Portable GPS navigation device

• US 20070213092A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom NV
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0056 using suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0087 around two axes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A portable GPS navigation device displays map information and navigation instructions; the device (a) includes a two-way wireless transceiver operable to connect to a mobile telephone; (b) is operable to enable a user to control one or more functions of the mobile telephone and (c) includes an audio output and a microphone to enable a voice call to be made using the mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A portable GPS navigation device displaying map information and navigation instructions, wherein the device (a) includes a two-way wireless transceiver operable to connect to a mobile telephone;

(b) is operable to enable a user to control one or more functions of the mobile telephone and (c) includes an audio output and a microphone to enable a voice call to be made using the mobile telephone.

2. The device of claim 1, operable to show on a display one or more graphical icons that the user can select to control the function or functions of the mobile telephone.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the display is a touch screen display that shows one or more icons that, when selected by a touch action, causes a control signal to be sent to the mobile telephone.

4. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, causes an incoming voice call to be answered.

5. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, causes a voice call to be ended.

6. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, causes a text message to be displayed.

7. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, opens a phonebook application on the device which the user can search for a required number using a keyboard shown on the display.

8. The device of claim 7 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, causes a number located in the phone book application to be sent to the mobile telephone and automatically dialled.

9. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, causes a pre-stored home telephone number of the user to be automatically sent to the mobile telephone and dialled.

10. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, causes an on-screen keyboard to be shown, into which a user can enter a telephone number to be dialled.

11. The device of claim 3 operable to display an icon that, when selected by a touch action, enables the user to search, select or call the telephone number of a local point of interest.

12. The device of claim 1 operable such that, during a voice call, voice navigation instructions from the device are replaced by beeps or completely suppressed.

13. The device of claim 1 operable such that, during a voice call, voice navigation instructions from the device are suppressed.

14. The device of claim 1 further including a digital music player, the device being operable such that, during a voice call, music that is being played back on the device speaker is altered in one of the following ways:

paused;

or the music volume is reduced to a lower volume;

or the music volume is reduced to zero, with the music continuing.

15. The device of claim 1 operable such that, during a voice call, the graphical information shown on the display is simplified.

16. The device of claim 15 operable such that instead of a 3D moving-map display, large simple navigation arrows are shown.

17. The device of claim 15 operable such that, during a voice call, an indicator is shown in the display to indicate that a phone call is in progress.

18. The device of claim 17 operable such that the display is a touch screen display and touching the indicator will end the voice call.

19. The device of claim 17 operable such that the display is a touch screen display and touching the indicator will cause a phone-related menu to be displayed.

20. The device of claim 19 in which the phone related menu offers one or more of the following options:

hang up, change the sound volume, transfer the phone audio back to the phone, so that sound comes from the normal mobile telephone speaker instead of the device speaker.

21. The device of claim 1 operable such that during a voice call, a “

mute audio”

signal is output by the device to an external audio system, with the effect that the external audio system dims, or reduces volume, or pauses during the phone conversation.

22. The device of claim 1 operable such that during a phone call, the volume control of the device, normally used to specify the volume of driving instructions, can be used to influence the volume of the phone conversation.

23. The device of claim 1 operable such that when a phone call comes in, an “

incoming call”

ringtone is played on the device, either instead of or in addition to the “

incoming call”

action of the mobile telephone phone.

24. The device of claim 1 operable to display details about the incoming call.

25. The device of claim 24 in which the details include one or more of:

the phone number of the caller;

the caller name (e.g. by matching the number with a list of names and numbers that is available either on the phone or on the device);

other information (business/private, home/mobile etc.) that can be retrieved or displayed based on the number or other information available about the incoming phone call.

26. The device of claim 25 in which audible information is provided based on this information.

27. The device of claim 26 in which the audible information is generated using computer-generated speech synthesis.

28. The device of claim 1 operable to automatically accept an incoming voice call after a pre-determined number of seconds, or a pre-determined number of “

rings”

.

29. The device of claim 1 operable to show on the display a location linked to a caller, and to allow that location to be used as a new navigation destination.

30. The device of claim 29 operable to show the location on a map.

31. The device of claim 29 operable to add the location to a database for later use in a navigation application.

32. The device of claim 29 in which the location linked to the caller is one or more of:

(a) part of the information about the caller, (b) a location stored in a database and retrieved by using the number or name of the caller as key, this database being on the phone, on the navigation device, or accessible via on-line services, (c) retrievable by request to a mobile telephone operator.

33. The device of claim 1 operable such that when a data message is received at the device by the mobile telephone, the mobile telephone sends on that data message to the device.

34. The device of claim 33 operable such that when a data message is received, an indicator appears in the display to indicate receipt that an SMS arrived.

35. The device of claim 33 operable such that when a data message arrives, a warning sound or a ringtone (or any other pre-recorded sound fragment) can be played over the audio output of the device.

36. The device of claim 33 operable such that, when a data message arrives, the device can use computer-generated speech to read out information relating to the message, including one or more of the name of the sender;

the content of the message.

37. The device of claim 33 operable to enable the user to create a data message in which part of the content is generated by navigation software running on the device.

38. The device of claim 37 operable such that the content generated by the navigation software includes one or more of:

the address of the user;

the coordinates of the user;

the description of the location of the user;

the intended destination of the user;

the estimated arrival time of the user;

the speed of the user;

any other information related to the current position of the user or his current route;

a map of the position of the user, a map of the destination or a map of any other location inside a message.

39. The device of claim 1 in which the device includes a music player that plays music that is dimmed, faded out completely, or paused during the time a navigation instruction or navigation-related warning or message is played.

40. The device of claim 33 in which the data message is a SMS, MMS or other kind of text or multi-media format.

41. The device of claim 33 in which the data message is any kind of data content that can be used by the device.

42. The device of claim 1, being a portable navigation device adapted to be mounted against an internal surface of a vehicle using a suction mount.

43. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is a short-range wireless transceiver capable of being paired with a compatible mobile telephone.

44. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver receives traffic data via the mobile telephone, uses that data in route calculation and shows some of that data on a display.

45. The device of claim 2 in which activating or controlling one or more functions is disabled if the vehicle is driving above a certain speed.