Systems and methods for a navigational device with improved route calculation capabilities

• US 6,856,899 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Childs, Michael, Krull, Jay Dee, Walters, Thomas H., Burgett, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/365,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/204, 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 701/26, 340/988, 340/995, 357/357.01, 357/357.06, 357/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/209
• 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

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides more understandable, accurate and timely route calculation capabilities. The navigational aid device with route calculation capabilities includes a processor connected to a memory. The memory includes cartographic data and a desired destination, the cartographic data including data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types. A display is connected to the processor and is capable of displaying the cartographic data. The device is adapted to calculate a route to navigate to the desired destination. And, the device is adapted to adjust a starting point for the route calculation to an appropriate location such that the device is on the route at a time when the route calculation is completed. The device processes travel along the route, recognizes when the device has deviated from the route, and calculates a new route to navigate to the desired destination.

Claims

1. A coded information signal embedded in a carrier wave, the coded information signal representing data, comprising:

coordinate data operable to determine a navigation device'"'"'s current location;

travel speed data operable to represent a navigation device'"'"'s travel speed;

processing time data operable to estimate a time for calculating a route of navigation to a desired destination; and

starting point data operable to be selected for the route of navigation based on the travel speed data, the processing time data, and the coordinate data.

2. The coded information signal of claim 1, wherein the processing time data is determined by resolving a complexity for the route of navigation between the current location and the desired destination.

3. The coded information signal of claim 1, further comprising, detection data that is used to detect when the navigation device is off the route of navigation.

4. The coded information signal of claim 3, wherein the detection data is used with a new location of the navigation device to determine a new route of navigation based on the new location.

5. The coded information signal of claim 1, wherein the processing time data is determined by using a calculation time that is equal to or greater than a previous route calculation time.

6. The coded information signal of claim 1, wherein the starting point data is determined by using a set of criteria to analyze adjacency information and determine a straightest path.

7. The coded information signal of claim 1, wherein the processing time data is based on the complexity of thoroughfares from the current position to the desired position.

8. Functional data residing on a computer readable medium for performing route calculation, the data comprising:

coordinate data representing positions of a navigation device;

thoroughfare data representing thoroughfares associated with streets between a current position of the navigation device and a desired position of the navigation device;

speed data representing a velocity of the navigation device;

calculation data representing an estimated time for determining a route of the navigation device from its current position to the desired position; and

starting point data representing a starting point for the navigation device on the route,

wherein the starting point data is determined by a current position of the navigation device included within the coordinate data, the thoroughfare data, the speed data, and the calculation data.

9. The functional data of claim 8, wherein the positions are continually updated as the navigation device travels.

10. The functional data of claim 9, wherein the coordinate data is acquired from a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system.

11. The functional data of claim 9, wherein the positions of the navigation device are mapped to points on the route or points off the route as the navigation device travels, and wherein the points, the route, and a number of the thoroughfares are presented on a display in communication with the navigation device.

12. The functional data of claim 8, wherein the calculation data is determined by determining a complexity of a number of thoroughfares from the current position of the navigation device to the desired position of the navigation device.

13. The functional data of claim 8, wherein the calculation data is determined by selecting a time associated with a processing time needed to process a previous route, and wherein the time is at least as much as the processing time.

14. The functional data of claim 8, wherein the starting point data is determined by using the current position, the velocity, and the estimated time.

15. Functional data residing on a computer readable medium for performing route calculation, the data comprising:

calculation data representing an estimated processing time needed to determine a route of a navigation device from a current position to a desired position; and

starting point data representing a starting position on the route for the navigation device projected from the estimated processing time, the current position, and a velocity of the navigation device.

16. The functional data of claim 15, wherein the functional data is processed on the navigation device.

17. The functional data of claim 15, wherein the functional data is remotely processed from the navigational device.

18. The functional data of claim 15, wherein the estimated processing time is determined based on a complexity of thoroughfares located between the current position and the desired position.

19. The functional data of claim 15, wherein the estimated processing time is at least as much as a previous processing time required to calculate a previous route.

20. The functional data of claim 15, wherein the starting position and the route are presented on a display interfaced with the navigation device.