Navigation device and method for dealing with limited access roads

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and prompting a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road. The navigation device, in at least one embodiment, includes a processor to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and an integrated input and display device to prompt a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the processor determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

Description

PRIORITY STATEMENT

The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) on each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/879,523 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,549 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,553 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,577 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,599 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,529 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,601 filed Jan. 10, 2007, the entire contents of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

The following applications are being filed concurrently with the present application. The entire contents of each of the following applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference: A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EARLY INSTRUCTION OUTPUT (Attorney docket number 06P207US01) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING AND USING PROFILES (Attorney docket number 06P207US02) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED MAP DISPLAY (Attorney docket number 06P207US03) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD RELATING TO AN AUDIBLE RECOGNITION MODE (Attorney docket number 06P207US04) filed on even date herewith; NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POINTS OF INTEREST (Attorney docket number 06P207US05) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL PRICING DISPLAY (Attorney docket number 06P057US06) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INFORMATIONAL SCREEN DISPLAY (Attorney docket number 06P207US06) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRAVEL WARNINGS (Attorney docket number 06P057US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING BREAK WARNING (Attorney docket number 06P057US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ISSUING WARNINGS (Attorney docket number 06P207US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAY OF POSITION IN TEXT READIBLE FORM (Attorney docket number 06P207US08) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE ACCESS (Attorney docket number 06P057US08) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING docket number 06P207US09) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SPECIAL CHARACTERS IN A NAVIGATION DEVICE (Attorney docket number 06P207US09) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD USING A PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (Attorney docket number 06P207US10) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD USING A LOCATION MESSAGE (Attorney docket number 06P207US10) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONSERVING POWER (Attorney docket number 06P207US11) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING A TRAFFIC MESSAGE CHANNEL (Attorney docket number 06P207US13) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING A TRAFFIC MESSAGE CHANNEL RESOURCE (Attorney docket number 06P207US13) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR QUICK OPTION ACCESS (Attorney docket number 06P207US15) filed on even date herewith; and A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A RICH CONTENT DOCUMENT (Attorney docket number 06P207US27) filed on even date herewith.

FIELD

The present application generally relates to navigation methods and devices.

BACKGROUND

Navigation devices were traditionally utilized mainly in the areas of vehicle use, such as on cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats, etc. Alternatively, if such navigation devices were portable, they were further transferable between vehicles and/or useable outside the vehicle, for foot travel for example.

These devices are typically tailored to produce a route of travel based upon an initial position of the navigation device and a selected/input travel destination (end position), noting that the initial position could be entered into the device, but is traditionally calculated via GPS Positioning from a GPS receiver within the navigation device. Calculation of the route of travel is achieved in a known fashion, noting that options exist to utilize primarily highways for example. However, these options are limited at the present time.

SUMMARY

The inventors have discovered that certain roads exist which may present problems to a user using the navigation device. These roads include limited access roads such as a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road, for example. These roads may be unsuitable or undesirable for a particular type of vehicle (such as an unpaved road for a luxury car for example) or may be unsuitable or undesirable as a user does not meet criteria to travel on the road (such as a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) for a user traveling alone is a vehicle). Thus, the inventors have discovered that a user may want to be alerted if these roads exist on a determined route of travel and/or warned if traveling along a route of travel including such roads.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and prompting a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigation device includes means for determining a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and for determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and means for prompting a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the means for determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigation device includes a processor to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and an integrated input and display device to prompt a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the processor determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application will be described in more detail below by using example embodiments, which will be explained with the aid of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of a Global Positioning System (GPS);

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components of a navigation device of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server, navigation device and connection therebetween of an embodiment of the present application;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an implementation of an embodiment of the navigation device 200;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram for an embodiment of the present application; and

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate example prompts to users regarding limited access roads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In describing example embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

Referencing the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, example embodiments of the present patent application are hereafter described. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of Global Positioning System (GPS), usable by navigation devices, including the navigation device of embodiments of the present application. Such systems are known and are used for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite-radio based navigation system capable of determining continuous position, velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for an unlimited number of users.

Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality of satellites which work with the earth in extremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to any number of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially equipped to receive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellite signals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the device determines the precise location of that satellite via one of a plurality of different conventional methods. The device will continue scanning, in most instances, for signals until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals (noting that position is not normally, but can be determined, with only two signals using other triangulation techniques). Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizes the three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional position relative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner. Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow the receiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the same geometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and velocity data can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by an unlimited number of users.

As shown in FIG. 1, the GPS system is denoted generally by reference numeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the earth 124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarily synchronous with the orbits of other satellites 120 and, in fact, is likely asynchronous. A GPS receiver 140, usable in embodiments of navigation devices of the present application, is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from the various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160, continuously transmitted from each satellite 120, utilize a highly accurate frequency standard accomplished with an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120, as part of its data signal transmission 160, transmits a data stream indicative of that particular satellite 120. It is appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art that the GPS receiver device 140 generally acquires spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120 for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensional position by triangulation. Acquisition of an additional signal, resulting in signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permits the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional position in a known manner.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components of a navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application, in block component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of the navigation device 200 is not inclusive of all components of the navigation device, but is only representative of many example components.

The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). The housing includes a processor 210 connected to an input device 220 and a display screen 240. The input device 220 can include a keyboard device, voice input device, touch panel and/or any other known input device utilized to input information; and the display screen 240 can include any type of display screen such as an LCD display, for example. In at least one embodiment of the present application, the input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device, including a touchpad or touchscreen input wherein a user need only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of a plurality of display choices or to activate one of a plurality of virtual buttons.

In addition, other types of output devices 241 can also include, including but not limited to, an audible output device. As output device 241 can produce audible information to a user of the navigation device 200, it is equally understood that input device 240 can also include a microphone and software for receiving input voice commands as well.

In the navigation device 200, processor 210 is operatively connected to and set to receive input information from input device 240 via a connection 225, and operatively connected to at least one of display screen 240 and output device 241, via output connections 245, to output information thereto. Further, the processor 210 is operatively connected to memory 230 via connection 235 and is further adapted to receive/send information from/to input/output (I/O) ports 270 via connection 275, wherein the I/O port 270 is connectible to an I/O device 280 external to the navigation device 200. The external I/O device 270 may include, but is not limited to an external listening device such as an earpiece for example. The connection to I/O device 280 can further be a wired or wireless connection to any other external device such as a car stereo unit for hands-free operation and/or for voice activated operation for example, for connection to an ear piece or head phones, and/or for connection to a mobile phone for example, wherein the mobile phone connection may be used to establish a data connection between the navigation device 200 and the internet or any other network for example, and/or to establish a connection to a server via the internet or some other network for example.

The navigation device 200, in at least one embodiment, may establish a “mobile” network connection with the server 302 via a mobile device 400 (such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device with mobile phone technology) establishing a digital connection (such as a digital connection via known Bluetooth technology for example). Thereafter, through its network service provider, the mobile device 400 can establish a network connection (through the internet for example) with a server 302. As such, a “mobile” network connection is established between the navigation device 200 (which can be, and often times is mobile as it travels alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 to provide a “real-time” or at least very “up to date” gateway for information.

The establishing of the network connection between the mobile device 400 (via a service provider) and another device such as the server 302, using the internet 410 for example, can be done in a known manner. This can include use of TCP/IP layered protocol for example. The mobile device 400 can utilize any number of communication standards such as CDMA, GSM, WAN, etc.

As such, an internet connection may be utilized which is achieved via data connection, via a mobile phone or mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 for example. For this connection, an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 is established. This can be done, for example, through a mobile phone or other mobile device and a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)-connection (GPRS connection is a high-speed data connection for mobile devices provided by telecom operators; GPRS is a method to connect to the internet.

The navigation device 200 can further complete a data connection with the mobile device 400, and eventually with the internet 410 and server 302, via existing Bluetooth technology for example, in a known manner, wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of standards, such as the GSRM, the Data Protocol Standard for the GSM standard, for example.

The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 itself (including an antenna for example, wherein the internal antenna of the navigation device 200 can further alternatively be used). The mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can include internal components as specified above, and/or can include an insertable card, complete with necessary mobile phone technology and/or an antenna for example. As such, mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can similarly establish a network connection between the navigation device 200 and the server 302, via the internet 410 for example, in a manner similar to that of any mobile device 400.

