VWGoA - Ex. 1007
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Petitioner
`
`1
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`

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`
`2
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 2
`
`(A)
`
`
`
`Road data
`
`Road Number
`Node Point Data
`ND 1, ND2,
`------- --
`
`Road Classification 1%
`Road Len h
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(B)
`
`
`
`
`
`Number
`
`Name
`
`Position
`
`
`
`
`
`Latitude:xx
`
`3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`PROCESS ROUTINE FOR EXTRACTING AND
`
`TRANSMITTING ROUTE/GUIDANCE DATA
`
`N0
`
`
`
`
`REQUEST BEEN MADE ‘?
`
`HAS A ROUTE SEARCH
`
`Yes
`
`Fig. 3
`
`S1
`
`S2
`
`DETERMINING POSITIONS (LONGITUDE, LATITUDE) OF
`
`THE DEPARTURE POINT AND DESTINATION
`
`S3
`
`ROUTE SEARCH
`
`34
`
`EXTRACTING COURSE-CHANGE POINTS
`
`S5
`
`SETTING COUNTER i AT 1 FOR A TOTAL OF N
`
`COURSE-CHANGE POINTS
`
`
`
`EXTRACTING GUIDANCE DATA FOR THE SURROUNDING
`
`AREA OF THE i'TH NUMBERED COURSE-CHANGE POINT
`
` 87
`
`S9
`
`TRANSMIT ROUTE/GUIDANCE DATA
`
`Yes
`
`RETURN
`
`S8
`
`4
`
`

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`
`5
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Road Number of Road
`
`Road Number of Road
`
`Entering
`The Intersection
`
`Exiting
`The Intersection
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 6
`
`DT3
`
`R3
`
`DT4
`
`6h
`
`R4
`
`C2
`
`C4
`
`7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 7
`
`(A)
`
`De o arture Position
`Destination
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on 'tude I Latitude)
`on 'tude I Latitude)
`
`Road Data
`
`Road Number; Road Name; Road Length; Node Point
`Position; ---- --
`
`Road Number; Road Name; Road Length; Node Point
`Position; ---- --
`
`Intersection Data
`Corres - ondin Data
`Intersection Number; Intersection Name;
`Intersection Position; ---- --
`
`Intersection Number; Intersection Name;
`Intersection Position; ---- --
`
`(D)
`
`
`
`Area Guidance Data for Course-chane Point
`Course-Chane Point
`C1
`
`Intersection Number; Position; Road Number
`and Map Data For Entrance Road; Road
`Number and Map Data For Exit Road;
`Guidance Data (which includes map data and
`voice guidance data about the course-change
`point and surrounding area of the course-
`chan e oint; and the like)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 8(A)
`
`S130
`
`START
`
`S 10 1
`
`OBTAIN GPS DATA
`
`
`
`IS ROUTE/GUIDANCE
`
`DATA PRESENT ?
`
`S131
`
`S 1 32
`
`ESTABLISH A DATA REQUEST FLAG
`
`
`
`INPUT DESTINATION DATA, AND REQUEST SEARCH
`
`S138
`
`3133
`
`DISPLAY DEPARTURE POINT
`
`SELECT
`
`AND DESTINATION
`
`CORRESPONDING ITEM
`
`S134
`
`Yes
`
`S137
`
`5135
`
`DISPLAY OUTLINE MAP OF
`
`REPEAT
`
`SEARCHED ROUTE
`
`SEARCH REQUEST
`
`S136 ¢
`
`Yes
`
`9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`«Sm
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 9
`
`(A)
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERSECTION
`
`cs
`
`
`
`
`
`|
`
`INTERSECTION
`C3
`
`
`
`POINT
`
`11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 10
`
`(B
`
`R
`
`12
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 11
`
`(A)
`
`(B)
`
`DSn
`
`~
`
`‘~._‘
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 13 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 12
`
`FOR
`ROUTINE
`PROCESS
`EXTRACTING ROUTE/GUIDANCE
`DATA OF SURROUNDING AREAS
`
`CAPABLE OFMAPMATCI-IING
`
`THE LENGTH "L" OF THE ENTRANCE ROAD
`
`"Rn" 10 THE COURSE-CI-IANGE POINT
`
`.1s
`
`READOUT
`
`S61
`
`S62
`
` S67
`
`
`"L" = "L" + LENGTH OF
`
`ROAD "Rn - I"
`
`
`
`IS "L" ; MINIMUM
`
`DISTANCE "Mmin" REQUIRED
`FOR MAP MATCHING ?
