DE102010061860A1 - Method for operating navigation device for satellite-based navigation of vehicle, involves recording routes with date in travel memory module, and receiving dates with information from input unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The route (10) between the starting location (11) and the target site (12) is recorded with the dates in a travel memory module (13). The dates with further information are received from an input unit (26), and an exchange interface is provided for receiving the information with dates. The data associated with the sensor device (23) are detected, for the enrichment of the travel memory module recorded dates. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) navigation device; (2) computer program product for operating navigation device; and (3) machine-readable medium for operating navigation device.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route between at least one start location and at least one destination and a navigation device for this purpose, wherein a travel memory module is provided with the travel data of the route between the starting location and the Destination recorded. The invention further relates to a computer program product for operating the method as well as a computer-readable medium with the computer program product.

Navigation devices are primarily for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route between a starting place and a destination. In this case, places of interest can be stored in a memory assigned to the navigation device. If a user calls up the places of interest, then, for example, a location of interest can be approached as an intermediate destination. These places of interest may be petrol stations, railway stations or airports, and places of interest may be known which may concern sights, cultural facilities or, for example, special restaurants or hotels and which may also be deposited in the memory of the navigation device with further information.

Further developed navigation devices can record travel data during the journey, for example to provide documentation about the traveled route. The state of the art, for example, navigation devices that can record a covered distance. Such devices are known from the outdoor sector for athletic applications such as running or cycling computers, but also for motor vehicles. When used in motor vehicles, the recording function is used in particular for detecting new road sections for the purpose of map updates or for recording personal preferences of the vehicle driver, which can subsequently be included, for example, in a route calculation. Furthermore, it can also be provided in common navigation devices that current locations can be stored as POIs or generally as destinations for future trips. However, these data are limited to the distance traveled and are not sufficiently suitable for comprehensive travel documentation.

STATE OF THE ART

From the EP 1 198 696 B1 a navigation device is known, which has a memory in which a complete database, for example, with all known at a certain time points of interest, is stored. It is proposed that memory updates of the entire database be reduced by current data is requested and transmitted only when needed. The user can define his own individual navigation database and agree centrally with the data or individual analysis cycles and analysis scopes. Through a combination of data centers, which dispose of different information contents, the user can be offered highly up-to-date map sections with additional information, which may differ regionally. For example, if the user has determined a route between a start location and a destination by the navigation device, a record can be loaded into the memory of the navigation device via the air interface, which only reads in or updates the locations of interest that are on the route between the start location and the destination location lie. Thus, a user can put together a certain travel data package, which can serve as travel preparation in advance of the trip. However, it is not possible to create a travel data packet from an already made trip between at least one start location and at least one destination.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a navigation device, through which an individual travel documentation is achieved.

This object is achieved on the basis of a method for operating a navigation device according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Based on a navigation device for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route between at least one start location and at least one destination with a travel memory module, with the travel data of the route between the starting location and the destination can be recorded while driving, the invention provides an input means, via the travel data recorded with the travel memory module is enriched with further information, wherein an exchange interface is provided, by means of which the information-enriched travel data is transmitted to a recipient.

The invention is based on the idea, not just for the preparation of a journey, a navigation device with information and in particular with travel data and with data on locations of interests on the route lie, supply. Rather, the invention allows the recording and enrichment of travel data with information by means of an input means by a corresponding travel memory module is provided according to the invention, which can be integrated in the navigation device, connected as an expansion component or separately in the vehicle and which includes the input means by means of the simple Travel memory module recorded travel data can be enriched with information. During or after the journey is completed, the information-enriched travel data may be communicated to a recipient using the interchange interface, which may be done either automatically or upon user input.

The travel data may relate to any location at any time of travel on the route between the starting location and the destination. In particular, the travel data may relate to places of interest which are also recorded. In addition, there is the possibility to put together several visited places of interest or driven sections on the navigation device to a personal travel diary in a user-friendly way. Travel diaries can be created with previously known navigation devices neither manually by the user nor automatically through the system. With the invention of the automated method for creating a "Personal Road Trip Diary" (PRTD), it may thus be possible to automatically create personal travel diaries with experiences and experiences of the user when traveling.

The enriched travel data may comprise, for example, the following data and information: the itinerary, descriptions of the route, for example guide-typical information, points of interest along the route, descriptions of places of interest, for example guide-typical information, GPS coordinates of the route, travel speeds, means of transportation such as for example, the use of a passenger car, a motorcycle or a footpath. Further, the enriched travel data may include departure and arrival times, travel time, route length, elevation differences, climatic conditions during travel, information passengers, pictures, sound recordings, video recordings, financial data and the like.

