(12) United States Patent
`US 7,739,039 B2
`Obradovich et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`US007739039B2
`
`(54)
`
`TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVE NAVIGATION
`BASED ON USER PREFERENCES
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search ......... 701/2007202,
`701/208, 211, 2137215, 207; 340/988, 995.1
`See application fi e for complete search history.
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Michael L. Obradovich, San Clemente,
`CA (US); John D. Pirtle, Silverado, CA
`(US); Steven W. Schebesch, Aliso Viejo,
`CA (US)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,207,609 A
`
`980 Luiz et al.
`
`6/
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: American Calcar, Inc., Las Vegas, NV
`(US)
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 110 days.
`
`EP
`
`0 829 704 A2
`
`3/1998
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 11/833,860
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 3, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0027634 A1
`
`Jan. 31, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 11/146,599, filed on
`Jun. 7, 2005, now Pat. No. 7,522,992, which is a con-
`tinuation of application No. 10/957,042, filed on Oct.
`1, 2004, now Pat. No. 6,993,429, which is a continua-
`tion of application No. 10/382,687, filed on Mar. 6,
`2003, now Pat. No. 6,829,532, which is a continuation
`ofapplication No. 09/830,064, filed as application No.
`PCT/USOO/27270 on Oct. 4, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,542,
`812.
`
`Provisional application No. 60/160,326, filed on Oct.
`19, 1999.
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G01C 21/00
`U.S. Cl.
`....................... 701/208; 701/207; 701/213;
`340/995.1
`
`Eleftheriadis, et 31. “User Profile Identification In Future Mobile
`Telecommunications Systems”, IEEE Network, IEEE Inc. NewYork,
`U.S. v01. 8, N0. 5, Sep./Oct. 1994 (p. 33-39).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary ExamineriYonel Beaulieu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiKlein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A navigation device utilizes stored user profiles to navigate a
`user who may be driving in a vehicle, on foot, or in other mode
`of transportation. Each user profile corresponds to one of the
`user’s personae. For example the user business profile corre-
`sponding to the user’ s business persona may be different from
`the user personal profile corresponding to the user’s personal
`persona. The navigation device provides the user with a navi-
`gated route, together with information concerning the favor-
`ite facilities and events surrounding the navigated route,
`which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile. Block-
`ages may also be established using the device to avoid
`selected areas, or to block transmission of selected informa-
`tion.
`
`30 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`103
`
`0
`”E“ RY
`
`1%
`
`GPS
`RECEIVER
`
` 117
`
`
`
`EXTERNAL
`INTERFACES
`
`
`
`103
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`119
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`DRIVER
`
`
`111
`
`113
`
`DISPIAY
`
`
`
`
`“5
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNCIAIION UNIT
`USER
`
`
`
`INTERFACE
`121
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`123
`
`Im-
`
`120
`
`

`

`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,350,970 A
`4,521,857 A
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`
`...... 342/357.09
`
`

`

`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`Page 3
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`B1
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`B1
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`B1
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`B1
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`
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 0f8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`100
`
`H7
`
`EXTERNAL
`INTERFACES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“5
`
`108
`
`”EMORY
`
`USER
`INTERFACE
`
`113
`
`
`
`
`
`119
`
`095
`RECEIVER
`
`103
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`‘20
`
`commune»: UNIT
`121
`
`‘
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.
`
`2
`
`REGISTRATION
`
`“3
`
`NAME
`
`AGE
`
`SEX
`
`mm
`
`MARITAL STATUS
`
`OCCUPATION
`
`GRAPHIC ARTIST
`
`cm
`
`Enucmon
`
`mow
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`m:
`
`mmszo02555o5sz025.2:0885:a02szm2:O
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 of8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`FIG. 4
`
`400
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`505
`
`507
`
`509
`
` 503
`
`
`
`
`
`511
`
`513
`
`515
`
`517
`
`519
`
`
`
`
`INFORMATION
`
`PERSONAL FAVORITES
`
`VACATION FAVORITES
`
`F105
`
`NAVIGATION
`SERVER
`
`53°
`
`5‘)
`
`(—L"cowumcmous
`77
`NETWORK
`\__—
`\L\~_5\
`‘,_.3.
