Navigation system, method and device with voice guidance

• US 6,901,330 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Seymour, Jarrod W., Krull, Jay Dee, Runquist, Shane R., Burgett, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/029,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 701201-213, 340/995.2, 342/357.1, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.13, 709/203
• US Class Current: 701/211
• 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

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides clear and concise guidance through decision points along a route by providing assistance that is more understandable, accurate and timely. One aspect provided herein is an electronic navigational aid device with voice guidance. The device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate to the processor. The memory is adapted to store cartographic data and a route to a desired destination. The device processes travel along the route, recognizes when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and provides voice guidance for the decision point. According to one embodiment, the voice guidance includes an initial voice guidance, an advance voice guidance, and a confirmation voice guidance. Other aspects are provided herein.

Claims

1. An electronic navigational aid device with voice guidance, comprising:

a processor;

a memory adapted to communicate to the processor, the memory being adapted to store cartographic data and a route to a desired destination;

wherein the device is adapted to process travel along the route,

wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and

wherein the device is adapted to provide voice guidance for the decision point and to recognize a user-requested prompt for voice guidance.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, wherein the device is adapted to provide voice guidance for the decision point through the speaker.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route and to perform a corresponding initial voice guidance for the approaching decision point.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is within an advance guidance range for the decision point in the route and to perform a corresponding advance voice guidance.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is within a confirmation guidance range for the decision point in the route and to perform a corresponding confirmation voice guidance.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to provide an initial voice guidance for the decision point within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route, an advance voice guidance for the decision point within an advance guidance range from the decision point, and a confirmation voice guidance for the decision point within a confirmation guidance range from the decision point, wherein the initial voice guidance, the advance voice guidance and the confirmation voice guidance provide different prompts to provide specific guidance when the decision point is within the initial guidance range, within the advance guidance range, and within the confirmation voice guidance range.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device is adapted to recognize when the device is approaching a first decision point and a second decision point in the route;

the device is adapted to recognize when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point; and

the device is adapted to provide voice guidance for both the first decision point and the second decision point prior to reaching the first decision point.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined range is approximately 150% of a confirmation distance in a confirmation guidance range for the second decision point.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic navigational aid device with voice guidance comprises a portable electronic navigational aid device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the portable electronic navigational aid device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA).

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the portable electronic navigational aid device includes a wireless communication device.

12. A navigation system, comprising:

a mass data storage adapted to store navigation data from which a route can be determined;

a server adapted to communicate with the mass data storage; and

a navigation device adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server via a communication channel,

wherein the system is adapted to process travel along the route, determine a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device, recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, provide voice guidance for navigating through the decision point and continuing with travel along the route, and time the voice guidance based on the current travel speed and the current position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to recognize when the device is within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route and to perform a corresponding initial voice guidance for the approaching decision point.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to recognize when the device is within an advance guidance range for the decision point.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to recognize when the device is within a confirmation guidance range for the decision point.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to recognize a user-requested prompt for voice guidance.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to provide an initial voice guidance for the decision point within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route, an advance voice guidance within an advance guidance range for the decision point, a confirmation voice guidance within a confirmation guidance range for the decision point, wherein the initial voice guidance, the advance voice guidance and the confirmation voice guidance provide different prompts to provide specific guidance when the decision point is within the initial guidance range, within the advance guidance range, and within the confirmation voice guidance range.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication channel includes a wireless channel.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the server includes a remote server.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the server includes a processor adapted to respond to a request from the navigation device by performing calculations on the navigation data and transmitting the results to the navigation device.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the navigation device is adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server using streaming data.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the navigation device is adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server using cellular communication technology.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the navigation device includes a processor in communication with a memory, and wherein the processor and the memory are adapted to cooperate to process travel along the route, recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and provide voice guidance with respect to the decision point.

24. A navigation aid method for negotiating decision points in a route using a navigation device, comprising:

determining a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device;

determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in the route; and

providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point, wherein timing of the voice guidance is based on the current travel speed and the current position.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device involves a Global Positioning System (GPS).

26. The method of claim 24, wherein determining a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device includes determining an average speed.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining an average speed includes initializing an average speed and determining a current speed.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein initializing an average speed includes accounting for a road classification for a thoroughfare.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein initializing an average speed includes accounting for a speed classification for a thoroughfare.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein initializing an average speed includes accounting for a historical speed.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in a route includes determining whether the navigation device is within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route, and wherein a corresponding initial voice guidance for the approaching decision point is provided from the initial guidance range.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in a route includes determining whether the navigation device is within an advance voice guidance range for the decision point.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in a route includes determining whether the navigation device is within a confirmation voice guidance range for the decision point.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point includes providing an initial voice guidance for the decision point.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point in the route includes providing an advance voice guidance for the decision point.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point includes providing a confirmation voice guidance for the decision point.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point includes:

detecting a user-requested prompt; and

providing a user-desired voice guidance for the decision point.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point includes providing an initial voice guidance, an advance voice guidance, and a confirmation voice guidance, wherein the initial voice guidance, the advance voice guidance and the confirmation voice guidance provide different prompts to provide specific guidance when the decision point is within an initial guidance range, within an advance guidance range, and within a confirmation voice guidance range.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein:

determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in the route includes determining whether the navigation device is approaching a first decision point and a second decision point in the route, and recognizing when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point; and

providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point includes providing voice guidance to navigate both the first decision point and the second decision point prior to reaching the first decision point.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein recognizing when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point includes recognizing when the second decision point is within a distance that is approximately 150% of a confirmation distance in a confirmation guidance range for the second decision point.

