Driver information system

• US 6,812,888 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• 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., Asher, Harry, Rode, Melvin A., Drury, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US10/706,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040104842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.13, 701/202, 701/209
• 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 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• 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: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

An information system for providing services including traffic and navigation services, as well as other information services to a driver. One versions of the system makes use of existing components of a wireless telephone system, for example, by using the input and output capabilities of a telephone handset. Another version is a portable system that includes multiple switches for initiating access to a remote server in one of a number of operating modes. For instance the system has switches for initiating traffic information, roadside assistance, personal information, or emergency modes. The system includes a positioning system for generating position data related to a geographic location of the system, and a wireless communication device. The system also includes an audio output device, such as a speaker for presenting the received information. The system can also include a storage for a unique identification of the information system. This identification is passed to the remote server through the wireless communication device. Another version of the system provides both autonomous and client-server based navigation services in which a removable database supports route planning in a limited area and a remote server supports route planning outside that area.

Claims

1. A method for guidance of a vehicle comprising:

enabling multiple modes of vehicle guidance, including enabling an autonomous mode and a server mode;

wherein in the autonomous mode, vehicle guidance includes planning a route using data and computation resources available in the vehicle, including accessing a map of a road network stored at the vehicle and computing the route using the using the stored map; and

wherein in the server mode, vehicle guidance includes retrieving a planned route from a server, including transmitting a specification of a desired route from the vehicle to a server, and receiving the planned route from the server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the stored map to the vehicle on a computer-readable medium.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving data for the stored map from the server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving a planned route from a starting location to a destination location in the server mode;

on at least some part of the path from the starting location to the destination location, guiding the vehicle in the autonomous mode; and

on at least some other part of the path, guiding the vehicle along the planned route retrieved in the server mode.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein guiding the vehicle in the autonomous mode includes guiding the vehicle from the starting location to the planned route.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein guiding the vehicle in the autonomous mode includes guiding the vehicle from the planned route to the destination location.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein guiding the vehicle in the autonomous mode includes guiding the vehicle to the planned route after the vehicle deviates from the planned route.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the stored map, including providing data characterizing a road network in a first geographic area;

determining a starting location and a destination location;

if the starting location and the destination location are in the first geographic area, guiding the vehicle from the starting location to the destination location in the autonomous mode; and

if neither the starting location nor the destination location are in the first geographic area, guiding the vehicle along at least some of a path between the starting location and the destination location in the server mode.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

if the starting location is in the first geographic area and the destination location is not in the first geographic area, guiding the vehicle from the starting location to an intermediate location in the autonomous mode and guiding the vehicle from the intermediate location to the destination location in the server mode.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the stored map includes providing said map on a computer-readable medium.

11. Software stored on computer readable media comprising instructions for causing a computer system to:

enable multiple modes of vehicle guidance, including an autonomous mode and a server mode;

plan a route in the autonomous mode using data and computation resources available in the vehicle by accessing a map of a road network stored at the vehicle and computing the route using the using the stored map; and

retrieve a planned route from a server in the server mode by transmitting a specification of a desired route from the vehicle to a server, and receiving the planned route from the server.

12. An in-vehicle navigation system for providing route information through a road network comprising:

a first stored database including information related to roads in the road network within a first geographic area; and

an onboard computer programmed to perform the functions including

(a) accepting a specification of a starting and an ending location in the road network,

(b) if the starting and the ending locations are within the first geographic area, planning a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations, and

(c) if the starting of the ending locations are not within the first geographic area, communicating with a remote server computer to retrieve a information related to a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations.

13. The in-vehicle navigation system of claim 12 wherein the first stored database is stored on a removable storage medium.