HK1136869A - A navigation device and method for driving break warning - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and prompting, upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, a user of the navigation device to enable output of a warning to break from driving a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, during travel along the determined route. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and an output device to prompt, upon the processor determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, a user of the navigation device to enable output of a warning to break from driving a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, during travel along the determined route.

Description

Navigation device and method for driving interruption warning

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to navigation methods and devices.

Background

Navigation devices have traditionally been used primarily in the field of vehicle use, such as on automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, boats, and the like. Alternatively, if the navigation device is portable, it may be further transferred between vehicles and/or may be used outside a vehicle, such as for hiking.

These devices are typically tailored to generate a route of travel based on an initial position of the navigation device, which may be entered into the device, but is traditionally calculated via GPS positioning from a GPS receiver within the navigation device, and a selected/input travel destination (end position). However, such routes of travel can be long and dangerous.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventors have found that problems such as fatigue are likely to occur over such long travel paths. The inventors of the present application have therefore developed an alert method and implementation on a navigation device to alert a user of the navigation device to break driving for a break on such a long trip.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method comprises: determining a route of travel in the navigation device based on the at least one received destination location; determining whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, prompting a user of the navigation device to enable output of an alert to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located during travel along the determined route.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigation device comprises: a processor to determine a route of travel based on at least one received destination location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and output means to prompt a user of the navigation device to enable output of an alert to interrupt driving of a vehicle in which the navigation device is located during travel along the determined route, upon the processor determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, a method comprises: enabling a navigation device to output an alert to interrupt driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located; determining a route of travel in the navigation device based on at least one received destination location; determining whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and upon enabling the alert and upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, outputting an alert to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, an apparatus comprises: an integrated input and display device to enable a navigation device to output an alert to interrupt driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located; and a processor to determine a route of travel in the navigation device based on at least one received destination location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, a warning to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located being output via at least the integrated input and display device upon the warning being enabled and upon the processor determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold.

Drawings

The application will be described in more detail below by using exemplary embodiments, which will be explained with the aid of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary view of a Global Positioning System (GPS);

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components of a navigation device of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server, navigation device, and connections therebetween of an embodiment of the present application;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an implementation of an embodiment of a navigation device;

FIG. 5A illustrates an example flow of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example flow of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of an alert output sequence of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of an alternative alert icon of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an alert output sequence of an embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a selection screen of an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In describing the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

Example embodiments of the present patent application are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example view of a Global Positioning System (GPS) usable by a navigation device, including a navigation device of an embodiment of the present application. Such systems are known and used for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite radio-based navigation system capable of determining continuous position, velocity, time, and (in some cases) direction information for an unlimited number of users.

The GPS, previously known as NAVSTAR, incorporates a plurality of satellites that operate with the earth in extremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their position to any number of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device specially equipped to receive GPS data begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellite signals. Upon receiving radio signals from GPS satellites, the device determines the precise location of the satellites via one of a number of different conventional methods. In most cases, the device will continue to scan for signals until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals (note that other triangulation techniques are not typically (but can be) used to determine position with only two signals). By implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizes three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional position relative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner. In addition, obtaining a fourth satellite signal will allow the receiving device to calculate its three-dimensional position in a known manner by the same geometric calculation. The position and velocity data can be continuously updated in real time by an unlimited number of users.

As shown in fig. 1, the GPS system is generally indicated by the reference numeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the earth 124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarily synchronized with the orbits of the other satellites 120 and is in fact likely to be out of synchronization. The GPS receiver 140, which may be used in embodiments of the navigation device of the present application, is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160 continuously transmitted from each satellite 120 utilize a highly accurate frequency standard achieved through an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120 transmits a data stream indicative of that particular satellite 120 as part of its data signal transmission 160. As is understood by those skilled in the relevant art, the GPS receiver device 140 typically obtains spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120 for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensional position by triangulation. The acquisition of additional signals, which results in signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permits the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional position in a known manner.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components of a navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application in block component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of the navigation device 200 does not include all of the components of the navigation device, but is merely representative of many example components.

The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). The housing includes a processor 210 connected to an input device 220 and a display screen 240. Input device 220 may include a keyboard device, a voice input device, a touch panel, and/or any other known input device for inputting information; and display screen 240 may comprise any type of display screen, such as an LCD display. In at least one embodiment of the present application, the input device 220 and the display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device that includes a touchpad or touchscreen input, wherein a user need only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of a plurality of display options or to activate one of a plurality of virtual buttons.

