Method of Determining Routes for Use in Navigation

• US 20110264366A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cabral, Cesar
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver

Abstract

A method of determining routes for use in navigation is disclosed. The method includes steps of calculating a current route, calculating an alternative route and comparing the difference in times along each route with a minimum time difference. The minimum time difference is calculated using a dynamic threshold value that varies according to the difference in distances along the current route and the alternative route.

Claims

1. A method of providing navigation information for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a current route that is being used to navigate the motor vehicle to a destination;

receiving a current location for the motor vehicle;

calculating an alternative route from the current location to the destination, wherein a first travel time between the current location and the destination along the alternative route is estimated to be less than a second travel time between the current location and the destination along the current route;

determining a first distance corresponding to the alternative route and a second distance corresponding to the distance left to travel on the current route; and

using the first distance, the second distance, the first travel time and the second travel time to determine if the alternative route should be displayed for the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current location is a GPS location.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of using the first distance, the second distance, the first travel time and the second travel time includes a step of calculating a dynamic threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic threshold value is calculated using a difference between the first distance and the second distance.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the dynamic threshold value increases as the value of the first distance minus the second distance increases.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic threshold value is used to calculate a minimum time difference and wherein the difference between the second travel time and the first travel time is compared to the minimum time difference.

7. A method of providing navigation information for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a current route that is being used to navigate the motor vehicle to a destination;

receiving a current location for the motor vehicle;

calculating an alternative route from the current location to the destination, wherein a first travel time between the current location and the destination along the alternative route is estimated to be less than a second travel time between the current location and the destination along the current route;

determining a first distance corresponding to the alternative route and a second distance corresponding to the distance left to travel on the current route;

calculating a minimum time difference;

submitting the alternative route to be displayed for a user when the value of the second travel time minus the first travel time is greater than the minimum time difference;

preventing the alternative route from being displayed for the user when the value of the second travel time minus the first travel time is less than or equal to the minimum time difference; and

wherein the minimum time difference varies as the difference between the first distance and the second distance varies.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the minimum time difference increases as the difference between the first distance and the second distance increases.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the minimum time difference increases as the value of the first distance minus the second distance increases.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the minimum time difference is equal to a dynamic threshold value multiplied by the second travel time.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dynamic threshold value is calculated as a function of the difference between the first distance and the second distance.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the dynamic threshold value increases as the value of the first distance minus the second distance increases.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the dynamic threshold value approaches a maximum value asymptotically as a function of the difference between the first distance and the second distance.

14. A method of providing navigation information for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a current route that is being used to navigate the motor vehicle to a destination;

receiving a current location for the motor vehicle;

calculating an alternative route from the current location to the destination, wherein a first travel time between the current location and the destination along the alternative route is estimated to be less than a second travel time between the current location and the destination along the current route;

determining a first distance corresponding to the alternative route and a second distance corresponding to the distance left to travel on the current route;

calculating a dynamic threshold value, the dynamic threshold value being variable;

setting a minimum time difference equal to the dynamic threshold value multiplied by the second travel time; and

comparing the value of the second travel time minus the first travel time with the minimum time difference to determine if the alternative route should be displayed for a user.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further includes a step of:

submitting the alternative route to be displayed for a user when the value of the second travel time minus the first travel time is greater than the minimum time difference.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further includes the step of:

preventing the alternative route from being displayed for the user when the value of the second travel time minus the first travel time is less than or equal to the minimum time difference.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the dynamic threshold value increases as the value of the first distance minus the second distance increases.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the dynamic threshold value decreases as the value of the first distance minus the second distance decreases.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the dynamic threshold value increases as the absolute value of the first distance minus the second distance increases.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein probability that the alternative route is displayed decreases as the value of the first distance minus the second distance increases.