Integrated vehicle navigation, communications and entertainment system

• US 6,055,478 A
• Filed: 10/30/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Heron, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US08/961,299
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/208, 701/213, 701/216, 701/217, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 345/1, 345/133, 345/141
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

An integrated vehicle navigation, communication and entertainment system which also has vehicle security features. A dash-mounted unit includes a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position, a screen for displaying navigational or other information to a vehicle occupant, a digital data media player for reading position-related navigational information from a removable digital data media such as a compact disc, DVD, mini-disc, or removable hard disk drive, and for audio playback from conventional audio disks. The system controller obtains a position generated by the global positioning system receiver, obtains position-related navigation information from the digital data medium which is related to the vehicle position generated by the global positioning system receiver, and delivers the navigational information to the screen for display. A handheld unit operates as a remote control for controlling the dash unit to perform various navigational functions, and further serves as a fully portable wireless telephone. Security features are also provided.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

a screen for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a digital data media player for reading position-related navigational information from removable digital data media, wherein the position-related navigational information includes safety and security information related to a position, and

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, obtaining position-related navigation information from the digital data media player which is related to the vehicle position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering the navigational information to the screen for display.

2. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital data media player is a compact disc player.

3. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital data media player is a DVD player.

4. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital data media player is a mini-disc player.

5. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital data media player is a removable hard disk drive player.

6. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the position-related navigational information includes maps of streets near to a position.

7. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the position-related navigational information includes landmarks near to a position.

8. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the position-related navigational information includes tourist information related to a position.

9. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from an alphanumeric keypad.

10. The electronic circuit of claim 9, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from the keypad to search and locate position-related navigational information using the digital data media player.

11. The electronic circuit of claim 9, wherein the system controller plots routes along streets and roads identified using the digital data media player, to a location identified by a vehicle occupant via the alphanumeric keypad.

12. The electronic circuit of claim 9 wherein the system controller performs a security function, such that a password or code must be entered into the keypad to permit continued operation of the system controller.

13. The electronic circuit of claim 9, wherein the system controller is located within a dashboard-mountable housing, and the alphanumeric keypad is located on a handset that may be positioned remote from the dashboard-mountable housing.

14. The electronic circuit of claim 13 wherein the handset includes a transmitter generating infrared control signals in response to actuation of the keypad, and the system controller includes a receiver receiving the infrared control signals and controlling operations of the system controller in response thereto.

15. The electronic circuit of claim 13 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller.

16. The electronic circuit of claim 13 wherein the handset further comprises a microphone and earpiece to permit use of the handset as a telephone for transmitting and receiving wireless radio telephone communications.

17. The electronic circuit of claim 16 wherein the alphanumeric keypad includes a numeric keypad for controlling the system controller as well as wireless radio telephone communications, and an alphabetic keypad for entering alphabetic characters to control at least the system controller.

18. The electronic circuit of claim 16 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

19. The electronic circuit of claim 16 wherein the handset further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

20. The electronic circuit of claim 19 wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone signal repeater for receiving and amplifying radio frequency signals generated using the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver in the handset.

21. The electronic circuit of claim 1 further comprising a second screen connected to said system controller, said system controller causing said second screen to display status information regarding the operation of the system controller.

22. The electronic circuit of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier delivering an amplified analog signal to one or more vehicle speakers.

23. The electronic circuit of claim 22 further comprising a radio tuner for receiving radio broadcasts of music or other audio, the radio tuner connected to the amplifier to deliver the music or other audio to the amplifier.

24. The electronic circuit of claim 23, further comprising a digital to analog converter converting digitally-encoded audio information into an analog signal and delivering the analog signal to the amplifier for output by the one or more speakers as an audible signal, wherein the digital data media player is capable of reading digitized music or audio from digital data media, and the system controller delivers digitized music or audio to the digital to analog converter.

25. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a dashboard unit comprising a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position and a system controller controlling operations of the global positioning system receiver, and

a handset that may be positioned remote from the dashboard unit incorporating a remote control circuit for controlling operation of the system controller, the handset comprising a microphone and earpiece usable as a telephone for transmitting and receiving wireless radio telephone communications.

