Navigation location mark by cell phone

• US 8,942,922 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Wiegand, Michael, McBride, Justin, Wakamatsu, Toshihiro, Uesaka, Hiroto
• Primary Examiner(s): PALAVECINO, KATHLEEN GAGE
• Application Number:
  US12/413,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 701/469, 701/213, 701/468
• US Class Current: 701/468
• 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: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

A system is provided that may mark and communicate a location to a navigation system via a portable device. The portable device may include a user interface, a first GPS device, a first memory device and a transmitter. The user interface may selectively allow the first GPS device to acquire geographical coordinates of a current location of the portable device and store the geographical coordinates in the first memory device. The navigation system may include a second GPS device, a second memory device, a receiver, and a display. The transmitter of the portable device may communicate the geographical coordinates to the receiver of the navigation system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a portable device having a user interface, a first GPS device, a first memory device and a transmitter, the user interface selectively allowing the first GPS device to acquire geographical coordinates of a location of interest and store the geographical coordinates in the first memory device; and

a navigation system including a second GPS device, a second memory device, a receiver, and a display, wherein

the portable device and the navigation system communicate through radio frequency (RF) communication;

the portable device displays a message on the user interface prompting a user to communicate the geographical coordinates of the location of interest immediately when the portable device is within range of the navigation system; and

the transmitter of the portable device communicates the geographical coordinates of the location of interest to the receiver of the navigation system when prompted by the user in response to the message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the portable device prompts the user to store the geographical information of the location of interest in the portable device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication device associated with the location of interest and adapted to wirelessly communicate the geographical information to the portable device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication device is a personal computer.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication device transmits business information associated with the location of interest to the portable device.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication device includes a radio frequency transmitter/receiver in communication with the portable device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable device communicates with the navigation system via a radio frequency transmitting/receiving compatible device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographical information includes latitude and longitude coordinates.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable device is a cellular phone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system is installed in a vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable device prompts the user by displaying a message on the portable device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the message indicates that the user may optionally transfer selected portions of information related to the location of interest.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user can display the information related to the location of interest on the user interface of the portable device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system determines a driving route from a current location to the location of interest.

15. A method comprising:

storing geographical information of a location of interest in a memory of a portable device;

establishing a radio frequency (RF) communication between the portable device and the navigation system;

displaying a message on the portable device prompting a user to communicate the geographical information of the location of interest immediately when the portable device is within range of the navigation system;

communicating the geographical information of the location of interest from the portable device to the navigation system when prompted by the user in response to the message;

storing the geographical information in a memory device of the navigation system;

accessing the geographical information on the navigation system; and

displaying navigation information guiding a user to the location.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising prompting the user to store the geographical information of the location in the portable device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a communication device associated with the location and communicating the geographical information from the communication device to the portable device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating business information associated with the location from the communication device to the portable device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the business information includes data selected from the group consisting of contact information, hours of operation, and menu information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable device communicates with the navigation system via a radio frequency transmitter/receiver compatible device.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the geographical information includes latitude and longitude coordinates.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable device is a cellular phone.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the navigation system is installed in a vehicle.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of prompting includes displaying a message on the portable device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the message indicates that the user may optionally transfer selected portions of additional information related to the location of interest.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising optionally displaying the additional information related to the location of interest on a user interface of the portable device.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a driving route from a current position to the location of interest.

28. A method comprising:

entering a location of interest with a portable device;

transmitting information associated with the location of interest to the portable device;

storing the information in a first memory device disposed in the portable device;

entering a vehicle having a navigation system, the navigation system including a receiver in communication with the portable device;

establishing radio frequency (RF) communication between the portable device and the navigation system;

displaying a message on the portable device prompting a user to transmit the information associated with the location of interest immediately when the portable device is within range of the navigation system;

transmitting the information from the portable device to the navigation system when prompted by the user in response to the message;

storing the information in a second memory device of the navigation system;

recalling the information on the navigation system;

determining a route to the location of interest based on the information; and

displaying the route on a display screen of the navigation system.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver in the portable device and a second radio frequency transmitter/receiver in the navigation system.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of prompting includes displaying a message on the portable device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the message indicates that the user may optionally transfer selected portions of the information associated with the location of interest.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising optionally displaying the information associated with the location of interest on a user interface of the portable device.

33. A system comprising:

an information provider associated with a location of interest, the information provider including a first memory device, a processing unit, and a first transmitter;

a portable device having a user interface, a second memory device, a second transmitter and a first receiver receiving geographical coordinates of the location of interest and communicating the geographical coordinates to the second memory device; and

a navigation system including a GPS device, a third memory device, a second receiver, and a display, wherein

the portable device and the navigation system communicate through radio frequency (RF) communication;

the portable device displays a message on the user interface prompting a user to communicate the geographical coordinates of the location of interest immediately when the portable device is within range of the navigation system; and

the second transmitted of the portable device communicates the geographical coordinates to the second receiver of the navigation device when prompted by the user in response to the message.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the portable device prompts the user by displaying a message on the portable device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the message indicates that the user may optionally transfer selected portions of information related to the location of interest.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the user can display the information related to the location of interest on the user interface of the portable device.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the navigation system determines a driving route from a current location to the location of interest.