Smart storage and transmission of navigation information

• US 7,263,438 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Furukawa, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/848,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701208-210, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.26, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route

Abstract

A method for sending navigation information is disclosed. The method can gather various items of navigation information and send those items of navigation information in a certain order. In some cases, the order is established by information that has been received. In other cases, the order has been predetermined. This can assist in making navigation information more readily available and in some cases, users can use parcels of navigation information while other parcels are being still delivered.

Claims

1. A method for storing and sending navigation information comprising the steps of:

retrieving a map based on a request from a user;

defining at least one map feature associated with the map;

dividing the map feature into segments;

defining a route associated with the map;

determining which segments of the map feature are associated with the route, and defining said determined segments as first route segments;

storing said first route segments first in a sequence before storing other non-route segments;

receiving selection information related to an order in which the navigation information is requested for delivery;

the order having a first parcel of requested information;

wherein the first parcel of requested information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

information related to a starting point, information related to a destination point, and information related to a route;

sending the navigation information to the user starting with the first parcel of requested information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the destination point is sent before the information related to the starting point.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a second map feature, wherein the second map feature is a second road.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second map feature is divided into second segments.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the route includes the second segments defined as second route segments.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second route segments are stored after the first route segments, but before the non-route segments.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the route is sent before the information related to the starting point.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a header including information related to an end of the route information and the start of the non-route information.

9. A method for sending navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving information from a user related to a map and a selected delivery schedule;

creating a map based on the information received from the user;

defining at least one map feature associated with the map;

dividing the map feature into segments;

defining a route associated with the map;

determining which segments of the map feature are associated with the route, and defining said determined segments as first route segments;

defining starting point information related to a starting point;

defining destination point information related to a destination point;

defining route information related to the route between the starting point and the destination point;

ordering the starting point information, the destination point information and the route information according to the selected delivery schedule;

defining a first parcel of information based on the selected delivery schedule;

sending said first route segments first before sending other non-route segments;

and sending the first parcel of information before sending other parcels of information.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first parcel of information is the destination point information.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first parcel of information is the route information.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first parcel of information is the starting point information.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the selected delivery schedule is manually selected by the user.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a second map feature, wherein the second map feature is a second road, and wherein the second map feature is divided into second segments.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the route includes the second segments defined as second route segments.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second route segments are sent after the first route segments, but before the non-route segments.

17. A method for receiving and decoding navigation information comprising the steps of:

sending a request for navigation information including a request for a selected delivery schedule;

receiving a plurality of parcels of information, wherein each parcel corresponds to a segment;

determining which segments are associated with a route;

using to or more of said determined segments to define said route;

using the remaining determining segments to define map features; and

receiving the navigation information according to the requested selected delivery schedule.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a separation character is used to determine which of the determined segments are associated with the route.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein a header is used to determine which of the determined segments are associated with the route.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the segments associated with the route are received before other segments are received.