GB2528075A

GB2528075A - Navigation system for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2528075A
Application number: GB1412151.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Osgood
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-08
Filing date: 2014-07-08
Publication date: 2016-01-13
Also published as: GB201412151D0

Abstract

A navigation system for providing navigation instruction in a vehicle comprises a navigation module arranged to determine a route to a destination, a determination module arranged to receive user-related data and to determine without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination. A notification module is also arranged to notify the user of the notification. The notification may be an intermediate location based on the user-related data and on the destination. In one embodiment the number and type, e.g. adults or children, of passengers in the vehicle is determined and used in determining a usage profile of the vehicle, from which the destination of the vehicle can be inferred. The user related data may include events from a users calendar or social media accounts and may be taken from a mobile device, e.g. phone, associated with the user.

Description

NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a navigation system for a vehicle. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a navigation system for a vehicle based on user specific activity.

BACKGROUND

Navigation systems in vehicles are commonplace and provide a vehicle user with the facility to receive instruction about a route to a selected destination. The more sophisticated systems which have beer developed provide the vehicle user with the facility to select route preferences, for example to account for detours via preferred is stops along the way to the final destination, or to avoid areas prone to traffic difficulties. Systems are also known which allow the user to receive information about local points of interest or facilities by displaying indicators on a map. Typical indicators which may be displayed include indicators of the location of shops, restaurants, fuelling stations and other facilities.

A problem with existing systems is that before the user embarks on a journey the navigation system has to be programmed with the various user preferences for destination and route, and/or to select to see indicators of various facilities on the map.

This takes time and can be inconvenient for the vehicle user when time is short. In addition, whilst on a particular journey the user's preference may change, for example if they remember they need to divert to another location on route, but the programming of a navigation system whilst driving is dangerous. The display of multiple indicators on a map for facilities such as shops and fuelling stations can also lead to information overload and distraction for the driver.

At least in certain aspects, the present invention has been devised to mitigate or overcome shortcomings associated with existing navigation systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a navigation system for providing navigation instruction in a vehicle comprising a navigation module arranged to determine a route to a destination, a determination module arranged to receive user-related data and to determine without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination, and a notification module arranged to notify the user of the notification.

The invention provides the advantage that by virtue of the determination module the navigation instruction provided to the user accounts for user-specific criteria (user-related data) automatically, and without a specific user request, rather than the vehicle user having to input selections and preferences at the start of the journey or once the journey has already commenced. This means that the user has to spend less time setting up the navigation system at the start of a journey, and it avoids the need for in-journey attention to the navigation system which can be dangerous to driving.

The determination module may include a learning module arranged to learn a usage profile for the vehicle, and wherein the user-related data includes the usage profile.

The benefit of the learning module is that the system can learn aspects of driver behaviour, and hence make predictions based on them, without the need for the user to make specific inputs and requests.

The learning module may, for example, be arranged to receive a passenger configuration signal from a passenger identification module and to learn the usage profile based on at least the passenger configuration signal.

In one embodiment the user-related data includes frequency and/or timing of visitation to a plurality of locations.

In one embodiment the notification is an intermediate location on a route to the destination.

For example, the determination module may be arranged to retrieve location data relevant to the intermediate location from the navigation module.

The navigation module may therefore be arranged to provide a navigation instruction to the user to navigate to the intermediate location based on the retrieved location data.

In this way the user of the vehicle may be notified of stop-off points (intermediate locations) on route to the destination which they may have visited before, or may be a type of place which they frequently like to visit.

The user-related data may include data relating intermediate locations visited with high frequency on route to the destination.

The notification module may include a display for displaying the intermediate location to the user with the navigation instruction.

The intermediate location may be on a direct route to the destination, or may be on a detour route to the destination.

The user-related data may include a calendar event from a user's calendar which may, for example, be relevant to the destination (for example, the calendar notifies that it is your mother's birthday and the usage profile suggests you frequently visit a flower shop before going to see your mother).

The calendar event may be selected from the list including: a birthday, a public holiday, a celebration, an anniversary. The notification may itself be the calendar event.