In addition, other types of output devices 250 may also include (including but not limited to) audible output devices. Because the output device 250 can produce audible information to the user of the navigation device 200, it should also be understood that the input device 240 can also include a microphone as well as software for receiving input voice commands.

In the navigation device 200, the processor 210 is operatively connected to the input device 240 via connection 225 and is set to receive input information from the input device 240 via connection 225, and is operatively connected to at least one of the display screen 240 and the output device 250 via output connection 245 to output information thereto. In addition, the processor 210 is operatively connected to the memory 230 via a connection 235, and is further adapted to receive/send information from/to an input/output (I/O) port 270 via a connection 275, wherein the I/O port 270 is connectable to an I/O device 280 external to the navigation device 200. External I/O device 270 may include, but is not limited to, an external listening device, such as a headset. The connection to the I/O device 280 may further be a wired or wireless connection to any other external device, such as a car stereo unit, for hands-free operation and/or for voice-activated operation, for example, for connection to a headset or headphones, and/or for connection to a mobile phone, for example, where the mobile phone connection may be used to establish a data connection between the navigation device 200 and the internet or any other network, for example, and/or to establish a connection to a server via the internet or some other network, for example.

In at least one embodiment, the navigation device 200 can establish a "mobile" network connection with the server 302 via a mobile device 400, such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device having mobile phone technology, establishing a digital connection, such as a digital connection via known bluetooth technology, for example. Thereafter, through its network service provider, the mobile device 400 can establish a network connection (e.g., through the Internet) with the server 302. As such, a "mobile" network connection is established between the navigation device 200 (which may be and typically is mobile when traveling alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 in order to provide a "real-time" or at least very "up-to-date" gateway for information.

Establishing a network connection between the mobile device 400 (via a service provider) and another device, such as the server 302, using, for example, the internet 410, may be accomplished in a known manner. This may include, for example, the use of a TCP/IP layered protocol. The mobile device 400 may utilize any number of communication standards such as CDMA, GSM, WAN, etc.

As such, an internet connection enabled via a data connection (e.g., via mobile phone or mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200) may be utilized. For this connection, an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 is established. This may be done, for example, by a mobile phone or other mobile device and a GPRS (general packet radio service) connection (a GPRS connection is a high speed data connection for mobile devices provided by a telecommunications carrier; GPRS is a method to connect to the internet).

The navigation device 200 can further complete a data connection with the mobile device 400 and ultimately with the internet 410 and server 302 in a known manner, such as via existing bluetooth technology, wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of standards, such as GSRM, a data protocol standard for the GSM standard.

The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 itself (e.g. including an antenna, wherein the internal antenna of the navigation device 200 may additionally be used instead). The mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 may include internal components as specified above, and/or may include a pluggable card, along with, for example, the necessary mobile phone technology and/or antenna. As such, mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can similarly establish a network connection between the navigation device 200 and the server 302 via, for example, the internet 410 in a manner similar to that of any mobile device 400.

For GRPS phone settings, a bluetooth enabled device may be used to work correctly with the ever changing spectrum of mobile phone models, manufacturers, etc., for example model/manufacturer specific settings may be stored on the navigation device 200. The data stored for this information may be updated in the manner discussed in either of the previous or subsequent embodiments.

Fig. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor 210 and the antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, wherein the antenna/receiver 250 may be, for example, a GPS antenna/receiver. It will be appreciated that the antenna and receiver represented by reference numeral 250 are schematically combined for illustration, but may be separately located components, and the antenna may be, for example, a GPS patch antenna or a helical antenna.

In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the electronic components shown in FIG. 2 are powered by a power source (not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, different configurations of the components shown in fig. 2 are considered to be within the scope of the present application. For example, in one embodiment, the components shown in FIG. 2 may communicate with each other via wired and/or wireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope of the navigation device 200 of the present application includes portable or handheld navigation devices 200.

Furthermore, the portable or handheld navigation device 200 of fig. 2 may be connected or "docked" in a known manner to a motor vehicle, such as a car or boat. This navigation device 200 can then be removed from the docked location for portable or handheld navigation use.

Figure 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server 302 of an embodiment of the present application and a navigation device 200 of the present application (via a general communication channel 318). The server 302 and the navigation device 200 of the present application can communicate when a connection via the communication channel 318 is established between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 (noting that such a connection can be a data connection via a mobile device, a direct connection via a personal computer via the internet, etc.).

