Route calculation method and navigation method

• US 20040021583A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jung, Thomas, Lau, Stefan Jung, Hoffmann, Ralf, Schmidt, Heinrich
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.19
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement

Abstract

A method of route calculation in an vehicle navigation device is described, whereby a route from a starting location or a current location to a destination location is calculated, so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the route to an alternate destination location which preferably has the facilities necessary to eliminate the deficiency is calculated instead of the original destination location.

In addition, a method of navigation of a driver of a vehicle from a starting location to at least one destination location is also described, a trip route from the starting location or a current location to the at least one destination location being determined, and driving instructions being generated as a function of a current location so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the trip route to an alternate destination location which preferably has the facilities necessary to eliminate the deficiency is calculated.

The methods according to the present invention relieve the driver of a vehicle from the burden of searching for suitable alternate destinations in a road map, which must be carried separately, as well as any additional input of an alternate destination thus determined as a new destination location for trip navigation to the alternate destination.

Claims

1. A method of route calculation in an vehicle navigation device in which a route from a starting location or a current location to a destination location is calculated,

wherein in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the route to an alternate destination location is calculated instead of the original destination location.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the alternate destination location has the necessary facilities for elimination of the deficiency in the vehicle or the deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle.

4. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the alternate destination has preselectable attributes.

5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, one or more alternate destination locations is/are suggested to the driver of the vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 5,

wherein the route to the selected destination location instead of the original destination location is calculated only after the alternate destination location or one of the plurality of alternate destination locations has been accepted by the driver of the vehicle.

7. The method as recited in claim 5,

wherein the route to the suggested alternate destination location is calculated instead of the original destination location unless the driver of the vehicle rejects the alternate destination location.

8. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the finding of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle is made by the driver of the vehicle.

9. The method as recited in one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the finding of a deficiency in the vehicle is made by sensors in the vehicle.

10. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the availability of the facilities, at a potential alternate destination location, required to eliminate the deficiency in the vehicle or the deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle is checked by comparing a current time of day with stored official business hours or by remote inquiry.

2. A method of navigation of a driver of a vehicle from a starting location to at least one destination location, a trip route from the starting location or a current location to the at least one destination location being determined, and driving instructions being generated as a function of a current location,

wherein in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the trip route to an alternate destination location is calculated.