Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus

Claim 2

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating and storing a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating and storing means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said first route; means for calculating and storing at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, between said start and destination locations and determining at least one of the travel mileage of and estimated time for said second route; display means coupled o said first and second route calculating and storing means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format at least each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages and estimated times for each of the displayed routes, each of said displayed first and second routes being visible at the same time; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; and means for selecting the display format in which said display means will visually display each of said first and second routes, said first and second routes being displayable in a text format in which each route is identified by text which identifies major road segments, rather than providing a graphic map path display between visually displayed start and destination locations, and a graphic display format in which a graphic map path is visually displayed between visual displays of the start and destination locations.

Claim 3

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said first route; means for calculating at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination locations by excluding from said second route, in accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to calculation of said first route, some road path segments included in said first route, said second route calculation means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said second route, said criterion determining how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established by said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; display means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages of and estimated times for each of the displayed routes; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; means for providing route guidance information to said vehicle operator in accordance with said selected route; and means for storing road segment data which defines each of said first and second calculated routes until at least selection of a route for route guidance by said vehicle operator.

Claim 4

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said first route; means for calculating at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination locations by excluding from said second route, in accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to calculation of said first route, some road path segments included in said first route, said second route calculation means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said second route, said criterion determining how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established by said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; display means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages of and estimated times for each of the displayed routes; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; means for providing route guidance information to said vehicle operator in accordance with said selected route; and means for storing road segment data which defines each of said first and second calculated routes until at least selection of a route for route guidance by said vehicle operator.

Claim 5

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said visual display of each of said first and second routes along with at lest one of the travel mileages of and estimated times for the displayed routes are visible at the same time.

Claim 6

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said display means visually displays both of said travel mileages of and estimated times for each of the displayed routes.

Claim 7

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said display means displays each of said displayed first and second routes in a different color.

Claim 8

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means for selecting the display format in which said display means will visually display each of said first and second routes, said first and second routes being displayable in a text format in which a route is identified by text which identifies major road segment, rather than providing a graphic map path display between visual start and destination locations, and a graphic display format in which a graphic path is visually displayed between visual displays of the start and destination locations.

Claim 9

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means for storing data defining both said first and second calculated routes until at least said vehicle operator selects one of said displayed routes for route guidance.

Claim 10

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means for said vehicle operator selecting said first route prior to the display of said second route.

Claim 11

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said display means visually displays said calculated first route and then displays both said first and second calculated routes.

Claim 12

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location; means for calculating, after calculating said first route, at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination location sin accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to the calculation of said first route, said exclusion criterion determining how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established by said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; and display means coupled to said first and second route calculation means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes.

Claim 13

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location; means for calculating, after calculating said first route, at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination location sin accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to the calculation of said first route, said exclusion criterion determining how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established by said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; and display means coupled to said first and second route calculation means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes.

Claim 14

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 10 which includes means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes.

Claim 15

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said display means displays each of said first and second routes at the same time.

Claim 16

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating and storing a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating and storing means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said first route; means for calculating and storing at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, between said start and destination locations and determining at least one of the travel mileage of and estimated time for said second route; display means coupled to said first nd second route calculating and storing means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format at least each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages and estimated times for each of the displayed routes, each of said displayed first and second routes being visible at the same time; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; and means for selecting the display format in which said display means will visually display each of said first and second routes, said first and second routes being displayable in a text format in which each route is identified by text which identifies major road segments, rather than providing a graphic map path display between visually displayed start and destination locations, and a graphic display format in which a distinctive graphic map path is visually displayed for each route between visual displays of the start and destination locations.

Claim 17

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating and storing a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating and storing means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said first route; means for calculating and storing at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, between said start and destination locations and determining at least one of the travel mileage of and estimated time for said second route; display means coupled to said first nd second route calculating and storing means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format at least each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages and estimated times for each of the displayed routes, each of said displayed first and second routes being visible at the same time; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; and means for selecting the display format in which said display means will visually display each of said first and second routes, said first and second routes being displayable in a text format in which each route is identified by text which identifies major road segments, rather than providing a graphic map path display between visually displayed start and destination locations, and a graphic display format in which a distinctive graphic map path is visually displayed for each route between visual displays of the start and destination locations.

Claim 18

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said firs route, said first route calculated in accordance with vehicle operator specificable route calculation criteria comprising preferences/detours; means for calculating at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination locations, in accordance with said vehicle operator specifiable route calculation criteria, by excluding from said second route, in accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to calculation of said first route, some road path segments included in sad first route, said second route calculation means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said second route, said exclusion criterion determining, regardless of said user specificable route calculation criteria, how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established b said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; display means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages of and estimated times for each of the displayed routes; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; means for providing route guidance information to said vehicle operator in accordance with said selected route; and means for storing road segment data which defines each of said first and second calculated routes until at least selection of a route for route guidance by said vehicle operator.

Claim 19

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route for a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location, said first route calculating means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said firs route, said first route calculated in accordance with vehicle operator specificable route calculation criteria comprising preferences/detours; means for calculating at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination locations, in accordance with said vehicle operator specifiable route calculation criteria, by excluding from said second route, in accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to calculation of said first route, some road path segments included in sad first route, said second route calculation means determining at least one of the travel mileage of and the estimated time for said second route, said exclusion criterion determining, regardless of said user specificable route calculation criteria, how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established b said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; display means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes along with at least one of the travel mileages of and estimated times for each of the displayed routes; means for said vehicle operator selecting any one of said displayed first and second routes; means for providing route guidance information to said vehicle operator in accordance with said selected route; and means for storing road segment data which defines each of said first and second calculated routes until at least selection of a route for route guidance by said vehicle operator.

Claim 20

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route from a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location in accordance with operator specifiable route calculation criteria comprising preferences/detours; means for calculating, after calculating said first route, at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination locations in accordance with said operator specifiable route calculation criteria and also in accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to the calculation of said first route, said exclusion criterion determining, regardless of said operator specifiable route calculation criteria, how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established by said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; and display means coupled to said first and second route calculation means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes.

Claim 21

Land vehicle multiple navigation route apparatus comprising: means for calculating a first desired navigation route from a vehicle, via fixed road path segments, between a start location and a desired destination location in accordance with operator specifiable route calculation criteria comprising preferences/detours; means for calculating, after calculating said first route, at least a second desired navigation route, different from said first route, for said vehicle between said start and destination locations in accordance with said operator specifiable route calculation criteria and also in accordance with a predetermined exclusion criterion determined prior to the calculation of said first route, said exclusion criterion determining, regardless of said operator specifiable route calculation criteria, how calculation of said second route is to differ from calculation of said first route, said predetermined exclusion criterion established by said second route calculation means including means for identifying said road path segments which form said first calculated route and selecting some road path segments from said identified first route road path segments for exclusion and means for excluding said selected first route road path segments from inclusion in said second route when calculating said second route; and display means coupled to said first and second route calculation means for visually displaying to the vehicle operator in a predetermined display format each of said first and second routes.