`
`
`
`Yes
`
`S63
`
`IS "L" 2 MAXIMUMDISTANCE
`
`
`
`REQUIRED FORMAP
`MATCHING?
`
`
`No
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH PROVISIONAL 1NTERSECI'ION
`
`
`
`RECTANGULAR
`ESTABLISH
`AREA HAVING ONE
`SIDE
`
`
`
`
`S64
`
`S66
`
`14
`
`
`
`WHOSE LENGTH N IS EQUAL
`TO TWICE THE STRAIGHT-LINE
`DISTANCE
`BETWEEN THE
`
`POINT
`STARTING
`INTERSECTION OF THE ROAD
`"Rn - 1" AND THE i'TH COURSE-
`
`CHANGE POINT
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH RECTANGULAR AREA
`HAVING ONE SIDE WHOSE LENGTH
`
`THE
`EQUAL TO TWICE
`N IS
`STRAIGHT-LINE
`DISTANCE
`BETWEEN
`THE
`PROVISIONAL
`
`IN'I‘ERSECTION
`
`AND
`
`THE
`
`i’TH
`
`NUMBERED COURSE-CHANGE POINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`14
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 14 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 13
`
`(A)
`
`R3<L3)
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 15 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 14
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 16 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 15
`
`PROCESS ROUTINE FOR
`
`ESTABLISH]NG A RETURN ROUTE
`
`
`
`
`D TANCE "GL" ?
`
`
`IS "LII
`
`GUIDANCE START
`
`
`
`
`
`DOES THE INTERSECTION
`
`BEFORE THE i'TH NUMBERED
`
`COURSE-CHANGE POINT HAVE A
`
`ROAD HEADING IN THE SAME
`
`DIRECTION AS THE ROAD
`
`EXISTING TI-IE i"I'H NUMBERED
`
`COURSE-CHANGE POINT ?
`
`17
`
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH A RETURN ROUTE
`
`17
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 17 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 16
`
`INTERSECFION
`
`Cc
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 18 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 17
`
`Ce
`
`_
`
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`
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`
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`(X2,Y2)
`
`X
`
`X
`
`19
`
`(A)
`
`(B)
`
`19
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`
`20
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 20 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 19
`
`Types of Guidance Area
`
`Types of Available Guidance
`
`
`
`(1) Recommended Route
`(1) Surrounding Area of
`
`(indicated by only lines)
`Departure Point
`
` (2) Surrounding Area of
`
`
`(2) Recommended Route
`(with detailed information)
`Destination
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(3) Surrounding Area of
`Course-Change Point
`
`
`
`(3) Detailed Information for
`Surrounding Area
`
`Its
`
`21
`
`
`
`
`(1) Distance and Direction
`Information
`
` Intermediate Sections
`
`
`the
`concerning
`(information
`distance to the course-change point
`and the direction to be proceed at the
`course-change point)
`
`
`
`
`
`(2) Detailed Information for
`The Intermediate Section
`
`21
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 21 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 20
`
`Recommended Route
`
`(indicated by only lines)
`
`Recommended Route
`
`(With detailed information)
`
`Detailed Information for Its Surrounding
`Area
`
`i)
`
`ii)
`
`i)
`
`Image Data for The Searched Route
`and The Other Route
`
`Commonly Used Setting Data
`
`Image Data for The Searched Route
`and The Other Route
`
`Voice Guidance Data
`ii)
`Road Classification Data
`iii)
`iv) . Data concerning The Width of Each
`Road
`
`v)
`i)
`
`Commonl Used Settin Data
`Image Data for The Searched Route
`and The Other Route
`
`Voice Guidance Data
`ii)
`Road Classification Data
`iii)
`iv) Data concerning The Width of Each
`Road
`
`Directional Information Data
`V)
`vi) Data for Lanes at The Intersection
`vii) Data for The Landmarks
`viii) Commonly Used Setting Data
`
`Distance and Direction Information
`
`(information concerning the distance to
`the course-change point and the direction
`to be proceed at the course-change point)
`
`Commonly Used Setting Data
`
`Detailed Information for
`The Intermediate Section
`
`i) Data for The Intersection Names
`ii) Directional Information Data
`iii) Data for Lanes at The Intersection
`iv) Commonly Used Setting Data
`
`22
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 22 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Fig. 21
`
`FOR
`ROUTINE
`PROCESS
`OBTAINING ROUTEIGUIDANCE
`DATA AND FOR BEGINNING
`GUIDANCE
`
`
`
`No
`
`HAS USER SELECTED TO
`OBTAIN GUIDANCE DATA
`FROM NAVIGATION BASE ?
