Navigation system with vehicle service information

• US 5,819,201 A
• Filed: 09/13/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beacon Navigation GmbH (Beacon Navigation Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
• Inventors: DeGraaf, Brent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/713,625
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 701/30, 701/29, 701/1, 701/200, 701/208, 701/212, 701/209, 701/201, 701/207, 701/211, 701/210, 701/117, 340/309.15, 340/349, 340/457.4, 340/457, 73/178 R, 73/112, 73/117.3, 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/569
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

The navigation system has a display for displaying vehicle service reminders and an input device to permit the driver to define vehicle service intervals. A wheel speed sensor continuously inputs distance data into a CPU. A GPS system receiver continuously inputs date and time data into the CPU. The CPU compares the time and distance data to user defined vehicle service intervals. When the time or distance have exceeded the user defined vehicle service intervals, the CPU generates a vehicle service reminder on the display. The driver can then request the navigation system to guide the driver to an appropriate vehicle service location.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle navigation system comprising:

a database of roads to be travelled by a vehicle;

a user input device for selecting a desired destination for the vehicle relative to said database of roads;

a system for determining the position of the vehicle relative to said database of roads;

a system for displaying said position of the vehicle;

a system for determining a route from said database of roads between a position of the vehicle to said desired destination;

a system for displaying said route to a user;

said system for determining said position of the vehicle including a system for measuring the distance travelled by the vehicle;

a system for displaying a vehicle service reminder based upon a comparison of said distance travelled as determined by said system for measuring the distance travelled and a vehicle service distance interval.

2. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein said system for displaying a vehicle service reminder includes storage for said vehicle service interval and a system for modifying said vehicle service interval based upon a signal from said user input device.

3. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 1 further including:

a system for selecting a vehicle service destination from said database; and

a system for determining a route from said position of the vehicle to said vehicle service destination.

4. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 1 further including:

a system for determining elapsed time; and

a system for displaying said vehicle service reminder when said elapsed time exceeds a vehicle service time interval.

5. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 4 wherein said system for determining said position of the vehicle includes a time information receiver, said system for determining elapsed time monitoring said time information.

6. An in-vehicle navigation system comprising:

a database of roads to be traveled by the vehicle;

a user input device for selecting a desired destination for the vehicle relative to said database of roads and for inputting a user-defined distance service interval;

a system for measuring the distance travelled by a vehicle;

a system for determining the position of the vehicle relative to said database based upon said distance travelled;

system for comparing said distance travelled by the vehicle to said distance service interval;

a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said position of the vehicle to said destination; and

a system for displaying a vehicle service reminder generated based upon said comparison of said distance travelled by the vehicle to said disc service interval along with the determined route from said database of roads.

7. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 6 wherein said system for determining said position of the vehicle includes a time information receiver, said navigation system further including:

a system for determining elapsed time, said system for determining elapsed time monitoring said time information; and

said system for displaying displays said vehicle service reminder based upon a comparison of said elapsed time and a vehicle service time interval.

8. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 7 further including a system for inputting a user-defined time service interval.

9. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 6 wherein said system for displaying said vehicle service reminder includes storage for said vehicle service interval and a system for modifying said vehicle service interval based upon a signal from said user input device.

10. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 6 further including:

a system for selecting a vehicle service destination from a database of roads; and

a system for determining a route from said position of the vehicle to said vehicle service destination.

11. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 6 further including:

a system for determining elapsed time; and

said system for displaying displays said vehicle service reminder when said elapsed time exceeds a vehicle service time interval.

12. A method for scheduling vehicle service including the steps of:

measuring a distance travelled by the vehicle;

defining a distance service interval;

storing said distance service interval;

receiving a signal from a position-determining device;

utilizing said signal to determine the position of the vehicle relative to a database of roads;

utilizing said signal to measure the distance traveled the vehicle; and

generating a vehicle service reminder based upon a comparison of said distance traveled by the vehicle and said distance service interval.

13. The method for scheduling vehicle service of claim 12, further including the steps of:

measuring elapsed time;

defining a time service interval;

storing said time service interval;

modifying said time service interval;

comparing said elapsed time to said time service interval; and

generating a vehicle service reminder based upon a comparison of said elapsed time and said time service interval.

14. The method for scheduling vehicle service of claim 13, further including the step of displaying the difference between said elapsed time and said vehicle service time interval.

15. The method for scheduling vehicle service of claim 13, further including the steps of:

determining the position of a vehicle service location when said distance travelled exceeds said distance service interval;

indicating said position of the vehicle relative to said database of roads;

determining a route from said database of roads between said position of the vehicle to said vehicle service location; and

generating said route to said vehicle service location.

16. The method for scheduling vehicle service of claim 12 further including the steps of:

receiving a time signal from said position-determining device;

utilizing said time signal to measure elapsed time;

utilizing said time signal to determine the position of the vehicle relative to said database of roads;

comparing said elapsed time to a time service interval; and

generating a vehicle service reminder based upon a comparison of said elapsed time and said time service interval.

17. The method for scheduling vehicle service of claim 12, further including the step of displaying the difference between said distance travelled by the vehicle and said vehicle service distance interval.

18. A vehicle navigation and service reminder system comprising:

a vehicle navigation system determining a position of the vehicle relative to a database of roads, said navigation system determining a distance travelled by the vehicle based on the determined position of the vehicle;

a user input device for selecting a desired destination relative to said database of roads;

a system for determining a route from said database of roads from said determined position of the vehicle to said desired destination

a vehicle service reminder generated based upon a comparison of a distance service interval and said distance travelled as determined by said navigation system; and

a system for displaying said position of the vehicle, said determined route and said vehicle service reminder.

19. The vehicle navigation system of claim 18 wherein said vehicle navigation system determined distance travelled from a distance signal received from a position determining device.

20. The vehicle navigation system of claim 19 wherein said vehicle navigation system determines position based upon said distance signal.

21. The vehicle navigation system of claim 18 further including:

a system for selecting a vehicle service destination from said database of roads; and

a system for determining a route from said position of the vehicle to said vehicle service destination.

22. The vehicle navigation system of claim 18 wherein said navigation system further includes:

a time information receiver receiving time information, said navigation system utilizing said time information to determine said position of the vehicle; and

said vehicle service reminder generated based upon a comparison of said time information and a vehicle service time interval.

23. The vehicle navigation system of claim 21 wherein said time information receiver is part of a GPS system.