The server 302 includes, among other components that may not be illustrated, a processor 304, the processor 304 operatively connected to a memory 306 and further operatively connected to a mass data storage 312 via a wired or wireless connection 314. The processor 304 is further operatively connected to the transmitter 308 and the receiver 310 to transmit information to and send information from the navigation device 200 via the communication channel 318. The signals sent and received may comprise data, communication, and/or other propagated signals. The transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be selected or designed according to the communication requirements and communication technology used in the communication design for the navigation system 200. Additionally, it should be noted that the functionality of the transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be combined into a signal transceiver.

The server 302 is further connected to (or includes) a mass storage device 312, noting that the mass storage device 312 can be coupled to the server 302 via a communication link 314. The mass storage device 312 contains storage of navigation data and map information, and may likewise be a separate device from the server 302, or may be incorporated into the server 302.

The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the server 302 through the communication channel 318, and includes a processor, memory, etc. as previously described with respect to fig. 2, as well as a transmitter 320 and receiver 322 to send and receive signals and/or data through the communication channel 318, noting that these devices can further be used to communicate with devices other than the server 302. In addition, the transmitter 320 and receiver 322 are selected or designed according to the communication requirements and communication technology used in the communication design for the navigation device 200, and the functions of the transmitter 320 and receiver 322 can be combined into a single transceiver.

Software stored in the server memory 306 provides instructions to the processor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services to the navigation device 200. One service provided by the server 302 involves processing requests from the navigation device 200 and transmitting navigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the navigation device 200. According to at least one embodiment of the present application, another service provided by the server 302 comprises processing navigation data using various algorithms for the desired application and sending the results of these calculations to the navigation device 200.

The communication channel 318 generally represents the propagation medium or path connecting the navigation device 200 with the server 302. According to at least one embodiment of the present application, both the server 302 and the navigation device 200 comprise a transmitter for transmitting data over the communication channel and a receiver for receiving data that has been transmitted over the communication channel.

The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particular communication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 318 is not limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel 318 may include several communication links using a variety of techniques. For example, according to at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318 may be adapted to provide a path for electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communication, among others. As such, the communication channel 318 includes (but is not limited to) one or a combination of: electrical circuits, electrical conductors such as wire and coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, transducers, radio frequency (rf) waves, the atmosphere, vacuum, and the like. Further, according to at least one various embodiment, the communication channel 318 may include intermediate devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers.

For example, in at least one embodiment of the present application, the communication channel 318 includes telephone and computer networks. Further, in at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318 may be capable of accommodating wireless communications such as radio frequency, microwave frequency, infrared communications, and the like. In addition, according to at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318 may accommodate satellite communications.

The communication signals transmitted over the communication channel 318 include, but are not limited to, signals as may be required or desired for a given communication technology. For example, the signals may be adapted for use in cellular communication techniques such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), and so forth. Both digital and analog signals may be transmitted over the communication channel 318. According to at least one embodiment, these signals may be modulated, encrypted, and/or compressed signals as may be required for the communication technology.

The mass data storage 312 includes sufficient storage for the desired navigation application. Examples of mass data storage 312 may include magnetic data storage media (e.g., hard drives), optical storage media (e.g., CD-roms), charged data storage media (e.g., flash memory), molecular memory, and so forth.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, the server 302 comprises a remote server accessible by the navigation device 200 via a wireless channel. According to at least one other embodiment of the present application, the server 302 may comprise a network server located on a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Virtual Private Network (VPN), or the like.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, the server 302 may comprise a personal computer, such as a desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 318 may be a cable connected between the personal computer and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between the navigation device 200 and the server 302 to establish an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a mobile phone or other handheld device may establish a wireless connection to the internet for connecting the navigation device 200 to the server 302 via the internet.

The navigation device 200 may be provided with information from the server 302 via information downloads which may be periodically updated upon a user connecting the navigation device 200 to the server 302 and/or may be more dynamic upon a more constant or frequent connection being made between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 via, for example, a wireless mobile connection device and a TCP/IP connection. For many dynamic calculations, the processor 304 in the server 302 may be used to handle the large amount of processing needs, however, the processor 210 of the navigation device 200 may also handle many processes and calculations, oftentimes independent of a connection to the server 302.

The mass storage device 312 connected to the server 302 may include a greater amount of mapping and route data, including maps and the like, than can be maintained on the navigation device 200 itself. For example, the server 302 may use a set of processing algorithms to process a majority of the devices of the navigation device 200 that travel along the route. In addition, mapping and route data stored in the memory 312 may operate on signals originally received by the navigation device 200 (e.g., GPS signals).

