Navigation system and method for exchange mutual location information using messenger

• US 8,483,948 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Hee Back
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H
• Application Number:
  US12/811,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,836 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/431, 701/432, 701/440, 701/468, 701/482, 701/519
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• 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 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A navigation system and method of exchanging location information through a messenger. The navigation system exchanging location information through a messenger, the navigation system includes a messenger program-installed navigation device which includes a communication device, transmits/receives messenger information including the location information to/from another navigation device, and displays the location information received through the message program on a map for route guidance.

Claims

1. A navigation system processing location information through a messenger, the navigation system comprises a navigation device wherein

the navigation device comprises:

a control module including a messenger program and a navigation program,

a communication module transmitting/receiving messenger information including the location information to/from other navigation device, and

an output module displaying the location information received through the messenger program on a map,

wherein the messenger information includes at least one of destination information about a destination of the other navigation device, navigation device location information about a location of the navigation device, destination description information including text information about the destination, and communication information through the messenger.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the destination description information includes destination text information which is the text information about the destination, and destination alarm information which determines whether to display the destination text information when the destination is located a predetermined distance away.

3. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein

control module sets an alarm region, and when the navigation device moves into the alarm region, and

the output module displays the destination text information, the alarm region having a radius which is the predetermined distance from the received destination information.

4. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein the output module includes a Text To Speech (TTS) function, and outputs the destination text information through voice.

5. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the control module retrieves a map between the received destination information and the location of the navigation device, and the output module displays a shortest route based on the map.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein

the control module map-matches a map corresponding to the received navigation device location information to another navigation device location information, and

the output module displays the map with respect to a location of the navigation device and a map corresponding to the other navigation device location information, the other navigation device location information being location information about the other navigation device transmitting the navigation device location information.

7. The navigation system of claim 6, wherein the output module supports a screen division function, and simultaneously displays at least one map corresponding to a location of each of at least one navigation device.

8. The navigation system of claim 7, wherein the output module displays the navigation device and the other navigation device when the received navigation device location information can be displayed on the map where the location of the navigation device is matched, and divides a screen to simultaneously display the map of the navigation device and the map of the other navigation device when the received navigation device location information is too far away to be displayed on the map where the location of the navigation device is matched.

9. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the messenger program installed in the navigation device control module is installable in another device using a wired/wireless network.

10. The navigation system of claim 9, further comprising:

a network device which is connectable to a network, transmits/receives the destination information, the destination description information including the text information about the destination to/from the navigation device, and the conversion information through the messenger, the messenger program being installed in the network device.

11. The navigation system of claim 9, wherein the network device stores map information, or uses a map through a network using a web messenger installed in the network device.

12. A navigation method of exchanging location information through a messenger, the navigation method comprising:

receiving navigation device location information about a location of another navigation device;

determining whether the navigation device location information can be displayed on the map displayed in a navigation device;

retrieving a map corresponding to the navigation device location information;

dividing a screen of the navigation device, displaying the retrieved map corresponding to the navigation device location information in one part of a split screen of the navigation device, and a map currently displayed in the navigation device in another part of the split screen of the navigation device; and

additionally displaying a location corresponding to the navigation device location information on the map displayed in the navigation device.

13. The navigation method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether the location corresponding to the navigation device location information moves to a location which can be displayed on the map displayed in the navigation device; and

combining the screen of the navigation device and displaying a location of the navigation device and the location corresponding to the navigation device location information on the map.