`
`\
`
`’
`
`100
`
`NAVIGATOR
`
`ARRANGEMENT
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 0f8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`FIG. 6
`
`7
`
`////,,-
`
`V
`
`HOME DEPOT
`
`WELLS FARGO
`
`VONS
`
`CHEVRON
`
`JACK IN THE BOX
`
`COMP USA
`
`SPORTMART
`
`MACY’S
`
`KMART
`
`FIG. 7
`
`113
`
`653
`-——__i5n
`
`Nav Expen‘
`
`PRESET PROFILE SELECTION
`
`POPUIATES DATABASE FROM STANDARD PROFILES
`
`SELECT
`
`PROFILE 1
`
`MAN
`
`VIEW PROFILE-
`
`m]
`-—-_:;
`
`‘
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 0f8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`FIG. 8
`
`m
`
`NAVIGATION
`
`803
`
`BY AUTOMOBILE E
`MODE
`ON FOOT
`I
`OF
`TRANSPORTATION 3y RAIL
`
`
`
`FAVORITES
`
`PERSONAL
`BUSINESS
`vACATION
`
`807
`
`u
`I
`a
`
`FIG. 10
`
`
`DOES
`1003
`
`NAVIGATION COVERAGE
`
`
`INCLUDE ORIGINAIION AND DESTINATION
`ADDRESSES AND IS STORED MAP
`
`AND RELATED INFORMATION
`
`FRESH ?
`
`BASED ON STORED MAP AND REIATED INFORMATION, SELECT NOST
`TIME EFFICIENT ROUTE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT RELEVANT
`WEATHER TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS
`
`CAUSE TURN-BY-TURN INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING SELECTED
`ROUTE TO BE SHOWN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION CONNECTION WITH NAVIGATION SERVER
`
`CAUSE TRANSMISSION OF REQUEST FOR FRESH MAP AND RELATED
`INFORMATION FOR APPROPRIATE NAVIGATION COVERAGE THROUGH
`
`ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION CONNECTION
`
`RECEIVE FROM NAVIGATION SERVER NEW MAP AND RELATED
`INFORMATION AND CLONED PERSONAL FAVORITE UST
`
`STORE RECEIVED MAP AND RELATED INFORMATION, AND CLONED
`PERSONAL FAVORITE LIST
`
`1013
`
`1016
`
`1019
`
`1021
`
`1006
`
`1009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`5
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`mwasa63>2:gasses£2Em8hS.3588:8Box05ana.2«onD
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.15,2010
`
`Sheet70f8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 15, 2010
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`F10.
`
`72
`
`1215
`1213
`-1205 1-209
`_AVIGATE .ACK _EBSITE "ENU
`-ESTAURANT
`_ESTAURANT
`
`
`
`M'cDONALDSRESTARANT
`
`HYW 5, EXIT 10 SERVICE AREA
`PHONE NO. XXX-XXX-XXXX
`SERVICE HOURS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OPEN DAILY: 7:30AM - 12:30 AM
`EAT—IN: 140 SEATS
`
`
`
`DRIVE THROUGH
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OUTDOOR KIDS’ PLAYGROUND
`PROMOTIONS: FREE TOYS FOR KIDS
`
`
`
`F10.
`
`1305
`
`ORDER
`
`BACK
`
`STRAWBERRY SHAKE
`
`RESTAURANT MENU
`
`m
`
`HAMBURGER
`
`DOUBLE BURGER
`
`BEVERAGE
`
`COLA
`
`FIG.