As indicated above in fig. 2 of the present application, a navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application includes a processor 210, an input device 220, and a display screen 240. In at least one embodiment, the input device 220 and the display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device to enable both information input (via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and information display (such as through a touch panel screen). This screen may be, for example, a touch input LCD screen, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the navigation device 200 can also include any additional input devices 220 and/or any additional output devices 240, such as audio input/output devices.

Fig. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an implementation of an embodiment of a navigation device 200. As shown in fig. 4A, the navigation device 200 may be a unit that includes an integrated input and display device 290 (e.g., a touch panel screen) and the other components of fig. 2, including but not limited to an internal GPS receiver 250, a microprocessor 210, a power supply, a memory system 220, etc.

The navigation device 200 may rest on an arm 292, which arm 292 itself may be secured to a vehicle dashboard/window/or the like using a large suction cup 294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station to which the navigation device 200 can dock.

As shown in fig. 4B, the navigation device 200 may be docked or otherwise connected to the arm 292 of the docking station by, for example, snapping the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 of the docking station (this is just one example, as other known alternatives for connecting to a docking station are within the scope of the present application). The navigation device 200 can then be rotated on the arm 292, as shown by the arrow of fig. 4B. To release the connection between the navigation device 200 and the docking station, a button on the navigation device 200 may be pressed, for example (this is just one example as other known alternatives for disconnecting from the docking station are within the scope of the present application).

The inventors have found that problems such as fatigue are likely to occur over such long travel paths. The inventors of the present application have therefore developed an alert method and implementation on a navigation device to alert a user of the navigation device to take a break from driving on such long trips.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method comprises: determining a route of travel in the navigation device 200 based on at least the received destination location; determining whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, prompting a user of the navigation device 200 to enable a warning output to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located during travel along the determined route.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigation device 200 comprises: a processor 210 to determine a route of travel based on at least the received destination location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and an output device 241 to prompt a user of the navigation device 200 to enable an alert output to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located during travel along the determined route, upon the processor 210 determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold.

FIG. 5A of the present application illustrates one example of an embodiment of a method of the present application.

As shown in step S1 of fig. 5A, the travel route is first determined or calculated. Such a determination or calculation can be made by, for example, processor 210 in a known manner, wherein such a determination or calculation typically comprises: detecting a current location of a navigation device via a GPS receiver 250 that receives a GPS location of the device; the user inputs or selects a desired destination location, causing the processor 210 to receive the destination location; and using the map information stored in the memory 230.

Thereafter, in step S3, it is determined, e.g., by the processor 210, whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold. For example, as shown in step S3, the processor 210 determines whether the calculated route will be longer than a threshold time of, for example, 150 minutes in the estimated travel time. For example, the processor 210 may enable calculation of an estimated travel time in a known manner based on the distance of the travel route and an estimated speed limit on the roads of the travel route, with all such data stored, for example, in the memory 230 along with map information.

While step S3 illustrates that in the estimated travel time, the calculated route must be longer than the 150 minute threshold, such a determination may be made as to whether the calculated route meets or exceeds, for example, a total of 150 minutes. Additionally, 150 minutes is merely an example of a threshold that may be set within the system, noting that an example may be used, for example, to alert the user after the user has been driving for a time such as two hours. Thus, for example, different time periods of, for example, 120 minutes, or a time period greater than two hours may be used, noting that an alert may be issued at different time periods (e.g., a two hour time period), as will be explained below with respect to step S6. Thus, the 150 minute threshold set in step S3 is the set threshold, but may be set to any period of time (e.g., by the system by being stored in memory 230, and/or by the user setting this threshold upon being prompted, for example).

Thereafter, if it is determined that the calculated route of travel does not at least one of meet and exceed the threshold, the method proceeds to step S5 and only the calculated or determined route of travel is displayed in a conventional manner (an example display is shown in step S5 of FIG. 5A). However, if it is determined that the calculated or determined route of travel does at least one of meet and exceed the threshold, a prompt may be issued to the user in step S6 to enable output of a warning to the user to discontinue driving the vehicle in which the navigation device is located during travel along the determined route. One example of such a prompt is shown in step S6 of FIG. 5A, where it states "your trip is more than two hours. You can enable driving break alerts for long trips in the safety preference menu. Optionally, further details of the driving break warning may be displayed and/or the user may be prompted (without having to turn to a further preference menu) simply by, for example, selecting a virtual key or button that enables the driving break warning at that moment. Alternatively, the alert may be enabled, for example, by the user selecting a "done" virtual button. Thereafter, the method proceeds to the navigation view and awaits system navigation.

