Vehicle navigation system with route updating feature
First Claim
1. A vehicle navigation system mountable on a first vehicle that is to be navigated, comprising:
- an input module that allows a vehicle operator to input a desired destination location;
a receiver supported on the vehicle that receives signals indicative of a current position of the first vehicle;
a memory module that contains a prestored map database that includes a plurality of known location reference points;
an update module that receives a travel advisory signal indicative of a current traffic situation that is not contained in the prestored map data base;
an electronic controller that communicates with the update module, the input module, the receiver and the memory module and automatically generates a route guidance strategy to guide the operator from the current position to the desired location taking the travel advisory signal into consideration; and
a transmitter supported on the first vehicle that transmits a beacon signal adapted to be automatically received by another vehicle for updating a route guidance strategy of the other vehicle, said beacon signal indicating to the other vehicle that the first vehicle represents a potential traffic hazard at the current position by including information identifying an abnormal vehicle condition of the first vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle navigation system includes an update module that provides travel advisory information on a real time basis. The update module receives traffic advisory signals such as intelligent highway system signals, safety warning system signals and specially encoded traffic reports from radio stations. The travel advisory signals are utilized by the navigation system to provide a route guidance strategy to a driver that is not limited by the information from a prestored map database. While travelling, the update module continues to provide information that is utilized to generate an updated route as appropriate. Additionally, the vehicle navigation system preferably includes the ability to generate a beacon signal indicating that the vehicle is in a position or condition that presents a potential traffic hazard to other drivers. The beacon signal from the navigation system of this invention is one example of the kind of travel advisory signal that the inventive navigation system uses to generate an updated route guidance strategy.
108 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle navigation system mountable on a first vehicle that is to be navigated, comprising:
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an input module that allows a vehicle operator to input a desired destination location;
a receiver supported on the vehicle that receives signals indicative of a current position of the first vehicle;
a memory module that contains a prestored map database that includes a plurality of known location reference points;
an update module that receives a travel advisory signal indicative of a current traffic situation that is not contained in the prestored map data base;
an electronic controller that communicates with the update module, the input module, the receiver and the memory module and automatically generates a route guidance strategy to guide the operator from the current position to the desired location taking the travel advisory signal into consideration; and
a transmitter supported on the first vehicle that transmits a beacon signal adapted to be automatically received by another vehicle for updating a route guidance strategy of the other vehicle, said beacon signal indicating to the other vehicle that the first vehicle represents a potential traffic hazard at the current position by including information identifying an abnormal vehicle condition of the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle navigation system mountable on a first vehicle, comprising:
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a receiver that receives signals generated remotely from the first vehicle which are indicative of a current position of the first vehicle relative to preestablished reference points;
an electronic controller that communicates with the receiver and determines the current position of the first vehicle; and
a transmitter that selectively transmits a beacon signal adapted to be automatically received by another vehicle, said beacon signal indicating to the other vehicle that the first vehicle represents a potential traffic hazard at the current position by including information identifying an abnormal vehicle condition of the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a vehicle navigation system having a receiver that receives signals indicative of a current position of the vehicle relative to established reference points on a prestored map database, the vehicle navigation system being mountable on a first vehicle that is to be navigated, said method comprising the steps of:
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(A) determining a current position of the first vehicle from the received signals;
(B) determining a desired destination position for the first vehicle;
(C) determining a current traffic situation that is not stored on the map database based upon a received traffic advisory signal;
(D) determining a route guidance strategy using the current position of the vehicle from step (A), the desired destination from step (B), the map database and the current traffic situation from step (C); and
(E) when the first vehicle presents a potential traffic hazard, transmitting a beacon signal adapted to be automatically received by another vehicle, said beacon signal indicating to the other vehicle that the first vehicle represents a potential traffic hazard at the current position by including information identifying an abnormal vehicle condition of the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification