Vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus

• US 6,546,332 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuo, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/987,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 701/25, 701/35, 701/200, 701/211, 701/208, 701/212, 340/988, 340/990
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus comprises a first memory for storing a navigation program, and a second memory that is rewritable, for storing a program other than the navigation program so as to enable the program stored therein to be executed without deleting the navigation program stored in the first memory. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus can further comprise a third memory for storing one or more programs other than the navigation program and a main loader. The main loader can load any one of the one or more programs stored in the third memory into the second memory so that they can be made to run on the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus comprising:

a first memory for storing a navigation program;

a rewritable second memory for receiving the navigation program and at least one non-navigation program, said second memory further having a main loader associated with said non-navigation program storable therein; and

a third memory for storing said non navigation program and said main loader;

wherein said non-navigation program, stored in said third memory, is loaded directly to and executed in said second memory using said main loader, and wherein said non-navigation program ,and said navigation program are both loaded into said second memory and are able to run simultaneously.

2. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for loading any one of said non-navigation programs stored in said third memory into said second memory and making it run by using said main loader.

3. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for checking said navigation apparatus.

4. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for performing a demonstration of said navigation apparatus.

5. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-navigation program includes a game program for enabling said, navigation apparatus to be used as a game machine.

6. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for enabling users to make use of the Internet.

7. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for providing a navigation apparatus user'"'"'s manual including voice and images.

8. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for providing a navigation apparatus user'"'"'s manual including voice and images.

9. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for checking said navigation apparatus.

10. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for performing a demonstration of said navigation apparatus.

11. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-navigation program includes a game program for enabling said navigation apparatus to be used as a game machine.

12. The vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-navigation program includes a program for enabling users to make use of the Internet.