26. The electronic circuit of claim 25, wherein the handset further comprises an alphanumeric keypad.

27. The electronic circuit of claim 26 wherein the alphanumeric keypad includes a numeric keypad for controlling the global positioning system receiver via the system controller as well as wireless radio telephone communications, and an alphabetic keypad for entering alphabetic characters to control at least the global positioning system receiver via the system controller.

28. The electronic circuit of claim 25 wherein the handset further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

29. The electronic circuit of claim 28 wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone signal repeater for receiving and amplifying radio frequency signals generated using the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver in the handset.

30. The electronic circuit of claim 25 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

31. The electronic circuit of claim 25 wherein the handset further comprises a keypad, and a transmitter generating infrared control signals in response to actuation of the keypad, and wherein the system controller further comprises a receiver receiving the infrared control signals and controlling operations of the system controller in response thereto.

32. The electronic circuit of claim 25 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller.

33. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a dashboard unit comprising a digital data media player and a system controller controlling the digital data media player to deliver digital information to an occupant of the vehicle, and

a handset that may be positioned remote from the dashboard unit incorporating a remote control circuit for controlling operation of the system controller, the handset comprising a microphone and earpiece usable as a telephone for transmitting and receiving wireless radio telephone communications.

34. The electronic circuit of claim 33, wherein the handset further comprises an alphanumeric keypad.

35. The electronic circuit of claim 34 wherein the alphanumeric keypad includes a numeric keypad for controlling the digital data media player via the system controller as well as wireless radio telephone communications, and an alphabetic keypad for entering alphabetic characters to control at least the digital data media player via the system controller.

36. The electronic circuit of claim 33 wherein the handset further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

37. The electronic circuit of claim 36 wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone signal repeater for receiving and amplifying radio frequency signals generated using the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver in the handset.

38. The electronic circuit of claim 33 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

39. The electronic circuit of claim 33 wherein the handset further comprises a keypad, and a transmitter generating infrared control signals in response to actuation of the keypad, and wherein the system controller further comprises a receiver receiving the infrared control signals and controlling operations of the system controller in response thereto.

40. The electronic circuit of claim 33 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller.

41. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

a screen for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering navigational information to the screen for display, and performing a security function, such that a password or code must be entered into system controller to permit continued operation of the system controller.

42. The electronic circuit of claim 41 further comprising:

a digital storage device storing position-related navigational information,

wherein said system controller obtains position-related navigation information using the digital storage device which is related to the vehicle position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivers said navigation information to the screen for display.

43. The electronic circuit of claim 42, wherein the position-related navigational information includes tourist information related to a position.

44. The electronic circuit of claim 42, wherein the position-related navigational information includes maps of streets near to a position.

45. The electronic circuit of claim 42, wherein the position-related navigational information includes landmarks near to a position.

46. The electronic circuit of claim 42, wherein the digital storage device is a digital data media player.

47. The electronic circuit of claim 46, wherein the digital data media player is a compact disc player.

48. The electronic circuit of claim 46, wherein the digital data media player is a DVD player.

49. The electronic circuit of claim 46, wherein the digital data media player is a mini-disc player.

50. The electronic circuit of claim 46, wherein the digital data media player is a removable hard disk drive player.

51. The electronic circuit of claim 42, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from an alphanumeric keypad.

52. The electronic circuit of claim 51, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from the keypad to search and locate position-related navigational information using the digital data media player.

53. The electronic circuit of claim 51, wherein the system controller plots routes along streets and roads identified using the digital data media player, to a location identified by a vehicle occupant via the alphanumeric keypad.

54. The electronic circuit of claim 51, wherein the system controller is located within a dashboard-mountable housing, and the alphanumeric keypad is located on a handset that may be positioned remote from the dashboard-mountable housing.