`
`
`
`%5
`
`
`
`S221
`
`DISPLAY SELECTION SCREEN FOR
`SELECTING TYPE 01* GUIDANCEAREA
`
`S222
`
`S226
` HAS ‘INTERJWEDIATE
`CONFIRMATION
`EXECUTION
` DISPLAY
`SECTIONS ' OR "ALL'
`
`
`SCREEN FOR CONFIRMING STORAGE AND
`BEEN D ?
`TRANSMISSION OF SELECTED DATA
`
`
`S227
`
`
`
`
`OB'I‘A1N ROUTEIGUIDANCE DATA
`FROM NAVIGATION BASE
`
`
`
`FOR
`SCREEN
`SELECTION
`DISPLAY
`
`
`SELECTING TYPE OF AVAIIABLE GUIDANCE
`
`FOR ‘INTERMEDIATE SECTIONS"
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY EXECUTION CONFIRMATION
`SCREEN FOR CONFIRMING TO BEGIN
`GUIDANCE
`
`
`
`S228
`
`HAS TYPE OF GUIDANCE
`AREA UPI-IEIR THAN
`
`“INTERMEDLATE SECTIONS"
`BEEN SELECTED ?
`
`<q'llllI§gIiIl.-h»
`
`Yes
`
`229
`
`szso
`
`DISPLAY SELECTION SCREEN FOR SELECTING
`
`
`TYPE OF AVAILABLE GUIDANCE FOR THE
`SELECI'ED GUIDANCEAREA
`
`
`
`23
`
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`27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 27 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`Selection of Type of Available Guidance
`
`Recommended Route
`
`1
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`(indicated by only lines)
`
`Recommended Route
`
`(with detailed information)
`
`Detailed Information for Its
`Surrounding Area
`
`Distance and Direction
`Information
`
`Detailed Information for
`The Intermediate Section
`
`
`
`1
`
`1
`
`1
`
`Fig. 26
`
`Selection of Type of Guidance Area
`
`Surrounding Area of
`Departure Point
`
`Surrounding Area of
`Destination
`
`Surrounding Area of
`Course-Change Point
`
`Intermediate Sections
`
`All
`
`
`
`
`
`28
`
`

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`29
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 29 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Selection of p of Guidance Area
`Surrounding Area of
`De 0 arture Point
`Surrounding Area of
`Destination
`Surrounding Area of
`
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`
`
`Selection of p e of Available Guidance
`Recommended Route
`1
`indicated b onl
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`Recommended Route
`(with detailed information)
`Detailed Information for Its
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`Intermediate Sections
`
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`Detailed Information for
`The Intermediate Section
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`
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`DESTINATIO
`
`A4
`
`30
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 30 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 29
`
`(A)
`
`De - arture Point
`
`Surrounding Area of
`
`(indicatedb onl
`lines
`Recommended Route
`
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`
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`Recommended Route
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`
`14.3[Km] T0 NEXT GUIDANCE
`
`31
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 31 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Selection of p ofAvaj1able Guidance
`
`lines
`indicated b on]
`Recommended Route
`
`(with detailed information)
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`Surroundjn; Area
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`Information
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`The Intermediate Section
`
`éINTERSECTION XX
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`17.8 [Km]
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`
`l:45[NECESSARY TIME]
`
`14.3[Km] TO NEXT GUIDANCE
`
`32
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 32 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 31
`
`(A)
`
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`1:45[NECESSARY TIME]
`
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`
`33
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 33 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`idance
`
`
`Selection of p of available ;
`Recommended Route
`indicated b on]
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`Fig. 32
`
`(A)
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`De arture Point
`
`Surrounding Area of
`Destination
`
`Course-Chane Point
`
`
`
`34
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 34 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 33
`
`START
`
`HASAROUTE‘SEARCH
`
`BEEN REQUESTED ?
