WO2010081543A2

WO2010081543A2 - Navigation system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2010081543A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/050373
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joost Pennings
Original assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
Priority date: 2009-01-14
Filing date: 2009-01-14
Publication date: 2010-07-22
Also published as: WO2010081543A3

Abstract

A navigation or mapping system comprises a display device (240) and a processing resource (210) operable to select at least one property from property data representative of properties for sale or rent in dependence on at least one property selection parameter, and to provide an output representative of the location (520, 522, 524, 526, 528) of the selected at least one property relative to a route on a map, wherein the display device (240) is responsive to the output to display the location of the selected at least one property relative to the route on the map.

Description

Navigation system and method

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a navigation or mapping system and method and in particular to a navigation or mapping system and method that may be used to navigate to or map particular properties that are for sale or rent. The invention relates in particular to portable navigation devices.

Background to the Invention Portable navigation devices (PNDs) that include GPS (Global Positioning

System) signal reception and processing functionality are well known and are widely employed as in-car or other vehicle navigation systems.

In general terms, a modern PNDs comprises a processor, memory (at least one of volatile and non-volatile, and commonly both), and map data stored within said memory. The processor and memory cooperate to provide an execution environment in which a software operating system may be established, and additionally it is commonplace for one or more additional software programs to be provided to enable the functionality of the PND to be controlled, and to provide various other functions.

Typically these devices further comprise one or more input interfaces that allow a user to interact with and control the device, and one or more output interfaces by means of which information may be relayed to the user. Illustrative examples of output interfaces include a visual display and a speaker for audible output. Illustrative examples of input interfaces include one or more physical buttons to control on/off operation or other features of the device (which buttons need not necessarily be on the device itself but could be on a steering wheel if the device is built into a vehicle), and a microphone for detecting user speech. In one arrangement the output interface display may be configured as a touch sensitive display (by means of a touch sensitive overlay or otherwise) to additionally provide an input interface by means of which a user can operate the device by touch. Devices of this type will also often include one or more physical connector interfaces by means of which power and optionally data signals can be transmitted to and received from the device, and optionally one or more wireless transmitters/receivers to allow communication over cellular telecommunications and other signal and data networks, for example Wi-Fi, Wi-Max GSM and the like. PND devices of this type also include a GPS antenna by means of which satellite-broadcast signals, including location data, can be received and subsequently processed to determine a current location of the device.

The PND device may also include electronic gyroscopes and accelerometers which produce signals that can be processed to determine the current angular and linear acceleration, and in turn, and in conjunction with location information derived from the GPS signal, velocity and relative displacement of the device and thus the vehicle in which it is mounted. Typically such features are most commonly provided in in-vehicle navigation systems, but may also be provided in PND devices if it is expedient to do so.

The utility of such PNDs is manifested primarily in their ability to determine a route between a first location (typically a start or current location) and a second location (typically a destination). These locations can be input by a user of the device, by any of a wide variety of different methods, for example by postcode, street name and house number, previously stored "well known" destinations (such as famous locations, municipal locations (such as sports grounds or swimming baths) or other points of interest), and favourite or recently visited destinations. Typically, the PND is enabled by software for computing a "best" or "optimum" route between the start and destination address locations from the map data. A "best" or "optimum" route is determined on the basis of predetermined criteria and need not necessarily be the fastest or shortest route. The selection of the route along which to guide the driver can be very sophisticated, and the selected route may take into account existing, predicted and dynamically and/or wirelessly received traffic and road information, historical information about road speeds, and the driver's own preferences for the factors determining road choice (for example the driver may specify that the route should not include motorways or toll roads).

In addition, the device may continually monitor road and traffic conditions, and offer to or choose to change the route over which the remainder of the journey is to be made due to changed conditions. Real time traffic monitoring systems, based on various technologies (e.g. mobile phone data exchanges, fixed cameras, GPS fleet tracking) are being used to identify traffic delays and to feed the information into notification systems.

PNDs of this type may typically be mounted on the dashboard or windscreen of a vehicle, but may also be formed as part of an on-board computer of the vehicle radio or indeed as part of the control system of the vehicle itself. The navigation device may also be part of a hand-held system, such as a PDA (Portable Digital Assistant) a media player, a mobile phone or the like, and in these cases, the normal functionality of the hand-held system is extended by means of the installation of software on the device to perform both route calculation and navigation along a calculated route.

Route planning and navigation functionality may also be provided by a desktop or mobile computing resource running appropriate software. For example, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) provides an on-line route planning and navigation facility at http://www.rac.co.uk, which facility allows a user to enter a start point and a destination whereupon the server to which the user's PC is connected calculates a route (aspects of which may be user specified), generates a map, and generates a set of exhaustive navigation instructions for guiding the user from the selected start point to the selected destination. The facility also provides for pseudo three-dimensional rendering of a calculated route, and route preview functionality which simulates a user travelling along the route and thereby provides the user with a preview of the calculated route. In the context of a PND, once a route has been calculated, the user interacts with the navigation device to select the desired calculated route, optionally from a list of proposed routes. Optionally, the user may intervene in, or guide the route selection process, for example by specifying that certain routes, roads, locations or criteria are to be avoided or are mandatory for a particular journey. The route calculation aspect of the PND forms one primary function, and navigation along such a route is another primary function.

