Patent Abstract:
A method and computer-readable medium for generating and presenting a preview of a driving route reduces driver workload. In an example, the method determines that the driving route comprises more than the predetermined number of driving instructions and creates a route preview wherein the number of instructions does not exceed the predetermined number of driving instructions. In a further example, the route preview is created by eliminating certain instructions from the route. A predetermined number of instructions at the beginning of the route may be exempted from possible elimination. In a further example, the elimination of instructions is implemented by sequentially eliminating classes of instructions until the remaining number of instructions in the route is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum acceptable number.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Informational devices such as telematics units are now sold with or added to many cars and other vehicles and can provide wireless communication and location-based services. These services may be accessed through interfaces such as voice-recognition computer applications, touch-screen computer displays, computer keyboards, or a series of buttons on the dashboard or console of a vehicle. 
         [0002]    Currently, telematics units are often able to provide various types of mapping services, including driving directions, street routing, and so on. Although a vehicle telematics unit may perform many functions other than navigation, the navigational capabilities are of primary importance to many drivers. With respect to navigation, driving directions may be accessed through services that offer maps and driving directions. To use these types of services, the user may specify desired starting and/or ending addresses. Sources of routing services include off-board navigation servers, onboard data sources (e.g., databases, CDs, DVDs, etc.) and other suitable sources. 
         [0003]    In many cases, regardless of the mechanism by which routing data is obtained, the directions may be presented in the vehicle in a visual, textual, or audio format that presents at least a portion of the route. For example, a map portion related to the user&#39;s current position may be displayed in preference to other portions of the route. Upcoming required maneuvers, such as turns or branches, may be graphically illustrated, such as by an arrow. In another example, required actions may be presented to the user verbally, where the turns are annunciated to the user as the user approaches a maneuver. In this manner, the user may follow the visual or audio directions and eventually arrive at the desired destination if all directions are followed correctly. 
         [0004]    However, drivers may not prefer understanding only a small portion of the route at a time, since the user may want to compare the entire route to other known routes, schedule a rendezvous at an undisplayed point along the route, etc. Moreover, prior to embarking on a given route, users typically desire to preview the route to ensure that the route is direct and accurate. This is especially true of very long routes, such as cross-country routes. Current vehicle navigation units may provide route preview information for this purpose. For example, a vehicle navigation unit may provide a textual preview of the entire route or a visual preview of the entire route (e.g., via a highlighted map). However, such representations often contain a greater amount of detail than is necessary to satisfy a user&#39;s needs, and may be inefficient at concisely conveying the desired information to the driver. 
         [0005]    A route preview system for a vehicle navigation unit is needed whereby a sufficiently informative preview of the route is given to increase driver understanding and satisfaction without increasing the driver workload. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention provides a method for generating and presenting a preview of a driving route when the number of instructions in the route would otherwise exceed a predetermined number of acceptable instructions. A method according to an example of the invention comprises determining that the driving route comprises more than the predetermined number of driving instructions, creating a route preview wherein the number of instructions does not exceed the predetermined number of driving instructions, and presenting the route preview to the user. The route preview is created by eliminating certain instructions from the route, although in an example of the invention a predetermined number of instructions at the beginning of the route are exempted from possible elimination. 
         [0007]    In a further example of the invention, the elimination of instructions is implemented by sequentially eliminating classes of instructions until the remaining number of instructions in the route is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum acceptable number. In an example of the invention, the final class of eliminated instructions encompasses all instructions beyond the exempted instructions at the beginning of the route. In a further example of the invention, when all instructions beyond the exempted instructions at the beginning of the route are eliminated, a summary statement or representation is placed into the route preview in lieu of the eliminated instructions. 
         [0008]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an operating environment for a mobile vehicle communication system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic diagram of a telematics system within a mobile vehicle; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a process of prioritized route reduction according to an example of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a route listing showing a route comprised of a plurality of maneuvers; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a reduced route listing wherein the route listing of  FIG. 4A  has been reduced according to an example of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4C  is a reduced route listing wherein the route listing of  FIG. 4B  has been reduced according to an example of the invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4D  is a reduced route listing wherein the route listing of  FIG. 4C  has been reduced according to an example of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Before describing the invention in detail, an exemplary environment in which the invention may operate will be described. It will be appreciated that the described environment is for purposes of illustration only, and does not imply any limitation regarding the use of other environments to practice the invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an operating environment for a mobile vehicle communication system  100  usable in accordance with the present invention. Although the system  100  includes many mechanisms for delivering navigational data to a telematics unit, it will be appreciated that the invention does not require that navigation data be delivered to the telematics unit, since it may instead be made available from a local source such as a computer memory, a CD, a DVD or other digital storage medium. However, in an example of the invention, the routing or navigation information is delivered via wireless communications. 
