GPS navigation and cellular route planning device

A navigation device for navigating from one location to another includes a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals, a cellular receiver for receiving cellular signals, a memory, a processor, a display unit and a connection unit for receiving navigation data. The navigation data includes geographic and cellular provider information pertaining to the locations where cellular coverage is available by a particular provider. This information is processed by the processor to display route instructions to a user in which cellular coverage will be maintained.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a global positioning navigation device, and more particularly to a GPS navigation device having an integrated cellular detection and route planning module.

With the recent availability of low cost GPS navigation units, more and more people are hitting the open roads and choosing to drive instead of fly. As such, people are often driving through unfamiliar areas where a vehicle breakdown or medical emergency can emphasize the need for reliable cellular communication throughout the journey. However, if the user is traveling through a distant town or remote area, they may find that their cellular telephone provider does not offer service in the area in which they are located. Unfortunately, it is common for the user to discover this fact at a time when the cellular telephone is needed the most.

Accordingly, the need exists for a GPS system capable of incorporating the coverage details of a predetermined cellular provider into the driving instructions given to the user without the need to connect to a remote server. Moreover, it is also an objective to provide a portable GPS navigation unit capable of displaying a list of available cellular providers and the related cellular provider information during a journey.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a GPS navigation device having an integrated cellular detection and route planning module. One embodiment of the present invention can include a portable GPS receiver having an integrated GPS and cellular receivers for receiving GPS and cellular signals, a memory, a processor, a display unit and a connection unit for receiving navigation data. The navigation data can include geographic and cellular provider information pertaining to the locations where cellular coverage is available by a particular provider. This information can be processed by the processor to display route instructions to a user in which cellular coverage will be maintained.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include a portable GPS navigation device capable of displaying real time cellular provider information via the cellular antenna.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention can include a portable GPS navigation device capable of comparing the real time cellular provider information with the navigation data to determine a delta.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be described throughout this specification, the inventive concepts can be linked with a conventional GPS navigation device capable of identifying the current location of the unit and providing destination instructions to a user. Portable GPS units of this type are extremely well known in the art, and include U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,092, for example, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, any suitable GPS system capable of performing the actions disclosed herein can be utilized in conjunction with the teachings of this specification without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Although described throughout this specification as generating driving instructions, it will be understood that any directions for moving from one location to another via the ground, air, or sea are contemplated. Accordingly, this term is not intended to be limiting in any way.

FIG. 1illustrates one embodiment of a GPS navigation and cellular route planning device10that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. As shown, device10can include a portable housing11, a GPS antenna12, a cellular antenna13, an Input/Output device14, a keypad15and a display screen16.

FIG. 2illustrates one embodiment of a circuitry block diagram of the GPS Unit10described above. As shown, the internal components can include a GPS antenna12, cellular antenna13, I/O unit14, keypad15, display16, GPS receiver20, cellular receiver21, memory22and a processor23.

The GPS antenna12can act to interface with one or more satellites in order to receive location information of the unit at any given time. Antenna's of this type are well known in the art.

The GPS receiver20can act to receive the location information from the GPS antenna12and translate it into data which can be sent to the processor23for calculating route information. Additionally, this information can be sent to the display screen16for providing instant location information to the user.

The cellular antenna13can act to interface with any local cellular towers in order to receive information pertaining to what (if any) cellular providers are operating in the area in which the GPS device10is located. In one embodiment, the cellular antenna can also collect other information pertaining to each cellular provider, including: cellular signal strength, network type, and other services offered by each identified provider.

The cellular receiver21can act to receive the information from the cellular antenna and provide this information to the processor23and the memory22. Additionally, this information can be sent to the display screen16for providing instant cellular provider information to the user.

I/O unit14can act to allow the GPS device10to connect with a computer or other external device in order to receive map updates and cellular routing information. To this end, I/O unit14can preferably include a module for receiving a data cable that can be connected to a computer or other remote device.

As described herein, cellular routing information can include, among other information, cellular coverage maps which are typically generated by cellular providers to notify the public of where their service is available. To this end, a cellular coverage map can include geographic details such as street, city and state information specifying where service is and is not available. Through the use of cellular coverage maps, it is possible to select a particular address or location (such as longitude and latitude, for example) and the map can identify if cellular coverage is available at this location. Cellular maps and their associated methodology are well known in the art, and include U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,514, for example, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to the above, cellular routing information can also include: cellular tower locations, network types (i.e. analogue, digital, 3G, 4G, EDGE, TDMA, CDMA and GSM, for example) and other related cellular provider information. Moreover, as will be described below in greater detail, the I/O unit14can also upload cellular provider information captured by the device when this information differs from that contained in the original download.

The keypad15can include any known means for accepting user input and providing instructions to the processor. As shown inFIG. 1, the keypad can include one or more push buttons for interfacing with the device. However, other means are also contemplated.

The display screen16can act to receive and display maps and other user requested information in a variety of formats. This information can be requested by the user and displayed according to any number of known methods. In one preferred embodiment, display screen16can include an LCD touch screen capable of providing two way communication with the user and the processor23.

