DE102007013561A1 - Navigation system operating method for motor vehicle i.e. car, involves checking whether geographical location is listed in local table, which is stored in navigation system after receiving traffic message related to geographical location - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves checking whether a geographical location is listed in a local table, which is stored in a navigation system of a motor vehicle (3) after receiving a traffic message related to the geographical location. The message is provided with a route guidance and presented to a user of the system when the geographical location is listed in the table. A counter is increased by a counter unit when the geographical location is not listed in the table. A signal is characteristic for actualization need of the system, and is produced when the counter is equal to preset threshold value. An independent claim is also included for a device for operating a navigation system.

Description

The The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for operating a navigation system. After receiving a traffic report, the refers to a geographical location, it checks if the geographical location is listed in a location table stored in the navigation system is. If the geographical location is listed in the place table is, the traffic message is taken into account in a route guidance and / or a user of the navigation system.

One modern navigation system may be able to traffic reports automatically on a route guidance to take into account. To receive the traffic reports, the navigation system can own radio receiver include or be coupled to a radio. The traffic message can, for example, over be broadcast a Radionachrichtendienst, for example via RDS-TMC, DAB-TMC, SDARS-TMC, DRM-TMC, TPEG, TPEG Automotive and / or more Radio communication systems. On a storage medium of the navigation system is a regular one Location table stored to the traffic message a geographical To be able to assign a place. The location table includes, for example, location identifiers in the Location table Location entries are assigned, the representative are for the corresponding geographical locations. If the navigation system receives a traffic message and to the geographical location to which the traffic report relates does not find a corresponding place entry in the place table, so the traffic message is ignored. This can cause that less and less traffic information can be taken into account during route guidance. One Users of the navigation system recognize this only because that he despite the suspected consideration of traffic reports regularly in unfavorable traffic situations guided becomes.

It The object of the invention is a method and a device for Operate a navigation system to create that or the easy to recognize a need for updating the navigation system contributes.

The Task is solved by the characteristics of the independent Claims. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in the dependent claim.

The Invention is characterized by a method and an apparatus for operating a navigation system. After receiving a traffic report, which refers to a geographical location, it is checked if the geographical location is listed in a place table. The place table is stored in the navigation system. If the geographical Place listed in the place table is the traffic message in a route guidance considered and / or presented to a user of the navigation system. If the geographical Place not listed in the place table, will be a counter a counting unit elevated. If the counter is equal to a predetermined threshold, a signal is generated that for an updating requirement of the navigation system characteristic is.

This allows that the user only then signals the need for updating if this is for he is really relevant. Furthermore, this contributes particularly effective to a simple recognition of the need for updating the navigation system at. The updating needs of the navigation system may be refer to a navigation software on the navigation system is stored. In particular, the need for updating of the navigation system to the location table of the navigation system Respectively. The signal may be an optical and / or an acoustic Signal include.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counter of Fixed location table. If another place table on stored in the navigation system, the counter remains stored and another place table is assigned to another counter. This makes possible, that when replacing the navigation software with another Navigation software, for example when traveling abroad by a foreign software with a foreign location table, the state not the counter get lost. This makes possible, that after reusing the original navigation software the counter continue to check the topicality the original one Navigation software can be used. Furthermore, this allows that the counter not associated with the wrong navigation software.

embodiments The invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. It demonstrate:

1 a motor vehicle and a radio station,

2 a place table,

3 a program for operating the navigation system.

elements same construction or function are cross-figurative with the same Reference number marked.

A radio station 1 regularly broadcasts traffic announcements MES ( 1 . 3 ) out. The Ver MES messages can be sent via RDS-TMC, DAB-TMC, SDARS-TMC, TRM-TMC, TPEG and / or TPEG Automotive. A motor vehicle 3 can traffic announcements MES via an antenna 5 of the motor vehicle 3 receive. In the motor vehicle 3 is arranged a navigation system. The navigation system includes a radio receiver that communicates with the antenna 5 is coupled. Alternatively, the navigation system is with a radio of the motor vehicle 3 coupled with the antenna 5 is coupled.

The navigation system can take into account the traffic message MES in a route guidance. In this context, this means that the navigation system plans the route such that a geographical location LOC ( 2 ) to which the traffic message MES relates, is avoided or targeted approached. Furthermore, in the case of an already existing route, the navigation system can reconfigure the route depending on the traffic message MES, so that the geographical location LOC to which the traffic message MES relates is avoided or approached.

Alternatively or additionally, the navigation system can present the traffic message MES to a user of the navigation system. For example, the navigation system can display the traffic message MES on a display and / or via loudspeaker of the motor vehicle 3 output.

The Traffic reports MES, over the aforementioned radio information services broadcast are standardized according to Written protocols. Among other things, with each traffic message MES sends a location identifier ID which is representative of the geographical location LOC to which the traffic message MES refers.

On a storage device of the navigation system is preferred a location table TAB stored. Based on the place table TAB can the navigation system dependent from the location identifier ID the geographical location LOC, on the itself determine the traffic message MES, determine.

On a storage medium of the navigation system is a program for Operating the navigation system stored. One in the navigation system Integrated computer can also be used as a device for operating the Navigation system are called. The program to operate of the navigation system, serves to detect when the navigation system, in particular a navigation software of the navigation system, in particular a Location table of the navigation system is outdated.

