Method and system for providing reminders about points of interests while traveling

• US 20030191578A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Paulauskas, Cynthia, Nocek, Tracey
• Granted Patent: US 6,850,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A navigation system includes a feature that allows a user to specify a type of point of interest (or business chain) and then receive a reminder when the user is in proximity to a location of the point of interest of the specified type (or business chain) while traveling in a geographic region.

Claims

1. A method of operation for a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting identification by the user of a category of location type about which a reminder is desired;

while the user is traveling in a geographic region to a location other than a location of the identified category of location type, determining when the navigation system is in proximity to a location of the category of location type identified by the user; and

informing the user when in proximity to a location of the identified category of location type.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation system is installed in a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing the user with guidance to follow a route to the location of the category of location type identified by the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

prior to the step of determining when the navigation system is in proximity to a location of the category of location type identified by the user, determining a current position of the navigation system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing distances between a current position of the navigation system to positions of locations of the category of location type identified by the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing distances between a current position of the navigation system to positions of locations of the category of location type identified by the user;

and

wherein the step of informing is performed if any of said distances is less than a threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said threshold is configurable by the user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing travel times between a current position of the navigation system to positions of locations of the category of location type identified by the user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing travel times between a current position of the navigation system to positions of locations of the category of location type identified by the user;

and

wherein the step of informing is performed if any of said travel times is less than a threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said threshold is configurable by the user.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

storing data indicating said identification in a memory storage device associated with said navigation system, wherein said memory storage device is capable of retaining said data while said navigation system is not being used.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of informing is performed while said user is traveling in a vehicle in which said navigation system is installed.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said navigation system uses a geographic database to determine when the navigation system is in proximity to a location of the category of location type identified by the user.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said geographic database is installed with said navigation system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of informing continues to be performed while the navigation remains in proximity to a location of the identified category of location type.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of informing ceases after the navigation system is no longer in proximity to a location of the identified category of location type.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when performing the step of informing the user, also informing the user of the category of location type which is in proximity.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

prior to the step of accepting identification, providing the user with categories of location types.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if said navigation system is in proximity to more than one location of the identified category of location type, informing the user that more than one location of the identified category of location type is in proximity; and

providing additional information about each location of the identified category of location type which is in proximity.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving real-time data relating to the category of location type; and

using the real-time data in conjunction with data relating to locations of the category of location type when determining when the navigation system is in proximity to a location of the category of location type.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the real-time data relates to one of:

gasoline prices, hotel room prices, and movies.

22. A method of operation for a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

while a user of the navigation system is traveling in a geographic region without being guided to a destination by the navigation system, determining when the user is in proximity to a location of a type previously specified by the user; and

informing the user that the user is in proximity to a location of the type previously specified by the user.

23. A method of operation for a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting an identification by the user of a business chain about which a reminder is desired when the user is in proximity thereto;

while the user is traveling in a geographic region, determining when the user is in proximity to a location of the business chain; and

informing the user when in proximity to a location of the business chain.

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

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

providing the user with guidance to follow a route to the location of the business chain.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

prior to the step of determining when the navigation system is in proximity to a location of the business chain, determining a current position of the navigation system.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing distances between a current position of the navigation system to positions of locations of the business chain identified by the user.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

storing data indicating said identification in a memory storage device associated with said navigation system, wherein said memory storage device is capable of retaining said data while said navigation system is not being used.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of informing is performed while said user is traveling in a vehicle in which said navigation system is installed.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of informing continues to be performed while the navigation remains in proximity to a location of the identified business chain.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

when performing the step of informing the user, also informing the user of the business chain which is in proximity.

33. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

if said navigation system is in proximity to more than one location of the identified business chain, informing the user that more than one location of the identified business chain is in proximity; and

providing additional information about each location of the business chain which is in proximity.

34. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

receiving real-time data relating to the business chain; and

using the real-time data in conjunction with data relating to locations of the business chain when determining when the navigation system is in proximity to a location of the business chain.

28. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing travel times between a current position of the navigation system to positions of locations of the business chain identified by the user.