TW201018875A - Apparatus and method for providing information to navigation devices - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates a method of communicating traffic or road information to a navigation device (200) comprising receiving traffic or road information at a server (302), determining status information associated with the navigation device (200) and, based upon the status information, determining whether the traffic or road information is relevant to the navigation device (200) such that only traffic or road information relevant to the navigation device (200) is communicated to the navigation device (200) by the server (302).

Description

201018875, VI. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a navigation device and to an apparatus and method for providing information to a navigation device. Illustrative embodiments of the present invention relate to portable navigation devices (PNDs of the stomach), and more particularly, PNDs that include Global Positioning System (Gps) signal reception and processing functionality. Other embodiments are more generally directed to any type of processing device configured to execute navigation software to provide route planning functionality and preferably also provide navigation functionality. Lu [Prior Art] Portable navigation devices (PNDs) that include GPS (Global Positioning System) signal reception and processing functionality are well known and widely used as in-vehicle or other transportation tool navigation systems. In general, modern PNDs include a processor, memory (at least one of volatility and non-volatile, and usually both) and map data stored in the memory. The processor cooperates with the memory to provide an execution environment in which a software operating system can be built and, in addition, one or more additional software programs are often provided to enable the functionality of the PND to be controlled and provide various Other functions. Generally, the devices further include one or more input interfaces and/or multiple output interfaces for allowing the user to interact with the device, and relaying the information by means of one or more output interfaces. To the user. Illustrative examples of output interfaces include visual displays and speakers for audio output. Illustrative examples of input interfaces include - or multiple physical buttons used to control the on/off operation or other features of the device (if the device is built into the 143386.doc 201018875 transport, the buttons are not necessarily in the device) On its own, it can be on the steering wheel) and a microphone for detecting user utterances. In a particularly preferred configuration, the output interface display can be configured as a touch-sensitive display (via touch-sensitive overlay or other) to provide an additional input interface through which the user can touch Operate the device. Devices of this type will also typically include: - or a plurality of physical connector interfaces by which power signals and conditional data signals can be transmitted to and received from the device. And depending on the situation, and, as the case may be, - or multiple wireless transmitters/receivers, which allow communication over cellular telecommunications and other signal and data networks (eg, Wi_Fi, Wi-MaxGSM, and the like). This type of touch device also includes a -Gps antenna through which satellite broadcast signals including location data can be received and subsequently processed to determine the current location of the device. The PND device can also include an electronic gyroscope and an accelerometer that generate signals that can be processed to determine the current angular and linear acceleration, and in conjunction with position information derived from the GPS signals to determine the device and thus the device. The speed and relative displacement of the vehicle of the device. Usually, these features are most often provided by transporters in the form of gold, walking

, in the navigation system, but can also be provided in the PND device (if this is advantageous). The utility of these PNDs is mainly expressed in the name of the route and it is now determined by the ability of the route between the first position (usually, the starting or current position) and the position of the first-powder (usually, the destination). These locations can be entered by users of the device by any of a wide variety of different methods, for example, by postal code, street name and house number 143386.doc 201018875

No., previously stored "孰A location (such as stadium or 2 destinations (such as famous locations, municipal destinations) or other points of interest) and favorite or recent disk 22 - with information for maps The software or "best" route for calculating the "best" or "best" route between the starting address locations is based on predetermined criteria: no - the fastest or shortest route. The choice of the route that guides the driver can be very complicated. The selected route can take into account the existing, predicted and or wirelessly received traffic and road information. Historical information and driver's own preferences for determining the factors of road alternatives (eg 'driver can specify routes that should not include highways or toll roads). In addition, the device continuously monitors road and traffic conditions and provides or selects a route change due to changing conditions, on which the remaining journeys & various techniques (eg, mobile phone data exchange, fixed camera) , GPS fleet tracking) Instant traffic surveillance (4) is used to identify traffic delays and feed information to the notification system t. This type of touch can usually be installed on the dashboard or windshield of the transport guard's but can also be part of the onboard computer that transports the guardian radio or actually forms the control system of the transport guard itself. section. The navigation device can also be part of a palm-sized system such as a pDA (portable digital assistant), a media player, a mobile phone or the like, and in these cases, the conventional functionality of the handheld system will be The software is installed on the device to perform route calculations and to expand along the navigation of the calculated route. 143386.doc 201018875 Route planning and navigation functionality can also be provided by desktop or mobile computing resources of the operating software. For example, the I Car Club (RAC) provides online route planning and navigation facilities at hUP://www.rae·(3)·uk. This facility allows users to type in the starting point and destination, so the feeding device (user's) The PC is connected to it) the route is calculated (the aspect of which can be specified by the manufacturer), the map is generated, and the generated navigation command is used to direct the user from the selected starting point to the selected destination. The facility also provides pseudo-three-dimensional rendering and route preview functionality for the calculated route that simulates the user's travel along the route and thereby provides the viewer with a preview of the calculated route. In the case of a PND, once the line is calculated, the user interacts with the navigation device to select the desired route from the list of proposed routes, as appropriate. Depending on the situation, the user may intervene or direct the route selection process, for example by specifying that certain routes, routes, locations or guidelines should be avoided or must be followed for a particular journey. The PND route calculation form forms a major function, and navigation along this route is another major function. During navigation along the calculated route, such pNDs often provide visual and/or audio commands to direct the user along the selected route to the end of the route, ie the desired destination ^ PND is also often Displaying map information on the screen during navigation. This information is regularly updated on the screen so that the displayed map information indicates the current location of the device and therefore the current location of the user or user's vehicle (if the device is in use) Navigate within the vehicle). The icon displayed on the screen usually indicates the current device location and is centered 143386.doc 201018875 which is also displaying map information and other map features of the current and surrounding roads near the current device location. In addition, depending on the situation, the navigation information may be displayed in the status bar above, below or on the side of the displayed map information. Examples of the navigation information include the current road that the user needs to select to the next. (4) Distance, deviation from the other The nature of 'this property can be represented by another icon indicating a particular type of deviation (eg, a left turn or a right turn). The navigation function also determines the content, duration and timing of the voice commands, which can be used to guide the user along the route. As you can see, simple instructions such as "_ turn left after melon" require a lot of processing and analysis. As previously mentioned, the user's interaction with the device can be by touch screen, or (in addition or otherwise) by a driver-mounted remote control, by voice activation or by any other suitable method. In the following cases, the other important function provided by the device is the automatic route re-circulation. The user deviates from the previously calculated route during the navigation (accidentally or intentionally); the instant traffic condition indicates that the alternative route will be more favorable and The φ "set can automatically recognize these conditions appropriately, or when the leader actively causes the device to perform route recalculation for any reason. It is also known to allow for the calculation of routes in accordance with user defined criteria; for example, the user may prefer a scenic route calculated by the device, or may wish to avoid any roads that may occur, are expected to occur, or are currently occurring. The device software will then calculate the various routes and prefer to include along the route a maximum number of routes marked as, for example, points of interest with a view (called ΡΟΙ), or with directions indicating that traffic conditions are occurring on a particular road. Store information ' Sort the route calculated by 143386.doc 201018875 according to the possible blockage or the delay due to blockage. Other route calculation and navigation criteria based on p〇I and traffic information are also possible. Although the route calculation and navigation functions are important for the overall utility of the PND, it is possible to use the device purely for information display or "free driving", in which only map information related to the current device location is displayed, and wherein the route has not been calculated and The device does not currently perform navigation. This mode of operation is often applicable when the user knows which route to follow and does not require navigation assistance. The above-described devices (e.g., Model 720T manufactured and supplied by T〇mT〇m IV) provide a reliable means for enabling a user to navigate from one location to another. As mentioned above, the navigation device can wirelessly receive traffic and road resources: This information can be supplied from a server that obtains road and traffic information from one or more sources. H transmits all available traffic and road information to the navigation device. For example, the available bandwidth for transmitting traffic and road traffic to navigation devices is limited. In addition, the guide device