Fig. 5B illustrates an embodiment of the present application. Similar to fig. 5A, a route of travel is initially determined or calculated, for example, by the processor 210 in step S7. Thereafter, in step S9, the processor 210 determines whether travel along the determined or calculated route of travel is at least one of meeting and exceeding a first threshold (e.g., a 120 minute threshold). If not, the system proceeds to the normal navigation view, and if so, the system may prompt the user, for example, as shown in step S11. As shown in step S11, the prompt may be a display indicating that the route is longer than a threshold (e.g., 120 minutes) and asking the user if he wishes to plan an interruption along the route. Thus, in step S11, the user may be prompted to discontinue driving the vehicle, for example, by selecting the "yes" virtual button to enable the alert, or may select not to enable the alert by selecting the "no" virtual button. If the user selects "yes," such a selection is received by the processor 210, and thus the processor 210 knows that the user wants to enable output of the alert to discontinue driving the vehicle. Thus, during travel along the route, the processor 210 will monitor the time that has elapsed and will signal the output of the alert at the appropriate time.

If the user selects "yes" in step S11, the method may proceed to the navigation view, or alternatively to step S13, an alternative to the implementation of the driving break may be displayed in step S13. Because the processor 210 has calculated the route of travel and is aware of the threshold of, for example, two hours at which the interruption is to be implemented, the points of interest along the route of travel and, optionally, the distance of the points of interest along the route from this "two hour" threshold point can be determined. Accordingly, in response to receiving an indication of a selection of "yes" in step S11, the processor 210 may direct the integrated input and display device 290 to display the driving interruption focus as shown in step S13. These may be displayed as selectable options to assist in implementing the driving break in step S13.

Step S13 of fig. 5B illustrates only some examples of selectable points of interest for implementing a driving break, where some examples of these selectable points of interest may be displayed upon enabling the driving break option in selection step S11 or during travel along the determined route, upon (or even along with) outputting a driving break alert during travel along the determined route. The selectable option may be displayed with a distance along the route from this "two hour" threshold point (e.g., if displayed after the driving break alert is enabled in step S11), or with a distance from the current location of the navigation device (if displayed after or along with the driving break alert during travel along the determined route). Although not shown in fig. 5A, it should be noted that the display of step S13 of fig. 5B may be implemented after step S6 of fig. 5A in the same manner as described above with respect to fig. 5B.

Thus, as shown in fig. 5A and 5B, prompting may comprise displaying on the integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 at least one of a selection to enable output of an alert and a selection not to enable output of an alert, wherein the enabling occurs after receiving an indication of the selection to enable the alert. This may be the case, for example, for either of step S6 of FIG. 5A or step S11 of FIG. 5B.

It should be noted that each of the foregoing aspects of embodiments of the present application have been described with respect to methods of the present application. However, at least one embodiment of the present application is directed to a navigation device 200 comprising: a processor 210 to determine a route of travel based on at least one received destination location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and an output device 241 to prompt a user of the navigation device 200 to enable output of an alert to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located during travel along the determined route, upon the processor 210 determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold. Such a navigation device 200 may include an integrated input and display device 290 as part of the output device 241, the integrated input and display device 290 to enable display of options, alerts, etc., and subsequent selection thereof. Thus, as will be understood by those of skill in the art, such a navigation device 200 may be used to perform various aspects of the method described with respect to fig. 5A and 5B. Therefore, further explanation is omitted for the sake of brevity.

Fig. 6A and 6B illustrate an example of a flow diagram of a method of an embodiment for outputting an alert during travel along a route. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, initially, in step S20, a timer may be enabled. Such a timer may be enabled or reset by, for example, the processor 210 and/or when the navigation device 200 is docked, for example, in the docking station 292. By using such a timer, as a non-limiting example embodiment of the present application, during travel along a determined route and upon alert being enabled (e.g., via the process of fig. 5A and/or 5B), the processor 210 of the navigation device 200 can determine whether at least a second threshold is met, the second threshold being less than the first threshold. Thereafter, an alert may be output upon determining that at least the second threshold is met.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, in step S20, the timer is reset and begins counting until another threshold is met (a second threshold, such as 105 minutes, as compared to a first threshold, such as 120 minutes). Upon determining that this threshold is met, the processor 210 may command the output device 241 to output to the user, such as shown in step S24. Such output may include, for example, the display of at least one of an icon 500 and a message 502 on the integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200. As indicated in step S22, the alert may be output for a limited duration, for example, for 15 seconds.

