Patent Publication Number: US-2009234565-A1

Title: Navigation Device and Method for Receiving and Playing Sound Samples

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a navigation device comprising a processor unit, memory device and a speaker, the memory device comprising a plurality of sound samples, the navigation device being arranged to play a selection of the sound samples over speaker to provide navigation instructions. 
     Also, the present invention relates to a vehicle, comprising such a navigation device, a method for recording a set of sound samples, method for providing navigation instructions, a computer program, and a data carrier. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     Prior art navigation devices based on GPS (Global Positioning System) are well known and are widely employed as in-car navigation systems. Such a GPS based navigation device relates to a computing device which in a functional connection to an external (or internal) GPS receiver is capable of determining its global position. Moreover, the computing device is capable of determining a route between start and destination addresses, which can be input by a user of the computing device. Typically, the computing device is enabled by software for computing a “best” or “optimum” route between the start and destination address locations from a map database. A “best” or “optimum” route is determined on the basis of predetermined criteria and need not necessarily be the fastest or shortest route. 
     The navigation device may typically be mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle, but may also be formed as part of an on-board computer of the vehicle or car radio. The navigation device may also be (part of) a hand-held system, such as a PDA. 
     By using positional information derived from the GPS receiver, the computing device can determine at regular intervals its position and can display the current position of the vehicle to the user. The navigation device may also comprise memory devices for storing map data and a display for displaying a selected portion of the map data. 
     Also, it can provide instructions how to navigate the determined route by appropriate navigation instructions or driving instructions displayed on the display and/or generated as audible signals from a speaker (e.g. ‘turn left in 100 m’). Graphics depicting the actions to be accomplished (e.g. a left arrow indicating a left turn ahead) can be displayed in a status bar and also be superimposed upon the applicable junctions/turnings etc. in the map itself. 
     It is known to enable in-car navigation systems to allow the driver, whilst driving in a car along a route calculated by the navigation system, to initiate a route re-calculation. This is useful where the vehicle is faced with construction work or heavy congestion. 
     It is also known to enable a user to choose the kind of route calculation algorithm deployed by the navigation device, selecting for example from a ‘Normal’ mode and a ‘Fast’ mode (which calculates the route in the shortest time, but does not explore as many alternative routes as the Normal mode). 
     It is also known to allow a route to be calculated with user defined criteria; for example, the user may prefer a scenic route to be calculated by the device. The device software (navigation software) would then calculate various routes and weigh more favourably those that include along their route the highest number of points of interest (known as POIs) tagged as being for example of scenic beauty. 
     It is known to guide the user by means of voice instructions. Voice instructions may be pre-recorder phrases like ‘turn left’ or may be generated dynamically based on map and/or route information using a text-to-speech device. In case of text-to-speech, the voice instruction is created using a text-to-speech database with phonetic data. This database may contain also pre-defined short voice fragments, sounds, etc. 
     It is the object to provide a navigation device with additional functionality and to provide the user with the option to modify the navigation device according to his/her preferences. 
     SHORT DESCRIPTION 
     According to an aspect the invention provides a navigation device comprising a processor unit, memory device and a speaker, the memory device comprising a plurality of sound samples, the navigation device being arranged to play a selection of the sound samples over speaker to provide navigation instructions, characterized in that the navigation device further comprises an input device for receiving sound samples and is arranged for storing the received sound samples in memory device for subsequent playback over speaker for providing navigation instructions. This provides a user with the option to modify the navigation device according to his/her preferences. 
     According to an embodiment the input device comprises a microphone. This provides an easy way for a user to input new sound samples, such as voice samples, which are easy to understand by a user. 
     According to an embodiment the selection of sound samples is played over speaker using text-to-speech voice generation and wherein the navigation instructions are generated from the received sound samples using text-to-speech voice generation. 
     According to an embodiment no whole sentences need to be recorded, but only a number of sounds etc. This provides a flexible way of playing navigation instructions, also allowing playing new navigation instructions not known at the time of recording. 
     According to an embodiment the input device comprises an input/output device, arranged to exchange sound samples with other devices, such as other navigation devices. This allows exchanging sound samples between different devices. 
     According to an embodiment the plurality of sound samples are organized in two or more profiles, where each profile comprises a number of sound samples, and each sound sample has a sample identification assigned to it, where each sample identification represents a navigation instruction or part of a navigation instruction. 
