US006127945A
`6,127,945
`(11) Patent Number:
`United States Patent 15
`Mura-Smith
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`
`[54] MOBILE PERSONAL NAVIGATOR
`
`
`
`
`
`[73] Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited,
`Sunnyvale, Calif.
`?
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/544,553
`22]
`Filed:
`Oct. 18, 1995
`[72]
`Elle
`“es
`[SD]
`Tint. C07 eee essen esecceseeenennnemmeeeeeee G08G 1/123
`[52] U.S. Cl
`340/988; 340/539; 342/457:
`ee , —" 701/300
`=
`.
`[58] Field ofSearen aesabeeeahte2
`4A9 3 449 5 "449 4. 701/207 208 309,
`eee? M1 13 M5 300
`“— ,
`,
`
`5/1995 Barnea et al. wees 340/990
`5,412,573
`7/1995 Frakeretal. .
`5,434,789
`[75] SADT1A9—3/1996 Fast seesesescessereseesn scenes seersnneeesenns 340/988Inventor: Kiyoko Mura-Smith, Los Altos, Calif.
`. 340/988
`8/1996 Kurokawac tal. .
`5,546,092
`
`
`=eah Os Usha) Pal
`aiewc
`6/1997 CLOSS vaeceseceeeeees
`. 340/990
`5,042,107
`..ccesessssssssssseeeeee 455/404
`5,797,091
`8/1998 Clise et al.
`Primary Examiner—Brent A. Swarthout
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wagner, Murabito & Hao LLP
`(57]
`ABSTRACT
`-
`ve
`:
`A personal navigation device and method for providing
`location information. In one embodiment, the present inven-
`tion is comprised of a portable hand-held unit. The portable
`unit contains a communication system adapted to receive
`data at and transmit data from the portable unit. The portable
`unit also contains a position determining system which
`determines the geographic location of the portable unit. The
`position determining system is connected to the communi-
`cation system. A graphic display located on the portable unit
`is also connected to the position determining system. The
`graphic display displays a representation of the current
`location of the portable unit with respect to a previously
`selected location. In one embodiment, the representation of
`the current location also includes a representation of the
`speed and the heading of the portable unit with respect to the
`previously selected location.
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5/1989 Manion
`4.835.537
`340/961
`340/980
`8/1989 Lanchais ...
`4,857,840
`
`_. 340/995
`4,963,864 10/1990 Tihoshietal. .
`wa. 342/357
`5,025,261
`6/1991 Ohta etal. ....
`
`5/1992 Ichikawa.......
`5,113,185
`... 340/995
`... 340/988
`8/1994 Simmsetal. .
`5,334,974
`
`... 340/573
`8/1994 Friedman ......
`5,337,041
`5,345,244 12/1994 Gildea et al.
`.cccccseeeee 342/357
`
`ox66 Google Exhibit 1067
`
`1 Claim, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`DISTANCE TO LOCATION
`DIRECTION X
`ETA
`‘TO
`72
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`2
`
`Google Exhibit 1067
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
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`6,127,945
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`6,127,945
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
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`6,127,945
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`COCIOCIC4
`CICICIOCI
`
`33
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`52
`
`
`
`
`46
`39°
`AL SIGNAL|RECEIVER[TRANSMITTER|
`
`
`|
`ReceIvEeR
`
`
`
`
`POSITION pes
`44
`
`42
`DETERMINING |
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`SIGNAL
`SYSTEM
`| sRoceSSOR
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`USER. INTERFACE MECHANISM=SI
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`2
`
`FIG.5
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`
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`

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`USS. Patent
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`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
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`6,127,945
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`
`
`EWER
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`,
`
`USER. INTERFACE MECHANISM
`
`Si
`
`MEMOLY
`
`DATA INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 6
`
`ANTENNA
`POSITION oda
`
`asepellinitas SIGNAL.
