Speed limit advisor

• US 20070050130A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sadekar, Varsha, Hermiz, Sarmad, Grimm, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A navigation system (10) adapted for use with a vehicle (12) having an operator (14) includes a map database (16) presenting a current vehicle path, a locator device (20) communicatively coupled to the database (16) and configured to determine the location of the vehicle (12) and to associate the location with a position point within the database (16). The system (10) further includes an improved indicator (34) configured to predictively communicate an upcoming condition to the operator (14), determine a time-dependent-variable condition, compare a current condition of the vehicle (12) to the upcoming condition, and alert the operator (14) to a non-compliant comparison. The system (10) is further configured to receive preferences from the operator (14) and vehicle (12), so as to present a modifiable mode of operation.

Claims

1. A navigational system adapted for use with a vehicle having an operator, said system comprising:

a map database having at least one record, wherein said record presents at least one path,

said path presenting a direction of travel, and includes a plurality of position points, wherein a first of said points is correlated with indicia data;

a locator device communicatively coupled to the database, and configured to determine the location of the vehicle, and match said location with a second of said points on the record; and

wherein the improvement comprises, an indicator communicatively coupled to the device and database, and configured to predictively communicate a data-related signal to the operator, when the vehicle is a minimum distance or time from and traveling towards the first point.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1,

said data being the existence of a maximum speed limit for the path, traffic sign or traffic device, the name of the thoroughfare upon which the vehicle is located, notification of an accident, or notification of a traffic jam, at the point.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, said signal being a visually perceptible representation of the data.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1,

said data being a time-dependent variable,

said database, device and indicator being cooperatively configured to determine the correct local time at the point, so as to achieve the proper variable.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4,

said map record being correlated with at least one time-zone,

said indicator including a clock, and being further configured to adjust the clock according to the map record time zone.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5;

and

a time specific database communicatively coupled to the map database, and including a plurality of geographic territory records, wherein each geographic territory record presents an applicable time zone,

said map record being correlated to at least one of said geographic territory records.

7. The system as claimed in claim 4,

said first point being further correlated with a “

Yes”

or “

No”

day-light-savings observance value,

said indicator including a clock, and being further configured to determine the local time in accordance with the value.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7;

and

a day-light-savings observance database communicatively coupled to the map database, and including a plurality of geographic territory records, wherein each geographic territory record presents a day-light-savings observance value,

said map record being correlated to at least one of said geographic territory records.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1,

said positioning device including a GPS system.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1,

said data indicating the beginning of an advisory zone,

said zone presenting a zone ending, wherein said ending is defined by the beginning of an adjacent advisory zone having an opposite direction of travel, a constant advisory period, or a constant advisory length.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the appearance, timing or duration of the signal is modifiable by operator or extraneous input.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1,

said signal being communicated to the operator upon a demand.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12,

said demand being performed utilizing a voice request/voice response or button press/voice response mechanism.

14. A navigational system adapted for use with a vehicle having an operator, said system comprising:

a map database having at least one record, wherein said record presents at least one path,

said path presenting a direction of travel, and includes a plurality of positional points, wherein a first of said points is correlated with a speed limit for the path at the point;

a locator device communicatively coupled to the database, and configured to determine the location of the vehicle, and match said location with a second of said points on the record; and

wherein the improvement comprises an indicator communicatively coupled to the device and database, and configured to predictively communicate a data-related signal to the operator, when the vehicle is a minimum distance or time from and traveling towards the first point,

said indicator being further configured to predictively communicate the data to the operator for a predetermined period greater than zero, and obtain the actual speed of the vehicle.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14,

said period being not greater than the difference between the actual vehicle speed and speed limit divided by a preferred rate of deceleration or acceleration.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14,

said indicator being further configured to predictively communicate a plurality of data-related signals to the operator, wherein each signal is communicated upon the exceedance of a different difference, so as to present a constant offset.

17. The system as claimed in claim 14,

said indicator being communicatively coupled to the acceleration and deceleration mechanisms of the vehicle, and cooperatively configured to automatically accelerate or decelerate the vehicle to the speed limit within the period.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14,

said indicator being further configured to predictively communicate a plurality of data-related signals to the operator, wherein each signal is communicated upon the exceedance of an increased percentage of the speed limit, so as to present a percentage offset.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein each signal being communicated upon the exceedance of the sum of an increased percentage of the speed limit and a constant, so as to present a combined multiplier and constant offset.

20. A method of predictively communicating a time-dependant variable condition to the operator of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining the vehicle position in latitude and longitude;

b) matching the vehicle position with a point upon an in-vehicle map-database to obtain a ID link on which the vehicle is currently positioned within the map database;

c) obtaining time-specific information using the ID link, and modifying the in-vehicle clock accordingly if necessary; and

d) utilizing the correct local time to determine the current condition.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20,

step (c) further including the steps of obtaining locale-specific information using the ID link, and determining time specific information pertaining to the current locale.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21,

step (c) further including the steps of communicatively coupling the map database with a time specific information database, and automatically determining the time specific information pertaining to the current locale.