Navigation device and method

• US 7,957,895 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Haase, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US12/007,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209
• US Class Current: 701/209
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A method of operating a portable navigation device or navigation system is described, together, with a computer program and a PND and navigation system. The method includes the steps of providing for a specific premises, location or location range, being identifiable with reference to map data locally stored in the device or system and optionally being or including the current location, can be at least temporarily stored in memory. The method also includes the presenting to the user at least one user-selectable option by means of which qualitative information pertaining to the premises, location or range can be entered locally in the device or system, the selection of the option resulting in the immediate or subsequent recordal and storage of both the qualitative information and an association thereof with the identified premises, location or range.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portable navigation device or navigation system by a user, said device or system comprising a memory, user interface and locally stored map data, said method comprising the steps of:

storing into memory a specific Point of Interest, other location or location range, said Point of Interest, location or range being identifiable with reference to said map data and optionally being or including a current location of said device or system;

presenting to said user at least one user-selectable option via said user interface, said option arranged such that qualitative information pertaining to the said Point of Interest, other location or location range can be entered into said memory;

recording and storing qualitative information and association of said information with said identified Point of Interest, other location or location range into said memory as primary information, said step of recording and storing executed by said device or system subsequent to selection of said option; and

transmitting said primary information to a remote device

wherein the at least one user-selectable option is presented to the user by the device or system subsequent to a determination thereby that the said Point of Interest, other location or location range has formed the basis of a previous navigation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting said primary information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said primary information is stored in said memory for later transmission to said remote device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said qualitative information further comprises at least an indication of said user'"'"'s subjective opinion of said Point of Interest, location or range of locations.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said qualitative information comprises a user rating based on a predetermined, locally stored scale.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said qualitative information comprises at least one of:

alphanumeric data and digitized audio data, wherein said user interface further comprises a touch screen arranged to receive entry of said alphanumeric data and a microphone arranged to receive entry of said digitized audio data.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting another option to said user to record secondary descriptive information, said secondary descriptive information being both at least temporarily associated with and stored with one of said Point of Interest, location or range and the primary information; and

transmitting said secondary descriptive information to said remote device.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

presenting a further option to said user to enter an audio recording mode;

activating said microphone in response to selection of said further option;

digitizing audio signals received by said microphone; and

storing said audio signals into a digital audio file in said memory.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of digitizing further comprising the step of associating said digital audio file with at least one of:

said primary information and said Point of Interest, location or range.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of presenting another option to said user which when selected causes said device or system to enter an alphanumeric character entry mode in which a virtual keyboard is displayed on a display screen of said device or system, and a text file is simultaneously or subsequently created in memory which captures alphanumeric characters entered by said user via said virtual keyboard.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of associating said text file with at least one of primary information and Point of Interest, location and range during or after creation of said text file.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of presenting to said user is triggered after said user has entered one of said Point of Interest, location or range as a navigation destination and said device or system determines that a navigation thereto has been completed.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of presenting to said user at least one user-selectable option by means of which qualitative information can be stored occurs after said device or system determines that said user is departing from a Point of Interest, location, or range previously entered as a desired destination to which a navigation has occurred.

14. A portable navigation device or navigation system, comprising:

GPS signal reception means;

processing means;

memory;

display;

means for identifying at least one of a specific Point of Interest, other location or location range optionally being or including a current location with reference to map data locally stored in said memory;

means for at least temporarily storing in said memory, separately from said map data, at least one of said specific Point of interest, other location or location range;

means for displaying information by means of which a qualitative description pertaining to the said Point of Interest, other location or location range can be entered locally and stored, said qualitative description being associated with said identified Point of Interest, other location or location range, such together forming primary information; and

means for subsequently transmitting said primary information to a remote device wherein the displayed information is presented to the user by the device or system subsequent to a determination thereby that the said Point of Interest, other location or location range has formed the basis of a previous navigation.