Method for providing vehicle navigation instructions

• US 6,424,912 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Stefan, Jeffrey M., Correia, John J., Jijina, Jasmin
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/037,025
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/207, 701/202, 701/209, 701/208, 701/213, 701/212, 701/201, 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/26, 342/357.12, 342/357.13, 342/357.08, 342/357.01
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

This invention provides a method for providing vehicle navigation instructions to a destination from its current location. A database consisting of latitude/longitude coordinates may be searched for the locations of the destination, all street intersections within a proximity region of the destination. A vehicle'"'"'s location may be determined through the use of a global positioning system or other type of system. The vehicle'"'"'s distance from the destination and direction toward the destination may be determined. A proximity region surrounding the destination may be determined within which to search the map database for road segments. If at least one road segment intersects the vehicle'"'"'s planned path of travel between the vehicle'"'"'s current location and the destination, a maneuver alert road segment closest to the destination may be determined. If at least one maneuver alert road segment is found, maneuver instructions from the maneuver alert road segment may be provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing vehicle navigation instructions comprising:

receiving a destination at a map database;

receiving a vehicle'"'"'s current location;

calculating a distance between the vehicle location and the destination;

calculating a distance between the destination and candidate maneuver alert road segments;

determining a distance from the destination and a planned direction of travel toward the destination based on the vehicle'"'"'s current location;

determining a proximity region;

determining whether at least one maneuver alert road segment exists within the proximity region;

determining a maneuver alert road segment closest to the destination; and

providing maneuver instructions from the closest maneuver alert road segment to the destination.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

expanding the proximity region if at least one maneuver alert road segment is not found within the proximity region.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a maneuver alert road segment comprises a cross street that intersects the vehicle'"'"'s planned path of travel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle'"'"'s planned direction of travel comprises the direction the vehicle travels in order to reach the destination.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle'"'"'s planned path of travel comprises the path the vehicle travels on each road segment in order to reach the destination.

6. A system for providing vehicle navigation instructions comprising:

means for searching an at least one database;

means for receiving a destination at a map database;

means for receiving a vehicle'"'"'s current location;

means for calculating a distance between the vehicle location and the destination;

means for calculating a distance between the destination and candidate maneuver alert road segments;

means for determining a distance from the destination and a planned direction of travel toward the destination based on the vehicle'"'"'s current location;

means for determining a proximity region;

means for determining whether at least one maneuver alert road segment exists within the proximity region;

means for determining a maneuver alert road segment closest to the destination; and

means for providing maneuver instructions from the closest maneuver alert road segment to the destination.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

means for expanding the proximity region if at least one maneuver alert road segment is not found within the proximity region.

8. A computer usable medium for providing vehicle navigation instructions comprising:

computer readable program code to search the at least one database;

computer readable program code to receive a destination at a map database;

computer readable program code to receive a vehicle'"'"'s current location;

computer readable program code to calculate a distance between the vehicle location and the destination;

computer readable program code to calculate a distance between the destination and candidate maneuver alert road segments;

computer readable program code to determine a distance from the destination and a planned direction of travel toward the destination based on the vehicle'"'"'s current location;

computer readable program code to determine a proximity region;

computer readable program code to determine if at least one maneuver alert road segment exists within the proximity region;

computer readable program code to determine the maneuver alert road segment closest to the destination; and

computer readable program code to provide maneuver instructions from the closest maneuver alert road segment to the destination.

9. The computer usable medium of claim 8 further comprising:

computer readable program code to expand the proximity region if at least one maneuver alert road segment is not found within the proximity region.

10. The computer usable medium of claim 8 wherein a maneuver alert road segment comprises a cross street that intersects the vehicle'"'"'s planned path of travel.

11. The computer usable medium of claim 8 wherein the vehicle'"'"'s planned direction of travel comprises the direction the vehicle travels in order to reach the destination.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 8 wherein the vehicle'"'"'s planned path of travel comprises the path the vehicle travels on each road segment in order to reach the destination.