The system therefore also inherently provides a means of reminding the user automatically about important dates. The system adds a personalised feel to the use of the vehicle and so provides an impression of intelligence of the vehicle and a high quality feel. a

The system may comprise a user identftication module for identifying the user of the vehicle and wherein the learning module is arranged to learn a usage profile for each identified user.

This adds a degree of sophistication to the vehicle as it provides a personalised feel for different vehicle users.

The determination module may be arranged to predict the destination based on the usage profile, so that the destination is predicted.

Alternatively, the determination module may be arranged to receive an input of the destination by the user.

The module may be arranged to receive a passenger configuration identifier indicative of the configuration of passengers in the vehicle.

The determination module may be arranged to determine the intermediate location in dependence on the indication provided by the passenger configuration identifier.

This provides a further level of sophistication when the system s predicting destinations based on the usage profile.

The system may comprise a communication module arranged to receive the user-related data from a personal device. For example, the personal device may be a mobile device comprising a personal diary.

The communication module may be arranged to communicate with an external device carrying user-related data over an electromagnetic medium, for example over 30, 40 or WiFi.

The user-related data may include a social media event. For example, the social media event may be or may include a location of a personal contact of the user of the vehicle. The user-related data may include social media data from a social media posting on a website, as determined via the personal device. For example, the social media data may include a location of a personal contact of the user of the vehicle which may then form the intermediate location of which the user is advised, to allow the driver of the vehicle to meet up with friends on route to his or her selected destination.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing navigation instruction in a vehicle, the method comprising determining a route to a destination receiving user-related data and determining without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination, and notifying the user of the notification.

The method may comprise retrieving location data for an intermediate location on a route to the destination based on the user-related data, and notifying the user of the intermediate location on the route to the destination based on the retrieved location data.

The method may comprise learning a usage profile for the vehice user and determining the destination from the usage profile.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a navigation system as mentioned in the previous aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a navigation system for a vehicle comprising a navigation module arranged to determine navigation instruction for a route to a destination, a learning module arranged to receive a passenger configuration signal from a passenger identification module and to learn a usage prolile for the vehicle based on at least the passenger configuration signal, a determination module arranged to determine without a specific user request the destination based on the usage profile; and a notification module arranged to navigate the user to the destination.

The passenger identification module may, but need not, form a part of the navigation system.

For the purpose of this specification the wording predicting a destination' is intended to mean determining a destination based on any information received by the system other than by the driver entering this specific information.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and!or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a system diagram of the navigation system of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a flow diagram to illustrate one scenario which may be implemented on the system of Figure 1; and FigureS is a flow diagram to illustrate another scenario which may be implemented on the system of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 3D

With reference to Figure 1, a vehicle 10 such as a car includes a navigation system 12 having a navigation module 14, a learning module 16, a control module 18 and a notification module 20. The vehicle also includes a driver identification module 22 and a passenger identification module 24. The driver identification module 22 and the passenger identification module 24 may be independent from the navigation system, or may form an integral part of the system. The learning module 16 and the control module 18 may together form a "determination module" for determining user behaviour and preferences and for predicting destinations and routes, as will be described in further detail below.

The navigation module 14 includes route information such as roads together with other points of interest. Information relating to specific points of interest (for example shops, restaurants and other facilities) to the route information is also stored on the navigation module 14. The navigation module 14 includes a global positioning system (OPS) which is arranged to determine the vehicle's location. The navigation module 14 uses the vehicle location information to determine the vehicle's current location relative to the route information and other points of interest. The navigation module 14 is communicatively linked to an external database 26 via an electromagnetic medium such as 30, 40, Wi-Fi. The navigation module 14 can download and update route information, such as traffic incidents or road works, in real time from the external database 26. The external database 26 is updated regularly and continually via an external server (not shown) and regular downloads may be provided to the navigation module 14 regarding route information, traffic conditions, road works and the like.

The navigation module 14 is also communicatively linked to the learning module 16.