`
`14
`
`113
`
`INQUIRY
`
`
`
`E] PERMANENT BLOCKADE
`
`D TEMPORARY BLOCKADE
`FROM
`TO__
`
`

`

`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`1
`TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVE NAVIGATION
`BASED ON USER PREFERENCES
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
`11/146,599 filed on Jun. 7, 2005, now US. Pat. No. 7,522,992
`which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/957,042
`filed on Oct. 1, 2004, now US. Pat. No. 6,993,429, which is
`a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/382,687 filed on
`Mar. 6, 2003, now US. Pat. No. 6,829,532, which is a con-
`tinuation of application Ser. No. 09/830,064 filed on Apr. 20,
`2001, now US. Pat. No. 6,542,812, which is a National Stage
`of International Application No. PCT/USOO/27270 filed on
`Oct. 4, 2000, which was published under PCT Article 12 (2)
`in English and which claims the priority ofProvisional Appli-
`cation No. 60/160,326 filed on Oct. 19, 1999.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to a navigation technique, and more
`particularly to a technique for navigation subject to user pref-
`erences.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Recently, navigation systems based on global positioning
`system (GPS) technology were developed for use in an auto-
`mobile. Such navigation systems are capable of receiving
`signals from a constellation of satellites which is part of the
`GPS. Based on the received signals, one such navigation
`system identifies the automobile’s location, e.g., in latitude
`and longitude. The navigation system also detects the auto-
`mobile’s speed and direction. With geographic information
`stored in an on-board computer in the automobile, the navi-
`gation system is capable of audio-visually communicating to
`a user instructions for reaching a given destination.
`Similarly, a GPS navigation device in hand-held form
`enables a user carrying the device to monitor his/her planned
`route leading to a given destination. Nowadays, in general,
`hand-held devices for information organization and commu-
`nications are popular and have been proliferating. For
`example, use of cellular phones for communications is ubiq-
`uitous. Use of personal data assistants (PDAs), e.g., PALM
`type hand-held devices, is equally ubiquitous for organizing
`personal information including meeting schedules, telephone
`listing, address information, etc. More recently, hand-held
`communicators emerged which have cellular communication
`and modem facilities integrated into a PDA, thereby enabling
`a user to communicate data in a wireless manner, e.g., to send
`and receive email, and to upload and download information
`from websites via the lntemet.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Traditionally, a navigation device, e.g., a GPS navigation
`system used in an automobile, provides a user with directions
`to a given destination. The navigation typically provides the
`shortest navigated route in terms of distance to the given
`destination. However, we have expanded the concept of the
`traditional navigation to broadly include providing a navi-
`gated route subject to user preferences, together with infor-
`mation concerning facilities and events surrounding the navi-
`gated route for the user’s convenience. The navigated route is
`selected to satisfy a trip’s purpose. Such a trip’s purpose may
`be (1) to reach a given destination as in prior art, and/or (2) to
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`perform certain tasks enroute or at the destination, which may
`include purchasing business supplies, shopping for gifts, din-
`ing, obtaining entertainments, etc. To realize (2), the naviga-
`tor arrangement in accordance with the invention allows for
`storage of user profiles including user preferences such as
`preferred types of restaurants, shops, entertainments, etc.
`In accordance with an aspect of the invention, each user
`profile corresponds to one of the user’s personae. For
`example, the user business profile corresponding to the user’ s
`business persona may be different from the user personal
`profile corresponding to his/her personal persona. For
`instance, the user business profile may include fine-dining
`type restaurants for business meetings while the userpersonal
`profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants for
`personal dining. Thus, the navigator arrangement in accor-
`dance with the invention provides a navigated route, together
`with information concerning the favorite facilities and events
`surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy the prefer-
`ences in a selected user profile.
`In accordance with another aspect ofthe invention, the user
`can adopt a second person’s profile for a trip’s purpose par-
`ticular to that second person, thereby temporarily assuming
`the second person’s persona to achieve such a trip’s purpose.