Limited processing and data storage capabilities that constrain the amount of traffic and road information that can be processed and/or stored. The object of the present invention is to solve this problem, in particular, to attempt to improve the provision of traffic and/or road information to navigation devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve this goal, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method of communicating traffic or road information to a "navigation device". The method includes the steps of: receiving traffic or road information at a server; determining Status information corresponding to the navigation device; determining, based on the status information, whether the traffic information is related to the navigation device; and entering the right can, the traffic or the road communication is related to the navigation device, The traffic or road information is communicated from the device to the navigation device.另 另 A further embodiment of the invention relates to a system comprising: a server configured to receive traffic or road traffic from a source or sources, or a plurality of navigation devices, communicative Transmitting to transmit status information to the feeding device; wherein the feeding device is configured to determine traffic or road information associated with each navigation device and to transmit the first traffic or road information to the first navigation device And transmitting the second traffic or road information to a second navigation device, wherein the first traffic or road information and the second traffic or road information have been determined by the server to be associated with each respective navigation device. A further embodiment of the invention relates to a computer software comprising - or a plurality of software modules - the or more software modules are operable to execute a processor in an execution environment to: a processor: at a server Receiving traffic or road information; determining status information associated with the navigation device; determining, based on the status information, whether the traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device; and if determining that the traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device, The traffic or road information is communicated from the server to the navigation device. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for communicating traffic or road information to a navigation device is provided, comprising: receiving traffic or road information at a server's; determining status information associated with the navigation device; and based on The status information determines whether the traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device such that only traffic or road information associated with the navigation device is communicated to the navigation device by the server. 143386.doc -9- 201018875 Another embodiment of the present invention provides a navigation device communicably coupled to a server for receiving traffic or road information, comprising: a storage for storing a traffic indicating Or a message of a road event; the traffic or road information is communicated to the navigation device in a message container including one or more messages, wherein the container includes the indication that the one or more messages are to maintain the update in the storage The corresponding message is still information indicating a new message to be stored in the storage; and the navigation device includes a module configured to update the corresponding message or store the new message in the storage according to the information. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of communicating traffic or road information to a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a message including one or more messages including information associated with a parent or road event a container; determining whether each message in the container is deleted or updated corresponding to one of a corresponding message stored in a memory of a navigation device, or is to be stored in the memory. A further embodiment of the present invention provides a system, comprising: a server communicatively coupled to at least one navigation device to communicate a message containing traffic or road information to the navigation device; wherein the feeding device Configuring to confirm a message in a message group that is first communicated to the navigation device and to transmit a message container to the navigation device, the message container including the message group indicating the first communication to the navigation device A message of a difference between the message and the current version of one of the message sets stored on the feeder. The advantages of these embodiments are set forth below, and other details and features of each of these embodiments will be defined in the accompanying dependent claims and elsewhere in the implementations under 143386.doc 201018875. [Embodiment] The various aspects of the teachings of the present invention and the configuration of the teachings of the present invention are described by way of illustrative example.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to a PND. However, it should be borne in mind that the teachings of the present invention are not limited to PNDs, but are generally applicable to any type of processing device configured to execute navigation software to provide route planning and navigation functionality. It is thus concluded that, in the context of the present application, the navigation device is intended to include, but is not limited to, any type of route planning and navigation device 'whether the device is embodied as a PND, a navigation device built into the vehicle' or actually It is embodied in the implementation of route planning and navigation software (such as desktop or portable personal computers (PC), mobile phones or portable digital assistants (PDAs)). It will also be apparent hereinafter that the teachings of the present invention are effective even when the user does not seek an instruction to navigate from one point to another and only wishes to have a view of the given position. In such cases, the "destination" location selected by the user does not need to have the corresponding departure location from which the user wishes to navigate, and therefore, the "destination" location or the actual destination The reference to _ should not be interpreted as meaning that the route is necessary, travel to the "destination" must occur, or indeed the existence of the destination needs to specify the corresponding starting position. With the above conditions in mind, the figure illustrates an example view of a Global Positioning System (GPS) that can be used by a navigation device. These systems are known and used for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite radio based navigation system, 143386.doc 11 201018875 which is capable of determining continuous position, speed, time and, in some cases, direction information for an unlimited number of users. The GPS, formerly known as NAVSTAR, incorporates a number of satellites orbiting the Earth in an extremely eloquent orbit. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to many receiving units. A GPS system is implemented when a device specially equipped to receive GPS data begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellite signals. After receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the device determines the exact location of the satellite via one of a plurality of different conventional methods. In most cases, the device will continue to scan the 彳s number until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals (/ the idea is to use other two-point measurement techniques to determine position by only two signals, although this Very example). After performing a geometric triangulation, the receiver uses three known locations to determine its own two-dimensional position relative to the satellite. This determination can be made in a known manner. In addition, acquiring the fourth satellite signal will allow the receiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the same geometric calculation in a known manner. The position and speed data can be continuously updated in real time by an unlimited number of users. As shown in the figure, the GPS system is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1〇〇. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit around the earth 124. Every - satellite Η. The orbit is not necessarily synchronized with the orbits of other satellites, and in fact it is likely to be two. The wide 8 receiver 140 is shown receiving the spread spectrum GPS satellite signal 160 from various satellites 120. : The spread spectrum signal transmitted by each satellite is used to achieve a highly accurate frequency standard by fresh. Each satellite (2) transmits a data stream of a particular satellite 143386.doc 201018875 as part of the U-signal emission (10). Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the GPS receiver device 140 typically acquires the spread spectrum gps satellite signal 160' from at least three satellites 120 for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two dimensional position by triangulation. An additional § § acquisition (which causes a signal from a total of four satellites 12 〇 16 〇) permits the GPS receiver device 14 to calculate its three-dimensional position in a known manner. 2 is an illustrative representation of an electronic component of a navigation device 200 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a block component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of navigation device 200 does not include all of the components of the navigation device, but only a number of example components. The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). The housing includes a processor 21A coupled to an input device 220 and a display screen 24''. Input device 220 can 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 can include any type of display screen, such as a lcd display. In a particularly preferred configuration, the input device 22 and the display screen 24 are integrated into an integrated input and display device including a touch panel or a touch screen input, so that the user only needs to touch the display screen. The 24G part can select one of the plurality of display options or start one of the multiple virtual ones. The navigation device can include an output device 26, such as an audible (e.g., a speaker). Since the output device 26 can generate audio information for the user of the navigation device 200, it should be equally understood that the input device (10) can also include a microphone and software for receiving input voice commands. In the navigation device 200, the processor 21 is operatively coupled to the input device 220 via the connection and is configured to receive input information from the input device 143386.d〇i • 13- 201018875 via the connection 225 and via the output connection 245 An operative connection to at least one of the display screen 240 and the output device is to output information to the at least one. In addition, processor 210 is operatively coupled to memory resource 230 via connection 235 and further adapted to receive information from input/output (1/〇) 270 via connection 275/to send information to I/O 埠 270 1/0埠270 can be connected to a 1/〇 device 28〇 outside the navigation device 2〇〇. By way of example, the memory resource 230 includes: volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM); and non-volatile memory, such as digital memory, such as flash memory. The external 1/0 device 28A may include, but is not limited to, an external listening device such as a handset. The connection to the 1/0 device 28〇 may additionally be a wired or wireless connection to any other external device, such as a car stereo unit, such as for hands-free operation and/or for voice-activated operation, for access to an earpiece or A connection to a headset and/or for example to a connection to a mobile phone, wherein a light telephone connection can be used to establish a data connection between the navigation device 2 and, for example, the Internet or any other network And/or used to establish a connection to a server via, for example, the Internet or some other network. Figure 2 further illustrates the operative connection between the processor 21A and the antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, where the antenna/receiver 25A can be, for example, a GPS antenna/receiver. It will be understood that the antenna and receiver, indicated by reference numeral 250, are schematically combined for purposes of illustration, but the antenna and receiver may be separately positioned components, and the antenna may be, for example, a Gps patch antenna or a helical antenna. Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the electronic 143386.doc 14· 201018875 components shown in Figure 2 are powered by a plurality of power sources (not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, it is within the scope of this application to recite the different levels of the components shown in Figure 2. For example, the components shown in Figure 2 can communicate with one another via wired and/or wireless connections and the like. Therefore, the scope of the navigation device 200 of the present application includes a portable or handheld navigation device 200 〇 In addition, the connection or "