`COMMUNICATION
`
`PROCESSOR
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`ANTENNA
`2
`| Stati
`aEcenefeyeaSMTTER
`
`
`l Recewer [7 |G,
`
`POSITION --— a= —
`
`
`
`_
`DETERMINING;
`—
`SYSTEM ly SIGNAL
`ROCE SSOR
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`v2
`
`USER INTERFACE MECHANISM
`
`VOIce PROCESSOR
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`6,127,945
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
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`‘TO
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`2
`DISTANCE TO LOCATION
`DIRECTION X
`PETA
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`

`

`6,127,945
`
`1
`MOBILE PERSONAL NAVIGATOR
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates to navigation devices. Specifically,
`the present invention relates to a portable navigation device
`providing relative positioning.
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`2
`information in a consumer-oriented formal, a navigation
`device which does not overwhelm a user with complex
`detailed map information, a navigation device which does
`not require complicated transmission and time-consuming
`transmission schemes, and a navigation device which is
`portable and well suited to being hand-carried. ‘The above
`object has been achieved by a portable hand-held navigation
`unit which graphically displays a representation of the
`relative position of the user with respect
`to a selected
`Complicated navigation devices are well knowninthe art.
`location. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
`Typically, such devices determine a user’s geographic posi-
`navigation device is an easy to use portable hand-held unit.
`tion in terms of latitude, longitude, and altitude. The mea-
`The portable unit contains a communication system adapted
`surements of latitude and longitude are commonly given in
`to receive data at and transmit data from the portable unit.
`degrees, minutes, and seconds, with the measurement of
`The portable unit also contains a position determining
`altitude given in [eet above or below sea level. While such
`system which determines the geographic location of the
`terms and measurement units may be instructive to those
`portable unit. The position determining system is connected
`familiar with geo-positioning, such terms and measurements
`to the communication system. A small graphic display
`are not always helpful to the average consumer.
`located on the portable unit is also connected to the position
`Tn an attempt to present geographic position information
`determining system. The graphic display displays a repre-
`in a more user friendly manner, some prior art navigation
`sentation of the current location of the portable unit with
`devices display written information easily understandable to
`respect
`to a previously selected location.
`In one
`the average consumer. The written information is displayed
`embodiment, the representation of the current location also
`in addition to conventional latitude, longitude, and altitude
`includes a representation of the speed and the heading of the
`measurements. Commonly, the written information includes
`portable unit with respect to the previously selected location.
`the speed of the user,
`the distance of the user from a
`Because the present invention does not require the display of
`destination and/ororigination, and the direction in which the
`complex detailed map information, transmission of display
`user is heading. The addition of written information renders
`data to the present invention does not require a complicated
`prior art navigation devices more “user-friendly”. However,
`or time-consuming transmission scheme.
`such written informationis still presented in a format which
`In another embodiment of the present invention, the user
`is nol always readily understood by the average consumer.
`of the portable unit is able to enter waypoints to be displayed
`That
`is,
`the distance to or from a specific latitude and
`on the graphic display. The user can, for example, enter the
`longitude is a description which many consumersdonotfind
`geographic coordinates of all of the restaurants within a
`intrinsically explanatory.
`specific geographic area into the portable unit before ven-
`In yet another attempt to present geographic position
`turing into the geographic area. As another example, the user
`information in a consumer-oriented format, some priorart
`can also enter various waypoints into the portable unit as the
`navigation devices graphically display the position of the
`user travels through a geographic region. The entered way-
`user on a detailed map. Thus,
`the user of the navigation
`points can serve, for example, as guideposts providingatrail
`device observes his or her position on a graphically dis-
`back to an origination, can serve as reminders of points of
`played conventional map. Although such a display may be
`interest to be visited at a later date, and the like.
`more helpful than latitude and longitude readings alone,
`Therefore,
`the present invention provides a navigation
`such displays are often too “crowded” with information.
