Abstract:
A navigation-aids method is useful for guiding a group of associated vehicles including a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The first vehicle is equipped with a first electronic navigation device and the second vehicle is equipped with a second electronic navigation device. An informing message is generated by the first electronic navigation device in response to the occurrence of a traffic event. The informing message containing position and traffic-event information is transmitted from the first electronic navigation device to the second electronic navigation device. A navigation-aids operation is executed by the second electronic navigation device depending on the informing message, thereby properly guiding the second vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a navigation-aids method, and more particularly to a navigation-aids method for performing interactive guidance between/among vehicles equipped with electronic navigation devices. The present invention also relates to an electronic navigation device capable of executing an interactive guidance function with another electronic navigation device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Global Positioning System (GPS) that was only used for guiding crafts or facilitating geographic survey is now applied to various fields in human&#39;s lives. For example, GPS replaces radio communication as a flight-guiding standard, co-works with electronic map to help a driver plan his driving route, helps on locating certain people or objects, or provides information of certain landmarks for the reference of people doing an outdoor activity like hiking, skiing, mountain-climbing, racing, etc., to locate himself and find his way. Generally speaking, One of the most popular and mature applications of GPS is for navigation aids of vehicles. 
         [0003]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , in which the operational principle of GPS is briefly illustrated. The system  1  includes an electronic navigation device  10  receiving satellite signals  110  from satellites  11  orbiting around the earth. Then a triangulation method is implemented to do calculation based on the received satellite signals  110  so as to realize position information in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate. When the GPS  1  is equipped in a vehicle and proper data are inputted into the electronic navigation device  10 , suitable driving routes may further be programmed in addition to positioning of the vehicle. 
         [0004]    An example of the electronic navigation device  10  conventionally used in the art will be illustrated hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 2 . The electronic navigation device  10  includes a processor  20 , a satellite signal receiver  21 , an input unit  22 , a memory  23 , a display  24  and a wireless transmission unit  25 , wherein the processor  20  communicates and works with the satellite signal receiver  21 , input unit  22 , memory  23 , display  24  and wireless transmission unit  25 . After the satellite signal receiver  21  receives data information from satellites (not shown), the processor  20  calculates the data to realize a position in a coordinate. Meanwhile, the processor  20  reads an electronic map stored in the memory  23  and has the map shown on the display  24 . Via the input unit  22 , a user may input additional data to the electronic navigation device  10  to be processed by the processor  20 . Moreover, the wireless transmission unit  25  can be used to exchange information with other electronic navigation devices (not shown), e.g. exchange position information of associated vehicles. 
         [0005]    As mentioned above, it is feasible to show positions of associated vehicles on the display  24 . It is a pity, however, that the realized information has not been taken advantage of to expand the utility of the system except showing relative positions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Therefore, the present invention provides a navigation-aids method for providing more information and performing advanced functions based on the information of associated vehicles transmitted to an electronic navigation device. 
         [0007]    The present invention relates to a navigation-aids method for guiding a group of associated vehicles including a first vehicle and a second vehicle, wherein the first vehicle is equipped with a first electronic navigation device and the second vehicle is equipped with a second electronic navigation device. The method includes steps of: generating an informing message by the first electronic navigation device in response to the occurrence of a traffic event, and transmitting the informing message containing position and traffic-event information from the first electronic navigation device to the second electronic navigation device; and executing a navigation-aids operation by the second electronic navigation device depending on the informing message. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the navigation-aids method further includes a step of generating an indicating message by the second electronic navigation device in response to the informing message. Accordingly, the navigation-aids operation includes outputting the indicating message, e.g. a voice message, a literal message and/or a light message, as a warning message. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the navigation-aids operation includes programming a new route. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the traffic-event information included in the informing message is manually inputted into the first electronic navigation device or automatically generated when the traffic event occurs. For example, the traffic-event information can be automatically generated when the first electronic navigation device detects a velocity change of the first vehicle larger than a threshold which can be preset in the system or by a user. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the position information included in the informing message is transmitted to a global positioning system. 
         [0012]    The present invention also relates to an interactive guiding system for use with a group of associated vehicles including a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The interactive guiding system includes a first electronic navigation device disposed in the first vehicle for cooperating with a global positioning system to position and guide the first vehicle, generating an informing message in response to the occurrence of a traffic event, and transmitting the informing message to the second electronic navigation device; and a second electronic navigation device disposed in the second vehicle for cooperating with the global positioning system to position and guide the second vehicle, the second electronic navigation device, and executing a navigation-aids operation depending on the informing message. 