     According to an embodiment the navigation device is arranged to store a sound sample received from the input device in a profile in the memory device and assign a sample identification to the sound sample. 
     According to an embodiment the navigation device is arranged to create a new profile and store a sound sample received from the input device in the new profile in the memory device and assign a sample identification to the sound sample. 
     According to an embodiment the navigation device being arranged to play a selection of the sound samples over speaker to provide navigation instructions from a first profile, and when a sound sample of the selection having a sample identification is not available in a first profile, the navigation device plays a similar sound sample from a second profile. This allows the navigation device to use a profile that is not complete, without risking giving incomplete navigation instructions. The similar sound sample may for instance be a sound sample having a same sample identification. 
     According to an embodiment the navigation device is arranged to play a selection of the sound samples over speaker to provide navigation instructions from a first profile, and when at least one sound sample of the selection having sample identifications is not available in a first profile, the navigation device plays all sound sample of the selection from a second profile having the same sample identifications. This prevents navigation instruction to be spoken by two or more different voices. The sound samples may for instance be a sound samples having similar sample identifications. 
     According to an embodiment wherein the first and second profile are in an hierarchical order with respect to each other. This makes it possible for the navigation device to effectively switch between profiles. 
     According to an aspect the invention relates to a vehicle, comprising a navigation device according to any one of the preceding claims. 
     According to an aspect the invention relates to a method comprising: 
     recording a sound sample using an input device for receiving sound samples, 
     storing the recorded sound sample in memory device for subsequent playback for providing navigation instructions. 
     According to an embodiment, where sample identifications are assigned to sound samples, the sample identifications representing navigation instructions or part of navigation instructions, the method comprising before recording the sound sample using an input device for receiving sound samples: 
     providing an example for a sound sample having a sample identification to a user, and, when storing the recorded sound sample, 
     assigning a unique identification code to it, at least comprising the sample identification. 
     According to an embodiment, the example is provided via at least one of: display, a speaker. This is an easy and straightforward way to provide the user with an example. 
     According to an aspect the invention relates to a method for providing navigation instructions by playing a selection of sound samples from a first profile over a speaker, the method comprising: 
     retrieving sound samples from memory device according to the selection of sound samples, and, if one or more of the selection of sound samples is not available in the first profile, 
     retrieving the one or more sound samples not available in the first profile from a second profile stored in memory device. 
     According to an embodiment, if at least one the selection of sound samples is not available in the first profile, the method comprises: 
     retrieving all sound samples of the selection from the second profile stored in memory device. 
     According to an aspect, the invention relates to a computer program, when loaded on a computer arrangement, arranged to perform the method according to the above. 
     According to an aspect, the invention relates to a data carrier, comprising a computer program according to the above. 
    
    
     
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically depicts a schematic block diagram of a navigation device, 
         FIG. 2  schematically depicts a schematic view of a navigation device, 
         FIG. 3  schematically depicts different profiles stored in memory devices according to the prior art, 
         FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  schematically depict images as displayed by a navigation device according to an embodiment, 
         FIG. 5  schematically depicts a flow diagram according to an embodiment, 
         FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  schematically depict different profiles stored in memory devices according to an embodiment, 
         FIG. 7  schematically depicts a flow diagram according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a navigation device  10 , comprising a processor unit  11  for performing arithmetical operations. The processor unit  11  is arranged to communicate with memory units that store instructions and data, such as a hard disk  12 , a Read Only Memory (ROM)  13 , Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM)  14  and a Random Access Memory (RAM)  15 . The memory units may comprise map data  22 . This map data may be two dimensional map data (latitude and longitude), but may also comprise a third dimension (height). The map data may further comprise additional information such as information about petrol/gas stations, points of interest. The map data may also comprise information about the shape of buildings and objects along the road. 
     The processor unit  11  may also be arranged to communicate with one or more input devices, such as a keyboard  16  and a mouse  17 . The keyboard  16  may for instance be a virtual keyboard, provided on a display  18 , being a touch screen. The processor unit  11  may further be arranged to communicate with one or more output devices, such as a display  18 , a speaker  29  and one or more reading units  19  to read for instance floppy disks  20  or CD ROM&#39;s  21 . The display  18  could be a conventional computer display (e.g. LCD) or could be a projection type display, such as the head up type display used to project instrumentation data onto a car windscreen or windshield. The display  18  may also be a display arranged to function as a touch screen, which allows the user to input instructions and/or information by touching the display  18  with his finger. 