Memory22can act to store map and cellular information in addition to operating instructions in the form of program code for the processor23to execute. Although illustrated as a single component, memory22can include one or more physical memory devices such as, for example, local memory and one or more bulk storage devices. As used herein, local memory can refer to random access memory or other non-persistent memory device(s) generally used during actual execution of program code, whereas a bulk storage device can be implemented as a persistent data storage device. Additionally memory22can also include one or more cache memories that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times program code must be retrieved from bulk storage device during execution. Each of these devices being well known in the art, no further description will be provided.

The Processor23can act to execute the program code stored in the memory22. To this end, the processor can access map, cellular and present location information, and can generate driving instructions based on the desired destination provided by the user. This information can then be sent to the display screen16in any number of formats as described above.

In operation, the GPS navigation and cellular route planning device10, can generate driving instructions based on a number of user preferences including cellular availability. To this end, the device10, according to one embodiment can receive geographic maps and cellular routing information (such as a cellular map, for example) via the I/O unit14. This information can be pre-programmed into the unit at a time of construction or can be downloaded by the end user at a time of purchase. Additionally, as with the maps, yearly updates can be available for download to the device. In any case, once this cellular routing information is received by the unit, it can be stored in the memory22for use by the processor in order to provide driving instructions to a desired destination as described below.

FIG. 3illustrates one embodiment of the screen16providing a user with a list of routing preferences. In this example, the routing preferences include Most use of highways31, Least use of highways32, Avoid toll roads33, Fastest time34and Cellular availability35. Options31-34are but a few of the most commonly available options for known GPS units, and are provided for illustrative purposes.

When a user selects option35, the display can generate a second screen in which a list of cellular providers (35a-35x) whose coverage maps have been pre-loaded into the device10can be displayed. Upon selecting their cellular provider, the user can commence the route planning (i.e. generation of driving instructions by the processor) by selecting the Go button36. At this time, the processor23can generate a travel route that will guide the user to their desired destination utilizing roads that are indicated by the cellular map as having cellular coverage for that provider.

Moreover, by storing the cellular maps within the memory of the GPS, it is possible for route planning and alternate (i.e. detour) route with cellular coverage to occur without the need to connect to an outside device.

Although illustrated above as a self contained device, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, it is noted that the present invention can be embodied as a stand alone portable device or can be incorporated into a larger device/system or vehicle (such as a car, boat or airplane, for example). The device10can thus be incorporated as a single component or as multiple individual components that are communicatively linked to perform the functions described herein.

FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating one exemplary method for determining a travel route with cellular availability utilizing the GPS navigation and cellular route planning device described above. As would be understood by one of skill in the art, the method described below is but one example, and other methods are also contemplated.

The method400can begin at step405where the user can input the destination information and the device10can calculate the present location based on the signal received from the GPS antenna12. Next, the method can proceed to step410where the device can locate the destination location within the internal maps stored in the memory22, and generate a set of driving instructions.

Next, the method can proceed to step415where each street/city along the driving instructions can be compared to the cellular routing information (such as the cellular map, for example) of a predetermined cellular provider. In step420, a determination can be made as to whether any of the streets or cities along the proposed route are indicated as not having cellular service. If the determination is made that one or more streets/cities do not have cellular coverage, the method can proceed to step425where the route information from the current location to the first identified location can be saved. Next, the method can proceed to step430, where a new route from the first location identified as not having cellular service to the destination can be generated and an instruction can be included to exclude all route locations identified in step420as not having cellular coverage. Upon completion of step420, the method can return to step415.

Once a travel route is identified in step420as having cellular coverage throughout the entire route, the method can proceed to step435, where the driving instructions can be displayed on the screen16.

FIG. 5illustrates an alternate embodiment of the GPS navigation and cellular route planning device10that further includes the ability to generate instantaneous cellular provider information. As shown, the cellular antenna13can receive cellular information form any local cellular towers100and can display a list of available cellular providers51on the display screen16. Additional information pertaining to the network52and/or signal strength53, among others, can also be displayed. It is also noted that the cellular provider information50listed on the display screen can be information pertaining to all available cellular providers for the area in which the device10is located or can be restricted to information about cellular providers who have provided the cellular route information to the device.

FIG. 6illustrates another alternate embodiment of a GPS navigation and cellular route planning device10in which cellular provider information50is displayed along side driving instructions60and a generated map61. Such a feature can be utilized, for example, in conjunction with the cellular route preference described above in order to allow a user to see the signal strength and/or other details of the service provider at all times along their journey.

In another embodiment (not illustrated), the device10is capable of comparing actual cellular provider information (i.e. list of providers, signal strength, etc.) for a given area, as determined by the cellular antenna, to the cellular routing information provided to the device via the I/O unit.

To this end, the device10can identify discrepancies (i.e. deltas) in which the actual information (provided by the antenna13) conflicts with the cellular routing information provided by the manufacturer. When a delta is identified, the device10can store the information in the memory and report the delta to the map supplying entity when the unit is next updated. Such a feature can allow the device to act as a tool for improving the accuracy of the cellular routing information.

Accordingly, the above described GPS navigation and cellular route planning device is capable of incorporating the coverage details of a particular cellular provider into a proposed route for a user, thus ensuring constant cellular communication at all times during a trip. Additionally, the device can display available cellular provider information and act as a tool for improving the cellular routing information supplied by a manufacturer or third party vendor.