NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND NAVIGATION METHOD

• US 20140142842A1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: SCHUMANN, Josef, KNOBEL, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,145,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/410
• 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 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

In a navigation method, coordinates and additional information concerning several places, so-called places of interest, are stored as data in a memory. Surrounding-area parameters are predefined by which, with respect to arbitrary places, one surrounding area respectively is defined which surrounds the place. During a traveling movement with a navigation device, one pertaining surrounding area respectively is acquired by use of the surrounding-area parameters and the respective current location of the navigation device. By way of the stored coordinates, at least one of the stored places of interest is determined which is situated in the acquired surrounding area. The additional information stored with respect to the determined place of interest is outputted by way of a user interface.

Claims

1. A navigation method, in which coordinates and additional information concerning several places of interest are stored as data in a memory, comprising the acts of:

predefining surrounding-area parameters by which, with respect to arbitrary places, one surrounding area respectively being defined which surrounds the place;

during a traveling movement with a navigation device , acquiring one pertaining surrounding area respectively, by way of the surrounding-area parameters and a respective current location of the navigation device;

determining, by use of the stored coordinates, at least one of the stored places of interest, which is situated in the acquired surrounding area; and

outputting, by way of a user interface, the additional information stored with respect to the determined place of interest.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

inputting into the navigation device the surrounding-area parameters or a surrounding area, within which a search for stored places of interest occurs, before beginning a trip or at the beginning of the trip, while not inputting a trip destination into the navigation device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

during the traveling movement, acquiring a surrounding area and/or determining a place of interest; and

outputting correspondingly the additional information dynamically by way of the user interface.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the output of the additional information concerning the place of interest takes place a function of at least one of adjustable route criteria of;

a distance by air of the place of interest from the current location of the navigation device,

a route distance of the place of interest from the current location of the navigation device,

predefined destination surroundings,

a road category of the route to the place of interest,

a current traveling direction,

a current traveling speed, and/or

a current traveling route.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traveling movement with the navigation device occurs on a trip via a vehicle equipped with a navigation system containing the navigation device and the memory storing the data concerning the places of interest, the method further comprising the acts of:

not inputting a trip destination into the navigation system at a beginning of the trip via the vehicle; and

acquiring a respective surrounding area during a drive of the vehicle on the trip via the surrounding-area parameters and a respective current location of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the output of the additional information concerning the place of interest takes place by way of adjustable and stored place-of-interest criteria of;

a category of the place of interest,

an average duration of a stay at the place of interest,

weather data concerning the place of interest,

an opening time of the place of interest, and/or

an evaluation of the place of interest.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the output of the additional information concerning the place of interest takes place by way of adjustable and stored place-of-interest criteria of;

a category of the place of interest,

an average duration of a stay at the place of interest,

weather data concerning the place of interest,

an opening time of the place of interest, and/or

an evaluation of the place of interest.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein:

the output of the additional information concerning the place of interest takes place by way of adjustable and stored place-of-interest criteria of;

a category of the place of interest,

an average duration of a stay at the place of interest,

weather data concerning the place of interest,

an opening time of the place of interest, and/or

an evaluation of the place of interest.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information concerning the place of interest is limited to minimal data content.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information concerning the place of interest is loaded via data sources.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein navigating occurs by way of a vehicle, and further wherein:

via vehicle sensors and/or the navigation device, additional information is determined and displayed by way of an operating interface, such additional information includes at least one of the following;

probable energy consumption until the place of interest is reached,

probable energy accumulator content when the place of interest is reached,

possible available energy charging station at the place of interest,

total energy consumption for the trip to the place of interest and a subsequent direct return trip to an original starting place of the trip, and/or

a route distance for a drive to the place of interest and subsequent direct return trip to the original starting place of the trip.

12. A navigation system, comprising:

a position acquisition system;

a memory for storing coordinates and additional information concerning places of interest;

a memory for storing surrounding-area parameters;

an acquisition system for dynamically acquiring a destination area during a trip;

a user interface; and

wherein the navigation system is operatively configured to;

predefining surrounding-area parameters by which, with respect to arbitrary places, one surrounding area respectively being defined which surrounds the place;

during a traveling movement with a navigation device, acquiring one pertaining surrounding area respectively by means of the surrounding-area parameters and a respective current location of the navigation device,

determining, by use of the stored coordinates, at least one of the stored places of interest, which is situated in the acquired surrounding area; and

outputting by way of a user interface the additional information stored with respect to the determined place of interest.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a navigation system, comprising;

a position acquisition system;

a memory for storing coordinates and additional information concerning places of interest;

a memory for storing surrounding-area parameters;

an acquisition system for dynamically acquiring a destination area during a trip;

a user interface; and

wherein the navigation system is operatively configured to;

predefine surrounding-area parameters by which, with respect to arbitrary places, one surrounding area respectively being defined which surrounds the place;

during a traveling movement with a navigation device, acquire one pertaining surrounding area respectively, by way of the surrounding-area parameters and a respective current location of the navigation device;

determine, by use of the stored coordinates, at least one of the stored places of interest, which is situated in the acquired surrounding area; and

output by way of a user interface, the additional information stored with respect to the determined place of interest.