Method and apparatus for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system

• US 5,832,408 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Nonaka, Hiroshi, Sekine, Masayuki, Tamai, Haruhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/992,621
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 73/178 R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• 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: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system are described. The vehicle navigation system includes a display and a selection control. A first destination is selected from a primary list of destinations in response to a selection signal generated by the selection control. The first destination is placed on a secondary list of destinations in response to its selection. The secondary list includes previously selected destinations from the primary list. For subsequent destination selections, the primary and secondary lists are presented on the display thereby facilitating selection of destinations from both the primary and secondary lists. A feature by which the system may search for a destination across categories is also described.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system wherein the system comprises a display, a selection control and an alphanumeric input means, and wherein the system employs a plurality of categories of destinations, each category corresponding to a list of destinations, the method comprising the steps of:

where a first selection signal corresponding to a first category is generated by the selection control,

displaying a first list of destinations corresponding to the first category; and

selecting a first destination from the first list in response to a second selection signal generated by the selection control; and

where an alphanumeric input signal is received via the alphanumeric input means,

displaying a second list of destinations corresponding to the alphanumeric input signal, the second list of destinations being generated by searching across the plurality of categories of destinations; and

selecting a second destination from the second list in response to a third selection signal generated by the selection control.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of categories of destinations comprises cities, streets and points of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the points of interest category includes additional categories comprising entertainment, tourist attractions, parks, businesses, and restaurants.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying the plurality of categories of destinations with an additional selection option which facilitates electronically searching for a destination across the plurality of categories.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of displaying an alphanumeric input screen in response to a fourth selection signal generated by the selection control, the fourth selection signal corresponding to selection of the additional selection option.

6. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a display;

a selection control; and

an alphanumeric input means;

wherein the system employs a plurality of categories of destinations, each category corresponding to a list of destinations, the system being operable to;

display a first list of destinations corresponding to a first category where a first selection signal corresponding to the first category is generated by the selection control,

select a first destination from the first list in response to second selection signal generated by the selection control;

display a second list of destinations corresponding to an alphanumeric input signal generated in response to the actuation of the alphanumeric input means, the second list of destinations being generated by searching across the plurality of categories of destinations; and

select a second destination from the second list in response to a third selection signal generated by the selection control.