With particular advantage, the input means can be designed such that the travel data recorded with the travel memory module can be enriched by the user with further information. The input means may be an input screen which also serves as a display means for displaying navigation information to the user. It is also conceivable that the input means is a microphone with which a text spoken by the user can be recorded. With this text, for example, the recorded travel data can be set to music. In particular, the sounding may be done while driving, and the enrichment of travel data by information of the user need not be limited to places of interest, and the enrichment may also be done while driving. The initialization of the recording of the travel data can be done manually by the driver, for example by pressing a corresponding control element of the navigation device. Alternatively, the initialization can also be carried out automatically by the travel memory module. For example, the travel memory module of the navigation device may make the beginning and end of the recording of travel dates of appointments in a calendar dependent, or the recording may begin at particular locations of interest, such as visiting a zoo, a memorial, a castle, or the like. The recording can also be done while driving along the route, for example, on scenic routes. With subsequent evaluation of the travel data an exact travel profile can be created, when the user was in which place. For example, the travel data may at least include the time point coupled with the GPS coordinates of the navigation device, so that it can be tracked when the user was at which location.

If there are places of interest on the route, the travel data information recorded in the travel memory module can include the points of interest, in particular it can be provided that the travel data recorded in the travel memory module comprise user-enriched information about the points of interest. If the navigation device is designed as a portable, hand-held navigation device, it can also be removed from the vehicle when visiting a location of interest and taken away. Further, in addition to a microphone, a camera may be installed on the navigation device, so that also image recordings are possible to further enrich the recorded travel data with images or movies.

With even further advantage, a travel data packet, at least comprising the travel data recorded in the travel memory module, can be provided by the navigation device and in particular by the travel memory module when the journey is finished or when the travel data packet is requested by the user. Thus, the travel data package can be used separately from the navigation device, for example, for follow-up, forwarding or duplication.

According to the invention, the navigation device has an exchange interface, in particular an air interface such as a radio interface or the like, so that via the exchange interface the travel data packet can be sent to at least one further navigation device of another user and / or to a terrestrial central office. The individual locations of interest or sections of the route, which were recorded with the travel memory module of the navigation device, can be automatically transferred to the destination input of a navigation device, so that additional users can easily follow the offered journey or sections of the journey itself. The other users receive all information that the user has entered and can thus relive the personal experiences of the user. You can also add your own experiences and thus offer a differentiated travel diary. Consequently, a plurality of travel data packets can be communicated by a plurality of users via the terrestrial central office. The travel data packets can also be communicated directly between the navigation devices, for example via a corresponding exchange interface. Alternatively, the travel data packets can be stored on memory cards, which are preferably removed from the navigation device and exchanged for other data memory cards. A navigation device with the travel memory module according to the invention is used in particular for use on recreational trips, such as holiday trips. The terrestrial hub may be formed or supported by an Internet portal, and completed travel data packets may be posted on the Internet portal or downloaded from the Internet portal. This Internet portal may for example be the website of the provider of the navigation device or the website is a privately or commercially operated website for the exchange of travel data packages.

According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the vehicle may comprise at least one sensor device, in particular comprising an image capture unit, wherein data acquired with the sensor device may be used to enrich the travel data recorded in the travel memory module. The image acquisition unit can be arranged in the vehicle, in particular, the image acquisition unit can also be part of a driver information system and / or a driver assistance system. For example, image acquisition units in the form of cameras are known, which serve for traffic sign recognition. According to the invention, these cameras can also be used to make image recordings of travel sections or of places of interest and to use them for enriching the recorded travel data. A correspondingly embodied image capture unit can be integrated, in particular, in a handheld navigation device, so that the image capture unit can also be operated away from the vehicle.

The image capture unit may take photos or record video sequences so that individual images of locations, particularly of interest, may be recorded, or video sequences of sections of the route may be recorded.

By the user, in particular with the input means of the navigation device, a start command for starting recordings of travel data and / or a stop command for stopping recordings of travel data can be transmitted to the navigation device. In particular, the starting of the recordings of travel data and / or the stopping of the recordings of travel data by the navigation device can be carried out automatically when points of interest are reached and / or left and / or when a starting point is left and / or a destination is reached.

The recording of image material may preferably be continued until the driver makes a stop with his vehicle. The recorded data thus form a section. This section can now be highlighted with statistics such as travel time, route, altitude difference or the like. Furthermore, the data may be augmented from external sources, for example with detailed descriptions and information such as prices, menus, opening hours or the like of locations of interest which are on the route traveled, the information in particular being downloadable from the Internet. In addition, further information may be added to pre-stored locations of interest to the route being traveled. The user can also enter previously unavailable places of interest, which are on the route, which in turn can be enriched with more information. The additional descriptions of the places of interest add further relevant information to the route that has been driven so that a diary-like entry automatically results.