`device which presents geographic position information in a
`That
`is,
`typical consumers may find that such displays
`consumer-oriented format, a navigation device which does
`provide so much information that the display screen is both
`not overwhelm a user with complex detailed map
`difficult and confusing to read. In addition to the superfluous
`information, a navigation device which does not require
`volumeof information presented by a detailed map display,
`complicated transmission and time-consuming transmission
`such devices typically require a larger display screen. In
`schemes,and a navigation device whichis portable and well
`order to accommodate the requisite larger display screen,
`suited to being hand-carried. These and other objects and
`such prior art navigation devices are often fixedly mounted,
`advantages of the present invention will no doubt become
`for example, in vehicles. Due to the required large screen,
`obviousto those of ordinary skill in the art after having read
`such systems are not well suited to being hand-carried.
`the following detailed description of the preferred embodi-
`Furthermore, such map displaying prior art devices require
`ments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures.
`significant downloading of detailed map information to
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`establish the map database. If the map information is trans-
`mitted to the navigation device, the complex and volumi-
`nous nature of the detailed map information necessitates
`complicated and time-consuming transmission schemes.
`Thus, a need exists for a navigation device which presents
`geographic position information in a consumer-oriented
`format, a navigation device which does not overwhelm a
`user with complex detailed map information, a navigation
`device which does not require complicated transmission and
`time-consuming transmission schemes, and a navigation
`device which is portable and well suited to being hand-
`carried.
`
`10
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`‘The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments
`of the invention and, together with the description, scrve to
`explain the principles of the invention:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal navigation
`device in accordance with the present claimed invention.
`FIG. 2 is perspective view of another embodimentof the
`personal navigation device of FIG. 1 in which the portable
`unit includes a module slot in accordance with the present
`claimed invention.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`a navigation device which presents geographic position
`
`65
`
`FIG. 3 is a anothcr embodimentof the present invention
`in which the portable unit of FIG. 1 is removably attachable
`to a base unit disposed within a vehicle in accordance with
`the present claimed invention.
`
`

`

`6,127,945
`
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram as shown in FIG. 5 with the
`addition of a data interface in accordance with the present
`claimed invention.
`
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram as shownin FIG. 5 with the
`addition of a voice processor in accordance with the present
`claimed invention.
`
`FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the portable unit of FIG.
`1 with a display screen containing icons in accordance with
`the present claimed invention.
`FIG. 8B is expanded view of the display screen FIG. 8A
`in accordance with the present claimed invention.
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
`embodiments of the invention, examples of whichare illus-
`trated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention
`will be described in conjunction with the preferred
`embodiments,
`it will be understood that
`they are not
`intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. Onthe
`
`3
`FIG. 4A is another embodiment of the present invention
`in which a base unit is communicatively connected to a
`display screen disposed on a wristband in accordance with
`the present claimed invention.
`FIG. 4B is expanded view of the wristband FIG. 4A in
`accordance with the present claimed invention.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing various compo-
`nents of the portable unit in accordance with the present
`claimed invention.
`
`4
`information to be displayed, and the like. Keypad 16 is used
`to perform telephone operations. Likewise, mouthpiece 18
`and ear piece 20 perform standard telephone functions.
`Antenna 22 receives various signals used by portable unit
`10. Although portable unit 10 has a specific bodystyle in the
`present embodiment,
`the present
`invention is also well
`suited to having a different structural configuration.
`With reference next to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the
`present
`invention is shown in which portable unit 10
`includes a data interface 24. As shown in FIG. 2, data
`interface 24 is adapted to receive, for example, a Personal
`Computer Memory Card International Association
`(PCMCIA) module 26. Although the present embodiment
`specifically recites that data interface 24 is adapted to
`receive, for example, a PCMCIA module 26, the present
`invention is also well suited to having data interface 24
`adapted to receive various other data transfer devices. Such
`data transfer devices include, for example, a serial or parallel
`port connector, a RS-232 interface, a BNC connector, and
`the like. The present invention is also well suited to having
`data interface located elsewhere on portable unit 10.