During navigation along a calculated route, it is usual for such PNDs to provide visual and/or audible instructions to guide the user along a chosen route to the end of that route, i.e. the desired destination. It is also usual for PNDs to display map information on-screen during the navigation, such information regularly being updated on-screen so that the map information displayed is representative of the current location of the device, and thus of the user or user's vehicle if the device is being used for in- vehicle navigation.

An icon displayed on-screen typically denotes the current device location, and is centred with the map information of current and surrounding roads in the vicinity of the current device location and other map features also being displayed. Additionally, navigation information may be displayed, optionally in a status bar above, below or to one side of the displayed map information, examples of navigation information include a distance to the next deviation from the current road required to be taken by the user, the nature of that deviation possibly being represented by a further icon suggestive of the particular type of deviation, for example a left or right turn. The navigation function also determines the content, duration and timing of audible instructions by means of which the user can be guided along the route. As can be appreciated a simple instruction such as "turn left in 100 m" requires significant processing and analysis. As previously mentioned, user interaction with the device may be by a touch screen, or additionally or alternately by steering column mounted remote control, by voice activation or by any other suitable method.

A further important function provided by the device is automatic route recalculation in the event that: a user deviates from the previously calculated route during navigation (either by accident or intentionally); real-time traffic conditions dictate that an alternative route would be more expedient and the device is suitably enabled to recognize such conditions automatically, or if a user actively causes the device to perform route re-calculation for any reason.

It is also known to allow a route to be calculated with user defined criteria; for example, the user may prefer a scenic route to be calculated by the device, or may wish to avoid any roads on which traffic congestion is likely, expected or currently prevailing. The device software would then calculate various routes and weigh more favourably those that include along their route the highest number of points of interest (known as POIs) tagged as being for example of scenic beauty, or, using stored information indicative of prevailing traffic conditions on particular roads, order the calculated routes in terms of a level of likely congestion or delay on account thereof. Other POI-based and traffic information-based route calculation and navigation criteria are also possible.

Although the route calculation and navigation functions are fundamental to the overall utility of PNDs, it is possible to use the device purely for information display, or "free-driving", in which only map information relevant to the current device location is displayed, and in which no route has been calculated and no navigation is currently being performed by the device. Such a mode of operation is often applicable when the user already knows the route along which it is desired to travel and does not require navigation assistance.

Devices of the type described above, for example the 720T model manufactured and supplied by TomTom International B. V., provide a reliable means for enabling users to navigate from one position to another.

Although known devices have great utility in assisting a user to navigate to a wide variety of locations, including points of interest, if a user wishes to navigate to a particular property that is for sale or rent they usually have to determine the location of the property themselves from an external data source such as a website or newspaper and then enter the location into the navigation device manually themselves, which is time consuming and inefficient for a single property. In practice a user would usually wish to view or at least consider a large number of properties for sale or rent, in which case entering locations for navigation and route planning becomes even more time consuming and inefficient. Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation or mapping system comprising:- a display device, and a processing resource operable to select at least one property from property data representative of properties for sale or rent in dependence on at least one property selection parameter, and to provide an output representative of the location of the selected at least one property relative to a route on a map, and the display device is responsive to the output to display the location of the selected at least one property relative to the route on the map. The display device may be included in the same apparatus or housing as the processing resource, or may be remote from the processing resource and the system may comprise a communication system for transmitting the output to the display device.

The processing resource may be included in a navigation device, for example a portable navigation device, or may be included in a server, or may comprise a combination of processing resources at the navigation device and at the server. The display device may be included in a or the navigation device, for example a portable navigation device.

The processing resource may be operable to receive property data representative of properties for sale or rent and/or the at least one property selection parameter. The route may be a user navigation route for navigation to a user selected location or between at least two user-selected locations.

The system may further comprise communication apparatus operable by the processing resource to communicate with at least one remote data source, and the processing resource may be operable to transmit a request for property data to the at least one remote data source and to receive the property data from the at least one remote data source via the communication apparatus. The request for property data may comprise the at least one property selection parameter and/or at least one further property selection parameter.

The selecting of the at least one property by the processing resource may comprises selecting the at least one property from the received property data.

Alternatively or additionally, the request for property data may comprise the at least one property selection parameter, and the selecting of the at least one property by the processing resource may comprise transmitting the request for property data to the at least one remote data source and receiving property data representative of the selected at least one property from the at least one remote data source.

The at least one remote data source may comprise a website. Communication with the or each data source may be via the internet.

The at least one property selection parameter may be representative of at least one property attribute. The at least one attribute may comprise at least one of price; location; number of rooms; number of bedrooms; floor area; garden size; garage; date of advertisement and/or availability; proximity to schools, shops or other amenities; broker or data source.

