Vehicle-based navigation system with smart map filtering, portable unit home-base registration and multiple navigation system preferential use

• US 6,553,308 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: OʼFarrell, Desmond J., Uhlmann, Eugenie V., Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US09/561,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/24, 701/208, 701/213, 701/300, 701/36, 701/209, 701/2, 340/286.01, 340/988, 340/995, 340/990
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/24 Means for warning road traffic that a gate is closed or closing, or that rail traffic is approaching, e.g. for visible or audible warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vehicle-based navigation system is described including a position locator that establishes the geographic position of the vehicle and a map database located external to and remote from the vehicle. The system determines at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter, and transfers data from the remote map database to the vehicle and displays the data in the vehicle at a resolution that is a function of at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter.

Claims

1. A method of navigating when driving a vehicle, comprising:

providing a position locator and a display in the vehicle;

providing a map database;

providing a vehicle-based navigation system and a communication link, said communication link comprising a wireless communication link between the vehicle and the map database, said map database being located exteriorly of and remote from the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling, said communication link providing information to said map database chosen from;

(1) driver information, said driver information including at least one of driver preference information, driver experience information, the driver'"'"'s language information, the driver'"'"'s identity information, the driver'"'"'s national identity information, and driver authorization information; and

(2) vehicle information, said vehicle information including at least one of the vehicle geographic location information, the speed of the vehicle information, the vehicle heading information, the vehicle altitude information, the vehicle inclination information, the vehicle type information, and the vehicle equipment information;

determining a position of the vehicle with said position locator;

determining at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter based on said information; and

transferring map data from said map database to the vehicle, and said display displaying at least a portion of the transferred map data at a resolution that dynamically varies as a function of said at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter, said portion of the transferred map data being associated with the position of the vehicle.

2. The method of navigating in claim 1 in which said portion of the data displayed pertains to an area local to said position of the vehicle, said area being a function of said at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter.

3. The method of navigating in claim 2 wherein said area is larger in a direction of vehicle travel than in an opposite direction thereof.

4. The method of navigating in claim 1 including displaying an output of said position locator with said display.

5. The method of navigating in claim 1 wherein said vehicle parameter comprises the speed of the vehicle and including displaying data at a higher resolution for lower speeds and at a lower resolution for higher speeds.

6. The method of navigating in claim 1 wherein said position locator comprises one of a global positioning system receiver, a signal triangulator, a compass-based system, and an inertial navigation system.

7. The method of navigating in claim 1 wherein said vehicle parameter comprises the speed of the vehicle.

8. The method of navigating in claim 7 wherein speed of the vehicle is determined from a GPS signal.

9. The method of navigating in claim 7 including providing a portable device having another position locator and a port in said vehicle providing communication between said portable device and said position locator.

10. The method of navigating in claim 9 including transferring data to said portable device through said port.

11. The method of navigating in claim 9 including providing a communication link between said vehicle and said portable device and transferring data between said vehicle and said portable device through said communication link when said portable device is not connected with said port.

12. The method of navigating in claim 9 including determining a position of said vehicle when said portable device is in communication with said port using said position locator and said another position locator in combination.

13. The method of navigating in claim 12 including determining a position of said vehicle using one of said position locator and said another position locator.

14. The method of navigating in claim 13 including determining which of said position locator and said another position locator is more accurately determining position.

15. The method of navigating in claim 9 wherein said portable device comprises one of a cellular telephone, a radio, a personal digital assistant, a computer and a pager.

16. The method of navigating in claim 9 wherein said another position locator comprises one of a global positioning system receiver, a signal triangulator, a compass-based system, and an inertial navigation system.

17. The method of navigating in claim 7 wherein said transferring data includes transferring data from a map located off-vehicle to the vehicle using a communication link.

18. The method of navigating in claim 1 wherein said personal parameter comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of (i) driver personal identity, (ii) driver/occupant preference for a particular level of map resolution, (iii) driver authorization, (iv) driver credit, (v) driver national identity and (vi) driver linguistic.

19. The method of navigating in claim 18 wherein said personal parameter is manually input.

20. The method of navigating in claim 18 wherein said personal parameter is stored in a memory.

21. The method of navigating in claim 1 wherein said vehicle parameter comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of (i) vehicle location;

(ii) vehicle model;

(iii) vehicle equipment type;

(iv) vehicle direction of travel;

(v) vehicle authorization;

(vi) weather condition;

(vii) traffic conditions; and

(viii) time.

22. A method of navigating, comprising:

providing a map store that is adapted to store map data;

providing a vehicle having a navigational system including a position locator, said map store being located exteriorly and remote from the vehicle;

providing communication between said navigational system and said map store to download map data to said navigational system, and to download information chosen from driver information and vehicle information to said map store, said map store selecting said map data based on said information;

providing a portable device having another position locator; and

providing communication between said portable device and said navigational system to download map data to said portable device from said navigational system.

23. The method of navigating in claim 22 wherein said portable device can be removably coupled with the vehicle and wherein said downloading data includes transferring high resolution data to said portable device when said portable device is coupled with said vehicle.

24. The method of navigating in claim 22 wherein said portable device can be removably coupled with the vehicle and wherein data can be transferred between said vehicle and said portable device when said portable device is not coupled with said.

25. The method of navigating in claim 22 including determining a position of said vehicle when said portable device is connected with said port using said position locator and said another position locator in combination.

26. The method of navigating in claim 25 including determining a position of said vehicle using one of said position locator and said another position locator.

27. The method of navigating in claim 26 including determining which of said position locator and said another position locator is more accurately determining position.