The portable or handheld navigation device 2 of Figure 2 can be coupled to a vehicle in a known manner, such as a bicycle, moped, car or boat. This navigation device 2 can then be removed from the articulated location for portable or handheld navigation purposes. Referring now to Figure 3, the navigation device 2 can establish an "action" or telecommunication network with the server 302 via a mobile device (not shown) such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device having mobile phone technology. Road connection

A bit connection (such as 'via (4) if the digital connection of the known Bluetooth technology is followed by the mobile device can establish a network connection with the server 3〇2 via its network service provider (for example, via the Internet) The navigation device is fine (when the money is on the ground and /3 is in the way of the tool towel, it can be and often acts) and the server is connected with the "action" network connection to provide information. "at" "at least" a "new" gateway. It can be used, for example, in the Internet (in the case of the World Wide Web) in a known manner in mobile devices (via service provider rumors) and For example, the establishment of a network connection between another device of the server 302. For example, this may include the use of a TCP/IP layered protocol. The action device may utilize a multi-communication standard such as 143386. .doc 201018875 CDMA, GSM, WAN, etc. Thus, an internet connection can be made, for example, via a data connection, via a mobile phone or a mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200. Internet connection between the device and the navigation device. For example, it can be connected via a mobile phone or other mobile device and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) (GpRs connection is provided for the mobile device by the telecom operator) This is established by a high-speed data connection; a method used by GpR^ to connect to the Internet. The navigation device 200 can further complete the data connection with the mobile device and complete it in a known manner via, for example, existing Bluetooth technology. Connected to the data of the Internet and server 302, the towel data agreement may (iv) many standards, such as GSRM, data protocol standards for the GSM standard. The navigation device 200 may include its own within the navigation device 2 itself. Mobile phone technology (including, for example, an antenna or, as the case may be, an internal antenna that is positioned to illuminate). The mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 may include internal components as specified above, and/or may include an insertable card ( For example, a subscriber identity module or SIM card, which is equipped with, for example, the necessary mobile phone technology and/or antenna. Thus, the 'navigation device 2〇 The mobile phone technology within the network can similarly establish a network connection between the navigation device 2 and the server 3〇2 via, for example, the Internet, in a manner similar to that of any mobile device. The phone settings, the Bluetooth enabled navigation device can be used to work correctly with the ever-changing spectrum of the mobile phone model, manufacturer, etc. 'Model/producer specific settings can be stored, for example, on the navigation device 200. Updatable Information stored for this purpose. 143386.doc -16 - 201018875 In FIG. 3, navigation device 200 is depicted as being in communication with server 302 via a general communication channel 318, which may be in any of a number of different configurations. One is to implement. When establishing a connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 2 via the communication channel 318 (note that the connection may be a data connection via a mobile device, a direct connection via a personal computer via the Internet, etc.) The server 302 is communicable with the navigation device 200. In addition to other components that may not be described, the server 3〇2 includes a processor 304' that is operatively coupled to the memory 3〇6 and further operatively connected to via a wired or wireless connection 3 14 Large capacity data storage device 312. Processor 304 is further operatively coupled to transmitters 〇8 and receivers 310 for transmitting information to and from the navigation device 200 via communication channel 318. The signals transmitted and received may include data, communications, and/or other propagating signals. The transmitter 308 and the receiver 31 can be selected or designed according to the communication requirements and communication techniques used in the communication system of the navigation system. Additionally, it should be noted that the functions of transmitters 3〇8 and receivers 3 10 can be combined into a signal transceiver. The server 302 is further coupled to (or includes) the mass storage device 312, and the mass storage device 3 12 can be coupled to the server 302 via the communication link 314. The mass storage device 312 contains a cache of navigation data and map information' and may be a separate device from the server 3〇2 or may be incorporated in the server 302. The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the server 302 via the communication channel 3丨8 and includes a processor, memory, etc. as previously described with respect to FIG. 2, and to transmit and receive signals and/or data via the communication channel 318. The transmitter 143386.doc 17 201018875 320 and receiver 322, it is noted that such devices can be further utilized to communicate with devices other than the feeder 302. In addition, the transmitter 320 and the receiver 322' are selected or designed according to the communication requirements and communication techniques used in the communication design of the navigation device 2, and the functions of the transmitter 32 and the receiver 322 can be combined into a single transceiver. . The software stored in the server memory 306 provides instructions to the processor 3 〇 4 and allows the server 302 to provide services to the navigation device 2 . One of the services provided by the server 302 includes processing the request from the navigation device 2 and transmitting the navigation negative material from the large volume data storage 312 to the navigation device 2 . Another service provided by the server 302 includes using various algorithms for processing the navigation data for the desired application and transmitting the results of such calculations to the navigation device 200. The communication channel 318 generally indicates the connection between the navigation device 2 and the server 3.传播 2 of the media or path. The server 3G2 and the navigation device each include a transmitter for transmitting data via the communication channel and a receiver for receiving data that has been transmitted by the communication channel. Communication channel 318 is not limited to a particular communication technology. In addition, the communication channel is not limited to a single communication technology, i.e., channel 318 may include several communication links using various techniques. The example communication channel 318 can be adapted to provide for electrical communication, optical communication, and the communication channel 318 includes (but does not: circuit, such as wire and co-rotator, radio frequency (RF) wave, atmosphere, external, communication channel 318 The path may include neutral and/or electromagnetic communication, etc., as limited to one of the following: or an electrical conductor of the cable of the group, an optical fiber cable, an empty space, and the like. Such devices, such as routers, forwarding 143386.doc 201018875, buffers, transmitters, and receivers. In an illustrative configuration, communication channel 318 includes a telephone network and a computer network. Moreover, communication channel 318 can be adapted for wireless communication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, and the like. Additionally, communication channel 318 can be adapted for satellite communications. Communication signals transmitted via communication channel 318 include, but are not limited to, signals that may be needed or desired for a given communication technology. For example, the signals may be suitable for use in cellular communication technologies, such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Kings Ball Action System. (GSM), etc. Both digital and analog signals can be transmitted via communication channel 318. These signals may be modulated, encrypted, and/or compressed signals that may be desirable for communication technology. Server 302 includes a remote server accessible by the navigation device 2 via a wireless channel. The server 302 can include a network feeder located on a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (vpN), and the like. The server 302 can include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 318 can be a cable that is connected between the personal computer and the navigation device. Alternatively, a personal computer can be connected between the navigation device 2 and the server 302 to establish an internet connection between the server 3〇2 and the navigation device 2〇〇. Alternatively, a mobile phone or other handheld device can establish a wireless connection to the Internet to connect the navigation device 200 to the server 3〇2 via the Internet. The navigation device 200 can be provided with information from the server 302 via the Beit download. The information download can be periodically updated or automatically after the user connects the navigation device 2 to 143386.doc •19·201018875 to the server 302. Or in a more dynamic manner after establishing a more continuous or frequent connection 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 computing 'servers 302 The processor 3〇4 can be used to handle a large number of processing needs. However, the processor 210 of the navigation device 200 can also handle more processing and calculations from time to time independent of the connection to the server 302. The navigation device 2 includes a processor 21A, an input device 220, and a display screen 240 as indicated above in FIG. The input device 220 and the display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device to enable, for example, information input (via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and information display via the touch panel screen. As is well known to those skilled in the art, this screen can be, for example, a touch input LCD screen. In addition, the navigation device 2 can also include any additional input device 220 and/or any additional output device 241' such as an audio input/output device. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the navigation device 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the navigation device 200 can include an integrated input and display device 29 (eg, a touch panel screen) and other components of FIG. 2 (including but not limited to an internal GPS receiver 25, micro processing). Units of the device 210, the power supply, the memory system 230, and the like. The navigation device 200 can be located on the arm 292, which can be fastened to the vehicle dashboard 7 window/etc. using the suction cup 294. This arm 292 is an example of one of the docking stations to which the navigation device 2 can be coupled. As shown in Figure 4B, the navigation device 200 can be coupled or otherwise coupled to the arm of the docking station 143386.doc -20. 201018875 292 by attaching the navigation device 292 to the buckle of the arm 292. The navigation device 200 can then be rotated on the arm 292 as shown by the arrow in Figure 4B. In order to release the connection between the navigation device 2 and the docking station, for example, a button on the navigation device 2 can be pressed. Other configurations that are also suitable for splicing the navigation device to the docking station and decoupling the navigation device from the docking station are well known to those skilled in the art. Referring now to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, memory resource 230 stores a boot loader program (not shown) that is executed by processor 210 to load an operating system 470 from memory resource 230. For the functional hardware component® 460 to perform 'the operating system 47' provides an application software 48 〇 operational environment. Operating system 470 is used to control functional hardware component 46 and reside between application software 480 and functional hardware component 460. The application software 480 provides a working environment 'which includes a GUI that supports the core functions of the navigation device 2 (e.g., map view, route planning, navigation functions, and any other functions associated therewith). In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this functional portion includes a traffic and road information module 49 that receives traffic and road information in the form of messages from server 302 via communication frequency channel 3 18 . In addition, 'in the embodiment of the present invention', as will be explained, the traffic and road information module 490 transmits information to the server 3〇2 to enable the server 3〇2 to reduce road and traffic information transmitted to the navigation device 200. The amount of information. Figure 1 illustrates a device 6 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The device 6 is configured to determine traffic and routing information to be sent to a client navigation device. Apparatus 600 can be implemented in hardware or software, for example, as a software module in one or more of the computing devices 302, or as a combination of hardware and software modules. Although the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained with respect to the traffic information, the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to traffic and road information, that is, information indicating road conditions. Moreover, the operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to a user-side navigation device, although it will be appreciated that, in practice, embodiments of the present invention will operate with respect to a plurality of user-side navigation devices, that is, device 600 will communicate traffic information to the A plurality of navigation devices. Apparatus 600 is configured to receive traffic information in the form of a traffic message. The traffic messages 601 can be received from a traffic information server (not shown) (eg, another server) from one or more traffic monitoring systems (such as mobile phone based data exchange, fixed camera, GPS) , fleet tracking and their similar surveillance systems) collect information and proofread information to identify traffic delays. It is also contemplated that the traffic information server can also be provided by the server 302. The device includes a correlation filter 61 that filters the received traffic messages 601 in accordance with one or more predetermined criteria to determine that only their traffic 601 is associated with each of the client navigation devices. The traffic information associated with each client is determined based on the client state information 602. As will be explained, in some embodiments of the present invention, the client state information 6〇2 is determined by the client state receiving unit 630. Each client navigation device 2 receives. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the status information for each of the client navigation devices 200 can be stored in a data storage device such as a database. The device 600 further includes a difference message determining unit 62 that receives the traffic information related to the user navigation device 200 and outputs the difference traffic that only contains information different from the traffic information currently held by the user navigation device 200. message. In some embodiments, the server 3〇2 stores status information indicating the status of one of each of the client navigation devices 200, 143386.doc • 22- 201018875, that is, the feeder 302 is in a state. In these embodiments, the delta traffic message 603 is determined by the delta message determining unit 620 relative to the client history database 660, and the client history repository 660 stores the traffic previously sent to each of the client navigation devices 200. Information on the information will be explained. However, in other embodiments, device 600 does not store state information for each of the client navigation devices, i.e., server 302 is stateless. In these embodiments, the device 600 receives status information 602 from each navigation device 200 indicating the previous transmission to the navigation device 200, and the difference message determination unit 62 determines the difference based on the received information. Traffic information, as will be explained. The stateless embodiment of server 302 therefore does not have to include message history database 660. In the case where the traffic information about a traffic event has not been previously transmitted to the navigation device, a complete traffic message is sent to the navigation device, that is, no difference message is generated. The message restriction unit 640 is configured to immediately limit the traffic messages sent to each of the navigation devices to prevent the 200 mi200 from receiving (4) multiple data or materials to be processed at an excessive rate. In one embodiment, the message is limited by sorting the traffic messages output by the self-disparity message determining unit 62G so that most of the related messages can be extracted or output while a small number of related messages may be discarded. The criteria used to determine relevance are, for example, the impact of traffic events, the distance to traffic events, the age of events, and events in the navigation device. The self-message limiting unit_output_ is received by the bandwidth control unit (4) unit. The bandwidth control unit (4) is configured to control or limit the rate of data transmitted to each of the navigation devices 200 to be controlled based on information received from each of the navigation devices 200 indicating the maximum data rate of the navigation device 143386.doc -23-201018875 Data rate. The data rate can be controlled to allow sharing of the available bandwidth between the server 3〇2 and the navigation device 2〇〇 between different services. In addition, the payment to the service provider (i.e., the provider of the feeder 3) can be based on the amount of data transmitted, and thus the user may wish to limit the bandwidth usage. The bandwidth control unit 65 stores the traffic messages based on the correlation and the size of the data. For example, as will be explained, new messages require more bytes to be updated or eliminated than messages. A method 700 of operation of the apparatus 6 shown in Fig. 6 will now be explained with reference to Fig. 7. As shown in Figure 7, the method begins at step 71, and in step 72() _, one or more traffic messages 601 are received from one or more traffic message sources, such as a traffic message server. Although one or more traffic messages are shown as being received in a discrete step in the exemplary method of Figure 7, it will be appreciated that one or more traffic messages may be continuously received while performing other steps of the method. In step 730, client state information 602 is received from one or more of the client navigation devices 2〇〇. As will be explained, the client status information 6〇2 may include information identifying the geographic location of the navigation device 200 (eg, in the form of a geographic coordinate), or may be related to the operational status of the navigation device 2 (eg, Table 10) The information displayed in the geographic area on the display screen 240 or the route information indicating the programmed destination or the determined route information may be accompanied by one or more status messages for the request for traffic information. Receiving, or periodically transmitting from the navigation device 2. Further, although the client state information 6 〇 2 is shown as being received in a discrete step 730 in the exemplary method of FIG. 7 , it should be recognized that The client status information is continuously received while performing other steps of the method. In step 74 〇 143386.doc • 24· 201018875, a corresponding traffic message is determined for each user equipment 200. The $ related information is based on The received traffic message 6 ι or one of the f criteria is determined in conjunction with the received client state information 602. The correlation in the device of FIG. The sexual transition device 6 finances the relevant traffic information. In step 750, one or more differential traffic messages 603 are generated, which represent the traffic information maintained by each of the household navigation devices 200 and the related parent determined in step 74. _ difference between the messages. The difference traffic message 3 is determined by the difference message determining unit 62G of Fig. 6 and output to the message limit 640. At step 76 〇, at a predetermined rate A message is transmitted to each of the client navigation devices to prevent the navigation device from overloading the traffic message. The method ends at step 770. An embodiment of step 74 will now be explained with reference to Figures 8 through 12. As mentioned above, at step 740 The message associated with each of the client navigation device fans is determined such that the client navigation device 2 receives only relevant traffic information. A first embodiment of step 740 will be described with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 shows the navigation device φ £ Display screen 24. When providing route guidance or displaying - an overview of the determined route between the first geographic location and the second geographic location (eg, departure address and destination address), the navigation device 2〇〇 The display screen 24 displays a map 800 showing a geographic area. When providing the route guidance, the map 800 can display an area relatively close to the current geographic location of the navigation device 2. When displaying the overview of the route, the map 8〇 〇 may display the entire route or may display a portion of the route, for example, a first route portion (eg, the first half of the route), although other sub-segments of the route may be considered. Exhibition: Map 800 on the display screen 24 The geographic area is used to determine the relevant traffic message to be sent by the servo 143386.doc -25- 201018875 302 to the navigation device 2. In step 73, the information about the map 800 area will be transmitted by the traffic and road information module 490. Send to the feeding device 302. In the first embodiment, the traffic and road information module 490 communicates map information indicating the center 810 of the map 800 and the information indicating the extent of the map 800 to the server 3〇2. The information indicating the extent of the map 8 can indicate the height (vertical area) 82〇 and the width (horizontal area) 830 of the map 800. Based on this information, the server 3〇2 can determine the relevant area of the traffic message', i.e., the parent communication information associated with the geographic area displayed on the display screen 24. Only traffic messages related to traffic events displayed in the geographic area displayed on display screen 240 (i.e., 'indicating such traffic events') are communicated to the navigation device. A second embodiment of step 740 will now be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a boundary area 921, 922, 923, 924 is determined for each traffic message received by the correlation filter 61. The traffic message boundary area Ml, 9U, 92: 3, 924 is a geographical area affected by the event indicated by the traffic message. A navigation device boundary area 93A around the current geographic location 910 of one of the navigation devices 2 is also determined. If the traffic message boundary areas 921 '9U, 923, 924 at least partially intersect or overlap with the navigation device boundary area 93, then the respective traffic information is determined to be associated with the navigation device 2且 and thus by correlation; The respective traffic message is output instead of being revoked for the navigation device 200. Referring to Figure 9, one of the geographic regions 900 is shown to indicate that roads 9〇1 through 9〇9 are located in the geographic region. The current position of a navigation device 2 is indicated by reference numeral 91〇. References 911 through 914 also indicate four intersections in the area (shown as highlighted road sections). The boundary regions 921, 922, 923, 924 around each of the traffic delays 911 through 914 have been determined by the correlation eliminator 610. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the boundary regions 921, 922, 923, 924 is rectangular and is determined to be the best fit for the traffic delays 911' 912, 913, 914 (ie, to close the respective traffic) Delay the minimum size rectangle of 911, 912, 913, 914). However, it should be recognized that 7 other boundary areas of other shapes, such as squares, circles, ellipses, polygons, etc., are recognized. A navigation device boundary region 930 is also defined around the location 91 of the navigation device 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the navigation device boundary region 930 is rectangular and is centered at the position 91〇 of the navigation device. The navigation device boundary region 930 can be laterally oriented and have a predefined size (height, width), although other orientations and dynamically determined sizes are possible. The traffic delays 911 through 914 are determined to be associated with the navigation device 200 if the boundary regions of the traffic delays 921 through 924 at least partially intersect the navigation device boundary region 930. Considering each traffic delay in turn, the boundary region 921 of the delay 911 is completely within the navigation device boundary region 930, thus determining that it is associated with the navigation device 200, the delay 914 being the same. The boundary region 922 of the delay 912 partially intersects the navigation device boundary region 930 and is also considered to be associated with the navigation device 200. However, the 'no-intersection area exists between the boundary area 923 of the delay 913 and the navigation device boundary area 930. Therefore, a traffic message indicating the delay 913 is not communicated to the navigation device 200. In this way, only the traffic information associated with each navigation device is transmitted, thereby reducing the amount of data to each navigation device 200. Another embodiment of steps 73A and 740 of 143386.doc -27-201018875 shown in FIG. 7 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1A through 12. In this embodiment of the invention, the client navigation device 200 is configured to communicate travel information indicative of a planned journey to the server 302. In response, the server 〇2 is configured to communicate the traffic message associated with the planned journey to the client navigation device 2〇〇. In particular, the server 3021 is configured to determine an area of the planned trip that includes (4) a call (10), wherein traffic information associated with the area encompassing the trip is communicated to the navigation device 2GG. In some embodiments, determining - or a plurality of honzon ' and communicating the traffic message to the navigation device based on an expected duration and location of the event associated with the one or more fields of view and the one or more fields of view . Referring to Fig. 1G, the travel information is shown - indicating that it includes the current location 1010 of the navigation device and the destination location 1020 set by the user of the navigation device 2. In an embodiment, the area encompassing the travel information is determined based only on the current location 1010 and the destination location 020, while other embodiments utilize a determination between the current location 1〇1〇 and the destination location 1〇2〇. Route information for route 1030. It should be noted that the route information indicating the direction of the road between the current position 1010 and the destination position 1〇2〇 is usually deviated from an expected direct route between the positions 1010 and 1020 due to the direction deviation of the road, etc. Path 1040 (or a straight path). Figure 11 illustrates an area 1 Π 0 that is determined to encompass the current location 1010 and the destination location 1 〇 2 。. In the illustrated embodiment, region 111 is elliptical and is configured such that course path 1040 extends along a semi-major axis of ellipse 1110, and current location 1010 and destination location 1020 are equidistant from the center of ellipse 111〇. Figure 12 illustrates a method 12GG of determining an elliptical region ι ι 143386.doc • 28· 201018875, starting with step 121G, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step mo, it is determined whether it is possible to control the current location 1G1G and the destination location.

