Method and apparatus for use in selecting a destination in a navigation system for vehicle

Abstract: A method and apparatus which is suitable for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system. The vehicle navigation system includes a display and a selection control. A first destination is selected from a primary list of destinations in response to a selection signal generated by the selection control. The first destination is placed on a secondary list of destinations in response to its selection. The secondary list includes previously selected destinations from the primary list. For subsequent destination selections, the primary and secondary lists are presented on the display thereby facilitating selection of destinations from both the primary and secondary lists. A feature by which the system may search for a destination across categories is also described.

Description: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus which are suitable for use in selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system. A particular vehicle navigation system to be described below, by way. of example in illustration of the present invention maintains a destination selection history of the destinations most recently selected by the user and allows global searching for specific destinations across destination categories. Each time that the user of a vehicle navigation system visits a large unfamiliar metropolitan area, guidance from the navigation system is likely to be needed. Each time that the user requests such guidance, it will be necessary for the user to step through the system's destination selection process, often repeating the same steps over and over again. For example, it will be necessary for the user to designate the city within which the vehicle is travelling each time that route guidance is desired. In particularly large cities, the same city is likely to be selected each time. The repetition of this step is inefficient, and can become a source of irritation for the user. In some currently available vehicle navigation systems, attempts have been made to avoid this inefficiency by making it easier for a user to select a previously selected destination. For example, in one system, when the user is prompted to designate the city within which route guidance is desired the display cursor position is automatically placed on the most recently selected city. In another system, the cursor is automatically placed on the city in which the vehicle is presently located. In each of these cases, if the highlighted city is the one for which guidance is currently needed, the user need only press enter to select the city. However, some large metropolitan areas include many different cities. In such areas, if the user desires to travel between several of these cities, the above-described solutions provide no benefit. A vehicle navigation system is therefore desirable which allows a user to make a selection from a plurality of previously selected destinations. An arrangement to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the present invention includes a means by which a list is maintained of the most recently selected destinations from any particular destination category (e.g., cities, streets, etc.). This list is presented at the beginning of the destination list for each such category thereby enabling the user to select more easily the user's most recently selected destinations without scrolling through the entire list for that category each time. Each time that a destination is selected within a particular category, e.g., San Francisco in the city category, that destination is added to a finite list of the most recently selected destinations. The next time that the user is prompted to select a destination in the particular category the list of most recently selected destinations will appear before the beginning of the entire list of destinations for the category. This allows the user to highlight and select any of these destinations with a minimum of cursor movement. In the specification of International patent application No. PCT/US9408634, which was published under No. WO 95/04340 on February 9 1995, there was proposed a method for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system which included a display, scrolling means having first and second controls, and selecting means. A user scrolled through a plurality of stored destinations on the screen, using the scrolling means. Each destination was made up of a plurality of alphanumeric symbols, the destinations forming an alphabetically and numerically organised list. The first control of the scrolling means was used to highlight consecutive destinations in the list. The second control of the scrolling means was used to jump to subsets of destinations beginning with the next or previous alphanumeric symbol, as compared to a currently highlighted destination. The selecting means were then used to enter a highlighted destination. A method and an apparatus for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system will be described below, by way of example, in illustration of the present invention. A first destination is selected from a primary list of destinations in one particular apparatus and method in response to a selection signal generated by the navigation system's selection control. The first destination is then placed on a secondary list of destinations in response to its selection. The secondary list includes previously selected destinations from the primary list. For subsequent destination selections, the primary and the secondary lists are both presented on the navigation system's display thereby facilitating the selection of destinations from both the primary list and the list of previously selected destinations. Another method and apparatus for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system to be described below by way of example in illustration of the invention allows the user to search for a destination across more than one category of destination, i.e., a global search. In this method and apparatus, where a first selection signal corresponding to a first category is generated by the selection control, the display presents a first list of destinations corresponding to the first category. A first destination may then be selected from the first list in response to a second selection signal generated by the selection control. Alternatively, a second destination corresponding to an alphanumeric input may be found and selected by searching for the second destination across the categories of destinations in response to the alphanumeric input. The following description and drawings disclose, by means of examples, the invention which is characterised in the appended claims, whose terms determine the extent of the protection conferred hereby. In the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a specific embodiment of a vehicle