The learning module 16 is thus able to receive inputs from the navigation module 14 to monitor the vehicle's location relative to the route information and points of interest over time. The learning module 16 also communicates with the control module 18 and provides signals to the control module which indicate various predicted aspects of a vehicle's usage. The learning module 16 includes an algorithm which is able to determine a vehicle usage trend, or profile of use of the vehicle, with regards to the vehicle's usage. This includes, for example, determining how frequently a particular destination is visited, the time of day and week at which particular destinations are 3D visited, common stop-off points on the way to a particular destination, preferred routes to a particular destination, and so on. In this way the learning module 16 builds up a profile of use for the vehicle which enables likely future journeys, and the user preferences associated with those journeys, to be predicted. In particular, the invention provides an enhanced level of sophistication whereby intermediate locations on a particular route, for example a route that a user commonly takes, are notified to a vehicle driver if the timing of the journey indicates that a stop-off at an intermediate location may be desirable, as will be described in further detail below.

The learning module 16 operates in two phases: a learning phase and a prediction phase. During the learning phase, the learning module 16 records data relating to each route that is taken including, for exampe, the initial and final destination (e.g. home, office, school, sports club), intermediate locations on the route at which a stop was made, whether there is a facility at the intermediate stop (e.g. fuelling station, supermarket, other retail outlet), the date and time of the journey, and the route that was taken in reaching the final destination. The data is collected over the learning phase to build up a profile of use associated with a particular driver using the vehicle.

Once sufficient data has been gathered in the learning phase to build up a statistically meaningful model of use, the learning module 16 is then able to predict, on the basis of the model, a journey that is likely to be taken in the future based on time of week/day and various other circumstances, including passenger presence in the vehicle (as described below). The learning module 16 employs an algorithm to build up the profile of use, which is based on the known principle of Bayesian inference. The learning phase may continue into the prediction phase so that the learning module 16 is continually updating and refining the profile of use for the user.

The learning module 16 is also able to provide information regarding the behaviour of the vehicle user, based on other driving style indicators. For example, the learning module may provide an indication to the control module 18 that the driver is driving in a determined manner, and so is in a hurry and agitated and less open to receive notifications and alerts, or that the driver is driving passively and cautiously so may be more inclined to take notice of notifications and alerts provided by the navigation system 12.

3D The driver identification module 22 provides driver identification information to the control module. 18 The driver identification module 22 is located in the vehicle and is provided with a receiver (not shown). The receiver is arranged to receive signals from a near frequency communication device, such as an RFID chip held on a key fob for the vehicle, or on the key itself. Each driver of the vehicle has a designated key or key fob and so the presence of the key or key fob allows for the specific driver to be identified by the driver identification module 22. The control module 18 uses this driver identification information and feeds it back into the learning module 16 in order that a usage profile may be determined that is particular to each driver of the vehicle.

The passenger identification module 24 provides a means for determining the nature of the passengers being carried in the vehicle, and this also feeds into the profile of use. The passenger identification module 24 includes a measuring device (not shown) on each of the passenger seats for measuring the weight of a passenger or other item of luggage placed on the seat. If something is detected on one of the seats, the weight measurement provides an indication of whether that object is a person, whether it is an adult or a child, or whether it is a lighter object such as a bag. This provides a useful indicator to the control module 18 to input to the predicted destination for the vehicle.

For example, if the passenger identification module 24 identifies that there are two relatively light passengers in the rear of the vehicle, but no passenger in the front seat, and a journey is commencing early in the morning at a time when the vehicle is usually destined for the location of a school, it can be predicted that the passengers in the rear of the vehicle are children and so the vehicle is likely to be going to the school location.

The control module 18 also receives data from an external device 30 to the vehicle 10 which carries other user-related data which may be relevant to a vehicle user's journeys. The external device 30 may be a personal device such as a mobile tablet device or mobile telephone which carries a personal organiser or diary in which event data is either entered by the user or populated automatically via wireless updates. For example, the event data may include dary entries relating to personal anniversaries and/or or public event data such as fixed calendar celebrations. The personal diary may also include personal diary entries relating to meetings in particular locations. The personal device also provides a gateway to social media websites (Twitter® and Facebook® and the like) in which postings are made regarding social activities of the 3D user's personal contacts and connections.

