MULTIPLE ROUTE PRE-CALCULATION AND PRESENTATION FOR A VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20100324817A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: GELLATLY, ANDREW W., HANSEN, CODY R., HIGHSTROM, MATTHEW M., WEISS, JOHN P., MATHUR, BHAVNA
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation system and related operating methods are provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system obtains a destination location and generates a proposed route to the destination location. The proposed route is defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers. Before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point, the navigation system pre-calculates alternate routes between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, and saves the alternate routes for subsequent activation. Pre-calculated alternate routes can also be used to determine and indicate the relative importance of an approaching driving maneuver. The driver can consider the importance of driving maneuvers when deciding whether or not to follow the recommended route.

Claims

1. A navigation method for instructing an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining a destination location;

generating a proposed route to the destination location, the proposed route defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers; and

before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point, pre-calculating an alternate route between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, wherein the alternate route is different than the proposed route; and

saving the alternate route to obtain a saved alternate route for subsequent activation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting when the vehicle is near a current driver decision point of the proposed route, wherein pre-calculating the alternate route is triggered in response to the detecting step.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the current driver decision point immediately precedes the approaching driver decision point in the proposed route.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting when the vehicle has diverted from the proposed route at the approaching driver decision point; and

activating the saved alternate route in response to the detecting step, resulting in an activated alternate route.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

pre-calculating an updated alternate route between a next approaching driver decision point of the activated alternate route and the destination location, wherein the updated alternate route is different than the activated alternate route; and

saving the updated alternate route to obtain a saved updated alternate route for subsequent activation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one segment of the proposed route using first visually distinguishable characteristics; and

displaying at least one segment of the alternate route using second visually distinguishable characteristics that are different than the first visually distinguishable characteristics.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the proposed route to the alternate route to obtain a route comparison;

determining a difference metric value associated with the route comparison; and

displaying at least one segment of the alternate route, along with indicia of the difference metric.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the difference metric comprises a metric selected from the group consisting of:

a distance metric;

a travel time metric;

a traffic congestion metric;

a fuel consumption metric;

an energy consumption metric;

a vehicle emissions metric;

a road condition metric;

a sightseeing metric;

an undesirable area metric;

a services metric;

a preferred route metric; and

a metric related to past user behavior at the driver decision point.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pre-calculating a plurality of potential routes between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, the potential routes including the alternate route, and each of the potential routes being different than the proposed route;

comparing each of the potential routes to the proposed route; and

determining, in response to the comparing step, a respective difference metric value for each of the potential routes;

wherein

the difference metric for the alternate route satisfies a threshold criteria.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the difference metric comprises a metric selected from the group consisting of:

a distance metric;

a travel time metric;

a traffic congestion metric;

a fuel consumption metric;

an energy consumption metric;

a vehicle emissions metric;

a road condition metric;

a sightseeing metric;

an undesirable area metric;

a services metric;

a preferred route metric; and

a metric related to past user behavior at the driver decision point.

11. A navigation method for instructing an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising:

generating a proposed route to a destination location;

pre-calculating, before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point of the proposed route, an alternate route between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, wherein the alternate route is different than the proposed route;

comparing the proposed route to the alternate route to obtain a route comparison;

determining a difference metric value associated with the route comparison; and

presenting, to the operator of the vehicle, indicia of the importance of a driving maneuver associated with the approaching driver decision point, wherein the driving maneuver is recommended by the proposed route, and wherein content of the indicia is influenced by the difference metric.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting when the vehicle has not performed the driving maneuver; and

activating the alternate route in response to the detecting step, resulting in an activated alternate route.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying at least one segment of the proposed route using first visually distinguishable characteristics; and

displaying at least one segment of the alternate route using second visually distinguishable characteristics that are different than the first visually distinguishable characteristics.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the difference metric comprises a metric selected from the group consisting of:

a distance metric;

a travel time metric;

a traffic congestion metric;

a fuel consumption metric;

an energy consumption metric;

a vehicle emissions metric;

a road condition metric;

a sightseeing metric;

an undesirable area metric;

a services metric;

a preferred route metric; and

a metric related to past user behavior at the driver decision point.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising comparing the difference metric value to a threshold value, wherein the presenting step comprises:

presenting indicia of a low importance driving maneuver when the difference metric value is less than the threshold value; and

presenting indicia of a high importance driving maneuver when the difference metric value is greater than the threshold value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the difference metric value represents additional driving distance to the destination location, the additional driving distance being associated with the alternate route; and

the threshold value is a predetermined distance.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the difference metric value represents additional driving time to the destination location, the additional driving time being associated with the alternate route; and

the threshold value is a predetermined amount of time.

18. A navigation system for instructing an operator of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location, the proposed route defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers; and

a display element coupled to the navigation processor, the display element configured to render a graphical representation of at least one segment of the proposed route;

wherein;

before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point, the navigation processor pre-calculates an alternate route between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location; and

the navigation processor activates the alternate route when the vehicle diverts from the proposed route at the approaching driver decision point.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the navigation processor compares the proposed route to the alternate route to obtain a route comparison;

the navigation processor determines a difference metric value associated with the route comparison; and

the display element displays at least one segment of the alternate route, along with indicia of the difference metric.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the navigation processor compares the proposed route to the alternate route to obtain a route comparison;

the navigation processor determines a difference metric value associated with the route comparison; and

the display element displays indicia of the importance of a proposed driving maneuver associated with the approaching driver decision point, wherein the proposed driving maneuver is included in the proposed route, and wherein content of the indicia is influenced by the difference metric.