For GRPS phone settings, the Bluetooth enabled device may be used to correctly work with the ever changing spectrum of mobile phone models, manufacturers, etc., model/manufacturer specific settings may be stored on the navigation device 200 for example. The data stored for this information can be updated in a manner discussed in any of the embodiments, previous and subsequent.

FIG. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor 210 and an antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, wherein the antenna/receiver 250 can be a GPS antenna/receiver for example. It will be understood that the antenna and receiver designated by reference numeral 250 are combined schematically for illustration, but that the antenna and receiver may be separately located components, and that the antenna may be a GPS patch antenna or helical antenna for example.

Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic components shown in FIG. 2 are powered by power sources (not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, different configurations of the components shown in FIG. 2 are considered within the scope of the present application. For example, in one embodiment, the components shown in FIG. 2 may be in communication with one another via wired and/or wireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope of the navigation device 200 of the present application includes a portable or handheld navigation device 200.

In addition, the portable or handheld navigation device 200 of FIG. 2 can be connected or “docked” in a known manner to a motorized vehicle such as a car or boat for example. Such a navigation device 200 is then removable from the docked location for portable or handheld navigation use.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server 302 and a navigation device 200 of the present application, via a generic communications channel 318, of an embodiment of the present application. The server 302 and a navigation device 200 of the present application can communicate when a connection via communications channel 318 is established between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 (noting that such a connection can be a data connection via mobile device, a direct connection via personal computer via the internet, etc.).

The server 302 includes, in addition to other components which may not be illustrated, a processor 304 operatively connected to a memory 306 and further operatively connected, via a wired or wireless connection 314, to a mass data storage device 312. The processor 304 is further operatively connected to transmitter 308 and receiver 310, to transmit and send information to and from navigation device 200 via communications channel 318. The signals sent and received may include data, communication, and/or other propagated signals. The transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be selected or designed according to the communications requirement and communication technology used in the communication design for the navigation system 200. Further, it should be noted that the functions of transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be combined into a signal transceiver.

Server 302 is further connected to (or includes) a mass storage device 312, noting that the mass storage device 312 may be coupled to the server 302 via communication link 314. The mass storage device 312 contains a store of navigation data and map information, and can again be a separate device from the server 302 or can be incorporated into the server 302.

The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the server 302 through communications channel 318, and includes processor, memory, etc. as previously described with regard to FIG. 2, as well as transmitter 320 and receiver 322 to send and receive signals and/or data through the communications channel 318, noting that these devices can further be used to communicate with devices other than server 302. Further, the transmitter 320 and receiver 322 are selected or designed according to communication requirements and communication technology used in the communication design for the navigation device 200 and the functions of the transmitter 320 and receiver 322 may be combined into a single transceiver.

Software stored in server memory 306 provides instructions for the processor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services to the navigation device 200. One service provided by the server 302 involves processing requests from the navigation device 200 and transmitting navigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the navigation device 200. According to at least one embodiment of the present application, another service provided by the server 302 includes processing the navigation data using various algorithms for a desired application and sending the results of these calculations to the navigation device 200.

The communication channel 318 generically represents the propagating medium or path that connects the navigation device 200 and the server 302. According to at least one embodiment of the present application, both the server 302 and navigation device 200 include a transmitter for transmitting data through the communication channel and a receiver for receiving data that has been transmitted through the communication channel.

The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particular communication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 318 is not limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel 318 may include several communication links that use a variety of technology. For example, according to at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318 can be adapted to provide a path for electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communications, etc. As such, the communication channel 318 includes, but is not limited to, one or a combination of the following: electric circuits, electrical conductors such as wires and coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, converters, radio-frequency (rf) waves, the atmosphere, empty space, etc. Furthermore, according to at least one various embodiment, the communication channel 318 can include intermediate devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers, for example.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, for example, the communication channel 318 includes telephone and computer networks. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318 may be capable of accommodating wireless communication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, etc. Additionally, according to at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318 can accommodate satellite communication.