`
`Yes
`
`S314
`
`RECEIVE DEPARTURE POINT AND DESTINATION
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`5313
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`SPECIFY DESTINATION
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`
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`S324
`
`COMPRESS DATA
`
`35
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 35 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 34
`
`EXTRACT SPECIFIED INTERSECTIONS
`
`S342
`
`ADD ROAD MAP DATA
`
`
`
`EXTRACT INTERSECTIONS WITHIN A
`
`PREDETERMINED AREA
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`EX'I‘RAC'I‘ RETURN ROUTE
`
`
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`
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`BEEN EXTRACTED ?
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`ARE THERE ANY
`REMAINING
`SPECIFIED
`INTERSECTIONS .0
`
`
`
`
`EXTRACT NEXT SPECIFIED
`
`INTERSECTION
`
`,
`
`36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 36 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 35
`
`EXTRACT RETURN ROUTE
`
`IS NEXT INTERSECTION A
`
`S3 62
`
`ISNEXTINTERSECTIONA M
`
`COURSE-CHANGE POINT ?
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`COURSE-CHANGE POINT ?
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`Yes
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`I
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`COURSELVHANGE POINT
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`CAN VEHICLE BE
`CAN VEHICLE BE
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`RETURNED TO
`
`
`RECOMMENDED ROUTE 7
`RECOMMENDED ROUTE ‘.7
`
`
`IS NEXT ]N'l'ERSECI‘IONA
`
`COURSE-CHANGE POINT ?
`
`Yes
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`I
`
`ABLISH INTERSECTION
`|I' D CXJURSE-CHANGE POINT
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`
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`
`CAN VEHICLE BE
`REPURNEDTO
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`RECOMMENDED ROUTE?
`
`
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`:9
`
`DOES ROUTE REI'URN TO
`INTERSECTION WHERE
`MISTAKE OCCURRED ?
`
`S386
`
`I STABLISH RETURN ROUTE AS A PROPOSED ROUTE
`
`S388
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`CALCULATE DISTANCE
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`EXAMZINED?
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`ABLISH REFURN ROUTE
`:
`:- UTE R.EQUIR.INGA'l'1‘EN'I‘ION
`
`-~
`
`37
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 37 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 36
`
`
`
`FROM RECOMMENDED
`ROUTE ‘?
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`HAS VEHICLE STRAYED
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`ROUTE DEPARTURE
`PROCESS
`
`
`HAS DESTINATION
`BEEN REACI-[ED ‘.7
`
`
`
`38
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 38 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 39 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 41 of 45
`
`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 40
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`43
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 43 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`Fig. 42
`
`START
`
`S512
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`OBTAIN CURRENT POSITION
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`44
`
`

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`
`Jun. 19, 2001
`
`Sheet 44 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 19, 2001
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`Sheet 45 of 45
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`US 6,249,740 B1
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`DEPARTMENT
`STORE
`
`FIRE
`STATION
`
`46
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`

`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`1
`
`COMMUNICATIONS NAVIGATION SYSTEM,
`AND NAVIGATION BASE APPARATUS AND
`VEHICLE NAVIGATION APPARATUS BOTH
`USED IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a communications navi-
`gation system in which navigation data necessary for route
`guidance is supplied from a navigation base to a moving
`body such as a vehicle, and also relates to a navigation base
`apparatus provided at the navigation base and a navigation
`apparatus to be mounted on the vehicle (hereinafter, referred
`to as “vehicle navigation apparatus” or “navigation
`apparatus”) for use in the communications navigation sys-
`tem.
