Navigation with real-time weather

• US 7,516,011 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Mehan, Craig L., Myers, Steven J., Manna, Michael A., Kabel, Darrin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/034,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map

Abstract

Real-time weather information is dynamically acquired in real-time and presented within a display. The display also includes a variety of other information, such as a route and a current position associated with a navigation device. The real-time weather information includes real-time weather and/or water conditions. The real-time weather and/or water conditions are presented within the display with unique visual features and concurrently presented with the other information.

Claims

1. A navigation device, comprising:

a display, the display operable to present;

a first selectable icon adapted to be associated with a first real-time weather characteristic; and

a second selectable icon adapted to be associated with a second real-time weather characteristic, wherein the first and second icons are adapted to be dynamically and concurrently presented within the display of the navigation device along with the first and second real-time weather characteristics, and map data, wherein the map data is adapted to include a route for the navigation device, a current position for the navigation device, and a configurable amount of data associated with a geographical space that surrounds the route,

wherein the at least one of the selectable icons is adapted to appear as a symbol within presentations of the display and the symbol is adapted to appear as portions of the first or second weather characteristic.

2. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the selectable icons is adapted to be associated with a display attribute function and adapted to be selected in order to alter presentations within the display.

3. The navigation device of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the selectable icons is adapted to call a real-time weather service when selected in order to update data associated with the first or second weather characteristic.

4. The navigation device of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the selectable icons is adapted to alter an arrangement or an appearance of the first or second weather characteristic.

5. A navigation device, comprising:

a display, the display operable to present;

a first selectable icon adapted to be associated with a first real-time weather characteristic; and

a second selectable icon adapted to be associated with a second real-time weather characteristic, wherein the first and second icons are adapted to be dynamically and concurrently presented within the display of the navigation device along with the first and second real-time weather characteristics, and map data, wherein the map data is adapted to include a route for the navigation device, a current position for the navigation device, and a configurable amount of data associated with a geographical space that surrounds the route,

wherein the at least one of the selectable icons is adapted to call a real-time weather service when selected in order to update data associated with the first or second weather characteristic.