Navigation device with control feature limiting access to non-navigation application

• US 7,366,609 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Choy Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/214,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701200-213, 701/93, 4554561-456, 340989-9951
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures

Abstract

A portable navigation device is provided that includes a receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites. The device includes memory that stores a non-navigation application and non-navigation information related to the non-navigation application. A user interface is configured to enable an operator to enter non-navigation instructions related to the non-navigation application. The a processor module is provided that calculates a position of the device based on the signals from the GPS satellites. The processor module implements the non-navigation application and performs non-navigation operations defined by the non-navigation application based on the non-navigation instructions entered by the user. The processor module disables the non-navigation application after a predetermined trial period of time following a start time unless and until an application access code is entered. Optionally, a cartridge they may be included that is configured to receive an application access cartridge containing the application access code. The code indicates that access to the non-navigation application has been purchased by the user of the device. The processor module enables the non-navigation application when the application access cartridge is entered into the cartridge bay with a valid code. The processor may not disable the non-navigation application, such as when an application access code is incurred before and in of the predetermined trial period of time.

Claims

1. A portable navigation device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites;

memory storing a non-navigation application and non-navigation information related to the non-navigation application;

a user interface configured to enable an operator to enter non-navigation instructions related to the non-navigation application;

a processor module calculating a position of the device based on the signals from the GPS satellites, the processor module implementing the non-navigation application and performing non-navigation operations defined by the non-navigation application based on the non-navigation instructions entered by the user, the processor module disabling the non-navigation application after a predetermined trial period of time following a start time unless and until an application access code is entered.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge bay configured to receive an application access cartridge containing the application access code, the code indicating that access to the non-navigation application has been purchased by the user of the device, the processor module enabling the non-navigation application when the application access cartridge is entered into the cartridge bay with a valid code.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an input configured to receive the application access code, indicating that access to the non-navigation application has been purchased by the user of the device, the processor module re-enabling, if disabled, the non-navigation application when a valid application access code is entered.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the input represents one of a cartridge bay, an I/O port, an infrared input, and a user keypad through which the user manually enters the code.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor module never disables the non-navigation application when the application access code is loaded before an end of the predetermined trial period of time.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor module initializes the device when the device is turned on for the first time after purchase, the predetermined trial period of time representing a set number of days following initialization.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined trial period of time represents a defined number of hours that the device is turned on.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-navigation application represents a travel-kit containing applications useful to travelers.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-navigation application represents a dictionary and translation application.

10. The device of the claim 1, wherein, during initialization of the device, the processor module enables the non-navigation application for the predetermined trial period of time.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor module initializes the device upon first start-up, during first start-up the processor module enabling the non-navigation application, the processor module disabling the non-navigation application after a predetermined trial period of time following the first start-up.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor module validates the code when a security card is loaded into the cartridge bay.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor module disables the card after reading the code from the security card to prevent the cartridge from being used again.

14. A method for managing access to non-navigation applications implemented on a portable navigation device, the method comprising:

initializes the device upon first start-up to provide a user access to navigation and non-navigation applications stored on the device, the initialization including enabling the non-navigation application for a predetermined trial period of time following a start time;

receiving signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites;

storing in memory a non-navigation application and non-navigation information related to the non-navigation application;

calculating a position of the device based on the signals from the GPS satellites;

implementing the non-navigation application based on non-navigation instructions entered by the user;

disabling the non-navigation application at the end of the predetermined trial period of time unless and until an application access code is entered; and

presenting position information and non-navigation information to the operator on a common display.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising entering an application access cartridge containing the application access code, the code indicating that access to the non-navigation application has been purchased by the user of the device, and enabling the non-navigation application when the application access cartridge is entered with a valid code.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the application access security code, the code indicating that access to the non-navigation application has been purchased by the user of the device, and re-enabling, if disabled, the non-navigation application when a valid application access code is entered.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-navigation application is never disabled because the code is entered before an end of the predetermined trial period of time.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined trial period of time representing a set number of days following initialization.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined trial period represents a defined number of hours that the device is turned on.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-navigation application represents a travel-kit containing applications useful to travelers.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-navigation application represents a dictionary and translation application.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising validating the application access code when a security card is loaded.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising disables the application access code on a security card after reading the code from the security card to prevent the security card from being used again.