The control module 18 communicates with the external device 30 over an electromagnetic medium such as 3G, 40 or WiFi to download the event data.

The invention provides an enhanced level of sophistication to a navigation system 12 as it allows the user to receive other useful indications relevant to a predicted or selected route, and considers other external factors such as events in the user's diary, and social events of friends and contacts, without the user having to make any selection or instruction to the navigation system 12 either before or during a journey.

The relevant information is notified to the user via the notification module 20 which typically includes a display on the vehicle dashboard, but which may also include an audio device for making audible announcements to the driver.

The invention is best understood by reference to the following specific examples of user-related data, either derived by predictive means or from diary entries, being used to influence the notifications that are advised to the vehicle user.

Figures 2 and 3 show flow diagrams to indicate the various information inputs to the control module 20, either direct from the personal device 30 or via the learning module 16 and the user's usage profile. Figures 2 and 3 show different scenarios by which the information received by the control module 18 is used to provide notifications to the driver automatically which enhance the feel of sophistication of the vehicle 10, and which prevent the vehicle driver from having to request certain information by entering specific requests to the navigation system 12. The notifications to the vehicle user may either derive from (i) predictions based on the output from the learning module, or (H) from calendar events in the user's personal device, or from a combination of both (i) and (ii).

In both the scenario in Figure 2 and Figure 3, calendar event data is input from the personal device 30 at step 100. This may include public holidays or celebrations such as Christmas or Valentine's day, or personal event data such as birthdays or anniversaries. Driver behaviour indicators are also provided to the control module 18 at step 102 via the learning module 16. At step 104 the control module 18 receives an 3D indication of The usage profile of the vehicle user from The learning module 16, as described previously, including data relating particular destinations with particular days and times of the week. At step 106 the control module 18 receives data relating to the vehicle condition, for example fuel and fluid levels and service history. At step 108 the control module 18 receives a driver identification indication from the driver identification module 22 to identify which particular driver is using the vehicle at that time. At step 110 the control module 18 receives user-related data from the personal device 30 in the form of social media content.

It will be appreciated that steps 100 to 110 happen continuously and concurrently, so that the control module 18 is continuously receiving data relating to various aspects of driver behaviour and vehicle usage.

At step 112 the control module 18 analyses the driver's behaviour, the regular routes and stops at intermediate locations, the refuelling pattern and routine destinations that are travelled to with a particular passenger arrangement, as determined by the learning module 16. On the basis of this data, the control module 18 can predict the likely journey that the vehicle is taking on a particular date and time, and so predicts the final destination for the vehicle but without the user having to enter a specific destination address.

As an alternative in step 112, the control module may use a calendar entry in the personal device 30 to predict the final destination of the vehicle. For example, if the time is 7:30am, and there is a calendar entry for 8:15am to indicate a meeting at a particular address, the control module 18 determines the likely destination of the vehicle to be the address stated in the calendar entry.

The predicted destination is used to provide navigation instruction to the user via the notification module 20.

In the scenario of Figure 2, for example, suppose that the control module 18 has determined that the final destination is an address identified in the user's calendar on his personal device 30 (step 114) The control module 18 communicates with the navigation module 14, via the learning module 16, to determine the navigation 3D instruction to be provided to the user to navigate to the final destination address. In addition, the control module 18 also receives an indication that the fuel level in the vehicle is low and there is insufficient fuel in the tank to complete the journey. The control module determines, via the navigation module 14, that there is a fuelling station on the route to the final destination address (step 116). The control module 18 also determines, from the output from the learning module 16, that the vehicle user is a cautious vehicle user and is more likely to refuel when the fuel reserve is still relatively high. The control module 18 therefore determines that an early indication to the vehicle user that refuelling will be necessary to complete the anticipated journey would be advisable. This notification is accompanied by an instruction about the location of the fuelling station on the route to the final destination. For example, via the notification module 20 the driver may receive the notification "Do you want to stop at a fuel station to refuel the vehicle before your meeting?. This may be accompanied by an indication of the remaining fuel reserve to assist the driver in making his decision.