     The speaker  29  may be formed as part of the navigation device  10 . In case the navigation device  10  is used as an in-car navigation device, the navigation device  10  may use speakers of the car radio, the board computer and the like. The navigation device  10  may be connected to the speaker  29 , for instance via a docking station, a wired link or a wireless link. 
     The processor unit  11  may further be arranged to communicate with a positioning device  23 , such as a GPS receiver, that provides information about the position of the navigation device  10 . According to this embodiment, the positioning device  23  is a GPS based positioning device  23 . However, it will be understood that the navigation device  10  may implement any kind of positioning sensing technology and is not limited to GPS. It can hence be implemented using other kinds of GNSS (global navigation satellite system) such as the European Galileo system. Equally, it is not limited to satellite based location/velocity systems but can equally be deployed using ground-based beacons or any other kind of system that enables the device to determine its geographical location. 
     However, it should be understood that there may be provided more and/or other memory units, input devices and read devices known to persons skilled in the art. Moreover, one or more of them may be physically located remote from the processor unit  11 , if required. The processor unit  11  is shown as one box, however, it may comprise several processing units functioning in parallel or controlled by one main processor that may be located remote from one another, as is known to persons skilled in the art. 
     The navigation device  10  is shown as a computer system, but can be any signal processing system with analogue and/or digital and/or software technology arranged to perform the functions discussed here. It will be understood that although the navigation device  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a plurality of components, the navigation device  10  may be formed as a single device. 
     The navigation device  10  may use navigation software, such as navigation software from TomTom B.V. called Navigator. Navigation software may run on a touch screen (i.e. stylus controlled) Pocket PC powered PDA device, such as the Compaq iPaq, as well as devices that have an integral GPS receiver  23 . The combined PDA and GPS receiver system is designed to be used as an in-vehicle navigation system. The embodiments may also be implemented in any other arrangement of navigation device  10 , such as one with an integral GPS receiver/computer/display, or a device designed for non-vehicle use (e.g. for walkers) or vehicles other than cars (e.g. aircraft). 
       FIG. 2  depicts a navigation device  10  as described above. 
     Navigation software, when running on the navigation device  10 , causes a navigation device  10  to display a normal navigation mode screen at the display  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . This view may provide navigation instructions using a combination of text, symbols, voice guidance and a moving map. Key user interface elements are the following: a 3-D map occupies most of the screen. It is noted that the map may also be shown as a 2-D map. 
     The map shows the position of the navigation device  10  and its immediate surroundings, rotated in such a way that the direction in which the navigation device  10  is moving is always “up”. Running across the bottom quarter of the screen may be a status bar  2 . The current location of the navigation device  10  (as the navigation device  10  itself determines using conventional GPS location finding) and its orientation (as inferred from its direction of travel) is depicted by a position arrow  3 . A route  4  calculated by the device (using route calculation algorithms stored in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  as applied to map data stored in a map database in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ) is shown as darkened path. On the route  4 , all major actions (e.g. turning corners, crossroads, roundabouts etc.) are schematically depicted by arrows  5  overlaying the route  4 . The status bar  2  also includes at its left hand side a schematic icon depicting the next action  6  (here, a right turn). The status bar  2  also shows the distance to the next action (i.e. the right turn—here the distance is 190 meters) as extracted from a database of the entire route calculated by the device (i.e. a list of all roads and related actions defining the route to be taken). Status bar  2  also shows the name of the current road  8 , the estimated time before arrival  9  (here 35 minutes), the actual estimated arrival time  29  (4.50 pm) and the distance to the destination  26  (31.6 km). The status bar  2  may further show additional information, such as GPS signal strength in a mobile-phone style signal strength indicator. 
     As described above, the navigation device  10  may use voice guidance to guide a user along the route. Therefore, a set of for instance  50  voice samples may be stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . These voice samples may for instance be:
         1) turn left,   2) turn right,   3) after 50 metres,   4) after 100 metres,   . . .   50) . . .       

     Also, different sets of voice samples may be stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . A first set may for instance comprise voice samples of a female voice. A second set may for instance comprise samples of a male voice. A third set may for instance comprise voice samples of a celebrity. Different sets of voice samples may be denoted with different profiles, for instance “female”, “male” and “celebrity”. 
