Method and System of Using Turn-by-Turn Server Based Reroutes Data to Improve a Navigation User Interface

• US 20090326801A1
• 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 9,395,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents

Abstract

A navigation server as part of a vehicle navigation system provides a set of turn-by-turn directions to a vehicle driver from the vehicle'"'"'s current location to a destination chosen by the driver. Further, a navigation server receives new route requests because a vehicle driver disregards a previous a maneuver contained in a previous set of turn-by-turn directions. The navigation server tracks vehicle locations whereat new routes have been requested. If a large number of new route requests occur in a given location, the system analyzes this location to determine whether the location is one where poor directions are given. Improved directions may thus be generated and provided.

Claims

1. A method of improving turn-by-turn directions in a vehicle navigation system using new route requests, the method comprising:

tagging a new route request with a current vehicle location and date stamp using an in-vehicle navigation system;

sending the tagged new route request from the in-vehicle navigation system to a navigation server;

selecting a threshold for the number of new route requests for the vehicle location using at least one software application implemented by the navigation server;

determining whether the number of new route requests exceeds the threshold using at least one software application implemented by the navigation server; and

analyzing the vehicle location if the number of new route requests exceeds the threshold, to determine whether the vehicle location is a candidate location for direction improvement using at least one software application implemented by the navigation server.

2. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

analyzing the candidate location for poor directions to determine an improved set of turn-by-turn directions for the candidate location for poor directions; and

entering the improved set of turn-by-turn directions into the navigation server.

3. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a new route request for turn-by-turn directions to a destination location across a wireless network from a vehicle driver by a telematics service provider through the in-vehicle navigation system wherein the request also includes the current vehicle location and date stamp;

entering the destination location into the vehicle navigation system;

compiling a route and turn-by-turn directions from the current vehicle location to the destination location;

sending the turn-by-turn directions from the navigation server to the in-vehicle navigation system; and

providing the turn-by-turn directions to the vehicle driver through a user interface of the in-vehicle navigation system.

4. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, wherein the date stamp comprises a day of the week, a time of day, and a date.

5. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle navigation system comprises a remote navigation server.

6. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, wherein the telematics unit includes the in-vehicle navigation system.

7. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle navigation system includes the in-vehicle navigation system.

8. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 1, wherein the user interface includes one of an audio interface and a video interface.

9. The method of improving turn-by-turn directions according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication network includes one of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000 network, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, a GSM network, a WiFi network, and a WiMAX network.

10. A system of using new route requests to improve turn-by-turn directions, the system comprising;

a navigation server for receiving a new route across a wireless network, and for determining whether a location warrants improved turn-by-turn directions based on a number of new route requests received by the navigation server;

an in-vehicle navigation system that sends a new route request to the navigation server across the wireless network;

an application that analyzes a plurality of new route requests at the navigation server; and

a database accessible to the navigation server that stores at least one traffic report.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the in-vehicle navigation system comprises a user interface.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle navigation system includes the navigation server.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a telematics unit that includes the in-vehicle navigation system.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the in-vehicle navigation system tags a new route request with a current vehicle location and a date stamp.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the navigation server executes a number of steps comprising:

selecting a threshold for the number of new route requests for a vehicle location;

determining whether the number of new route requests exceeds the threshold; and

analyzing the vehicle location, if it exceeds the threshold, to determine whether the vehicle location is a candidate location for poor directions.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the navigation server receives an improved set of turn-by-turn directions for the candidate location.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the user interface includes one of an audio interface and a video interface.

18. The system of according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication network includes one of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000 network, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, a GSM network, a WiFi network, and a WiMAX network.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the date stamp comprises a day of the week, a time of day, and a date.