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`In the navigation systems commonly used today, a vehicle
`such as an automobile is provided with a navigation
`apparatus, for instance. In such navigation systems, route
`guidance is carried out by utilizing map data stored in a
`CD-ROM or the like provided in connection with the
`navigation apparatus. However, such systems require the
`user thereof to constantly buy new CD-ROMs in order to
`obtain new information on changing conditions such as the
`construction of new roads and the abolition of old roads.
`
`Further, when the type of recording medium is changed
`(e.g., to DVD-ROM) or when a different format is used with
`the same type of recording medium, the navigation appara-
`tus must be replaced with other one that is suited for such
`new type of recording medium or format.
`In view of such problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent
`Application No. HEI 10-19588 discloses a communications
`navigation system in which map images and optimum route
`data necessary to guide a vehicle to a destination are
`transmitted from a navigation base (center) to a vehicle such
`as an automobile. Namely, in this system, communication is
`carried out between a data transmission system in the
`navigation base and a vehicle navigation apparatus mounted
`on the vehicle. In this regard, the data transmission system
`includes a data base which stores data necessary for guiding
`a vehicle to a destination, and based on a request from the
`vehicle navigation apparatus, the data transmission system
`reads out necessary data from the data base to produce map
`images. Further, the data transmission system carries out a
`route search to produce optimum route data. After these
`operations are completed,
`the data transmission system
`transmits data such as the produce map image data and
`optimum route data to the vehicle navigation apparatus.
`Then, the vehicle navigation apparatus displays guidance
`information based on the map image data and optimum route
`data transmitted from the data transmission system.
`In the above-described communications navigation
`system, all of route data and map image data from the
`departure point to the destination produced at the navigation
`base are transmitted to the vehicle navigation apparatus of
`the vehicle as they are. In the vehicle, map images corre-
`sponding to the present position of the vehicle are succes-
`sively displayed on the display of the vehicle navigation
`apparatus allover the route including the departure point and
`the destination.
`
`However, the above-described communications naviga-
`tion system involves the following problems.
`First, as described above, in the above-described commu-
`nications navigation system, all of the route data and map
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`2
`to the destination are
`images from the departure point
`transmitted to the vehicle. Therefore, the amount of the data
`to be transmitted becomes huge if the distance between the
`departure point and the destination is long, so that it takes a
`long time to transmit the data. Further, it is necessary for the
`navigation apparatus to temporally store the huge amount of
`the transmitted data. However, actually, the driver of the
`vehicle does not always view the display of the navigation
`apparatus while driving. In most cases, the driver needs to
`have assistance of the navigation apparatus at
`the main
`points of the route such as intersections to be turned to right
`or left and the like. Thus, with regard to intersections
`through which the driver is to proceed straight, it is not
`necessary for the driver to make reference to the vehicle
`navigation apparatus. This means that it is possible to carry
`out navigation if there are route data (guidance information)
`and map images only for the main points of the route at
`which guidance is needed, such as the intersections and
`forks where the driver is to turn right or left. Further, if the
`navigation base is adapted to transmit only such data nec-
`essary for guidance to the vehicle, it becomes possible to
`shorten a time necessary for the data transmission and
`considerably reduce the amount of data to be stored in the
`vehicle navigation apparatus, and this in turn makes it
`possible to simplify the structure of the vehicle navigation
`apparatus.
`Further, there is a case that the driver knows the recom-
`mended route very well. In such a case, it is sufficient for the
`driver if a simple map image of the route is obtained, and
`such a simple route guidance may be more preferable to the
`driver.
