Vehicle information system

• US 6,784,832 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Brown, Steven, Knockeart, Ronald P., Jozefowicz, Paul A., Asher, Harry, Rode, Melvin A., Drury, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US10/656,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.13, 342/357.07, 701/208, 701/210
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• 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 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle information system which includes an in-vehicle system 105 and a centralized server system 120. The in-vehicle system communicates with the server system using a wireless communication link 110, such as over a cellular telephone system. A position system, such as a set of GPS satellites 140, provides positioning signals that are used by the in-vehicle systems, and optionally by the centralized server system to increase the accuracy of position estimates. In one version of the system, an operator specifies a destination to an in-vehicle system which validates the destination. The in-vehicle system transmits specification of the destination to a server system 125 at the centralized server. The server system computes a route to the destination and transmits the computed route to the in-vehicle system. The in-vehicle system guides the operator along the route. If the in-vehicle system detects that the vehicle has deviated from the planned route, it replans a new route to the destination using an in-vehicle map database.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a vehicle comprising:

storing data characterizing a series of maneuvers to be carried out by the vehicle, said series of maneuvers including a first maneuver to be carried out by the vehicle at a first location;

determining when the vehicle is at the first location, including detecting when the vehicle performs the first maneuver using the stored data characterizing the series of maneuvers;

computing first position data using a reference signal at the vehicle from a positioning system at the time at which the vehicle was determined to be at the first location;

computing position correction data using the first position data and coordinates of the first location;

computing second position data using a reference signal received at the vehicle from the positioning system at a second time subsequent to the time at which that the vehicle was determined to be at the first location; and

determining coordinates of the vehicle at the second time including combining at the vehicle the correction data and the second position data.

2. Software recorded on a computer readable medium for causing an in-vehicle computer to perform the functions of:

storing data characterizing a series of maneuvers to be carried out by the vehicle, said series of maneuvers including a first maneuver to be carded out by the vehicle at a first location;

determining when the vehicle is at the first location, including detecting when the vehicle performs the first maneuver using the stored data characterizing the series of maneuvers;

computing first position data using a reference signal received at the vehicle from a positioning system at the time at which the vehicle was determined to be at the first location;

computing position correction data using the first position data and coordinates of the first location;

computing second position data using a reference signal received at the vehicle from a positioning system at a second time subsequent to the time at which that the vehicle was determined to be at the first location; and

determining coordinates of the vehicle at the second time including combining at the vehicle the correction data and the second position data.

3. An in-vehicle navigation system comprising:

a positioning system receiver for receiving reference signals from a positioning system;

a first storage for holding data characterizing a series of maneuvers to be carded out by a vehicle, said data including coordinate of a first location and data characterizing a first maneuver to be carried out by the vehicle at the first location;

a second storage for holding position correction data;

a vehicle sensor for sensing motion of the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the positioning system receiver, to the first and the second storage, and to the vehicle sensor, and programmed to perform the functions of

determining when the vehicle is at the first location using signals from the vehicle sensor, including detecting when the vehicle performs the first maneuver using the data from the first storage characterizing the first maneuver,

accepting first reference data related to the location of the vehicle at the time at which the vehicle was determined to be at the first location from the positioning system receiver,

computing position correction data using the first reference data and the coordinates of the first location, and

determining coordinates of the vehicle at a second time subsequent to the time at which that the vehicle was determined to be at the first location using the computed position correction data.