Navigation system using wireless communication network and route guidance method thereof

• US 6,847,889 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-Ho, Kim, Jung-Soo, Chung, Be-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US09/931,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 340/905, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.13, 340/995.14, 340/995.16, 340/995.19, 340/995.24, 340/995.25, 340/996, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• 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 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• 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 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

There is provided a navigation system using a wireless communication system and a route guidance method thereof. In the navigation system, an information center searches out an optimum route between a present vehicle position and a destination referring to map data in its map database and generates route guidance data. A navigation terminal inside the vehicle calculates the present position of the vehicle, transmits the vehicle'"'"'s current position information to the information center, receives the route guidance data, and announces a notification message. A wireless communication network connects the information center to the navigation terminal wirelessly.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

an information center having a map database, for receiving information about a present vehicle position and a destination from a navigation terminal, searching out an optimum route between the present position and the destination referring to map data in the map database, and generating route guidance data to guide a vehicle to at least one node point on the optimum route;

the navigation terminal inside the vehicle having a separate mobile terminal for wirelessly connecting to a wireless communication network and a separate ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) terminal having a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, for calculating the present position of the vehicle, transmitting the vehicle'"'"'s current position information from the ITS terminal to the information center, receiving the route guidance data from the information center, determining a notification message regarding the at least one node point from the present position and guidance codes in the route guidance data, and generating the notification message about the at least one node point referring to a database contained in the navigation terminal, and announcing the notification message in a predetermined period before the vehicle passes through the node point; and

a wireless communication network for connecting the information center to the ITS terminal via the mobile terminal wirelessly.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation terminal further provides the notification message about the node point as image data.

3. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein the mobile terminal has a Menu key by which a navigation mode is set.

4. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein the mobile terminal has a key dedicated to transitioning to a navigation mode.

5. The navigation system of claim 4, wherein the key dedicated to transitioning to the navigation mode is used as a guide key during driving.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the information center searches out the optimum route based on traffic information collected in real time as well as the map data.

7. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the information center comprises:

a plurality of sensors installed on roads, for collecting traffic information;

a first server for generating real-time traffic information by processing the traffic information collected by the sensors in real time;

a second server for searching out the optimum route between the present vehicle position and the destination based on the map data and the generated real-time traffic information and generating the route guidance data; and

a third server for connecting to the wireless communication network transmitting the route guidance data to the wireless communication network.

8. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the route guidance data further includes information about road type, link type, and angles to roads at an intersection.

9. The navigation system as in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is removable from the navigation terminal.

10. The navigation system as in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal provides a voice call service.

11. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the route guidance data includes bearing at intersection and x and y coordinates in a mesh.

12. The navigation system of claim 11, wherein a travel direction of the vehicle is determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

13. The navigation system of claim 11, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the route guidance data includes bearing at intersection and x and y coordinates in mesh.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, where a travel direction of the vehicle determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.

17. A method of guiding a vehicle'"'"'s travel in a navigation system having an information center with a map database, a navigation terminal inside the vehicle having a separate mobile terminal for wirelessly connecting to a wireless communication network and a separate ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) terminal having a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, for calculating a present position of the vehicle, and the wireless communication network for connecting the information center to the navigation terminal wirelessly, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information about the present vehicle position and a destination from the navigation terminal to the information center via the wireless communication network;

searching out an optimum route between the present vehicle position and the destination based on map data from the map database at the information center;

generating route guidance data for guiding the vehicle to at least one node point on the optimum route at the information center;

transmitting the route guidance data from the information center to the navigation terminal via the wireless communication network;

determining a notification message regarding the at least one node point from the present position and guidance codes in the route guidance data;

generating the notification message regarding the at least one node point referring to a database contained in the navigation terminal; and

announcing the notification message about the node point by voice in a predetermined period before the vehicle passes through the node point based on the route guidance data at the navigation terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing the notification message about the node point as image data at the navigation terminal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the optimum route is searched out based on traffic information collected in real time as well as the map data at the information center.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the route guidance data further includes information about road type, link type, and angles to roads at an intersection.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of requesting new route guidance data from the navigation terminal when the vehicle strays off the optimum route.