`In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the
`actual navigated route selected by the inventive navigator
`arrangement may depend on the mode of transportation
`specified by the user. For example, driving and walking are
`two different modes of transportation. The selected route for
`driving may be very different from that for walking, even
`though they may accomplish the same trip’s purpose. The
`routes from which the inventive navigator arrangement
`selects for driving have to be passable by an automobile,
`which exclude, e.g., foot bridges, and walk paths through
`buildings, parks, fields, forests, etc. On the other hand, the
`routes from which the inventive navigator arrangement
`selects for walking have to be safe to pedestrians, which
`exclude, e.g., highways, freeways, etc.
`In accordance with still yet another aspect ofthe invention,
`the actual route selected by the inventive navigator arrange-
`ment may also depend on external conditions, e. g., traffic,
`weather and road conditions. Thus, based on the information
`concerning such external conditions received from, say, a
`server via the Internet, the inventive navigator arrangement
`selects the mo st time-efiicient route, e. g., one that requires the
`least travel time, to accomplish the trip’s purpose despite any
`adverse traffic, weather and road conditions.
`In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a user
`may prescribe one or more roadblocks specifying certain
`prohibited areas or paths from which the route selected by the
`inventive navigator arrangement deviates. For example, it
`may be sensible to place roadblocks around high crime areas
`especially when the user is new in town and unfamiliar with
`those areas. A roadblock may be permanent or temporary. For
`example, a temporary roadblock may be placed on certain
`streets where a parade is held which lasts for several hours.
`Similar to a roadblock, a blockade may be imposed to block
`transmission of certain information to the inventive navigator
`arrangement which concerns, e.g., uninteresting facilities or
`events.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`Further aspects, features and advantages of the invention
`will become apparent from the following detailed description
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing show-
`ing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:
`
`

`

`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a navigator arrangement in
`accordance with the invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a registration page shown on a display in
`the arrangement of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a profile setting page shown on the dis-
`play;
`FIG. 4 illustrates the format of a user record stored in a
`
`memory of the arrangement of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a setup where the arrangement of FIG. 1
`communicates with a remote server through a communica-
`tions network;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a personal favorite list shown on the
`display;
`FIG. 7 illustrates preset profiles shown on the display;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a navigation page shown on the display;
`FIG. 9 illustrates a directions page shown on the display;
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting a navigation process based
`on certain information in the record of FIG. 4;
`FIG. 11 illustrates a map viewerpage shown on the display;
`FIG. 12 illustrates a restaurant page shown on the display;
`FIG. 13 illustrates a restaurant menu page shown on the
`display; and
`FIG. 14 illustrates an inquiry page where a user is pre-
`sented a choice of blockades in accordance with the inven-
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates navigator arrangement 100 embodying
`the principles of the invention for navigation subject to user
`preferences. Navigator arrangement 100 in this instance is
`realized as a hand-held device, which may be “docked” or
`connected to another device or system to enhance its func-
`tionality, which may include a terminal, workstation, com-
`puter system, or an automobile system described, e.g., in US.
`Pat. No. 6,009,355 issued to Obradovich et al. on Dec. 28,
`l 999.
`
`As shown in FIG. 1, navigator arrangement 100 includes
`processor 103, memory 108, display driver 111, display 113,
`user interface 115, external interfaces 117, GPS receiver 119,
`communication unit 120. Memory 108 is used to store soft-
`ware and data for processor 103 to carry out various opera-
`tions of arrangement 100. In this instance, the stored software
`includes a navigator browser similar to the well known
`NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR or MICROSOFT INTERNET
`
`EXPLORER web browser for browsing information pro-
`vided, e. g., by servers connected to the Internet. In particular,
`the navigator browser works compatibly with the standard
`hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), hypertext markup lan-
`guage (HTML), virtual reality markup language (VRML),
`graphics interchange format (GIF), JAVA applets, etc.