The communication signals transmitted through the communication channel 318 include, but are not limited to, signals as may be required or desired for given communication technology. For example, the signals may be adapted to be used in cellular communication technology such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), etc. Both digital and analogue signals can be transmitted through the communication channel 318. According to at least one embodiment, these signals may be modulated, encrypted and/or compressed signals as may be desirable for the communication technology.

The mass data storage 312 includes sufficient memory for the desired navigation applications. Examples of the mass data storage 312 may include magnetic data storage media such as hard drives for example, optical storage media such as CD-Roms for example, charged data storage media such as flash memory for example, molecular memory, etc.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, the server 302 includes a remote server accessible by the navigation device 200 via a wireless channel. According to at least one other embodiment of the application, the server 302 may include a network server located on a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), etc.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, the server 302 may include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 318 may be a cable connected between the personal computer and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between the navigation device 200 and the server 302 to establish an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other handheld device may establish a wireless connection to the internet, for connecting the navigation device 200 to the server 302 via the internet.

The navigation device 200 may be provided with information from the server 302 via information downloads which may be periodically updated upon a user connecting navigation device 200 to the server 302 and/or may be more dynamic upon a more constant or frequent connection being made between the server 302 and navigation device 200 via a wireless mobile connection device and TCP/IP connection for example. For many dynamic calculations, the processor 304 in the server 302 may be used to handle the bulk of the processing needs; however, processor 210 of navigation device 200 can also handle much processing and calculation, oftentimes independent of a connection to a server 302.

The mass storage device 312 connected to the server 302 can include volumes more cartographic and route data than that which is able to be maintained on the navigation device 200 itself, including maps, etc. The server 302 may process, for example, the majority of the devices of a navigation device 200 which travel along the route using a set of processing algorithms. Further, the cartographic and route data stored in memory 312 can operate on signals (e.g. GPS signals), originally received by the navigation device 200.

A navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application includes a processor 210 and an integrated input and display device, integrating the input device 220 and display screen 240 of the navigation device 200, and including a touchscreen input wherein a user need only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of a plurality of display choices or to activate one of a plurality of displayed virtual buttons. In the navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application, the processor 210 is used to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location (input by a user for example, in planning a route) and to determine whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road (such as a road including at least one high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, an unpaved road, etc.); and an integrated input and display device to prompt a user of the navigation device 200 to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the processor 210 determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

As indicated above in FIG. 2 of the application, a navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application includes a processor 210, an input device 220, and a display screen 240. In at least one embodiment, the input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device to enable both input of information (via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and display of information through a touch panel screen, for example. Such a screen may be a touch input LCD screen, for example, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the navigation device 200 can also include any additional input device 220 and/or any additional output device 241, such as audio input/output devices for example.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an implementation of an embodiment of the navigation device 200. As shown in FIG. 4A, the navigation device 200 may be a unit that includes an integrated input and display device 290 (a touch panel screen for example) and the other components of FIG. 2 (including but not limited to internal GPS receiver 250, microprocessor 210, a power supply, memory systems 220, etc.).

The navigation device 200 may sit on an arm 292, which itself may be secured to a vehicle dashboard/window/etc. using a large suction cup 294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station to which the navigation device 200 can be docked.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the navigation device 200 can be docked or otherwise connected to an arm 292 of the docking station by snap connecting the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 for example (this is only one example, as other known alternatives for connection to a docking station are within the scope of the present application). The navigation device 200 may then be rotatable on the arm 292, as shown by the arrow of FIG. 4B. To release the connection between the navigation device 200 and the docking station, a button on the navigation device 200 may be pressed, for example (this is only one example, as other known alternatives for disconnection to a docking station are within the scope of the present application).