22. The method as in claim 17, wherein the mobile terminal is removable from the navigation terminal.

23. The method as in claim 17, wherein the mobile terminal provides a voice call service.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the route guidance data includes bearing at intersection and x and y coordinates in mesh.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein a travel direction of the vehicle determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.

27. A method of guiding a vehicle'"'"'s travel in a navigation system having an information center with a map database, a navigation terminal inside the vehicle, having a separate mobile terminal for connecting to a wireless communication network wirelessly and a separate ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) terminal with a GPS (Global Positioning System) device for calculating a present vehicle position, and the wireless communication network for connecting the information center to the ITS terminal via the mobile terminal wirelessly, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information about the present vehicle position and a destination from the mobile terminal to the information center via the wireless communication network;

searching out an optimum route between the present vehicle position and the destination based on map data from the map database at the information center;

generating route guidance data for guiding the vehicle to at least one node point on the optimum route at the information center;

transmitting the route guidance data from the information center to the mobile terminal via the wireless communication network;

transmitting the route guidance data from the mobile terminal to the ITS terminal;

determining a notification message regarding the at least one node point from the present position and guidance codes in the route guidance data;

generating the notification message regarding the at least one node point referring to a database contained in the navigation terminal; and

announcing the notification message about the node point by voice in a predetermined period before the vehicle passes through the node point based on the route guidance data at the ITS terminal.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing the notification message about the node point as image data at the mobile terminal.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing the notification message about the node point as image data at the ITS terminal.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the optimum route is searched out based on traffic information collected in real time as well as the map data at the information center.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the route guidance data further includes information about road type, link type, and angles to roads at an intersection.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of requesting new route guidance data from the navigation terminal when the vehicle strays off the optimum route.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein input of information about the present vehicle position and the destination is carried out by a user selection in a navigation mode.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the user selection is carried out by input of a Menu key.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the user selection is carried out by input of a key dedicated to transitioning to the navigation mode.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the route guidance data includes bearing at intersection and x and y coordinates in mesh.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein a travel direction of the vehicle determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.

39. A method of guiding a vehicle'"'"'s travel in a navigation system having an information center with a map database, a navigation terminal inside the vehicle having a separate mobile terminal for connecting to a wireless communication network wirelessly and a separate ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) terminal with a GPS (Global Positioning System) device for calculating a present vehicle position, and the wireless communication network for connecting the information center to the ITS terminal via the mobile terminal wirelessly, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information about the present vehicle position and a destination from the ITS terminal to the mobile terminal and the information center via the wireless communication network;

searching out an optimum route between the present vehicle position and the destination based on map data from the map database at the information center;

generating route guidance data for guiding the vehicle to at least one node point on the optimum route at the information center;

transmitting the route guidance data from the information center to the mobile terminal via the wireless communication network;

transmitting the route guidance data from the mobile terminal to the ITS terminal;

determining a notification message regarding the at least one node point from the present position and guidance codes in the route guidance data;

generating the notification message regarding the at least one node point referring to a database contained in the navigation terminal; and

announcing the notification message about the node point by voice in a predetermined period before the vehicle passes through the node point based on the route guidance data at the ITS terminal.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of providing the notification message about the node point as image data at the mobile terminal.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of providing the notification message about the node point as image data at the ITS terminal.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the optimum route is searched out based on traffic information collected in real time as well as the map data at the information center.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the route guidance data further includes information about road type, link type, and angles to roads at an intersection.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of requesting new route guidance data from the navigation terminal when the vehicle strays off the optimum route.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the route guidance data includes bearing at intersection and x and y coordinates in mesh.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein a travel direction of the vehicle determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.