MXPA02002813A - System and method for reducing the amount of repetitive data sent by a server to a client for vehicle navigation. - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for reducing the amount of repetitive data sent by a server to a client for vehicle navigation. The system includes a computer-based vehicle unit located in a vehicle, a gateway configured to wirelessly send and receive trip information to and from the vehicle unit, and a computer-based server in communication with the gateway over a network. The vehicle unit wirelessly receives signals from a computer-based server that includes the desired navigation information in packet form. The vehicle unit includes a user interface component that presents the received navigation information and records user requests. The server processes the requests, generates a trip plan according to the navigation information and sends the generated trip plan back to the vehicle unit via a gateway when a request has been completed.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REPETITIVE DATA SENT BY A SERVER TO A CUSTOMER FOR VEHICLE NAVIGATION PRIORITY CLAIM This application claims the priority of the Provisional Application of the United States of America Serial Number 60 / 280,378, filed on March 29, 2001, Proxy Case Number WING-1-1005, and the non-provisional request of the States. United States of America Serial Number 09 / 884,856 filed on June 18, 2001, Attorney Case Number WING-1-1011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to communication and computation systems and methods, and more specifically, to a system and method for directing an automobile or motorcycle driver to a destination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With advances in integrated vehicle computer systems and wireless technologies, vehicle navigation systems that provide users with the current location and driving locations to a desired destination have become a reality. Vehicle navigation systems have taken one of two forms: integrated systems and network-based systems. The integrated systems are managed by a computer and the associated database resident in each vehicle. These systems generate operating instructions based on the user's voice or a keyboard input and map information stored in the integrated computing system. Network-based navigation systems are not supported by a computer integrated in the associated database, but provide a voice interface for a computer outside the vehicle or a human information provider. The important disadvantages exist in both forms of vehicle navigation systems. The integrated navigation system requires expensive computer hardware that quickly becomes obsolete. In addition, with the integrated computer approach, the database needs to be updated periodically to maintain the current navigation information. In fact, such systems can never be updated or complete because they rely on external updates, commonly through a CD-ROM or other removable electronic storage medium. The network-based system requires a wireless link open to the server. In those systems, the user commonly dials a number and gives its home and destination addresses (current location and destination). The system calculates the route and indicates in a vocal form the user return per lap. If the user hangs up or otherwise disconnects, they need to call again and give their new location and destination address again. The maintenance of an active telephone connection, especially in a situation involving a long-distance trip, is inefficient and expensive, as it distracts the user from the vehicle. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that overcomes the disadvantages associated with current attempts in vehicle navigation systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system and method for reducing the amount of repetitive data sent by a server to a customer for vehicle navigation. The system includes a vehicle-based vehicle unit located in a vehicle, a gate configured to send wirelessly and receive the route information to and from the vehicle unit, and a computer-based server in communication with the gate. through a network. The vehicle unit wirelessly receives signals from a computer-based server that includes the desired navigation information. The vehicle unit includes a user interface component that presents the received navigation information and records user requests. The server processes the requests, generates a route plan according to the navigation information and sends the generated route back to the vehicle unit by means of a gate when a request is completed. The server includes a receiving component that receives the information from the vehicle unit through the gate, a route plan generator that generates a plan according to the navigation information, vehicle coordinates, and route navigation instructions. The generated travel plan includes a table of route plan locations associated with the navigation instructions. Along with the receiving component, the server includes a first sending component that sends the generated travel plan table to the vehicle unit via the gate. The server also includes a transaction component that completes a transaction based on the navigation instructions and the generated route plan. The vehicle unit selects the navigation indicators included in the route plan based on a comparison of the current vehicle coordinates and the route plan. The selected navigation indicators depend on whether the vehicle coordinates are within a reasonable threshold value or not from the location associated with the navigation indicators.