In the aforementioned scenario, the notification to the user is based on a calendar event in the user's personal device 30. An alternative scenario may predict that there is a fuelling station on a short detour from the route to the final destination, in which case the notification module 20 may provide a query to the driver regarding whether they would like to detour to the intermediate location of the fuelling station so as to obtain fuel.

In an alternative scenario the notification of a low fuel reserve is made in advance of the journey, even on a previous day. For example, if it is determined by the control module 18 the day before a meeting (based on the calendar entry) that there is insufficient fuel for the predicted journey for the next day, the notification to the vehicle user to refuel could be made in advance. The notification may be made via the vehicle notification module 20, or in an alternative arrangement may be made via the user's personal device 30 with which the control module 18 communicates.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative scenaro in which the notification to the user is based on information that is available via the user's personal device 30, in combination with a predicted final destination as determined from the learning module 16. In common with the scenario illustrated in Figure 2, the control module 18 receives the output from the 3D learning module 16 including information about the vehicle user's regular rouTes and stops (step 104), routine destinations (step 104), which configuration of passengers (step 108), together with refuelling patterns and levels (step 106), calendar data (step 100) and social media data (step 110). As before, on the basis of one or more of these inputs, the learning module 16 makes a prediction about the final destination of the user. The control module 18 communicates with the user's personal device 30 (step 118) to extract information from social media websites which may indicate that contacts or friends of the user are in the vicinity of intermediate locations on the route to or near the final destination (step 120). For example, if it is determined that the final destination of the user is likely to be the supermarket, and a social media posting indicates that a contact of the user is at a coffee shop on the way to the supermarket, the control module 18 is arranged to notify the user, via the notification module 20, about the location of the coffee shop on the route to the final destination at which the user may like to stop.

The level of intelligence of the system further extends to the scenario where although such an intermediate location may be identified, because there is a high passenger count in the vehicle the user is unlikely to want to deviate from the final destination and so the notification to the user about the intermediate location is withheld. The control module 18 therefore also determines the appropriate navigation instruction based on the passenger configuration within the vehicle.

A further scenario (not illustrated) may be based on a calendar event such as a public holiday or celebration, for example Valentine's day. If the control module 18 identifies that it is Valentine's day based on the calendar entry in the user's personal device, and the output from the learning module 16 indicates that the vehicle is destined for the vehicle user's home address, a notification may be sent to the user via the notification module 20 that there is a flower shop at an intermediate location on the predicted route. The location of the flower shop may be a location on the direct route to the home address, or may be on a detour route to the home address.

A further scenario makes use of the output from the passenger identification module 24 and the learning module 16 to issue a reminder to the user. For example, suppose that the learning module 16 predicts that the user is driving to the fitness club, because 3D this is the journey that is routinely taken at a particular time and day of the week. The learning module 16 also predicts that for a journey to the fitness club the vehicle user usually take a sports bag, which has a particular weight, and places it on the passenger seat. If it is predicted that the user is destined for the sports club, but that the passenger identification module 24 has no indication of there being any weight corresponding to a sports bag on the passenger seat, a notification is sent to the user via the notification module 20 that the user may have forgotten his sports bag. For example, a notification may be issued to the user via the notification module 20 which says Do you need to take your sports bag with you?".

A host of other scenarios are envisaged where reminders and notifications to the driver, particularly regarding intermediate locations on a predicted route, may be useful. For example, if a driver is travelling to visit his parent's, and would usually stop to purchase a bottle of wine, a notification may be made to the user that there is an off licence or other suitable retail outlet at an intermediate location on the predicted route to his parents to which he may wish to detour or stop at.

Many modifications may be made to the above examples without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. For example, references to modules is not to be taken as limiting and, for example, the functions expressed as relating to the navigation, learning, control and notification modules may be combined in any alternative modular combination, or to form a combined function on a common computer system. For example, the learning module and control module functions may be combined so that the learning module not only predicts the final destination for a journey, but also the intermediate location on that journey.

