Abstract:
A satellite navigation device having the real-time route-programming capability, comprising: a satellite positioning data receiver for receiving the satellite positioning signals and converting them into satellite positioning information; a traffic message receiver for receiving the traffic message signal; a microprocessor for digitizing the traffic message signal and converting it into traffic condition information; and a satellite navigation module for programming a mobile route based on the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information, performing the navigation operation according to the programmed mobile route, and reprogramming in real-time the programmed mobile route according to the newly received traffic condition information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 094112088 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Apr. 15, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a satellite navigation device, and in particular, to a satellite navigation device having real-time route-programming capability.  
       RELATED ART  
       [0003]     With the rapid development of the information and communication industries, communication between people has become more convenient, for instance, through the utilization of the various portable/mobile communication devices. The development and deployment of the Global Satellite Positioning System (GPS) has further raised the quality and precision of communication. Presently, the satellite navigation device has gradually become a standard feature of transportation vehicles. Through the navigation system of the satellite navigation device, the driver of the vehicle has only to input the position of his destination, then the mobile route is programmed by the navigation system and is displayed by means of the electronic map in cooperation with the voice message, so as to facilitate the implementation and utilization of the satellite navigation system by the driver of the vehicle.  
         [0004]     However, presently, route programming is done by making use of the map stored in the memory in advance. Thus, in this fixed type of route programming and guidance system, the mobile route cannot be adjusted dynamically according to traffic conditions. Therefore, the mobile route actually taken must be adjusted by the driver of the vehicle himself based on the existing traffic conditions of the mobile route obtained through the broadcast of the traffic information broadcasting system. However, to the driver unfamiliar with the geographic environment of the related route, this causes a lot of problems.  
         [0005]     As such, the research and development of a satellite navigation device that can adjust in real-time the mobile route taken according to actual traffic conditions is the most urgent task in this field.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In view of the above-mentioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a satellite navigation device having real-time route-programming capability, for providing a revised mobile route or suggesting a better mobile route by simultaneously receiving a satellite positioning information and a traffic condition information and analyzing them, thereby enhancing the quality and precision of the satellite navigation system.  
         [0007]     Therefore, to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the invention provides a satellite navigation device having real-time route-programming capability, including: a satellite positioning data receiver, a traffic message receiver, a microprocessor, and a satellite navigation module. The details of each of these devices are described as follows.  
         [0008]     The satellite positioning data receiver is used to receive the positioning signal of an apparatus, where the satellite navigation device is applied, via a satellite base station, and convert it into the satellite positioning information.  
         [0009]     The traffic message receiver is used to receive the traffic message signal from a traffic message center. The traffic message receiver can include a Radio Data System (RDS) receiver and a Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver.  
         [0010]     The microprocessor is connected to the traffic message receiver and is used to perform digitized processing of the traffic message signal so as to convert it into the traffic condition information.  
         [0011]     The satellite navigation module is used to receive the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information to obtain the satellite positioning information corresponding to the present position of the apparatus and the traffic condition information corresponding to the present traffic condition, and on the basis of these information, to program a mobile route and perform a navigation operation according to the programmed mobile route. Moreover, the satellite navigation module is used to real-time readjust the programmed mobile route based on the traffic condition information re-received. The satellite navigation module includes: a first communication connection interface, a second communication connection interface, a data storage medium, a central processor unit, a memory, and a route-programming unit. The details of each of these devices are described as follows.  
         [0012]     The first communication connection interface is used to provide the satellite positioning data receiver and the satellite navigation module with the transmission interface for the data transmission channel, to transmit the satellite positioning information. The first communication connection interface may be of the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) specification or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification and the like.  
         [0013]     The second communication connection interface is used to provide the microprocessor and the satellite navigation module with the transmission interface for the data transmission channel, to transmit the traffic condition information. The second communication connection interface may be of the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) specification or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification and the like.  
         [0014]     The data storage medium is used to store the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information.  
         [0015]     The central processor unit is connected to the data storage medium, is the central core unit of the satellite navigation module, and is utilized to process the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information.  
         [0016]     The memory is connected to the central processor unit to store the data waited to be processed by the central processor unit. The memory can be of the synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) or the synchronous double data rate (DDR) dynamic random access memory (DRAM).  
         [0017]     The route-programming unit is connected to the central processor unit and is of a computer application program, which is executed by the central processor unit to program the mobile route.  
         [0018]     Through the application and utilization of the satellite navigation device having real-time route-programming capability, the optimized mobile route can be obtained on the basis of the programmed mobile route in coordination with the traffic condition information corresponding to the actual traffic conditions from the traffic message center. Therefore, the quality and the precision of the satellite navigation system are enhanced.  
         [0019]     Further scope of the applicability of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below, which is for illustration only and thus is not limitative of the invention, wherein:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a system block diagram of the satellite navigation device having real-time route-programming capability according to the embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the integration of the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information into the information of a new format. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     The purpose, construction, features, and functions of the invention can be appreciated and understood more thoroughly through the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0024]     Refer to  FIG. 1  for the system block diagram of the satellite navigation device having real-time route-programming capability according to the embodiment of the invention, including a satellite positioning data receiver  10 , a traffic message receiver  11 , a microprocessor  12 , and a satellite navigation module  50 .  
         [0025]     The satellite positioning data receiver  10  is utilized to receive the satellite position signals from the satellites via the satellite base station. Such the position signals are received from at least 3 satellites to obtain the information corresponding to the present position of an apparatus, where the satellite navigation device is applied. The satellite positioning data receiver  10  can comprise an antenna (not shown) and a receiver circuit (not shown), wherein the receiver circuit is used to convert the satellite positioning signal into the satellite positioning information.  