The processing resource may be operable to compare the at least one property selection parameter to at least one attribute of each property, and to select that property if the at least one property selection parameter matches the at least one attribute. The at least one property selection parameter may comprise a threshold distance and/or or threshold travel time to the route.

The selection of the at least one property may comprise a selection of at least one property within the threshold distance and/or or the threshold travel time to the route. The route may be a predetermined route, and may be predetermined by a or the navigation apparatus in dependence upon user input. The predetermined route may be a route between at least two user-selected locations.

The processing resource may be configured to select the at least one property in dependence on the route. The processing resource may be operable to modify the route so that the modified route passes by at least one of the selected properties. The route may be a predetermined route and the processing resource may be configured to modify the predetermined route so that the modified route passes by at least one of the selected properties.

Alternatively or additionally, the route may be a route determined by the processing resource, and the processing resource may be operable to determine the route to pass by at least one of the selected properties. The processing resource may comprise a route planning module that is operable to plan a route between two or more locations, using map data.

The processing resource may be operable to rank the selected properties and to determine the route in dependence upon the ranking. The processing resource may be operable to select at least one sub-set of the selected properties and, for each sub-set of selected properties, to determine a route between the properties included in the sub-set of selected properties.

The or each sub-set may be selected by a user and/or may be selected automatically. The processing resource may be operable to determine a respective route for each sub-set and the navigation apparatus may be operable to display each of the routes. The navigation apparatus may be operable to select one of the routes in response to a user input.

The selection of the at least one property may comprise selecting the at least one property in dependence on at least one constraint on the route. The at least one constraint on the route may comprise a constraint on the length of the route, a constraint on the estimated time of travel along the route, or a constraint on the types of road or road features on the route.

The navigation apparatus may comprise a user selection device for selecting the at least one property and/or for selecting the at least one selection parameter. The user selection device may comprise for example an electro-mechanical device or a voice recognition device. The user selection device may comprise a touch screen display or a mouse.

The navigation or mapping apparatus may be configured to display a plurality of properties and the selection of at least one property comprises selection by a user of at least one of the displayed properties using the user selection means. The plurality of properties may, for example, be displayed relative to the or a route and/or may be displayed as list. The selection by the user using the user selection device may comprise a further selection amongst already-selected properties (for example already selected in dependence upon the at least one property selection parameter). The output may be for causing a display to display information concerning the selected at least one property.

The navigation apparatus may comprise a display. Alternatively or additionally the navigation apparatus may be configured to store the output for later display and/or to send the output to a remote display. The output may be representative of a property indicator representative of the location of each selected property on the map, and the display device may be responsive to the output to display, for each selected property, the property indicator representative of the location of that selected property on the map.

The output may be representative of at least one data item concerning at least one of the selected properties, and the display device is responsive to the output to display at least one data item concerning at least one of the selected properties.

The or each data item may comprise at least one of price, location, number of rooms, floor area, garden size, garage, date of advertisement and/or availability, proximity to schools, shops or other amenities, broker and data source. The display device may be included in a portable navigation apparatus, and the processing resource may be configured to monitor travel of the portable navigation apparatus to the selected at least one property and to provide a monitoring signal representative of the number, proportion or identity of the properties to which the apparatus has travelled.

The portable navigation apparatus may comprise a location determination unit for determining the location of the portable navigation apparatus. The portable navigation apparatus may be a portable navigation device (PND) or a mobile phone.

A payment and/or determination of fulfilment of a contractual condition may be provided in dependence on the monitoring signal.

In another, independent aspect of the invention there is provided a navigation or mapping apparatus comprising a processing resource operable to receive property data representative of properties for sale or rent and/or at least one property selection parameter; to select at least one property from the property data in dependence on the at least one property selection parameter, and to provide an output representative of the location of the selected at least one property relative to a route on a map. In a further, independent aspect of the invention there is provided a method of navigation or mapping, comprising selecting at least one property from property data representative of properties in a region in dependence on at least one property selection parameter, and displaying the location of the selected at least one property relative to a route on a map. In another, independent aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product comprising computer readable instructions that are executable to perform a method as claimed or described herein.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, apparatus features may be applied to method features and vice versa.

Brief Description of the Drawings

At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a Global Positioning System (GPS) usable by a navigation device;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of electronic components of a navigation device;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communications system including a wireless communication channel for communication with the navigation device;

Figures 4a and 4b are illustrative perspective views of a navigation device; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an architectural stack of the navigation device of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an illustrative screenshot from the navigation device of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a property navigation and mapping system; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a menu screen displayed by the navigation device of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a property listing displayed by the navigation device of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is an illustration of a detailed data entry for a selected property; Figure 1 1 is a schematic illustration of a property map displayed by the navigation device of Figure 2;

Figure 12 is a schematic illustration of a modified version of the property map of Figure 1 1 ;

Figures 13 and 14 are schematic illustrations of further property maps displayed by the navigation device of Figure 2; and

Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating in overview a property mapping