As indicated above, the alert output in step S24 may comprise at least one of an icon and a message, wherein the at least one of an icon and a message may be displayed on the integrated input and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 for a limited duration. The icon 500 itself may be selectable such that, upon receiving an indication of selection of the icon, the processor 210 may direct display of at least one of: accessing a selectable option to assist in implementing the driving break (e.g., a selectable "suggest POI" virtual button 514), confirming that the break has recently been made (e.g., a selectable "break made" virtual button 510), and delaying output of a driving break notification (e.g., a selectable "snooze" virtual button 512). Thereafter, in step S28, selectable options to assist in implementing the driving break may be displayed, including selectable categories as shown in the display of step S28. As shown in step S28, the selectable options may include categories of points of interest along the determined route. Thereafter, upon receiving an indication of a selectable category (e.g., a gas station category) in step S29, a different driving break location and/or distance may be displayed for selection in a manner similar to that previously discussed in step S13 of fig. 5B (note that step S28 may be skipped, with the POI of step S29 of fig. 6A and/or step S13 of fig. 5B being displayed directly).

Thereafter, if the driver chooses to ignore the driving break alert, for example, the system moves to at least one of step S30 and step S32, where during travel along the determined route and after the alert is enabled, the processor 210 determines whether at least one additional threshold is met, the at least one additional threshold being less than the first threshold (thus, any number N of thresholds may be set during the process of fig. 6A, such as before, during, and after the output of the alert). After determining that at least one additional threshold is met, the alert is again output. For example, as shown in step S30, the next threshold may be a 115 minute threshold, wherein once this threshold is met, an alert is displayed in step S31, again including at least one of icon 500 and message 502. Thereafter, or after step S22 (if the system does not include a threshold such as the one shown in step S30, then step S30 is skipped), a comparison is made in step S32 with at least one additional threshold, for example, by the processor 210. Once this primary threshold is reached, the display in step S34 may include display of at least one of the icon 504 and the message 506, and this display may include changing the color of the elements based on meeting at least one additional threshold (e.g., by displaying at least one of the icon 504 and the message 506 in red or another different color), as shown in step S34. This further may include adding an audio output, flashing at least one of the message or icon, or otherwise distinguishing or differentiating at least one of the message and/or icon from a previously displayed message and/or icon. Thus, regardless of the alert thresholds set in steps S22 and S30, the primary threshold drive break time may generate such additional and possibly altered outputs.

Thereafter, if the user still chooses to ignore the driving break message, the process may optionally move to step S36, at a time after the additional threshold in step S36, possibly at a time equal to the first threshold (e.g., if it is 150 minutes), an alert may be displayed in step S38, including the display of an icon in a different color and/or an indication that the driving break has expired. This may also be accompanied by an audible signal, a flashing message, etc., which is somewhat similar to the display of S34 or is further emphasized as compared to the display of S34. Thereafter, after a threshold value (e.g., 166 minutes) greater than the first threshold value is reached, the counter may be reset.

FIG. 6B illustrates multiple examples of icons (e.g., instead of icons 500 or 504) that may be displayable in any of steps S24, S31, S34, and S38 of FIG. 6A. For example, the first icon shown in fig. 6B may be displayed in a first color (e.g., blue) along with some indicator of the time remaining before the driving alert should be taken (e.g., a clock). As shown with respect to icon 610 shown in fig. 6B, the clock may represent the 15 minutes remaining before the interrupt should be made, and may be displayable in place of the icon and/or the driving interrupt messages 500 and 502 shown in step S24, for example. Thus, the icon may (but need not) include two portions, a first portion representing a driving break (e.g., a picnic table), and a second portion including a clock representing the time remaining before the driving break is about to occur.

The second icon shown in fig. 6B is icon 612, which may be, for example, an icon that may be displayed in step S31, where 5 minutes remain before the driving break. Finally, the third icon 614 shown in fig. 6B may replace, for example, the icon displayable in step S34 of fig. 6A, wherein the color of the icon and/or clock may change from, for example, blue to red to indicate that the driving break time has been reached.