55. The electronic circuit of claim 54 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller.

56. The electronic circuit of claim 54 wherein the handset includes a transmitter generating infrared control signals in response to actuation of the keypad, and the system controller includes a receiver receiving the infrared control signals and controlling operations of the system controller in response thereto.

57. The electronic circuit of claim 54 wherein the handset further comprises a microphone and earpiece to permit use of the handset as a telephone for transmitting and receiving wireless radio telephone communications.

58. The electronic circuit of claim 57 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

59. The electronic circuit of claim 57 wherein the alphanumeric keypad includes a numeric keypad for controlling the system controller as well as wireless radio telephone communications, and an alphabetic keypad for entering alphabetic characters to control at least the system controller.

60. The electronic circuit of claim 57 wherein the handset further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

61. The electronic circuit of claim 60 wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone signal repeater for receiving and amplifying radio frequency signals generated using the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver in the handset.

62. The electronic circuit of claim 41 further comprising a second screen connected to said system controller, said system controller causing said second screen to display status information regarding the operation of the system controller.

63. The electronic circuit of claim 41 further comprising an amplifier delivering an amplified analog signal to one or more vehicle speakers.

64. The electronic circuit of claim 63 further comprising a radio tuner for receiving radio broadcasts of music or other audio, the radio tuner connected to the amplifier to deliver the music or other audio to the amplifier.

65. The electronic circuit of claim 63, further comprising a digital to analog converter converting digitally-encoded audio information into an analog signal and delivering the analog signal to the amplifier for output by the one or more speakers as an audible signal, wherein the digital data media player is capable of reading digitized music or audio from digital data media, and the system controller delivers digitized music or audio to the digital to analog converter.

66. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

first and second physically separable screens for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering navigational information to the first and/or second screen for display.

67. The electronic circuit of claim 66 further comprising:

a digital storage device storing position-related navigational information,

wherein said system controller obtains position-related navigation information from the digital storage device which is related to the vehicle position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivers said navigation information to the first and/or second screen for display.

68. The electronic circuit of claim 67, wherein the digital storage device is a digital data media player.

69. The electronic circuit of claim 68, wherein the digital data media player is a compact disc player.

70. The electronic circuit of claim 68, wherein the digital data media player is a DVD player.

71. The electronic circuit of claim 68, wherein the digital data media player is a mini-disc player.

72. The electronic circuit of claim 68, wherein the digital data media player is a removable hard disk drive player.

73. The electronic circuit of claim 67, wherein the position-related navigational information includes maps of streets near to a position.

74. The electronic circuit of claim 67, wherein the position-related navigational information includes landmarks near to a position.

75. The electronic circuit of claim 67, wherein the position-related navigational information includes tourist information related to a position.

76. The electronic circuit of claim 67, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from an alphanumeric keypad.

77. The electronic circuit of claim 76, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from the keypad to search and locate position-related navigational information using the digital storage device.

78. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

first and second screen areas for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a digital storage device storing position-related navigational-information,

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering navigational information to the first and/or second screen areas for display, said system controller obtaining position-related navigation information from the digital storage device which is related to the vehicle position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivers said navigation information to the first and/or second screen areas for display,

a keypad connected to said system controller for delivering input to said system controller,

wherein the system controller plots routes along streets and roads identified by using the digital storage device, to a location identified by a vehicle occupant via the alphanumeric keypad.

79. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

first and second screen areas for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering navigational information to the first and/or second screen areas for display,

a keypad connected to said system controller for delivering input to said system controller,

wherein the system controller is located within a dashboard-mountable housing, and the keypad is located on a handset that may be positioned remote from the dashboard-mountable housing.

80. The electronic circuit of claim 79 wherein the handset further comprises a microphone and earpiece to permit use of the handset as a telephone for transmitting and receiving wireless radio telephone communications.

81. The electronic circuit of claim 80 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

82. The electronic circuit of claim 80 wherein the handset further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

83. The electronic circuit of claim 82 wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone signal repeater for receiving and amplifying radio frequency signals generated using the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver in the handset.