       FIG. 3  depicts how different profiles may be stored in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , comprising two profiles: female and male. Each voice sample belongs either to the female profile or the male profile. Also, each voice sample has a number assigned to it, which represents the meaning of the voice sample. For instance, all voice samples having sample identification  1  assigned to it may comprise the phrase: “turn left”, and all voice samples having sample identification  2  assigned to it, may comprise the phrase: “turn right”. 
     Based on these parameters, each voice sample may be given a unique identification code: profile.number, for instance male. 2 . 
     When a next navigational direction needs to be communicated to the user, the navigation device  10  is arranged to retrieve the proper voice sample or plurality of voice samples from the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , based on a selected profile (e.g. male) and one or more sample identifications (e.g.  4  and  1 ) as determined by the navigation software and play them over the speaker  29 . The navigation device  10  is arranged to play more than one voice sample successively, in this example: male. 4  and male. 1 . In the example given, this results in playing the phrase: “after 100 metres, turn left”. 
     According to an alternative, instead of retrieving voice samples from the memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , text-to-speech techniques may be used. In case of text-to-speech, the navigation instructions that are to be played over speaker  29  is created using a text-to-speech database with phonetic data. This database may contain with phonetic data, such as pre-defined short sound samples (voice fragments, sounds, etc). Based on the text of a determined navigation instruction, that corresponding sound samples are retrieved from the memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  and the navigation instruction is compiled by putting together the corresponding sound samples. 
     It will be understood that the memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  may comprise programming instructions readable and executable by the processor unit  11  to perform text-to-speech operations, as known to a person skilled in the art. The navigation device  10  may also comprise a speech generator. 
     Also a combination the two possibilities mentioned above to generate and play navigation instructions over speaker  29  may be used, i.e. storing voice samples and using text-to-speech techniques. So, part of the navigation instruction may be directly retrieved from memory, while other part of the navigation instruction is generated using text-to-speech techniques. 
     As already mentioned above, the navigation device may comprise input devices, such as a touch screen, that allows the users to call up a navigation menu (not shown). From this menu, other navigation functions can be initiated or controlled. Allowing navigation functions to be selected from a menu screen that is itself very readily called up (e.g. one step away from the map display to the menu screen) greatly simplifies the user interaction and makes it faster and easier. The navigation menu includes the option for the user to input a destination. 
     The actual physical structure of the navigation device  10  itself may be fundamentally no different from any conventional handheld computer, other than the integral GPS receiver  23  or a GPS data feed from an external GPS receiver. Hence, memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  store the route calculation algorithms, map database and user interface software; a processor unit  12  interprets and processes user input (e.g. using a touch screen to input the start and destination addresses and all other control inputs) and deploys the route calculation algorithms to calculate the optimal route. ‘Optimal’ may refer to criteria such as shortest time or shortest distance, or some other user-related factors. 
     More specifically, the user inputs his start position and required destination into the navigation software running on the navigation device  10 , using the input devices provided, such as a touch screen  18 , keyboard  16  etc. The user then selects the manner in which a travel route is calculated: various modes are offered, such as a ‘fast’ mode that calculates the route very rapidly, but the route might not be the shortest; a ‘full’ mode that looks at all possible routes and locates the shortest, but takes longer to calculate etc. Other options are possible, with a user defining a route that is scenic—e.g. passes the most POI (points of interest) marked as views of outstanding beauty, or passes the most POIs of possible interest to children or uses the fewest junctions etc. 
     The navigation device  10  may further comprise an input-output device  25  that allows the navigation device to communicate with remote systems, such as other navigation devices  10 , personal computers, servers etc., via network  27 . The network  27  may be any type of network  27 , such as a LAN, WAN, Blue tooth, internet, intranet and the like. The communication may be wired or wireless. A wireless communication link may for instance use RF-signals (radio frequency) and a RF-network. 
     Roads themselves are described in the map database that is part of navigation software (or is otherwise accessed by it) running on the navigation device  10  as lines—i.e. vectors (e.g. start point, end point, direction for a road, with an entire road being made up of many hundreds of such sections, each uniquely defined by start point/end point direction parameters). A map is then a set of such road vectors, plus points of interest (POIs), plus road names, plus other geographic features like park boundaries, river boundaries etc, all of which are defined in terms of vectors. All map features (e.g. road vectors, POIs etc.) are defined in a co-ordinate system that corresponds or relates to the GPS co-ordinate system, enabling a device&#39;s position as determined through a GPS system to be located onto the relevant road shown in a map. 