The inventors have discovered that certain roads exist which may present problems to a user using the navigation device. These roads include limited access roads such as a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road, for example. These roads may be unsuitable or undesirable for a particular type of vehicle (such as an unpaved road for a luxury car for example) or may be unsuitable or undesirable as a user does not meet criteria to travel on the road (such as a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) for a user traveling alone is a vehicle). Thus, the inventors have discovered that a user may want to be alerted if these roads exist on a determined route of travel and/or warned if traveling along a route of travel including such roads.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device 200, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and prompting a user of the navigation device 200 to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigation device 200 includes a processor 210 to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and an integrated input and display device 290 to prompt a user of the navigation device 200 to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the processor 210 determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

As shown in an example embodiment of FIG. 5 of the present application, a method of at least one embodiment of the present application may first include step S2 of receiving input (S) to determine route of travel. These inputs can include, for example, an input or selected destination location or endpoint input or selected by a user through the integrated input and display device 290 for example, as well as other inputs such as a GPS signal location of the navigation device 200 itself, establishing an initial point of travel for calculating the route. Thereafter, in step S4, the route of travel is determined, by processor 210 for example, utilizing the received travel destination, the GSP signal indicative of a current location of the navigation device 200, and map information stored in the memory 230.

Instead of merely accepting a determined route of travel, the route of travel is examined in step S6, by processor 210 for example, to determine if it includes travel on a limited access road, such as a road including at least one lane requiring a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV), commonly known as HOV lanes, and/or at least one unpaved road. This can be concurrent with the establishing of the route, or subsequent thereto.

For example, after the route of travel has been calculated by processor 210, the processor 210 can check all segments of the route, to see if any of them fall within one including a limited access road to be avoided. The route segments of the determined route of travel may include certain flags in the data, for example, that indicate whether or not they at least partly include at least one HOV lane, unpaved road, or other limited access road. Each segment of the travel route may be retrieved from memory 230, for the processor 210 to determine of any of these flags exist for any segments that are part of the determined route of travel.

Other limited access roads are also included within the scope of the present application, noting that such roads can be initially flagged or otherwise marked on map information stored in memory 230 for example, such that, when they are included in a determined route of travel, the flags can be easily detectable by processor 210 when determining the route of travel. Other ways of determining whether or not a route of travel includes travel on a limited access road are also within the scope of the present invention.

Thereafter, if the route of travel is determined not to include travel on a limited access road, the navigation route calculated is then stored and used for further navigation by the user in Step S30. Namely, if the route of travel does not include travel on a limited access road, the route will be acceptable to the user and can be used. Of course, if the user decides for some reason that he wishes to vary the route, the route of travel may be varied for any other reason in another manner.

If, in step S6, the processor 210 determines that the route of travel does include travel on a limited access road, the method proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the user is prompted to either accept the determined route of travel including travel on a limited access road, or request an alternate route of travel. Thereafter, the method may move to step S10, wherein it is questioned whether or not the user requests determination of an alternative route. If not, the user can use the determined route for navigation as explained above, noting that a user may also be able to enable warnings, or such warnings may be enabled automatically, in at least one embodiment of the present application, and subsequently output in step S28 as will be explained later.

Accordingly, if the user does request determination of an alternate route of travel, the processor 210 of the navigation device 200 will attempt to determine an alternative route of travel in step S12, avoiding the limited access road(s). This can be done by the processor 210 setting properties to avoid the limited access road(s), such as to avoid flags in any of the segments of the route, corresponding to limited access roads, for example. During these attempts to determine a new route, the processor 210 may find that an alternative route is not possible, namely that it may not be possible to avoid the limited access road(s) during travel to the desired destination location. Thus, in step S14, the processor 210 determines if an alternative route is possible. If so, in step S16, an alternative route of travel is determined as used for navigation in step S16.

If the processor 210 determines that it is not possible to calculate a route which avoids the limited access road(s), the processor 210 maintains the previously determined route in memory 230 and the user is prompted in step S18 to accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road, namely the originally determined route including limited access road travel. Thereafter, in step S20, it is determined, by processor 210 for example, whether or not the user accepts the determined route of travel, including travel on the limited access road upon the processor 210 failing to determine an alternative route of travel, namely whether or not the user accepts the originally determined route. If not, in step S22, the process ends as it has been determined that it is not possible to reach the destination location from the current location of the navigation device 200, without including travel on a limited access road. However, if the user accepts the determined route including limited access road travel, or if the process is set such that the user has no choice but to accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road, the route can be used for navigation in step S30.

