Abstract: A navigation system (20) having a service center (24) and a navigation unit (22) and a method of transmitting data to reduce the complexity of the navigation unit (22) and minimize the transmitted data. The navigation unit (22) transmits (202) a current location (or starting point (102)) and a desired destination (or destination point (104)). The service center (24) receives (204) the starting point and the destination point and selects (206) a route (100) between the two points. The service center (24) then generates (210, 212, 214) and transmits (216) data associated with a plurality of points on the selected route (100). These points may include items such as preparation points (140, 142, 144, 146), warning points (130, 132, 134, 136), instruction points (120, 122, 124, 126) and confirmation points (150, 152, 154, 156, 160, 162, 164, 166).