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

• US 7,668,654 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Pemble, Clifton A., Wiegers, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/360,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 34099513-99527, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 709/203, 375/148
• 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 analyzes the updates from the non-GPS source in conjunction with the GPS information form the GPS satellite.

Claims

1. 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 satellite content receiver, the processor operable to—

generate travel-related content based on the current geographic location of the device,

interleave the generated travel-related content with the received entertainment-related content to generate an audio signal, and

provide the generated audio signal through a wired connection to a speaker for audio playback.

2. The navigation device of claim 1, further including a portable housing for housing the satellite navigation receiver, the satellite content receiver, the processor, and the speaker.

3. The navigation device of claim 1, further including a portable housing for housing the satellite navigation receiver and the processor, wherein the speaker forms a part of an in-dash stereo system disposed within an automobile and the wired connection is operable to extend from the portable housing to the in-dash stereo system.

4. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the satellite content receiver is a satellite radio receiver operable to receive satellite radio signals.

5. The navigation device of claim 1, 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 travel-related content to generate the audio signal.

6. The navigation device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further operable to identify if the traffic-related content is relevant to the current geographic location of the device and interleave the traffic-related content only when the traffic-related content is relevant to the current geographic location of the device.

7. The navigation device of claim 1, 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 played back by the speaker.

8. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the entertainment-related content includes music.

9. 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 radio receiver operable to receive satellite radio signals representing entertainment-related content and traffic-related content;

a processor coupled with the satellite navigation receiver and satellite content receiver, the processor operable to—

generate travel-related content based on the current geographic location of the device,

interleave the generated travel-related content, the received entertainment-related content, and the received traffic-related content to generate an audio signal, and

provide the generated audio signal through a wired connection to a speaker for audio playback,

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 played back by the speaker.

10. The navigation device of claim 9, further including a portable housing for housing the satellite navigation receiver, the satellite content receiver, the processor, and the speaker.

11. The navigation device of claim 9, further including a portable housing for housing the satellite navigation receiver and the processor, wherein the speaker forms a part of an in-dash stereo system disposed within an automobile and the wired connection is operable to extend from the portable housing to the in-dash stereo system.

12. The navigation device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further operable to identify if the traffic-related content is relevant to the current geographic location of the device and interleave the traffic-related content only when the traffic-related content is relevant to the current geographic location of the device.

13. The navigation device of claim 9, wherein the entertainment-related content includes music.

14. The navigation device of claim 9, wherein the traffic-related content and the entertainment-related content are interleaved such that the traffic-related content has a greater volume than the entertainment-related content when the audio signal is played back by the speaker.

15. A method for audibly presenting travel-related content and entertainment-related content through a speaker, the method comprising:

receiving satellite radio signals using a satellite radio receiver, the satellite radio signals representing entertainment-related content;

determining a current geographic location using a satellite navigation receiver;

generating travel-related content based on the current geographic location;

interleaving the generated travel-related content with the received entertainment-related content to generate an audio signal;

providing the generated audio signal through a wired connection to a speaker; and

audibly presenting the generated audio signal using the speaker.

16. The method of claim 15, 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 played back by the speaker.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the entertainment-related content includes music.

18. The method of claim 15, further including receiving traffic-related content using the satellite radio receiver and interleaving the traffic-related content, the entertainment-related content, and the travel-related content to generate the audio signal.