Navigation system for a vehicle

• US 20050197764A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wolf, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigation system for a vehicle which allows route planning depending on the current traffic volume. For this purpose, the navigation system is provided with an evaluation unit for detecting one of a vehicle and topographical data, for example the average speed of the vehicle. This infoimation is transmitted to other systems in a network. A receiving unit can be used to receive current traffic jam information from other navigation systems, thereby allowing for an automatic and precise route planning which takes into consideration traffic jams and does not require stationary traffic jam detectors. The inventive navigation system is especially suitable for use in developing countries.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:

an evaluation unit for capturing and conditioning vehicle data and/or topographical data,

a transmission unit, which is coupled to the evaluation unit, for sending the data captured by the evaluation unit or derived therefrom to navigation systems in other vehicles,

a reception unit for receiving vehicle data and/or topographical data or data derived therefrom from navigation systems in other vehicles,

a processing unit which is coupled to the reception unit for the purpose of logically combining and conditioning the data provided by the navigation systems in other vehicles, and

an output unit for outputting the logically combined and conditioned data, which is coupled to the processing unit.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data include the current or average speed of the vehicle.

3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation unit assigns a value to a respective covered path range on the basis of the ascertained speed in this path range, and the transmission unit is designed to send the value which is dependent on the ascertained speed to the navigation systems in other vehicles.

4. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation unit assigns a time-dependent value to the speed-dependent value associated with a covered path range, and the transmission unit is designed to send the time-stamped value which is dependent on the ascertained speed to the navigation systems in other vehicles.

5. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation unit assigns the speed-dependent value to a path section on an electronic map.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising means for finding the position of the vehicle is provided and is coupled to the transmission unit for the purpose of sending the position of the vehicle.

7. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit provided for inputting a desired travel destination.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises a graphical display.

9. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

10. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit and the reception unit are designed for satellite radio.

11. The navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation unit assigns the speed-dependent value to a path section on an electronic map.