GPS navigation code system

• US 8,131,460 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Severson
• Original Assignee: Gary Severson
• Inventors: Severson, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US13/066,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-226, 340/5.84, 340/460, 340988-996, 342/57, 342/357.52, 342/357.55, 342/357.56, 342/357.57, 455/511, 455/563, 455/116, 455/67.7
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233

Abstract

A GPS navigation code device has GPS features and easy address retrieval means built in, enabling a driver to retrieve and request directions to an address without taking his eyes off the road. The user pre-programs the GPS navigation code device with a plurality of addressees or points of interest and assigns unique navigation codes for each as keyboard entry and speech, all stored in local database within the GPS in three linked databases. While driving, the user presses a special address search mode key and inputs the unique navigation code by keyboard or speech pattern, views displayed address and accepts the same. When an unknown navigation code is entered the GPS accesses a remote database through the Internet to recover the associated company name and uses Internet based map service to locate closest list of specified business providing directions by map and speech on a turn-by-turn basis.

Claims

1. A GPS Navigation Code System comprising:

a. an Internet based remote database of advertised addresses and points of interest, corresponding to contracted navigational codes, and a GPS navigation device having Internet connectivity, a local database, an internal map database, display monitor, memory, processor, software generated or hardware data entry keyboard, sound input, sound output and a special key for activating address search;

b. said GPS navigation device local database including user data of user generated various addresses and points of interest and a corresponding contracted navigation code reference to each of the addresses and points of interest;

c. said GPS navigation device local database including a speech pattern of sounds for each of the contracted navigational codes for each of the addresses and points of interest;

d. said GPS navigation device configured to store in said local database said addresses, points of interest, contracted navigational code reference and speech pattern of sounds in three linked separate databases;

e. said special key being operative, upon being pressed, to thereby set the said GPS navigation device in address search mode, whereupon a desired address is retrieved from the stored local database and displayed on the monitor when a few characters are typed or spoken;

f. said system being configured to accept the displayed address and to cancel the address search mode of said GPS navigation device by pressing the special key;

g. said GPS navigation device being operative in response to communication of a contracted navigation code that is not present in the local database therewithin to access said Internet based remote database containing advertised contracted navigation codes and names of specific businesses;

h. the GPS navigation device being further operative to provide current location information regarding the GPS navigation device to the GPS navigation system to accessed locations of specific businesses corresponding to contracted navigation codes and to provide a list of close by business locations for selection;

i. said GPS navigation device configured to calculate the route to the address selected and to display the route on the display as well as to provide voice generated guidance using said internal map database;

whereby pressing the special key on the GPS navigator device and input of a few navigational code characters through text or speech when retrieving the retrieves a destination address in a short time, thereby avoiding distractions from vehicular driving duties, increasing the margin of safety for the driver, passengers and others in the vicinity of the vehicle.

2. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein said address is retrieved by either entering keystrokes of navigational codes or by speaking a speech pattern of sounds after activating address search mode by pressing said special key.

3. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein the navigation code is a few keystrokes.

4. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein the addresses and navigation codes in the local database are pre-programmed by the user prior to driving in an automobile.

5. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein the addresses, navigation codes and voice recording in the local database may be individually changed and reassigned or entirely erased and reprogrammed prior to driving on a trip.

6. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein said special key in the GPS navigation device is an easily accessible press button.

7. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein said advertised contracted navigation codes and names of specific businesses are also stored in local database for future use.

8. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 3, wherein said navigation code comprises at least 2 keystrokes.

9. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 7, wherein said navigation code comprises from 2 to 10 keystrokes.

10. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 8, wherein said navigation code comprises from 4 to 8 keystrokes.

11. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 9, wherein said navigation code comprises from 5 to 7 keystrokes.

12. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein the GPS navigation device is a smart cell phone with Internet connectivity.

13. The GPS Navigation Code System as recited by claim 1, wherein the GPS navigation device is a personal data assistant (PDA) with Internet connectivity.

14. A method of using a GPS Navigation Code System, comprising the steps of:

a. programming the GPS navigation device that is a part of the GPS navigation system recording various addresses, points of interests and corresponding contracted navigational codes using software generated data or a hardware data entry keyboard generated data that is stored in a local database of said GPS navigation device;

b. recording a speech pattern of sounds for each of the contracted navigational codes for each of the addresses and points of interest, and storing said speech pattern of sounds in a local database of said GPS navigation device;

c. pushing a special key in the GPS navigation device to set the device in address search mode and typing few characters or speaking said contracted navigation code to retrieve a desired address or point of interest;

d. accepting a retrieved address displayed by the said GPS navigation device by pressing said special key;

e. depression of the said special key when an address search of the local database does not retrieve a desired address or point of interest in response to entry of a contracted navigation code being operative to cause said GPS navigation device to establish an Internet communication that accesses an Internet based remote database containing advertised contracted navigation codes and names of specific businesses, to recover the address that is closest to the GPS Navigation device and appointed for acceptance; and

f. said GPS navigation system calculating the route to the desired address selected and displaying the route on the display as well as providing voice generated guidance using said internal map database or an Internet based mapping resource;

whereby after pressing the special key on the GPS navigator device a shorter time is spent entering navigational code characters or speaking the previously assigned speech pattern, when retrieving the desired address, thereby avoiding distractions from vehicular driving duties, increasing the margin of safety for the driver passengers and others in the vicinity of the vehicle.