Output control method of voice guidance signal in navigation system

• US 7,840,348 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Hyun Woo, Park, Chang Won, Kim, Su Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peche; Jorge O
• Application Number:
  US11/255,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/211, 701/212, 342/357.13, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/996
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

An output control method of voice guidance signal in navigation system, the method comprising: searching for a travel route from a starting location to a destination of a vehicle; guiding the vehicle to travel along the searched travel route, and determining a current vehicle location if the vehicle is traveling, searching for a target location to be guided ahead of the traveling vehicle; generating a voice guidance signal for the searched target location to be guided; determining the priorities of a plurality of voice guidance signals in advance and outputting the voice guidance signals in sequence according to the predetermined priorities if the plurality of voice guidance signals conflict thereamong.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the output of a voice guidance signal in a navigation system, the method comprising:

searching for a travel route from a starting location to a destination of a vehicle;

guiding the vehicle to travel along the searched travel route;

determining a current vehicle location when the vehicle is traveling;

searching for a target location to be guided that exists ahead of the traveling vehicle;

generating a voice guidance signal for the searched target location;

determining a priority according to a distance relationship between the current vehicle location and the searched target location and a specific characteristic of the searched target location;

assigning the priority to the generated voice guidance signal in advance; and

outputting the generated voice guidance signal in conflict with an output of a plurality of voice guidance signals when the generated voice guidance signal has a highest priority,

wherein determining the priority comprises;

designating a voice guidance signal for guiding arrival at a destination with a first priority;

designating a last voice guidance signal issued just before the vehicle passes by a predetermined target location to be guided with a second priority when the predetermined target location to be guided is guided three times with voice guidance signals including initial, intermediate and last voice guidance signals;

designating a voice guidance signal for guiding a dangerous area with a third priority;

designating an initial or intermediate voice guidance signal for the predetermined target location to be guided with a fourth priority; and

designating a voice guidance signal for guidance of a joining point, an entrance to a comfort stop, straight driving, or a registration area with a fifth priority.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the priority is assigned according to whether guidance is an initial guidance, an intermediate guidance or a last guidance.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein outputting the generated voice guidance signal comprises:

outputting a first voice guidance signal being currently output when a plurality of other voice guidance signals are generated for output;

causing the plurality of other voice guidance signals to be placed on standby;

selecting one of the plurality of other voice guidance signals on standby as a second voice guidance signal according to the highest priority; and

outputting the second voice guidance signal when the output of the first voice guidance signal has been completed.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting location and the current vehicle location of the vehicle are locations searched by combining a navigation message received by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a detection signal of a travel condition of the vehicle detected by a sensor unit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

matching the current vehicle location to map data; and

displaying the matched current vehicle location on a display unit.

6. A method for controlling the output of a voice guidance signal in a navigation system, the method comprising:

searching for a travel route from a starting location to a destination of a vehicle;

guiding the vehicle to travel along the searched travel route;

determining a current vehicle location if the vehicle is traveling;

searching a to-be-guided target location ahead of the traveling vehicle;

generating a first plurality of voice guidance signals for the searched to-be-guided target location;

placing a second plurality of previously-generated voice guidance signals on standby according to predetermined priorities;

selecting a generated voice guidance signal among the first plurality of voice guidance signals and the second plurality of previously-generated voice guidance signals on standby; and

outputting the selected voice guidance signal by a voice guidance signal output unit if the voice guidance signal output unit does not currently output a voice guidance signal,

wherein determining the priority comprises;

designating a voice guidance signal for guiding arrival at a destination with a first priority;

designating a last voice guidance signal issued just before the vehicle passes by a predetermined target location to be guided with a second priority when the predetermined target location to be guided is guided three times with voice guidance signals including initial, intermediate and last voice guidance signals;

designating a voice guidance signal for guiding a dangerous area with a third priority;

designating an initial or intermediate voice guidance signal for the predetermined target location to be guided with a fourth priority; and

designating a voice guidance signal for guidance of a joining point, an entrance to a comfort stop, straight driving, or a registration area with a fifth priority.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined priorities are assigned to the first plurality of voice guidance signals according to a description of the to-be-guided target location, and whether or not guidance of the to-be-guided target location is an initial guidance, an intermediate guidance or a last guidance.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein selecting the generated voice guidance signal is performed after an invalid voice guidance signal is canceled among the voice guidance signals that are currently on standby.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the invalid voice guidance signal is a voice guidance signal corresponding to a to-be-guided target location by which the vehicle has passed.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

causing the selected voice guidance signal to be put on standby if it is determined that the voice guidance signal output unit currently outputs the voice guidance signal.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein selecting the generated voice guidance signal is performed after an invalid voice guidance signal is canceled among the voice guidance signals that are currently on standby.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the invalid voice guidance signal is a voice guidance signal corresponding to a to-be-guided target location by which the vehicle has passed.

13. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

causing the selected voice guidance signal to be put on standby if it is determined that the voice guidance signal output unit currently outputs the voice guidance signal.

14. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the starting location and the current vehicle location are locations searched by combining a navigation message received by a GPS receiver and a detection signal of a travel condition of the vehicle detected by a sensor unit.

15. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

matching the determined current vehicle location to map data; and

displaying the matched current vehicle location on a display unit.

16. An apparatus for controlling the output of a voice guidance signal in a navigation system, the apparatus comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to receive a navigation message;

a sensor unit configured to detect travel conditions of a vehicle;

a map data storage unit configured to store map data;

a control unit configured to search for a travel route from a starting location to a destination of the vehicle using the stored map data;

a display unit configured to display the searched travel route and a current vehicle location; and

a voice guidance signal output unit configured to output a voice guidance signal,

wherein the control unit guides the vehicle to travel along the searched travel route,

wherein the control unit determines the current vehicle location when the vehicle is traveling by using the received navigation message and the detected travel conditions of the vehicle,

wherein the control unit searches for a target location to be guided that exists ahead of the traveling vehicle,

wherein the control unit generates a voice guidance signal for the searched target location,

wherein the control unit determines a priority according to a distance relationship between the current vehicle location and the searched target location and a specific characteristic of the searched target location,

wherein the control unit assigns the priority to the generated voice guidance signal in advance,

wherein the control unit provides the generated voice guidance signal in conflict with an output of a plurality of voice guidance signals when the generated voice guidance signal has a highest priority, and

wherein the control unit designates a voice guidance signal for guiding arrival at a destination with a first priority, designates a last voice guidance signal issued just before the vehicle passes by a predetermined target location to be guided with a second priority when the predetermined target location to be guided is guided three times with voice guidance signals including initial, intermediate and last voice guidance signals, designates a voice guidance signal for guiding a dangerous area with a third priority, designates an initial or intermediate voice guidance signal for the predetermined target location to be guided with a fourth priority, and designates a voice guidance signal for guidance of a joining point, an entrance to a comfort stop, straight driving, or a registration area with a fifth priority when the control unit determines the priority.