41. An electronic navigational aid device with voice guidance, comprising:

a processor;

a memory adapted to communicate to the processor, the memory being adapted to store cartographic data and a route to a desired destination;

wherein the device is adapted to process travel along the route,

wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and

wherein the device is adapted to provide;

an initial voice guidance for the decision point within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route;

an advance voice guidance for the decision point within an advance guidance range from the decision point; and

a confirmation voice guidance for the decision point within a confirmation guidance range from the decision point, and

wherein the initial voice guidance, the advance voice guidance and the confirmation voice guidance provide different prompts to provide specific guidance when the decision point is within the initial guidance range, within the advance guidance range, and within the confirmation voice guidance range.

42. An electronic navigational aid device with voice guidance, comprising:

a processor;

a memory adapted to communicate to the processor, the memory being adapted to store cartographic data and a route to a desired destination;

wherein the device is adapted to process travel along the route,

wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and

wherein the device is adapted to provide voice guidance for the decision point, and

wherein the device is adapted to recognize when the device is approaching a first decision point and a second decision point in the route, to recognize when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point, and to provide voice guidance for both the first decision point and the second decision point prior to reaching the first decision point.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the predetermined range is approximately 150% of a confirmation distance in a confirmation guidance range for the second decision point.

44. A navigation aid method for negotiating decision points in a route using a navigation device, comprising:

determining a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device;

determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in the route; and

providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point, including;

detecting a user-requested prompt; and

providing a user-desired voice guidance for the decision point.

45. A navigation aid method for negotiating decision points in a route using a navigation device, comprising:

determining a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device;

determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in the route; and

providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point, including providing an initial voice guidance, an advance voice guidance, and a confirmation voice guidance to provide different specific guidance when the decision point is within an initial guidance range, within an advance guidance range, and within a confirmation voice guidance range.

46. A navigation aid method for negotiating decision points in a route using a navigation device, comprising:

determining a current travel speed and a current position for the navigation device;

determining whether the navigation device is approaching a decision point in the route, including determining whether the navigation device is approaching a first decision point and a second decision point in the route, and recognizing when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point; and

providing voice guidance to navigate the decision point, including providing voice guidance to navigate both the first decision point and the second decision point prior to reaching the first decision point.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein recognizing when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point includes recognizing when the second decision point is within a distance that is approximately 150% of a confirmation distance in a confirmation guidance range for the second decision point.

48. A navigation system, comprising:

a mass data storage adapted to store navigation data from which a route can be determined;

a server adapted to communicate with the mass data storage; and

a navigation device adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server via a communication channel,

wherein the system is adapted to process travel along the route, recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and provide voice guidance for the decision point, and

wherein the system is adapted to recognize when the device is within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route and to perform a corresponding initial voice guidance for the approaching decision point.

49. A navigation system, comprising:

a mass data storage adapted to store navigation data from which a route can be determined;

a server adapted to communicate with the mass data storage; and

a navigation device adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server via a communication channel,

wherein the system is adapted to process travel along the route, recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and provide voice guidance for the decision point, and

wherein the system is adapted to recognize a user-requested prompt for voice guidance.

50. A navigation system, comprising:

a mass data storage adapted to store navigation data from which a route can be determined;

a server adapted to communicate with the mass data storage; and

a navigation device adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server via a communication channel,

wherein the system is adapted to process travel along the route, recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and provide voice guidance for the decision point, and

wherein the system is adapted to provide an initial voice guidance for the decision point within an initial guidance range from a previous decision point in the route, an advance voice guidance within an advance guidance range for the decision point, a confirmation voice guidance within a confirmation guidance range for the decision point, wherein the initial voice guidance, the advance voice guidance and the confirmation voice guidance provide different prompts to provide specific guidance when the decision point is within the initial guidance range, within the advance guidance range, and within the confirmation voice guidance range.

51. A navigation system, comprising:

a mass data storage adapted to store navigation data from which a route can be determined;

a server adapted to communicate with the mass data storage; and

a navigation device adapted to communicate with and retrieve navigation data from the server via a communication channel,

wherein the system is adapted to process travel along the route, recognize when the device is approaching a decision point in the route, and provide voice guidance for navigating through the decision point and continuing with travel along the route, and

wherein the system is adapted to recognize when the device is approaching a first decision point and a second decision point in the route, recognize when the second decision point is within a predetermined range of the first decision point, and provide voice guidance for both the first decision point and the second decision point prior to reaching the first decision point.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the predetermined range is approximately 150% of a confirmation distance in a confirmation guidance range for the second decision point.