The enrichment can alternatively already take place while driving, but an enrichment after the end of the journey allows a differentiated and filtered collection of relevant information. Thus, it is possible to prevent journeys from being overloaded and to allow information to be taken into account throughout the journey. The Information filtering can be automatic or manual. In particular, the manual filtering is easier to implement at a stop than while driving, so that the driver is not additionally burdened by inputs to the navigation device. In addition to the statistics on driving time, route, altitude difference and the like duration, nature and reason of the stay in a place of interest or other place, participants of the stay and time of day and the like can be stored. The user can also enter text information manually via the input means.

If individual sections are stored, these can be combined into a total route if this appears appropriate due to the brevity of the intermediate stop or if entries in the calendar indicate that they belong together or if the user manually initiates the consolidation of partial routes. Likewise, information can be aggregated to create a self-contained and consistent travel diary. Hereby the user has an important role to play, who has the possibility to call up the travel diary at any time and to process individual diary entries by providing them with their own descriptions, experiences, travel reports, comments and / or photos, thus forming the relevant authority the creation.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the navigation device can make a request for receiving travel data at a terrestrial central station and / or in further navigation devices of further users via an exchange interface such as an air interface, in particular if the user has entered a start location and a destination in the navigation device, wherein the travel data relate to data about the route and in particular data about the lying on or near the route places of interest. If the route is determined by the navigation device, then the points of interest on the route can also be requested, depending on the specific profile of the user. For example, petrol stations or restaurants or hotels can be distinguished from cultural institutions, and depending on the user profile, only those places of interest are uploaded and displayed on the route that interest the user. Further, the user can upload the kind of places of interest lying on the route, so that the user can customize his route. When uploading the places of interest can be uploaded at the same time of other users deposited information to the respective places of interest.

The object of the present invention is further achieved by a navigation device for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route between at least one starting location and at least one destination, wherein a travel memory module is provided with the travel data of the route between the starting location and the destination can be recorded while driving ,

The object of the present invention is further achieved by a computer program product for operating a method of a navigation device for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route between at least one start location and at least one destination, wherein a travel memory module is provided, with the travel data of the route between the Start location and the destination are recorded. In particular, the computer program product can be designed as a software update for already existing navigation devices, and the inventive feature of the travel memory module can be implemented via the computer program product for operating the method in the existing navigation device.

The present invention is further accomplished by a computer readable medium having a computer program product of the type described above.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Further, measures improving the invention will be described in more detail below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS. It shows:

1 a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a navigation device for operating a method according to the present invention and

2 a flow chart for creating travel data using a travel memory module.

1 shows a navigation device 1 for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle for carrying out a method according to the present invention. The navigation device 1 has a travel memory module 13 on, which is indicated schematically. With the travel storage module 13 can during the trip travel dates of the route 10 between the starting place 11 and the destination 12 to be recorded. A recording while driving describes each movement and each stop of the vehicle between the starting place 11 and the destination 12 , The recording of the travel data can consequently also take place in places of interest which have the reference number 14 . 15 . 16 and 17 are indicated and on the route 10 lie.

The navigation of the navigation device 1 is done by receiving GPS data from a satellite 24 via a GPS data link 25 , The route 10 can via a display means 27 be displayed to the user, which display means 27 at the same time as an input device 26 serves to the navigation device 1 and in particular the travel memory module 13 manually operated.

Through the navigation device 1 and in particular through the travel memory module 13 a travel data package can be created, at least in the travel memory module 13 recorded travel data. The travel data can be further enriched by the user, for example via the input means 26 or via a - microphone not shown - the travel data with text or sound information to be enriched. The creation of the travel data package can be created by the user at a certain time or the creation of the travel data package is done by the navigation device 1 automatically, for example at the end of the journey.

Between a terrestrial central office 22 and between other navigation devices 19 . 20 and 21 is an exchange interface in the form of an air interface 18 shown. The travel data package (s) may be provided by the user via the air interface 18 to the terrestrial central office 22 or at least one of the further navigation devices 19 . 20 and or 21 be transmitted. Similarly, travel data packets from the terrestrial central office 22 or from the other navigation devices 19 . 20 and or 21 be received.

Further shown is a sensor device 23 , which is designed as a camera and can be installed in the vehicle, for example. The driver drives the vehicle along the route 10 , Can be done on the camera image recording, which can also serve to enrich the travel data package. In a manner not shown, the camera may also be in the navigation device 1 be executed integrated.

2 shows a flowchart 100 for operating the method according to the invention for generating travel data with a travel memory module 13 , which is part of a navigation device 1 for satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route 10 between at least one starting place 11 and at least one destination 12 is. With the start 110 the recordings may be the recording of the trip data by the travel memory module 13 start, which start 110 either manually or automatically by the navigation device 1 he follows. This will be the recording 120 relevant data, which record includes, for example, the information about the GPS coordinates over the travel time. With the stop 130 the records can be the records 120 stopped, for example at the end of a journey. Subsequently, in the further process step, an enrichment 140 the recorded data take place, with the enrichment 140 for example, via manual input information about specific sections of the journey or to places of interest 14 . 15 . 16 and or 17 may include. Furthermore, the enrichment 140 an audio dubbing, via a microphone on the navigation device 1 can be done. In particular, the distance traveled may be similar to a video sequence on the display means 27 the navigation device 1 be played while the user performs the dubbing via the microphone.

