NAVIGATION DEVICE & METHOD

• US 20110178698A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 07/21/2011
• 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 Hemert, Jasper Michiel, Aben, Sjoerd
• Application Number:
  US12/736,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178698A1
• 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: determine first journey time information for traversing at least one segment of a navigation route at a first predetermined time; determine second journey time information for traversing the one segment of the navigation route at a second predetermined time different from the first predetermined time; determine from the first and second journey time information a journey time parameter representative of an evolution characteristic of journey time; and generate, responsive to the journey time parameter, the 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:

determine first journey time information for traversing at least one segment of a navigation route at a first predetermined time;

determine second journey time information for traversing said at least one segment of the navigation route at a second predetermined time different from said first predetermined time;

determine from said first and second journey time information a journey time parameter representative of an evolution characteristic of journey time; and

generate, responsive to the journey time parameter, said output indication representing whether or not journey conditions are favourable.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the journey time parameter is one or more selected from:

journey time increasing;

journey time decreasing;

journey time substantially stable.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a display generator for generating a display icon, the display icon varying depending on the journey time parameter.

4. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the display generator is configured to generate the display icon comprising an arrow shape of variable length.

5. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the display generator is configured to generate the display icon with a variable colour.

6. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the display generator is configured to generate a view of a map including the display icon.

7. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second journey time information is derived from a journey-time profile for the at least one segment of the navigation route, the journey-time profile being derived from prior journey time history.

8. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein the journey-time profile is a component of a digital map database.

9. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein the processing resource is configured to perform the determination of first and second journey time information for each segment of the route.

10. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second journey time information is derived from live traffic information received by the navigation device.

11. The navigation device according to claim 10, wherein the live traffic information indicates traffic delay time.

12. The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second journey time information represents traffic delay time.

13. The navigation device according to claim 12, wherein the processing resource is configured to identify, from the live traffic information, traffic delays occurring along the navigation route, and to perform the determination of first and second journey time information for each of the identified traffic delays occurring along the navigation route.

14. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein an interval between the first and second times is between 5 and 60 minutes.

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

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

determining first journey time information for traversing at least one segment of a navigation route at a first predetermined time;

determining second journey time information for traversing said at least one segment of the navigation route at a second predetermined time different from said first predetermined time;

determining from said first and second journey time information a journey time parameter representative of variation in journey time; and

generating the output indication responsive to the journey time parameter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the journey time parameter is one or more selected from:

journey time increasing;

journey time decreasing;

journey time substantially stable.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a display icon, the display icon varying depending on the journey time parameter.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein icon has a characteristic selected as one or more of:

an arrow shape of variable length;

an icon of variable colour.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second journey time information is derived from a journey-time profile for the at least one segment of the navigation route, the journey-time profile being derived from prior journey time history.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the journey-time profile is a component of a digital map database used by the navigation device.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second journey time information is derived from live traffic information received by the navigation device.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the live traffic information indicates traffic delay time.

24. 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:

determining first journey time information for traversing at least one segment of a navigation route at a first predetermined time;

determining second journey time information for traversing said at least one segment of the navigation route at a second predetermined time different from said first predetermined time;

determining from said first and second journey time information a journey time parameter representative of variation in journey time; and

generating the output indication responsive to the journey time parameter.

25. A machine-readable information carrier carrying or embodying a computer program according to claim 24.