TWI497323B - Method and personal navigation device utilizing a personal navigation device to locate nearby stores - Google Patents

Description

Method for locating to a nearby store using personal navigation device and personal navigation device

The present invention relates to a method for locating based on assisting shopping, and more particularly to a method for locating a store adjacent to selling low-priced goods using a one-person navigation device.

The navigation device with built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) is not only well known but widely used in car navigation devices. The general function of the navigation device includes providing a map database for generating navigation commands on the display of the navigation device, and the navigation device is typically attached to the dashboard or embedded in the dashboard.

The term "navigation device" refers to a device that assists a user in navigating to a predetermined destination. The navigation device is useful for receiving internal information about the location information, such as a GPS receiver, or a receiver that can receive location information. The navigation device itself can self-operate the navigation path, or connect to the remote server, the remote server can calculate the navigation path and provide navigation information to the navigation device, or the navigation device cooperates with the remote server to complete the navigation path operation. . The personal GPS navigation device is not permanently fixed on a vehicle but can be disassembled or loaded on any vehicle at any time. Therefore, the personal GPS navigation device is fully equipped, that is, the personal GPS navigation device includes a built-in GPS antenna, navigation Software and map so you can draw and display navigation paths.

Previous personal navigation devices were not able to assist the user in locating the items in the auction. If the user wants to purchase a specific item, the user can use the personal navigation device to help the user navigate to the store that sells the specific item, otherwise the personal navigation device can provide the store based on the type of the store, such as an electronics store. Information to the user. Although the user can navigate to a store that sells a particular item using a personal navigation device, the user still cannot get a price from the personal navigation device about the item that the user wants to purchase. Instead, the user must search for the store location of the auction item from the internet or through an advertisement leaflet. Once the store is found, the user then enters the store address into the personal navigation device, and the personal navigation device then generates a navigational indication in accordance with the entered address to navigate the user to the store.

Unfortunately, prior art is time consuming and inconvenient for finding auction items and navigating to related stores. Prior art drives the user to search for product and price information at home or in the office, then write down the store address where the product is being sold and enter it into the personal navigation device, and then the personal navigation device helps the user navigate to the store. However, when a user searches for product information, the user usually does not know how far the store that sells the product is from the current location of the user, which may cause the user to accidentally drop the nearest store to a distant distance. Stores buy goods at the same price. Worse, when a user has a shopping list with multiple items, the search and purchase of the item will become even more annoying.

One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of locating a store adjacent to a low-priced item using a one-person navigation device. The method includes inputting, by a user interface of the personal navigation device, at least one item that a user wants to purchase into a shopping list, the personal navigation device searching a database for each item listed on the shopping list, the data The library includes location information of a plurality of stores selling the item and a price at which the plurality of stores sell the item, and the personal navigation device searches the database for the item listed on the shopping list, the database including the item being sold The location information of a plurality of stores and the price at which the plurality of stores sell the goods.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a personal navigation device for locating a store adjacent to a low-priced item for sale. The personal navigation device includes a memory-memory, the memory stores a shopping list of the user, the shopping list includes at least one product, and a processor for controlling the operation of the personal navigation device and a data The library searches for each item, the database includes location information of a plurality of stores selling the item, and a price at which the plurality of stores sell the item, and a display for displaying the item in the database for searching the item on the shopping list a plurality of search results, the plurality of search results including location information of the plurality of stores and a price at which the plurality of stores sell the item.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the communication between a person navigation device 10 and a server 30. The personal navigation device 10 has a user interface that includes a display 12 and a speaker 14. Display 12 can be a touch display to allow a user of personal navigation device 10 to input commands and materials using display 12. The personal navigation device 10 further includes a processor 16 for controlling the operation of the personal navigation device 10 and performing navigation operations. A GPS receiver 18 is configured to receive location information indicating the current location of the personal navigation device 10, and a general packet radio. A General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) modem 19 is provided for providing wireless communication and providing Internet access. Other wireless network communication standards can also be used to replace the GPRS modem 19, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver.

The personal navigation device 10 further includes a memory 20, and the memory 20 includes a map database 22 for storing electronic map data, address data, point of interest (POI) data, and the like. The memory 20 further includes a shopping list database 24 for recording items that the user may wish to purchase, and a product database 26, although the product database 26 is not absolutely necessary.