After completion of the enrichment of the travel data takes place in the step 150 the end of the creation of the travel data, the termination 150 with a yes 151 or with a no 152 can be acknowledged by the user. If the user does not acknowledge the end of the creation of the travel data by a no 152 enters, a continuation of the records takes place 160 in the process step for recording 120 the relevant data is fed back, for example, when the route is continued. The user acknowledges the end of the creation of the travel data 150 with a yes 151 , then the enrichment takes place 170 the achieved goal, which is marked as final enrichment by the user. In the process step of completion 180 of a travel data packet, this can finally in the process step 190 the transmission of the travel data packet, for example, to the terrestrial central office 22 or at least one further navigation device 19 . 20 and or 21 respectively.

The invention is not limited in its execution to the above-mentioned preferred embodiment. Rather, a number of variants is conceivable, which makes use of the illustrated solution even with fundamentally different types of use. Any features and / or advantages resulting from the claims, the description or the drawings, including constructive details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention, both individually and in the most diverse combinations.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1198696 B1 [0004]

Claims (13)

Method for operating a navigation device ( 1 ) for the satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route ( 10 ) between at least one starting location ( 11 ) and at least one destination ( 12 ), wherein a travel memory module ( 13 ) is provided, with the while driving trip data of the route ( 10 ) between the starting point ( 11 ) and the destination ( 12 ), characterized in that an input means ( 26 ) is provided via the with the travel memory module ( 13 ) recorded travel data enriched with additional information ( 140 ) and that there is an exchange interface by which the information-enriched travel data is transmitted to a recipient. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the input means ( 26 ) is operable by a user, wherein the with the travel memory module ( 13 ) recorded travel data enriched by the user with further information ( 140 ) become. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the route places of interest ( 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 ) are present in the travel memory module ( 13 ) recorded travel dates information about the places of interest ( 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 ), in particular that in the travel memory module ( 13 ) recorded travel data enriched by a user about the places of interest ( 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that by the navigation device ( 1 ) and in particular by the travel memory module ( 13 ) a travel data packet, at least comprising in the travel memory module ( 13 ) is provided when the trip is completed or when the travel data packet is requested by the user. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the navigation device ( 1 ) an exchange interface, in particular an air interface ( 18 ), so that via the exchange interface, the travel data packet to at least one further navigation device ( 19 . 20 . 21 ) of another user and / or to a terrestrial central office ( 22 ) is sent. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the navigation device ( 1 ) an exchange interface, in particular an air interface ( 18 ), so that via the air interface ( 18 ) at least one travel data packet of at least one further navigation device ( 19 . 20 . 21 ) of another user and / or of a terrestrial central office ( 22 ) is uploaded. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle has at least one sensor device ( 23 ), in particular comprising an image acquisition unit ( 23 ), where data associated with the sensor device ( 23 ) for enrichment in the travel memory module ( 13 ) recorded travel data. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by the user with the input means ( 26 ) a start command to start ( 110 ) records of travel data and / or a stop command to stop ( 130 ) of records of travel data to the navigation device ( 1 ) is transmitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that starting ( 110 ) of travel data records and / or stopping ( 130 ) the records of travel data by the navigation device ( 1 ) is carried out automatically if places of interest ( 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 ) are reached and / or left and / or when a starting point ( 11 ) and / or a destination ( 12 ) is achieved. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by the navigation device ( 1 ) a request for the receipt of travel data at a terrestrial central office ( 22 ) and / or other navigation devices ( 19 . 20 . 21 ) other users via an air interface ( 18 ), especially if the user has a start location ( 11 ) and a destination ( 12 ) entered in the navigation device, wherein the travel data data on the route ( 10 ) and in particular data on or near the route ( 10 ) places of interest ( 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 ) affect. Navigation device ( 1 ) for the satellite-based navigation of a vehicle on a route ( 10 ) between at least one starting location ( 11 ) and at least one destination ( 12 ), wherein a travel memory module ( 13 ) is provided, with the while driving trip data of the route ( 10 ) between the starting point ( 11 ) and the destination ( 12 ) are recordable, characterized in that an input means ( 26 ) is provided via the with the travel memory module ( 13 ) recorded travel data can be enriched with further information ( 140 ), and that an exchange interface is provided, by means of which the information-enriched travel data can be transmitted to a recipient. Computer program product for operating a method according to one of claims 1 to 9. A computer readable medium having a computer program product according to claim 11.

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