Abstract: A wireless portable device that includes a screen, a wireless antenna, transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless network with a remote server, a GPS antenna and receiver for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites, a processor controlling communication over the wireless network and processing the GPS signals, memory storing a navigator application that utilizes the GPS signals and a client program. The client program includes a hypertext markup language (HTML) or scripting language interpreter that is configured to receive a file including hyperlinks from a server, render the file on the screen of the wireless portable device, recognize tags associated with a hyperlink, including either location information, geocode or both, and use the tags to initiate the navigator application.

Abstract: An off-board navigation application is provided that is configured to be stored in memory on a wireless portable device. The application comprises a menu hierarchy including a series of pages to be presented on a screen of the device. The pages include a category page having a list of categories. The categories each are associated with points of interest (POIs). The menu hierarchy includes an address page presenting address information related to a selected point of interest (POI). The address page includes a function option that directs the portable device to transmit wirelessly a navigation information request to a remote server. The menu hierarchy includes a navigation page configured to present navigation information that is received wirelessly by the portable device from the remote server in response to the navigation information request.

Abstract: A portable navigation device is provided that includes a receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites. The device includes memory that stores a non-navigation application and non-navigation information related to the non-navigation application. A user interface is configured to enable an operator to enter non-navigation instructions related to the non-navigation application. The a processor module is provided that calculates a position of the device based on the signals from the GPS satellites. The processor module implements the non-navigation application and performs non-navigation operations defined by the non-navigation application based on the non-navigation instructions entered by the user. The processor module disables the non-navigation application after a predetermined trial period of time following a start time unless and until an application access code is entered.

Abstract: A navigational device comprising navigational electronics and an improved menu-driven user interface. The navigational electronics are operable for receiving navigation signals from a source, for calculating a position of the device as a function of the signals, and for providing directions to a desired location. The user interface is operable for controlling certain functions of the device and includes a rotary wheel that may be moved in two directions with no mechanical limits for selecting at least one of the functions. In preferred forms, the rotary wheel is rotated up or down to highlight functions and then pushed in to selected a highlighted function.