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to a PND. It should be remembered, however, that the teachings of the present invention are not limited to PNDs but are instead universally applicable to any type of processing device that is configured to execute navigation software so as to provide route planning and navigation functionality. It follows therefore that in the context of the present application, a navigation device is intended to include (without limitation) any type of route planning and navigation device, irrespective of whether that device is embodied as a PND, a navigation device built into a vehicle, or indeed a computing resource (such as a desktop or portable personal computer (PC), mobile telephone or portable digital assistant (PDA)) executing route planning and navigation software. It will also be apparent from the following that the teachings of the present invention even have utility in circumstances where a user is not seeking instructions on how to navigate from one point to another, but merely wishes to be provided with a view of a given location. In such circumstances the "destination" location selected by the user need not have a corresponding start location from which the user wishes to start navigating, and as a consequence references herein to the "destination" location or indeed to a "destination" view should not be interpreted to mean that the generation of a route is essential, that travelling to the "destination" must occur, or indeed that the presence of a destination requires the designation of a corresponding start location.

With the above provisos in mind, Fig. 1 illustrates an example view of Global Positioning System (GPS), usable by navigation devices. Such systems are known and are used for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite-radio based navigation system capable of determining continuous position, velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for an unlimited number of users. Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality of satellites which orbit the earth in extremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to any number of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially equipped to receive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellite signals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the device determines the precise location of that satellite via one of a plurality of different conventional methods. The device will continue scanning, in most instances, for signals until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals (noting that position is not normally, but can be determined, with only two signals using other triangulation techniques). Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizes the three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional position relative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner. Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow the receiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the same geometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and velocity data can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by an unlimited number of users.

As shown in Figure 1 , the GPS system is denoted generally by reference numeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the earth 124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarily synchronous with the orbits of other satellites 120 and, in fact, is likely asynchronous. A GPS receiver 140 is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from the various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160, continuously transmitted from each satellite 120, utilize a highly accurate frequency standard accomplished with an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120, as part of its data signal transmission 160, transmits a data stream indicative of that particular satellite 120. It is appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art that the GPS receiver device 140 generally acquires spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120 for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensional position by triangulation. Acquisition of an additional signal, resulting in signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permits the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional position in a known manner.

Figure 2 is an illustrative representation of electronic components of a navigation device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in block component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of the navigation device 200 is not inclusive of all components of the navigation device, but is only representative of many example components.

The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). The housing includes a processor 210 connected to an input device 220 and a display screen 240. The input device 220 can include a keyboard device, voice input device, touch panel and/or any other known input device utilised to input information; and the display screen 240 can include any type of display screen such as an LCD display, for example. In one arrangement the input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device, including a touchpad or touchscreen input so that a user need only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of a plurality of display choices or to activate one of a plurality of virtual buttons.

The navigation device may include an output device 260, for example an audible output device (e.g. a loudspeaker). As output device 260 can produce audible information for a user of the navigation device 200, it is should equally be understood that input device 240 can include a microphone and software for receiving input voice commands as well.

In the navigation device 200, processor 210 is operatively connected to and set to receive input information from input device 220 via a connection 225, and operatively connected to at least one of display screen 240 and output device 260, via output connections 245, to output information thereto. Further, the processor 210 is operably coupled to a memory resource 230 via connection 235 and is further adapted to receive/send information from/to input/output (I/O) ports 270 via connection 275, wherein the I/O port 270 is connectible to an I/O device 280 external to the navigation device 200. The memory resource 230 comprises, for example, a volatile memory, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory, for example a digital memory, such as a flash memory. The external I/O device 280 may include, but is not limited to an external listening device such as an earpiece for example. The connection to I/O device 280 can further be a wired or wireless connection to any other external device such as a car stereo unit for hands-free operation and/or for voice activated operation for example, for connection to an ear piece or head phones, and/or for connection to a mobile phone for example, wherein the mobile phone connection may be used to establish a data connection between the navigation device 200 and the internet or any other network for example, and/or to establish a connection to a server via the internet or some other network for example.

Fig. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor 210 and an antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, wherein the antenna/receiver 250 can be a GPS antenna/receiver for example. It will be understood that the antenna and receiver designated by reference numeral 250 are combined schematically for illustration, but that the antenna and receiver may be separately located components, and that the antenna may be a GPS patch antenna or helical antenna for example. Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic components shown in Fig. 2 are powered by power sources (not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, different configurations of the components shown in Fig. 2 are considered to be within the scope of the present application. For example, the components shown in Fig. 2 may be in communication with one another via wired and/or wireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope of the navigation device 200 of the present application includes a portable or handheld navigation device 200.

In addition, the portable or handheld navigation device 200 of Fig. 2 can be connected or "docked" in a known manner to a vehicle such as a bicycle, a motorbike, a car or a boat for example. Such a navigation device 200 is then removable from the docked location for portable or handheld navigation use.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the navigation device 200 may establish a "mobile" or telecommunications network connection with a server 302 via a mobile device (not shown) (such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device with mobile phone technology) establishing a digital connection (such as a digital connection via known Bluetooth technology for example). Thereafter, through its network service provider, the mobile device can establish a network connection (through the internet for example) with a server 302. As such, a "mobile" network connection is established between the navigation device 200 (which can be, and often times is mobile as it travels alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 to provide a "real-time" or at least very "up to date" gateway for information.

The establishing of the network connection between the mobile device (via a service provider) and another device such as the server 302, using an internet (such as the World Wide Web) for example, can be done in a known manner. This can include use of TCP/IP layered protocol for example. The mobile device can utilize any number of communication standards such as CDMA, GSM, WAN, etc. As such, an internet connection may be utilised which is achieved via data connection, via a mobile phone or mobile phone technology 272 within the navigation device 200 for example. For this connection, an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 is established. This can be done, for example, through a mobile phone or other mobile device and a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)-connection (GPRS connection is a high-speed data connection for mobile devices provided by telecom operators; GPRS is a method to connect to the internet).

The navigation device 200 can further complete a data connection with the mobile device, and eventually with the internet and server 302, via existing Bluetooth technology for example, in a known manner, wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of standards, such as the GSRM, the Data Protocol Standard for the GSM standard, for example.

The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 itself (including an antenna for example, or optionally using the internal antenna of the navigation device 200). The mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can include internal components as specified above, and/or can include an insertable card (e.g. Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card), complete with necessary mobile phone technology and/or an antenna for example. As such, mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can similarly establish a network connection between the navigation device 200 and the server 302, via the internet for example, in a manner similar to that of any mobile device.

For GPRS phone settings, a Bluetooth enabled navigation device may be used to correctly work with the ever changing spectrum of mobile phone models, manufacturers, etc., model/manufacturer specific settings may be stored on the navigation device 200 for example. The data stored for this information can be updated.

In Fig. 3 the navigation device 200 is depicted as being in communication with the server 302 via a generic communications channel 318 that can be implemented by any of a number of different arrangements. The server 302 and a navigation device 200 can communicate when a connection via communications channel 318 is established between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 (noting that such a connection can be a data connection via mobile device, a direct connection via personal computer via the internet, etc.).

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

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

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

Software stored in server memory 306 provides instructions for the processor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services to the navigation device 200. One service provided by the server 302 involves processing requests from the navigation device 200 and transmitting navigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the navigation device 200. Another service provided by the server 302 includes processing the navigation data using various algorithms for a desired application and sending the results of these calculations to the navigation device 200.

The communication channel 318 generically represents the propagating medium or path that connects the navigation device 200 and the server 302. Both the server 302 and navigation device 200 include a transmitter for transmitting data through the communication channel and a receiver for receiving data that has been transmitted through the communication channel.

The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particular communication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 318 is not limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel 318 may include several communication links that use a variety of technology. For example, the communication channel 318 can be adapted to provide a path for electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communications, etc. As such, the communication channel 318 includes, but is not limited to, one or a combination of the following: electric circuits, electrical conductors such as wires and coaxial cables, fibre optic cables, converters, radio-frequency (RF) waves, the atmosphere, empty space, etc. Furthermore, the communication channel 318 can include intermediate devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers, for example.

In one illustrative arrangement, the communication channel 318 includes telephone and computer networks. Furthermore, the communication channel 318 may be capable of accommodating wireless communication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, etc. Additionally, the communication channel 318 can accommodate satellite communication.

The communication signals transmitted through the communication channel 318 include, but are not limited to, signals as may be required or desired for given communication technology. For example, the signals may be adapted to be used in cellular communication technology such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), etc. Both digital and analogue signals can be transmitted through the communication channel 318. These signals may be modulated, encrypted and/or compressed signals as may be desirable for the communication technology.

The server 302 includes a remote server accessible by the navigation device 200 via a wireless channel. The server 302 may include a network server located on a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), etc.

The server 302 may include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 318 may be a cable connected between the personal computer and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between the navigation device 200 and the server 302 to establish an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other handheld device may establish a wireless connection to the internet, for connecting the navigation device 200 to the server 302 via the internet.

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

As indicated above in Fig. 2, a navigation device 200 includes a processor 210, an input device 220, and a display screen 240. The input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device to enable both input of information (via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and display of information through a touch panel screen, for example. Such a screen may be a touch input LCD screen, for example, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the navigation device 200 can also include any additional input device 220 and/or any additional output device 241 , such as audio input/output devices for example. Figs 4A and 4B are perspective views of a navigation device 200. As shown in

Fig. 4A, the navigation device 200 may be a unit that includes an integrated input and display device 290 (a touch panel screen for example) and the other components of fig. 2 (including but not limited to internal GPS receiver 250, microprocessor 210, a power supply, memory systems 230, etc.). The navigation device 200 may sit on an arm 292, which itself may be secured to a vehicle dashboard/window/etc, using a suction cup 294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station to which the navigation device 200 can be docked.