84. The electronic circuit of claim 80 wherein the alphanumeric keypad includes a numeric keypad for controlling the system controller as well as wireless radio telephone communications, and an alphabetic keypad for entering alphabetic characters to control at least the system controller.

85. The electronic circuit of claim 79 wherein the handset includes a transmitter generating infrared control signals in response to actuation of the keypad, and the system controller includes a receiver receiving the infrared control signals and controlling operations of the system controller in response thereto.

86. The electronic circuit of claim 79 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller.

87. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

first and second screen areas for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering navigational information to the first and/or second screen areas for display, and

an amplifier controlled by said system controller and delivering an amplified analog signal to one or more vehicle speakers.

88. The electronic circuit of claim 87 further comprising a radio tuner for receiving radio broadcasts of music or other audio, the radio tuner connected to the amplifier to deliver the music or other audio to the amplifier.

89. The electronic circuit of claim 87, further comprising a digital storage device and a digital to analog converter converting digitally-encoded audio information into an analog signal and delivering the analog signal to the amplifier for output by the one or more speakers as an audible signal, wherein the digital storage device is capable of reading digitized music or audio from digital data media, and the system controller delivers digitized music or audio to the digital to analog converter.

90. An electronic circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and generating therefrom a vehicle position,

a screen for displaying information to a vehicle occupant,

a digital data media player for reading position-related navigational information from removable digital data media,

a system controller for obtaining a position generated using the global positioning system receiver, obtaining position-related navigation information using the digital data media player which is related to the vehicle position generated using the global positioning system receiver, and delivering the navigational information to the screen for display,

an amplifier delivering an amplified analog signal to one or more vehicle speakers, and

a digital to analog converter converting digitally-encoded audio information into an analog signal and delivering the analog signal to the amplifier for output by the one or more speakers as an audible signal, wherein the digital data media player is capable of reading digitized music or audio from digital data media, and the system controller delivers digitized music or audio to the digital to analog converter.

91. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the digital data media player is a compact disc player.

92. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the digital data media player is a DVD player.

93. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the digital data media player is a mini-disc player.

94. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the digital data media player is a removable hard disk drive player.

95. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the position-related navigational information includes maps of streets near to a position.

96. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the position-related navigational information includes landmarks near to a position.

97. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the position-related navigational information includes tourist information related to a position.

98. The electronic circuit of claim 90, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from an alphanumeric keypad.

99. The electronic circuit of claim 98, wherein the system controller is responsive to alphanumeric input from the keypad to search and locate position-related navigational information using the digital data media player.

100. The electronic circuit of claim 98, wherein the system controller plots routes along streets and roads identified using the digital data media player, to a location identified by a vehicle occupant via the alphanumeric keypad.

101. The electronic circuit of claim 98, wherein the system controller is located within a dashboard-mountable housing, and the alphanumeric keypad is located on a handset that may be positioned remote from the dashboard-mountable housing.

102. The electronic circuit of claim 101 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller.

103. The electronic circuit of claim 101 wherein the handset includes a transmitter generating infrared control signals in response to actuation of the keypad, and the system controller includes a receiver receiving the infrared control signals and controlling operations of the system controller in response thereto.

104. The electronic circuit of claim 101 wherein the handset further comprises a microphone and earpiece to permit use of the handset as a telephone for transmitting and receiving wireless radio telephone communications.

105. The electronic circuit of claim 104 wherein the handset further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

106. The electronic circuit of claim 105 wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone signal repeater for receiving and amplifying radio frequency signals generated using the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver in the handset.

107. The electronic circuit of claim 104 wherein the alphanumeric keypad includes a numeric keypad for controlling the system controller as well as wireless radio telephone communications, and an alphabetic keypad for entering alphabetic characters to control at least the system controller.

108. The electronic circuit of claim 104 further comprising a wired connection between the handset and the system controller, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless telephone transmitter/receiver and an antenna connected to the wireless telephone transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals.

109. The electronic circuit of claim 90 further comprising a radio tuner for receiving radio broadcasts of music or other audio, the radio tuner connected to the amplifier to deliver the music or other audio to the amplifier.