         [0018]    The mobile vehicle communication system (MVCS)  100  includes a mobile vehicle communication unit (MVCU)  110 , a vehicle communication network  112 , a telematics unit  120 , one or more wireless carrier systems  140 , one or more communication networks  142 , one or more land networks  144 , one or more client, personal or user computers  150 , one or more web-hosting portals  160 , and one or more call centers  170 . In one example, the MVCU  110  is implemented as a mobile vehicle equipped with suitable hardware and software for transmitting and receiving data, and in some cases voice, communications. The MVCS  100  may include other components instead of or in addition to those shown. Mobile vehicle communication systems and telematics units are known in the art. In operation, the MVCU  110  may be implemented via a motor vehicle, a marine vehicle, or as an aircraft. Moreover, the MVCU  110  may include additional components not relevant to the present discussion. 
         [0019]    Vehicle communication network  112  may send signals to various units of equipment and systems within MVCU  110  to perform various functions such as unlocking a door, opening the trunk, setting personal comfort settings, and calling from telematics unit  120 . Vehicle communication network  112  may utilize network interfaces such as controller-area network (CAN), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 9141, ISO Standard 11898 for high-speed applications, ISO Standard 11519 for lower speed applications, and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J1850 for high-speed and lower speed applications. 
         [0020]    The MVCU  110  sends and receives radio transmissions from wireless carrier system  140  via telematics unit  120 . The wireless carrier system  140  can be implemented as any suitable system for transmitting a signal from the MVCU  110  to the communication network  142 . 
         [0021]    The telematics unit  120  includes a processor  122  connected to a wireless modem  124 , a global positioning system (GPS) unit  126 , an in-vehicle memory  128 , a microphone  130 , one or more speakers  132 , an on-board navigation unit  136 , and an embedded or in-vehicle mobile phone  134 . In other examples, the telematics unit  120  may be implemented without one or more of the above listed components, such as, for example an in-vehicle mobile phone  134  or speakers  132 . The telematics unit  120  may include additional components as well. 
         [0022]    Processor  122  is implemented in an example of the invention as a microcontroller, microprocessor, controller, host processor, or vehicle communications processor. In one example, processor  122  is a digital signal processor (DSP). In an example, processor  122  is implemented as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In another example, processor  122  is implemented as a processor working in conjunction with a central processing unit (CPU) performing the function of a general purpose processor. GPS unit  126  provides longitude and latitude coordinates of the vehicle responsive to a GPS broadcast signal received from one or more GPS satellite broadcast systems (not shown). In-vehicle mobile phone  134  may be a cellular-type phone, such as, for example an analog, digital, dual-mode, dual-band, multi-mode or multi-band cellular phone. 
         [0023]    Processor  122  executes various computer programs that control programming and operational modes of electronic and mechanical systems within MVCU  110 . Processor  122  controls communications (e.g. call signals) between telematics unit  120 , wireless carrier system  140 , and call center  170 . A voice-recognition application may be installed in processor  122  that can translate human voice input through microphone  130  to digital signals. Processor  122  can generate and accept digital signals transmitted between telematics unit  120  and the vehicle communication network  112  that is connected to various electronic modules in the vehicle. These digital signals may activate the programming mode and operation modes, as well as provide for data transfers. Signals from processor  122  may be translated into voice messages and transmitted via speaker  132 . 
         [0024]    Communication network  142  can include services from one or more mobile telephone switching offices and wireless networks. For example, communication network  142  typically connects wireless carrier system  140  to land network  144 . It will be appreciated that the communication network  142  can be implemented as any suitable system or collection of systems for connecting wireless carrier system  140  to MVCU  110  and land network  144 . 
         [0025]    Land network  144  connects communication network  142  to client computer  150 , web-hosting portal  160 , call center  170 , and off-board navigation server  182 . In one example, land network  144  is a public-switched telephone network (PSTN). In another example, land network  144  is implemented as an Internet protocol (IP) network. In other examples, land network  144  is implemented as a wired network, an optical network, a fiber network, other wireless networks, or any combination thereof. Land network  144  may be connected to one or more landline telephones. 
