Systems and methods for providing alerts to a navigation device

• US 6,856,902 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mitchem, Matthew Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/194,691
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-119, 701200-216, 340/934, 340/995, 340/905, 340/990, 340/539, 235/384, 123/399, 705/8, 705/5, 707/10, 707/200, 455/414, 455/456, 455/457, 455/560
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation device, comprising a processor and one of a visual output device and an audio output device in communication with the processor. The processor calculates a geographic position of the device and provides one of a visual alert via the visual output device and an audio alert via the audio output device when the geographic position of the device approaches a predetermined geographic position.

Claims

1. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor; and

one of a visual output device and an audio output device in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor calculates a current geographic position of the device such that when the current geographic position of the device is within a predetermined distance of a predetermined geographic area having predetermined alert information associated therewith, the processor generates one of a visual alert via the visual output device and an audio alert via the audio output device based on the predetermined alert information;

wherein the predetermined geographic area and predetermined alert information are predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates;

wherein the historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates is not compiled using the navigation device and is not based on real-time traffic accident conditions; and

wherein at least one of the visual alert and the audio alert suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a real-time traffic accident from occurring.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual output device includes a video display device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio output device includes a speaker.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a memory device in communication with the processor, wherein the memory device has cartographic information stored therein.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic area is an intersection with a statistically high accident rate.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for receiving one of satellite transmissions and wireless transmissions.

7. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic area is predetermined based on statistics gathered by one of a fleet owner and a fleet manager.

8. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the suggested behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device includes at least one of paying particular attention to a speed of a vehicle associated with the navigation device and paying particular attention to a road on which the vehicle is being driven.

9. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein the predetermined geographic area and predetermined alert information are further predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of crime rates;

wherein the historical statistical analysis of crime rates is not compiled using the navigation device and is not based on real-time crime conditions; and

wherein at least one of the visual alert and the audio alert further suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a crime from occurring.

10. A system, comprising:

a navigation device; and

a computer in communication with the navigation device,

wherein the computer is configured to transfer cartographic information relating to a predetermined geographic area that has predetermined alert information associated therewith;

wherein the predetermined geographic area and the predetermined alert information are predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates; and

wherein the historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates is not compiled using the navigation device and is not based on real-time traffic accident conditions.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a server in communication with the computer via a network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the network includes the Internet.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the server includes a web server.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the navigation device is a GPS navigation device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the navigation device comprises:

a processor; and

one of a visual output device and an audio output device in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor calculates a current geographic position of the device such that when the current geographic position of the device is within a predetermined distance of the predetermined geographic area having the predetermined alert information associated therewith, the processor generates one of a visual alert via the visual output device and an audio alert via the audio output device based on the predetermined alert information; and

wherein at least one of the visual alert and the audio alert suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a real-time traffic accident from occurring.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined geographic area having the predetermined alert information associated therewith is an intersection with a statistically high accident rate.

17. A method of providing an alert via a navigation device when the navigation device is within a predetermined distance of a predetermined geographic area having predetermined alert information associated therewith, the method comprising:

acquiring data regarding the predetermined geographic area;

determining a current geographic position of the navigation device; and

providing the alert based on the predetermined alert information when the current geographic position of the navigation device is within the predetermined distance of the predetermined geographic area,

wherein the predetermined geographic area and the predetermined alert information are predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates;

wherein the historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates is not compiled using the navigation device and is not based on real-time traffic accident conditions; and

wherein the alert suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a real-time traffic accident from occurring.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the alert includes providing one of a visual alert and an audio alert.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined geographic area is an intersection with a statistically high accident rate.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the navigation device is a GPS device.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising updating cartographic data stored on the navigation device with data regarding the predetermined geographic area.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

means for acquiring data regarding a predetermined geographic area and predetermined alert information associated therewith;

means for determining a current geographic position of a navigation device; and

means for providing an alert based on the predetermined alert information when the current geographic position of the navigation device is within a predetermined distance of the predetermined geographic area,

wherein the predetermined geographic area and the predetermined alert information are predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates;

wherein the historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates is not compiled by the navigation device and is not based on real-time traffic accident conditions; and

wherein the alert suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a real-time traffic accident from occurring.

23. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

acquire data regarding a predetermined geographic area and predetermined alert information associated therewith;

determine a current geographic position of a navigation device; and

provide an alert based on the predetermined alert information when the current geographic position of the navigation device is within a predetermined distance of the predetermined geographic area,

wherein the predetermined geographic area and the predetermined alert information are predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates;

wherein the historical statistical analysis of traffic accident rates is not compiled by the navigation device and is not based on real-time traffic accident conditions; and

wherein the alert suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a real-time traffic accident from occurring.

24. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor; and

one of a visual output device and an audio output device in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor calculates a current geographic position of the device such that when the current geographic position of the device is within a predetermined distance of a predetermined geographic area having predetermined alert information associated therewith, the processor generates one of a visual alert via the visual output device and an audio alert via the audio output device based on the predetermined alert information;

wherein the predetermined geographic area and predetermined alert information are predetermined based on a historical statistical analysis of crime rates;

wherein the historical statistical analysis of crime rates is not compiled using the navigation device and is not based on real-time crime conditions; and

wherein at least one of the visual alert and the audio alert suggests a behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device to prevent a crime from occurring.

25. The navigation device of claim 24, wherein the suggested behavior to be performed by an operator of the navigation device includes at least one of being alert for a carjacker and waiting for police to arrive before exiting the vehicle following an accident.