The Program for operating the navigation system is preferably started when switching on the navigation system in a step S1, in which variables are initialized if necessary.

In a step S2, the traffic message MES is received.

In a step S3 becomes dependent determined by the traffic message MES the location identifier ID. Especially the location ID is read from the traffic message MES.

In A step S4 checks whether the geographical location LOC is listed in the place table TAB. Especially will check if in the location table TAB corresponding to the location identifier ID Location entry is representative, which is representative of the geographical Place LOC, to which the traffic report MES refers. Is the condition of Fulfilled step S4, so the processing is continued in a step S5. Is the Condition of step S4 is not satisfied, then the processing continued in a step S6.

In Step S5 is the traffic message MES in the route planning and / or route guidance considered and / or the traffic message MES is the user of the navigation system acoustically and / or optically, for example via loudspeakers or a display presents.

In The step S6 may be dependent from table TAB, a table version TAB_VERS of the location table TAB be determined.

In a step S7 becomes dependent of the table version TAB_VERS the place table TAB a separate counter Assigned to CTR. Steps S6 and S7 do not necessarily have to be worked from. they allow but fully the To detect updating needs of the navigation system, even if different navigation software, especially different Place tables TAB, to be used on the navigation system. For example If you travel abroad for a short time you can use another place table in particular a foreign location table of the corresponding foreign country stored on the navigation system. This further place table then becomes another counter assigned. This prevents the more locality table from becoming obsolete is considered, although actually the original place table TAB one Has a need for updating. Furthermore, this allows, after a renewed Play the original one Place table TAB, the method for detecting the need for updating continue where it was interrupted, as the other local table was played.

In a step S8, the counter CTR is changed a counting unit increases.

In In a step S9, it is checked whether the counter CTR is equal to a predetermined threshold THD. Is the condition of step S9, so the processing is continued in a step S10. Is the condition of step S9 is not satisfied, so the processing is continued in a step S11.

In In step S10, a signal SIG is generated which is characteristic is for the update requirement of the navigation system. The signal SIG may include an optical and / or acoustic signal SIG. For example, over Speakers of the motor vehicle are transmitted to the user that the Navigation system, in particular the navigation software, in particular the place table TAB should be updated.

In Step S11 may be the program for operating the navigation system to be ended. Preferably, the program for operating the Navigation system regularly during operation of the navigation system.

The Program for operating the navigation system allows that the user only over the update requirement of the navigation system is informed, if this is for he is really relevant. For example, a user who has the Navigation system mainly in a first predetermined geographic area, for months within this first predetermined geographic area the navigation system use, without even a single traffic message MES, for this first given geographic area is relevant, do not allocate to be able to if at this time in this first predetermined geographic area no new roads and / or intersections and / or ascents and descents were built. Even if already one or more newer versions of the navigation software are in the market, this may be irrelevant for this user be.

in the In contrast, a user who uses the navigation system mainly in uses a second predetermined geographic area, in the regular road works be made, for example, in a city, after use the navigation system for a few months as intended, because there have been so many changes in that time, that only still few of the traffic message MES the geographical place LOC assignable are. This user is then not dependent on it regularly Jam or similar to be guided to recognize that the navigation software is outdated.

The Invention is not limited to the specified embodiments. For example, can the program for operating the navigation system in another Be implemented program. Furthermore, the navigation system can also be independent of be used in the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the location table TAB more entries include. Furthermore, the location identifier ID can be in any number format be stored.

1

radio stations

3

motor vehicle

5

antenna

TAB

location table

LOC

geographical place

ID

location ID

BEGIN

program start

MES

traffic info

TAB_VERS

table version

CTR

counter

THD

threshold

SIG

signal

END

end of program

S1-S11

steps one to eleven

Claims (3)

Method for operating a navigation system, in which - to a receipt of a traffic report (MES), referring to a geographical Place (LOC) is checked, whether the geographic location (LOC) is listed in a place table (TAB) is that stored in the navigation system - if the geographic location (LOC) is listed in the place table (TAB) is, the traffic message (MES) is taken into account in a route guidance and / or one User of the navigation system is presented, - if the geographic location (LOC) is not listed in the place table (TAB) is, a counter (CTR) to a counting unit elevated becomes, - if the counter (CTR) is equal to a predetermined threshold (THD), a signal (SIG) is generated for an updating requirement of the navigation system characteristic is. Method according to Claim 1, in which the counter (CTR) the place table (TAB) is permanently assigned and in which, if one another place table is stored on the navigation system, the counter (CTR) remains stored and the other local table assigned to another counter becomes. Device for operating a navigation system, which is designed to check, after receipt of a traffic message (MES) relating to a geographical location (LOC), whether the geographical location (LOC) is listed in a location table (TAB) stored in the navigation system, if the geographical location (LOC) is listed in the location table (TAB), the traffic message (MES) in a route guidance and / or one Present users of the navigation system, if the geographical location (LOC) is not listed in the location table (TAB), a counter (CTR) to increase a counter, - if the counter (CTR) is equal to a predetermined threshold (THD) to generate a signal (SIG) that is characteristic of an update requirement of the navigation system.