It should be noted that fig. 6A and 6B are merely exemplary embodiments, note that determining whether or not travel along the determined route meets and exceeds at least one of the thresholds (e.g., the second threshold and/or additional thresholds) may be based on a comparison between the second threshold and a time parameter as shown in fig. 6A, or may be based on a comparison between the threshold and a different parameter (e.g., a distance parameter), such comparison being made via, for example, processor 210. Accordingly, embodiments of the present application should not be so limited.

Fig. 7 shows an example of changing the counter to count the time for comparison with various thresholds, such as discussed in fig. 6A. As shown in fig. 7, the time count may begin, for example, at least one of when the navigation device 200 is docked and when a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located is traveling at a speed above a threshold speed. For example, as shown in step S40 of fig. 7, it is determined (e.g., by the processor 210) whether the driving break feature is enabled and the navigation device 200 is docked, and thereafter in step S42, the timer is started only after the speed is above a threshold speed (e.g., 10 kilometers per hour). Any of these parameters may be used to initiate the time at which the count begins, e.g., the time in step S44.

Additionally, as shown in step S46, the time count may be paused at least one of when the navigation device 200 is undocked and when the vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed. For example, in step S46, if the speed is less than a threshold or equal to zero, for example, for a certain duration of time (such as 60 seconds), or if the navigation device 200 is not docked, the timer is paused. This means that the user may be taking a break. Thereafter, the count continues to step S48, where in step S48 the first threshold count is met.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, a method comprises: enabling the navigation device 200 to output an alert to interrupt driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located; determining a route of travel in the navigation device 200 based on at least one received destination location; determining whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and upon enabling the alert and upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, outputting an alert to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, an apparatus comprises: an integrated input and display device 290 to enable the navigation device 200 to output an alert to interrupt driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located; and a processor 210 to determine a route of travel in the navigation device 200 based on at least one received destination location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, an alert to interrupt driving of a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located being output via at least the integrated input and display device 290 upon the alert being enabled and upon the processor 210 determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold.

FIG. 8 illustrates a display screen of an example of an embodiment of a method of the present application. In this example embodiment, the user is initially able to enable the navigation device 200 to output an alert to interrupt driving the vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located. For example, an initial screen as shown in fig. 8 may be displayed to the user, such as on the integrated input and display device 290, providing the user with selectable options to enable output of the alert interrupt. Thereafter, a route of travel may be determined based on at least a received destination location, and then it may be determined whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, somewhat similar to, for example, the steps previously described in steps S3 and S9 with respect to fig. 5A and 5B (similar steps are omitted here for brevity). However, unlike the methods of fig. 5A and 5B, rather than prompting the user to enable output of a warning to interrupt driving of the vehicle upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, the warning interrupt may be output to the user because the warning interrupt has been enabled based on the selection of fig. 8.

Thus, upon the processor 210 determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, an alert may be output to discontinue driving the vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located. Somewhat similar to the method previously described with respect to fig. 6A, for example, during travel along the determined route, it may be determined whether a second threshold is met, the second threshold being less than the first threshold, wherein an alert is output upon determining that the second threshold is met. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the other aspects of fig. 5A-7 may additionally be applicable to such additional embodiments.

It should be noted that each of the foregoing aspects of embodiments of the present application have been described with respect to methods of the present application. However, at least one embodiment of the present application is directed to a navigation device 200 comprising: an integrated input and display device 290 to enable the navigation device 200 to output an alert to interrupt driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is located; and a processor 210 to determine a route of travel in the navigation device 200 based on at least one received destination location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, a warning to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device 200 is output via at least the integrated input and display device 290 upon enabling the warning and upon the processor 210 determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, such a navigation device 200 may be used to perform various aspects of the method described with respect to fig. 8. Therefore, further explanation is omitted for the sake of brevity.

The methods of at least one embodiment expressed above may be implemented as a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave or propagated signal, the computer data signal representing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a processor, such as the processor 304 of the server 302 and/or the processor 210 of the navigation device 200, cause the processor to perform a respective method. In at least one other embodiment, at least one method provided above may be implemented above as a set of instructions contained on a computer-readable or computer-accessible medium, such as one of the previously described memory devices, to perform the respective method when executed by a processor or other computer device. In various embodiments, the medium may be a magnetic medium, an electronic medium, an optical medium, or the like.

Still further, any of the foregoing methods may be embodied in the form of a program. The program may be stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform any of the aforementioned methods when run on a computer device (a device comprising a processor). Thus, the storage medium or computer readable medium is adapted to store information and to interact with a data processing facility or computer device to perform the method of any of the above-mentioned embodiments.

