NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20100332119A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Thomassen, Erik, Jones, Rory, Neef, Edwin, Kucheiko, Sergei, Roosen, Mareije
• Application Number:
  US12/735,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

A method of operating a PND or navigation system is described, together with a PND or navigation system for performing such a method. The PND or navigation system includes memory storing map data consisting of base map data files, a display, GPS signal reception and processing device, such together forming a basis for navigation, route guidance, and map information display. In at least one embodiment, the method includes correlating the current location with the map data to derive map-specific parameters for that location and comparing the map-specific parameters with a motion-specific parameter, a vehicle-specific parameter, or the current location to determine whether the current location, motion or vehicle-related characteristic is permissible or appropriate therefore; and in the event that the current location, motion, or vehicle-related characteristic and derived map-specific parameter are seemingly at odds with one another, performing at least one secondary action. The secondary action may include but is not limited to the issuing of an approve/reject prompt to the user, or the automatic creation, modification or deletion of a new or pre-existing correction.

Claims

1. A method of operating a navigation system, the navigation system including memory to store map data, including one or more base map data files;

a display; and

a GPS signal reception and processing device by which a current location is determinable, and by which a basis is formed for navigation, route guidance, and map information display on the display, the method comprising;

correlating a current location of the navigation system with the stored map data to derive one or more map-specific parameters for the current location; and

comparing the derived one or more map-specific parameters with one or more of a motion-specific parameter, a vehicle-specific parameter, and the current location, to determine whether the one or more of the current location, motion-specific parameter and vehicle-specific parameter is permissible or appropriate for the derived one or more map-specific parameters; and

performing at least one secondary action in the event that it is determined that the one or more of the current location, motion specific parameter and vehicle-specific parameter and the derived one or more map-specific parameters are not permissible or appropriate for one another.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the secondary action includes at least one of the following:

issuing a prompt to a user of the navigation system to confirm whether the one or more of the current location, motion specific parameter and vehicle-specific parameter is appropriate or possible or whether the result of the comparison can be ignored,

issuing a warning to the user indicating an impossibility or inappropriateness of said one or more of the current location, motion specific parameter and vehicle-specific parameter with regard to the derived one or more map-specific parameters, and

automatically creating a new, or altering, qualifying, correcting or deleting a previously existing, map data correction including at least some location information and some correction identifying information flagging, adding meta-data to, or otherwise identifying at least one recorded entry in GPS trace log data, the meta-data being commonly stored in the navigation device during operation every few seconds or other suitable period.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the location information provided in a new map data correction is determined at the time of, subsequent to, or within a threshold time of the comparison between the derived one or more map-specific parameters and one or more of the motion-specific parameter, the vehicle-specific parameter, and the current location.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the correction identifying information provided in a new map data correction includes, is indicative of, is derived from, or forms the basis for, the derived one or more map-specific parameters with which the current location, motion-specific parameter and the vehicle-specific parameter was not permissible or appropriate for.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system is provided or associated with one or more sensors from which the one or more motion-specific parameters is derivable, said parameter being one or more of a current travel direction, current speed, at least one of a current linear and angular acceleration, or a current engine operating characteristic.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system locally stores a vehicle-specific parameter being one or more of vehicle type, width, weight, length, and height.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the derived one or more map-specific parameters is one of a thoroughfare access restriction, a speed restriction, a turn restriction, a calculated suitable turn rate through a corner, or a thoroughfare height/weight/width restriction.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system is provided or associated with one or more sensors, including at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a system clock, a speed sensor, a brake sensor, direction or heading sensor, a fuel gauge, and one or more engine operating characteristic sensors.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the correction data is qualified by a trust level indicative of the nature of the correction, the trust level being ascribed on one or more of the following bases:

data originating from a base map data provider, data having been verified by a device provider, data originating from a POI to which a subscription has been established, data from a limited number of “

trusted”

sources data having been reported by many people, or data only having been reported by relatively few people, and data originated by a current user of the navigation device.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the correction is further qualified by a particular validity duration or other measure of time.

11. A computer readable medium including a computer program comprising computer program code segments adapted to perform the method of claim 1 when run on a computer.

12. (canceled)

13. A navigation system, comprising:

memory to store map data including one or more base map data files;

a display;

GPS signal reception and processing device by which a current location is determinable, and by which a basis is formed for navigation, route guidance, and map information display on said display; and

a processor to correlate a current location of the navigation system with said stored map data to derive one or more map-specific parameters for the current location and to compares said derived one or more map-specific parameters with one or more of a motion-specific parameter, a vehicle-specific parameter, and the current location, to determine whether the current location, motion-specific parameter or vehicle-specific parameter is permissible or appropriate for the derived one or more map-specific parameters, and in the event that it is determined that the current location, motion-specific parameter, or vehicle-specific parameter and the derived one or more map-specific parameters are not permissible or appropriate for one another, to cause at least one secondary action to be performed.

14. A navigation system according to claim 13, further comprising or being in communication with, one or more sensors from which one or more vehicle-specific parameters or motion-specific parameters is determinable by the navigation device.

18. The navigation system of claim 13, wherein the navigation system is a portable navigation device (PND).

19. The navigation system of claim 14, wherein the navigation system is a portable navigation device (PND).

15. (canceled)

16. A method of operating a navigation system, the navigation system including memory to store map data, including one or more base map data files;

a display; and

a GPS signal reception and processing device by which a current location is determinable, and by which a basis is formed for navigation, route guidance, and map information display on the display,

calculating a route between a current location and a destination entered or selected by a user;

correlating the current location with said calculated route to determine whether or not the calculated route is being followed by the navigation device; and

subsequently issuing, in the event that it is determined that the calculated route is not being followed by the navigation device at least one prompt to a user of the navigation device including a request to confirm that one or more restrictions or conditions prevail along a portion of the calculated route immediately following a point along said calculated route at which the navigation device determines that the calculated route is not being followed by the navigation device, and then automatically creating a new, or altering, qualifying, correcting or deleting a previously existing, map data correction including at least some location information identifying said portion of the calculated route and the one or more restrictions or conditions.

17. A computer readable medium including a computer program comprising computer program code segments adapted to perform the method of claim 16 when run on a computer.