Remote destination programming for vehicle navigation

• US 8,014,942 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airbiquity Incorporated
• Inventors: Moinzadeh, Kamyar, Hong, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/044,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/214, 342/357.31, 340/995.16, 340/995.18, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

Remote destination programming enables a user to define a desired destination (402, 406, 410) in advance of a journey. The destination may be stored in a user profile (502, 504) on a remote navigation server (400, 500). It may be uploaded there via a web interface (402), or through land-line or wireless telecom communications (410). Subsequently, for example beginning at a rental car agency, the navigation server supports navigation through any of several modes of operation, including a first mode in which the desired destination information is downloaded from the server (520) so as to program target navigation equipment (522) on-board the rental vehicle. In another mode, the user'"'"'s GPS-enabled communication device (428) interacts with the navigation server (500) to upload periodic location data (430), and receive turn-by-turn directions (530) for the user. In this mode, there is no need for separate on-board navigation equipment to assist the user to the desired location.

Claims

1. A navigation server implemented as a collection of executable computer code components stored in machine-readable media and accessible for execution on a server hardware system, a navigation server code components comprising:

a first communication process for uploading and associating destination data with a stored profile of a user, wherein the destination data defines a desired location to which the user would travel;

the communication process further adapted to upload and associate target device data with the user profile, wherein the target device data identifies a target GPS-enabled navigation device; and

a second communication process for downloading destination information from the navigation server using in-band signaling, wherein the destination information is for programming the target device with the destination data, wherein the in-band signaling is communicated over a voice channel connection of a wireless telecommunications network.

2. A navigation server according to claim 1 wherein the in-band signaling is communicated via an in-band signaling modem for communicating data through the voice channel connection of the wireless telecommunications network.

3. A navigation server according to claim 1 wherein the first communication process for uploading destination data includes receiving the destination data from a communication device that is different from the target device.

4. A navigation server according to claim 1 wherein the destination data is uploaded via in-band signaling.

5. A navigation server according to claim 1 wherein the second communication process for downloading programming information includes communicating with the target device by first downloading the programming information to a selected communication device that is configured to communicate with the target device, responsive to which the selected communication device passes the programming information on to the target device to remotely program the target device.

6. A navigation server according to claim 5 wherein the selected communication device communicates with the target device via a short-range wireless connection.

7. A computer-implemented method for personal navigation comprising:

in a navigation server, establishing a user profile to assist the user in future travel in a vehicle;

in a web application for executing on the navigation server;

receiving destination data that identifies a destination location;

storing the destination location data in association with the user profile and generating destination programming data based on the destination data;

receiving communication device data to identify a selected communication device, wherein the selected device is for remotely programming a target navigation device with the destination data;

storing the communication device data in association with the user profile, said stored destination location data including an identifier for sending information from the web server to the selected communication device;

receiving a remote programming request that includes indicia for associating the programming request with the user profile;

responsive to the programming request, accessing a corresponding user profile data, and downloading the destination programming data to the selected communication device via in-band signaling, wherein the in-band signaling is communicated over a voice channel connection of a wireless telecommunications network, wherein the destination programming data is to be communicated to the target navigation device via the selected communication device.

8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the user enters profile information, and the destination location data, via a web interface.

9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the in-band signaling is communicated via an in-band signaling modem.

10. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the destination data is received from a remote device that is different from the selected communication device and from the target navigation device.

11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 9 wherein the destination data is received via in-band signaling and wherein the in-band signaling modem is configured for bidirectional communication.

12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the destination data is received via a voice call, text message, or telecommunications data service.

13. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 and further comprising sending a confirmation message from the web server to a communication device specified in the user profile to acknowledge receipt of destination location data.

14. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the target navigation device is installed in a vehicle.

15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the selected communication device communicates with the target device via a short-range wireless connection.

16. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the target navigation device is installed in a rental vehicle.

17. A computer-implemented method for navigation in a rental vehicle comprising:

in a web server, establishing a user profile to assist a user in future travel in a rental vehicle;

receiving data that identifies a destination location;

storing the destination location data in association with the user profile for later use;

generating destination programming data responsive to receiving the destination location data

receiving a link to a rental vehicle reservation;

receiving a remote destination programming request;

responsive to the remote destination programming request, establishing a communication session with a target navigation device or a selected mobile communication device wherein the target navigation device is located in a rental vehicle associated with the said rental vehicle reservation; and

downloading the stored destination location programming data to the selected mobile communication device or the target navigation device via in-band signaling to remotely program the target navigation device in the rental vehicle with the user'"'"'s destination location.

18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 17 and further comprising:

receiving information from the user to identify the selected mobile communication device;

storing identification of the selected mobile communication device in association with the user'"'"'s profile and in a manner accessible to the web server, said stored destination location data including a telephone number or other identifier for sending information to the selected mobile communication device; and

sending a confirmation message from the web server to the selected mobile communication device.

19. A computer-implemented method according to claim 18 wherein the selected mobile communication device the first wireless communication device comprises a cell phone or PDA.

20. A computer-implemented method according to claim 18 wherein the confirmation message is to confirm receipt of one of a location destination, a rental car reservation link, and a remote programming request.

21. A computer-implemented method for personal navigation comprising:

sending destination data indicating a desired destination location to a navigation server via in-band signaling, for destination programming, wherein the destination data corresponds to a user profile stored on the navigation server; and

responsive to sending the destination data, receiving destination programming information from the navigation server via in-band signaling, wherein the in-band signaling is communicated over a voice channel connection of a wireless telecommunications network.

22. A computer-implemented method according to claim 21 wherein the destination programming information is for programming a target GPS-enabled navigation device with the destination data;

and sending the destination programming to the target GPS-enabled navigation device.

23. A computer-implemented method according to claim 22 wherein the destination programming information is sent to the target GPS-enabled navigation device using in-band signaling.

24. A computer-implemented method according to claim 21 wherein the destination programming information includes one or more instructions directing a user generally toward the desired destination location.

25. A computer-implemented method according to claim 24 wherein the one or more instructions are presented by visual display or audio speech, or combinations thereof.

26. A computer-implemented method according to claim 22 wherein the destination programming information includes one or more instructions directing a user generally toward the desired destination location and wherein the one or more instructions are presented on the target device by visual display or audio speech, or combinations thereof.

27. A computer-implemented method according to claim 22 wherein the destination programming information is communicated to the target device via a short-range wireless connection.