NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20110153185A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Van Helmert, Jasper Michiel, Aben, Sjoerd
• Application Number:
  US12/736,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• 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

A navigation device is disclosed which is operable to generate an output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processing resource configured to: calculate for a navigation route, expected journey time information indicating an expected time duration for completing the route; compare the expected journey time with an average journey time for the route; and generate, responsive to the result of said comparison, said output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable.

Claims

1. A navigation device operable to generate an output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable, the navigation device comprising a processing resource configured to:

calculate for a navigation route, expected journey time information indicating an expected time duration for completing the route;

compare the expected journey time with an average journey time for the route; and

generate, responsive to the result of said comparison, said output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable.

2. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to calculate the expected journey time based on one or more information sources selected from:

weather information received from a communications channel;

live traffic information received from a communications channel; and

pre-stored journey time profiles for road segments in a digital map database.

3. The navigation device of claim 2, wherein the processing resource is configured to calculate the expected journey time information based on a different information source from that used by for obtaining the average journey time.

4. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to calculate the average journey time based on a plurality of journey time profiles each representing a journey time on a respectively different occasion.

5. The navigation device of claim 4, wherein the processing resource is configured to calculate the average journey time by averaging information from the journey time profiles.

6. The navigation device of claim 4, wherein the processing resource is configured to calculate the expected journey time based on one or more journey time profiles.

7. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to generate a warning indication when the expected journey time exceeds the average journey time.

8. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to generate a warning indication when the expected journey time exceeds the average journey time, offset by a threshold.

9. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to repeat processing to refresh calculation of at least one selected from:

the expected journey time;

the average journey time.

10. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to repeat processing in response to at least one of (i) user interaction with the navigation device, and (ii) inputting of a repeat processing command by a user.

11. The navigation device according to claim 9, further comprising a timer, and wherein the processing resource is responsive to trigger signals from the timer, to repeat said processing.

12. The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein the timer generates trigger signals within a time window corresponding to a desired window of use inputted by a user.

13. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein the timer is implemented by a portion of the processing resource.

14. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is a portable navigation device.

15. A method of operation for a navigation device, to generate an output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable, the method comprising:

calculating for a navigation route, expected journey time information indicating an expected time duration for completing the route;

comparing the expected journey time with an average journey time for the route; and

generating, responsive to the result of said comparison, said output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of calculating expected journey time comprises calculating the expected journey time based on one or more information sources selected from:

weather information received from a communications channel;

live traffic information received from a communications channel; and

pre-stored journey time profiles for road segments in a digital map database.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of calculating expected journey time comprises calculating the expected journey time information based on a different information source from that used by for obtaining the average journey time.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of calculating the average journey time based on a plurality of journey time profiles each representing a journey time on a respectively different occasion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of calculating average journey time comprises averaging information from the journey time profiles.

20. A computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements a method for generating an output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable, the method comprising:

calculating for a navigation route, expected journey time information indicating an expected time duration for completing the route;

comparing the expected journey time with an average journey time for the route; and

generating, responsive to the result of said comparison, said output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable.

21. A non-transitory machine-readable record carrier carrying or implementing the computer program of claim 20.