The length is deleted, for example, by the step η of the method shown in FIG. 7: the route length information that has been received from the navigation device 200. If it is not possible to determine the length of the route, the method moves to step 123(), where a predetermined ellipse size factor (ESF) is used to determine the ellipse 1UG. In some embodiments, a preset ellipse size factor h4 is utilized. It is expected that most of the routes 1〇3〇 have a length within 3〇% of the length of the route path 1040, so the ESF of 14 allows another 1% of the tolerance. Of course, it should be recognized that other ESFs can be selected. The eccentricity e of the ellipse ι110 can be determined by the following formula:

ESF In addition, the length 1 of the ellipse (along the semi-major axis) can be calculated as follows: /=7 〇 where β is the distance between the starting position 1010 and the destination position 1〇2〇. The extension distance r of the ellipse along the semi-major axis beyond the starting position 1010 and the destination position 1020 can be determined as follows: r = L ± 2 In addition, 'because the current position 1〇2〇 and the destination position 1030 indicate the focus of the ellipse' As should be appreciated, the distance (a+b) is a fixed distance from any point on the ellipse 111〇. 143386.doc • 29. 201018875 The feeder 302 is configured to communicate traffic messages to the client only if the traffic message is one of the events in the region mo (ie, the location of the event is within the elliptical region 1110) The navigation device is fine. As in the previously described embodiment, 'τ determines - a boundary area (such as a rectangle) around each traffic event to determine whether to communicate a message about the traffic event to the user-side navigation device, that is, if the boundary The area intersects at least partially with the ellipse mo, and only one traffic message is sent to the navigation device 2〇〇. In step 1220, if the server 3〇2 can obtain the route length (e.g., the route length has been communicated from the navigation device 2), then the method moves to step 1240 where an adaptive route ratio (ARR) is determined. First, in order to determine ARR 'determination of an adaptive route length (ARL), it allows a relatively small increase in the length of the route and is determined by the following equation: ARL = ARLF x RouteLength where ARLF is the adaptive route length factor and R〇uteLength To calculate the length of the route 1030. While it will be appreciated that other factors may be used, the ARLF may be equal to 1.02' which allows for a 2% increase in route length. The ARR is then calculated by the following equation: where d is the course distance 1040.