`Display 113 may include a conventional liquid crystal dis-
`play (LCD). Through display driver 111, processor 103 con-
`trols the display of text and graphics on display 113 in a
`predetermined format. User interface 115 may comprise con-
`ventional audio circuitry including a microphone and speaker
`for the user to communicate with arrangement 100 via audio
`media. User interface 115 may also comprise an indicator
`device, e. g., a mouse, touchpad, roller ball, or a combination
`thereof, which enables a user to move a cursor on display 113
`and to, e.g., point and click at a displayed option or an icon to
`select same. In addition, interface 115 may incorporate well-
`known touch-screen circuitry (not shown). With this circuitry,
`the user can interact with processor 103, e.g., using a finger or
`a stylus to touch the surface of display 113 which is tactile-
`sensitive. Processor 103 receives from the touch screen cir-
`
`cuitry a signal identifying the location on display 113 where
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`it has been touched. If such a location matches the predeter-
`mined location ofone ofdisplayed options or icons, processor
`103 determines that the option or icon has been selected.
`Otherwise, a cursor is placed at the touched location on dis-
`play 113, prompting for an input from the user.
`The user input may be realized using a virtual keyboard
`shown on display 113 also provided by the touch-screen
`circuitry. In a well known manner, characters are input by
`touching the corresponding keys on the virtual keyboard.
`Alternatively, processor 103 may be programmed to recog-
`nize handwritten characters, and may receive through the
`touch-screen circuitry images of characters drawn by the user
`on display 113. Any recognized characters corresponding to
`the drawn images then become the user input. Still altema-
`tively, through one of external interfaces 117, arrangement
`100 can be connected to a keyboard device or a personal
`computer (PC) having a keyboard for user input.
`However, we have recognized that the traditional ways of
`inputting data to a hand-held device are inefficient. For
`example, user input by drawn images of characters is often
`susceptible to inaccurate character recognition by the device,
`thus requiring repeated input of the same characters, which is
`frustrating. Limited by the size of a display in a hand-held
`device, a virtual keyboard does not afford much room to each
`character key thereon. As a result, data entry using the virtual
`keyboard is also error prone. Inputting data to a hand-held
`device using a physical keyboard connected thereto is unde-
`sirable because of the bulkiness of the keyboard, which
`defeats the purpose ofhaving the hand-held device for its easy
`transportability in the first place.
`However, navigator arrangement 100 is designed pursuant
`to an object to minimize data entry by the user. To the extent
`possible, databases in arrangement 100 are pre-populated
`with data, which the user may edit to satisfy his/her needs. In
`addition, arrangement 100 allows for downloading of data
`from a remote source to supplement and update the databases
`in arrangement 100, and to provide thereto just-in-time infor-
`mation, including, e.g., latest traffic, weather, map and other
`information. To that end, transceiver 121 in communication
`unit 120 includes, e. g., cellular telephone circuitry for trans-
`mitting and receiving information via a wireless communica-
`tions network, e.g., the well known advanced mobile phone
`service (AMPS) network, digital AMPS network, personal
`communications service (PCS) network, global system for
`mobile communications (GSM) network, etc. Modem 123 is
`used for modulating and demodulating carriers carrying the
`information through data channels, e.g., cellular digital
`packet data (CDPD) channels, in the wireless communica-
`tions network.
`
`Traditionally, a navigation device, e.g., a GPS navigation
`system used in an automobile, provides a user with directions
`to a given destination. The navigation typically provides the
`shortest navigated route in terms of distance to the given
`destination. However, we have expanded the concept of the
`traditional navigation to broadly include providing a navi-
`gated route subject to user preferences, together with infor-
`mation concerning facilities and events surrounding the navi-
`gated route for the user’ s convenience. The navigated route is
`selected to satisfy a trip’s purpose. Such a trip’s purpose may
`be (1) to reach a given destination as in prior art, and/or (2) to
`perform certain tasks enroute or at the destination, which may
`include purchasing business supplies, shopping for gifts, din-
`ing, obtaining entertainments, etc. To realize (2), navigator
`arrangement 100 in accordance with the invention allows for
`storage of user profiles including user preferences such as
`preferred types of restaurants, shops, entertainments, etc.
