Non real time traffic system for a navigator

• US 9,026,358 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Original Assignee: Tetherball Holdings Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/547,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20090326805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 701/214, 340/988, 342/357.01, 342/357.08
• US Class Current: 701/454
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A system for improving the operation of a GPS based navigator. Statistical and/or time of day information is used to select the best route between a current location and a desired location. The statistical information may take into account anomalies, and a user can select the amount of risk they which take. The system can be updated with more updated information. In addition, the selection of the desired location can be carried out by downloading information from a PDA.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first computer that stores plural different addresses as stored addresses, and also controls access to an electronically accessible website that returns information route navigation;

said first computer accepting entry of address information on said first computer, using said address information to select one of said stored addresses, and said first computer having an output capability that sends information about a stored address that was selected using said address information, from said computer to another computer as a command to navigate to said stored address that was selected using said address information,

and where said first computer also enables outputting information indicative of points of interest which are most popular within a specified area, where a determination of which point of interest is most popular is based on monitoring a point of interest that is most popular to plural different users within the specified area.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said output capability is a wireless port that wirelessly sends said information.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said information about said stored address that was selected using said address information is route information from a current address to said stored address.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said specified area is a distance that is a specified number of minutes drive from a point.

5. A device as in claim 2, wherein said wirelessly sending comprises sending by infra red.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said sending comprises sending over a wire from an output port of said computer.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said output port is a USB port.

8. A device as in claim 1, wherein said output capability sends information in an encoded form that can be decoded to obtain information that allows navigating to an address represented by said address information.

9. A navigation device, comprising:

a navigation device that includes a position determining part that determines a current position of said navigation device, and a destination entry system, that accepts entry of destinations, and operates to provide navigation information from said current position to a destination;

said navigation device receiving destination information from another computer, and enabling navigating from said current position to an address defined by said destination information, wherein said destination information comprises a point of interest of a specified type that is most popular based on monitoring actions of other users in the another computer, where a determination of which point of interest is most popular is based on monitoring a point of interest that is most popular to plural different users within the specified area.

10. A device as in claim 9, wherein said navigation device includes a wireless port that wirelessly receives said information.

11. A device as in claim 9, wherein said navigation device also receives a discount code that can be used to obtain a discount at the point of interest.

12. A device as in claim 9, wherein said point of interest is a point of interest that is most popular within a specified distance.

13. A device as in claim 12, wherein said point of interest is one which is most popular within a specified time of driving.

14. A device as in claim 9, wherein said point of interest is one of a park, a restaurant, or service station.

15. A device as in claim 9, wherein said receiving receives information in a form that can be decoded to obtain information that allows navigating to an address represented by said destination information.

16. A method of electronically navigating, comprising:

accessing plural different stored addresses in a first computer;

from said first computer, also accessing an electronically accessible website that returns information about information about stored addresses;

allowing entry of address information on said first computer;

accessing information indicative of points of interest which are most popular within a specified area from said first computer, where a determination of which point of interest is most popular is based on monitoring plural different users'"'"' actions and finding a point of interest that is most popular to plural different users within the specified area;

at a first time, selecting one of said plural stored addresses of one of said points of interest as a desired destination; and

responsive to said selecting, sending information from said computer to another computer as a command to navigate to said desired destination.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said sending comprises wirelessly sending.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein said wirelessly sending comprises sending via infra red.

19. A method as in claim 16, wherein said information about said stored addresses is route information from a current address to said stored address.

20. A method as in claim 16, wherein said point of interest is one which is most popular within a specified time of driving.

21. A method as in claim 16, wherein said sending comprises sending information in an encoded form that can be decoded to include said information that allows navigating to said address.

22. A navigation method, comprising:

using a navigation device that to determine a current position of said navigation device;

accepting entry of destinations on said navigation device;

outputting navigation information which instructs a user on navigating from said current position to a destination;

first selecting an option to receive point of interest information from another computer which is based on monitoring actions of other users using the another computer to find a point of interest that is most popular to plural different users within the specified area;

second selecting another option to receive point of interest information by name;

receiving information about a point of interest based on said first selecting and said second selecting;

and

enabling navigating from said current position to said point of interest.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein said receiving comprises wirelessly receiving said information.

24. A method as in claim 22, wherein said receiving receives information in a form that can be decoded to obtain information that allows navigating to an address represented by one of said destinations.

25. A method as in claim 22, wherein said point of interest is a point of interest that is most popular within a specified distance.