GB2338780A - Navigation system having memories for user needs and supplier information - Google Patents

Abstract

A navigation system 10 comprises first, second and third data stores 14, 16, 18 and a central processing unit 12 including a clock. The first data store includes information relating to the road network (eg. including average travel speed). The second data store includes user needs information (eg. normal meal times). The third data stores includes supplier information (eg. suppliers of food, fuel). A display 20, such as an LCD display, preferably with touch screen capability allows a user to interact with the system 10. The user selects a route and the CPU 12 determines user needs along the route and identifies relevant suppliers on the route. The CPU 12 may include inputs from the engine management system 22 (eg. for engine performance data), a CPS receiver 24 and a road traffic information receiver 26.

Description

2338780 A NAVIGATION SYSTEM The invention relates to a navigation system,

particularly, although not exclusively limited to, a navigation system for a road vehicle.

Navigation systems for vehicles are known. For example, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver can indicate the physical position of the user by receiving signals from an array of satellites and triangulating the position to provide an accurate read out of position to within several metres. Navigation systems for road vehicles are known which combine data from a GPS system with a data bank of route information. When a journey is planned, the destination is entered into the system and an appropriate route is chosen by the control system according to an algorithm which can be modified to provide the quickest route, the most fuel economic route or a route heading via specific intermediate destinations. If the GPS system senses that the vehicle has strayed off the route then the navigation system can be arranged to adapt the route to the new position of the vehicle to re-direct the user back to the appropriate destination.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved navigation system.

According to the invention there is provided a navigation system including a first data store storing route information including information regarding average speeds along differing road types, a second data store storing user needs information and a third data store storing supplier location information, the system further including a clock and control means, the control means automatically determining a route to a desired location, automatically determining user needs along the route and identifying appropriate suppliers at appropriate points along the route.

In that way, for example, the programme can determine that the journey will include a meal time and determine the position along the route that the meal time will occur and then identify appropriate eating places within a certain distance from the projected position at the meal time.

The route information preferably includes information regarding all roads in a region such as the average speed of travel along each of the roads in the data store. In that way, the control means is able more accurately to predict the projected location of the user at specific times along the route. The second data store may include data regarding normal meal times. For example, the data store may be programmed to allow breakfast to be taken between 7. 00 a. m. and 10. 00 a. m., lunch to be taken between 12. 00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. and dinner to be taken between 5.00 p.m. and 7.00 p. m. The second data store may also or alternatively include data regarding fuel consumption of the vehicle at various speeds and fuel levels in the fuel tank to allow the control means to determine whether refuelling would be required on the journey and approximately where refuelling would be - 3 ' required. Furthermore, the second data store may set down maximum travel times to provide scheduled breaks along the route by identifying appropriate locations for rest stops. That is especially helpful in relation to long distance journeys where drivers may be tempted to proceed for long periods without a break.

The third data store preferably includes details of suppliers of food, fuel, and other facilities. The third data store may also include details of accommodation, vehicle servicing facilities, areas of possible sightseeing interest, alternative modes of transport, car parks, banks, ATM machines and other service providers.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment the user enters his destination and optional intermediate destinations, the navigation system then provides an appropriate route governed by parameters such as speed of journey, fuel consumption, travelling on certain categories of roads etc. and also provides information regarding the needs of the user on the journey and the locations where those needs may be addressed, such as indicating a choice of eating places at convenient points on the journey within a time band allowed for the appropriate meal.

The user may program the system more specifically, for example, to provide projected vehicle position at specific times and request supplier location within a certain radius of the vehicle location at that time. For example, a user setting off at 11.00 - 4 O'clock in the morning on a four hour journey may request specifically data regarding the position of the vehicle at 1.00 O'clock and the closest eating places along the route to the projected vehicle location at that time.

The system may further include means for determining vehicle position, for example, a global positioning system receiver and the system may adapt dynamically to the vehicle position. The system may also include means for receiving road traffic data f rom a road traf f ic data supplier, f or example, by radio receiver and the system may be arranged to reconfigure the route to avoid congestion ahead on the proposed route. The system would then provide the user with altered information regarding eating places, for example.

