Method and system for receiving and sending navigational data via a wireless messaging service on a navigation system

• US 7,999,703 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ohki, Eric Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/624,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.17, 340/426.19, 340/995.19, 455/569.2, 455/569.1, 701/211, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/995.19
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A system and method are provided for receiving navigational data via a wireless messaging service on a navigation system. The system and method provide a way to send requests for destination information via the wireless messaging service and capture navigational data from the responsive message received, such as addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses, and then utilize that data for navigational routing, generation of telephone calls, emailing and the like, from the vehicle'"'"'s navigation system. A wireless device can be paired with the navigation system over a Bluetooth communication link, wherein the navigation system periodically polls the wireless device for newly received messages. In one embodiment, the NAVI displays icons on a map that correspond to the extracted addresses from the messages received in relation to the vehicle'"'"'s current location. The icons can be shown in a plurality of visual formats to distinguish previously viewed locations from newly received ones.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a navigation device within a vehicle, a newly received message originating from a web service at a remote location, the web service including a search engine;

detecting, by the navigation device, an address included in the message; and

providing, by the navigation device, a route from a location of the vehicle to the address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the received message is received by the navigation device in response to a request message requesting information regarding a point of interest, and

the received message includes at least one address related to information about the point of interest.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the navigation device, a telephone number included in the message; and

calling, initiated by the navigation device, the telephone number included in the message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the calling of the telephone number included in the message further comprises:

calling the telephone number via a hands-free telephone system in communication with the navigation device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

permitting a user to select one of a plurality of phone numbers via a user interface of the navigation device, when the message includes the plurality of phone numbers, wherein

the navigation device initiates a telephone call to the selected one of the plurality of phone numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of a message from a web service further comprises:

receiving the message from the web service, at the remote location, by a mobile device within a direct communication range of the vehicle, the mobile device being connected to a wireless network; and

receiving, by the navigation device, the message from the mobile device via a direct connection with the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the navigation device receives the message from the mobile device via a Bluetooth®

connection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, by the navigation device, the address included in the message.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

permitting a user to select one of a plurality of addresses via a user interface of the navigation device when the message includes the plurality of addresses, wherein

after the user selects the one of the plurality of addresses, the navigation device provides a route from a location of the vehicle to the selected one of the plurality of addresses.

10. An apparatus for use in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver;

a display unit;

a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and the display unit, and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable code for the processor to;

receive a recently sent message originating from a web service at a remote location, the web service including a search engine,

extract an address from the message,

calculate a route from a current location of the vehicle to the address, and

guide the vehicle along the route by displaying a map showing the current location of the vehicle and at least a portion of the calculated route.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable code is further for the processor to automatically calculate the route after the address from the message is extracted.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable code is further for the processor to:

extract a phone number from the message, and

initiate a telephone call to the phone number extracted from the message.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable code is further for the processor to:

extract a plurality of phone numbers from the message,

provide a user interface for a user to select one of the plurality of extracted phone numbers, and

initiate a telephone call to the selected one of the plurality of extracted phone numbers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable code is further configured for the processor to:

receive a place name from a user; and

send a request message to the web service to request information about a place indicated by the received place name, wherein

the message received from the web service is received in response to the sending of the request message and includes the information about the place, which further includes at least one address associated with the place.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one address associated with the place is within a predetermined distance of the current location of the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable code is further configured for the processor to:

receive a place name from a user;

send a request message to the web service to request information about a place indicated by the received place name, wherein

the message received from the web service is received in response to sending the request message and includes the information about the place, which further includes at least one phone number associated with the place.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a location of the place is within a predetermined distance of the current location of the vehicle.

18. An in-vehicle navigation system comprising:

a transceiver;

a display unit;

a processor operatively coupled to the receiver and the display unit, and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable code for the processor to;

receive a message originating from a web service at a remote location, the web service including a search engine, the message including information about a place, the message being received in response to a request about the place sent to the web service,

extract a phone number from the message,

display the phone number on the display unit,

receive a confirmation from a user regarding the displayed phone number, and

initiate a phone call using the phone number in response to receiving the confirmation.