Navigation system application for mobile device

• US 9,031,788 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NNG KFT
• Original Assignee: NNG KFT
• Inventors: Balogh, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/109,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 701/533, 455/404.2, 455/428, 455/456.1, 345/633
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3885 Transmission of map data to client devices; Reception of map data by client devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A mobile application on a mobile device communicates with a head-unit of a navigation system. The mobile application may retrieve data such as map data, user input data, and other data and communicate the updates to the head unit. By retrieving map data through the mobile application, the head unit may be updated much easier than systems of the prior art. The data may be retrieved through cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks, or other networks which accessible to a user and compatible with the mobile device. Updates may be stored in the mobile device and automatically uploaded to the navigation system head unit when the user is in the vicinity of the head unit. The mobile application may establish a logical connection with one or more head units. The logical connection bounds the mobile application to the head unit and allows for data sharing and synchronization.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for communicating navigation data between a remote server unit and an integrated navigation device located in a vehicle, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication path between the remote server and a mobile communication device;

checking the availability of updated navigation data on the remote server;

when updated navigation data is available on the server, downloading the updated navigation data from the remote server to the mobile communication device;

establishing a second connection path between the mobile communication device and the integrated navigation device after downloading the updated navigation data is complete; and

transmitting the updated navigation data from the mobile communication device the integrated navigation device.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an application is installed on the mobile communication device and received through a network-based application store.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving map data by the mobile communication device from a remote server.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting map data through WiFi connection.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting map data through USB connection.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving data by mobile communication device from network via wireless connection; and

transmitting received data from mobile communication device to an integrated navigation device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein map data is transmitted to an integrated navigation device automatically.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein map data is transmitted to an integrated navigation device in response to user input.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising performing a synchronization of user data between the mobile communication device and the an integrated navigation device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the user data includes a favorite geographic location, contact, route, trip log, or navigation history.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving route data by the application on the mobile communication device; and

transmitting the route data to the integrated navigation device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

retrieving vehicle data by the application; and

transmitting the vehicle data to the integrated navigation device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

detecting by the application that a map is available for the integrated navigation device; and

providing a notification that the map is available.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

creating a first profile by the application for a first vehicle having the integrated navigation device; and

creating a second profile by the application for a second vehicle having a second integrated navigation device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein communicating map data includes receiving map data from the integrated navigation device by the mobile communication device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein communicating map data includes providing map data by the mobile communication device to the integrated navigation device, the map data retrieved by the mobile communication device from a remote server.