The data stores may comprise a mass storage device, for example, a CD-ROM. The control means preferably comprises a microprocessor. The control means may be arranged to edit data in the data stores and the system may include means to allow the user to edit data in the data stores and re- program the control means appropriately.

The system preferably includes a display which can indicate the vehicle route, current vehicle position and heading and additional data such as eating place location and further information regarding the eating place, for example. The level of sophistication of the information may be refined so that specific categories of supplier can be grouped into sub categories so that, for example, the system only identifies motorway service stations on a route comprising mostly motorway travel. Alternatively, the user could demand that the system identify specific types of servi-ce provider, for example, suppliers of particular types of cuisine or ATM machine location for a specific bank. In a very specific example, the user may wish to identify, e.g. three star and above hotels offering accommodation within fifteen minutes travelling time from the proposed route all along the route. The information provided can be very specific or much more general depending upon the requirements of the user.

The system is preferably installed in a vehicle, most preferably a road vehicle and the display may be arranged so that it can easily be seen by the driver of the vehicle. The screen may be a touch screen system to allow selection of options and/or reprogramming of the system via the screen.

The control means may receive data from an engine management system which can provide appropriate information regarding fuel consumption, speed, distance travelled etc. to allow that data to be incorporated into the decision making process of the control means.

6 - In that way, the system can more accurately predict the point at which fuel, food or a rest stop might be required. Also, any faults which are determined in the functioning of the engine during a journey may be identified and if, the fault is significant and serious, vehicle service areas or garages can be identified within a certain radius of the vehicle's current position.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a first system in accordance with the invention and Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a second system in accordance with the invention.

In Figure 1, a navigation system 10 comprises a central processing unit 12, first, second and third data stores 14, 16, 18 respectively and a user interface 20. The central processing unit 12 includes a clock. The data stores 14, 16, 18 are preferably in the form of a CD-ROM drive or drives.

The first data store 14 stores route information. In particular, data relating to the road network including average speeds associated with particular roads is stored.

7 In the second data store 16 parameters regarding user needs are stored. For example, data regarding normal meal times is stored. In addition, information such as rest break intervals and maximum journey times can be incorporated into the second data store. The second data store also includes information regarding the vehicle needs, such as fuel consumption of the vehicle at various speeds to determine the amount of fuel consumed over the journey.

The third data store 18 includes supplier information. In particular, that data provides detailed information regarding location of providers of food, fuel and other facilities i-ncluding such data as accommodation details, vehicle servicing and repair facilities, tourist information, public transport location and information, car parks, banks or other service providers.

The user interface 20 is preferably a liquid crystal display which includes a touch screen system to enable the user to input data.

The display 20 allows the user to enter data regarding the journey via the screen. The central processing unit 12 receives the journey information from the central processing unit 20, takes data from the data stores 14, 16, 18 to determine an appropriate route dependent upon the parameters entered by the user and calculates the requirements of the user and his vehicle on the route by determining the amount of time required on the road, whether the journey will span any meal times, whether rest breaks are required and whether refuelling stops are required. The central processing unit then determines the points at which those stops may be required and the CPU 12 may be programmed to select sites along the route where two or more of those needs may be addressed at the same time, for example, where it is determined that a meal break, rest break and refuelling stop are required, the CPU 12 is arranged to select sites which can provide for all those requirements, for example, motorway service stations.

Once the appropriate information has been determined by the central processing unit, then a map of the route is displayed on the display 20 together with suggested stopping of f points along the route. The routing information may be displayed over several screens which can be toggled by selecting an appropriate location on the touch screen. For example, the user may wish to display motorway service stations along the route and then toggle to a screen showing places offering accommodation at the destination. Those options can be selected by pressing appropriate points indicated on the screen. The user interface 20 may include an audio speaker and the central processing unit 12 may include a voice synthesizer to provide verbal messages to the user regarding the information presented on the screen.

The information regarding suppliers stored in the third data store may also include expanded information in relation to each 9 - ' location. For example, where a motorway service station is displayed on the route, the user may select more information in relation to the service station by pressing the screen at the site of the service station. The central processing unit would then toggle the display to a further screen which provided a list of the services available at the service station. That additional data may also include a review and rating of each of the services provided. Thus, where the main display indicates the location of a restaurant, then the additional information may provide details of the type of restaurant and, if available, a review of the standard of food and service available.

