NAVIGATION DEVICE INTERFACE

• US 20100094547A1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Pauwels, Peter Frans, Geelen, Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• 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 music configuration menu shortcut is provided in a PND by software which interacts within a music menu display device. In one embodiment, A PND having a display, memory, processing capability, one or more speakers, and at least one signal reception device by which the PND can determine its approximate position globally by way of software installed on the device is disclosed. The PND performs one or more primary navigation and/or route calculation functions, as well as one or more secondary functions including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in the memory. The software also causes the display of changing graphical map information during route navigation and is capable of being caused to display one or more configuration menus to enable a user to configure various primary or secondary device operation options. In at least one embodiment, the software further provides an option for the on-screen display of a user-selectable graphical indicator during route navigation in conjunction with the changing graphical map information, selection of the indicator during navigation causing the software to display a configuration menu specific to the reproduction of digital music. In an alternative embodiment, the music menu display device includes a physical button by which one or more of the music reproduction and/or configuration menus can be caused to be displayed.

Claims

1. A PND comprising:

a display;

a memory;

a processor;

one or more speakers; and

at least one signal reception device to receive signals useable to determine an approximate global position of the PND in conjunction with software installed on the PND, the software also performing at least one of one or more primary navigation and route calculation functions, and one or more secondary functions including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in said memory, the software further causing the display to display changing graphical map information during route navigation and being capable of causing the display to display one or more configuration menus to enable a user to configure various PND operation options, the software further providing an option for causing the display to display a user-selectable graphical indicator during route navigation in conjunction with the changing graphical map information, selection of the user-selectable graphical indicator during navigation causing the software to cause the display to display a configuration menu specific to the audible reproduction of the stored digital content.

2. A PND according to claim 1, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is only displayed when at least one of the following is true:

at least one or more digital music file is stored as at least part of the digital content stored in the memory;

a dedicated digital music reproduction device is connected to the PND; and

the software is currently performing a navigation or guidance function and simultaneously causes at least one digital music file to be reproduced.

3. A PND according to claim 1, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is a musical note indicator.

4. A PND according to claim 1, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is at least partially transparent.

5. A PND according to claim 1, wherein user-selection of the user-selectable graphical indicator is achieved by touching the display, in a region where the user-selectable graphical indicator is displayed, causing the display to display one or other of a first and second configuration menus specific to reproduction of digital music, a first configuration menu being displayed when a digital music file is, at the time of indicator selection, being reproduced, and a second configuration menu being displayed when no such reproduction is at that time occurring, the stored digital content including digital music and the digital music file.

6. A PND according to claim 5, wherein the first configuration menu is one containing information regarding the music file being reproduced together with one or more user-selectable options, and the second configuration menu contains one or more user-selectable options enabling one or more digital music files to be selected for immediate reproduction.

7. A PND according to claim 5, wherein the first configuration menu includes a user-selectable option button which, when selected, results in the display of a preferences menu on the display, in which various preferences relating to the digital music reproduction facility provided by the PND are displayed on the display.

8. A PND according to claim 7, wherein the preferences menu includes one option whereby the user can choose whether to display the user-selectable graphical indicator on the display during navigation or route guidance.

12. A PND according to claim 6, wherein the first configuration menu includes a user-selectable option button which, when selected, results in the display of a preferences menu on the display, in which various preferences relating to the digital music reproduction facility provided by the PND are displayed on the display.

13. A PND according to claim 12, wherein the preferences menu includes one option whereby the user can choose whether to display the user-selectable graphical indicator on the display during navigation or route guidance.

16. A PND according to claim 2, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is a musical note indicator.

17. A PND according to claim 2, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is at least partially transparent.

18. A PND according to claim 2, wherein user-selection of the user-selectable graphical indicator is achieved by touching the display, in a region where the user-selectable graphical indicator is displayed, causing the display to display one or other of a first and second configuration menus specific to reproduction of digital music, a first configuration menu being displayed when a digital music file is, at the time of indicator selection, being reproduced, and a second configuration menu being displayed when no such reproduction is at that time occurring, the stored digital content including digital music and the digital music file.

9. A PND, comprising:

a display;

a memory;

a processor;

one or more speakers;

at least one signal reception device to receive signals useable to determine an approximate global position of the PND in conjunction with software installed on the PND, the software also performing at least one of primary navigation and route calculation functions, and one or more secondary functions including an audible reproduction of digital content stored in said memory, the software further causing the display to display changing graphical map information during route navigation and further causing the display to display one or more configuration menus to enable a user to configure various PND operation options; and

a music menu shortcut device to interact with the software to subsequently and immediately cause the display to display a configuration menu specific to the audible reproduction of the stored digital content.

10. A PND according to claim 9, wherein the music menu shortcut device is a physical control provided on an exterior of the PND.

14. A PND according to claim 9, wherein the stored digital content is stored digital music.

19. A PND according to claim 9, wherein the music menu shortcut device includes a button provided on an exterior of the PND.

11. A method of operating a PND including a display, a memory, a processor, one or more speakers, and at least one signal reception device to receive signals useable to determine an approximate global position of the PND, the method comprising:

performing at least one of one or more primary navigation and route calculation functions on the PND;

performing one or more secondary functions on the PND including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in the memory;

causing the display to display changing graphical map information during route navigation;

causing the display to display one or more configuration menus to enable a user to configure various PND operation options; and

providing an option for causing the display to display a user-selectable graphical indicator during route navigation in conjunction with the changing graphical map information, selection of the user-selectable graphical indicator during navigation causing the display to display a configuration menu specific to the audible reproduction of the stored digital content.

15. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on the PND, causing the PND to implement the method of claim 11.