Abstract: A navigation system is provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system includes a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location. The navigation system also includes a presentation element coupled to the navigation processor, the presentation element configured to provide navigation instructions to the operator. A selection module is coupled to or incorporated into the navigation processor, and the selection module is configured to select a cartographic resolution from a plurality of different cartographic resolutions, resulting in a selected cartographic resolution. The presentation element provides navigation instructions for at least a portion of the proposed route, using the selected cartographic resolution.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment a system provides vehicle information to an operator of a vehicle having a plurality of components. The system comprises an onboard database configured to store vehicle-specific data and behavior-specific data and an operator interface. The system includes an onboard processor coupled to the onboard database, the plurality of components, and the operator interface. The onboard processor is configured to provide requested vehicle-specific data to the operator in response to an operator request via the operator interface. The onboard processor is also configured to receive operator-behavioral data from the plurality of components, recognize patterns of operation from the operator-behavioral data, and provide the behavior-specific data to the operator in response to the recognized patterns in the operator-behavioral data.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation system includes a display, a memory configured to store data related to a plurality of preset map view, and a user input configured to permit the selection of a map view from the plurality of preset map views. A controller is coupled to the user input, the display, and the memory. The controller is configured to generate the selected map view on the display.

Abstract: A social networking hub located in an automobile that provides updates to a social networking site includes an information gathering module that receives and stores information from one or more information sources. The hub also includes an update manager that receives information from the information gathering module and provides some or all of the information to the social networking site through an internet connection.

Abstract: An embodiment an infotainment system for an automobile includes a navigation system, an entertainment system, an audio output device and a control system coupled to the navigation system, the entertainment system and the audio output device. The control system controls access by the navigation system and the entertainment system to the audio output device and includes a conversation recognizer that determines if a conversation is being conducted. The control system of this embodiment varies operation of the audio output device in the event a conversation is being conducted.

Abstract: A navigational route providing method for use with various types of vehicle navigation systems. The route providing method generally enables a user to pre-select one or more destinations and trigger events, so that navigational routes leading to the pre-selected destinations can be subsequently generated and presented to the user when the designated trigger events occur. According to some embodiments, multiple destinations and trigger events can be provided so that multiple navigational routes are generated.

Abstract: A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system includes substantially simultaneously receiving requests for communicating first and second audio signals via a vehicle audio system. The signals respectively correspond to interactive voice services (provided via a menu dialogue) from a first in-vehicle system and to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system. An arbitration control selects one of the signals as a priority output and the other as a subordinate output. The priority output is provided over the audio system. A queue manager maintains the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the audio system after priority output completion. If the first signal is the subordinate output, then the queue manager maintains a state of the menu dialogue, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the menu dialogue from the maintained state after priority output completion.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system includes a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location. The navigation system also includes a presentation element coupled to the navigation processor, the presentation element configured to provide navigation instructions to the operator. A selection module is coupled to or incorporated into the navigation processor, and the selection module is configured to select a cartographic resolution from a plurality of different cartographic resolutions, resulting in a selected cartographic resolution. The presentation element provides navigation instructions for at least a portion of the proposed route, using the selected cartographic resolution.

Abstract: A navigation system and related operating methods are provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system obtains a destination location and generates a proposed route to the destination location. The proposed route is defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers. Before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point, the navigation system pre-calculates alternate routes between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, and saves the alternate routes for subsequent activation. Pre-calculated alternate routes can also be used to determine and indicate the relative importance of an approaching driving maneuver. The driver can consider the importance of driving maneuvers when deciding whether or not to follow the recommended route.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system includes a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location. The navigation system also includes a presentation element coupled to the navigation processor, the presentation element configured to provide navigation instructions to the operator. The navigation system also has a selection module coupled to or incorporated into the navigation processor. The selection module is configured to select a designated navigation instruction scheme from a plurality of different navigation instruction schemes. For a given navigation instruction, the plurality of different navigation instruction schemes provide different instruction content. During operation, the presentation element provides navigation instructions for the proposed route, using the designated navigation instruction scheme.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment a system provides vehicle information to an operator of a vehicle having a plurality of components. The system comprises an onboard database configured to store vehicle-specific data and behavior-specific data and an operator interface. The system includes an onboard processor coupled to the onboard database, the plurality of components, and the operator interface. The onboard processor is configured to provide requested vehicle-specific data to the operator in response to an operator request via the operator interface. The onboard processor is also configured to receive operator-behavioral data from the plurality of components, recognize patterns of operation from the operator-behavioral data, and provide the behavior-specific data to the operator in response to the recognized patterns in the operator-behavioral data.