`
`Moreover, in the above-described communications navi-
`gation system, if the vehicle strays from the recommended
`route to the destination, it will not be possible to continue
`route guidance. In such a case, the driver of the vehicle has
`to transmit the current position and destination data to the
`navigation base again. Then, the navigation base carries out
`route search to the destination again based on the current
`position and destination data and establishes another rec-
`ommended route, and then transmits its data to the vehicle
`so that guidance is carried out again after such recom-
`mended route is received by the vehicle navigation appara-
`tus. Consequently, because route guidance to the destination
`is suspended for a short period of time, driver distress can
`occur.
`
`On the other hand, even in the case where the vehicle
`navigation apparatus is provided with the map data stored in
`the CD-ROM or the like, it becomes no longer possible to
`continue route guidance once the vehicle strays from the
`established recommended route. In such a case, similar to
`the above situation, it is necessary to carry out a route search
`again using the CD-ROM to locate another recommended
`route to the destination. However, this also requires suspen-
`sion of route guidance during the time another route is being
`searched, so that driver distress may occur.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention has been made in view of the
`The present
`problems described above. Accordingly, an object of the
`present invention is to provide a communications navigation
`system which can reduce an amount of data to be transmitted
`from a navigation base to a moving body such as a vehicle.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`communications navigation system which is able to carry
`out a satisfactory route guidance even if the amount of data
`to be transmitted to the moving body is reduced.
`
`47
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`

`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`3
`Other object of the present invention is to provide a
`communications navigation system which can simplify the
`structure of a vehicle navigation apparatus.
`The other object of the present invention is to provide a
`communications navigation system which can reduce an
`amount of data to be transmitted from the navigation base to
`the moving body by transmitting only navigation data
`requested from the movable body.
`Further other object of the present invention is to provide
`a communications navigation apparatus in which route guid-
`ance is not interrupted or suspended even in the case where
`the a vehicle would deviate from or strays from the recom-
`mended route to the destination.
`
`In view of these objects as described above, the present
`invention is directed to a communications navigation system
`in which data is transmitted and received between a navi-
`gation base apparatus provided at a navigation base and a
`navigation apparatus provided in a moving body such as a
`vehicle using communication, in which the navigation appa-
`ratus is adapted to transmit at least data concerning the
`current position of the vehicle and the destination thereof to
`the navigation base apparatus, and the navigation base
`apparatus stores navigation data in its data base and is
`adapted to determine a recommended route based on the
`transmitted data of the current position of the vehicle and the
`destination thereof and then extract data of the recom-
`mended route from the navigation data stored in the data
`base and transmit
`the extracted data to the navigation
`apparatus,
`wherein the navigation base apparatus is adapted to be
`able to extract detailed navigation data only for a
`surrounding areas of a specified point on the recom-
`mended route from the navigation data stored in the
`data base and then transmit the detailed navigation data
`to the navigation apparatus.
`For the specified point, one of a departure point, a
`destination and a course-change point which are located on
`the recommended route is selected.
`According to the communications navigation system of
`the present invention as described above, the amount of data
`to be transmitted from the navigation base apparatus to the
`navigation apparatus is reduced. Further, because this makes
`it possible to reduce the memory capacity of the navigation
`apparatus,
`it becomes possible to simplify the navigation
`apparatus. Furthermore, even with such a reduced amount of
`data, the navigation system described above makes it pos-
`sible to carry out a precise route guidance.
`In this invention, it is preferred that the specified point is
`established automatically at the navigation base apparatus.
`Alternatively, it is possible that the specified point is select-
`able desirously at the navigation apparatus.
`Further, it is preferred that the surrounding area of the
`specified point is established automatically at the navigation
`base apparatus. Alternatively, it is possible that the surround-
`ing area of the specified point is adapted to be determined
`desirously at the navigation apparatus.
`Furthermore, it is also preferred that the detailed naviga-
`tion data for the course-change point of the specified point
`includes data for return route for returning the vehicle to the
`recommended route when the vehicle strays from the rec-
`ommended route.