     Route calculation uses complex algorithms that are part of the navigation software. The algorithms are applied to score large numbers of potential different routes. The navigation software then evaluates them against the user defined criteria (or device defaults), such as a full mode scan, with scenic route, past museums, and no speed camera. The route which best meets the defined criteria is then calculated by the processor unit  11  and then stored in a database in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  as a sequence of vectors, road names and actions to be done at vector end-points (e.g. corresponding to pre-determined distances along each road of the route, such as after 100 meters, turn left into street x). 
     According to an embodiment, the navigation device  10  further comprises a microphone  24 , as is schematically depicted in  FIG. 1 . The microphone  24  may be arranged to register sound (acoustic waves), for instance a voice of a user, and transfer the registered sound in the form of an electrical sound signal. The microphone outputs this electrical sound signal in the form of an analogue or digital electrical sound signal. This electrical sound signal may be processed by the processor unit  11  and stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . 
     The microphone  24  may directly transfer the registered sound into a digital electrical sound signal. However, in case the microphone  24  outputs an analogue electrical sound signal, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to transfer the analogue electrical sound signal into a digital electrical sound signal. 
     It will be understood that the microphone  24  may be formed as a part of the navigation device  10 , but may also be an external microphone  24  that may be connected to the navigation device  10  via an appropriate connection (wire, plug and socket). The navigation device  10  may also be connected to the microphone via a docking station. 
     The microphone  24  and the speaker  29  may also be formed as a single device that may function as a microphone and speaker, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art. The microphone  24  and the speaker  29  may also be a microphone  24  and speaker  29  of a telephone, the telephone being arranged to be connected to the navigation device via a wired or wireless link (Bluetooth). 
     According to an embodiment, the navigation device  10  is arranged to record a new set of voice samples using microphone  24 ) for subsequent playback over speaker ( 29 ) for providing navigation instructions. In order to do this, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to provide the user with an option to record a new set of voice samples using microphone  24 , for instance by displaying a “Record your own voice” icon on display  18 . When a user selects this option, the user is guided through an interactive process which enables him/her to add a new set of voice samples. The user may give the navigation device  10  instructions via one of the input devices, such as a keyboard  16  and a mouse  17 . The keyboard  16  may for instance be a virtual keyboard, provided on a display  18 , being a touch screen. In case the display is a touch screen the navigation device  10  may show virtual buttons on the screen the user may select by pressing the display  18  at the appropriate position. 
     The interactive process results in a new self-recorded set of voice samples that may be used by the navigation device  10  to provide navigation instructions and to use voice guidance to guide a user along the route. 
     After the user has selected the option to record a new set of voice samples, the navigation device  10  may guide the user through an interactive program or process. As a first screen, the navigation device  10  may display via display  18  and/or play via speaker  29  the following introduction message:
         “You are going to record your own voice samples.   There are about 50 word samples to be recorded.   The process normally takes around 15 minutes.   We recommend that you go to a silent location in order to make ‘clean’ recordings.   Please note: it is not necessary to record every voice sample. Voice samples that you did not record will be spoken (when required) by one of an already existing voice sample.”       

     The navigation device  10  further provides the user with the option to stop or continue with the interactive process to record a new set of voice samples. 
     According to an embodiment, the navigation device  10  may ask the user to input a profile name for the new set of voice samples that is to be recorded. The user may input such a profile name using keyboard  16  or selecting a profile name from a list of profile names the navigation device  10  has stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . 
     According to a further embodiment, the profile name for the new set of voice samples may be automatically generated by the navigation device  10 , and may for instance be named: “Own recorded profile” or “new profile”. 
     After this, the navigation device  10  takes the user through a sequence of screens that tell the user what to do and/or say. An example of the voice sample is shown on the display  18  and/or is played through the speaker  29 . In case the navigation device  10  both displays the voice sample and plays the voice sample through the speaker, the navigation device  10  may show a screen as depicted in  FIG. 4   a.    
     When button  100  is pressed, the navigation device  10  stops playing the example of the voice sample through speaker  29 . 