Abstract: A method for displaying content items of a navigation system for a vehicle includes the steps of obtaining a scrolling input from a user, determining a value pertaining to the input, and displaying the content items at a first scrolling rate if the value is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a telematics enabled mobile vehicle communication system. The method includes receiving a navigation request at a service provider from a telematics unit. The navigation request includes current location information of the telematics unit, destination information, and telematics unit memory capacity information. The method further includes producing navigation instructions based on the received navigation request. The navigation instructions provide directions from the current location of the telematics unit to the destination. The navigation instructions include a plurality of data elements describing the navigation instructions. The amount of data elements included within the navigation instructions is associated with the received telematics unit memory capacity information. The method additionally includes communicating the produced navigation instructions to the telematics unit.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation system includes a display, a memory configured to store data related to a plurality of preset map view, and a user input configured to permit the selection of a map view from the plurality of preset map views. A controller is coupled to the user input, the display, and the memory. The controller is configured to generate the selected map view on the display.

Abstract: A navigational route providing method for use with various types of vehicle navigation systems. The route providing method generally enables a user to pre-select one or more destinations and trigger events, so that navigational routes leading to the pre-selected destinations can be subsequently generated and presented to the user when the designated trigger events occur. According to some embodiments, multiple destinations and trigger events can be provided so that multiple navigational routes are generated.

Abstract: A speech recognition method includes receiving input speech from a user, processing the input speech to obtain at least one parameter value, and determining an experience level of the user using the parameter value(s). The method can also include prompting the user based upon the determined experience level of the user to assist the user in delivering speech commands.

Abstract: A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system includes substantially simultaneously receiving requests for communicating first and second audio signals via a vehicle audio system. The signals respectively correspond to interactive voice services (provided via a menu dialogue) from a first in-vehicle system and to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system. An arbitration control selects one of the signals as a priority output and the other as a subordinate output. The priority output is provided over the audio system. A queue manager maintains the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the audio system after priority output completion. If the first signal is the subordinate output, then the queue manager maintains a state of the menu dialogue, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the menu dialogue from the maintained state after priority output completion.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for generating and presenting a preview of a driving route reduces driver workload. In an example, the method determines that the driving route comprises more than the predetermined number of driving instructions and creates a route preview wherein the number of instructions does not exceed the predetermined number of driving instructions. In a further example, the route preview is created by eliminating certain instructions from the route. A predetermined number of instructions at the beginning of the route may be exempted from possible elimination. In a further example, the elimination of instructions is implemented by sequentially eliminating classes of instructions until the remaining number of instructions in the route is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum acceptable number.

Abstract: A vehicle fleet navigation system includes a main mobile navigation system, at least one secondary mobile navigation system, and a land based navigation system. The main mobile navigation system includes a navigation unit for determining the position of the main vehicle, a visual display for displaying the position of the main vehicle, and a wireless transceiver in communication with the navigation unit. The secondary system includes a second navigation unit for determining the position of the second vehicle, and a second wireless transceiver in communication with the second navigation unit. The second wireless transceiver is operable to transmit a position signal corresponding to positional information of the second vehicle received from the second navigation unit. The main mobile navigation system is operable to receive the positional information of the second vehicle and display the position of the second vehicle on the visual display.

Abstract: A motor vehicle mileage logging system is disclosed that will calculate a cumulative mileage log by summing several different types of individual trip logs. The system is installed on a vehicle having a navigation assist system. A first type of individual trip log includes mileage information determined as the vehicle is driven from an origination point to a destination point with the assistance of the navigation system. A second type of individual trip log includes mileage information that is estimated by the navigation assist system using a manually entered origination point and a manually entered destination point. A third type of individual trip log includes a manually entered estimated mileage log.