In step 1250, it is determined whether arr is less than or equal to a minimum elliptic size factor (Min_ESF). Although other values can be used, the Min_ESF can be 1.2. If the ARR is less than or equal to Min ESF, then in step 1260 ESF 143386.doc • 30. 201018875 is set equal to Min_ESF', ie ESF=1.2. After step 1260, the method ends at step 1295. However, if the ARR is greater than Min_ESF in step 125, the method moves to step 127, where it is determined whether the ARR is greater than or equal to a maximum ellipse size factor Max-ESF, although other values may be selected, Max-ESF Can be 1.6. If the ARR is greater than or equal to Max_ESF ' then the method moves to step 1280 where the ellipse size factor ESF is set equal to Max_ESF. The method then ends at step 1295. However, if in step 127, the ARR is less than Max_ESF, then the βH method moves to step 1290 where the ESF is set equal to ARR. The elliptical region 1110 can then be determined based on the value of the ESF. As mentioned above, in order to determine a route or to monitor traffic conditions along a previously determined route, the navigation device 2 considers the received traffic information. In an embodiment of the invention, the correlation filter 61 determines whether an event (with which a traffic message is associated) is at least partially within the elliptical boundary region 111A. If the event is at least partially within the boundary area, the corresponding traffic message passes through the associated filter for communication to the navigation device 2〇〇. Otherwise, the traffic message is abolished relative to the navigation device 200. In some embodiments of the invention, in addition to considering whether an event (with a traffic message associated with it) is within the boundary region, the correlation filter 610 is configured to further consider one or more event horizons One of the events is expected to last. Figure 1 shows a short-term event horizon circle with a short-term event horizon (8 D £ 11) radius of 116〇. Figure 11 further illustrates a circle indicating a long-term event horizon 1170 having a long-term event horizon (LTEH) radius 1180. Although other values may be selected, the STEH radius 143386.doc • 31 201018875 1160 may be 200 km and the LTEH radius 1180 may be 1500 km. The short-term event horizon 1150 and the long-term event horizon 1170 are circular and centered on the current location 1010 of the navigation device. Referring to Figure 13, a method 1300 utilizing a short-term event horizon 1150 and a long-term event horizon 117 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that only one of the event horizons 1150, 1170 can be utilized. The method can be performed by correlation filter 610. The method 1300 begins at step 1310 and determines in step 1320 whether an event (with a traffic message associated with it) is within the bounding ellipse 1110 of Figure u. If the event is not within the ellipse 111 (even if partially), then the message is revoked or filtered in step 1360 until associated with the particular navigation device 200. That is, the component can reside in a border region of another navigation device 200 and can be communicated to another navigation device 200 in another of the methods 13〇〇. If the event (with the traffic message associated with it) is within circle 111G, then the method moves to step 133, where it is determined whether the event is expected to be a relatively short term event. In other words, step 1330 tests whether the event has an expected hold time that is shorter than or longer than a predetermined duration. If the event is expected to last less than (ie, shorter than) the predetermined duration _" period event, and the method moves to the step. Example = step to determine if the message is in the short-term event horizon 1150: when =10:2 step Determining in the WO whether the event is within 2 〇〇 km of the navigation device field position 1010. Within 1150, then in step 136G, for the event object view, the event is not transmitted to the device or is abolished or Excluding the fact that the event is not expected to be a short-term event (ie, the expected duration of the event 143386.doc -32- 201018875 is longer than the weight...duration), then at step 1350, the event is in the long run. Within the event horizon (4). (8) The event is within the long-term event horizon 117G, then the method moves to step (10) where the message is communicated to the navigation device _ or the message is passed for further processing in the device of Figure 6. If the event is not within the long-term event horizon, then the event is abolished in step U60. The method ends at the step. As should be understood, the method side determines whether the traffic message is geographically and temporally associated with a navigation. 0 〇 related β

Referring to Figure 14, an inner valley of a communication core 1400 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as dividing a parent communication 1400 into a plurality of segments, although it will be appreciated that the ordering of such segments in Figure 14 is only For illustrative purposes. In addition, it should be acquainted that not all sections can exist in every two traffic messages. The traffic message 1400 includes: a message management section 141 for storing information related to the official information and identification of the traffic message 1400; a location information section 1420' for storing an identification event (message 14 Information relating to one location; an event information section 1430 that stores information about the event (eg, identifying the type of event and providing information about the effect of the event); and a filter information section 1440, Store information about traffic message filtering. In addition, in some embodiments of the traffic message 1400, an additional information section 1450 can be provided that is used by the server 302 or the navigation device 200 to store additional information. The message management section 1410 contains identification information that uniquely identifies each traffic message 1400. The identification information can be a MessagelD field for storing a unique value associated with the traffic message 1400. The value stored in the MessagelD shed • 33- 143386.doc 201018875 may be recirculated after an appropriate period of time, or the system may support explicit elimination of the message such that once the particular message 1400 has been eliminated,

The value of the MessagelD field can be reused. In some embodiments, the MessageBD is, for example, a two-part 32-bit field (although other values can be used). The first part is a unique identification of traffic messages.

TrafficMessagelD. The second part may be a MessageGroupID that identifies a message group to which the traffic message 14 belongs or is associated. Although other values can be considered', TrafficMessagelD and MessageGroupID can each be, for example, 16 bits in length' and, in addition, TrafficMessagelD and ❹

The MessageGroupID does not have to be the same length. As will be explained, the message group is a logical entity that uniquely assigns each traffic message. All traffic messages 1400 assigned to the same message group are similar in one or more aspects, such as indicating events in the same geographic area. The message management section 141 can further contain information identifying the expiration time of one of the messages 1400. The expiration time may be a value indicating the duration of the time that the message 1400 is held by the navigation device 2 or may contain a value indicating the time at which the message 14 will expire or no longer be correlated.位置 The location information section i4 2 0 contains information identifying the location of the event (event is ', for example, traffic jam, accident, road closure, etc.). The location information may identify the location in one or more ways, such as identifying an area, an elongated or linear location (e.g., a road segment) or a point (e.g., by identifying the information via a geographic coordinate). In addition, the location information may contain information identifying one or more (four) road features (the information associated with it) (ie, the road identifier), and the portion of the road to which the heart is not applied (eg, the main part of the road, 143386. Doc -34- 201018875, the information of the person in the road or the σ part of the road. Also, at ^ :. In some embodiments, the location information section, i.e., the direction of the road with the road jam, and the length of the event (i.e., the length of the traffic jam of the road).

❹ The event information section 1430 stores information identifying the event (which is associated with the message 14). The event information may just contain - indicating the value of one of a plurality of predetermined event types and, in some embodiments, indicating other characteristics of the event (ie, expected event duration, duration type, event nature, event start) Relevant information about time, effect information, emergency information, etc.) The duration type provides a rough indication of the expected duration of the event, such as 0 = New Period and 1 = Long Term (where the long term is the predetermined threshold duration). The event duration may provide further improvements to the duration type, such as one of a plurality of predetermined values may be stored (each predetermined value indicating a particular expected duration), or a value indicative of the expected duration of the event may be stored . The emergency information may indicate whether the event is designated as extreme urgent and should therefore be communicated to a navigation device as soon as possible. The nature of the event can indicate the type of event, ie weather related, accident, traffic jam, etc. This effect information can indicate the effects of an event, such as a decrease in speed or a time delay caused by an event. The filter information section 1440 stores information related to message filtering. In one embodiment, the 'filter information section 1440 stores information indicative of a boundary area around the event. As discussed previously, the boundary region can be defined as a rectangle that surrounds the location of the event. The bounding rectangle can be defined in the filter information section 1440 by identifying information about the relative angle of the bounding rectangle. 143386.doc -35- 201018875 In one embodiment, the boundary rectangle is defined by an information identifying a relative angle (e.g., a lower left corner and an upper right corner) of the bounding rectangle in a predetermined coordinate system such as longitude and latitude. Moreover, in some embodiments, the filter information section 1440 can contain information identifying the type of road or the road to which the message 14 is applied. The extra information section 1450 is used to store any additional information that is not suitable for other message sections 141A through 1440. In one embodiment, the additional information section 1450 stores one or more of the following: information identifying a version of the message and/or a time of receipt (i.e., when the message was received from a source). As mentioned above, 'each traffic message 14' is uniquely assigned to a message group by the server 3〇2. Server 322 may assign a traffic message 1400 to a group of messages based on one or more criteria, such as geographic relationship between traffic message 1400 and the message group. For example, all traffic messages 1400 in a message group may be associated with events within a geographic area, or all messages 1400 in a message group may be associated with the same road (e.g., a particular road, etc.). The set of traffic messages assigned to a message group at a particular point in time is a message set. Each message set has a version identified by MessageSetVersionID. Each time the server 302 receives new traffic information from a source and assigns a new parent sfL message 14 0 0 to a message group, the MessageSetVersionID associated with the message set is updated (e.g., incremented). In the event that the parent communication message 1400 is not similar to any existing traffic message and thus determines that it does not belong to an existing message group, a new message group with a new MessageGfoupID is generated. The traffic message 14〇〇 is then assigned to the newly generated message group because the first message set version has the first 143386.doc • 36 - 201018875