     During the interactive process to record a new set of voice samples the user is given the opportunity to record a new set of voice samples. During this interactive process the user is given the option to go back to a previous voice sample by pressing the previous button  101 . In case there is no previous voice sample (in case it is the first voice sample) the previous button  101  may be dimmed. 
     Further, the user is given the option to skip the recording of a voice sample and proceed with the recording of the next voice sample by pressing the next button  103 . In case there is no next voice sample (in case it is the last voice sample) the next button  101  may be dimmed. 
     The user may also stop the interactive process by pressing the stop button  102 . Pressing the stop button  102  may cause the navigation device  10  to display a verify query: “do you wish to stop recording your own voice?” including a yes and no button. 
     After a predetermined time, or in case the voice sample is played through the speaker  29 , after the speaking is finished, the navigation device  10  may show a screen as schematically depicted in  FIG. 4   b.    
     When the user presses the record button  105  the navigation device  10  starts recording the sound as registered by the microphone  24 , by storing the electrical sound signal as outputted by the microphone  24  in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . The navigation device  10  may record the sound as registered by the microphone  24  for as long as the record button  105  is pressed. 
     According to an embodiment, the navigation device  10  may first process the electrical sound signal as received from the microphone  24  before storing the electrical sound signal in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . The processing of the electrical sound signal may for instance comprise filtering, transferring from analogue to digital or vice versa, a noise reduction filter, a low-pass filter, a high frequency boost filter etc. 
     After a new voice sample is recorded and stored in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , the user may want to hear the recorded voice sample. This may be done by pressing button  104 : play current recording. When the user presses button  104 , the navigation device  10  retrieves the recorded voice sample from memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  and plays it over the speaker  29 . During this the navigation device  10  may display a screen according to  FIG. 4   c . In case no recording has been stored yet, button  104  may be dimmed. 
     Finally, the navigation device  10  may provide the user with the option to listen to the example phrase again by pressing button  106 . 
       FIG. 5  schematically depicts a flow diagram of the actions as may be performed by the navigation device  10  when the interactive process of recording a new set of voice samples is being executed. These actions may be performed by the processor unit  11  of the navigation device  10 . The memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  may comprise program instructions that make the navigation device  10  perform the interactive process of recording a new set of voice samples or the actions of the flow diagram depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
     After the user has indicated that he/she wants to record a new set of voice samples, the interactive process is started (start action  200 ). The navigation device  10  may show the introduction message as described above. 
     In action  201  a new profile is created and stored in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . In  FIG. 5 , the different columns of the table represent different profiles. The profile is given a profile name (e.g. newprofile) which may be determined as described above. 
     In a next action  202 , an example voice sample i is retrieved from the memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  and displayed using display  18  and/or played using speaker  29 . The value of i may be set to 1 in action  201 . The example voice sample may be any voice sample that is already stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  labelled with the appropriate number i. 
     In a further action  203 , when button  105  is pressed (record) a new voice sample is recorded using microphone  24 . In action  204 , the recorded voice sample is stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  and labelled as newprofile.i. After this, for instance when button  103  (next) is pressed, actions  202 ,  203 ,  204  are repeated with i=i+1. 
     When during the execution of the flow diagram as depicted in  FIG. 5 , button  101  (previous) is pressed, i is lowered (i=i−1) and the navigation device  10  may proceed with action  202 . 
     When during the execution of the flow diagram as depicted in  FIG. 5 , button  102  (stop) is pressed the navigation device  10  stops with the execution and may proceed with action  205  (end). 
     When during the execution of the flow diagram as depicted in  FIG. 5 , button  103  (next) is pressed, i is raised (i=i+1) and the navigation device  10  proceeds with action  202 . 
     When during the execution of the flow diagram as depicted in  FIG. 5 , button  104  is pressed (play current recording), the navigation device  10  retrieves newprofile.i from the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  (if available) and plays newprofile.i using speaker  29 . After this, the navigation device  10  may proceed with action  203 . 
     When during the execution of the flow diagram as depicted in  FIG. 5 , button  106  is pressed (repeat example phrase), the navigation device  10  jumps back to action  202  (i=i) and retrieves an appropriate example voice sample stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  labelled with the appropriate number i and plays this voice sample using speaker  29 . After this, the navigation device may proceed with action  203 . 
     When i has reached a predetermined maximum value, for instance  50 , the interactive process is stopped (action  205 : end). Also, when button  102  (stop) is pressed, the interactive process is stopped (action  205 : end). 
