Navigation method, in particular for vehicles

• US 6,240,363 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Valio, Harri, Hakala, Hannu, Laine, Heikki, Theimer, Wolfgang, Kaikkonen, Jari, Koskinen, Harri
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US09/238,380
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/206-216, 342/357.01-357.17
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigation method, in particular for vehicles, in which a route (R) from a starting point (z₁) to a destination (z_n) is determined and stored, in which the current position (z(t)) is determined, and in which direction information corresponding to the route (R) is indicated. In order to allow the user to be guided to his destination, if he leaves the route, without using map material, the invention provides for a direction which leads back to the route to be indicated, if the current position is not on the route.

Claims

1. Navigation method, in particular for leading a user in a vehicle back to a determined route without recalculating the route on the basis of necessary map material, comprising the steps of:

determining a route from a starting point to a destination;

storing the determined route;

determining the current position; and

indicating direction information corresponding to the route if the current position is on the route, otherwise;

determining a first position on the route that is closest to the current position;

determining a second position on the route that follows the first position;

selecting the first position as suitable position for returning to the route if the distance from the current position to the second position is longer than the distance from the first position to the second position, otherwise

selecting the second position as suitable position for returning to the route; and

indicating the direction leading back to the route, wherein this direction is derived from the current position and the selected one of the first or second positions.

2. Navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the direction which leads back to the route is derived from the determined current position and stored data relating to the route.

3. Navigation method according to claim 2, wherein the direction which leads back to the route is indicated relative to the vehicle.

4. Navigation method according to claim 3, wherein the direction which leads back to the route is calculated, relative to the vehicle, from the direction of travel of the vehicle in the reference system of the route and from the direction from the current position to a selected position on the route.

5. Navigation method according to claim 4, wherein the direction of travel of the vehicle is estimated from the last, preferably from the last three, vehicle positions including the current vehicle position.

6. Navigation method according to claim 4, wherein, in order to estimate the direction of travel of the vehicle, the direction from the last but one vehicle position to the last vehicle position to the last vehicle position is compared with the direction from the last vehicle position to the current vehicle position, and in that the direction from the last but one vehicle position to the current vehicle position is used as the direction of travel provided the difference between the two directions which are compared with one another is not greater than a predetermined value.

7. Navigation method according to claim 2, wherein, in order to select, on the route, a position which is suitable for returning to the route, that stored position on the route is determined which is closest to the current position, the distance from the current position that position on the route which follows the closest position is compared with its distance to the closest position is closer to the following position than the current position, the closest position is selected, and otherwise the following position is selected.

8. Navigation method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the direction which leads back to the route, the distance from the current position to the route is indicated, preferably the distance to a selected position on the route.

9. Navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the indication of the information which leads back to the route is continuously updated until the route is reached and, after this, the direction information corresponding to the route is indicated.

10. Navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the current direction information is output, if required, in response to a request signal from the user.

11. Navigation method according to claim 10, the individual nodes on the route are stored as GPS positions, and in that the current position is determined with the aid of a satellite-based position system.

12. Navigation method according to claim 1, the route is stored in the form of nodes which represent individual positions on a map, in particular road junctions, and to each of which a direction information item is assigned.

13. Navigation method according to claim 12, wherein the individual nodes on the route are displayed in polar coordinates, preferably as complex numbers in polar coordinates, preferably as complex numbers in polar coordinates.

14. Navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the starting point and destination of a desired route are entered, and are transmitted from a navigation device to a central data processing unit, in that appropriate map material is used in the central data processing unit to determine a route, and in that the determined route is transmitted to the navigation device requesting the route, and is stored there.

15. Navigation method according to claim 14, wherein the data are transmitted via a radio link, in particular via a data link in a cellular mobile radio network.