Navigation system with unique audio tones for maneuver notification

• US 6,363,322 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Didi (HK) Science and Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/470,441
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/200, 701/212, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/996, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00

Abstract

A vehicle navigation system provides non-voice audible maneuver instructions to a driver immediately prior to an upcoming maneuver. When the vehicle is very near the execution of the upcoming maneuver, it is preferable to provide a non-voice audible maneuver instruction that is always consistent with the upcoming maneuver. After a short familiarization period the driver will intuitively identify a particular tone or series of tones with a particular maneuver. Further, by only providing the non-voice audio maneuver instruction within a relatively short distance prior to the upcoming maneuver the driver will identify the tone(s) with the immediacy of the upcoming maneuver.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a database including a plurality of roads;

a position determining system, said position determining system determining a position of a vehicle relative to said plurality of roads;

an input device for selecting a destination from said database;

a route determination system, said system determining a route to said destination via a plurality of maneuvers on said plurality of roads; and

a sound system for projecting a non-voice audible maneuver instruction for each of the plurality of maneuvers.

2. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein said non-voice audible maneuver instruction is projected just prior to each said maneuver.

3. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein said non-voice audible maneuver instruction is projected within one-tenth of a mile of said maneuver.

4. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said non-voice audible maneuver instruction includes a first portion and a second portion having a predetermined spatial relationship.

5. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said non-voice audible maneuver instruction includes a first tone and a second tone.

6. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 5 wherein said first tone is projected before said second tone to indicate an upcoming first maneuver and said second tone is projected before said first tone to indicate an upcoming second maneuver.

7. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6 wherein said first maneuver is a right turn and said second maneuver is a left turn.

8. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6 wherein said first tone is of a different frequency than said second tone.

9. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a third tone.

10. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6 wherein an upcoming right turn maneuver is indicated by said first tone followed by said second tone, said second tone having a frequency different than said first tone.

11. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6 wherein an upcoming left turn maneuver is indicated by said second tone followed by said first tone, said second tone having a frequency different than said first tone.

12. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6 wherein an upcoming straight-ahead maneuver is indicated by said first tone followed by said second tone, said first tone having the same frequency as said second tone.

13. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 6 wherein an upcoming U-turn maneuver is indicated by said first tone followed by said second tone followed by said first tone, said first tone having a frequency different from said second tone.

14. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a CPU controlling movement of said non-voice audible maneuver instruction from a first location to a second location within the vehicle.

15. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 5 wherein a spatial relationship of said first and said second tone are variable by said CPU with respect to each of said maneuvers.

16. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sound system further includes a three dimensional sound generator, said sound system projecting said non-voice audible maneuver instruction from a first location and a second location and moving said audible maneuver instruction from said first location to said second location along a pathway that coincides with the directional content of said non-voice audible maneuver instruction during the output of said non-voice audible maneuver instruction.

17. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a database including a plurality of roads;

an input device for selecting a destination from said database;

a route determination system, said system determining a route to said destination via a plurality of maneuvers on said plurality of roads; and

a sound system for projecting an audible maneuver instruction for each one of a plurality of maneuvers, said audible maneuver instruction projected within one-tenth of a mile of said upcoming maneuver and having a first portion and a second portion.

18. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 17 wherein a first tone is projected during said first portion and a second tone is projected during said second portion to indicate an upcoming right turn maneuver, and said second tone is projected during said first portion and said first tone is projected during said second portion to indicate an upcoming left turn maneuver.

19. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 17 wherein a third tone is projected during said first and said second portion to indicate an upcoming straight ahead maneuver.

20. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 17 further comprising a CPU controlling movement of said audible maneuver instruction from a first location to a second location within the vehicle.

21. A vehicle navigation system as recited in claim 17 wherein a spatial relationship of said first portion and said second portion are variable by said CPU with respect to said upcoming maneuver.

22. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining a route on a plurality of roads to a destination via a plurality of maneuvers;

(b) projecting a non-voice audible maneuver instruction for each of said plurality of maneuvers determine in said step (a), said non-voice audible maneuver instruction having a first portion and a second portion.

23. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22, wherein said step (b) is performed within one tenth of one mile prior to an upcoming maneuver.

24. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22 wherein each of said non-voice audible maneuver instruction is particular to a predetermined maneuver.

25. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22 wherein an upcoming right turn maneuver is indicated by a first tone projected during said first portion followed by a second tone projected during said second portion, said second tone having a frequency different than said first tone.

26. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22 wherein an upcoming left turn maneuver is indicated by a second tone projected during said first portion followed by a first tone projected during said second portion, said second tone having a frequency different than said first tone.

27. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22 wherein an upcoming straight-ahead maneuver is indicated by a first tone projected during said first portion followed by a second tone projected during said second portion, said first tone having the same frequency as said second tone.

28. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22 wherein an upcoming U-turn maneuver is indicated by a first tone projected during said first portion followed by a second tone projected during said second portion followed by said first tone projected during a third portion, said first tone having a frequency different as said second tone.

29. A method for guiding a user of a vehicle navigation system along a route as recited in claim 22 wherein said step (b) further includes the step of moving said nonvoice audible maneuver instruction from a first location to a second location corresponding to an upcoming maneuver.