As shown in Fig. 4B, the navigation device 200 can be docked or otherwise connected to an arm 292 of the docking station by snap connecting the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 for example. The navigation device 200 may then be rotatable on the arm 292, as shown by the arrow of Fig. 4B. To release the connection between the navigation device 200 and the docking station, a button on the navigation device 200 may be pressed, for example. Other equally suitable arrangements for coupling and decoupling the navigation device to a docking station are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, the memory resource 230 stores a boot loader program (not shown) that is executed by the processor 210 in order to load an operating system 470 from the memory resource 230 for execution by functional hardware components 460, which provides an environment in which application software 480 can run. The operating system 470 serves to control the functional hardware components 460 and resides between the application software 480 and the functional hardware components 460. The application software 480 provides an operational environment including the GUI that supports core functions of the navigation device 200, for example map viewing, route planning, navigation functions and any other functions associated therewith. In accordance with the embodiment described in more detail below, the application software 480 includes a property display and routing module 490.

When the user switches on the device 200, the device 200 acquires a GPS fix and calculates (in a known manner) the current location of the navigation device 200. The location is calculated using a location determining unit comprising the antenna/receiver 250, the connection 255 and a position determining module (not shown) included in the processor 210. The user is then presented, as shown in Figure 6, with a view in pseudo three dimensions on a touch screen display 240 of the local environment 502 in which the navigation device 200 is determined to be located, and in a region 504 of the display 240 below the local environment a series of control and status messages. The device 200 provides route planning, mapping and navigation functions to the user, in dependence on user input provided by a series of interlinked soft or virtual buttons and menu screens that can be displayed on the display 240.

Whilst the navigation device 200 may be used to navigate to any specified location, in one mode of operation it can be used in particular to display information concerning properties, in particular properties for sale or rent, to display the location of such properties and to determine routes and navigate between selected properties.

Figure 7 shows a property navigation and mapping system in which the navigation device 200 of Figures 2 and 3 is arranged to communicate with one or more websites or other data sources 512, 514, 516 via the internet using the communication apparatus included in the device 200, either directly or via communications channel 318. The websites 512, 514, 516 are property websites that provide property data representing properties that are for sale or rent.

The navigation device of Figure 7 enables the user to see properties that are for sale or rent along their route, to plan a route along such properties, to see detailed up-to- date information concerning such properties, and to enter selection criteria for determining houses of interest.

In operation the user is able to enter property parameters via a menu screen displayed on display 240 under control of the property display and routing module 490, as illustrated schematically in Figure 8. The property parameters comprise one or more property attributes including, for example, one or more of price, location, distance from current position or other, predetermined position, number of rooms, number of bedrooms, floor area, garden size, garage, date of advertisement and/or availability, broker and website or other data source. In the example shown in Figure 8 the menu screen provides drop down menus 522 524 526 that allow selection of price, location, and number of bedrooms, with further drop down menus for selection of other property parameter options accessible via operation of button 528.

Once a user has selected the property parameters, the navigation device sends a request representative of the selected property parameters to the websites 512, 514, 516 under control of the property display and routing module 490. The websites 512, 514, 516 compare the property parameters to stored property data and return relevant property data representative of properties that match the property parameters to the navigation device 200. The relevant property data is stored or cached in the memory 230. In an alternative mode of operation all property data, or at least all property data for a particular town, city or region, is downloaded from the websites 512, 514, 516 and stored in the memory 230. The matching to the selected property parameters is then performed by the property display and routing module 490 with respect to the property data stored in the memory 230.

A list of relevant property, that matches the selected property parameters, is then displayed on the touch screen display 240, as illustrated schematically in Figure 9. The user is able to select one or more, or all, of the properties for display via operation of the touch screen display. Alternatively the user can return to the menu screen of Figure 8 to select different property parameters. A detailed data entry for each selected property can also be viewed, as shown in Figure 10, including a link to enable viewing of the location of the property on a map.

The relevant properties are ranked, in the example of Figure 9, by the property display and routing module 490 in dependence upon how closely the properties match the property parameters and are listed in order of ranking. The criteria for ranking can be set in dependence upon user preference. In the example of Figure 9 the properties are ranked in order of how closely they match the user's target price. The user can alter the rankings, for example by reordering the list. After the user has selected the properties for display, a processing resource, in the form of the processor 210, determines a route, using its route planning software components, between the locations of the selected properties. The route planning components usually determine the shortest or fastest route between locations.

The property display and routing module 490 then provides an output, in the form of a display signal, which causes the display 240 to display property indicators representing the locations 520, 522, 524, 526, 528 of the selected properties relative to the route 530 on a map, as illustrated schematically in Figure 1 1 . In the example shown in Figure 1 1 , the route 530 is determined as departing from the current location 532 of the device 200 but any location, for example a home location, can be selected as the departure location. The display 240 is also able, dependent upon user preference, to display the total distance for the route 530 and the estimated time to travel along the route 530 (not shown in Figure 1 1 for clarity).

If the user accepts the route via operation of a "done" virtual button (or by any other suitable technique, for example by voice command) and commences their journey, the device 200 guides the user along the route, in a known manner, by updating the map displayed on the display 240 in accordance with determined changes in the location of the device 200, and by providing the user with visual and, optionally, audible navigation instructions.

