Guidance with feature accounting for insignificant roads

• US 7,269,508 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Childs, Michael, Beesley, Darin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thu V.
• Application Number:
  US10/976,998
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided to account for insignificant route segments to enhance a route guidance experience. An electronic navigational aid device is provided according to one aspect. The device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The processor and memory are adapted to cooperate to provide route guidance that accounts for insignificant route segments. According to various embodiments, insignificant route segments are accounted for by nullifying and/or modifying route guidance maneuvers associated with the insignificant route segments. Other aspects are provided herein.

Claims

1. An electronic navigational aid device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory adapted to communicate with the processor, wherein the processor and memory are adapted to cooperate to access a sequence of maneuvers associated with a sequence of route segments and provide route guidance that accounts for insignificant route segments, including route guidance that modifies a maneuver associated with an insignificant route segment.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic navigational aid device further comprises a portable electronic navigational aid device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the portable electronic navigational aid device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the portable electronic navigational aid device includes a wireless communications device.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display adapted to communicate with the processor, wherein the display is adapted to provide a visual indication of the route guidance.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker adapted to communicate with the processor, wherein the speaker is adapted to provide an audio indication of the route guidance.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the route guidance that accounts for insignificant segments includes route guidance that nullifies a maneuver associated with an insignificant route segment.

8. A method, comprising:

identifying a sequence of maneuvers associated with a sequence of route segments;

determining whether a route segment in the sequence of route segments is significant or insignificant;

upon determining that the route segment is significant, providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the significant route segment; and

upon determining that the route segment is insignificant, accounting for the insignificant route segment prior to providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment, wherein accounting for insignificant route segments includes nullifying the maneuver associated with some insignificant route segments and modifying the maneuver associated with other insignificant route segments.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein accounting for the insignificant route segment prior to providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment includes:

determining whether the maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment is to be modified;

upon determining that the maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment is to be modified, modifying the maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment; and

upon determining that the maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment is not to be modified, nullifying the maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes determining whether the route segment has a name.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes determining whether the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance includes determining whether the route segment has a length less than about 100 meters.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes determining whether the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes determining whether a route guidance maneuver for the route segment and a route guidance maneuver for a successive route segment qualify for nullification.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

determining whether a route guidance maneuver for the route segment and a route guidance maneuver for a successive route segment qualify for nullification includes determining whether the route guidance maneuver for the route segment and the route guidance maneuver for the successive route segment qualify for modification; and

upon determining that the route guidance maneuver for the route segment and the route guidance maneuver for the successive route segment qualify for modification, modifying the route guidance maneuver for the route segment.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes:

determining whether the route segment has a name;

determining whether the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance;

determining whether the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment; and

determining whether a route guidance maneuver for the route segment and a route guidance maneuver for a successive route segment qualify for nullification or modification.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes:

determining whether the route segment has a name;

upon determining that the route segment does not have a name, determining whether the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance;

upon determining that the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance, determining whether the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment; and

upon determining that the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment, determining whether a route guidance maneuver for the route segment and a route guidance maneuver for a successive route segment qualify for nullification or modification.

18. A method, comprising:

accessing a sequence of maneuvers associated with a sequence of route segments;

determining whether a route segment from the sequence of route segments is significant or insignificant, including;

determining whether the route segment has a name;

determining whether the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance;

determining whether the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment; and

determining whether a route guidance maneuver for the route segment and a route guidance maneuver for a successive route segment qualify for nullification or modification;

upon determining that the route segment is significant, providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the significant route segment; and

upon determining that the route segment is insignificant, accounting for the insignificant route segment prior to providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment, wherein accounting for the insignificant route segment includes modifying the maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment.

19. A method, comprising:

accessing a sequence of maneuvers associated with a sequence of route segments;

determining whether a route segment in the sequence of route segments is significant or insignificant, wherein determining whether a route segment is significant or insignificant includes;

determining whether the route segment has a name;

upon determining that the route segment does not have a name, determining whether the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance;

upon determining that the route segment has a length less than a predetermined distance, determining whether the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment; and

upon determining that the route segment has a length less than a length of a successive route segment, determining whether a route guidance maneuver for the route segment and a route guidance maneuver for a successive route segment qualify for nullification or modification;

upon determining that the route segment is significant, providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the significant route segment; and

upon determining that a route segment is insignificant, accounting for the insignificant route segment prior to providing route guidance for a maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment, wherein accounting for the insignificant route segment includes modifying a first maneuver and nullifying a second maneuver associated with the insignificant route segment.