In accordance with further aspects of the invention, user requests include voice instructions. According to further aspects of the invention, the user interface includes a microphone for recording voice instructions and a loudspeaker for displaying the audible indicators received in an audible manner. In accordance with aspects of the invention, the transaction component includes a speech recognition processor configured to execute speech recognition processing of the registered requests. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the navigation indicators include voice indicators. According to further aspects of the invention, if the coordinates of the vehicle are not within a reasonable threshold value from the location associated with the navigation indicators the vehicle unit makes contact with the server and requests a new route plan using the current vehicle coordinates. As will be readily appreciated from the brief description above, the invention provides a system and method for reducing the amount of repetitive data sent by a server to a customer for vehicle navigation, as well as to reduce the air time required for said calculation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the general architecture of a system operating in accordance with the present invention; and Figures 2 and 3 are flow charts illustrating various embodiments executed by the system shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The present invention is a vehicle navigation system 10 that includes a vehicle 12 with an integrated telematic control unit (TCU) 14. TCU 14 is in wireless communication with a server 16 on a network 18. Network 18 preferably includes components for receive wireless signals from TCU 14 and convert the signals for wired or wireless transmission to the server 16. Networks preferably the Internet, although it could be any public or private data network. Network 18 includes a gate (not shown) that can send and receive wireless signals to and from TCU 14, and can communicate through other components (eg, routers) in the network to server 16. Wireless signals include information that is preferably in package form, although the information may be in alternative forms. TCU 14 includes a processor 30 coupled to a user interface 22, a global position system (GPS) unit 24, a radio module 26 and a local storage or memory 28. The user interface 22 preferably includes a loudspeaker and a microphone (not shown), and may include a screen. The user interface may also include on-screen display user interface buttons. The radio module 26 is capable of sending and receiving voice and data. The server 16 includes a processor 30 and a database 32 that maintains the vehicle's navigation information: maps, road and terrain conditions, information of neighborhood roads and changes, travel instructions, etc. The system 10 of the present invention minimizes the amount of air time used between TCU 14 and the server 16 to send a route plan. When a user requests the instructions from the system, the current coordinates of the vehicle (as determined by the GPS unit 24) are sent from TCU 14 to the server 16 on the network 18. The user also specifies his destination to TCU. The input of the user's navigation instruction request, including the destination information, is preferably made vocally through the microphone, although it may be done by other means of data entry., just like the user interface buttons. The TCU transmits the vocalized destination to the server 16. The server calculates the route plan and generates a table of locations (expressed as location coordinates, such as GPS coordinates) and the corresponding navigation indicators (for example, return to the left on Howel St). These navigation indicators are preferably voice indicators, although they may include other forms of user notification, such as textual messages or audible, visual or other different signals. The table with navigation indicators is sent to the TCU 14 in the vehicle 12. In an alternative mode, the navigation indicators are sent as an audio file (assuming voice indicators), such as the WAV file or an MP3 file. In another embodiment, the table includes locations identified in text form that are displayed or converted to audio by a text-to-speech (TTS) component of the processor 20. The navigation indicators may also include symbols indicating common words such as "spin. "," left "," on "," street "and" avenue ", combined with the vocal register of the name of the proper street name" Howell ". As the vehicle moves according to the route plan and arrives at a location whose GPS coordinates match those of an entry in the table, the corresponding voice indicator is reproduced through the speakers to the user of the system. This process is described in greater detail in Figure 2. Figure 2 is a flow chart of a process executed by the system 10 shown in Figure 1. First, in block 50, the user initiates a trace request. The initiation of the route request can occur in a number of ways. For example, the user may select a travel request button included in user interface 22, or verbally request a start path request command within the microphone that is interpreted by speech recognition software performed by the user. processor 20; any action causes the processor 20 to initiate a route request. In blocks 52 and 54, the initiated route request causes the TCU 14 to send the GPS coordinates of the vehicle and which instructions are recorded by the destination user to the server 16. In block 56, the server 16 interprets the instructions of voice to determine the destination. The interpretation includes executing speech recognition processing. Next, in block 58, the server generates a route plan according to the vehicle navigation information such as the stored map or other navigation information, the coordinates of the GPS vehicle and the interpreted voice instructions of the destination. In block 60, a location chart is generated for the route plan. The table includes information about the route plan, such as landmarks, turns, road