Navigation guidance cancellation apparatus and methods of canceling navigation guidance

• US 7,289,905 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Creech, Thomas William, Fast, Todd H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louie; Wae Lenny
• Application Number:
  US10/995,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 340/995.21
• US Class Current: 701/210
• 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

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling navigation guidance in a vehicle. The method includes: a) determining a re-route instruction based on a non-executed guidance instruction; b) presenting the re-route instruction; c) determining a non-execution of a re-route instruction; d) repeating steps a) through c) for a pre-determined number of re-route attempts; e) prompting for cancellation of navigation guidance after the pre-determined number of re-route attempts; and f) altering navigation guidance upon acceptance of the prompt for alteration.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining a re-route instruction based on a non-executed guidance instruction;

b) presenting the re-route instruction;

c) determining a non-execution of the re-route instruction;

d) repeating said step a) through said step c) for a pre-determined number of re-route attempts;

e) prompting for alteration of navigation guidance after repeating step a) through c) for the pre-determined number of re-route attempts and determining the non-execution of the re-route instruction for each of the pre-determined number of re-route attempts; and

f) altering navigation guidance upon acceptance of the prompt for alteration of navigation guidance.

2. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the non-executed guidance instruction is a pre-determined instruction along a pre-determined path of travel;

and

wherein said step a) comprises determining a route to return to the pre-determined path of travel.

3. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system according to claim 1, wherein said presenting step comprises at least one step selected from:

displaying the re-route instruction; and

verbalizing the re-route instruction.

4. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-determined number of re-route attempts is selected from a user-defined value and a manufacturer pre-set value.

5. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system according to claim 1, wherein said prompting step comprises at least one step selected from:

displaying a dialog box comprising a text requesting an alteration to navigation guidance and at least one control input display element selected from a button, a select box, and an icon; and

verbalizing a request to alter navigation guidance.

6. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system according to claim 5, wherein said step f) comprises altering navigation guidance upon selection of the control input display element.

7. A method of controlling a vehicle navigation guidance system according to claim 5, wherein said displaying step comprises displaying at least one control input display element selected from:

a first control input display element for canceling navigation guidance;

a second control input display element for suspending navigation guidance;

a third control input display element for changing route; and

a fourth control input display element for continuing navigation guidance.

8. A navigation system in a vehicle, said navigation system comprising:

a display unit configured to display navigation information and a first control input display element, said navigation information based on a pre-determined travel route for the vehicle;

an input element coupled to said display unit, said input element configured to select said first control input display element; and

a control system coupled with said display unit and said input element, said control system configured to;

generate a dialog box on said display unit after presenting a pre-determined number of non-executed re-route navigation instructions, said dialog box containing said first control input display element, said dialog box comprising a prompt for navigation guidance alteration; and

alter display of navigation information upon said input element selecting said first control input display element.

9. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said input element is selected from a touch-sensitive screen, a push-button, a control-stick, and a voice-activated sensor.

10. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said control system is further configured to:

determine a navigation instruction corresponding to a pre-determined travel route; and

enable display of said navigation instruction on said display unit.

11. A navigation system according to claim 10, wherein said control system is further configured to:

detect a non-execution of said navigation instruction;

determine said re-route navigation instruction based on said pre-determined travel route and a current position of the vehicle; and

display said re-route navigation instruction.

12. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said first control input display element corresponds to a cancel navigation guidance prompt;

and

wherein said control system is further configured to cancel navigation guidance upon said input element selecting said first control input display element.

13. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said display unit is further configured to display in said dialog box at least one control input display element selected from a second control display element corresponding to a suspend navigation guidance prompt a third control display element corresponding to a change route prompt, and a fourth control input display element corresponding to a continue prompt;

and

wherein said control system is further configured to;

suspend display of navigation information upon said input element selecting said second control input display element;

change a route upon said input element selecting said third control display element; and

continue display of navigation information upon said input element selecting said fourth control input display element.

14. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said display unit is selected from a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), and a heads-up display.

15. A navigation system according to claim 8, wherein said prompt for navigation guidance alteration of said dialog box is selected from a text prompt and a voice prompt.

16. A computer program product for a vehicle navigation system having a display unit configured to display a graphical user interface and navigation information, said computer program product comprising:

a computer system useable medium having computer system readable code embodied therein for managing the graphical user interface; and

a first computer system readable code device configured to cause a computer system to generate a dialog box in the display unit after presenting a pre-determined number of non-executed re-route navigation instructions, said dialog box having a navigation guidance alteration prompt and a control input display element; and

a second computer system readable code device configured to cause said computer system to alter display of navigation information;

upon selecting said control input display element.

17. A computer program product according to claim 16, wherein said control input display element is selected from a button, a select box, and an icon.

18. A computer program product according to claim 16 further comprising a third computer system readable code device configured to generate a voice message corresponding to said navigation guidance alteration prompt.

19. A computer program product according to claim 16, wherein said first computer system readable code device is further configured to cause the computer system to generate a text message in said dialog box corresponding to said navigation guidance alteration prompt.

20. A computer program product according to claim 16, wherein said first computer system readable code device is further configured to cause the computer system to generate at least one control input display element in said dialog box selected from a second control input display element corresponding to a suspend navigation guidance prompt, a third control input display element corresponding to a change route prompt, and a fourth control input display element corresponding to a continue navigation guidance prompt.

21. A computer program product according to claim 20 further comprising a third computer system readable code device configured to cause the computer system to suspend display of navigation information in the display change a route for display of navigation information, and continue display of navigation information in the display.

22. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a display device configured to display navigation information;

an operator input device coupled to said display device;

an audio output device;

a dialog box enabling element configured to;

enable said display device to display a dialog box after presenting a pre-determined number of non-executed re-route navigation instructions, said dialog box having a navigation guidance alteration prompt and at least one control input display element; and

enable said display device to alter display of navigation information, based on a selection of said at least one control input display element by said operator input device in connection with said dialog box; and

an audio enabling element configured to output audio signals corresponding to said navigation guidance alteration prompt.

23. A vehicle navigation system according to claim 22, wherein said dialog box enabling element is further configured to enable said display device to alter display of navigation information upon selection of said control input display element of said dialog box.

24. A vehicle navigation system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one control input display element is selected from a first control input display element corresponding to a cancel navigation guidance alteration prompt, a second control input display element corresponding to a suspend navigation guidance alteration prompt, a third control input display element corresponding to a change route prompt, and a fourth control input display element corresponding to a continue navigation guidance prompt.