The storage medium may be a built-in medium installed inside the computer device main body or a removable medium arranged to be separable from the computer device main body. Examples of built-in media include, but are not limited to, rewritable non-volatile memory such as ROM and flash memory, and hard disks. Examples of removable media include (but are not limited to): optical storage media such as CD-ROM and DVD; magneto-optical storage media, such as MO; magnetic storage media including, but not limited to, floppy diskettes (trademark), tape cassettes, and removable hard drives; media with built-in rewritable non-volatile memory, including (but not limited to) memory cards; and media with built-in ROM, including (but not limited to) ROM cartridges; and the like. Further, various information (e.g., characteristic information) about the stored image may be stored in any other form, or it may be provided in other ways.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure, the electronic components of the navigation device 200 and/or the components of the server 302 may be embodied as computer hardware circuits or as a computer readable program, or as a combination of both.

The systems and methods of embodiments of the present application include software operating on a processor to perform at least one of the methods according to the teachings of the present application. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand, upon reading and comprehending this disclosure, the manner in which a software program can be launched from a computer readable medium in a computer based system to execute the functions found in the software program. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the various programming languages that may be employed to create software programs designed to implement and perform at least one of the methods of the present application.

The programs may be constructed in an object oriented language (including but not limited to JAVA, Smalltalk, C + +, etc.) and in a program oriented language (including but not limited to COBOL, C, etc.). The software components may communicate in any number of ways well known to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, through Application Program Interfaces (APIs), interprocess communication techniques (including, but not limited to, reporter calls (RPCs), common object request broker structures (CORBA), Component Object Models (COM), Distributed Component Object Models (DCOM), Distributed System Object Models (DSOM), and remote method calls (RMI)). However, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art upon reading the present application disclosure, the teachings of the present application are not limited to a particular programming language or environment.

The above systems, devices and methods have been described by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with respect to improving accuracy, processor speed, and user interaction simplicity, etc. for the navigation device 200.

Additionally, elements and/or features of different example embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims.

Still further, any of the above-described and other exemplary features of the invention may be embodied in the form of apparatuses, methods, systems, computer programs, and computer program products. For example, the foregoing methods may be embodied in the form of a system or device that includes, but is not limited to, any structure for performing the methods illustrated in the figures.

Having thus described the example embodiments, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (18)

1. A method of operating a navigation device, comprising:

determining a route of travel based on at least a received destination location and an identified location;

determining whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold, and if the determination is affirmative,

then information indicative of the determination is output to a user of the device at or after the determination is made.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information output comprises a prompt issued to the user substantially immediately upon a positive determination that travel along a determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold to enable output of subsequent information in the form of an alert to discontinue driving a vehicle in which the navigation device is located during travel along the determined route.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, during travel along the determined route and upon enabling the alert output, whether at least a second threshold is met, the second threshold being less than the first threshold; and

outputting the alert upon determining that the second threshold is met.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the information output is an audible alert or a visible alert for a predetermined period of time relative to the first or second threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the outputting of the alert comprises displaying at least one of an icon and a message on an integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one of an icon and a message is displayed for a limited duration on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the display of at least one of an icon and a message is color changed based on the determination that the first or second threshold is met or exceeded.

8. The method of claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the icon is selectable, the method further comprising outputting a selectable option to assist in implementing a driving break upon receiving an indication to select the icon.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectable option comprises a point of interest along the determined travel route.

10. The method of claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the determination of whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the second threshold is based on a comparison between the second threshold and at least one of a time parameter and a distance parameter.

11. The method of claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the determination of whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the second threshold is based on a comparison between a time count during operation of the navigation device and the second threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the time count begins when at least one of the navigation device is docked and the vehicle in which the navigation device is located is traveling at a speed above a threshold speed.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the time count is suspended when at least one of the navigation device is undocked and the vehicle in which the navigation device is located is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

14. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of any of claims 1-13 when run on a computer.

15. A computer program as claimed in claim 14 embodied on or in a computer readable medium.

16. A navigation device adapted to perform the method steps of any of claims 1-13, the navigation device comprising:

a processor to determine a route of travel based on at least a received destination location and an identified location, and to determine whether travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and

an output device to output information at the time or at a time subsequent to the time indicating that the processor has made a positive determination.

17. The navigation device of claim 16, wherein the output device comprises an integrated input and display device on which the information is output.

18. A navigation device programmed by a computer program according to claim 14 or 15.