changes or other information related to the important trip. Each location record in the table includes a voice or associated text indicator. In block 62, the route plan that includes the table is sent to the TCU. In decision block 64, once the vehicle receives the route plan table, TCU 14 determines whether the vehicle is adhering to the route plan. The TCU periodically verifies the GPS location of the vehicle and determines if it is in the route plan or within a threshold value from the route plan. This threshold value can be a function of the distance from a known location in the route plan, or a location relative to the known geographical marks, or some combination of different factors. Within the threshold value, the system can document the present location of the vehicle in relation to the route plan and trace the navigation path to return to the route plan or a modified route plan. If the vehicle is not adhering to the route plan, the TCU contacts the server 16 and requests a new route plan according to the current location of the vehicle (block 66). If the TCU determines that the vehicle is adhering to the route plan, the TCU determines whether the vehicle is in a location identified within the route plan table or not (decision block 68). If the vehicle is not in a location identified in the route plan table, the process continues to verify the locations according to decision blocks 64 and 68. If the vehicle is at a location in the route plan table or within of a threshold value within a location in the table, the TCU 14 reproduces the voice indicator associated with the location in the table corresponding to the location of the vehicle (block 70). In another embodiment, the voice registers associated with the previously stored symbols are reproduced in series with a street name identifier. Then, the process continues to verify the location of the vehicle according to the decision blocks 64 and 68. In an alternative embodiment, the system may associate parts of a speech indicator that are subsequently combined by the processor 20 to create a navigation instruction . For example, TCU 14 receives the following voice indicators from server 16: (a) "turn left on Howel Street"; (b) "turn left on 4th Avenue." An association component executed by the processor 20 associates three sub-indicators: # 17"turn to the left" # 18"Ho ell Street" # 19"4th Avenue". The tag identifiers for the voice indicators (a) and (b) include tag identifiers for the sub-indicators (i.e a = # 17 # 18; b = # 17 # 19). In effect, in this alternative mode, each label is a series of sub-labels. The server 16 can only send the tag identifiers for the sub-indicators. The processor 20 combines the sub-indicators according to the order of the tag identifiers as they were received and present the combination to the user. Figure 3 is a flow chart of an alternative process executed by the system 10 shown in Figure 1. First, in block 80, the user sends a route request to server 16 (see block 50-56 of figure 2). In block 82, the server calculates a route plan, creates a route plan table according to the calculated route plan, and sends the route plan table to the user's TCU 14. The route plan table includes locations and associated navigation indicators (preferably voice). In block 84, as the user is moving according to his route plan, the TCU 14 compares the current vehicle location (GPS generated) for the received table. In decision block 86, if the current location of the vehicle is not in the route plan table, the process returns block 84, where it continues comparing the current location of the vehicle with the entries in the route plan table. If a corresponding location entry exists in the route plan table, the logic proceeds to the decision block 88. In the decision block 88, if the table has a corresponding stored voice indicator, the TCU 14 retrieves and reproduces the indicator corresponding stored voice (block 90). If, in the decision block 88, the TCU 14 determines that there is no corresponding voice indicator in the table or in any other part in the memory 28, the TCU sends a request to the server to send a voice prompt in accordance with a label identifier indicating the missing voice indicator (block 92). In block 94, server 16 sends the requested voice prompt. In block 96, the TCU reproduces the received voice prompt. In block 98, the TCU stores the received voice prompt for possible later use. In block 100, the TCU purges the saved voice indicators according to a scheduled purge request, for a user purge request, or for a purge request sent from server 16. In an alternative mode, the executed steps in blocks 82-84 they are executed in server 16, and the server does not send the table to the requester, but compares the current location of the vehicle (GPS generated) with the table generated by the server. If an associated voice indicator is present, the server sends a tag identifier associated with the speech indicator to the TCU 14. The TCU compares the tag identifier sent with the previously received speech indicators that are stored in the memory 28 according to the assigned tag identifiers. If an appropriate voice indicator is in the memory 28, the processor 20 retrieves it and presents it to the user via the user interface 22. In the event that a speech indicator is not found, the TCU 14 sends a request to the server 16 for the real voice indicator, which is presented to the user when it is received from the server. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the types of communication between the vehicle and the server can all be wireless, the server components can be distributed over the network and the location identifier can be a non-satellite system that determines the location of the vehicle based on the transmitters with base in earth. Likewise, the order of the steps executed in the described modalities can be altered without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the description of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be fully determined by reference to the following claims.