If the user does accept a route including travel on a limited access road, based upon a decision not to request determination of an alternative route in step S10 or based upon a determination to accept the originally determined route upon a determination being made that an alternative route is not possible in step S20 (or based upon a user being given no choice in step S18 wherein the user must accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road, an embodiment of the present application may involve warning the user of an approaching limited access road. Thus, the process may move from step S10 or step S20 (or S18) to Step S24, wherein the user of the navigation device 200 may either be prompted to enable a warning, or wherein a warning may be automatically enabled. Automatic enablement of the warning can be based upon an initially input user preference wherein a user initially agrees to be warned anytime a limited access road is included in a planned route of travel, for example. Alternatively, a prompt may be displayed on the integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200, prompting the user to enable output of such a warning.

Thereafter, in step S26, the processor 210 determines whether or not the warning has been enabled either upon receipt of an indication that the user enables the warning or based upon an automatic enablement of the warning.

If the warning is not enabled, the warning will not be displayed during travel along the route, and the method merely proceeds to step S30 wherein the route determined is used for navigation. However, if the warning is enabled, the method proceeds to step S28, to make a note to output a warning relating to the limited access road upon (the processor 210 for example) determining, within the navigation device 200, that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met. For example, if the location of the limited access road is known, the at least one parameter may include at least one of a time parameter and a distance parameter, noting that when the processor 210 determines that the navigation device 200 is within a threshold time period of the limited access road or within a threshold distance of the limited access road, the warning may be output.

It should be noted that the prompting mentioned during the steps of FIG. 5 may be done via visual output on the integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 for example, wherein receipt of an indication that the user accepts something or enables something may be done via input through the integrated input and display device 290 for example. Additionally, the outputting of the warning may include visual output on the integrated input and display device 290 and/or audible output of a warning to the user.

As discussed above, the limited access road may be designated in a number of different ways, including the use of flags or other marking of the stored map information for example, so that the processor 210 may determine whether or not a determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road. Further, the limited access roads can include, but are not limited to, a road including at least one high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane (wherein only vehicles including a high occupancy of passengers can travel thereon, e.g. four passengers in an HOV-4 lane, three passengers in an HOV-3 lane, etc., wherein entire roads may be designated HOV roads), an unpaved road, etc.

For example, if in step S6 of FIG. 5 the processor 210 determines that the determined route will include travel on a limited access road, the prompt in step S8, displayable in an integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 for example, can be that of prompting a user to either accept a calculated route or request an alternative route as shown in FIG. 6 for example. FIG. 6 relates to a prompt subsequent to a determination that a route includes travel on an unpaved road.

The prompt in the example shown in FIG. 6 may be displayed to the user and can indicate to the user that at least one unpaved road exists along the determined route of travel. The user may be notified by a statement such as “The current route includes unpaved roads. Would you like to avoid those or continue?” While this is only an example statement, it does provide an example of one which provides the user with an indication that a limited access road exists on the determined route of travel, and it does provide an example of a request to the user, of whether or not the user would like the processor 210 to attempt to determine an alternative route, namely by avoiding the unpaved roads, or continue, namely accept the fact that the route includes unpaved roads. The display on the integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 may therefore include selectable virtual keys or buttons indicating a choice between accepting a determined route (the “continue” button as shown in FIG. 6 for example) or requesting determination of an alternative route (the “avoid” button shown in FIG. 6).

Thereafter, if the user chooses to avoid the unpaved roads of FIG. 6, attempts can be made by the processor 210 to determine an alternative route. However, if there are no other routes possible to reach the destination location, a prompt such as that shown in FIG. 7 may be displayed. The prompt of FIG. 7 indicates that at least one unpaved road exists on the route and that there is no other way to reach the destination. As such, the user may be presented with a single virtual button such as the “Continue” button of FIG. 7, wherein the user can accept the route including the unpaved roads. Alternatively, the user can be provided with a second virtual button to merely end the process such as that done in step S22 of the present application. Again, FIGS. 6 and 7 are merely example screens which can be displayed to the user.

