Method and system for finding intermediate destinations with a navigation system

• US 6,401,034 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, John L., Kaplan, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US09/388,661
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/204, 701/209, 701/210, 701/216, 701/217, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 342/357, 342/457
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A navigation system includes a feature that allows a user to specify a type of point of interest at which the user wishes to make an intermediate stop while on route to a final destination. The feature identifies for the user one point of interest of the specified type at which an intermediate stop can be made while on route to the final destination, wherein a route to the final destination that includes an intermediate stop at the one point of interest takes less time than routes to the final destination that make an intermediate stop at other points of interest of the specified type.

Claims

1. A method of operation for a navigation system used in a vehicle comprising:

calculating a first route to a destination;

determining a current location of the vehicle while traveling along the first route to the destination,

while traveling along the first route to the destination, accepting input from a vehicle driver, wherein said input indicates a type of point of interest at which to stop while traveling to the destination and a time period during which to stop;

selecting from a geographic database one location of the indicated type from a plurality of locations of the indicated type; and

calculating a new route to the destination that includes an intermediate stop at the one location of the indicated type during the indicated time period,

wherein the new route has a travel time to the destination that is less than routes to the destination that make intermediate stops at others of said plurality of locations of the indicated type.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining all locations of the indicated type that are located around interchanges at which a controlled access road can be re-entered quickly.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicated type includes one of:

gas stations, hotels, museums, and restaurants.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the vehicle driver with guidance for following the new route while traveling to the destination.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the new route has less distance on roads that are not controlled access roads than routes to the destination that make intermediate stops at others of said plurality of locations of the indicated type.

6. A method of operation for a navigation system used in a vehicle comprising:

calculating a first route to a destination; and

determining a current location of the vehicle while traveling along the first route to the destination,

while traveling along the first route to the destination, accepting input from a vehicle driver, wherein said input indicates a type of point of interest at which to stop while traveling to the destination and additional input that indicates a time period during which to stop at the point of interest of the indicated type;

selecting from a geographic database one location of the indicated type from a plurality of locations of the indicated type; and

calculating a new route to the destination that includes an intermediate stop at the one location of the indicated type,

wherein the new route has less distance on roads that are not controlled access roads than routes to the destination that make intermediate stops at others of said plurality of locations of the indicated type and further wherein the new route includes an intermediate stop at the one location of the indicated type during the indicated time period.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the geographic database includes data indicating whether a represented point of interest is located in proximity to an interchange at which a controlled access road can be entered and exited.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the indicated type comprises restaurants.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing the vehicle driver with guidance for following the new route while traveling to the destination.

10. A method of operation for a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting identification by a navigation system user of a business chain at which an intermediate stop is to be made on route to a final destination; and

using a geographic database, determining one location of the business chain from a plurality of locations of the business chain,

wherein a solution route to the final destination that includes an intermediate stop at the one location of the business chain has a travel time that is less than routes to the final destination that make intermediate stops at the others of said plurality of locations of the business chain.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the geographic database includes data indicating a business chain to which a represented point of interest is associated.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

accepting additional input from the navigation system user, wherein said additional input indicates a time period during which to make said intermediate stop, and

wherein the solution route includes an intermediate stop at the one location of the business chain during the indicated time period.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the geographic database includes data indicating whether a represented point of interest is located in proximity to an interchange at which a controlled access road can be entered and exited.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

accepting additional input from the navigation system user, wherein said additional input indicates a point of interest type, and

wherein the solution route includes an intermediate stop at the one location of the business chain and of the point of interest type.

15. A geographic database that contains data that represent geographic features in a region, the geographic database comprising:

data that represent points of interest, including

data attributes that indicate what type of point of interest a represented point of interest is;

data attributes that indicate a location of a represented point of interest;

data attributes that indicate whether a represented point of interest is located by quick access to a controlled access road; and

data attributes that indicate a business chain with which a represented point of interest is associated.

16. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said data are stored on a computer-readable medium.

17. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said data are stored on a computer-readable medium located in a navigation system.

18. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said data are stored on a computer-readable medium located in a navigation system installed in a vehicle.