Navigation system using wireless communication network and route guidance method thereof

• US 7,451,044 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-Ho, Kim, Jung-Soo, Chung, Be-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEISKOPF, MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/893,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 340/905, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.12, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

There is provided a navigation system using a wireless communication system and a route guidance method thereof. In the navigation system, an information center searches out an optimum route between a present vehicle position and a destination referring to map data in its map database and generates route guidance data. A navigation terminal inside the vehicle calculates the present position of the vehicle, transmits the vehicle'"'"'s current position information to the information center, receives the route guidance data, and announces a notification message. A wireless communication network connects the information center to the navigation terminal wirelessly.

Claims

1. A navigation system provides a mobile terminal that processes a conventional call by bi-directional communication with a base station when a first mode is set, requests to an information center route guidance data to guide a vehicle, downloads the route guidance data regarding a vehicle from the information center, determines a notification message regarding at least one node point from a current position of the vehicle and guidance codes in the route guidance data, generates the notification message about the at least one node point referring to a database included therein, and outputs the notification message in a predetermined time period before the vehicle passes through the node point when a second mode is set.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the downloaded navigation information is transmitted to an ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) terminal mounted to a moving object.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a destination to which the mobile terminal is to be guided.

4. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein the information center includes a map database that provides navigation information by generating route guidance data according to the current position and destination of the moving object.

5. The navigation system of claim 4, further comprising a display for displaying the state of call processing in the first mode and displaying route guidance information processed from the route guidance data by the ITS terminal in the second mode.

6. The navigation system of claim 5, further comprising an input portion for acting as a user interface for call processing in the first mode and a navigation service in the second mode.

7. The navigation system of claim 6, wherein the input portion is a microphone.

8. The navigation system of claim 6, wherein the input portion is a touch pad.

9. The navigation system of claim 6, further comprising a keypad for acting as a user interface for call processing in the first mode and a navigation service in the second mode, and key assignment memory areas for assigning keys of the keypad for the first and second modes.

10. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the route guidance data is transmitted to an ITS terminal which is connected to the mobile terminal.

11. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein a travel direction of the vehicle determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

12. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.

13. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the second mode is selected when a navigation menu is selected.

14. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the second mode is selected when a key designated for navigation is pressed.

15. A mobile terminal that transmits data received from an information center by wireless communication to an ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) terminal, and transmits data received from the ITS terminal to the information center, comprising:

an input portion for acting as a user interface for a route guiding service in a navigation mode selected by the user;

a display for displaying route guidance data to guide a vehicle and information about a vehicle received from the ITS terminal; and

a control portion for determining a notification message regarding at least one node point from a current position of the vehicle and guidance codes in the route guidance data, generating the notification message about the at least one node point referring to a database included therein, and outputting the notification message in a predetermined time period before the vehicle passes through the node point.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein when a call is sensed in the navigation mode, the navigation mode is transitioned to a voice call mode and the call is processed in the voice call mode.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the route guidance data includes bearing at intersection and x and y coordinates in mesh.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein a travel direction of the vehicle determined by the bearing at intersection in the ITS terminal.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the ITS terminal determines distance from present position of the vehicle to the intersection using the x and y coordinates in a mesh.