`Referring now to FIG. 3, yet another embodiment of the
`present invention is shown in which the portable unit 10 is
`removably attachable to a base unit 28 disposed within a
`vehicle. Although portable unit 10 includes a display screen
`12 integral therewith,
`the present
`invention is also well
`suited having a display screen, not shown, which is physi-
`cally separated from portable unit 10. In an embodimentin
`which the display screen is physically separated from por-
`table unit 10, the display screen is mounted, for cxamplc, to
`the dashboard of the vehicle in which base station 28 is
`the invention is intended to cover alternatives,
`contrary,
`disposed. Although base unit 28 is disposed within a vehicle
`modifications and equivalents, which may be included
`in the present embodiment, the present invention is also well
`within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined bythe
`suited to having base unit 28 located other than in a vehicle.
`appendedclaims.
`That is, base unit 28 is well suited to being carried, to being
`With reference now to I'IG. 1, a perspective view of one
`located in a home,to being located in anoffice, and thelike.
`embodiment of a personal navigation device in accordance
`With reference next to FIG. 4A,still another embodiment
`with the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the
`of the present invention is shown in which a display screen
`present embodimentis a portable, hand-held unit 10. The
`30 is integral with a wristband 32. Wristband 32 also has a
`following description of the present invention will begin
`user interface mechanism such as a keypad 33 integral
`with a detailed description setting forth the structural char-
`therewith. A base unit 34 is communicatively coupled to
`acteristics of the present invention. This description will
`display screen 30 of wristband 32. As in the embodiment of
`then be followed bya detailed description setting forth the
`FIG. 3, although base unit 34 is disposed within a vehicle in
`operation of the present invention. Regarding the structure
`the present embodiment, the present invention is also well
`of unit 10, the present embodimentincludesa display screen
`suited to having base unit 34 located other than in a vehicle.
`12, navigation controls 14, a kcypad 16, a mouthpicce 18, an
`An expanded view of wristband 32 is shown in FIG. 4B.
`ear piece 20, and a transceiver 22.
`With reference to FIG. 5, a schematic diagram of various
`In the present embodiment, display screen 12 is a 2 by 2
`components of the present invention is shown. The compo-
`% inch display screen. Thus, display screen 12 of the present
`nents include an antenna 22 coupled to a position determin-
`embodimenthas a size whichis well suited to being located
`ing system 42 and a communication device 44. As shown in
`on portable hand-held unit 10. Additionally, display screen
`the present embodiment, position determining system 42
`12 is of sufficient size to clearly displaythe relative position
`includes a signal receiver 46 and a signal processor 48.
`of a user of unit 10 with respect to, for example, a previously
`Communication device 44 includes a receiver 50 and a
`selected location. For purposes of the present application,
`transmitter 52. Other componentinclude, but are not limited
`displaying a representation of the position of the user with
`to, a display 12, a user interface mechanism 51, and memory
`respect to a previously selected location is intended to cover
`53. User interface mechanism 51 includes such items as
`displaying the position of the user with respect to a selected
`navigation controls 14 and keypad 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
`location wherein the display does not include extraneous
`information such as unnecessary streets and the like.
`Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram of various
`60
`Although suchasize is specified in the present embodiment,
`components of another embodimentof the present invention
`the present invention is also well suited to the use of various
`including a data interface 54 is shown. As shownin FIG. 6,
`other display screen sizes.
`the present embodiment includes all of the components of
`the embodiment of FIG. 5 in addition to data interface 54.
`Navigation controls 14 and keypad 16 form a userinter-
`Data interface 54 accommodates the transfer of data there-
`face mechanism. Specifically, navigation controls 14 are
`used to select and choose various navigation functions.
`Navigation functions include the selection of particular
`waypoints to be displayed on display screen 12, types of
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`through via, for example, data transfer devices such as, a
`serial or parallel port connector, a RS-232 interface, a BNC
`connector, and the like.
`
`

`

`6,127,945
`
`5
`Referring next to FIG. 7, a schematic diagram of various
`components of yet another embodiment of the present
`invention including a voice processor 56 is shown. As shown
`in FIG. 7,
`the present embodiment
`includes all of the
`components of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in addition to
`voice processor 54. The present embodiment is also well
`suited to the inclusion of a data interface component as
`shown in FIG. 6.
