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Non real time traffic system for a navigator

 Scott C. Harris
A system for improving the operation of a GPS based navigator. Statistical and/or time of day information is used to select the best route between a current location and a desired location. The statistical information may take into account anomalies, and a user can select the amount of risk they...
Inventor: Scott C. Harris
Primary Examiner: Gertrude A. Jeanglaude

U.S. Classification
701/213; 701/201; 701/207; 701/214; 340/988; 34235701; 34235708

International Classification
G01C021/26

View patent at USPTO

Citations

Patent NumberTitleIssue date
5790974Portable calendaring device having perceptual agent managing calendar entries Aug 4, 1998
5909440High speed variable length best match look-up in a switching deviceJun 1, 1999
5999892Method for providing an instant distance measurement on a mapDec 7, 1999
6199009Computer-controlled navigation process for a vehicle equipped with a terminal, terminal and traffic information centerMar 6, 2001
6208934Method and system for providing walking instructions with route guidance in a navigation programMar 27, 2001
6522875Geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systemsFeb 18, 2003
6604047Non real time traffic system for a navigatorAug 5, 2003

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining information indicative of a current position and a desired position; and

navigating between said current position and said desired position by first mapping a portion of the route closest to the current position, but less than the entire portion of the route, beginning a guiding operation which guides a user of the system along the route, and subsequently finishing said mapping by mapping the remainder of the entire portion of the route.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said navigating comprises wherein said portion of the route closest to the current position includes a portion of the route which will take a specified amount of time to travel.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising storing information used for said mapping, and updating said information.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said updating information includes information on updated road conditions, which road conditions are indicative of actual times to traverse different section of roadway, and includes newer information about said actual times.

5. A method as in claim 3, wherein said updating information includes updating most commonly requested destinations.

6. A method as in claim 3, wherein said updating comprises providing information to a server about previous mapping operations, and receiving information from said server.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said most commonly requested destinations are destinations most commonly requested by all users who have done said updating.

8. A method as in claim 3, wherein said updating comprises providing discount coupons for certain map locations.

9. A method in claim 3, wherein said obtaining information comprises using satellite positioning to obtain a current location.

10. A system, comprising:

a memory, storing map information; and storing roadway conditions indicative of actual times to traverse different sections of roadway;

a user interface, allowing entry of a destination for navigation;

a processor, computing a path to said destination, based on said map information, by selecting a path based on said roadway conditions; and

an update element which allows updating said roadway conditions to define new and more recent times to traverse said different sections of roadway.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said memory stores most commonly requested destinations, and said user interface displays and allows selection of one of said most commonly requested destinations.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein said memory stores most commonly requested destination, and said user interface displays and allows selection of one of said most commonly requested destinations wherein said updating information includes updating most commonly requested destinations.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein said updating comprises providing information to a server about previous mapping operations, and receiving information from said server.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said said most commonly requested destinations are destinations most commonly requested by all users who have done said updating.

15. A method as in claim 8, further comprising using a satellite positioning system to determine a current position.

16. A system, comprising:

a memory, storing map information, including commonly requested destinations by each of a plurality of users;

a user interface, allowing entry of a destination for navigation including allowing selection of one of said most commonly requested destinations;

a processor, computing a path to said destination, based on said map information, by selecting a path.

17. A system as in claim 16, further comprising an update element that allows updating said information used for said mapping.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein said memory stores information indicative of road conditions, and said updating information by said updating element provides information on updated road conditions.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein said updating information by said updating element includes updating most commonly requested destinations.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein said updating information by said updating element comprises providing information to a server about previous mapping operations, and receiving information from said server.

21. A system as in claim 17, wherein said most commonly requested destinations are destinations most commonly requested by all users who have done said updating using said updating element.

22. A system as in claim 17, wherein said processor computes said path by first mapping a portion of the route closes to the current position, but less than the entire portion of the route, beginning a guiding operation which guides a user of the system along the route, and subsequently finishing said mapping by mapping the remainder of the entire portion of the route.

23. A system as in claim 16, further comprising a satellite positioning system, determining a current position.

24. A system, comprising:

a position determining element, which operates to automatically determine its position;

a memory, storing map information;

a user interface, allowing entry of information for mapping, and displaying information from at least one of said map information and said position;

a processor, computing information based on said information for mapping, and also using said position information from said position determining element to determine a speed of movement, and wherein said processor compares said speed with a target speed and provides an indication when said speed exceeds said target speed by a specified amount.

25. A system as in claim 24, wherein said user interface allows entry of a destination, and said processor also determines a path to said destination, based on said map information, by selecting a path.

26. A system as in claim 24, wherein said map information includes most only requested destinations for each of a plurality of users.

27. A system as in claim 24, further comprising an update element that allows updating said information used for said mapping.

28. A system as in claim 24, wherein said memory stores information indicative of road conditions, and said updating information by said updating element provides information on updated road conditions.

29. A system as in claim 26, wherein said updating information by said updating element includes updating most commonly requested destinations.

30. A system as in claim 26, wherein said updating information by said updating element comprises providing information to a server about previous mapping operations, and receiving information from said server.

31. A system as in claim 24, wherein said processor makes a determination of a likelihood that the position detecting by said position detecting element is correct, and said user interface displays information indicating said likelihood.

32. A system as in claim 24, wherein said memory stores speed limit information along with said map information, and said processor uses said speed limit information as said target speed.

33. A system as in claim 24, wherein said processor computes said path by first mapping a portion of the route closes to the current position, but less than the entire portion of the route, beginning a guiding operation which guides a user of the system along the route, and subsequently finishing said mapping by mapping the remainder of the entire portion of the route.

34. A system, comprising:

a position determining element, which operates to automatically determine its position;

a memory, storing map information;

a user interface, allowing entry of information for mapping, and displaying information from at least one of said map information and said position;

a processor, computing information based on said information for mapping, and also determining a likelihood that the position detecting by said position detecting element is correct, and wherein said user interface displays information indicating said likelihood.

35. A system as in claim 34, wherein said processor uses said position information from said position determining element to determine a speed of movement, and wherein said processor compares said speed with a target speed and provides an indication when said speed exceeds said target speed by a specified amount.

36. A system as in claim 35, wherein said memory stores speed limit information along with said map information, and said processor uses said speed limit information as said target speed.

37. A system as in claim 35, wherein said user interface allows entry of a destination, and said processor also determines a path to said destination, based on said map information, by selecting a path.

38. A system as in claim 36, wherein said map information includes most only requested destinations for each of a plurality of users.

39. A system as in claim 36, further comprising an update element that allows updating said information used for said mapping.

40. A system as in claim 36, wherein said memory stores information indicative of road conditions, and said updating information by said updating element provides information on updated road conditions.

41. A system as in claim 40, wherein said updating information by said updating element includes updating most commonly requested destinations.

42. A system as in claim 40, wherein said updating information by said updating element comprises providing information to a server about previous mapping operations, and receiving information from said server.

43. A system as in claim 40, wherein said processor computes said path by first mapping a portion of the route closest to the current position; but less than the entire portion of the route, beginning a guiding operation which guides a user of the system along the route, and subsequently finishing said mapping by mapping the remainder of the entire portion of the route.

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