Method and system for providing multiple entry points to a vehicle navigation route

• US 6,427,119 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2001
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Stefan, Jeffrey M., Stewart, Gregory B., Means, Linda G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/835,531
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 701/213, 701/214, 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/201, 701/202, 342/357.01, 342/357-2-3
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance

Abstract

A method of generating navigation instructions is provided. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of generating navigation instructions for a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a destination of the vehicle at a route generation application;

calculating a maneuver list based on a current location of the vehicle and the destination, the maneuver list comprising at least one preliminary navigation instruction;

generating an entry point list for the at least one preliminary navigation instruction, the entry point list comprising at least one entry point corresponding to the preliminary navigation instruction; and

transmitting the at least one preliminary navigation instruction and the corresponding entry point list to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a distance threshold for the at least one entry point.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

selecting a new entry point from the entry point list when the distance threshold for the at least one entry point has been exceeded.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

transmitting the new entry point to the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

executing the preliminary navigation instruction from the new entry point at the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

executing at least one remaining navigation instruction after the preliminary navigation instruction is executed.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the distance threshold is exceeded for the at least one entry point, further comprising:

executing the preliminary navigation instruction from a second entry point selected from the entry point list.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a selected entry point from the entry point list.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting the selected entry point to the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

executing the preliminary navigation instruction from the selected entry point at the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

executing at least one remaining navigation instruction after the preliminary navigation instruction is executed.

12. A navigation system comprising:

at least one route generation application

wherein the route generation application calculates a maneuver list, the maneuver list comprising at least one preliminary navigation instruction,

wherein the route generation application further calculates an entry point list for the preliminary navigation instruction, the entry point list comprising at least one entry point;

at least one service manager in communication with the route generation application and a vehicle,

wherein the vehicle is operatively adapted to execute the navigation instructions.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the service manager transmits the

preliminary navigation instruction and the entry point list from the route generation application to the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one database in communication with the route generation application, the database comprising location coordinates.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one navigation interface in communication with the vehicle operatively adapted to receive information from the service manager.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one communication interface in communication with the vehicle, the communication interface operatively adapted to transmit information from the vehicle to the service manager.

17. A system for generating navigation instructions for a vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving a destination of the vehicle at a route generation application;

means for calculating a maneuver list based on a current location of the vehicle and the destination, the maneuver list comprising at least one preliminary navigation instruction;

means for generating an entry point list for the at least one preliminary navigation instruction, the entry point list comprising at least one entry point corresponding to the preliminary navigation instruction;

means for selecting at least one entry point from the entry point list;

means for transmitting the at least one preliminary navigation instruction and the corresponding entry point list to the vehicle; and

means for executing the preliminary navigation instruction from the selected entry point at the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining a distance threshold for the at least one entry point.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for selecting a new entry point from the entry point list when the distance threshold for the at least one entry point has been exceeded.

20. A computer usable medium including a program for generating navigation instructions for a vehicle, comprising:

computer program code that receives a destination of the vehicle at a route generation application;

computer program code that calculates a maneuver list based on a current location of the vehicle and the destination, the maneuver list comprising at least one preliminary navigation instruction;

computer program code that generates an entry point list for the at least one preliminary navigation instruction, the entry point list comprising at least one entry point corresponding to the preliminary navigation instruction; and

computer program code that transmits the at least one preliminary navigation instruction and the corresponding entry point list to the vehicle.

21. The program of claim 20, further comprising:

computer program code that determines a distance threshold for the entry point.

22. The program of claim 21, further comprising:

computer program code that selects a new entry point from the entry point list when the distance threshold for the entry point has been exceeded.

23. The program of claim 22, further comprising:

computer program code that transmits the new entry point to the vehicle.

24. The program of claim 22, further comprising:

computer program code that executes the preliminary navigation instruction from the new entry point at the vehicle.

25. The program of claim 24, further comprising:

computer program code that executes at least one remaining navigation instruction after the preliminary navigation instruction is executed.

26. The program of claim 21 wherein the distance threshold is exceeded for the entry point, further comprising:

computer program code that executes the preliminary navigation instruction from a second entry point selected from the entry point list.

27. The program of claim 20, further comprising:

computer program code that selects at least one entry point from the entry point list.

28. The program of claim 27, further comprising:

computer program code that transmits the selected entry point to the vehicle.

29. The program of claim 27, further comprising:

computer program code that executes the preliminary navigation instruction from the selected entry point at the vehicle.

30. The program of claim 29, further comprising:

computer program code that executes at least one remaining navigation instruction after the preliminary navigation instruction is executed.