Alternatively the user may modify the properties that are included on the route, either by removing one or more of the properties or by returning to the list of Figure 9 and selecting further properties to be included on the route. The user is able to remove one or more of the properties by touching the touch screen display 240 at the location of an indicator 520 of a property to be removed, in order to bring up a menu (not shown) concerning the property, and selecting a remove option from the menu. If the properties that are included on the route are changed, the processor 210 updates the route to take account of the changes, and provides an updated display signal which causes the display 240 to display the property indicators representing the locations of the remaining properties relative to the route 530 on a map. An example of a modification to the route between the properties shown in Figure 1 1 is illustrated in Figure 12, following removal of one of the properties (represented by property indicator 520 in Figure 1 1 ). It can be seen that the route 540 shown in Figure 12 has been modified in comparison to the route 530 shown in Figure 1 1 .

In the examples illustrated in Figures 1 1 and 12, the ranking of each property, indicated by the numerals 1 to 5, that represents how closely it matches the selected property parameters is displayed on the display 240 within the property indicator. Other data items associated with each property may be displayed on the display, as well as or instead of the ranking. The data items can include one or more of price, location, number of rooms, number of bedrooms, floor area, garden size, garage, date of advertisement and/or availability, broker, website or other data source, and a photograph of the property. The data items can be overlaid on the map and can be displayed at a position on the map representative of the location of the property in question, or can be linked to that position, for example by an arrow.

In the mode of operation illustrated in Figure 12, the user is able to remove or add properties and a route between the properties is then redetermined by the processor 210. In another mode of operation, illustrated in Figure 13, the processor 200 is operable to automatically determine routes between different subsets of selected properties. In the example of Figure 13, five properties have been selected and indicators 600, 602, 604, 606, 608 representing the properties are displayed on the display 240. The processor 210 has automatically determined a route 612 between all five properties leading from and returning to the user's home location 610, and has also determined two further routes 614, 616. One of the further routes 614 excludes the lowest ranked property (represented by indicator 604) and the other of the further routes 616 excludes the two lowest ranked properties (represented by indicators 600, 604). The distances and estimated travel times (not shown in Figure 13 for clarity) for each route are also displayed to the user. The user is able to select which of the routes to follow, and the device 200 then guides the user on the selected route using known techniques. In the example of Figure 13, the different subsets are selected in dependence on property ranking, but other criteria for selecting the subsets can be used.

In the examples of Figures 12 to 14, properties are selected in dependence on comparison with property parameters and/or in dependence on user input. Alternatively or additionally, properties can be selected in dependence on at least one constraint on a route that leads between the properties. So, for example, the processor 210 is operable to automatically select properties that would result in a route of less than a selected length or that is estimated to have less than a selected travel time.

As well as determining routes between selected properties, the processor 210 is also operable to select and display properties in dependence on a route. In the example illustrated in Figure 14, a user has requested the navigation device 200 to determine a route 620 between the user's home location 622 and work location 624. The route 620 is displayed on a map on the display 240, together with property indicators 626, 628 that represent the location of properties on the route. Property indicators 630, 632 that represent the location of properties that are within a threshold distance or threshold estimated travel time of the route 620 are also displayed. In this example the processor 210 has also determined and displayed an alternative route 634 that leads between all of the properties within the threshold distance or threshold estimated travel time of the predetermined route. Distances and estimated travel times (not shown in Figure 14 for clarity) for both the route 620 and the alternative route 634 are also displayed on the display 240. The user is able to select either of the route 620 and the alternative route 634.

The processor 200 is operable, dependent on user preference, to display properties that may be of interest each time that the user requests a route to a destination, and to suggest an alternative route to the destination to view such properties.

The processor 200 is able to monitor the location of the device 200 following departure on a selected route. In one mode of operation the processor 200 monitors whether the user has visited selected properties, either in dependence on whether the device 200 has passed by the selected properties or whether the device 200 has paused within a threshold distance of the properties for longer than a threshold period of time (indicating that the user may have parked to visit the property). The processor 200 is operable to provide an output signal representative of the number and/or identity of the selected properties that have been visited. The output signal can be provided to the server 302 and/or to the websites 512, 514, 516. In one mode of operation, the number and/or location of properties that have been visited can be used as a basis for determining a payment or for determining fulfilment of a contractual condition. For example, the number and/or location of properties that have been visited by navigation device users can be used to determine a payment between a navigation device service provider and/or a property service provider and/or to or from a user. In the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 described above, the navigation device

200 that selects properties and plan routes is a portable navigation device. In variants of the embodiments of Figures 7 and 8, the property selection and route planning functionality can be provided by any suitable processing resource, for example the server 302 or websites 512, 514, 516. In those variants data representative of selected properties and/or route can be sent to a user display device, for example a PC, a mobile phone or a PND for display.

In other variants, at least one property selection parameter is sent from the navigation device 200 to the server and/or data sources (for example websites 512, 514, 516) and property selection is performed by the server and/or data sources. Property data representative of selected properties is then sent to the navigation device 200 by the server and/or data sources, for further selection and/or display and/or route planning.

