Occupant based navigation aid lock-out function
First Claim
1. A navigation aid system for use in a vehicle configured to carry a driver and at least one passenger, the system comprising:
- a first sensor configured to provide information relating to vehicle movement;
a second sensor configured to provide information indicating whether or not the at least one passenger is present in the vehicle in addition to the driver; and
a navigation aid device coupled to the first and second sensors, and, when the first sensor detects that the vehicle is moving faster than a predetermined threshold speed the navigation aid device is adapted to lock and deny requests for navigation related information,wherein the navigation aid device is further configured to unlock and accept requests for navigation related information when the second sensor indicates that the at least one passenger is present in the vehicle, andwhen the first sensor detects that the vehicle is moving faster than the predetermined threshold and the second sensor does not detect the at least one passenger is present in the vehicle in addition to the driver, the navigation aid device is further configured to temporarily unlock and a accept request for navigation related information when the driver accepts responsibility for a request for further navigation aid information by positively acknowledging a disclaimer message which is presented on the navigation aid device to the driver, and the navigation aide device is further configured to relock after the navigation aide device determines that no further driver input is needed for the request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle navigation aid (nav-aid) system and method are provided to un-lock nav-aid functions in a moving vehicle. Sensors within the vehicle provide vehicle speed S and whether a person other the driver is present. For S greater than predetermined threshold speed Sth≧0, the nav-aid system remains in a locked-out state if a passenger is not present. When a passenger is present, then the system may accept some otherwise locked-out nav-aid requests. A warning and disclaimer message requiring positive acknowledgement thereof is desirable. In a preferred embodiment, the passenger should occupy a front seat and have a weight or size or both exceeding a predetermined (e.g., “adult”) threshold. Desirably, navigation aid access is precluded for S>Sth unless the occupied seat belts are latched. In a further embodiment, a user access status display indicates which nav-aid functions can be accessed depending on the vehicle status.
34 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A navigation aid system for use in a vehicle configured to carry a driver and at least one passenger, the system comprising:
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a first sensor configured to provide information relating to vehicle movement; a second sensor configured to provide information indicating whether or not the at least one passenger is present in the vehicle in addition to the driver; and a navigation aid device coupled to the first and second sensors, and, when the first sensor detects that the vehicle is moving faster than a predetermined threshold speed the navigation aid device is adapted to lock and deny requests for navigation related information, wherein the navigation aid device is further configured to unlock and accept requests for navigation related information when the second sensor indicates that the at least one passenger is present in the vehicle, and when the first sensor detects that the vehicle is moving faster than the predetermined threshold and the second sensor does not detect the at least one passenger is present in the vehicle in addition to the driver, the navigation aid device is further configured to temporarily unlock and a accept request for navigation related information when the driver accepts responsibility for a request for further navigation aid information by positively acknowledging a disclaimer message which is presented on the navigation aid device to the driver, and the navigation aide device is further configured to relock after the navigation aide device determines that no further driver input is needed for the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification