NAVIGATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROVIDING WEATHER CONDITION INFORMATION

• US 20130345979A1
• Filed: 12/31/2010
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Oostveen, Daan Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 9,395,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/04 giving only separate indications of the variables measured

Abstract

A navigation apparatus comprises a processing resource arranged to support, when in use, an operational environment, the operational environment supporting a route calculator, a time estimation module, a route segmentation module and a weather data processing engine. A map database comprising geospatial data is also provided. The route calculator is arranged to calculate, when in use, a route between a first location and a second location. The time estimation module is arranged to estimate a time at which a user will be present at a location along the route. The route segmentation module arranged to divide the route into a plurality of route parts and to obtain from the time estimation module at least one time of presence associated with at least one of the plurality of route parts, respectively. The weather data processing engine arranged to provide weather data associated with a route part of the plurality of route parts in respect of the time of presence associated with the route part.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a processing resource arranged to support, when in use, an operational environment, the operational environment supporting a route calculator, a time estimation module, a route segmentation module and a weather data processing engine;

a map database comprising geospatial data;

the route calculator arranged to calculate, when in use, a route between a first location and a second location;

the time estimation module arranged to estimate a time at which a user will be present at a location along the route;

the route segmentation module arranged to divide the route into a plurality of route parts and to obtain from the time estimation module at least one time of presence associated with at least one of the plurality of route parts; and

the weather data processing engine arranged to provide weather data associated with a route part of the plurality of route parts in respect of the time of presence associated with the route part.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface module arranged to communicate to the user the weather data in respect of a number of the plurality of route parts and at respective times of presence associated with the number of the plurality of route parts.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weather data is communicated to the user as a list.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weather data is communicated graphically in combination with a map.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the user interface is arranged to receive an instruction to re-calculate the route after communicating the weather data.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the instruction to recalculate the route may be an instruction to change the journey start time.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the user interface is arranged to receive an instruction to re-calculate the route so as to avoid a weather condition.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the route calculator is arranged to re-calculate the route in response to receipt by the user interface of the instruction to re-calculate the route after communicating the weather data.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the user interface module is arranged to communicate to the user weather data in respect of a, some or all route parts of the re-calculated route.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weather data processing engine is arranged to obtain the weather data from a source of weather data remote from the navigation apparatus.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the route calculator is arranged to receive weather preference data provided by the user and to cooperate with the weather data processing engine in order to calculate the route so as to attempt to satisfy a weather preference represented by the weather preference data.

12. A method of providing weather condition information, the method comprising:

calculating a route between a first location and a second location;

estimating a time at which a user will be present at a location along the route; and

dividing the route into a plurality of route parts;

obtaining from the time estimation module at least one time of presence associated with at least one of the plurality of route parts; and

providing weather data associated with a route part of the plurality of route parts in respect of the time of presence associated with the route part.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising

communicating to the user the weather data in respect of a number of the plurality of route parts and at respective times of presence associated with the number of the plurality of route parts.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the weather data is communicated to the user as one or more of:

a list; and

graphically in combination with a map.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to re-calculate the route after communicating the weather data.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to re-calculate the route so as to avoid a weather condition.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

re-calculating the route in response to receipt by the user interface of the instruction to re-calculate the route after communicating the weather data.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining the weather data from a source of weather data remote from the navigation apparatus.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

receiving weather preference data provided by the user; and

calculating the route so as to attempt to satisfy a weather preference represented by the weather preference data.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 12.

15. (canceled)