Navigation device and method for display of position in text readible form

• US 8,600,668 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Ribbink, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/907,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,246 Days
• Field of Search: 455/457, 455/416, 455/417, 701/213, 701/440, 701/454
• US Class Current: 701/440
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for display of a location of a navigation device; determining at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device; comparing the determined GPS location to stored map information and converting the determined GPS location into a text readable form; and displaying the text readable form of the determined GPS location on an integrated input and display of the navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to receive a request for display of a location of a navigation device, to determine at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device, to compare the determined GPS location to stored map information and to convert the determined GPS location into a text readable form; and an integrated input and display device to display the text readable form of the determined GPS location.

Claims

1. A method performed by a navigation device, comprising:

receiving a request for display of a location of the navigation device;

determining at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device;

comparing the determined GPS location to stored map information and converting the determined GPS location into a readable text description, wherein;

said comparing comprises determining at least one element of map information associated with the determined GPS location; and

said description comprises;

readable text information corresponding to one or more said determined element of map information; and

readable text information indicating the relative location of the navigation device to said one or more said determined element of map information; and

displaying the description of the determined GPS location on an integrated input and display of the navigation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversion includes determining at least a roadway on which the navigation device is located.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversion includes determining at least two roadways proximate to the navigation device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining includes determining at least a roadway on which the navigation device is located and then determining at least one relatively nearest roadways crossing the determined roadway.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the conversion further includes determining at least two roadways proximate to the navigation device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining includes determining at least a roadway on which the navigation device is located and then determining at least two relatively nearest roadways crossing the determined roadway.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one selectable icon on the integrated input and display device, wherein subsequent to receipt of an indication of selection thereof, the request is received.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying, subsequent to receipt of an indication of selection of at least one displayed selectable icon, at least one other icon is displayed which, when selected, initiates the receiving of the request for display of the location of the navigation device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one selectable icon includes a selectable icon relating to an emergency and the method further comprising displaying, subsequent to receipt of an indication of the selectable icon relating to an emergency, at least one other icon is displayed which, when selected, initiates the receiving of the request for display of the location of the navigation device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one selectable icon includes a selectable icon relating to an emergency and further comprising:

determining, in response to receipt of an indication of selection one of the plurality of icons relating to a category of emergency services, emergency services and corresponding relative distances to at least one of a current location and a last known location of the navigation device; and

displaying a listing, of the selected category, of emergency services determined to be relatively nearest to at least one of a current location and a last known location of the navigation device.

11. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim 1.

27. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

calculating a time from a last received GPS signal, and

displaying the amount of time passed since the last GPS signal was received.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting comprises following a plurality of pre-programmed rules comprising determining a format of the description from a plurality of formats.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the pre-programmed rules include selecting between a precise location and an approximate location.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the pre-programmed rules comprise selecting a format referencing a location relative to a single said determined element versus two said determined elements.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the pre-programmed rules include selecting between referencing a POI as said at least one element and an intersection as said at least one element.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the pre-programmed rules comprise selecting between forming the description in the present tense versus the past tense.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of pre-programmed rules comprise selecting between referencing a street address versus a POI or intersection.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the readable text information is displayed responsive to placing an emergency call.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the description comprises a street location and a location relative to a POI and the displaying comprises displaying these sequentially.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying is in addition to a labeled map.

38. the method of claim 37, wherein:

the displaying is simultaneously with an emergency services telephone icon; and

the description persists during an emergency call made using the icon.

12. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor to receive a request for display of a location of a navigation device, to determine at least one of a last known and a current GPS location of the navigation device, to compare the determined GPS location to stored map information and to convert the determined GPS location into a readable text description, wherein;

said comparing comprises determining at least one element of map information associated with the determined GPS location; and

said description comprises;

readable text information corresponding to one or more said determined element of map information; and

readable text information indicating the relative location of the navigation device to said one or more said determined element of map information; and

an integrated input and display device to display the description of the determined GPS location.

13. The navigation device of claim 12, wherein the converting includes the processor being further used to determine at least a roadway on which the navigation device is located.

14. The navigation device of claim 12, wherein the converting includes the processor being further used to determine at least two roadways proximate to the navigation device.

15. The navigation device of claim 13, wherein the determining includes the processor being further used to determine at least a roadway on which the navigation device is located and then to determine at least one relatively nearest roadways crossing the determined roadway.

16. The navigation device of claim 13, wherein the converting further includes the processor being further used to determine at least two roadways proximate to the navigation device.

17. The navigation device of claim 16, wherein the determining includes the processor being further used to determine at least a roadway on which the navigation device is located and then to determine at least two relatively nearest roadways crossing the determined roadway.

18. The navigation device of claim 12, wherein the integrated input and display device is further useable to display at least one selectable icon, wherein subsequent to the processor receiving indication of selection thereof, the request is received by the processor.

19. The navigation device of claim 18, wherein the integrated input and display device is further useable to display, subsequent to the processor receiving an indication of selection of at least one displayed selectable icon, at least one other icon which, when selected, initiates the receiving of the request for display of the location of the navigation device.

20. The navigation device of claim 18, wherein the at least one selectable icon includes a selectable icon relating to an emergency.

21. The navigation device of claim 20, wherein the integrated input and display device is further useable to display, subsequent to the processor receiving an indication of selection of at least one displayed selectable icon, at least one other icon which, when selected, initiates the receiving of the request for display of the location of the navigation device.

22. The navigation device of claim 19, wherein the at least one other icon is displayed on the integrated input and display device with a plurality of selectable icons, subsequent to the processor receiving an indication of the least one selectable icon, at least one of plurality of selectable icons relating to at least one of emergency service information and emergency service access.

23. The navigation device of claim 21, wherein the at least one other icon is displayed on the integrated input and display device with a plurality of selectable icons, subsequent to the processor receiving an indication of the selectable icon relating to an emergency, at least one of plurality of selectable icons relating to at least one of emergency service information and emergency service access.

24. The navigation device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of selectable icons relating to emergency service access includes an icon relating to navigation to emergency service locations proximate to at least one of a current location and a last known location of the navigation device.

25. The navigation device of claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of selectable icons relating to emergency service access includes an icon relating to navigation to emergency service locations proximate to at least one of a current location and a last known location of the navigation device.

26. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further useable to determine, in response to receipt of an indication of selection one of the plurality of icons relating to a category of emergency services, emergency services and corresponding relative distances to at least one of a current location and a last known location of the navigation device.

28. The navigation device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further usable to

calculate a time from a last received GPS signal, and the integrated input and display device is further usable to display an amount of time passed since a last GPS signal was received.

39. The device of claim 12, wherein the converting comprises following a plurality of pre-programmed rules comprising determining a format of the description form a plurality of formats.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the pre-programmed rules include selecting between a precise location and an approximate location.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein the pre-programmed rules comprise selecting a format referencing a location relative to a single said determined element versus two said determined elements.

42. The device of claim 39, wherein the pre-programmed rules include selecting between referencing a POI as said at least one element and an intersection as said at least one element.

43. The device of claim 39, wherein the pre-programmed rules comprise selecting between forming the description in the present tense versus the past tense.

44. The device of claim 39, wherein the plurality of pre-programmed rules comprise selecting between referencing a street address versus a POI or intersection.

45. The device of claim 12, wherein the readable text information is displayed responsive to placing an emergency call.

46. The device of claim 12, wherein the description comprises a street location and a location relative to a POI and the displaying comprises displaying these sequentially.

47. The device of claim 12, wherein the displaying is in addition to a labeled map.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein:

the displaying is simultaneously with an emergency services telephone icon; and

the description persists during an emergency call made using the icon.