Route storage and retrieval for a vehicle navigation system

• US 6,847,891 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Pietras, David J, Kadi, Abdul-Majeed, Issa, Nabil M
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/207, 701/208, 701/202, 701/200, 701/201, 701/205, 701/209, 701/210, 701/213, 701/214, 340/990, 340/995, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance

Abstract

A method for recording and storing a route of a motor vehicle in an undigitized area of a vehicle navigation system comprises determining a first position of the motor vehicle using a Global Positioning System. This first position is then recorded in the vehicle navigation system. A second position of the motor vehicle is determined after the motor vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance from the first position. This second position is also recorded in the vehicle navigation system. The first position is then connected to the second position in order to form a route in the vehicle navigation system. The route has a segment in an undigitized area of the vehicle navigation system. The route is then stored in the vehicle navigation system and may be retrieved at a later time.

Claims

1. A method for recording and storing a route having at least one undigitized segment for a motor vehicle equipped with a vehicle navigation system comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of positions of the motor vehicle, wherein each of said plurality of positions are a predetermined distance away from a previous position and a portion of said plurality of positions are in an undigitized area of the vehicle navigation system;

recording said plurality of positions of the motor vehicle;

connecting said plurality of positions with said previous positions to form a route having a segment in an undigitized area of the vehicle navigation system; and

storing said route in the vehicle navigation system.

2. The method for recording and storing a route of a motor vehicle in an undigitized area of claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance is measured by a wheel speed sensor that determines the distance the motor vehicle has traveled after recording said first position.

3. The method for recording and storing a route of a motor vehicle in an undigitized area of claim 2, wherein successive positions of the plurality of positions are determined by the vehicle navigation system using a gyroscope to measure the direction that the motor vehicle has traveled.

4. The method of recording and storing a route of motor vehicle in an undigitized area of claim 1, wherein successive positions of said plurality of positions are determined by a global positioning system that sends the position of the motor vehicle to the vehicle navigation system.

5. The method for recording and storing a route of a motor vehicle in an undigitized area of claim 1, further comprising a first step of depressing a button on the vehicle navigation system and a final step of depressing said button on the vehicle navigation system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a position of the motor vehicle with respect to said stored route;

guiding the motor vehicle from said position to the closest point of said stored route using a graphical icon whenever said determined position is not on said stored route.