Pre-programmed destinations for in-vehicle navigation

• US 6,405,126 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Palomo, John, Janky, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/177,707
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 731/78.R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application

Abstract

A system and method for finding an intended destination using an in-vehicle navigation system. Intended destinations are received and are coupled to an in-vehicle navigation system using various methods. In one embodiment, the intended destinations are stored on a magnetic strip that is disposed on the back of a plastic card. The plastic card is inserted into the in-vehicle navigation system where the data on the magnetic strip is read. Alternatively, a transmitter/receiver system is used to transmit the intended destinations to the in-vehicle navigation system. Once the intended destinations are coupled to the in-vehicle navigation system, the user is able to find an intended destination by selecting the desired intended destination from a list displayed by the in-vehicle navigation system. The in-vehicle navigation system then determines the current location of the vehicle and indicates how to find the intended destination using a moving map display and/or verbal instructions.

Claims

1. A method for locating an intended destination using pre-programmed destinations input into an in-vehicle navigation system, said method comprising:

communicating verbally with a user located at a vehicle rental operation;

receiving a plurality of intended destinations from said user during said verbal communication with said user, said intended destinations including those destinations that said user intends to visit during rental of a vehicle;

inputting said plurality of intended destinations into a computing device located at said vehicle rental operation;

generating a data set that indicates said intended destinations;

coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system located in said vehicle;

displaying images representing said intended destinations on a display of said in-vehicle navigation system during rental of said vehicle; and

upon the selection of one of said displayed intended destinations, indicating the location of said selected intended destination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a radio transmitter; and

transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via radio transmission.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via radio transmission further comprises transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system using a cellular radio network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to an infrared transmitter; and

transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via infrared transmission.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a magnetic card printer; and

storing said data set on a magnetic card.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a floppy disk drive; and

storing said data set on a floppy disk.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, upon the selection of one of said displayed intended destinations, a map is displayed that indicates the location of said vehicle and that indicates the selected intended destination, said display also indicating a travel path between the position of said vehicle and said selected intended destination.

8. In a computer system including a processor coupled to a bus, and a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing information, a computer-implemented method for locating an intended destination using pre-programmed destinations input into an in-vehicle navigation system, said method comprising:

communicating verbally with a user located at a vehicle rental operation;

receiving a plurality of intended destinations from said user during said verbal communication with said user, said intended destinations including those destinations that said user intends to visit during rental of a vehicle;

inputting said plurality of intended destinations into said computer system located in said vehicle rental operation;

generating within said computing system a data set that indicates said intended destinations;

coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system located in said vehicle;

displaying images representing said intended destinations on a display of said in-vehicle navigation system during rental of said vehicle; and

upon the selection of one of said intended destinations, indicating the location of said selected intended destination.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a radio transmitter; and

transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via radio transmission.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via radio transmission further comprises transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system using a cellular radio network.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to an infrared transmitter; and

transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via infrared transmission.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a magnetic card printer; and

storing said data set on a magnetic card.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein said coupling said data set to an in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a floppy disk drive; and

storing said data set on a floppy disk.

14. For a vehicle rental operation, a method for directing a customer to a desired location comprising:

communicating verbally with a user located at a vehicle rental operation;

receiving a plurality of intended destinations from said user during said verbal communication with said user, said intended destinations including those destinations that said user intends to visit during rental of a vehicle;

inputting said plurality of intended destinations into a computing device located at said vehicle rental operation;

generating within said computing device a data set that indicates said intended destinations, said data set not including destinations other than said intended destinations;

coupling said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system located in said vehicle;

displaying images representing said intended destinations on a display of said in-vehicle navigation system during rental of said vehicle, said display not including the display of destinations other than said intended destinations; and

upon the selection of one of said displayed intended destinations, indicating the location of said selected intended destination.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said coupling said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a radio transmitter; and

transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via radio transmission.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said coupling said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to an infrared transmitter; and

transmitting said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system via infrared transmission.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said coupling said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a magnetic card printer; and

storing said data set on a magnetic card.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said coupling said data set to said in-vehicle navigation system further comprises:

coupling said data set to a floppy disk drive; and

storing said data set on a floppy disk.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein a best travel path between a determined position of said vehicle and said selected intended destination is indicated by

a moving map display, said moving map display indicating the position of said vehicle as said vehicle moves toward said intended destination.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein one or more arrows are displayed that indicate a travel path between said position of said vehicle and said selected intended destination.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein audible instructions are used to indicate actions to be taken for following a travel path between said position of said vehicle and said selected intended destination.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

entering a location code into a said computing device, said location code indicating an intended destination.