Further aspects of the invention are set out in the following set of numbered Clauses: Clause 1. A navigation system for providing navigation instruction in a vehicle, the navigation system comprising a navigation module arranged to determine a route to a destination, a determination module arranged to receive user-related data and to determine without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination, and a notification module arranged to notify the user of the notification. 3D

Clause 2. The navigation system as in Clause 1, wherein the determination module includes a learning module arranged to learn a usage profile for the vehicle, and wherein the user-related data includes the usage profile.

Clause 3. The navigation system as n Claim 2, wherein the learning module is arranged to receive a passenger configuration signal from a passenger identification module and to learn the usage profile based on at least the passenger configuration signal.

Clause 4. The navigation system as in Clause 1, wherein the user-related data includes frequency and/or timing of visitation to a plurality of locations.

Clause 5. The navigation system as in Clause 1, wherein the notification is an intermediate location on a route to the destination.

Clause 6. The navigation system as in Clause 5, wherein the determination module is arranged to retrieve location data relevant to the intermediate location from the navigation module.

Clause 7. The navigation system as in Clause 5, wherein the navigation module is arranged to provide a navigation instruction to the user to navigate to the intermediate location based on the retrieved location data.

Clause 8. The navigation system as in Clause 5, wherein the user-related data includes data relating intermediate locations visited with high frequency on route to the destination.

Clause 9. The navigation system as in Clause 5, wherein the notification module includes a display for displaying the intermediate location to the user with the navigation instruction.

Clause 10. The navigation system as in Clauses, wherein the intermediate location is on a direct route to the destination.

Clause 11. The navigation system as in Clause 5, wherein the intermediate location is on a detour route to the destination.

Clause 12. The navigation system as in Cause 1, wherein the user-related data includes a calendar event from a user's calendar.

Clause 13. The navigation system as in Clause 12, wherein the calendar event is selected from the list including: a birthday, a public holiday, a celebration, an anniversary.

Clause 14. The navigation system as in Clause 12, wherein the notification is the calendar event.

Clause 15. The navigation system as Clause 1, comprising a user identification module for identifying the user of the vehicle and wherein the learning module is arranged to learn a usage profile for each identified user.

Clause 16. The navigation system as Clause 1, wherein the determination module is arranged to predict the destination based on the usage profile.

Clause 17. The navigation system as in Clause 1, wherein the determination module is arranged to receive an input of the destination by the user.

Clause 18. The navigation system as in Clause 1, the control module being arranged to receive a passenger configuration identifier indicative of the configuration of passengers in the vehicle.

Clause 19. The navigation system as in Clause 18, the determination module being arranged to determine the intermediate location in dependence on the indication provided by the passenger configuration identifier.

Clause 20. The navigation system as in Clause 1, comprising a communication module arranged to receive the user-related data from a personal device.

Clause 21. The navigation system as in Clause 20, wherein the personal device is a mobile device comprising a personal diary.

Clause 22. The navigation system as in Clause 20, wherein the communication module is arranged to communicate with an external device carrying user-related data over an electromagnetic medium, for example over 3G, 4G or WiFi.

Clause 23. The navigation system as in Clause 21, wherein the communication module is arranged to communicate with an external device carrying user-related data over an electromagnetic medium, for example over 30, 40 or WiFi.

Clause 24. The navigation system as in Clause 20, wherein the user-related data includes a social media event.

Clause 25. The navigation system as in Clause 24, wherein the social media event is a location of a personal contact of the user of the vehicle.

Clause 26. A method of providing navigation instruction in a vehicle, the method comprising determining a route to a destination, receiving user-related data and determining without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination, and notifying the user of the notification.

Clause 27. The method as in Clause 26, comprising retrieving location data for an intermediate location on a route to the destination based on the user-related data; and notifying the user of the intermediate location on the route to the destinaton based on the retrieved location data.

Clause 28. The method as in Clause 27, comprising learning a usage profile for the vehicle user and determining the destination from the usage profile.

