Method for operating a navigation system, navigation system and motor vehicle

• US 9,726,512 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Profendiner, Daniel, Enning, Martin, Pham, Viet Hoang, Hainzlmaier, Andre, Heinemann, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/905,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,144 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects

Abstract

A method for operating a navigation system, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

• • determining an upcoming waypoint of a route, which is planned by the navigation system, with respect to which an item of navigation information is to be output to a user,
  • ascertaining surroundings data relating to the surroundings of the waypoint,
  • ascertaining at least one reference object, which is located in the surroundings of the waypoint, from the surroundings data,
  • assigning a verbal designation to the reference object,
  • preparing the navigation information comprising the designation, and
  • acoustically outputting the navigation information.

Claims

1. A method for operating a navigation system, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

determining an upcoming waypoint of a route, which is planned by the navigation system, with respect to which an item of navigation information is to be output to a user,

ascertaining surroundings data, which relate to the surroundings of the waypoint, at least partially on the basis of image data of a camera, which is arranged on the motor vehicle and acquires the surroundings, by way of the navigation system,

ascertaining at least one reference object, which is located in the surroundings of the waypoint, by image recognition in the image data from the surroundings data, wherein a parked vehicle, which is not moving, is ascertained as the reference object, wherein it is ascertained whether a movement of the parked vehicle can be expected, by ascertaining via sensors whether the engine of the parked vehicle is running and/or whether the parked vehicle is located in a parking space or on a street and/or whether a lack of movement of the parked vehicle is observed for a provided minimum time,

assigning a verbal designation to the reference object,

preparing the navigation information comprising the designation, and

acoustically outputting the navigation information.

2. The method according to claim 1,

characterized in that the navigation system determines the surroundings data at least partially by determining a position of the waypoint and analyzing at least one database with location-specific items of information.

3. The method according to claim 2,

characterized in that the database is external, and the access to the external database takes place by way of wireless communication.

4. The method according to claim 1,

characterized in that if multiple reference objects are ascertained, an item of priority information is ascertained for the reference objects and a reference object, the designation of which is output, is selected in dependence on the priority information.

5. A navigation system for guiding a user along a route determined by the navigation system,

characterized in that it uses the method according to claim 1.

6. A motor vehicle,

characterized in that it comprises a navigation system according to claim 5.