System and Method for Providing Multiple Portions of A Route In A Telematics System

• US 20090326797A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Tengler, Steven C., Johnson, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes
• 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

Abstract

A method for communicating navigational information to a telematics unit. The method comprises receiving route requirements; calculating a plurality of portions of a route, each portion calculated according to different sets of criteria, the criteria determined from the route requirements; and sending the plurality of portions to the telematics unit. The portions of the route can be provided to the telematics unit sequentially, with non-final portions including a trigger for indicating to the telematics unit when to request the next portion. The portions can also be provided to the telematics unit as a complete route comprising concatenated route portions.

Claims

1. A method for communicating navigational information to a telematics unit, comprising:

receiving route requirements;

calculating an initial portion of the route according to a first set of criteria, the first set of criteria determined from the route requirements;

sending the initial portion and a trigger condition to the telematics unit;

receiving information from the telematics unit upon fulfillment of the trigger condition; and

calculating at least one additional portion of the route according to a second set of criteria, the second set of criteria different from the first set of criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the route requirements include location, destination, and route type.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger condition is based on a distance of the first portion.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the initial portion upon divergence from the route by the telematics unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria include that the initial portion or the at least one additional portion be a scenic portion, a portion minimizing distance between two points, a portion minimizing time travelled between two points, a portion minimizing tolls, and an evacuation portion.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending instructions to the telematics unit to communicate with a navigation server, the navigation server for determining the initial portion and at least one additional portion.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication link with the telematics unit.

8. A method for communicating navigational information to a telematics unit, comprising:

receiving route requirements;

calculating a plurality of portions of a route, each portion calculated according to different sets of criteria, the criteria determined from the route requirements; and

sending the plurality of portions to the telematics unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the plurality of portions to the telematics comprises:

sending an initial portion and a trigger to the telematics unit;

receiving an indication that an event corresponding to the trigger has transpired; and

sending at least one remaining portion to the telematics unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the trigger is a distance travelled along the initial portion.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the route requirements include location, destination, and route type.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating a single portion of the plurality of portions upon divergence from the portion by the telematics unit.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the criteria include that the initial portion or the at least one additional portion be a scenic portion, a portion minimizing distance between two points, a portion minimizing time travelled between two points, a portion minimizing tolls, and an evacuation portion.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the plurality of portions to the telematics unit comprises:

concatenating the plurality of portions to a single route; and

sending the single route to the telematics unit.

15. A system for providing navigational information to a driver, comprising:

a telematics unit for providing route requirements from the driver;

a navigation server for receiving the route requirements via the telematics unit and calculating a plurality of route portions from the route requirements, at least two of the route portions based on differing sets of criteria from the route requirements; and

a mechanism for providing communication between the telematics unit and the navigation server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mechanism for providing communication between the telematics unit and the navigation server comprises an operator for receiving the route requirements from the telematics unit and instructing the telematics unit to communicate with the navigation server

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the navigation server is configured to send the plurality of portions sequentially.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the navigation server is configured to send at least one portion with a trigger, the trigger used by the telematics unit to determine when to request another portion from the navigation server.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the navigation server is configured to concatenate the plurality of route portions to form a complete route and provide the complete route to the telematics unit.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the route requirements include location, destination, and route type.