Clause 29. A vehicle comprising a navigation system as in Clause 1.

Clause 30. A navigation system for a vehicle comprising a navigation module arranged to determine navigation instruction for a route to a destination, a learning module arranged to receive a passenger configuration signal from a passenger identification module and to learn a usage profile for the vehicle based on at least the passenger configuration signal, a determination module arranged to determine without a specific user request the destination based on the usage profile, and a notification module arranged to navigate the user to the destination.

Clause 31. A navigation system as in Clause 29, comprising the passenger identification module.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A navigation system for providing navigation instruction in a vehicle, the navigation system comprising; a navigation module arranged to determine a route to a destination; a determination module arranged to receive user-related data and to determine without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination; and a notification module arranged to notify the user of the notification.
2. The navigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determination module includes a learning module arranged to learn a usage profile for the vehicle, and wherein the user-related data includes the usage profile.
3. The navigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the learning module is arranged to receive a passenger configuration signal from a passenger identification module and to learn the usage profile based on at least the passenger configuration signal.
4. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user-related data includes frequency and/or timing of visitation to a plurality of locations.
5. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notification is an intermediate location on a route to the destination.
6. The navigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the determination module is arranged to retrieve location data relevant to the intermediate location from the navigation module.
7. The navigation system as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the navigation module is arranged to provide a navigation instruction to the user to navigate to the intermediate location based on the retrieved location data.
8. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the user-related data includes data relating intermediate locations visited with high frequency on route to the destination.
9. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the notification module includes a display for displaying the intermediate location to the user with the navigation instruction.
10. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the intermediate location is on a direct route to the destination.liThe navigation system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the intermediate location is on a detour route to the destination.12. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the user-related data includes a calendar event from a user's calendar.13. The navigation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the calendar event is selected from the list including: a birthday, a public holiday, a celebration, an anniversary.14. The navigation system as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the notification is the calendar event.15. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, comprising a user identification module for identifying the user of the vehicle and wherein the learning module is arranged to learn a usage profile for each identified user.16. The navigation system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the determination module is arranged to predict the destination based on the usage profile.17. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the determination module is arranged to receive an input of the destination by the user.18. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims ito 17, the control module being arranged to receive a passenger configuration identifier indicative of the configuration of passengers in the vehicle.19. The navigation system as claimed in claim 18 when dependent on claim 5, the determination module being arranged to determine the intermediate location in dependence on the indication provided by the passenger configuration identifier.20. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims i to i 9, comprising a communication module arranged to receive the user-related data from a personal device.21. The navigation system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the personal device is a mobile device comprising a personal diary.22. The navigation system as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the communication module is arranged to communicate with an external device carrying user-related data over an electromagnetic medium, for example over 30, 4G or WiFi.23. The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the user-related data includes a social media event.24. The navigation system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the social media event is a location of a personal contact of the user of the vehicle.25. A method providing navigation instruction in a vehicle, the method comprising; determining a route to a destination; receiving user-related data and determining without a specific user request a notification based on the user-related data and on the destination; and notifying the user of the notification.26. The method as claimed in claim 25, comprising retrieving location data for an intermediate location on a route to the destination based on the user-related data; and notifying the user of the intermediate location on the route to the destination based on the retrieved location data.27. The method of claim 26, comprising learning a usage profile for the vehicle user and determining the destination from the usage profile.28. A vehicle comprising a navigation system as claimed in any of claims ito 24.29. A navigation system for a vehicle comprising; a navigation module arranged to determine navigation instruction for a route to a destination; a learning module arranged to receive a passenger configuration signal from a passenger identification module and to learn a usage profile for the vehicle based on at least the passenger configuration signal; a determination module arranged to determine without a specific user request the destination based on the usage profile; and a notification module arranged to navigate the user to the destination.30. A navigation system as claimed in claim 29, comprising the passenger identification module.31. A vehicle as described substantially herein with reference to the accompanying figures.32. A method of providing navigation instruction in a vehicle as described substantially herein with reference to the accompanying figures.