Navigation system with user definable cost values

• US 5,878,368 A
• Filed: 09/13/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• 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:
  US08/713,627
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/212, 701/215, 701/216, 701/213, 701/211, 701/25, 701/26, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 73/178 R
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• 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 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A navigation system permits the user to designate certain roads or areas to avoid when planning a route. The navigation system generally includes a database of road segments and a cost associated with the road segments, such as estimated time of travel across that road segment and estimated length of travel across that road segment. The navigation system determines a route from a selected beginning point to a desired destination by evaluating the cost of the road segments to be traveled in several potential routes and recommends the potential route having the lowest total cost. The user can selectively modify the cost of selected road segments to indicate a preference or avoidance of such roads. By increasing the cost of a road segment, the navigation system is less likely to recommend a potential route which includes that road segment. Similarly, by decreasing the cost of a selected road segment, the navigation system is more likely to recommend a potential route which includes that road segment.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a database of road segments to be travelled by a user, said database including a cost associated with each said road segment;

a system for selecting a beginning point relative to said database of roads;

a user input device for selecting a desired destination relative to said database of roads, said user input device manually selecting at least one of said road segments and adjusting said cost of said at least one selected road segment; and

a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said beginning point and said desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected at least one road segment.

2. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device enters the first few letters of said selected road segment, said user input device selecting said selected road segment from a list of road segments including said first few letters.

3. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects a city and adjusts the cost for a plurality of road segments in said selected city.

4. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects from at least three values in order to adjust said cost of said at least one selected road segment.

5. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said system for adjusting said cost includes a system for receiving congestion information, said congestion information including identification of a congested area.

6. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects a road segment to avoid, said system for adjusting said cost increasing the cost for said selected road segment to avoid.

7. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said system for determining a route recommends a plurality of recommended road segments in said route, said user input device selecting at least one, but not all, of said plurality of recommended road segments, said user input device selectively editing the cost of said selected at least one of said recommended road segments, said system for determining a route determining a second route including said plurality of recommended road segments other than said selected at least one road segment.

8. The navigation system of claim 1 further including a memory storing each selected road segment for which the cost has been adjusted and the associated adjusted cost of said selected road segment, wherein said beginning point is a first beginning point, said destination is a first destination and said route is a first route, said system for determining a route determining a second route from said database of roads between a second beginning point different from said first beginning point and a second desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of each said selected road segment as stored in said memory.

9. The navigation system of claim 8 wherein each said selected road segment and its associated adjusted cost is further associated with a user.

10. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said road segments each have an associated road type, said user input device selecting a road type and adjusting the cost for all road segments of said selected type.

11. The navigation system of claim 10 wherein said road type includes freeways.

12. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects between decreasing and increasing the cost of said selected road segment.

13. A navigation system comprising:

a database of road segments to be travelled by a user, said database including a cost associated with each said road segment, said road segments each having a time cost and a distance cost;

a system for selecting a beginning point relative to said database of roads;

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

a system for adjusting said cost of at least one selected road segment of said plurality of road segments utilizing said user-input device; and

a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said beginning point and said desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected road segment, said system for determining a route comparing the time cost of a first road segment with a distance cost of a second road segment and recommending a route based upon a time/distance weighting factor, said user input device adjusting said time/distance weighting factor.

14. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein said road segments each have an associated road type, said system for adjusting said cost adjusting the cost for all road segments of a selected type.

15. A method for planning a route including the steps of:

a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads;

b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads;

c) manually selecting a road segment from said database of roads;

d) adjusting a cost associated with said selected road segment; and

e) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected road segment.

16. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 wherein said step c) further includes the steps of:

entering the first few letters of the name of said selected road segment;

selecting said road segment from a list of road segments having said first few letters.

17. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of:

associating an estimated time of travel with said road segment;

associating a length of travel with said road segment; and

adjusting the cost of a road segment proportionally to its estimated time of travel or estimated length of travel.

18. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of:

selecting a time/distance factor for evaluating the cost of potential routes between said beginning point and said desired destination;

selectively adjusting said time/distance factor; and

determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said desired destination based upon said time/distance factor, said estimated time of travel and said length of travel.

19. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of:

determining a present position relative to said database of roads; and

selecting said present position relative to said database of roads as said beginning point.

20. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of:

displaying a list of road segments for which the cost has been adjusted;

selecting said selected road segment from said list of road segments; and

adjusting the cost of said selected road segment.

21. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 wherein said step d) includes the step of decreasing the cost of said selected road segment.

22. The method for planning a route according to claim 15 wherein said step d) includes the step of selecting between increasing or decreasing the cost of said selected road segment.

23. A method for planning a route including the steps of:

a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads;

b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads;

c) adjusting a cost associated with a selected road segment in said database of roads; and

d) selecting a time/distance factor for evaluating the cost of potential routes between said beginning point and said desired destination;

e) comparing the estimated time of travel of a first potential route with the length of travel of a second potential route utilizing said time/distance factor;

f) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said desired destination based upon said time/distance factor, said estimated time of travel and said length of travel.

24. A method for planning a route including the steps of:

a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads;

b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads;

c) selecting a road segment to avoid;

d) increasing the cost of said road segment;

e) comparing said increased cost for said road segment to avoid with a cost of an alternative route not including said road segment; and

f) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said destination based upon said increased cost.

25. The method for planning a route according to claim 24 further including the steps of:

displaying a first route comprising a plurality of road segments from said beginning point to said destination;

selecting one of said plurality of road segments as a road segment to avoid; and

determining a second route to said destination from said position of said vehicle, said second route not including said road segment to avoid.

26. A method for planning a route including the steps of:

a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads, said database of roads having a plurality of road segments;

b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads;

c) associating a time cost with each said road segment;

d) associating a distance cost with each said road segment;

e) selecting a first time/distance factor;

f) selecting a first recommended route from said beginning point to said destination based upon said time cost of said road segments, said distance cost of said road segments and said first time/distance factor;

g) changing said first time/distance factor after said step f) to a second time/distance factor; and

h) selecting a second recommended route from said beginning point to said destination based upon said time cost of said road segments, said distance cost of said road segments and said second time/distance factor, said second recommended route including at least one road segment not included in said first recommended route.