As described herein, the navigation device 200 is able to retrieve data relating to properties for sale or rent (for example, up-to-date data from internet house-selling or letting sites), and the user can select selection criteria (for example price or location) for determining the properties of interest to him or her. The navigation device 200 is able to process the data so that the user can plan a route along properties of his/her interest, to display the properties of interest to the user along the route, and to display information concerning the properties. An example of operation of the navigation device is illustrated in overview in the flow chart of Figure 15.

It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, although the present invention may be exemplified as a portable navigation device, it would be appreciated that route planning and navigation functionality may also be provided by a desktop or mobile computing resource running appropriate software. For example, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) provides an online route planning and navigation facility at http://www.rac.co.uk, which facility allows a user to enter a start point and a destination whereupon the server with which the user's computing resource is communicating calculates a route (aspects of which may be user specified), generates a map, and generates a set of exhaustive navigation instructions for guiding the user from the selected start point to the selected destination.

Whilst embodiments described in the foregoing detailed description refer to GPS, it should be noted that the navigation device may utilise any kind of position sensing technology as an alternative to (or indeed in addition to) GPS. For example the navigation device may utilise using other global navigation satellite systems such as the European Galileo system. Equally, it is not limited to satellite based but could readily function using ground based beacons or any other kind of system that enables the device to determine its geographic location. Alternative embodiments of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer program product being, for example, a series of computer instructions stored on a tangible data recording medium, such as a diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, or fixed disk, or embodied in a computer data signal, the signal being transmitted over a tangible medium or a wireless medium, for example, microwave or infrared. The series of computer instructions can constitute all or part of the functionality described above, and can also be stored in any memory device, volatile or non-volatile, such as semiconductor, magnetic, optical or other memory device.

It will also be well understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that whilst the embodiment implement certain functionality by means of software, that functionality could equally be implemented solely in hardware (for example by means of one or more ASICs (application specific integrated circuit)) or indeed by a mix of hardware and software. As such, the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to being implemented in software.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Lastly, it should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features or embodiments herein disclosed irrespective of whether or not that particular combination has been specifically enumerated in the accompanying claims at this time.

Claims

1 . A navigation or mapping system comprising :- a display device (240), and a processing resource (210) operable to select at least one property from property data representative of properties for sale or rent in dependence on at least one property selection parameter, and to provide an output representative of the location (520, 522, 524, 526, 528) of the selected at least one property relative to a route (530) on a map, wherein the display device (240) is responsive to the output to display the location (520, 522, 524, 526, 528) of the selected at least one property relative to the route (530) on the map.

2. A system according to Claim 1 , further comprising communication apparatus (272) operable by the processing resource (210) to communicate with at least one remote data source (512, 514, 516), wherein the processing resource (210) is operable to transmit a request for property data to the at least one remote data source (512, 514, 516) and to receive the property data from the at least one remote data source (512, 514, 516) via the communication apparatus (272).

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the selecting of the at least one property by the processing resource (210) comprises selecting the at least one property from the received property data.

4. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the request for property data comprises the at least one property selection parameter, and the selecting of the at least one property by the processing resource (210) comprises transmitting the request for property data to the at least one remote data source (512, 514, 516) and receiving property data representative of the selected at least one property from the at least one remote data source (512, 514, 516).

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one property selection parameter is representative of at least one property attribute.

6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one property selection parameter comprises a threshold distance and/or or threshold travel time to the route (530).

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing resource (210) is configured to select the at least one property in dependence on the route (530).

8. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing resource (210) is operable to determine the route (530) to pass by at least one of the selected properties.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the processing resource (210) is operable to select at least one sub-set of the selected properties and, for each sub-set of selected properties, to determine a route between the properties included in the sub-set of selected properties.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing resource (210) is operable to modify the route (530) so that the modified route passes by at least one of the selected properties.

1 1 . A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the selection of the at least one property comprises selecting the at least one property in dependence on at least one constraint on the route (530).

12. A system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a user selection device (220) for selecting the at least one property and/or for selecting the at least one selection parameter.

13. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is representative of a property indicator representative of the location of each selected property on the map (530), and the display device (240) is responsive to the output to display, for each selected property, the property indicator representative of the location of that selected property on the map (530).

14. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is representative of at least one data item concerning at least one of the selected properties, and the display device (240) is responsive to the output to display at least one data item concerning at least one of the selected properties.

15. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the display device (240) is included in a portable navigation apparatus (200), and the processing resource (210) is configured to monitor travel of the portable navigation apparatus (200) to the selected at least one property and to provide a monitoring signal representative of the number, proportion or identity of the properties to which the apparatus has travelled.

16. A navigation or mapping apparatus (200) comprising a processing resource (210) operable to receive property data representative of properties for sale or rent and/or at least one property selection parameter; to select at least one property from the property data in dependence on the at least one property selection parameter, and to provide an output representative of the location (520, 522, 524, 526, 528) of the selected at least one property relative to a route (530) on a map.

17. A method of navigation or mapping, comprising selecting at least one property from property data representative of properties in a region in dependence on at least one property selection parameter, and displaying the location (520, 522, 524, 526, 528) of the selected at least one property relative to a route on a map.

18. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions that are executable to perform a method according to Claim 17.