Patent Document ID: 8942918
Application ID: 12487852
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer implemented navigation method for instructing an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising: obtaining, at a computer system having a processor, a destination location; generating, with the processor, a proposed route to the destination location, the proposed route defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers; and before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point of the driver decision points, pre-calculating an alternate route between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, wherein the alternate route is different than the proposed route; determining a relative importance indicator for the alternate route, by: calculating whether a first approaching maneuver of the alternate route, at the approaching driver decision point, is optional; calculating whether the first approaching maneuver of the alternate route, at the approaching driver decision point, is highly recommended; calculating whether the first approaching maneuver of the alternate route, at the approaching driver decision point, is mandatory; and generating the relative importance indicator based upon the calculating steps, wherein the relative importance indicator conveys a condition of importance for the approaching driver decision point of the alternate route, and wherein the relative importance indicator is configured for communication to a user; wherein the relative importance indicator comprises: a first frequency of announcements of the first approaching maneuver when the first approaching maneuver is optional; a second frequency of announcements of the first approaching maneuver when the first approaching maneuver is highly recommended; and a third frequency of announcements of the first approaching maneuver when the first approaching maneuver is mandatory; wherein the first frequency comprises a low frequency, the third frequency comprises a high frequency, and the second frequency comprises a frequency between the low frequency and the high frequency; communicating the relative importance indicator to the operator of the vehicle; and saving the alternate route within computer memory to obtain a saved alternate route for subsequent activation.