Claims (21)

1. REIVI DICACIONES 1. A method of vehicle navigation comprising: initiating a route request, which includes the route request information; determine the coordinates of the vehicle; send the coordinates of the vehicle and the recorded route request information to a server over a network; generate a route plan according to the navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the coordinates of the vehicle and the route request information, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of locations of the route plan with the associated navigation indicators; send the table of the generated route plan to the vehicle over the network; compare the current vehicle coordinates with the route plan table; and if, according to the comparison, the vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, present the navigation indicator associated with the location in the table that is within the threshold value of the location of the vehicle. vehicle. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the path request information includes voice instructions. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation comprises determining a destination by interpreting the travel voice instructions by executing speech recognition processing. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the navigation indicators include voice indicators. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the vehicle is adhering to the route plan, wherein the compliance determination comprises: determining the distance of the vehicle coordinates for the route plan; and if the coordinates of the vehicle are not within a threshold value from the route plan, send the current vehicle coordinates to the server, generate a new route plan and the route plan table based on the vehicle coordinates currently sent, and send the new route plan table to the vehicle. 6. A vehicle navigation method comprising: initiating a route request; record travel voice instructions; determines the coordinates of the vehicle; send vehicle coordinates and registered voice instructions to a server over a network; generate a route plan according to the navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the vehicle coordinates and the travel voice instructions, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of route plan locations with associated voice indicators; send the table of the generated route plan to the vehicle over the network; compare the current vehicle coordinates with the route plan table; and if, according to the comparison, the vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, present the voice indicator associated with the location in the table that is within the threshold value within the location of the vehicle. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the generation comprises determining a destination by interpreting the travel voice instructions by executing speech recognition processing. The method according to claim 6, further comprising determining whether the vehicle is adhering to the route plan, wherein the determination of compliance comprises: determining the distance of the vehicle coordinates for a location of the route plan; and if the coordinates of the vehicle are not within a threshold value from the location of the route plan, send the coordinates of the current vehicle to the server, generate a new route plan and the route plan table based on the current vehicle coordinates sent, and send the new route plan table to the vehicle. 9. A vehicle navigation method comprising: initiating a route request; record the travel voice instructions; determine the coordinates of the vehicle; send the vehicle coordinates and registered voice instructions to a server over a network; generate a route plan according to the navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the vehicle coordinates and the travel voice instructions, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of route plan locations with one or more associated identifiers; send the route plan table generated to the vehicle on the network, compare the current vehicle coordinates with the route plan table; if, according to the comparison, the current vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, recover one or more voice indicators previously stored in the vehicle, where one or more voice indicators recovered correspond to one or more identifiers associated with the location in the table within the threshold value from the current vehicle coordinates; and present one or more voice indicators recovered. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that: recovery comprises when a voice indicator is not previously stored in the vehicle, sending a request to the server for the voice indicator not stored and sending the voice indicator not stored from the server to the vehicle; and the presentation comprises presenting the voice indicator sent. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the recovery further comprises saving the voice indicator sent according to the corresponding identifier. The method according to claim 9, further comprising purging the saved speech indicators according to a scheduled purge request. 13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising purging the saved speech indicators according to a user purge request. 14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising purging the saved speech indicators according to a purge request generated by the server. 