The navigation system 10 shown in Figure 2 is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 1 and parts in Figure 2 corresponding to parts in Figure 1 carry the same reference numerals. The system 10 shown in Figure 2 is identical to that shown in Figure 1 with several additional features.

In Figure 2, the system 10 includes a connection from the central processing unit 12 to an engine management system 22 of the vehicle. The engine management system 22 can provide data regarding fuel consumption, fuel level and engine performance. Where the engine management system is particularly sophisticated it may be able to identify faults in the performance of the engine which may need immediate attention and, in such a case, the central processing unit 12 can provide details regarding appropriate vehicle service and repair sites within a certain ' distance from the vehicle.

A vehicle position finding system 24, for example, a global positioning system receiver (GPS) is also provided. That enables the central processing unit 12 to determine the precise position of the vehicle so that the information regarding user needs can be updated according to current vehicle position. Accordingly, where the central processing unit 12 has estimated that a vehicle will be at a particular location at a meal time and the vehicle has travelled faster than anticipated then the central processing unit can take data from the GPS system 24 to determine exact location and then provide an updated list of stopping off points along the route.

The system 10 also includes a receiver 26 for receiving road traffic information and the central processing unit 12 is preferably programmed to react to receive road traffic bulletins and to change the programmed route in order to divert the vehicle around any blockages or delays.

On entering the journey data, the system can be arranged to allow the user to enter preferences. For example, the user may wish to travel along the fastest possible route, the most direct route or may have certain preferences regarding the roads on which he travels or intermediate destinations which must be passed on the way to the ultimate destination. Also the user can program the system to include user preferences which are stored permanently.

1 11 ' For example, the user may insert his preferences regarding choice offood, choice of eating place, choice of meal time and tolerable levels of traffic delay so that the system can choose the route and stopping of f points that best suit the needs of the appropriate user. The stored user preferences may be referenced and multiple user preferences may be stored. For example, where the vehicle is owned by a couple, or by a company for use by all staff, each driver has their own preferences which can be saved and called up on request.

It is envisaged that other types of data, not mentioned in detail herein, could be included in the data stores. For example, the third data store may include data relating to the occupation of the user. For example, the system could be employed in a vehicle used by a travelling sales representative and the third data store could store information relating to the sites proposed to be visited by the user on any particular day, such as proposed routes from site to site and information relating to each site.

The proposed system has the advantage that all the information that a vehicle user may require is presented in an ordered manner in conjunction with a map and directions on the route that the user is taking.

Claims (1)

1. 2.

   111 A navigation system including a first data store storing route information including information regarding average speeds along differing road types, a second data store storing user needs information and a third data store storing supplier location information, the system further including a clock and control means, the control means automatically determining a route to a desired location, automatically determining user needs along the route and identifying appropriate suppliers at appropriate points along the route.

   A navigation system according to claim 1 in which the route information includes information regarding all roads in a region such as the average speed of travel along each of the roads in the data store.

   A navigation system according to claim 1 or 2 in which the second data store includes data regarding normal meal times.

   A navigation system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the second data store includes data regarding fuel consumption of the vehicle at various speeds.

   A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the second data store includes maximum travel times.

   - I; A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the third data store includes details of suppliers of at least one of food and fuel.

   A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the third data store includes details of at least one of accommodation, vehicle servicing facilities, areas of possible sightseeing interest, alternative modes of transport, car parks, banks, ATM machines.

   8. A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the system further includes means for determining vehicle position.

   A navigation system according to claim 8 in which the means for determining vehicle position is a Global Positioning System receiver.

   A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the system includes means for receiving road traffic data from a road traffic data supplier.

   A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the control means receives data from an engine management system.

   12. A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the data stores comprise a mass storage device.

   13. A navigation system according to claim 12 in which the mass storage device comprises a CD-ROM drive.

   14. A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the control unit is a micro-processor.

   A navigation system according to any preceding claim in which the system includes a display.

   16. A navigation system according to claim 15 in which the display is a liquid crystal display.

   17.

   A navigation system according to claim 15 or 16 in which the display includes a touch screen device to allow the user to interact with the system.