`
`IN OPERATION
`
`10
`
`6
`portable unit 10. The position information of the selected
`location is transmitted from, for example, a service provider
`to portable unit 10. Antenna 22 and receiver 50 of commu-
`nication device 44, all of FIG. 5, receive the transmitted
`position information. Thus, a service provider can remotely
`augment, update, correct, or delete position information of
`portable unit 10. Therefore, even when portable unit 10 is,
`for example, being carried by a user, the present invention
`provides for data transfer between portable unit 10 and a
`remotely located transmitter.
`The present invention is also well suited to obtaining data
`from, for example, a pay per view service provider. As an
`example, a service provider can provide at a fee, a list ofall
`restaurants located proximate to the user’s current position.
`Likewise, a user of the present invention can also order a
`listing of nearby gasoline stations, theaters, and the like.
`Thus,
`the present
`invention is well suited for use with
`service providers seeking to sell their database information
`to user’s of portable unit 10.
`The communication link between portable unit 10 and a
`remote transmitter is established using any one of numerous
`communication link or transmission techniques well known
`in the art. As an example of transmission techniques which
`are well suited for the present invention, communication
`between portable unit 10 and a base station can be estab-
`lished using a Metricomm Wide Area Network (WAN)link
`operating at approximately 900 MHz. A Communication
`link can be established using a standard cellular telephone
`connection. A Communication link can also be established
`
`The following is a detailed description of the operation of
`the present invention. With reference to the embodiment of
`FIG. 1, portable unit 10 is typically “hand-carried” by a user
`of the present invention. The relative position of the user
`with respect to at least one selected location is displayed on
`screen 12. User interface mechanisms such as navigation
`controls 14 and keypad 16 allow the user to operate portable
`unit 10. The present
`invention allows a user to easily
`navigate to, for example, a selected location by monitoring
`the relative position of the portable unit with respect to the
`selected location. Hence,
`the present invention does not
`clutter display screen 12 with details which are unnecessary
`to the user. That is, instead of displaying numerousstreets
`and the like,
`the present embodiment displays only the
`relative position of the user with respect to the selected
`location. As a result, a user of the present invention is able
`to easily navigate to a selected location without being
`distracted by the presence of extraneous display features on
`display screen 12.
`using a trunked radio system. In such a system for example,
`With reference next to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a perspective
`portable unit 10 first contacts headquarters or a communi-
`view of portable unit 10 and an expanded view of display
`cation base andis assigned a communication channel. Com-
`serecn 12 is shown.In the present embodiment, portable unit
`munication between portable unit 10 and the base station
`10 has at least one selected location programmed or stored
`must take place over the assigned channel. Acommunication
`in memory 53 of FIG. 5. The selected locations are visually
`link between portable unit 10 and a base station can also be
`represented by icons 58 and 60 on display screen 12. The
`established using a Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD)
`selected locations stored in portable unit 10 include for
`protocol. In the CDPD protocol, a modem andaradio are
`used to send data at a rate of 19.2 Kbits/s over cellular
`example, restaurants, theaters, points of interest, and the
`like. In the present invention, the selected locations can be
`circuits not currently being used for voice transmissions. A
`entered, for example, by a service provider, Service provid-
`control channelis called, for example, by portable unit 10,
`ers can include for example, rental car companies, hotels,
`and portable unit 10 is then assigned a channel. Portable unit
`tourist information agencies, travel agents, and the like. As
`10 then bursts packet data, using, for example, TCP/IP
`an example, a rental car companycan enterorstoreall of the
`protocol, to deliver the data to the base station until the data
`locations at which customers can return rented vehicles.
`is completely transmitted or until the channel is no longer
`Likewise, hotels can enter the location of various restaurants
`free. If the data is not completely transferred when the
`located proximate to the hotel. A tourist information agency
`channel expires, the communicationlink is then established
`can store numerous locations which mightbe ofinterest to
`using a different channel. As yet another example, a com-
`a tourist.
