraction location data, said processing device being configured to calculate a distance and direction from the vehicle to at least one of the attractions of interest, the calculating being based upon the location data associated with the vehicle and the location data associated with the attractions of interest; and

a graphical display arrangement communicatively coupled to said processing device, said graphical display arrangement being configured to indicate the calculated distance and direction without graphically indicating orientation of roads on which the vehicle may travel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle positioning apparatus comprises at least one of a global positioning system, a vehicle speed sensor, and a wheel sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said source of attraction location data comprises a memory device configured to receive updates of the attraction location data from a source external to the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said memory device comprises a first memory device, said system further comprising a port communicatively coupled to said first memory device, said source external to the vehicle comprising a second memory device configured to be received and read in said port.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a communications link communicatively coupled to said memory device, said source external to the vehicle comprising a computer configured to transmit the attraction location data to said memory device via said communications link.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical display arrangement is configured to graphically indicate the distance and direction such that a scale of said graphical indication is dependent upon a speed of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical display arrangement is configured to indicate the direction from the vehicle to at least one of the attractions of interest in relation to a heading direction of the vehicle.

8. A method of providing navigation information within an automotive vehicle that travels on roads, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a location that is of interest to an occupant of the vehicle;

determining a location of the vehicle; and

providing the occupant with an indication of distance and direction from the vehicle to the location of interest, said providing step being performed without providing the occupant with a graphical indication of orientation of roads on which the vehicle may travel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said identifying step includes the occupant selecting at least one attraction from a list of attractions, the selected attraction being associated with the location of interest.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said identifying step includes the occupant selecting a category of attractions, each of the attractions being associated with a respective location.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining step includes using a global positioning system on-board the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising the further step of determining a heading direction of the vehicle, the indication of direction from the vehicle to the location of interest being provided relative to the heading direction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of determining a heading direction of the vehicle includes at least one of:

tracking the location of the vehicle over time;

processing signals from a vehicle speed sensor; and

processing signals from a vehicle wheel sensor.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication of distance and direction comprises a graphical indication, said method comprising the further steps of:

ascertaining a speed of the vehicle; and

adjusting a scale of the graphical indication dependent upon the ascertained speed of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 8, comprising the further step of collecting and storing historical data regarding prior locations of the vehicle, said identifying step being dependent upon the historical data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said identifying step is dependent upon historical data collected from other vehicles.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein said identifying step is dependent upon evaluations of the locations submitted by occupants of other vehicles.

18. The method of claim 8, comprising the further step of providing the occupant with additional information about the location of interest, at least one of a level of detail of the additional information and a content of the additional information being dependent upon at least one of:

a speed of the vehicle;

an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the location of interest; and

the distance from the vehicle to the location of interest.

19. A method of providing navigation information within an automotive vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a plurality of attractions that are of interest to an occupant of the vehicle;

loading location data associated with the attractions of interest into the vehicle;

choosing a category of the attractions of interest;

determining a location of the vehicle; and

providing the occupant with a graphical indication of distance and direction from the vehicle to a plurality of attractions within the chosen category of the attractions of interest, the graphical indication being devoid of road locations.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting step is dependent upon the distances from the vehicle to the attractions.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting step includes the occupant picking the attractions of interest to the occupant from a list of attractions.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said choosing step is performed by the occupant while the occupant is disposed within the vehicle.

23. A method of providing navigation information within a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a plurality of attractions that are of interest to an occupant of the vehicle;

loading location data associated with the attractions of interest into the vehicle;

choosing a category of the attractions of interest;

determining a location of the vehicle;

identifying, within the chosen category, a group of attractions of interest that are closest to the vehicle; and

providing the occupant with an indication of distance from the vehicle to each of the attractions of interest within the group of attractions of interest that are closest to the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication of distance comprises a textual indication.