Methods and apparatus for providing voice guidance in a vehicle navigation system

• US 6,298,305 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Technologies LLC (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Kadaba, Sudha G., White, Laura
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/116,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/214, 701/23, 701/208, 342/357.13, 731/78.R, 704/246
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system. In response to selection of a destination by the user, a route is generated from a first position to the destination. The route includes a plurality of maneuvers. A plurality of maneuver instructions are generated corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers. An audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions is presented prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers. In response to a first signal generated when the vehicle is at a first location on the route, all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location are sequentially presented. According to another embodiment, a most recently presented maneuver instruction is presented in response to the first signal. According to yet another embodiment, the audio level associated with at least one instruction is adjusted in response to the first signal. According to still another embodiment, the audio representation of selected maneuver instructions includes the associated street name.

Claims

1. A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system and a vehicle, comprising:

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers;

in response to a first signal generated when the vehicle is at a first location on the route, presenting all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location without regard to execution of the corresponding maneuvers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the first signal in response to actuation of a switch by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the first signal in response to a voice command from the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising sequentially presenting all previous maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route before the first location in response to generation of a second signal at the first location.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising generating the second signal in response to actuation of a switch by the user.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising generating the second signal in response to a voice command from the user.

7. A vehicle navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for generating data for use by the vehicle navigation system for navigation;

a user interface for communicating with a user of the vehicle navigation system;

guidance signal generation circuitry for generating a first signal; and

a central processing unit which is operable to;

generate a route from a first position to a destination in response to selection of the destination by the user, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generate a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

present an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers by the vehicle; and

present all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location in response to generation of the first signal when the vehicle is at a first location on the route without regard to execution of the corresponding maneuvers.

8. A computer program product for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system and a vehicle, comprising:

at least one computer-readable medium; and

a computer program mechanism embedded in the at least one computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of;

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers by the vehicle;

in response to a signal generated when the vehicle is at a first location on the route, presenting all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location without regard to execution of the corresponding maneuvers.

9. A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;

determining an ambient noise level;

generating a first signal in response to determination of the ambient noise level; and

in response to the first signal, adjusting the audio level associated with at least one instruction.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting the audio level comprises increasing the audio level associated with the at least one instruction.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting the audio level comprises decreasing the audio level associated with the at least one instruction.

12. A vehicle navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for generating data for use by the vehicle navigation system for navigation;

a user interface for communicating with a user of the vehicle navigation system;

guidance signal generation circuitry for generating a first signal; and

a central processing unit which is operable to;

generate a route from a first position to a destination in response to selection of the destination by the user, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generate a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

present an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;

determine an ambient noise level;

generate a first signal in response to determination of the ambient noise level; and

adjust the audio level associated with at least one instruction in response to the first signal.

13. A computer program product for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

at least one computer-readable medium; and

a computer program mechanism embedded in the at least one computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of;

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;

determining an ambient noise level;

generating a first signal in response to determination of the ambient noise level; and

in response to the first signal, adjusting the audio level associated with at least one instruction.

14. A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers; and

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers;

wherein selected ones of the maneuver instructions are associated with a street name comprising alphanumeric characters, the audio representation of the selected maneuver instructions including the associated street name and wherein the audio representation of the street name is constructed using voice synthesis techniques.

15. A vehicle navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for generating data for use by the vehicle navigation system for navigation;

a user interface for communicating with a user of the vehicle navigation system; and

a central processing unit which is operable to;

generate a route from a first position to a destination in response to selection of the destination by the user, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generate a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers; and

present an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, wherein selected ones of the maneuver instructions are associated with a street name comprising alphanumeric characters, the audio representation of the selected maneuver instructions including the associated street name and wherein the audio representation of the street name is constructed using voice synthesis techniques.

16. A computer program product for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

at least one computer-readable medium; and

a computer program mechanism embedded in the at least one computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of;

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers; and

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers;

wherein selected ones of the maneuver instructions are associated with a street name comprising alphanumeric characters, the audio representation of the selected maneuver instructions including the associated street name and wherein the audio representation of the street name is constructed using voice synthesis techniques.

17. A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;

generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;

presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;

determining a vehicle speed;

generating a first signal in response to determination of the vehicle speed; and

in response to the first signal, adjusting the audio level associated with at least one instruction.