Navigation-assistance method and device for a vehicle driver

• US 6,236,935 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Schmischke, Kai, Helmstädter, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pipala, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/269,238
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/205, 701/206, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 701/214, 701/300, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/205
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching

Abstract

The invention concerns a navigation-assistance method and a device for a vehicle driver, to which instructions obtained by comparing the itinerary predetermined by course-guiding points with every established position of the vehicle are given. The information to be passed on to the driver concerning deviations from the predetermined itinerary are controlled continuously or almost continuously by comparing the deviation variables from the predetermined itinerary with the variables obtained regarding the established positions of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for the destination guidance assistance of a vehicle driver, to whom instructions are issued, comprising the steps of:

deriving instructions for a vehicle driver from a comparison of information which defines predetermined route guide point locations with information which defines actual vehicle locations;

comparing variables describing the predetermined route guide point locations to variables obtained from predetermined vehicle locations to obtain information representing individual probabilities of a false trip;

and logically interlinking and comparing the individual false trip probabilities to a threshold value, or summing the individual false trip probabilities and comparing the summed value to a threshold value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route has an extreme value on a straight line between the route guide points and increases or decreases at a predetermined gradient with an increasing distance from the straight line, and wherein the probability of a false trip corresponds to the variable describing the predetermined route, at the determined position of the vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the variable describing the predetermined route has a maximum value on the straight line and becomes zero at predetermined distances from the straight line.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route describes a vehicle movement taking place opposite to the destination direction, and wherein the probability of a false trip corresponds to the variable describing the predetermined route, in the case of a determined vehicle movement opposite to the destination direction.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route has an extreme value at the predetermined value of a turn-off angle at a route guide point and changes at a predetermined gradient with an increasing deviation from the angle, and wherein the probability of a false trip corresponds to the variable describing the predetermined route, in the case of a determined turn-off angle of the vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the extreme value of the variable describing the predetermined route has a maximum value at the predetermined angle and decreases to zero at predetermined angular deviations.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probabilities of a false trip are each assessed by means of a predetermined factor prior to addition.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein, in order to determine a false trip at a turn-off point, the difference between a probability of a false trip in the case of a correct vehicle trip and a probability of a false trip obtained with the aid of the determined vehicle position is formed, and wherein the difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 7, wherein an assessment of the probabilities of a false trip, including the preceding individual manner of driving of the vehicle is carried out.

10. A device for the destination guidance assistance of a vehicle driver, to whom instructions are issued comprising a computer 6 connected to at least a position sensor 7, a road map 5, a memory 10 and input and display devices 8, 9 wherein the computer 6 is programmed to derive instructions for a vehicle driver from a comparison of information which defines predetermined route guide point locations with information which defines actual vehicle locations and to compare variables describing the predetermined route guide point locations to variables obtained from determined vehicle locations to obtain information representing individual probabilities of a false trip and logically interlinking and comparing the individual false trip probabilities to a threshold value, or summing the individual false trip probabilities and comparing the summed value to a threshold value.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route has an extreme value on a straight line between the route guide points and increases or decreases at a predetermined gradient with an increasing distance from the straight line, and wherein the probability of a false trip corresponds to the variable describing the predetermined route, at the determined position of the vehicle.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route has a maximum on the straight line and becomes zero at predetermined distances from the straight line.

13. The device as claimed in one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route describes a vehicle movement taking place opposite to the destination direction, and wherein the probability of a false trip corresponds to the variable describing the predetermined route, in the case of a determined vehicle movement opposite to the destination direction.

14. The device as claimed in one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a variable describing the predetermined route has an extreme value at the predetermined value of a turn-off angle at a route guide point and changes at a predetermined gradient with an increasing deviation from the angle, and wherein the probability of a false trip corresponds to the variable describing the predetermined route, in the case of a determined turn-off angle of the vehicle.

15. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the extreme value of the variable describing the predetermined route has a maximum at the predetermined angle and decreases to zero at predetermined angular deviations.

16. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein, the probabilities of a false trip are each assessed by means of a predetermined factor prior to addition.

17. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein in order to determine a false trip at a turn-off point, the difference between a probability of a false trip in the case of a correct vehicle trip and a probability of a false trip obtained with the aid of the determined vehicle position is formed, and wherein the difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value.