Navigational-based speed limit recording and warning system

• US 6,845,317 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dean A. Craine
• Inventors: Craine, Dean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/302,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 342/20, 342/357.13, 701/200, 701/208, 701/70, 701/119, 701/65, 701/93, 701/96, 701/207, 701/210, 701/209, 701/110, 180/170, 180/171, 340/905, 340/932, 340/936, 340/438, 340/938, 340/937, 340/990, 340/995, 123/351
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A motor-vehicle navigation-based speed limit recording and warning system designed to automatically inform drivers when they are exceeding the posted speed limit on a particular roadway. The system includes a navigational system that displays a plurality of roadways on a map and the motor vehicle'"'"'s location thereon. The navigational system also includes a “mark” point feature or function that enables a driver to manually enter “mark” points and assign a speed limit to each “mark” point. The “mark” point feature or function may be directly coupled to the motor vehicle'"'"'s speedometer so that the driver may simultaneously input both the motor vehicle'"'"'s current speed and the “mark” point on the roadway.

Claims

1. A speed limit recording system, comprising:

a. a motor vehicle including a steering wheel;

b. means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle to a driver of said motor vehicle; and

,

c. a navigational system associated with said motor vehicle, said navigational system including a display and a map database containing a plurality of roadways;

d. means for manually designating and recording a mark location on a roadway in said map database; and

,

e. at least one input key coupled to said navigational system used to associate a speed limit with said mark location.

2. The speed limit recording system, as recorded in claim 1, wherein said means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle is a speedometer.

3. The speed limit recording system, as recorded in claim 1, wherein said means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle is said display on said navigational system.

4. The speed limit recording system, as recorded in claim 1, further including a plurality of speed limit input keys used to associate different speed limits with said mark location.

5. The speed limit recording system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for associating said speed limit is a combination input key used to designate and record a mark location mark on a roadway and simultaneously record the current speed limit of said motor vehicle thereto.

6. The speed limit recording system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said navigational system is a GPS-based navigational system.

7. The speed limit recording system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for manually designating and recording a mark location is a mark input key located on said steering wheel in said motor vehicle.

8. The speed limit recording system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said combination input key is located on said steering wheel in said motor vehicle.

9. A motor vehicle speed limit recording system, comprising:

a. a navigational system located inside a motor vehicle and capable of presenting a map with a plurality of roadways displayed thereon;

b. means for a driver to manually designating and recording on said navigational system a mark location on said roadway; and

,

c. means for assigning a speed limit to each said mark location; and

,

d. a speedometer display located inside said motor vehicle and used to display the current speed of the motor vehicle, said speedometer display being coupled to said navigational system and includes means for informing a driver when the motor vehicle travels passed said mark location designated by a driver and the speed of the motor vehicle exceeds the speed limit assigned to said mark location.

10. The speed limit recording system as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for assigning a speed limit to said mark location is an input button used to assign the current speed of the motor vehicle to said mark location.

11. The speed limit recording system, as recited in claim 9, further including a warning displayed on said speedometer display that indicates when the current speed of the motor vehicle exceeds the speed limit assigned to said mark location.

12. A motor vehicle speed limit recording system, comprising:

a. a navigational system located inside a motor vehicle and capable of presenting a map with a plurality of roadways displayed thereon;

b. means for manually designating and recording a mark location on said roadway; and

,

c. means for assigning a speed limit to each said mark location comprising a plurality of speed limit input keys connected to said navigational system.

13. The speed limit recording system as recited in claim 12, further including means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle.

14. A motor vehicle speed limit recording system, comprising:

a. a navigational system capable of presenting a map with a plurality of roadways displayed thereon;

b. means for manually designating and recording a mark location on said roadway;

c. means for imputing a speed limit to each said mark location, said means for inputting the speed limit into said navigational system is a combination mark and speed input key used to designate said mark location and to record the current speed limit of said motor vehicle; and

d means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle.

15. A motor vehicle speed limit recording system, comprising:

a. a navigational system capable of presenting a map with a plurality of roadways displayed thereon;

b. a mark button coupled to said navigational system used to manually designate and record a mark location on a roadway in a map presented on said navigational system;

c. means for imputing a speed limit to each said mark location; and

,

d means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle.

16. The speed limit recording system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said mark button is located on the steering wheel in said motor vehicle.

17. A motor vehicle speed limit recording system, comprising:

a. a navigational system capable of presenting a map with a plurality of roadways displayed thereon;

b. means for manually designating and recording a mark location on said roadway;

c. means for imputing a speed limit to a said mark location including, an input key assigned to one speed limit value of the following groups of speed limit values;

10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75; and

,

d means for displaying the current speed of said motor vehicle.