Patent ID: 6351709
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: G01C,G08G

Abstract:
A vehicle navigation system mountable on a first vehicle that is to be navigated, comprising:an input module that allows a vehicle operator to input a desired destination location; a receiver supported on the vehicle that receives signals indicative of a current position of the first vehicle; a memory module that contains a prestored map database that includes a plurality of known location reference points; an update module that receives a travel advisory signal indicative of a current traffic situation that is not contained in the prestored map data base; an electronic controller that communicates with the update module, the input module, the receiver and the memory module and automatically generates a route guidance strategy to guide the operator from the current position to the desired location taking the travel advisory signal into consideration; and a transmitter supported on the first vehicle that transmits a beacon signal adapted to be automatically received by another vehicle for updating a route guidance strategy of the other vehicle, said beacon signal indicating to the other vehicle that the first vehicle represents a potential traffic hazard at the current position by including information identifying an abnormal vehicle condition of the first vehicle.