`
`

`

`US 7,739,039 B2
`
`5
`
`15
`
`5
`In accordance with an aspect of the invention, each user
`profile corresponds to one of the user’s personae. For
`example, the user business profile corresponding to the user’s
`business persona may be different from the user personal
`profile corresponding to his/her personal persona. For
`instance, the user business profile may include fine-dining
`type restaurants for business meetings while the user personal
`profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants for
`personal dining. Other profiles may include a vacation profile
`which corresponds to the user’s vacation persona and may 10
`include a different set of preferred restaurants, shops, enter-
`tainments, etc.
`In accordance with another aspect ofthe invention, the user
`can adopt a second person’s profile for a certain trip’s pur-
`pose, thereby temporarily assuming the second person’s per-
`sona, especially when arrangement 100 is shared by more
`than one person. For example, where a husband and wife
`share the use of arrangement 100, the husband may utilize the
`wife’s profile in arrangement 100 to shop for a gift for the
`wife’s birthday. Based on the profile corresponding to the 20
`wife’s personal persona, arrangement 100 provides a navi-
`gated route, together with information concerning the wife’s
`personal favorite shops surrounding the route. Of course,
`each user’s profiles may be protected against uninvited
`intruders. In that case, access to the profiles may require 25
`verification ofa personal identification number (PIN) orpass-
`word, or other well known secure access measures. Profiles
`may also be imported or downloaded into arrangement 100
`from an external source or from another arrangement similar
`to arrangement 100.
`Thus, in accordance with the invention, arrangement 100
`provides a navigated route, together with information con-
`cerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navi-
`gated route, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user
`profile. In this instance, such information comes from an 35
`external source, e.g., a server connected to the Internet, and is
`communicated to arrangement 100 through communication
`unit 120.
`
`30
`
`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
`actual navigated route selected by arrangement 100 may 40
`depend on the mode of transportation specified by the user.
`For example, driving and walking are two different modes of
`transportation. The selected route for driving may be very
`different from that for walking, even though they may accom-
`plish the same trip’s purpose. The routes from which arrange- 45
`ment 100 selects for driving have to be passable by an auto-
`mobile, which exclude, e.g., foot bridges, and walk paths
`through buildings, parks, fields, forests, etc. On the other
`hand, the routes from which arrangement 100 selects for
`walking have to be safe to pedestrians, which exclude, e.g., 50
`highways, freeways, etc.
`In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the
`actual route selected by arrangement 100 may also depend on
`external conditions, e.g., traflic, weather and road conditions.
`Thus, based on the information concerning such external 55
`conditions received from, say, a server via the Internet,
`arrangement 100 selects the most time-efficient route, e.g.,
`one that requires the least travel time, to accomplish the trip’s
`purpose despite any adverse traffic, weather and road condi-
`tions.
`
`60
`
`In accordance with still yet another aspect ofthe invention,
`a user may prescribe one or more roadblocks specifying cer-
`tain prohibited areas orpaths from which the route selected by
`arrangement 100 deviates. For example, it may be sensible to
`place roadblocks around high crime areas especially when the 65
`user is new in town and unfamiliar with those areas. A road-
`
`block may be permanent or temporary. For example, a tem-
`
`6
`porary roadblock may be placed on certain streets where a
`parade is held which lasts for several hours. Similar to a
`roadblock, a blockade may be imposed to block transmission
`of certain information to arrangement 100 which concerns,
`e.g., uninteresting facilities or events.
`When a user initially utilizes arrangement 100 for naviga-
`tion in accordance with the invention, the navigator browser
`in arrangement 100 opens a REGISTRATION page on dis-
`play 113. FIG. 2 illustrates such a REGISTRATION page
`where the user is prompted for entering his/her personal data,
`e.g., his/her name, age, sex, marital status, occupation, city,
`education, religion and number of children.
`After the entry of the personal data, the navigator browser
`opens a PROFILE SETTING page on display 113. FIG. 3
`illustrates such a PROFILE SETTING page for the user to set
`up a profil