As indicated above, the limited access road can also include any road including at least one HOV lane. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, upon determining that a route of travel includes travel on a road including at least one HOV late in step S6 of FIG. 5, the screen shown in FIG. 8 may be displayed to a user on an integrated input and display device 290 of a navigation device 200 for example. As shown in FIG. 8, the screen indicates that the route of travel includes the use of HOV lanes. As shown in FIG. 8, the prompt merely includes two yes and no virtual buttons, for the user to indicate whether or not the user wants to avoid the HOV lanes. If so, an alternative route can be determined by the processor 210 which avoids use of roads including at least one HOV lane. If not, the user can accept the original route.

In either case, with regard to roads including at least one HOV lane or unpaved roads, or for any other limited access roads, if a route is accepted which includes a limited access road, a warning may either be automatically enabled, or user may be prompted to enable a warning automatically as previously discussed in FIG. 5 of the present application.

It should be noted that each of the aforementioned aspects of an embodiment of the present application have been described with regard to the method of the present application. Accordingly, in at least one additional embodiment of the present application, a navigation device 200 may include a processor 210 to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road. A navigation device 200 further includes an integrated input and display device 290 to prompt a user of the navigation device 200 to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternative route of travel, upon a processor 210 determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road. Such a navigation device 200, including the processor 210 and integrated input and display device 290 thereof, can perform the various steps of the method shown in FIG. 5 of the present application for example. Such a navigation device 200 includes a processor 210 to enable options and/or to enable display, upon receipt of an indication of selections. Thus, such a navigation device 200 may be used to perform the various aspects of the method described with regard to FIGS. 5-8, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, further explanation is omitted for the sake of brevity.

The methods of at least one embodiment expressed above may be implemented as a computer data signal embodied in the carrier wave or propagated signal that represents a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor (such as processor 304 of server 302, and/or processor 210 of navigation device 200 for example) causes the processor to perform a respective method. In at least one other embodiment, at least one method provided above may be implemented above as a set of instructions contained on a computer readable or computer accessible medium, such as one of the memory devices previously described, for example, to perform the respective method when executed by a processor or other computer device. In varying embodiments, the medium may be a magnetic medium, electronic medium, optical medium, etc.

Even further, any of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in the form of a program. The program may be stored on a computer readable media and is adapted to perform any one of the aforementioned methods when run on a computer device (a device including a processor). Thus, the storage medium or computer readable medium, is adapted to store information and is adapted to interact with a data processing facility or computer device to perform the method of any of the above mentioned embodiments.

The storage medium may be a built-in medium installed inside a computer device main body or a removable medium arranged so that it can be separated from the computer device main body. Examples of the built-in medium include, but are not limited to, rewriteable non-volatile memories, such as ROMs and flash memories, and hard disks. Examples of the removable medium include, but are not limited to, optical storage media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical storage media, such as MOs; magnetism storage media, including but not limited to floppy disks (trademark), cassette tapes, and removable hard disks; media with a built-in rewriteable non-volatile memory, including but not limited to memory cards; and media with a built-in ROM, including but not limited to ROM cassettes; etc. Furthermore, various information regarding stored images, for example, property information, may be stored in any other form, or it may be provided in other ways.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading the disclosure, the electronic components of the navigation device 200 and/or the components of the server 302 can be embodied as computer hardware circuitry or as a computer readable program, or as a combination of both.

The system and method of embodiments of the present application include software operative on the processor to perform at least one of the methods according to the teachings of the present application. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand, upon reading and comprehending this disclosure, the manner in which a software program can be launched from a computer readable medium in a computer based system to execute the functions found in the software program. One of ordinary skill in the art will further understand the various programming languages which may be employed to create a software program designed to implement and perform at least one of the methods of the present application.

The programs can be structured in an object-orientation using an object-oriented language including but not limited to JAVA, Smalltalk, C++, etc., and the programs can be structured in a procedural-orientation using a procedural language including but not limited to COBOL, C, etc. The software components can communicate in any number of ways that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including but not limited to by application of program interfaces (API), interprocess communication techniques, including but not limited to report procedure call (RPC), common object request broker architecture (CORBA), Component Object Model (COM), Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM), Distributed System Object Model (DSOM), and Remote Method Invocation (RMI). However, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present application disclosure, the teachings of the present application are not limited to a particular programming language or environment.