`munication link can be established using a Subscription
`Mobile Radio (SMR) system wherein an assigned frequency
`is used for the link. The present invention is also well suited
`to having an rf-based communication link. Hence, in addi-
`tion to allowing a user to perform standard telephone
`operations, communication device 44 of portable unit 10
`also enables over-the-air data transmission.
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`25
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`In the present embodiment, service providers enter the
`selected locations using position information such as
`latitude, longitude, and altitude. The present invention is,
`however, well suited to having the selected locations entered
`by address. Whenselected locations are entered by address,
`the present invention must have accessto “geo-coding”data.
`Geo-coding data provides latitude, longitude, and altitude
`coordinates corresponding to the entered addresses of the
`selected locations. The present invention is also well suited
`to having selected locations entered into portable unit 10 by
`various other methods, For example, the present invention is
`well suited to having the service provider simply enter the
`phone number corresponding to a selected location. If a
`phone numberis used to designate a selected location, the
`present invention mustalso have access to a data base which
`provides the latitude, longitude, and altitude corresponding
`to the entered phone number.
`The present invention is also well suited to having posi-
`tion information of a sclected location remotcly entered into
`
`55
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`65
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`In the present embodiment, the data downloaded from a
`base station to portable unit 10 is in a readily usable format
`suchas, for example the portable document format (PDF) by
`Adobe. Although such a format is mentioned as an example
`in the present embodiment, the present inventionis also well
`suited to the use of numerousotherfile formats well known
`in the art.
`
`Although the above description specifically mentions a
`service provider,
`the present
`invention is well suited to
`having the sclected locations entered by someoneother than
`a service provider. That is, the present invention is also well
`suited to having the user or another party enter position
`information corresponding to sclectcd locations.
`
`

`

`6,127,945
`
`7
`the present invention is also well suited to
`Additionally,
`having selected locations removed from portable unit 10.
`Thatis, as a user decides that a selected location is no longer
`of interest, the user or another party can simply remove the
`selected location [rom portable unit 10. The present inven-
`tion is also well suited to having a set numberof selected
`locations reserved in portable unit 10. Such locations would,
`for example, be those location entered by a service provider
`for the benefit of clients.
`
`With reference next to FIG. 5, as portable unit 10 of FIG.
`Lis carried about, position determining system 42 generates
`position information indicative of the position of portable
`unit 10. Specifically, signal receiver 46 receives radio navi-
`gation signals and then transfers the received radio naviga-
`tion signals to signal processor 48. Signal processor 48 uses
`the received radio navigation signals to determine position
`information of portable unit 10. In the present invention,
`position determining system 42 is, for example, a satellite-
`based radio navigation system such as the Global Position-
`ing System (GPS), or the Global Orbiting Navigational
`System (GLONASS). Although such systems are specifi-
`cally mentioned in the present embodiment,
`the present
`invention is also well suited to land-based radio navigation
`systems such as,
`for example, LORAN, and Decca.
`Additionally, the present invention is also well suited to
`recording GPS ephemeris data. Likewise, the present inven-
`tion is also well suited to recording position information
`which has undergone differential corrections to provide
`more accurate position information.
`Position determining system 42 is also able to generate
`velocity information by measuring the Doppler shift of
`signals between the position determining system 42 and at
`least one radio navigation signal transmitter, for example,
`one of the GPSsatellites, not shown. Thus, components such
`as speed, direction, and heading of portable unit 10 of FIG.
`1 are obtained by position determining system 42.
`Additionally, position determining system 42 very accu-
`rately determines the time at which portable unit 10 is at any
`specific location.
`With reference next to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the geographic
`position of portable unit 10 is represented as a cursor or
`“carrot” 62 on display screen 12. In the present embodiment,
`cursor 62 is centrally located on display screen 12. Selected
`locations 58 and 60 are also displayed on display screen 12.
`In the present embodiment, selected location 58 is a desired
`destination, while selected location 60 is, for example, a
`prominent landmark. By displaying a representation of the
`position of selected locations 58 and 60 and cursor 62 on
`display screen 12, the “relative position” of portable unit 10
`with respect to the selected locationsis readily determined.