MessageSetVersionID. After receiving a second similar message 1400, it is assigned to the message group to generate a new message set having the same MessageGroupID and a second MessageSetVersionID (i.e., an incremental version of the first MessageSetVersionID). Therefore, each message set has a MessageGroupID and a MessageSetVersionID. The message group can be sent to one of the client navigation devices 200 at a time, or can be sent to a plurality of user navigation devices (a group of navigation devices) at a time. That is, the traffic information of a group of navigation devices can be updated at one time. The traffic information maintained by the client navigation device 200 at a particular point in time is collected for one of one or more message sets. The group status is collected by one or more GroupIDs and one of the corresponding MessageSetVersionIDs, and the group status identifies the traffic information held by the client navigation device 200. The use of the message set and group status allows the range of information held by the navigation device 200 to be communicated to the server 302 within the minimum data in a convenient manner. The client navigation device 200 can send a current traffic status information including the GroupID of each desired message group and the corresponding MessageSetVersionID to the server 302, thereby allowing the server 302 to confirm the traffic information held by the navigation device 200. The current traffic status message removal requires the server 302 to maintain status information for each user in the message history database 660. The -pre-traffic status message may also include integrity information identifying the integrity of the message set (ie, whether the message set has been filtered). The integrity information can be a bit indicating that the message set is a complete set (a full set of messages) or a subset (a filtered set of messages). To allow the client navigation device to be updated in a manner that requires minimal bandwidth, 143386.doc -37- 201018875 200 ‘Use the parent container. The traffic message container is an array that describes the content of the message set. There are two types of traffic message containers: a full traffic message container containing all traffic messages in a message set; and a delta traffic message container containing only one message set and one of the message sets of the respective message groups. The difference between the versions. In the case where a message group is sent to the navigation device 2 or the navigation device group for the first time, or if the server 302 wishes to completely resend one of the traffic messages to the one or more navigation devices 200 (eg In the following cases: the navigation device 2〇〇 has been reset, or the server 3〇2 merges two messages (in this case, the two message groups will be deleted and the new merged group is sent to the navigation device) 2)), using the full parent communication container. If the one or more client navigation devices 2 have a previous version of the message group, then a differential traffic message container can be used. Each traffic message container contains an identification and Information about the related message group and the version of the message set contained therein. A method 1500 of updating the parent information on a navigation device 2 by the server 3〇2 will be explained with reference to FIG. 15. The method starts from step 151〇 In step 1520, the difference message determining unit 62 on the server 3〇2 determines which traffic messages are held by a user-side navigation device 2 (by referring to the message history database 660 or by the self-navigation device 2). Connection A traffic status message 6〇2). The traffic status message may contain information indicating the group status of the navigation device 200 (as discussed above). The traffic information (ie, the traffic information message maintained by the navigation device 2) is determined. The post-difference determination unit 620 selects the first message group in the first iteration of step 1530. The message group may be selected from the one or more message groups currently held by the navigation device 200. Alternatively, the message group may 143386.doc -38 - 201018875 A message group that has not been communicated to the navigation device 200, such as a newly generated message group. In step 1540, the difference message determination unit 620 determines whether the message group needs to be updated. An update may be required when the device 3〇2 receives one or more traffic messages associated with the message group but has not yet been communicated to the navigation device 2, or when the message group has not been communicated to the navigation device 2〇〇. When the server 302 determines that the message group is no longer associated with the navigation device 2 (such as when the navigation device 2 has moved from an area covered by the message group or is in the area) If an update is not required, the method moves to step 158. If an update is required, it is determined in step 1550 whether the group is still in the category of the navigation device 2, that is, Whether the category of the traffic message in the group is still related to the navigation device. If the message group is no longer associated with the navigation device, the method moves to step 156G' where the traffic message container is sent to the navigation The device, the traffic message container identifies the selected message group as obsolete. However, if the group is still in the category of the navigation device 200, the method moves to step 1570 where a traffic message container is sent to the navigation device. 200. The right navigation device currently has a previous version of the message group, and the traffic heart is a traffic message container. The delta traffic message container contains one of the differences between the version of the __instruction, the message set version, and the message set version that the navigation device 2GG currently maintains and the server is maintained. Or multiple traffic messages. The differential communication communication ~ one of the parent communication messages in the valley device can indicate that the corresponding traffic message will be deleted (that is, the storage of the navigation device 2GG is abolished), and contains updated information about the traffic information just after (for example, (d) Changes in individual traffic incidents 143386.doc •39· 201018875 Beixun) 'Or a new traffic message for a message group related to a new incident. In step 1580, it is determined if there is one or more message groups still to be considered. If no other message groups exist, the method ends in step 159. However, if there are other message groups, then the method moves back to step 1530 where the next message group is selected for the other of steps 154A through 1580. Figure 16 illustrates a method 16 performed in the navigation device 200 after receiving a traffic message container from the server 3〇2. The method begins at step i6i. In step 1620, it is determined that the traffic message container is a full traffic message container and a difference parent message container. This determination may be indicated in the traffic message container, for example, by setting a corresponding one of the headers of the traffic message container by the feeder 302. If the traffic message container is a full container, then the method moves to step 1630 where it is determined if the message group (as indicated by the message group ID) is currently present in the navigation device. This determination can be made by verifying a list of message groups that identify the group of messages currently stored in the navigation device 200. If the message group is currently present in the navigation device 2, the method moves to step 1640, where all traffic messages currently assigned to the message group are deleted from the navigation device 2 or the navigation device 2 〇 0 abolishes the message All traffic messages. This is because the All Traffic Message Container is providing an update message set for one of its message groups. The message group ID can also be removed from the message group list in step 1640. The message group is added to the message group list in step 1650 (if the message group is removed in step 1640, this step can be omitted). Next, in step 1660, the traffic message in the traffic message container is added to the message group as a new message set. The message set version ID can also be added to the message set list in step 143386.doc •40_ 201018875 1660 or updated in the message set list. The method ends at step 1695, after which the method can be repeated for one or more additional traffic messages. However, if it is determined in step 162 that the traffic message container is not a full message container, then the method moves to step 167, where the message group is verified (the difference message container is currently maintained with the phase (1) from the navigation device 200. This verification can be achieved by checking the message group list. If the message group is not present in the navigation device 200, the navigation device 2 abolishes the delta container and the method ends at 1695, assuming that the delta traffic message container is incorrectly罾* is sent to the navigation device 2. A erroneously transmitted message indicating the difference traffic message container to the navigation device 200 can be transmitted from the navigation device 2 to the server 302. If there is a message group in step 1670, The method moves to step 1680 where the information in the traffic message container indicating a previous message set version ID (the differential traffic message container is updated with respect to it) is checked. The message set version ID and one can be compared by navigation The device 2 maintains the current message set version ID to ensure that the differential traffic message container is applicable to the navigation device ❹ 200. If the previous message set version m is incorrect, The method moves to step 1695, or, if the previous 1]0 is correct, the method moves to the step ^^^ in the step of the step, updating the traffic message of the message group_. Updating the traffic information may include the following: One or more of: updating message set information such as message set version ID; deleting any traffic message indicated in the delta traffic message container to be deleted from the message set; updating existing message sets present on the navigation device 200 And any traffic messages present in the delta container; and any new traffic messages added to the existing message set that are present in the delta traffic message container but not present on the navigation device 200. The method is followed by 143386.doc -41 · 201018875 The method ends with step 1695. The method can be repeated with respect to the navigation device eagle- or a plurality of other traffic message containers. Advantageously, the traffic message management (and, in particular, the differential traffic message container) provides navigation using traffic information management. The traffic information on the device has ^ communication and update. The traffic message can be deleted, updated or added to the existing parent communication on the navigation device. It is not necessary to send the entire message set to the navigation farm or all navigation devices. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the teachings of the present invention provide information to the navigation device for effective communication. Some embodiments of the present invention determine the relevance of the navigation device. The traffic negative-fl' thus at least reduces the transmission of irrelevant traffic information to the navigation device. Some embodiments provide effective updating of traffic information by using repeated traffic information that avoids traffic information to the navigation device. It is to be understood that the various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration set forth herein and, in fact, the scope of the present invention is extended to include All configurations and modifications and changes to the scope of the patent application. For example, while the embodiments described in the foregoing detailed description refer to GPS', it should be noted that the navigation device can utilize any of the position sensing techniques as an alternative to GPS (or indeed, in addition to Gps). For example, the navigation device may utilize other global navigation satellite systems, such as the European Galileo (GaHle) system. As such, it is not limited to satellite-based, but can be readily implemented using ground-based beacons or any other system that enables the device to determine its geographic location. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, although the preferred embodiment implements a certain functionality by soft 143386.doc • 42· 201018875, the functionality can be equally only in hardware (eg, by a Or a plurality of ASICs (Special Application Integrated Circuits) are implemented or actually implemented by a mixture of hardware and software. Thus, the mouthpiece of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to being implemented in a software. In the meantime, it should be noted that although the scope of the appended claims is a specific combination of the features described herein, the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific combinations claimed hereinafter, but instead extends to cover the features disclosed herein. Any combination of the embodiments, whether or not the particular combination has been specifically recited in the accompanying patent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a Global Positioning System (GPS); FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an electronic component configured to provide a navigation device; FIG. 3 is a manner in which a navigation device can receive information on a wireless communication channel. 4A and 4B are schematic perspective views of a navigation device; ❹ FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a software used by the navigation device; FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Description of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is an illustration of a screen of a navigation device; FIG. 9 is an illustration of a geographical area and a boundary area according to an embodiment of the present invention; Description of the route information of one embodiment; FIG. 11 is an illustration of a boundary area and an event horizon according to an embodiment of the present invention; 143386.doc • 43· 201018875 FIG. 12 is an illustration of another method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is an illustration of yet another method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. Description of the structure of a traffic message; FIG. 15 is an illustration of another method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 16 is an illustration of yet another method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Main component symbol description] 120 Satellite 124 Earth 140 GPS receiver 160 Spread spectrum GPS satellite signal 200 Navigation device 210 Processor 220 Input device 225 Connection 230 Memory resource 235 Connection 240 Display screen / Display device 245 Output connection 250 Antenna / Receive 255 Connection 260 Output Device 270 Input/Output (I/O) 埠 275 Connection 143386.doc • 44 - 201018875 280 I/O Device 302 Server 304 Processor 306 Memory 308 Transmitter 310 Receiver ' 312 Large Capacity Data storage device 314 Wired or wireless connection/communication link 318 Communication channel 320 Transmitter 322 Receiver 290 Integrated input and display device 292 Arm 294 Suction cup 460 Functional hardware component 470 Operating system 480 Application software 490 Traffic and road information Module '600 device 601 traffic message 602 client state information 603 difference traffic message 610 correlation filter 620 difference message determining unit 143386.doc -45- client state receiving unit message limiting unit bandwidth control unit user end history Database Method Map / Geographical Area Center South (Vertical Area) Width (Horizontal Area) Road Road Road Road Road Road Road Road Road Navigation Device Current Location Traffic Delay Traffic Delay Traffic Delay Traffic Delay Boundary Area -46- 201018875 922 Boundary Area 923 Boundary Area 924 Boundary Area 930 Navigator border area 1000 Journey information 1010 Current position of the navigation device - 1020 Destination location 1030 Route ❹ 1040 Direct route path 1110 Area / Sugar circle 1150 Short-term event horizon 1160 Short-term event horizon (STEH) Radius 1170 Long-term event horizon 1180 Long-term event Horizon (LTEH) Radius 1200 Method Reference 1300 Method 1400 Traffic Message 1410 Message Government Section - 1420 Location Information Zone - 1430 Event Information Section 1440 Filter Information Section 1450 Additional Information Section 1500 Method 1600 Method 143386.doc - 47-