navigation system which is suitable for use with the present invention, Fig. 2 is an illustration of a vehicle navigation system display console, Figs. 3a-3d show a series of display screens for use in illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which a destination selection history for a particular category of destination is maintained and displayed, Fig. 4 shows a series of display screens for use in illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which destination selection histories are maintained and displayed for different categories of destination, Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a portion of a destination selection process in which a destination history list is generated, Fig. 6a shows a series of display screens for use in illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which a destination is selected using a global search across categories, Fig. 6b shows a series of display screens for use in illustrating another embodiment of the present invention in which a destination is selected using a global search across categories, and Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a portion of a destination selection process in which the global search feature is employed. The present invention relates to methods and apparatus which are suitable for use with arrangements described in commonly assigned United States Patents No. 5,345,382 for CALIBRATION METHOD FOR A RELATIVE HEADING SENSOR, issued on September 6, 1994, No. 5,359,529 for ROUTE GUIDANCE ON/OFF-ROUTE STATE FILTER, issued on October 25, 1994, and No. 5,374,933 for POSITION CORRECTION METHOD FOR VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, issued on December 20, 1994. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a specific embodiment of a vehicle navigation system 10 which is suitable for use with the present invention. Sensors 12 to 16 and a GPS receiver 18 are coupled to computing means through a sensor/GPS interface 22. In typical embodiments, a mileage sensor 12 is an odometer; an angular velocity sensor 14 is a gyroscope, or a differential odometer coupled to the wheels of the vehicle; and a geomagnetic sensor 16 is usually a magnetic compass mounted in the vehicle. A global positioning system (GPS) data receiver 18 is provided for receiving signals from, for example, a satellite-based navigation system. Data from the sensor/GPS interface 22 is transmitted to a CPU 24, which performs calibration, signal processing, dead-reckoning, vehicle positioning, and route guidance functions. A data base containing map information may be stored in a storage medium 26, with software directing the operation of the computing means stored in a ROM 28 for execution by the CPU 24. A RAM 30 permits reading and writing of the information necessary to execute such software programs. The storage medium 26 may include a hard disk drive, a CD-ROM or an integrated circuit on to which digitized map information has been stored. An output controller 32, which may include a graphics controller, receives data processed by CPU 24 and transmits such data to an output communicator 34, usually including a display screen. The user may input data, such as a desired destination, through a user interface 36, which is typically an alphanumeric keyboard or a keypad. The map data base stored in the storage medium 26 preferably includes positional data, such as latitude and longitude coordinates, to describe road intersections, road segments, landmarks, points of interest, and other geographical information. The data base may further include data representing the characteristics of roads or places on the map, such as road and place names, road features such as dividers, one-way restrictions, surface, speed limit, shape, elevation, and other properties. Using the data stored in the map data base, the vehicle navigation system generates one or more possible positions of the vehicle by comparing the dead-reckoned position to the road segments, intersections, and other geographical locations stored in the data base. The system then filters the set of position possibilities and selects from the remaining position possibilities a position deemed to be the current position of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is an illustration of a vehicle navigation system display console 40 which may be employed with an arrangement illustrative of the present invention. The console 40 has a display screen 42, a power switch 44, and seven function keys 46-56. A scrolling key 46 is centrally located below the display screen 42 with two "Quick Scroll" keys 48 adjacent the scrolling key 46 to its left and right. The scrolling key 46 controls the position of a cursor on the display screen 42 during destination selection. The "Quick Scroll" keys 48 both perform the same function, which is to increase the speed with which the scrolling key 46 scrolls through destination options on the display screen 42. An enter key 50 allows the user of the vehicle navigation system to select the destination option currently highlighted by the cursor. A cancel key 52 allows the user to cancel the current operation and return to the previous step. Thus, if an incorrect destination is entered with the enter key 50, the cancel key 52 can be used to correct the error immediately. A Route/Map key 54 allows the user to switch between two different route guidance modes. An option key 56 allows the user to reconfigure various features of the system set up. Figs. 3a-3d show a series of display screens for use in illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which a destination selection history for a particular category of destination (in this example, cities) is generated. Fig. 3a shows a display on a screen 300 which is presented to the user when first making a city selection. This "city list" is organized alphabetically. The user scrolls through the list using the display console scrolling keys until the desired city is highlighted by a cursor 302. For example, in a display on a screen 304 shown in Fig. 3b, the user has scrolled through the city list and highlighted "San Francisco". One method and apparatus for scrolling through such a list which may be employed with the present invention is described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/477,495 for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A DESTINATION IN A VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, filed on June 7, 1995. If the user had selected San Francisco (i.e., had the user pressed the enter key with the display as shown on screen 304), there would be presented on the next occasion on which the user is required to select a city from the city list, a display on a screen as shown in 306 of Fig. 3c. The list of cities presented on the screen 306 is the same as that presented on the screen 300 except that the list is preceded by " San Francisco ", the most recently