`In the present embodiment, a representation of both the
`selected locations and the position of portable unit 10 is
`displayed on screen 12. Thus, the present invention adjusts
`the “scale” or “screen height” of display screen 12 such that
`the representation of both the selected locations and the
`position of portable unit 10 will fit on display screen 12.
`Cursor 62 rotates such that cursor 62 points towards the
`direction in which portable unit 10 is moving. As shown in
`FIG. 8B, the present embodimentalso includes a vector 64
`extending from cursor 62. Vector 64 extends from cursor 62
`towards the direction in which portable unit 10 is moving.
`The length of vector 64 correspondsto the speed of portable
`unit 10. Thus, the faster portable unit 10 moves, the greater
`the length of vector 64. Therefore, the present invention
`provides the relative position of portable unit 10 and the
`relative velocity (speed and heading) of portable unit 10
`with respect to selected locations. As a result, a user of the
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`present invention clearly sees both the user’s current posi-
`tion with respect to selected locations, and the user’s speed
`and heading with respect to selected locations.
`In the present embodiment, position determining system
`42 of FIG. 5 monitors the position of portable unit 10.
`Position determining system 10 dcetcrmincs the position
`information of portable unit 10, and generates new position
`information whenever portable unit 10 is moved.
`With reference next to FIGS. 8A and 8B, as portable unit
`10 is moved, the relative position of cursor 62 with respect
`to selected locations such as, for example, locations 58 and
`60 is changed accordingly. As portable unit 10 is moved due
`north, locations 58 and 60 are moved across display screen
`12 in a southerly direction. The distance which locations 58
`and 60 are moved to the south correspondsto the distance
`moved by portable unit 10 to the north. If portable unit 10
`is moved, for example, due east, locations 58 and 60 are
`moved across display screen 12 in a westerly direction. Once
`again, the distance which locations 58 and 60 are movedto
`the west correspondsto the distance moved byportable unit
`10 to the east. Therefore, cursor 62 always remains centrally
`located on display screen 12. Additionally, the representa-
`tion of the relative position of cursor 62 with respect to
`selected locations, such as for example, locations 58 and 60
`remains accurate. Hence, in the present embodiment, only
`the position of the selected locations on display screen 12 is
`changed as portable unit 10 is moved.
`In the present embodiment, north, south, east, and west
`indicators (66a—66d) arefixed at the top, bottom,right, and
`left sides, respectively, of screen 12. The present invention
`is, however, well suited to other types of screen display
`formats. Other types of screen display formats include, for
`example, a heads-up format. In a heads-up display format,
`cursor 62 points upward regardless of the direction in which
`portable unit 10 is being moved. Hence, in the aforemen-
`tioned heads-up display format, the position of the north,
`south, east, and west indicators (66a—-66d) move around the
`periphery of display screen 12. In such an embodiment,
`north, south, east, and west indicators (66a—66d) move such
`that cursor 62 points at the indicator corresponding to the
`direction in which portable unit 10 is moving. The present
`invention is also well suited to a display format in which the
`position of cursor 62 moves across display screen 12.
`With reference still
`to FIGS. 8A and 8B,
`the present
`embodiment also displays navigational information in text
`form on display screen 12. As shownin FIGS. 8A and 8B,
`navigational information displayed in text format includes,
`for example, “Distance to Destination” 68, “Direction” 70,
`and “ETA”(estimated time of arrival) 72. In the present
`embodiment, Distance to Location 68 is the distance “as the
`crow flies” from portable unit 10 to a selected location.
`Direction information 70 recites the direction in which
`
`portable unit 10 is heading. ETA information 72 estimates
`the time it will take portable unit 10 to reach the selected
`location based upon the speed at which portable unit 10 ts
`currently traveling. Although such navigation information is
`displayed in the current embodiment, the present invention
`is also well suited to displaying other navigation information
`including, but not
`limited to,
`time i