         [0026]    Client, personal or user computer  150  includes a computer usable medium to execute Internet browser and Internet-access computer programs for sending and receiving data over land network  144  and optionally, wired or wireless communication networks  142  to web-hosting portal  160 . Personal or client computer  150  may transmit user preferences to web-hosting portal  160  through a web-page interface using communication standards such as hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), and transport-control protocol and Internet protocol (TCP/IP). In one example, the data includes directives to change certain programming and operational modes of electronic and mechanical systems within MVCU  110 . In operation, a client utilizes computer  150  to initiate setting or re-setting of user-preferences for MVCU  110 . User-preference data from client-side software is transmitted to server-side software of web-hosting portal  160 . User-preference data is stored at web-hosting portal  160 . 
         [0027]    Web-hosting portal  160  includes one or more data modems  162 , one or more web servers  164 , one or more databases  166 , and a network system  168 . Web-hosting portal  160  is connected directly by wire to call center  170 , or connected by phone lines to land network  144 , which is connected to call center  170 . In an example, web-hosting portal  160  is connected to call center  170  utilizing an IP network. In this example, both components, web-hosting portal  160  and call center  170 , are connected to land network  144  utilizing the IP network. In another example, web-hosting portal  160  is connected to land network  144  by the one or more data modems  162 . Land network  144  sends digital data to and from modem  162 , which data may then be transferred to web server  164 . Modem  162  may reside inside web server  164 . Land network  144  transmits data communications between web-hosting portal  160  and call center  170 . 
         [0028]    Web server  164  receives user-preference data from user computer  150  via land network  144 . In alternative examples, computer  150  includes a wireless modem to send data to web-hosting portal  160  through network  142  and a land network  144 . Data is received by land network  144  and sent to one or more web servers  164 . In one example, web server  164  is implemented as any suitable hardware and software capable of providing web services to help change and transmit personal preference settings from a client at computer  150  to telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110 . Web server  164  sends to or receives from the one or more databases  166  data transmissions via network system  168 . Web server  164  includes computer applications and files for managing and storing personalization settings supplied by the client, such as door lock/unlock behavior, radio station preset selections, climate controls, custom button configurations and theft alarm settings. For each client, the web server  164  potentially stores hundreds of preferences for wireless vehicle communication, networking, maintenance and diagnostic services for a mobile vehicle. 
         [0029]    The off-board navigation server  182  includes one or more data modems  184 , one or more databases  186 , and a network system  188 . Off-board navigation server  182  may be connected directly by wire to call center  170 , or connected by phone lines to land network  144 , which is connected to call center  170 . In an example, off-board navigation server  182  is connected to call center  170  utilizing an IP network. In this example, both the off-board navigation server  182  and the call center  170  are connected to land network  144  utilizing the IP network. In another example, off-board navigation server  182  is connected to land network  144  by the one or more data modems  184 . Land network  144  sends digital data to and from modem  184 . Land network  144  transmits data communications between off-board navigation server  182  and call center  170 . The databases  186  in off-board navigation server  182  contain maps correlated to GPS signals. In one example, the map data is located in databases external to the off-board navigation server  182 . Communications between the elements of system  100  may be analog transmissions, digital transmissions, or packet data transmissions over a network. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates certain salient aspects of the telematics unit  120  of the mobile vehicle communication system (MVCS)  100  in greater detail. The telematics unit  220  ( 120 ) comprises a processor  222  communicably linked to a global positioning system (GPS) unit  226 , an in-vehicle memory  228 , an on-board navigation unit  236 , and a screen  238 . In an example of the invention, the GPS unit  126  provides the current location of the vehicle (e.g., longitude and latitude coordinates) derived from a GPS broadcast signal. The screen  238  may be of any suitable type, but may typically be a low power display such as an LCD TFT (thin-film-transistor) display. As noted above, the processor may be of any suitable type and is able to perform calculations and data manipulations and to interact with the GPS  226 , the memory  228 , the navigation unit  236 , and the screen  238 . In general, the processor  222  executes various computer programs that control the electronic and mechanical systems within MVCU  110 . 