The above systems, devices, and methods have been described by way of example and not by way of limitation with respect to improving accuracy, processor speed, and ease of user interaction, etc. with a navigation device 200.

Further, elements and/or features of different example embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

Still further, any one of the above-described and other example features of the present invention may be embodied in the form of an apparatus, method, system, computer program and computer program product. For example, of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in the form of a system or device, including, but not limited to, any of the structure for performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings.

Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location;

determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and

prompting a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited access road includes at least one of a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user of the navigation device to enable a warning upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attempting to determine an alternative route of travel, in a navigation device, upon receipt of an indication that the user requests an alternative route of travel.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prompting a user of the navigation device to accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road upon failing to determine an alternative route of travel.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prompting a user of the navigation device to enable a warning upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

attempting to determine an alternative route of travel, in a navigation device, upon receipt of an indication that the user requests an alternative route of travel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

prompting a user of the navigation device to accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road upon failing to determine an alternative route of travel.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising outputting a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and enables the warning, and upon determining, within the navigation device, that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a time parameter and a distance parameter.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the outputting includes at least one of a visual and an audible output.

12. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim 1.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and upon determining, within the navigation device, that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a time parameter and a distance parameter.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the outputting includes at least one of a visual and an audible output.

16. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim 2.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the outputting includes a visual output of at least one of an icon and a message.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the warning warns the user of the navigation device that a determined route of travel includes travel on at least one of a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road.

19. The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and enables the warning, and upon determining, within the navigation device, that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

20. A navigation device, comprising:

means for determining a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and for determining whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and

means for prompting a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the means for determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

21. The navigation device of claim 20, wherein the limited access road includes at least one of a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road.

22. The navigation device of claim 20, wherein the means for prompting is further for prompting a user of the navigation device to enable a warning upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel.

23. The navigation device of claim 20, wherein the means for determining is further for attempting to determine an alternative route of travel, upon receipt of an indication that the user requests an alternative route of travel.

24. The navigation device of claim 23, wherein the means for prompting is further for prompting a user of the navigation device to accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road, upon failing to determine an alternative route of travel.

25. The navigation device of claim 22, further comprising:

means for outputting a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and enables the warning and upon the means for determining that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

26. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a time parameter and a distance parameter.

27. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein the means for outputting provides at least one of a visual and an audible output.

28. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein the means for outputting provides a visual output of at least one of an icon and a message.

26. The navigation device of claim 25, wherein the means for outputting provides the warning to warn the user of the navigation device that a determined route of travel includes travel on at least one of a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road.

27. The navigation device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for outputting a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and upon the means for determining determining that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

28. The navigation device of claim 27, wherein the means for outputting provides the warning to warn the user of the navigation device that a determined route of travel includes travel on at least one of a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road.

29. The navigation device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for outputting a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and upon the means for determining that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

30. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road; and

an integrated input and display device to prompt a user of the navigation device to either accept the determined route of travel or request an alternate route of travel, upon the processor determining that the determined route of travel includes travel on a limited access road.

31. The navigation device of claim 30, wherein the limited access road includes at least one of a road including at least one lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and an unpaved road.

32. The navigation device of claim 30, wherein the integrated input and display device is further useable to prompt a user of the navigation device to enable a warning upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel.

33. The navigation device of claim 30, wherein the processor is further useable to attempt to determine an alternative route of travel, upon receipt of an indication that the user requests an alternative route of travel.

34. The navigation device of claim 33, wherein the an integrated input and display device is further useable to prompt a user of the navigation device to accept the determined route of travel including travel on the limited access road, upon failing to determine an alternative route of travel.

35. The navigation device of claim 32, wherein the an integrated input and display device is further useable to output a warning relating to the limited access road upon receipt of an indication that the user accepts the determined route of travel and enables the warning and upon the processor determining that at least one parameter governing output of the warning is met.

36. The navigation device of claim 35, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a time parameter and a distance parameter.

37. The navigation device of claim 35, wherein the integrated input and display device provides a visual output of at least one of an icon and a message.

38. The navigation device of claim 35, wherein the an integrated input and display device is further useable to provide the warning to warn the user of the navigation device that a determined route of travel includes travel on at least