selected city. In the figures, the previously selected destinations are shown in italics to distinguish them from the primary list of destinations. It will be understood that the list of previously selected destinations may be distinguished from the primary list by a variety of means. For example, the list of previously selected destinations may differ in colour from the primary list. Or, the two lists may be in different fonts, or differ in any of a wide variety of character attributes. In any case, because the two lists are initially presented to the user on the same screen, if San Francisco is the desired city, the user need only make one key stroke to highlight that choice. A screen 308 shown in Fig. 3d has a display which indicates that both San Francisco and Sausalito are previously selected destinations. " Sausalito " is closer to the initial cursor position indicating that it is the more recently selected destination. In this way, in the particular arrangement being described a selection is maintained of the history of previously selected destinations, allowing the user to select from the most recently selected destinations, as well as from the full list of destinations. It will be understood that the application of the present invention is not limited to the selection of cities. Specific embodiments, illustrative of the present invention may be applied to more than one step of the destination selection process. That is, as the user steps through various levels of the destination selection process, a selection history is maintained for selected levels. Fig. 4 shows a series of display screens illustrating such an embodiment illustrative of the present invention in which destination selection histories are maintained for different categories of destinations. The destination selection process illustrated is one in which a street intersection is designated for route guidance. A screen 400 is shown which has a display which is similar to that of the screen 308 shown in Fig. 3d. By scrolling up once, the user is presented with the screen 402. If the user presses the enter key, a street list such as the one shown on the screen 404, will appear presenting the streets of the selected city (i.e., Sausalito) in numerical and alphabetical order. As can be seen, Bay Ave. and Main St. have been selected previously and appear in italics preceding the full list of Sausalito streets. If, on the other hand, Sausalito is not the desired destination, the user may scroll up once more from the display on the screen 402 and arrive at the display on the screen 406. Upon pressing the enter key, a street list for San Francisco will be presented as shown by the display on a screen 408. In this example, Ocean Ave., Market St., and California St. make up the selection history for San Francisco streets. By scrolling up twice, the user then arrives at a screen 410 with a display in which "Market St. " is highlighted. Upon pressing enter with the display as shown on the screen 410, a "2nd Street List" will appear (screen 412) which includes all San Francisco streets in the map database which intersect with the first selected street, in this case Market St. As shown, the most recently selected street intersecting with Market St. is Vincent Ave. If the user presses the enter key with the display as shown on the screen 412, the vehicle navigation system will then proceed to calculate the route to the intersection of Market and Castro Streets in San Francisco. In the above example, destination selection histories were maintained for each of the three different categories of destination, i.e., cities, streets, and second or intersecting streets, for a specific type of destination selection process. In other embodiments illustrative of the invention, the same is done for other types of destination selection processes. For example, if a street address is the desired destination, selection history lists are presented with the city list and the street list. If a restaurant is the desired destination, selection history lists are presented with the city list and the restaurant list. It will be understood that, in arrangements illustrative of the present invention, such selection history lists may be maintained and presented with a variety of destination categories and destination selection processes. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a portion of a destination selection process in which a destination history list is generated. As described above, after the destination selection process begins (step 500), the system displays, at various junctures, a primary list of either destinations or categories of destinations along with a list of previously selected entries from that list, i.e., the selection history list (step 502). In response to signals from the scrolling keys on the display console, the cursor position is moved through the displayed lists (step 504). If a selection signal is received (step 506), the currently highlighted destination is selected for the next step in the destination selection process (step 508). The selected destination (or category) is then stored in the system's memory as part of the selection history list corresponding to the primary list and the destination selection process continues (steps 510 and 512). Notwithstanding the descriptions of the embodiments made above, it will be understood that, under some circumstances, it may be undesirable for a subsequent user of a vehicle to have access to the destination history of a previous user. Such a situation arises, for example, in the context of rental cars where successive users are generally unrelated. One way of dealing with this problem is to have the rental car company erase the destination histories for each user when the vehicle is returned. However, this may be costly and/or time consuming for the rental car agency. Moreover, merely because a procedure is in place does not guarantee that destination histories will be erased each time that a vehicle is returned. Therefore, in one particular embodiment illustrative of the present invention a privacy feature is provided by which destination histories are maintained for only specific categories of destination which would not compromise the previous user's privacy. In one specific embodiment, a destination history list is maintained only for a "points of interest" category which includes, for example, parks, shopping malls, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other businesses. Thus, a rental car user may have the benefit of features of the present invention for identifying the many locations to which such an individual may be likely to want guidance without subsequent users of the rental car being privy to more sensitive destination information, e.g., private residences. Thus, arrangements described in illustration of the present invention provide a method for maintaining a destination history for a specific