Navigation system and method for guiding speed limiting information by block

• US 8,781,723 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Ju Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US12/668,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,208 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/409, 701/410, 701/426, 701/429, 701/448, 701/461, 701/465, 701/468
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation system and method for providing notification of speed limit information for each block is provided. The method includes: maintaining a database which stores a start point and an end point of a speed limited block, and a speed limit for each block; sensing whether a speed limited block exists in a front area while driving on a predetermined route; and providing a speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block when the speed limited block is sensed.

Claims

1. A method for notifying of speed limit information for each block of a navigation system, the method comprising:

maintaining a database which stores a start point and an end point of a speed limited block, and a speed limit for each block wherein the speed limited block includes a shadow area;

sensing whether a speed limited block exists in a front area while driving on a predetermined route; and

providing a speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block when the speed limited block is sensed

wherein the providing comprises displaying the speed alert notification on the screen of a map or notifying by voice repeatedly with a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block comprises:

reading a start point, an end point, and a speed limit of a corresponding block in the database when the speed limited block is sensed;

providing notification of the speed limit read from a point corresponding to the start point of the speed limited block to a point corresponding to the end point of the speed limited block.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block comprises:

reading a start point, an end point, and a speed limit of a corresponding block in the database when the speed limited block is sensed;

calculating a distance of the speed limited block using the read start point and the end point;

calculating an estimated passage time required for passing through the speed limited block using the read speed limit and the calculated distance; and

providing notification of the calculated estimated passage time and the speed limit read from the point corresponding to the start point of the speed limited block to the point corresponding to the end point of the speed limited block.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block further comprises:

notifying of present time information of passing through the start point of the speed limited block with the estimated passage time.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block further comprises:

sensing user'"'"'s moving speed within the speed limited block; and

providing an alert notice with respect to the user'"'"'s moving speed when a sensed moving speed surpasses the speed limit or the suitable speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block comprises:

reading a start point, an end point, and a speed limit of a corresponding block in the database when the speed limited block is sensed;

calculating a distance of the speed limited block using the read start point and the end point;

calculating an estimated passage time required for passing through the speed limited block using the read speed limit and the calculated distance;

determining a suitable speed for the speed limited block based on the read speed limit;

providing notification of the calculated estimated passage time and the determined suitable speed from the point corresponding to the start point of the speed limited block to the point corresponding to the end point of the speed limited block.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the suitable speed is determined by considering a predetermined speed using the read speed limit.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block further comprises:

notifying of present time information of passing through the start point of the speed limited block with the estimated passage time.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block further comprises:

sensing user'"'"'s moving speed within the speed limited block; and

providing an alert notice with respect to the user'"'"'s moving speed when a sensed moving speed surpasses the speed limit or the suitable speed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block comprises:

reading a start point, an end point, and a speed limit of a corresponding block in the database when the speed limited block is sensed;

calculating a distance of the speed limited block using the read start point and the end point;

determining a suitable speed for the speed limited block based on the read speed limit;

calculating an estimated passage time required for passing through the speed limited block using the read speed limit and the calculated distance;

providing notification of the calculated estimated passage time and the determined suitable speed from the point corresponding to the start point of the speed limited block to the point corresponding to the end point of the speed limited block.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the suitable speed is determined by considering a predetermined speed using the read speed limit.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block further comprises:

notifying of present time information of passing through the start point of the speed limited block with the estimated passage time.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block further comprises:

sensing user'"'"'s moving speed within the speed limited block; and

providing an alert notice with respect to the user'"'"'s moving speed when a sensed moving speed surpasses the speed limit or the suitable speed.

14. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for implementing a method for notifying of speed limit information for each block of a navigation system, the method comprising:

maintaining a database which stores a start point and an end point of a speed limited block, and a speed limit for each block wherein the speed limited block includes a shadow area;

sensing whether a speed limited block exists in a front area while driving on a predetermined route; and

providing a speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block when the speed limited block is sensed

wherein the providing comprises displaying the speed alert notification on the screen of a map or notifying by voice repeatedly with a predetermined time period.

15. A navigation system comprising:

a database storing a start point and an end point of a speed limited block, and a speed limit for each block, the speed limited block being defined with a speed limit covering an entire nation wherein the speed limited block includes a shadow area; and

a control unit providing a speeding alert notification, when a speed limited block is sensed while driving a predetermined route, while driving on a speed limited block,

wherein the control unit calculates an estimated passage time required for passing through the speed limited block based on a start point and an end point corresponding to the speed limited block and the speed limit, provides notification about the speed limit with the calculated estimated passage time, and displays the speed alert notification on the screen of a map or notifies by voice repeatedly with a predetermined time period.