NAVIGATION DEVICE & METHOD FOR PROVIDING PARKING INFORMATION

• US 20110106425A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Bruteneau, Frederic, Huijnen, Mark, Trum, Jeroen
• Application Number:
  US12/736,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/141 with means giving the indication of available parking spaces

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a navigation device including a parking place notification module. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device is arranged to wirelessly receive a message indicating a location of a parking place and, in response, the parking place notification module is arranged to either display on a display device an indication of the location of the parking place, or to select as a destination location the location of the parking place.

Claims

1. A navigation device, comprising:

a parking place notification module, wherein the navigation device is arranged to wirelessly receive a message indicating a location of a parking place and, in response, the parking place notification module is arranged to either display on a display device an indication of the location of the parking place, or to select as a destination location the location of the parking place.

2. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein:

the message indicates a time at which the parking place became available and the parking place notification module is arranged to display on the display device the indication of the location of the parking place and an indication of the time at which the parking place became available.

3. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the parking place notification module is arranged to only display on the display device one or more indications of parking places which became available less then a predetermined duration ago.

4. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the parking place notification module is arranged to indicate the location of the parking place on a representation of map data displayed on the display device.

5. The navigation device of claim 4, wherein the representation of the map is displayed on the display in perspective and the indication of the location of the parking place is displayed on the map according to the perspective.

6. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the message indicates a number of parking places available and the parking place notification module is arranged to display on the display device an indication of the number of parking places available.

7. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the parking place is an indication of a distance from a current location of the navigation device.

8. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the parking place is operable by a user to select the location of the parking place as a destination location for route guidance.

9. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein parking place notification module is arranged to transmit a message indicating a current location of the navigation device to request notification of the available parking place according to the current location.

10. A method for use in a navigation device, comprising:

receiving a message indicating a location of an available parking place; and

displaying on a display device an indication of the location of the parking place, or selecting the location of the parking place as a destination location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the message comprises time information for indicating when the parking place became available, and the method comprises providing an indication on the display device representing a duration since the parking place became available based upon the time information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication representing the duration is one or more of textual or colour information indicating the duration since the parking place became available.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a user input for selecting an available parking place as a destination location for route guidance.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, according to a perspective applied to a map displayed on the display device, a size of the indication of the location of the parking place; and

displaying the indication on the display device with the map.

15. The method of claim 10, comprising:

selecting the location of the parking place as a destination location if a current location of the navigation device is within a predetermined distance of the parking place.