category of destinations in a vehicle navigation system. As with other embodiments described above, a destination is selected in response to selection by the user. The system then determines whether the destination belongs to the specific category. Where the destination belongs to the specific category, it is included in the destination history. Where it does not, the destination is not included in the destination history. In one embodiment, the user may designate categories of destination which are considered to be non-private locations. Alternatively, the user may designate the categories for which destination histories should not be maintained. Fig. 6a shows a series of display screens illustrating an embodiment illustrative of the present invention in which a destination is selected using a global search across categories. In the specific embodiment shown, the categories are point of interest (P0I) categories, i.e., airports, businesses, entertainment, restaurants, etc. When a user of the vehicle navigation system has chosen to select a destination by designating a point of interest, a list of point of interest categories is presented to the user as shown on screen 600. The user may then select a particular category, or, if unsure of the category, the user may select the "Global Search" option and search for a particular destination across all P0I categories. If the latter course is chosen, an alphanumeric input screen is presented to the user, as shown on screen 602. The user may then input a string of alphanumeric characters in a field 604, using the interface described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. After inputting the string "Great Amer" and pressing the enter key, the user is presented with all destinations in any of the P0I categories corresponding to this string of characters (screen 606). It will be understood that this embodiment, which is described in illustration of the invention, may be employed to search across a variety of combinations of categories. For example, Fig. 6b shows a series of display screens for use in describing an embodiment which is used to illustrate the present invention in which a street name is selected using a global search across the city list. If the user knows only the street name, but not the city, it is possible to select the global search option at screen 610 which leads to the presentation of alphanumeric input screen 612. After the street name has been entered, the system searches across all of the cities in the city list and returns any streets corresponding to the string of characters input by the user (screen 614), The cities in the city list may be thought of as categories with respect to the streets of each, i.e., San Francisco represents the streets of San Francisco. Fig. 7 is a flowchart for use in illustrating a portion of a destination selection process in which the global search feature is employed. Sometime after the destination selection process begins (step 700), a list of categories is displayed which includes a global search option with which the user may search for a particular destination across all of the categories in the list (step 702). In response to signals from the scrolling keys on the display console, the cursor position is moved through the displayed list (step 704). If a selection signal is received (step 706) and the selection signal corresponds to the global search option (step 708), the system presents an alphanumeric input screen by which the user may enter a string of characters and thereby transmit an alphanumeric input signal (step 710). The system then searches across the categories for destinations corresponding to the string of input characters (step 712) and displays any such destinations (step 714). In response to a selection signal, a currently highlighted one of these destinations is selected (step 716) and the destination selection process continues (step 720). If the global search option is not selected at step 708, a list of destinations corresponding to the selected category is displayed (step 718) from which the user may make a selection. It will be understood that, although specific embodiments illustrative of the invention have been described by way of example, variations and modifications thereof, as well as other embodiments, may be made within the scope of the protection sought by the appended claims.

Claims: A method which is suitable for use in maintaining a destination history for a specific category of destinations in a vehicle navigation system (10), the method including the steps of selecting a first destination in response to the selection of the first destination by a user, determining whether the first destination belongs to a specific category, and including the first destination in the destination history only where the first destination belongs to the specific category. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of designating the specific category in response to the selection of the specific category by the user. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of designating at least one private category which is prohibited from being the specific category in response to the selection of the at least one private category by the user. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the specific category includes non-private destinations. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the specific category includes points of interest. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the points of interest include tourist attractions, parks, businesses, and restaurants. An apparatus for maintaining a destination history for a specific category of destinations which is suitable for use in a vehicle navigation system (10), the apparatus including means (36) for selecting a first destination in response to the selection of the first destination by a user, means (24) for determining whether the first destination belongs to a specific category, and means (24) for including the first destination in the destination history only where the first destination belongs to the specific category. A computer program product for maintaining a destination history for a specific category of destinations which is suitable of use in a vehicle navigation system (10), the product including a computer-readable medium (28), and a computer program mechanism embedded in the computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of selecting a first destination in response to the selection of the first destination by a user, determining whether the first destination belongs to a specific category, and including the first destination in the destination history only where the first destination belongs to the specific category.

Inventors: TAMAI HARUHISA, TAMAI, HARUHISA
Applicants: VISTEON TECH LLC, VISTEON TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G08G1
IPC codes: G01C21, G08G1, G09B29