System and method for distributing information for storage media

• US 6,823,255 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Jasper, John, Ahrens, John, Kohler, Joseph, Shields, T. Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/950,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 340/990, 340/995.11, 340/995.14, 340/295, 707/8, 707/9, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/104, 705/14, 705/41, 705/44, 713/192, 713/193, 719/172, 719/173, 719/177, 719/178
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for distributing information for storage media, and in particular, for distributing updated navigation data, such as geographical data and navigation application programs, contained on storage media and used in in-vehicle navigation systems. A plurality of local repositories are located in a geographical area. Each of the local repositories includes updated versions of navigation data for the navigation systems. Owners of vehicles having navigation systems may visit any of the repositories from time to time where they can obtain updated versions of the navigation data for their navigation systems. Subscriptions for obtaining updated navigation data would be available to the owners of navigation systems that would entitle them to obtain updated navigation data from the repositories. Procedures for updating the local repositories are also provided. The system and method can be used for updating other types of software.

Claims

1. A system whereby users of navigation systems can customize the navigation systems to include different types of user-selectable data thereon comprising:

a repository accessible so the users of said navigation systems, wherein said repository contains

a plurality of different data sets stored thereon, wherein some of said data sets include data for different geographic regions of a country than others of said data sets; and

separate data supplements; and

a program that

allows selection of one or more of said plurality of different data sets and separate data supplements;

wherein the program includes an authentication portion that confirms entitlement to the selection;

and further wherein the program includes a portion that copies the selection onto media upon authentication by the authentication portion; and

and further wherein the program includes a portion that logs data that indicate that one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements were copied onto the media.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said repository is one of a plurality of similarly equipped repositories located throughout a geographic region, wherein each of said plurality of repositories is accessible to the users of navigation systems.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the repository is remotely located from the users of navigation systems and wherein the repository is accessible online whereby the selection of the one or more of said plurality of different data sets and separate data supplements is delivered from a remote location to the users of navigation systems online.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the program confirms entitlement by checking IDs on media from the users.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the program confirms entitlement by checking IDs on media onto which the one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements are to be stored.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said repository also contains updates for the geographic data sets.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the program checks that the selection of the one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements so be stored on media are newer versions than corresponding data sets or separate data supplements already stored on the media.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the program presents a list to the users of navigation systems wherein the list indicates the different data sets and separate data supplements that are available.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the program charges the users of navigation systems for the data sets and separate data supplements that are copied onto the media.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a slot into which the media onto which the selection is to be copied can be inserted.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the program and the repository are located on a single computer platform.

12. The system of claim 1 her comprising:

a communications link over which the selection to be copied can be transmitted for copying onto the media while said media are still installed in navigation systems.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the media are writable CD-ROMs.

14. A method whereby users of navigation systems can customize the navigation systems to include different types of user-selectable data thereon comprising:

providing a repository accessible to users of said navigation systems, wherein said repository contains a plurality of different data sets stored on said repository, wherein some of said data sets include data for different geographic regions of a country than others of said data sets and separate data supplements;

accepting selections by the users of the navigation systems of one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements;

confirming that the users are entitled to the selections;

copying the selections onto media upon authentication that the users are entitled to the selection; and

logging data that indicate that one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements were copied onto the media.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the repository is remotely located from the users and wherein the repository is accessible online wherein the step of copying is performed by transmitting the selections over a communications link from a remote location to the users of navigation systems.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of confirming further comprises checking IDs on media from the users.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of confirming further comprises checking IDs on media onto which the one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements are to be copied.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

checking that the selections of the one or more of said plurality of different data sets or separate data supplements to be stored on media are newer versions than corresponding data sets or separate data supplements already stared on the media.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

presenting lists to the users of navigation systems wherein the lists indicate the different data sets and separate data supplements that are available.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

charging the users of navigation systems for the data sets and separate data supplements that are copied onto the media.