Method for multimedia-supported navigation and navigational device

• US 6,498,985 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Petzold, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/831,847
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/200, 701/209, 701/211, 701/212, 701/214, 701/28, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• 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 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

A navigational device having an information carrier is described which is used for the navigation of a motor vehicle in a road network. Driving directions, which refer to prominent objects along the travel route, in this connection are given to the user in everyday language and supported by an optical read-out.

Claims

1. A navigation device for navigating a vehicle in a road network, comprising:

an information carrier storing a digital road map to the navigation device, data on prominent objects being stored on the information carrier, a position on the digital road map being assigned to each of the prominent objects, a plurality of views of the prominent objects being stored on the information carrier;

an acoustical output device that outputs a driving instruction acoustically, the driving instruction referring to a selected one of the prominent objects, at least one of definitions and descriptions of the prominent objects being linked with respective directional information and locality references; and

an optical output device that optically outputs the selected one of the prominent objects to which the driving instruction refers, the respective directional information linked to the selected one of the prominent objects being displayed optically in connection with the selected one of the prominent objects.

2. The navigational device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive data on additional prominent objects from a mobile data carrier, the data on the additional prominent objects including a respective position of each of the additional prominent objects, the data on the additional prominent objects being generated on the digital road map.

3. The navigational device according to claim 2, wherein the receiver includes a radio connection.

4. The navigational device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a receiver configured to at least intermittently bring the navigational device into connection with a service control point via a radio connection.

5. The navigational device according to claim 4, wherein additional data on the prominent objects are stored in the service control point.

6. The navigational device according to claim 4, wherein the service control point connects to the Internet.

7.The navigational device according to claim 1, wherein the navigational device is a mobile part that is removable from the vehicle.

7. The navigational device according to claim 1, wherein the navigational device is configured to receive sequences of driving instructions provided by a user.

8. The navigational device according to claim 1, wherein the driving instruction referring to the selected one of the prominent objects is output at a predefinable distance before the selected one of the prominent objects, the predefinable distance being dependent upon a type of road being traveled.

9. The navigational device according to claim 1, wherein the optical output device outputs a photo of the selected one of the prominent objects.

10. A rewritable information carrier for a navigational device, comprising:

a first storage location storing a digital road map;

a second storage location storing at least one of designations and descriptions of prominent objects in a vicinity of a road network of the digital road map, positions being assigned to the prominent objects in the road network, the at least one of the designations and descriptions being in a form configured for acoustical output; and

a third storage location storing video data on the prominent objects, the video data being in a form configured for optical output.

11. The information carrier according to claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth storage location storing a geographic position of each of the prominent objects.