`
`According to this, it is possible to continue route guidance
`even in the case where the vehicle strays from the recom-
`mended route, so that it is possible to prevent driver distress
`even in the case where the vehicle strays from the recom-
`mend route.
`
`In the present invention, it is preferred that the navigation
`data includes at least one of map data, road data, intersection
`data, area guidance data and voice guidance data.
`
`4
`In the communications navigation system as described
`above, it is preferred that the navigation base apparatus is
`adapted to transmit
`the detailed navigation data to the
`navigation apparatus when the vehicle is around the speci-
`fied point on the recommended route and transmit simple
`navigation data when the vehicle is in an intermediate
`section between the specified points.
`Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`navigation base apparatus used in a communications navi-
`gation system in which data is transmitted and received
`between the navigation base apparatus provided at a navi-
`gation base and a navigation apparatus provided in a moving
`body such as a vehicle using communication, in which the
`navigation apparatus is adapted to transmit at least data
`concerning the current position of the vehicle and the
`destination to the navigation base apparatus, and the navi-
`gation base apparatus stores navigation data and is adapted
`to determine a recommended route based on the transmitted
`
`10
`
`15
`
`data of the current position of the vehicle and the destination
`thereof and then extract data for the recommended route
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`20
`
`from the stored navigation data and transmit the extracted
`data to the navigation apparatus, wherein the navigation
`base apparatus is adapted to be able to extract detailed
`navigation data only for a surrounding area of a specified
`point on the recommended route from the navigation data
`stored in the data base and then transmit
`the detailed
`
`navigation data to the navigation apparatus.
`The other aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`navigation apparatus used in a communications navigation
`system in which data is transmitted and received between a
`navigation base apparatus provided at a navigation base and
`the navigation apparatus provided in a moving body such as
`a vehicle using communication,
`in which the navigation
`apparatus is adapted to transmit at least data concerning the
`current position of the vehicle and the destination to the
`navigation base apparatus, and the navigation base apparatus
`stores navigation data and is adapted to determine a recom-
`mended route based on the transmitted data of the current
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`position of the vehicle and the destination thereof and then
`extract data for the recommended route from the stored
`
`40
`
`navigation data and transmit the extracted data to the navi-
`gation apparatus, wherein the navigation apparatus is
`adapted to receive from the navigation base apparatus
`detailed navigation data only for a surrounding area of a
`specified point on the recommended route which is extracted
`from the navigation data stored in the navigation base
`apparatus based on the received data concerning the current
`position of the vehicle and the destination thereof.
`In this aspect,
`it
`is preferred that
`that
`the navigation
`apparatus further comprises memory means for storing the
`received navigation data from the navigation base apparatus.
`The other aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`communications navigation system in which data is trans-
`mitted and received between a navigation base apparatus
`provided at a navigation base and a navigation apparatus
`provided in a vehicle using communication, in which the
`navigation apparatus is adapted to transmit at least data
`concerning the current position of the vehicle and the
`destination to the navigation base apparatus, and the navi-
`gation base apparatus stores navigation data and is adapted
`to determine a recommended route based on the transmitted
`
`data of the current position of the vehicle and the destination
`thereof and then extract data of the recommended route from
`
`the stored navigation data and transmit the extracted data to
`the navigation apparatus,
`wherein the navigation apparatus is adapted to be able to
`select data to be received from the navigation base
`
`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`48
`
`

`
`US 6,249,740 B1
`
`5
`apparatus, and the navigation base apparatus is adapted
`to extract the selected data from the navigation data and
`then transmit the extracted data to the navigation appa-
`ratus.
`
`Further aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`method for guiding a vehicle using a communications navi-
`gation system in which data is transmitted and received
`between a navigation base apparatus provided at a naviga-
`tion base and a navigation apparatus provided in the vehicle
`using communication, in which the navigation apparatus is
`adapted to transmit at least data concerning the current
`position of the vehicle and the destination to the navigation
`base apparatus, and the navigation base apparatus stores
`navigation data and is adap