         [0013]    The present invention further relates to an electronic navigation device, which includes a traffic message generator for processing position information and traffic-event information into an informing message to be outputted in response to the occurrence of a traffic event, and executing a navigation-aids operation in response to an external informing message; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the traffic message generator for wirelessly transmitting the informing message out or wireless receiving the external informing message. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the electronic navigation device further includes an output unit for outputting an indicating message generated by the navigation-aids operation. For example, the output unit may include a speaker, a display and/or an LED indicator to output the indicating message as a voice message, a literal message and/or a light message. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the electronic navigation device further includes an input unit for manually inputting the traffic-event information into the traffic message generator to be processed. For example, the input unit may include a touch panel, a microphone and/or an array of selective buttons to receive the traffic-event information from a user. In another embodiment, the traffic message generator further detects a velocity change of a vehicle that the electronic navigation device is disposed in, and generates the informing message when the velocity change exceeds a threshold which can be preset in the system or by a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a global positioning system (GPS); 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram illustrating an electronic navigation device for use in GPS; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic navigation device according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are functional block diagrams illustrating an interactive guiding system for guiding associated vehicles that are respectively equipped with electronic navigation devices of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a navigation-aids method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic diagrams exemplifying the pictures shown on electronic navigation devices when traffic events happen. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Please refer to  FIG. 3 . An electronic navigation device with enhanced functions according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The electronic navigation device  3  includes a traffic message generator  31 , a wireless transceiver  32  and an output unit  33 . In the traffic message generator  31 , a microprocessor  311 , an input unit  312 , a satellite signal receiver  313  and a memory  314 . When the electronic navigation device  3  is disposed in a first vehicle and made associated with one or more other vehicles, functions more than locating the associated vehicles can be achieved. After the satellite signal receiver  313  of the electronic navigation device  3  receives data information from satellites (not shown), the microprocessor  311  calculates the data to realize a position of the first vehicle in a coordinate. The microprocessor  311  is further capable of generating an informing message and storing the message into the memory  314  when the first vehicle encounters a certain traffic condition and a traffic message is inputted into the electronic navigation device  3  via the input unit  312 . The informing message preferably contains information of the position of the first vehicle and the description of the traffic condition. The input unit  312  is used for the driver to update the traffic condition he is encountering for other drivers&#39; reference, and for example, can be a touch panel  3121 , a microphone  3122  and/or an array of selective buttons  3123 . The selective items of the traffic conditions can be preset and stored in the memory  314  of the electronic navigation device. 
         [0024]    Likewise, the electronic navigation devices disposed in other vehicles may generate their own messages according to the traffic conditions they encountered. By outputting and/or receiving the messages via respective wireless transceivers  32 , the associated vehicles may exchange traffic condition information with one another. Furthermore, the traffic message generator  31  may generate an indicating message, which for example can be a voice message, a literal message and/or a light message, to be outputted by the output unit  33 , thereby informing the driver of the situation and/or suggesting a new route. The output unit  33 , for example, may include a speaker  331 , a display  332  and/or a light-emitting diode (LED) indicator  333 . In an embodiment, the display  332  of the output unit  33  can be integrated with the touch panel  3121  of the input unit  312 . 
         [0025]    It is understood that interactive guiding means according to the present invention can be applied to two or more vehicles associated with one another. For illustrating purpose, however, interactive guiding means for use between two vehicles equipped with the electronic navigation devices of  FIG. 3  are illustrated herein with reference to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . The navigation system  4  includes a first vehicle  41  equipped with a first electronic navigation device  401  and a second vehicle  42  equipped with a second electronic navigation device  402 . Assume that the first vehicle  41  is preset to be a leading vehicle while the second vehicle  42  is a following vehicle. During the traveling of the vehicles, once the first vehicle is encountering a certain traffic condition, the driver in the first vehicle may input the information of the traffic condition into the electronic navigation device  401  via an input unit  40121  to be processed by a microprocessor  40122 . Then an informing message is generated by a traffic message generator  4012  and transmitted out via a wireless transceiver  4013  of the electronic navigation device  401 . In response to the message received from a wireless transceiver  4021  of the electronic navigation device  402 , a microprocessor  40222  of the electronic navigation device  402  enables the output unit  4023  to generate an indicating message to inform the driver in the second vehicle  42  of the traffic condition the first vehicle  41  is encountering. Depending on the updated traffic condition, the driver in the following vehicle  42  may decide whether to follow the same route as the first vehicle  41  or not. The navigation-aids method as mentioned above is applicable to various situations on the road and is exemplified in the flowchart of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0026]    In the above embodiment, the informing message is generated by the traffic message generator of the leading vehicle with the input of the traffic condition by the driver. In another embodiment, the informing message can also be automatically generated once the detecting means in the microprocessor of the leading vehicle detects a certain state change of the vehicle. For example, when the velocity of the vehicle  41  decreases to a level greater than a threshold which can be preset in the system or by a user, e.g. 50 km/hr (from 90 km/hr to 40 km/hr), due to a certain traffic condition the informing message will be automatically generated without the input of the driver. In a further embodiment, no leading or following vehicle is preset. Any of the vehicles may manually or automatically output an informing message to other vehicles. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6A and 6B  schematically illustrate two exemplified cases that might happen on the road and how the present navigation-aids means works. In the case of  FIG. 6A , the leading vehicle  41  encounters an obstacle on his way, so the driver inputs a warning voice or triggers a cautionary item via the input unit  4011 . The traffic message generator  4012  then generates an informing message containing the inputted information and the position of the vehicle  41  in an electronic map. The informing message is transmitted out from the wireless transceiver  4013  and received by the second electronic navigation device  42  from the wireless transceiver  4021 . The microprocessor  40222  processes the received informing message and has the output unit  4023  sound, emit light and/or show a warning sign. Therefore, on the display of the electronic navigation device  402 , a warning sign “CAUTION!” marked near the position of the obstacle  42  as well as the positions of the vehicles  41  and  42  are shown on the electronic map  40 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0028]    On the other hand, in the case of  FIG. 6B , the leading vehicle  41  encounters a traffic jam, so the drivers inputs a warning voice or triggers a re-routing item via the input unit  4011  to send out an informing message. In response to the informing message, the electronic navigation device  402  in the following vehicle  42  is automatically or manually triggered to plan a new route to escape from the traffic jam zone. Accordingly, the new route  53  as well as the positions of the vehicles  41  and  42  and the traffic jam zone  52  are shown on the electronic map  40 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0029]    It is understood from the above descriptions that by way of the interactive guiding means of the present invention, associated vehicles are not only able to locate positions of one another but also able to deal with a contingency or emergency. Thus the functions of the navigation system can be enhanced. 
         [0030]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.