15. A vehicle navigation method comprising: initiating a route request; record the travel voice instructions; determine the coordinates of the vehicle; send the vehicle coordinates and registered voice instructions to a server over a network; generating a route plan according to the vehicle navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the vehicle coordinates and the route voice instructions, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of locations of the route plan. travel and each location record in the table includes an associated voice indicator; and if, in accordance with the comparison, the coordinates of the vehicle are within a threshold value from a location in the table, retrieve at least one of a voice indicator or a voice tag label identifier, send at least one voice indicator or voice tag label identifier recovered towards the vehicle, and presenting the voice indicator sent or a previously stored voice indicator associated with the voice indicator label identifier sent. 16. A vehicle navigation system comprising: a vehicle-based vehicle unit located in a vehicle to receive and transmit route request information and receive route plan navigation information, the computer-based vehicle unit which has an associated processor and memory and a user interface, a global position system for determining the coordinates of the vehicle and a radio unit; a network configured to send wirelessly and receive the route request information to and from the vehicle unit by means of the radio unit; and a computer-based server in communication with the network to receive the route request information from the computer-based vehicle unit, generate a route plan according to the navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server and the route request information, and send the generated route plan to the vehicle unit over the network. The system according to claim 16, characterized in that the generated travel plan includes a table of locations of the route plan with the associated navigation indicators. 18. The system according to claim 17, characterized in that: the computer-based vehicle unit compares the current vehicle coordinates with the route table; and if, according to the comparison, the vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, the vehicle unit displays the navigation indicator associated with the location in the table that is within the value threshold of the vehicle's location. 19. A vehicle navigation apparatus comprising: means for initiating a route request; means for recording the travel voice instructions; means for determining the coordinates of the vehicle; means for sending vehicle coordinates and registered voice instructions to a server over a network; means for generating a route plan according to the vehicle navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the vehicle coordinates and the route voice instructions, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of locations of the vehicle. travel plan and each location record in the table includes an associated voice indicator; means for comparing the current vehicle coordinates with the route plan table; and if, according to the comparison, according to the comparison, the vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, means to recover at least one of a voice indicator or an identif Voice indicator label indicator, means for sending one or more at least one voice indicator or voice indicator label identifier recovered to the vehicle, and means for displaying the recovered voice indicator or a voice indicator previously stored associated with the label identifier of the sent voice indicator. 20. A vehicle navigation apparatus comprising: means for initiating a route request; means for recording the travel voice instructions; means for determining the coordinates of the vehicle; means for sending vehicle coordinates and registered voice instructions to a server over a network; means for generating a route plan according to the vehicle navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the vehicle coordinates and the route voice instructions, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of locations of the vehicle. travel plan with one or more associated identifiers; means for sending the generated route table to the vehicle on the network; means for comparing the current vehicle coordinates with the route plan table; if, according to the comparison, the current vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, the means for recovering one or more voice indicators previously stored in the vehicle, wherein one or more recovered speech indicators correspond to one or more identifiers associated with the location in the table within the threshold value from the current vehicle coordinates; and means for presenting one or more recovered voice indicators. 21. A vehicle navigation apparatus comprising: means for initiating a route request; means for recording the travel voice instructions; means for determining the coordinates of the vehicle; means for sending vehicle coordinates and registered voice instructions to a server over a network; means for generating a route plan according to the vehicle navigation information stored in a memory associated with the server, the vehicle coordinates and the route voice instructions, wherein the generated route plan includes a table of locations of the vehicle. travel plan with one or more associated identifiers; means for sending the generated route table to the vehicle on the network; means for comparing the current vehicle coordinates with the route plan table; and if, according to the comparison, the vehicle coordinates are within a threshold value from a location in the table, means for displaying the voice indicator associated with the location in the table that is within the threshold value. of the vehicle location.