         [0031]    In an example of the invention, the processor  222  controls the GPS  226 , the memory  228 , the navigation unit  236 , and the screen  238  so as to calculate and display route information to a user of the telematics unit  220 . In particular, the processor  222  gathers data from the GPS unit  226  to identify the current position of the telematics unit  220 . This location data is provided to the navigation unit  236  so that it may provide route information. The route information for display may be calculated by the navigation unit  236  or by the processor  222  based on data from the navigation unit  236 . The memory  228  is used by the processor  222  during the execution of tasks. 
         [0032]    In one example, the route information is presented to the user via the screen  238 . In another example, the route data may be presented to the user via one or more speakers  132 . The route data may be presented in a visual, textual, or audio format to guide the user, and typically, during driving, only the immediately relevant portions of the route are presented. Thus, for example, the display  238  may show a half-mile of the route ahead of the current location of the telematics unit  220  and a similar or smaller portion behind the current location of the telematics unit  220 . During driving, this is often sufficient to allow the user to accurately navigate the calculated route. 
         [0033]    However, it is sometimes desirable to present a route summary or preview to the user. In an example of the invention, the user of the telematics unit  220  may invoke a route summary presentation by activating a button, touch panel, or touch screen element adjacent to, associated with, or on screen  238 . In another example, the route may be invoked verbally by uttering into microphone  130 . In an example of the invention, the route preview information extends the length of the entire route but omits selected aspects of the route so as simplify the representation and aid the user&#39;s ease of understanding, as well as to minimize the time required to understand the preview. 
         [0034]    In overview, the route preview information maximizes the information regarding maneuvers that are soon to occur while minimizing the detail regarding distant maneuvers. The route and the route preview are presented to the user as a series of maneuvers in an example of the invention; however, the route preview may also contain a generalized description or illustration of certain sets of maneuvers. In an example of the invention, the route preview information is reduced only if the route contains more than a predetermined number of maneuvers. In a further example of the invention, a predetermined sequential set of next maneuvers is exempted from reduction. 
         [0035]    Examples of techniques used to reduce the route include removing certain compound maneuvers (maneuvers requiring multiple turns in a short distance), removing name change maneuvers, removing certain highway split maneuvers, removing certain highway interchange maneuvers, and compressing a plurality of maneuvers via a summary description or representation thereof. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an exemplary process for reducing a route description in keeping with the principles discussed above. The process will be discussed as executed by a navigation application, but it will be appreciated that the navigation application may be executed by the processor  222 , navigation unit  236 , or a combination of these components. It will be appreciated that the described process is merely an example, and that other mechanisms may be used in addition to or instead of some or all of those disclosed. 
         [0037]    The process of route reduction begins after the user has designated a starting and ending point (or other criteria) and the system has calculated driving instructions (the route). At stage S 301  of the process  300 , the navigation application determines the number of maneuvers in the route. A maneuver is a unit of driving activity such as a turn, a branch, a road change, etc. For example, a maneuver might require the user to turn left onto a certain street and proceed for a certain distance. A maneuver will typically contain no more than a single turn, branch, road change, etc. A compound maneuver may contain two or more units of driving activity, such as two or more turns. 
         [0038]    At stage S 303 , the navigation application determines whether the number of maneuvers in the route exceeds a predetermined number N. In an example of the invention, the predetermined number N is set based on the manufacturer&#39;s, installer&#39;s, or user&#39;s estimation of the number of instructions above which the user may become distracted. For example, N may be set to 3-5. If it is determined at stage S 303  that the number of maneuvers in the route does not exceed N, then the route reduction process terminates at stage S 305 . Since the route meets the requirements for driver workload in this case, it may now be presented to the driver. 
         [0039]    If instead it is determined at stage S 303  that the number of maneuvers in the route exceeds N, then the route reduction process continues to stage S 307 . At stage S 307 , the navigation application removes certain compound maneuvers from the route. In an example of the invention, the first X maneuvers of the route are excluded from the route reduction process, in that the route reduction stages described hereinafter are not applied to those first maneuvers. The number X is selected based on manufacturer, installer, or user estimation of the number of detailed upcoming maneuvers that a driver can meaningfully process. For example, X may be set to 2. Although the process shown in  FIG. 3  incorporates this feature, it will be appreciated that in an alternative example of the invention, all maneuvers are subject to reduction. 
