METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOBILE NAVIGATION DEVICE IN A VEHICLE

• US 20100286862A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Fox, Eugene, Malingkas, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/681,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286862A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a mobile navigation device (1) in a vehicle (2), wherein the vehicle (2) is equipped with a data bus (4) on which data (vehicle data) can be transmitted, and wherein the data bus (4) features a data interface (5) for wireless transmission and reception of data, and wherein the mobile navigation device (1) comprises a data interface (7) for wireless transmission and reception of data, comprising the following steps:

a) transmitting process data of the vehicle (2) (vehicle data) via the data bus (4) and the wireless data interface (5) of the vehicle (2) to the navigation device (1), b) receiving the vehicle data at the wireless data interface (7) of the navigation device (1), c) editing and processing the vehicle data in the navigation device (1), particularly for controlling the routing process, d) transmitting process data of the navigation device (1) (navigation device data) via the wireless data interface (7) of the navigation device (1) to the vehicle, e) receiving the navigation device data at the wireless data interface (5) of the vehicle (2), and f) editing and processing the navigation device data in the vehicle.

Claims

1. Method for operating a mobile navigation device in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a data bus on which data (vehicle data) can be transmitted, and wherein the data bus features a data interface for wireless transmission and reception of data, and wherein the mobile navigation device comprises an input device on which operator commands and/or location information, in particular starting points and/or destination points, can be entered, a road network database, a route calculation unit for calculating a planned route taking into consideration the location data and the road network database, wherein the route leads from the starting point to the destination point, a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, in particular GPS signals, a position determining unit for determining the current position based on the position signals, at least one optical display device, a data interface for wireless transmission and reception of data and a housing in which the components of the navigation device are installed, comprising the following method steps of:

a) transmitting process data of the vehicle (vehicle data) via the data bus and the wireless data interface of the vehicle to the navigation device,

b) receiving the vehicle data at the wireless data interface of the navigation device,

c) editing and processing the vehicle data in the navigation device, particularly for controlling the routing process,

d) transmitting process data of the navigation device navigation device data) via the wireless data interface of the navigation device to the vehicle,

e) receiving the navigation device data at the wireless data interface of the vehicle, and

f) editing and processing the navigation device data in the vehicle, particularly for controlling a navigation process.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the navigation device data and the vehicle data are automatically exchanged between the navigation device and the vehicle bus (4).

3. Method according to claim 1, in which the navigation device is integrated into the data bus of the vehicle via the wireless data interfaces.

4. Method according to claim 1, in which the data for wireless data transmission between the navigation device and the vehicle are edited in accordance with a joint data transmission protocol, in particular a standard transmission protocol.

5. Method according to claim 1, in which control commands for controlling a processing operation are transmitted from the navigation device to the vehicle in the form of navigation device data.

6. Method according to claim 5, in which when the current position is determined to be located in a tunnel, the navigation device transmits a control command for switching on the vehicle lighting to the data bus of the vehicle.

7. Method according to claim 5, in which navigation data, particularly for specifying a maneuvering instruction, are transmitted from the navigation device to the data bus of the vehicle and the navigation data is displayed on a display device of the vehicle.

8. Method according to claim 5, in which when a maneuvering instruction is output from the navigation device, a control command for lowering the volume is transmitted to the radio device in the vehicle.

9. Method according to claim 5, in which a user interface for controlling functional components of the vehicle, particularly for controlling the heating system, the ventilating system and/or the air-conditioning system, is displayed on the display device of the navigation device, wherein subsequent to the input of user commands for controlling functional components of the vehicle at the input device of the navigation device said user commands are transmitted to the data bus of the vehicle and are executed in the functional components of the vehicle.

10. Method according to claim 1, in which the data of at least one pressure sensor, by means of which the air pressure in a tire of the vehicle is monitored, are transmitted to the navigation device, wherein the value stored in the navigation device for specifying the tire dimensions is corrected as a function of the measurand of the pressure sensor.

11. Method according to claim 1, in which the vehicle data is displayed on the display device of the navigation device (1) subsequent to reception at the navigation device.

12. Method according to claim 11, in which a vehicle fault diagnosis is transmitted to the navigation device and is displayed on the display device of the navigation device.

13. Method according to claim 12, in which a behaviour-related instruction allocated to the vehicle fault diagnosis is displayed on the display device of the navigation device together with the vehicle fault diagnosis.

14. Method according to claim 1, in which as a function of the vehicle data transmitted to the navigation device, the navigation device is automatically deactivated or changed over into a standby mode.

15. Method according to claim 14, in which the deactivation or changeover into the standby mode is performed with a time delay.

16. Method according to claim 1, in which the navigation device comprises a radio transmission device for wireless long-distance data transmission, wherein vehicle data is transmitted from the radio transmission device to a receiving server subsequent to reception at the navigation device.

17. Method according to claim 16, in which subsequent to activation of a safety system of the vehicle, particularly an airbag, an emergency routine is initiated in the navigation device and an emergency signal is automatically transmitted from the radio transmission device of the navigation device to an emergency signal receiving server.

18. Method according to claim 16, in which subsequent to reception of a vehicle fault diagnosis of the vehicle, a fault routine is initiated in the navigation device and a fault signal is automatically transmitted from the radio transmission device of the navigation device to a service signal receiving server.

19. Method according to claim 16, in which a mobile radio component integrated into the navigation device is utilized as a radio transmission device.

20. Method according to claim 1, in which in determining the current position with insufficient signal quality of the position signals of a GPS satellite, an automatic changeover to signals of position determining sensors which are installed in the vehicle is performed.

21. Method according to claim 1, in which the number of sensors whose vehicle data can be processed and evaluated in the navigation device is automatically configured.

22. Method according to claim 1, in which a wireless data interface of the in-vehicle radio device is utilized for data transmission.