The server 30 is accessible through the Internet. The server 30 includes a database 32 containing product, price, and store information. The database 32 can be a database customized by the manufacturer of the personal navigation device 10, or a current database, such as a website that provides comparisons of commodity prices for different online and traditional stores. When the user of the personal navigation device 10 enters the shopping list database 24 to retrieve a shopping list, the personal navigation device 10 communicates with the server 30 to search for the best price of the items listed on the shopping list, and sells The location of the store for the item.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart of a method for locating a store for selling low-priced goods by the personal navigation device 10 of the present invention. The steps of the method of FIG. 2 will be described in detail as follows: Step 50: Start; Step 52: The user controls the personal navigation device 10 to enter the shopping list database 24 of the memory 20 to retrieve an item to input the item into a shopping list. Step 54: The personal navigation device 10 prompts the user to input the budget interval for purchasing the product; if the user wants to set the budget interval, the process proceeds to step 56; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 58; step 56: the user sets the budget interval for purchasing the product. The budget interval for purchasing the product may have an upper and lower limit, or only have an upper limit; Step 58: The user decides whether to control the personal navigation device 10 to enter the shopping list database 24 of the memory 20 to retrieve other items to join the shopping list; If yes, go back to step 52; otherwise, go to step 60; step 60: search for the items on the shopping list, and the search action may be only searching for the product database 26 stored in the memory 20 of the personal navigation device 10, or may be connected. The upper wireless network routing server 30 searches the database 32 stored in the server 30, and if there is a price range for inputting each item, the price of the item The enclosing is used to limit the search results; step 62: displaying the search results on the display 12 of the personal navigation device 10, the search results can be displayed immediately after the user inputs the shopping list, or when the personal navigation device 10 moves to more Displayed near the store location where the items on the shopping list are sold. For the sake of clarity, each item on the form will be displayed separately. The search results include the item price and the store location of the item on the shopping list. In addition, the store name, the current location to the store, and the estimated time from the current location to the store can also be selectively displayed. The search result may be displayed on the electronic map by means of a mark or by a list; step 64: determining whether the user has selected a store from the search result; if yes, proceeding to step 66; otherwise, skipping to step 68; step 66: personal The navigation device 10 provides navigation instructions to the selected store; step 68: determines whether the shopping list is empty, that is, determines that all items on the shopping list have been purchased; if yes, proceeds to step 70; otherwise, jumps back to step 60; Step 70: End.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows a schematic diagram of the search results presented by the screen image 100. The search result in Figure 3 is a special model MP3 player in the user's shopping list. There are four different search results 104, 106, 108, and 110, one of which is a search result sponsored by an advertiser. The sponsored search results 110 are non-essential and display a higher price than the other three search results 104, 106, and 108 in the current situation. The electronic map in Fig. 3 not only displays the prices of the search results 104, 106, 108, and 110, but also the relative positions of the stores selling the MP3 players to the current location of the personal navigation device 10. If the space is large enough, the name of the store can also be displayed on the electronic map. If the user wants to go to one of the search results 104, 106, 108, and 110, the user can touch the location displayed by one of the search results 104, 106, 108, and 110 to select that store. The personal navigation device 10 will then provide navigation instructions to direct the user to the selected store.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram showing a table 120 for sorting search results by price. Figure 4 shows the same search results as in Figure 3, but not in an electronic map but in a table. The table 120 can be sorted according to the low price of the price, and then sorted according to the distance of the distance. Of course, the search results can also be sorted by distance and then sorted by price. The table 120 shows the store name, and the table 120 can also display the estimated travel time from the current location of the personal navigation device 10 to the store on the search results. The user can touch a column on the table 120 to select a store, and then the personal navigation device 10 will provide navigation instructions to direct the user to the selected store.

The items in the shopping list can continue to be searched, and the database 32 stored in the server 30 or the product database stored in the memory 20 of the personal navigation device 10 will be updated every fixed period of time (e.g., 3 days). To provide updated search results. In addition, since the personal navigation device 10 is a mobile device that can often be carried to different places, when the personal navigation device 10 changes position, the search result will be updated accordingly. For example, if a user commutes from home to work, or travels long distances, the user may be closer to a store that sells items on the shopping list. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the distance between the personal navigation device 10 and the store selling the merchandise on the shopping list is less than a predetermined threshold distance, the personal navigation device 10 will notify the user that the store has a message to sell the merchandise. And the user can receive navigation instructions to the store. The personal navigation device 10 can notify the user through visual or audible alerts, such as an alarm or flash. Accordingly, the present invention provides an opportunity for a user to purchase more discounted merchandise by continuously searching for merchandise based on the merchandise price and the current location of the personal navigation device 10.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the user can also input a product to be purchased into the shopping list through the user interface of the personal navigation device 10, and then locate the store selling the low-priced product according to the personal navigation device 10 of FIG. The method of the method, step by step to search for the store that sells the goods to be purchased, and then list the location or distance of the stores on the electronic map and the price of the goods for sale, so that the user can select a store from which the individual The navigation device 10 generates a navigation command according to the selected store to guide the user to smoothly purchase the low-priced item from the selected store.

