Vehicle navigation method

• US 7,493,210 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NNG LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Woodward, Steven G., Wang, Huifang, Nassiff, Amado
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DALENA
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead; Bria J.
• Application Number:
  US09/925,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/201, 701/206, 701/33, 340/989, 340/995.19, 340/995.12, 340/995.24, 340/995.23, 340/996, 340/993
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A method for navigating in a vehicle includes the steps of identifying navigation information for at least one destination. The navigation information is stored in at least a first memory remote from the vehicle. The navigation information is transferred from the first memory to a navigation device in the vehicle. The vehicle can then be navigated to the destination using the navigation device and the navigation information.

Claims

1. A method for vehicle navigation comprising the steps of:

accessing a publicly accessible Web site using a computing device that is remote from a vehicle;

identifying within said Web site at least one destination in response to a user input specifying a trip itinerary, the at least one destination corresponding to at least one of a lodging, dining establishment, and predetermined sightseeing attraction each identified within said Web site in response to and based upon the specified trip itinerary;

automatically determining navigation information for said itinerary, wherein at least a portion of said navigation information includes geographic coordinates for said identified destination as well as trip information indicating locations of and information pertaining to other dining establishments, other sightseeing attractions, other lodging accommodations, road hazards, and detours corresponding to the user-specified trip itinerary;

uploading said navigation information to a network via a communications link and storing said navigation information in a memory in the network, wherein said memory is remote from said vehicle;

connecting an in-vehicle navigation device to the network via an upload link and a download link;

identifying the in-vehicle navigation device by the network via the upload link;

upon identification of the in-vehicle navigation device, transferring said navigation information stored in the memory in the network to said in-vehicle navigation device via the download link;

determining whether a data format of said navigation information conforms to data requirements of said in-vehicle navigation device prior to transferring said navigation information; and

converting said data format of said navigation information to an alternate data format prior to transferring said navigation information if said data format does not conform to data requirements of said in-vehicle navigation device.

2. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

accessing a publicly accessible Web site using a computing device that is remote from a vehicle;

identifying within said Web site at least one destination in response to a user input specifying a trip itinerary, the at least one destination corresponding to at least one of a lodging, dining establishment, and predetermined sightseeing attraction, each identified within said Web site in response to and based upon the specified trip itinerary;

automatically determining navigation information for said itinerary, wherein at least a portion of said navigation information includes geographic coordinates for said identified destination as well as trip information indicating locations of and information pertaining to other dining establishments, other sightseeing attractions, other lodging accommodations, road hazards, and detours corresponding to the user-specified trip itinerary;

uploading said navigation information to a network via a communications link and storing said navigation information in a memory in the network, wherein said memory is remote from said vehicle;

connecting an in-vehicle navigation device to the network via an upload link and a download link;

identifying the in-vehicle navigation device by the network via the upload link;

upon identification of the in-vehicle navigation device, transferring said navigation information stored in the memory in the network to said in-vehicle navigation device via the download link;

determining whether a data format of said navigation information conforms to data requirements of said in-vehicle navigation device prior to transferring said navigation information; and

converting said data format of said navigation information to an alternate data format prior to transferring said navigation information if said data format does not conform to data requirements of said in-vehicle navigation device.