Data product authorization control for GPS navigation system

• US 5,887,269 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ValueStreet Consulting Group
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Brunts, Randall T., Welk, Douglas Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/586,127
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/213, 701/1, 73/178 R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/825.34, 380/9, 380/23, 380/25
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A navigation system is provided for offering navigational assistance to a mobile user. The navigation system receives GPS position information signals which are processed to determine current position latitude and longitude coordinates and direction of travel. A destination data base includes destination related information preferably stored on an interfacable memory card and contains menu categories and subcategories for classifying destinations and text information. The memory card may include a user modifiable data base. Data information is provided with a data identification code which is required to match the user identification code assigned to a given system for authorized access thereto. Such data could be provided for a period of time set to expire. User selectable menu controls enable the user to sequence through the menu of categories and destinations and select a desired destination. A processor compares the current position coordinates with the position coordinates of the selected destination and determines a distance and a straight-line direction from the current position to the selected destination. A display displays the distance and a direction pointing indicator for showing the direction from the current position to the selected destination. In one embodiment, the navigation system is integrated with an audio entertainment system and shares a common display and housing.

Claims

1. A navigation system with authorization access control for accessing navigation information, said system comprising:

a housing having a global positioning system (GPS) receiver which normally operates on a first set of predetermined destination navigation data;

a memory in the housing for storing a user identification code assigned to the navigation system from a pool of possible user identification codes so that different navigation systems contain different user identification codes;

a data carrier having a second set of navigation data stored therein, said second set of navigation data being different from the first set and being capable of being used by the GPS receiver to provide additional navigation information for the system, said data carrier also having an identification code stored therein; and

processor means in the housing for comparing the identification code of the data carrier with the user identification code of the navigation system and allowing access by said processor to the second set of navigation data on the data carrier when the data identification code matches the user identification code wherein said GPS receiver receives GPS position signals and determines position coordinates therefrom, said GPS receiver further determining a time-related information, said time-related information being compared with a preprogrammed period of time to control access to the second set of navigational data on the data carrier.

2. The navigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein said navigation information is encrypted and said navigation system further comprises decryption means for decrypting said encrypted information.

3. The navigation system as defined in claim 2 wherein said identification code is integrated within the encrypted information.

4. The navigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing is mounted in a vehicle.

5. The navigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing further comprising a memory card interface and wherein the data carrier comprises a memory card for storing the second set of navigation data and the identification code.

6. The navigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second set of navigational data and identification code are accessed via an online data provider and stored on the data carrier.

7. The navigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a timer for limiting access to the second set of navigational data for a preprogrammed period of time stored in the data carrier.

8. A method of controlling data access with a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning a user identification code to a receiver of a (GPS) navigation system from a plurality of possible user identification codes so that different navigation systems have different user identification codes;

providing stored data information on a portable data carrier that can be used with the navigation system;

assigning a data identification code to the stored data information;

comparing the data identification code with the user identification code;

allowing authorized access to the data information on the data carrier when the data identification code matches the user identification code;

receiving GPS position signals from the GPS navigation system and determining position coordinates therefrom; and

receiving time-related information from the GPS navigation system and comparing said time-related information with a preprogrammed period of time to control access to the data information on the data carrier.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 further comprising the steps of encrypting the data information and decrypting accessed data information with the navigation system.

10. A method of controlling access to navigational data for use in a mobile vehicle navigation system, said method comprising:

downloading navigational information data from an on-line data provider;

storing the navigational information data into a memory on a portable memory card, together with a data identification code provided by the on-line data provider;

storing a user identification code in a housing containing a memory card interface and a GPS navigational receiver;

mounting the housing in the vehicle;

inserting the memory card into the memory card interface;

comparing the data identification code on the memory card with the user identification code in the housing;

selectively allowing access to the navigational information data on the memory card as a function of the comparison between the data identification code and the user identification code;

receiving GPS position signals in the GPS navigational receiver and determining position coordinates therefrom; and

receiving time-related information in the navigational receiver and comparing said time-related information with a preprogrammed period of time to control access to the navigational information data on the memory card.