Claims (1)

201018875 VII. Patent Application Range: 1. A method for communicating traffic or road information to a navigation device (200), the method comprising the steps of: receiving traffic or road information at a server (302); Determining status information associated with the navigation device; determining, based on the status information, whether the traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device (200); and, if determining that the traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device (200), Transmitting the traffic or road information from the server (302) to the navigation device (200) 〇2. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, at the server, the status information from the navigation device (200) . 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the status information indicates a geographic area (800) displayed on a display device (240) of the navigation device (200). 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the server is configured to determine when a geographic location associated with the traffic or road information is at least partially included in the geographic area displayed on the display device (240) Traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device (200). 5. The method of claim 2 or 2, wherein the status information indicates a current location (1〇1〇) of the navigation device (200), and the method includes determining a navigation device based on the current location 〇〇1〇) a boundary area (930, 1110), wherein the traffic or road information is determined with the navigation device according to one of the events indicated by the road or traffic information and the navigation device (2〇〇) boundary area 143386.doc 201018875 (200 ) related. 6) The method of claim 5, wherein the status information indicates a destination location (1020), and the navigation device boundary area (111〇) is determined to encompass the current location (101〇) and the destination location (1) 〇 2〇). 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the status information indicates a route between the current location and the destination location (103A), and the navigation device boundary region (1110) is based in part on the route (1030) One of the lengths is determined. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the navigation device boundary region (111〇) is elliptical, and one of the ellipse sizes is based on an ellipse size factor (ESF) based on the current position (1〇1〇) The length of one route (1040) between the destination location (1〇2〇) and the length of the route (1〇3〇) is determined. 9. The method of claim 5, comprising: determining an event boundary region (921, 922, 923, 924) encompassing the event indicated by the traffic or road information, wherein the navigation device boundary region (93〇) When at least partially intersecting the event boundary region (921, 922, 923, 924), it is determined that the traffic or road information is associated with the navigation device. 10. The method of claim 1 or 2, comprising controlling the rate at which the traffic or road information is communicated to the navigation device (200) based on information received from the navigation device (2). 11. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the server (302) is configured to classify the traffic or road information based on the relevance of the information to the navigation device (200), and substantially The sorting order conveys the traffic or road information to the navigation device. 12. A computer software comprising one or more software modules, the one or more soft 143386.doc -2- 201018875 operations to enable (210) execution of a processor body module when executed in an execution environment The method of any of the foregoing claims. 13. A system that includes. One or more sources receive traffic or a server (302) configured to self-route information; and/or a plurality of navigation devices (200) that are communicatively coupled to transmit state-of-the-art messages to the servo The system (302); the system is characterized in that the feeding device (302) is configured to determine traffic or road information associated with each navigation device, and to direct the first traffic or road (four) to the - navigation device (2(10)) and transmitting the second traffic or road information to a second navigation device (2〇〇), wherein the first traffic or road information and the first-father or road information have been determined by the server as Each individual navigation device (2〇〇) is associated. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein: to >, or the first or the second navigation device (2〇〇) is configured to refer to a current location of one of the navigation devices (200) (1〇 1), a destination location (1020), and a status information of a route (1030) determined between the current location and the destination location is transmitted to the server (3〇2); and the server (302) Configuring to define a boundary region (1110) that encompasses the current location (1〇1〇) and the destination location (1020), wherein one of the boundaries region (1110) is at least partially based on the current location The length of one of the routes (1〇3〇) between the destination location (1020) and the location of the event associated with the navigation device (200) and the boundary region (1110) Determining traffic or road information associated with the navigation device (2〇〇). 143386.doc