Method and system for an efficient operating environment in a real-time navigation system

• US 6,615,131 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TeleNav Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Televigation Inc.
• Inventors: Chao, Yi-Chung, Rennard, Robert, Jin, Haiping, Meshenberg, Ruslan Adikovich, Yip, Chung Benjamin, Du, Sean Quan, Nasser, Sami Fawzi
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/574,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/280, 701/200, 701/201, 701/211, 701/24, 701/23, 701/25, 340/988, 340/989, 340/993, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

An enhanced operating environment for an Interactive Real-Time Distributed Navigation system is disclosed. In the present invention, an enhanced operating environment is provided by improving input and output techniques in a navigation system. Disclosed are methods for reducing the number of inputs to a navigational sytstem through a wireless device. Improved input methods include methods for entering non-deterministic information to retrieve deterministic information. Also disclosed are improved output techniques including methods for pacing navigational prompts provided by a navigation system. The invention is applicable to text, graphics or audible navigation systems.

Claims

1. A method for providing location information to a user, comprising the steps of:

receiving preplanned information from the user, said preplanned information comprising information about one or more locations;

storing said preplanned information;

receiving a navigation request from the user concerning at least one stored location;

accessing a database of navigational data comprising said preplanned information;

generating navigational information for the user based at least in part on the received navigation request and said database of navigational data; and

transmitting said navigational information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating comprises determining a path between at least two desired locations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of generating comprises obtaining real-time traffic information concerning the determined path between said at least two desired locations.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of generating further comprises modifying the determined path between the at least two locations based on the obtained real-time traffic information.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of generating further comprises optimizing the determined path with respect to an optimization criteria.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the optimization criteria is distance between a first and a second desired location.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the optimization criteria is fuel consumption.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving preplanned information is performed over the Internet.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of receiving preplanned information comprises receiving identification information for the user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said preplanned information comprises a starting location and a destination location.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating navigational information further comprises processing said preplanned information.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein obtaining real-time traffic information is accomplished using the Internet.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said navigation request is received through a wireless device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said navigation request is received by a voice response system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said database of navigational information further comprises historical route information for the user.

16. A system for providing location information to a user, comprising:

an interface communicating with the user over a communications network;

a storage device connected to the interface and storing preplanned information received from the user, said preplanned information comprising information about one or more locations;

a processor connected to the storage device and configured to generate navigational information based at least in part on the preplanned information received from the user; and

a transmission device connected to a network, through which the generated navigational information is conveyed to the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to receive real-time traffic information and to generate the navigational information at least in part based on the received real-time traffic information.

18. A method for providing location information to a user, comprising the steps of:

receiving text input from the user;

maintaining a database containing a first set of street grammars associated with a first set of streets;

creating a second set of street grammars associated with a second set of streets, wherein the second set of street grammars is composed of street grammars meeting a predetermined criteria;

processing the text input to generate navigational information for the user, said processing comprising comparing the text input to the second set of street grammars;

conveying the navigational information to the user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of receiving text input from the user comprises receiving oral input from the user and converting the oral input into text.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined criteria are determined from preplanned information provided by the user, said preplanned information comprising information about one or more locations.