28. A method of navigating, comprising:

providing a vehicle having a navigational system including a position locator in the vehicle;

providing a portable personal device having another position locator;

providing communication between said portable device and said navigation system; and

determining a position of said vehicle by processing outputs of said position locator and said another position locator including determining which of said position locator and said another position locator is more accurately determining position.

29. The method of navigating in claim 28 wherein at least one of said position locator and said another position locator comprises one of a global positioning system receiver, a signal triangular, a compass-based system, and an inertial navigational system.

30. The method of navigating in claim 28 wherein said portable device comprises one of a cellular telephone, a radio, a personal digital assistant, a computer and a pager.

31. A vehicle navigation system suitable for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a position locator in the vehicle and a map database;

a control which determines a position of the vehicle from an output of said position locator and determines at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter, said control downloading data from said map database and downloading said at least one of a vehicle perimeter and a personal parameter to said map database; and

a display in the vehicle displaying at least a portion of the downloaded data at a resolution that dynamically varies as a function of said at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter, said portion of the transferred data being associated with the position of the vehicle.

32. The navigation system in claim 31 in which the data displayed by said display pertains to an area local to the vehicle, said area being a function of said at least one of a vehicle parameter and a personal parameter.

33. The navigation system in claim 32 wherein said area is larger in a direction of vehicle travel than in an opposite direction thereof.

34. The navigation system in claim 31 wherein said display also displays an output of said position locator.

35. The navigation system in claim 31 wherein said vehicle parameter comprises the speed of the vehicle and wherein data is transferred at a higher resolution for lower speeds and at a lower resolution for higher speeds.

36. The navigation system in claim 31 wherein said position locator comprises one of a global positioning system receiver, a signal triangulator, a compass-based system, and an inertial navigation system.

37. The navigation system in claim 31 wherein said vehicle parameter comprises the speed of the vehicle.

38. The navigation system in claim 37 wherein speed of the vehicle is determined from a GPS signal.

39. The navigation system in claim 37 including a portable device having another position locator and a port in said vehicle providing communication between said portable device and said position locator.

40. The navigation system in claim 39 wherein data is transferred to said portable device through said port.

41. The navigation system in claim 39 including a communication link between said vehicle and said portable device, wherein data is transferred between said vehicle and said portable device through said communication link when said portable device is not connected with said port.

42. The navigation system in claim 39 wherein a position of said vehicle is determined when said portable device is in communication with said port using said position locator and said another position locator in combination.

43. The navigation system in claim 42 wherein a position of said vehicle is determined using one of said position locator and said another position locator.

44. The navigation system in claim 43 wherein it is determined which of said position locator and said another position locator is more accurately determining position.

45. The navigation system in claim 39 wherein said portable device comprises one of a cellular telephone, a radio, a personal digital assistant, a computer, and a pager.

46. The navigation system in claim 39 wherein said another position locator comprises one of a global positioning system receiver, a signal triangulator, a compass-based system, and an inertial navigation system.

47. The navigation system in claim 37 wherein data is transferred from a map located off vehicle to the vehicle using a communication link.

48. The navigation system in claim 31 wherein said personal parameter comprises at least one parameter that is selected from the group consisting of (i) driver personal identity, (ii) driver/occupant preference for a particular level of map resolution, (iii) driver authorization, (iv) driver credit, (v) driver national identity and (vi) driver linguistic.

49. The navigation system in claim 48 wherein said personal parameter is manually input.

50. The navigation system in claim 48 wherein said personal parameter is stored in a memory.

51. The navigation system in claim 31 wherein said vehicle parameter comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of (i) vehicle location;

(ii) vehicle model;

(iii) vehicle equipment type;

(iv) vehicle direction of travel;

(v) vehicle authorization;

(vi) weather condition;

(vii) traffic condition; and

(viii) time.

52. A vehicular navigation system, comprising:

a map store that is adapted to storing map data;

a vehicle-based navigation system including a position locator, said vehicle-based navigation system located in a vehicle, and said map store located remotely from the vehicle;

a first communication link between said navigation system and said map store to download map data to said navigation system and to download information chosen from at least one of vehicle information and driver information to said map store, said map data selected based at least in part on said information;

a portable device having another position locator; and

a second communication link between said portable device and said vehicle-based navigation system when said portable device is in communication with said navigation system to download said map data to said portable device from said navigation system.

53. The navigation system in claim 52 wherein a position of said vehicle is stored by said portable device when said portable device is not in communication with said navigation system.

54. The navigation system in claim 52 wherein said second communication link downloads high resolution data to said portable device port when said portable device is in communication with said navigation system.

55. The navigation system in claim 52 including a third communication link between said vehicle-based navigation system and said portable device, wherein data is transferred between said vehicle and said portable device through said third communication link when said portable device is not in communication with said navigation system through said second communication link.

56. The navigation system in claim 52 wherein a position of said vehicle is determined when said portable device is connected with said port using said position locator and said another position locator in combination.

57. The navigation system in claim 52 wherein a position of said vehicle is determined using one of said position locator and said another position locator.

58. The navigation system in claim 57 wherein a determination is made which of said position locator and said another position locator is more accurately determining position.

59. A vehicular navigation system, comprising:

a vehicle-based navigational system including a position locator in the vehicle;

a portable device having another position locator;

a communication link between said portable device and said navigation system; and

a control which determines a position of said vehicle by processing outputs of said position locator and said another position locator, wherein said control determines which of said position locator and said another position locator is more accurately determining position.

60. The navigation system in claim 59 wherein at least one of said position locator and said another position locator comprises one of a global positioning system receiver, a signal triangular, a compass-based system, and an inertial navigational system.

61. The navigation system in claim 59 wherein said portable device comprises one of a cellular telephone, a radio, a personal digital assistant, a computer and a pager.