Navigation system providing a super detail mode of operation to assist user's driving

• US 9,189,959 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bank, Judith H., Bradley, Lisa M., Sun, Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US13/535,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 701/423
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for providing route guidance to a driver of a vehicle. Based on the current location of the vehicle, the navigation system determines a route to travel from the current location of the vehicle to a destination provided by the driver. The navigation system obtains information (e.g., past driving history of other drivers on the route) which is used to assess whether a super detail mode of operation (provides additional details than traditional GPS-based navigation systems thereby lessening the likelihood that the driver will get lost) should be enacted by the navigation system. The super detail mode of operation may be triggered by the navigation system based on a road condition (e.g., missed turn ratio of route exceeds a threshold) that warrants the super detail mode of operation where such a condition is determined to have occurred using the obtained information discussed above.

Claims

1. A method for providing route guidance to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a destination from said driver of said vehicle;

identifying a current location of said vehicle;

determining a route to travel from said current location of said vehicle to said destination;

obtaining the following;

past driving history of said driver of said vehicle, past driving history of other drivers on said route, information about said route, current timing, information about external conditions and user customized conditions;

monitoring road conditions of said route; and

implementing, by a processor, a super detail mode of operation in response to a road condition of said route requiring a use of said super detail mode based on one or more of said past driving history of said driver of said vehicle, said past driving history of other drivers on said route, said information about said route, said current timing, said information about external conditions and said user customized conditions, wherein said super detail mode of operation comprises more detailed guided audio instructions in comparison to a normal mode of operation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said guided audio instructions of said super detail mode of operation comprises one or more of the following:

landmarks, street names, countdown to turns, warnings about non-visible signage and warnings about unidentified road hazards.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining that a likelihood that said driver of said vehicle will get lost or cause an accident exceeds a threshold based on said past driving history of said driver of said vehicle.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said past driving history of other drivers on said route;

a missed turn ratio exceeds a first threshold and a number or a percentage of other drivers rerouted on said route exceed a second threshold.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said information about said route;

an amount of construction on said route exceeds a first threshold, said route is a detour route and an accident rate on said route exceeds a second threshold.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said current timing and said information about external conditions;

a bad weather condition and outside being dark.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to detecting an emergency vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to satisfying one of said user customized conditions, wherein said user customized conditions comprises one or more of the following;

a number of turns over a particular distance that exceeds a threshold and said route being within a threshold number of feet from a cliff.

9. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable storage medium for providing route guidance to a driver of a vehicle, the computer program product comprising the programming instructions for:

receiving a destination from said driver of said vehicle;

identifying a current location of said vehicle;

determining a route to travel from said current location of said vehicle to said destination;

obtaining the following;

past driving history of said driver of said vehicle, past driving history of other drivers on said route, information about said route, current timing, information about external conditions and user customized conditions;

monitoring road conditions of said route; and

implementing a super detail mode of operation in response to a road condition of said route requiring a use of said super detail mode based on one or more of said past driving history of said driver of said vehicle, said past driving history of other drivers on said route, said information about said route, said current timing, said information about external conditions and said user customized conditions, wherein said super detail mode of operation comprises more detailed guided audio instructions in comparison to a normal mode of operation.

10. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein said guided audio instructions of said super detail mode of operation comprises one or more of the following:

landmarks, street names, countdown to turns, warnings about non-visible signage and warnings about unidentified road hazards.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 9 further comprising the programming instructions for:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining that a likelihood that said driver of said vehicle will get lost or cause an accident exceeds a threshold based on said past driving history of said driver of said vehicle.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 9 further comprising the programming instructions for:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said past driving history of other drivers on said route;

a missed turn ratio exceeds a first threshold and a number or a percentage of other drivers rerouted on said route exceed a second threshold.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 9 further comprising the programming instructions for:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said information about said route;

an amount of construction on said route exceeds a first threshold, said route is a detour route and an accident rate on said route exceeds a second threshold.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 9 further comprising the programming instructions for:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said current timing and said information about external conditions;

a bad weather condition and outside being dark.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 9 further comprising the programming instructions for:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to detecting an emergency vehicle.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 9 further comprising the programming instructions for:

implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to satisfying one of said user customized conditions, wherein said user customized conditions comprises one or more of the following;

a number of turns over a particular distance that exceeds a threshold and said route being within a threshold number of feet from a cliff.

17. A navigation system, comprising:

a memory unit for storing a computer program for providing route guidance to a driver of a vehicle; and

a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises;

circuitry for receiving a destination from said driver of said vehicle;

circuitry for identifying a current location of said vehicle;

circuitry for determining a route to travel from said current location of said vehicle to said destination;

circuitry for obtaining the following;

past driving history of said driver of said vehicle, past driving history of other drivers on said route, information about said route, current timing, information about external conditions and user customized conditions;

circuitry for monitoring road conditions of said route; and

circuitry for implementing a super detail mode of operation in response to a road condition of said route requiring a use of said super detail mode based on one or more of said past driving history of said driver of said vehicle, said past driving history of other drivers on said route, said information about said route, said current timing, said information about external conditions and said user customized conditions, wherein said super detail mode of operation comprises more detailed guided audio instructions in comparison to a normal mode of operation.

18. The navigation system as recited in claim 17, wherein said guided audio instructions of said super detail mode of operation comprises one or more of the following:

landmarks, street names, countdown to turns, warnings about non-visible signage and warnings about unidentified road hazards.

19. The navigation system as recited in claim 17, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining that a likelihood that said driver of said vehicle will get lost or cause an accident exceeds a threshold based on said past driving history of said driver of said vehicle.

20. The navigation system as recited in claim 17, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for implementing said super detail mode of operation in response to determining one of the following based on said past driving history of other drivers on said route;

a missed turn ratio exceeds a first threshold and a number or a percentage of other drivers rerouted on said route exceed a second threshold.