     It will be understood that the flow diagram as depicted in  FIG. 5  is only an example, and that many variations may be conceived. 
     The interactive process results in a new profile (e.g. newprofile) stored in memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , now comprising one additional profile. Where, according to the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  comprise two profiles (female and male), the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  now comprise three profiles: female, male and newprofile. Each voice sample of newprofile is given a unique identification code. This is depicted in  FIG. 6   a.    
     When the user uses the navigation device  10  to navigate, he/she may select newprofile. This causes the navigation device  10  to use the voice samples stored in this profile to provide navigation instructions using voice guidance to guide the user. 
     So, instead of playing male. 4  and male. 1 , as in the example above, the navigation device  10  plays newprofile. 4  and newprofile. 1 . 
     However, based on the above, it will be understood that not all voice samples of newprofile are necessarily recorded when action  205  is reached. During the interactive process of recording new voice samples, the user may have skipped one or more recordings by pressing button  103  (next) or by pressing button  102  (stop). In such a case, the newprofile may comprise empty voice samples, as schematically depicted in  FIG. 6   b , in which newprofile. 2  and newprofile. 4  are not recorded. 
     When the user uses the navigation device  10  to navigate and has selected newprofile, the navigation device  10  can&#39;t play some navigation instructions. 
     For instance, according to the example shown in  FIG. 6   b , the navigation device  10  is capable of playing “after 50 metres, turn left” (newprofile. 3  and newprofile. 1 ), but can&#39;t play “after 50 metres, turn right” or “after 100 metres, turn right”, as this requires voice samples of newprofile that aren&#39;t stored in the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , i.e. are not available in the selected profile. 
     In that case, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to retrieve a voice sample having the same number assigned to of a different profile. For instance, when the navigation instruction: “after 50 metres, turn right” is to be played, the navigation device  10  checks if newprofile. 3  and newprofile. 2  are available. Since newprofile. 2  is not available, the navigation device  10  retrieves a voice sample of the same number of a different profile, for instance male. 2 . As a result, the navigation instruction “after 50 metres, turn right” can now be played by playing newprofile. 3  and male. 2 . 
     According to an embodiment, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to retrieve all voice samples of a sequence of voice samples from a different profile, when at least one of the voice samples of the sequence of voice samples is not available in the selected profile. So, according to the example above, instead of playing newprofile. 3  and male. 2 , the navigation device  10  plays male. 3  and male. 2  over speaker  29 . This may prevent a user to be confronted with navigation instructions spoken by two different voices. 
     In order to perform the above, the navigation device  10  may store and generate profiles in a hierarchical order. The navigation device  10  may give a user the possibility to derive profiles one from another. When using text-to-speech, it&#39;s preferable to derive profiles one from each other with a same or similar language or actor (male or female) identification. 
     If a voice sample is not available in a first selected profile, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to look up the voice sample in a second, parent profile. If the voice sample is not available in the second, parent profile, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to look up the voice samples in a third profile, being a parent profile of the second profile, etc. The sound sample search operation stops when it reaches a profile that is highest in the hierarchy, i.e. a profile from which the whole profile tree was derived. It may be a default profile, pre-installed on the navigation device  10 . Because some intermediate or even default profile could be deleted by user in the process of using the navigation device  10 , the sound sample search operation should skip those missing profiles or treat them as not having any sound samples while doing backward search. 
     In case the voice sample still can not be found even after applying the backward sound sample search procedure like described above, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to look up the voice sample in an existing default profile, for instance a default profile for a selected language of operation for the navigation device  10 . 
     In case the voice sample can still not be found, the navigation device  10  may be arranged to look up the voice sample in an existing default or user profile, that matches with the current profile according to criteria like the ‘same language but different actor (male voice instead of female voice, etc.)’, ‘the same language group’, etc. In this case a switch from one profile derivation tree to another is possible in a sound sample search procedure. In case of such switch, the search procedure can recursively apply steps described above. 
     In should be understood for person skilled in art that the sound sample search steps described above could be applied in different order or non-recursively or skipped depending from physical limitations of navigation device and to provide better user experience. 
     Default profiles and/or default languages are pre-installed on the navigation device  10  and their internal content may be unchangeable for a user. A user may only delete some of the default profiles to free space on the navigation device  10  memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  for storing for instance media for new maps or update a default profile to a newer version that may be distributed by the manufacturer of device, for example. Current profiles and current languages may be changed. 