In summary, the present invention provides the user with a quick and convenient way of comparing prices through the personal navigation device 10. The user can not only use the personal navigation device 10 to search for the price of the store and the product that is selling the product that the user wants to purchase, but also use the personal navigation device 10 to generate a navigation instruction to the selected store, and when the user moves, The search results can be continuously updated according to the current location of the personal navigation device 10. Therefore, users have more opportunities to purchase goods at lower prices no matter where they are.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

10‧‧‧Personal navigation device

12‧‧‧ display

14‧‧‧Speaker

16‧‧‧ Processor

18‧‧‧GPS Receiver

19‧‧‧General Packet Radio Service Data Machine

20‧‧‧ memory

22‧‧‧Map Database

24‧‧‧Shopping List Database

26‧‧‧Product Database

30‧‧‧Server

32‧‧‧Database

100‧‧‧screen pictures

102‧‧‧ current location

104, 106, 108, 110‧‧‧ Search results

120‧‧‧Form

50~70‧‧‧ Flowchart steps

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the communication between a personal navigation device and a server.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of locating a store for selling low-priced goods by the personal navigation device of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the search results presented in a screen shot.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the search results of Figure 3 in a tabular manner.

50~70‧‧‧ Flowchart steps for a method for locating a store selling low-priced goods by a personal navigation device

Claims (18)

A method for locating a nearby store by using a personal navigation device includes: inputting, by a user interface of the personal navigation device, at least one item that a user wants to purchase into a shopping list; the personal navigation device searches for a database in a database Each item on the shopping list, the database including location information of a plurality of stores selling the item and a price at which the plurality of stores sell the item; the personal navigation device is displayed on the display of the personal navigation device Searching for a plurality of search results for the item on the shopping list, wherein the plurality of search results include location information of the plurality of stores and a price at which the plurality of stores sell the item, and the personal navigation device is based on the plurality of The actual location of the store marks the plurality of search results on an electronic map, and the plurality of search results surround a current location of the personal navigation device on the electronic map; and when the current location of the personal navigation device changes Re-search for the item on the shopping list and install it in the personal navigation A plurality of display update search results on the display. The method of claim 1, further comprising a budget range in which the user sets the item, the budget range being used to limit the plurality of search results when searching the database. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is stored in the personal navigation device Set. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is stored in a server, and the personal navigation device communicates with the server via an internet connection. The method of claim 4, wherein the personal navigation device communicates with the server wirelessly via the internet connection. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal navigation device displays the plurality of search results for searching for the item on the shopping list in the database, the price of the personal navigation device selling the item according to the plurality of stores, and / or the plurality of stores are sorted by the distance from the personal navigation device to the plurality of search results. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the user selecting a search result from the plurality of search results; and the personal navigation device providing a plurality of navigation instructions to navigate the personal navigation device to one of the search result indications store. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically updating the database with new product price information and associated locations of a plurality of stores that sell one or more items on the shopping list. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of search results are when the user Displayed immediately after entering the shopping list, or displayed when the personal navigation device moves closer to the store location where the item on the shopping list is sold. A personal navigation device for positioning to a nearby store, comprising: a memory, the memory storing an electronic map and a shopping list of a user, the shopping list listing at least one product; a processor for Controlling the operation of the personal navigation device and searching for a product in a database, the database including location information of a plurality of stores selling the product and a price at which the plurality of stores sell the product; and a display for displaying Searching, in the database, a plurality of search results of the item on the shopping list, wherein the plurality of search results include location information of the plurality of stores and a price of the plurality of stores selling the item, the personal navigation device is based on the plurality of The actual location of the store marks the plurality of search results on an electronic map, and the plurality of search results surround a current location of the personal navigation device on the electronic map, and when the current location of the personal navigation device changes, The processor controls the personal navigation device to re-search for the item on the shopping list and A plurality of display on the search results update is shown. The personal navigation device of claim 10, wherein the shopping list further includes a budget range of the product specified by the user, and when searching the database, the budget range is used to limit the plurality of search results. . The personal navigation device of claim 10, wherein the database is stored in the memory. The personal navigation device of claim 10, further comprising: an internet connection module configured to enable the personal navigation device to connect to the network, wherein the database is stored in a server, the personal navigation device Communicate with the server through the internet connection module. The personal navigation device of claim 13, wherein the internet connection module is a general packet radio service (GPRS) data machine for providing wireless communication, so that the personal navigation device The wireless way to communicate with the server. The personal navigation device of claim 10, wherein the personal navigation device sorts the plurality of search results based on a price at which the plurality of stores sell the item and/or a distance of the plurality of stores from the personal navigation device. The personal navigation device of claim 10, wherein when the user selects a search result from the plurality of search results, the processor controls the personal navigation device to provide a plurality of navigation commands to navigate the personal navigation device to The search result indicates one of the stores. The personal navigation device of claim 10, further comprising a GPS signal receiver, A current location for receiving the personal navigation device. The personal navigation device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of search results are displayed immediately after the user inputs the shopping list, or when the personal navigation device moves to a store that is closer to the item on the shopping list. Displayed after the location.