         [0040]    Continuing with stage S 307 , the application may remove repeated second and third compound maneuvers after the first X maneuvers for example. As denoted by the dashed line between stage S 307  and S 305 , the navigation application recomputes the number of maneuvers remaining in the route and terminates the reduction process if the number of maneuvers has become equal to or less than N. 
         [0041]    If the number of maneuvers still exceeds N after stage S 307 , the process continues to stage S 309 , wherein the navigation application removes any name change maneuvers beyond the first X maneuvers. For example, the maneuver “Maple Ave becomes Westlake Dr.” would be removed at this stage. Again, after completing stage S 309 , the navigation application recomputes the number of maneuvers remaining in the route and terminates the reduction process if the number of maneuvers has become equal to or less than N. 
         [0042]    If the number of maneuvers still exceeds N, the process continues. At stage S 311 , the navigation application removes highway split maneuvers where the base freeway remains the same. For example, the maneuver “Bear Right to stay on I-75” would be removed at this stage. The navigation application then recomputes the number of maneuvers remaining in the route and terminates the reduction process if the number of maneuvers has become equal to or less than N. Otherwise, the process continues to stage S 313 . 
         [0043]    At stage S 313 , the navigation application removes highway interchanges beyond the first X maneuvers where there is a shared freeway number. For example, the maneuver, while on I80/I90, of “Bear Left to go onto I90” would be removed at this stage. The navigation application then recomputes the number of maneuvers remaining in the route and terminates the reduction process if the number of maneuvers has become equal to or less than N. Otherwise, the process continues to stage S 315 . 
         [0044]    At stage S 315 , the navigation application compresses all remaining maneuvers beyond the first X maneuvers. For example, all maneuvers beyond the first X maneuvers may be replaced with a visual (map) or textual summary of the remaining route, e.g., “There are 7 more maneuvers to reach your destination of 123 Pine Road.” After completion of stage S 315 , the process flows to step S 305  wherein the reduction process is terminated and the reduced route is presented to the user. The user may request another route summary at another point in time, and the process described above may be repeated at that time. 
         [0045]    The route listings of  FIGS. 4A-D  illustrate a textual route in various stages of reduction.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a route  401  to 123 Pine Road that contains 9 maneuvers. In this and the following examples, the maximum number N of maneuvers is set to 3. The number of instructions X exempted from reduction in this example is set to 2. 
         [0046]    Since the number of maneuvers in route  401  exceeds N, the navigation application undertakes route reduction, and the various stages of this reduction in this example are illustrated in  FIGS. 4B-4D . There are no compound maneuvers in the route  401 , and so that does not provide a source of reduction for this example route. In  FIG. 4B , the navigation application has eliminated all street name change maneuvers (e.g., instruction  405 B). This has reduced the total number of instructions to 8, which still exceeds N. Thus, further reduction is needed. The next category of reduction for which there are instructions in the illustrated route is highway split maneuvers where the base freeway remains the same. Thus, the maneuver “Bear Right to stay on I-75”  407 C is eliminated in  FIG. 4C . 
         [0047]    At the point illustrated in  FIG. 4C , there are still  7  instructions remaining, including 5 instructions  409 D beyond the first 2. Thus, further reduction is needed, and the only remaining applicable reduction step is to compress all remaining maneuvers beyond the first 2 maneuvers. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4D , the navigation application compresses all steps beyond the first two into the characterization  411 D “7 More Maneuvers to 123 Pine Road.” At this point, the total number of instructions is equal to or less than N and the first X instructions have not been modified. Thus, the system has provided the user with sufficient information to accurately navigate in the near term, and has also provided a general preview of the route, that is easy to view and is not unnecessarily cluttered. 
         [0048]    Although the route illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4D  is shown in a textual format, it will be appreciated that the illustrated principles may be applied to other types of representation as well. For example, a graphical representation showing a plurality of maneuvers may be reduced and previewed in the same manner to reduce driver workload. A graphical representation may be, for example, a map, and/or a grouping of text and a graphical representation. In another example, verbal instructions uttering a plurality of maneuvers may be reduced and previewed. 
         [0049]    It will be appreciated that the foregoing methods and implementations for route reduction are merely examples, and that these illustrate a preferred technique for route reduction. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the invention may differ in detail from foregoing examples. As noted earlier, all references to the invention are intended to reference the particular example of the invention being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the invention more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the invention entirely unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0050]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0051]    Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6