     This is further depicted by the flow diagram of  FIG. 7 . After a first start action  300 , the navigation device  10  determines the profile that is to be used. This may be done by providing the user with the option to choose from all available profiles. The input from the user may be done using input devices, such as keyboard  16 , mouse  17 , or display  10  being a touch screen. The user may select newprofile. 
     Once the profile has been determined, the navigation device  10  proceeds with action  302 , in which the navigation device determines which voice samples are to be played. This is done based on navigation instructions for instance generated by the navigation software, as described above. Deciding when to play which voice samples may be done using input from positioning device  23 , such as a GPS. 
     In a next action  303 , the navigation device  10  checks whether the voice samples to be played are available in the selected profile, according to this example, newprofile. Once this is done, in action  304 , the navigation device  10  retrieves the available voice samples from the determined profile (newprofile) from the memory devices  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . If needed, the navigation device  10  may retrieve the voice samples that are not available in the selected profile (newprofile) from another profile, for instance ‘female’. 
     Finally, the navigation device  10  plays the retrieved voice samples in action  306 . After this, the navigation device returns to action  302  to await further input from the navigation software to play further navigation instructions. 
     According to a further embodiment, instead of retrieving voice samples from another profile when not available in a selected profile, the navigation device  10  may also be arranged to complete an incomplete profile taking voice samples from another complete profile. 
     The different profile may be a profile, of which all voice samples are available. The different profile may be a predetermined profile, or a profile selected by a user. 
     Voice samples may be stored in any suitable data format, for instance as MP3 files or WAV files. 
     In the above, where the term ‘voice samples’ is used, it will be understood that in principle any sound sample may be used. Sound samples may for instance be sound samples of distinctive sounds, songs, tunes etc. for different navigation instructions. 
     Based on the above, a user may also record a sound, such as a song or tune, for just one navigation instruction. For instance, the navigation instruction: destination reached, may be replaced by a tune, while all other navigation instructions are taken from an already generated profile. 
     According to a further embodiment, the navigation device  10  may be provided with text-to-speech techniques, as described above. According to this embodiment, the interactive process may be used to record a new set of phonetic data, such as short sound samples (voice fragments, sounds, etc). 
     According to such an embodiment, the interactive process may take longer and the user may be ask to record not only whole phrases, but sounds, like for instance pronouncing certain phrases, sounds or characters (a, e, ou). 
     Depending on the language, which may be inputted (upon request) by a user, or may be read from the settings of the navigation device  10  (current selected language), the navigation device  10  may be arranged to ask the user to record different phrases, sounds or characters. 
     According to a further embodiment, the navigation device  10  may be provided with possibility to exchange user profiles and/or sound samples with other devices, such as other navigation device  10  of the same kind, or other devices that substantially support the same functionality by copying one or more profiles, for instance via physical storage media, transmitting one or more profiles via network  27  using input-output device  25  described above. The input-output device  25  may be used to set up a one or two communication link with such an other device. The communication link and network  27  may be any type, such as Bluetooth, RF-network. The communication link may be wired or wireless. 
     According to a further embodiment the navigation device  10  may be arranged to delete or remove profiles from memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . This may be done upon request of a user. The navigation device  10  may also be arranged to delete or remove all incomplete profiles from memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . This provides the user with an easy option to limit or reduce the amount of data stored in the memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . The navigation device  10  may be arranged to delete default profiles as described above. The navigation device  10  may also be arranged to update default or user profiles to a newer version or put a deleted default profile back assuming its data are provided from an external source. 
     According to a further embodiment, the navigation device  10  is arranged to stop the interactive process in the middle (e.g. by pressing button  102  (stop)) and store in the memory device  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  the current status of the interactive process (e.g. storing the value of I when the interactive process was aborted). This provides the possibility to resume the interactive process at a later moment in time from that saved point. Using this in combination with the option of exchanging profiles between devices  10  allows the user to record part of a profile on a first device, transmit it to a second device and finish or continue the recording on the second device. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as described. For example, the invention may take the form of a computer program containing one or more sequences of machine-readable instructions describing a method as disclosed above, or a data storage medium (e.g. semiconductor memory, magnetic or optical disk) having such a computer program stored therein. It will be understood by a skilled person that all software components may also be formed as hardware components. 
     The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention as described without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.