Point of interest display system

• US 7,899,615 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Hughes, Alan S., Arnold-Huyser, Nisa M., Milstead, Ian, Bambini, John S., Sonday, Susan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/532,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,689 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 340/995.24, 340/995.27, 340/995.18, 340/995.14, 340/995.17
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

A point-of-interest display system includes an updateable database which interfaces with a microprocessor which receives data from a GPS receiver providing the system with current vehicle location and direction of travel information. A display provides the operator textural and elemental graphic display information, and easily accessible control switches allow the operator to select upcoming highway exits, categories of points of interest, and points of interest and display directions to a selected entry.

Claims

1. A point-of-interest display system for a vehicle comprising:

a current location detector for providing data representing the vehicle'"'"'s current position;

a database of information including points of interest and road network information including highway exits and local roadway street names and addresses;

a microprocessor coupled to said detector and to said database, the microprocessor using the detector and the database to provide display output signals representing a list of multiple upcoming highway exits as the vehicle proceeds along a highway and to provide display output signals representing a list of available points-of-interest associated with a highway exit and within a predetermined range from the current vehicle location;

a display coupled to said microprocessor for displaying the list of multiple upcoming highway exits; and

at least one operator-actuated switch coupled to said microprocessor to permit the operator to scroll through the list of multiple upcoming highway exits provided on the display, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive a user selection of one of the multiple upcoming highway exits from the list provided on the display and to display, in response to the user selection of one of the multiple upcoming highway exits, a list of available points of interest associated with the selected highway exit.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said detector is a GPS receiver.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined range comprises a range of less than about four miles.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the microprocessor and the display provide the list of multiple highway exits and the list of available points of interest without displaying a map.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said point-of-interest list includes the categories of gas, food, and lodging.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein each establishment is identified by name.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein each establishment is further identified by its address.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein a phone number of an establishment is displayed in response to a selection from the list of available points of interest.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said database has data sets layered thereon according to road network information and point-of-interest information such that said memory can be updated separately at different time intervals for separately updating the road network information and point-of-interest information.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said operator-actuated switch and the microprocessor permit the operator to select a point of interest from the list of available points of interest and said microprocessor calculates and causes the display to display the distance and direction to said selected point of interest.

11. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said operator-actuated switch and the microprocessor permit the operator to select a point of interest from the list of available points of interest and to cause the display of detailed information regarding the selected point of interest.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said microprocessor allows the operator to select for individual display one of said addresses on a street on which the vehicle is traveling and cross-streets ahead and behind the vehicle.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 and further including an electronic compass coupled to said display.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 and further including an outside temperature sensor coupled to said display.

15. The system as defined in claim 1 and further including a trip computer coupled to said display.

16. A point-of-interest display system for a vehicle comprising:

a current location detector for providing data representing the vehicle'"'"'s current position;

a database of information including points of interest and road network information including highway exits and local roadway street names and addresses;

a microprocessor coupled to said detector and to said database for the microprocessor using the current location detector and the database to provide display output signals representing a list of multiple upcoming highway exits as the vehicle proceeds along a highway and to provide display output signals representing a list of points-of-interest related to a highway exit, and when the vehicle exits a highway, automatically providing display output signals for displaying a list of points of interest within a predetermined range from the current vehicle location;

a display coupled to said microprocessor for displaying the list of multiple upcoming highway exits; and

at least one operator-actuated switch coupled to said microprocessor to permit the operator to scroll through the list of multiple upcoming highway exits provided on the display, wherein the microprocessor is configured to cause the display of point-of-interest information associated with the list of multiple upcoming highway exits.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said detector is a GPS receiver.

18. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said point-of-interest information includes the number of gas, food, and lodging establishments for each of the list of multiple upcoming highway exits.

19. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said database has data sets layered thereon according to road network information and point-of-interest information such that said memory can be updated separately at different time intervals for separately updating the road network information and point-of-interest information.

20. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the display and the microprocessor are not configured to display a map.

21. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said operator-actuated switch permits the operator to select an exit from the list of multiple upcoming highway exits and the microprocessor responds to the selection by generating a list of available points of interest associated with the selected exit for display.

22. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said operator-actuated switch permits the operator to select a point-of-interest from a menu of available points of interest after exiting a highway causes the microprocessor to generate a display of detailed information regarding a selected point of interest.

23. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said microprocessor allows the operator to select for individual display one of said addresses on a street on which the vehicle is traveling and cross-streets ahead and behind the vehicle.