System and method utilizing non-GPS satellite content in real-time navigation

• US 7,502,686 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Wiegers, Michael R., Pemble, Clifton A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/874,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213, 34099513-99527, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A navigation device is provided that includes a GPS input that receives GPS information from a GPS satellite. The system also includes a non-GPS input that receives real-time content from a non-GPS source. The real-time content includes updates to travel conditions. The system also includes a navigation module that analyses the updates from the non-GPS source in conjunction with the GPS information form the GPS satellite.

Claims

1. A method for coordinating output of entertainment-related content and travel-related content over a common output device, comprising:

receiving GPS information from a GPS satellite;

determining a user position based on said GPS information;

generating travel-related content based on said user position;

receiving entertainment-related content from a non-GPS source; and

wirelessly transmitting via radio-frequency signals said entertainment-related content and travel-related content interleaved with one another to an audio playback unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting said entertainment-related content to at least one of an audio and visual output that is output to said audio playback unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said entertainment-related content received from the non-GPS source includes updates to travel conditions, said generating modifies said travel-related content based on said updates.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said entertainment-related content includes updates to travel conditions, said method further comprising analyzing said updates from said non-GPS source in conjunction with said GPS information to obtain modifications to said travel-related content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said wirelessly transmitting includes using one of a FM transmitter, an AM transmitter, and a wireless transmitter.

6. A portable navigation device comprising:

a satellite navigation receiver operable to receive satellite navigation signals and determine a current geographic location of the device using the received satellite navigation signals;

a satellite content receiver operable to receive entertainment-related content from one or more satellites;

a processor coupled with the satellite navigation receiver and operable to generate travel-related content based on the current geographic location of the device and interleave the generated travel-related content with the received entertainment-related content to generate an audio signal; and

a radio-frequency transmitter coupled with the processor and operable to wirelessly transmit a radio-frequency signal corresponding to the generated audio signal for use by an audio playback unit.

7. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the satellite navigation receiver is a Global Position System (GPS) receiver.

8. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the satellite content receiver is a satellite radio receiver operable to receive satellite radio signals.

9. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the satellite content receiver is further operable to receive traffic-related content and the processor is operable to interleave the traffic-related content, the entertainment-related content, and the audio instruction to generate the audio signal.

10. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the radio-frequency transmitter is one of a FM transmitter, an AM transmitter, and a wireless transmitter.

11. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the audio playback unit is an in-dash radio system disposed within an automobile.

12. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the travel-related content and the entertainment-related content are interleaved such that the travel-related content has a greater volume than the entertainment-related content when the audio signal is used by the audio playback unit.

13. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the entertainment-related content includes music.

14. The navigation device of claim 6, further including a speaker for producing an audible representation of the generated audio signal.