         [0026]     The traffic message receiver  11  is used to receive the traffic message signal transmitted from the Traffic Message Center (TMC). Herein, the traffic message receiver can comprise an antenna (not shown) and a receiver circuit (not shown). The traffic message receiver  11  can be of a Radio Data System (RDS) receiver or a Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver.  
         [0027]     The microprocessor  12  is connected to the traffic message receiver  11  and is used to process the traffic message signal received by the traffic message receiver  11 . It can perform a digitized processing of the signal, to convert the traffic message signal into traffic condition information.  
         [0028]     The satellite navigation module  50  is used to process the information from the satellite positioning data receiver  10  and the traffic message receiver  11 . That is, the satellite navigation module  50  can obtain the satellite positioning information corresponding to the present position of the apparatus and the traffic condition information corresponding to the present traffic condition. Subsequently, on the basis of the information, the satellite navigation module  50  can program a mobile route and perform the navigation operation according to the programmed mobile route. Moreover, the satellite navigation module  50  can readjust and reprogram the programmed mobile route upon receiving new traffic condition information. The mobile route means the shortest mobile route from the present position of the vehicle to its destination. The satellite navigation module  50  can include: a first communication connection interface  13 , a second communication connection interface  14 , a data storage medium  15 , a central processor unit  16 , a memory  17 , and a route-programming unit  18 . The details of each of these devices are described as follows.  
         [0029]     The first communication connection interface  13  is connected to the satellite positioning data receiver  10  and is used to be the transmission interface for the data transmission channel, which has the capability of double direction data transmission. The first communication connection interface may be the communication connection port, which is of the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) specification or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification and the like.  
         [0030]     The second communication connection interface  14  is connected to the microprocessor  12  and is used to provide the transmission interface for the data transmission channel, which has the capability of double direction data transmission. The second communication connection interface  14  may be the communication connection port, which is of the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) specification or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification and the like. Moreover, the traffic condition information is compatible with the data transmission format of the second communication connection interface  14 .  
         [0031]     Further, the microprocessor  12  is connected respectively to traffic message receiver  11  and the second communication connection interface  14 , so that it can have fewer pins. Furthermore, it may only process the data (e.g. the traffic condition information) received from the traffic message receiver  11 , so that a microprocessor with a simpler circuit construction and lower cost may be utilized.  
         [0032]     The data storage medium  15  is connected respectively to the first communication connection interface  13  and the second communication connection interface  14 , and is provided with the stored program of the Dynamic Link Library. In addition, it is provided with a storage area to store or temporarily store the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information. The data storage medium  15  can be of the hard disk drive device or other hardware device having data storage capability.  
         [0033]     The central processor unit  16  is connected to the data storage medium  15 , is the central core unit of the satellite navigation module  50 , and is utilized to process the signal transmission of the various units and the procedures in relation to instruction calling, execution and operation, including the calling and executing of the DLL program codes of the data storage medium  15 , thus integrating the traffic condition information and the satellite positioning information into the same data format (for example, NMEA data format). The calling type of the DLL program can be classified into: Explicitly Import, Implicitly Import and Dynamically Import.  
         [0034]     The memory  17  is connected to the central processor unit  16  to provide a storage area for storing temporarily the data waited to be processed by the central processor unit. The memory  17  can be of the synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) or the synchronous double data rate (DDR) dynamic random access memory (DRAM).  
         [0035]     The route-programming unit  18  is of a computer application program, and is used to execute a programmed mobile route navigation operation through the central processor unit  16 , and on the basis of these information, to program and generate the optimal mobile route depending on the actual traffic conditions by calculating the information corresponding to the actual traffic conditions from the traffic message receiver  11  through the central processor unit  16 . In addition, the prompted information representing the existence of other mobile routes is displayed by the display device (not shown) for the user to adjust the mobile route.  
         [0036]     Next, refer to  FIG. 2 , which shows the schematic diagram of the integration of the satellite positioning information and the traffic condition information. Firstly, the satellite positioning information  10   a  and the traffic condition information  11   a  are obtained through the satellite positioning data receiver  10 , the traffic message receiver  11 , and the microprocessor  12 . Then, they are converted into the National Marine Electronic Association (NMEA) message data format by making use of the DLL program  15   a  stored in the data storage medium  15 , thereby providing the route-programming unit  18  with the operation parameters required to execute the real-time route-programming.  
         [0037]     The data message in the NMEA format is transmitted in the form of sentences, e.g. the data format of ‘$GPGGA,xxxx,yyyy,zzzz” and ‘$MTMC,aaaa,bbbb,cccc” as shown in block  15   b  of  FIG. 2 . Each of the sentences is started with “$” with each field separated by “,”, and the length of the sentence is variable and can reach 82 characters at most. Each of the sentences can be divided into three sections: the header section, the data section and the ending section containing the checksum code.  
         [0038]     The traffic condition information and the satellite positioning information are identified and distinguished through their header sections, and then the specific data in the data section of the traffic condition information is obtained and utilized as the parameter to perform the real-time route-programming operation. The traffic condition information is converted and integrated to the standard NMEA format, and further, is available for reading and processing by the route-programming unit  18  or other application programs.  
         [0039]     Through the application and utilization of the satellite navigation device having the real-time route-programming capability, the optimized mobile route can be obtained on the basis of the programmed mobile route in coordination with the traffic condition information corresponding to the actual traffic condition from the traffic message center. Therefore, the quality and the precision of the satellite navigation system are enhanced.  
         [0040]     Knowing the invention 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 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.