US5508917A — Vehicle guidance system using beacon transmission…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 336 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system with a vehicle device located in a vehicle having a data input device, a data output device, a destination memory for place names, with a data memory for road maps or guide vectors and with a first transmitting/receiving unit, and with at least one stationary device of a beacon located outside of the vehicle having a second transmitting/receiving unit which is in communication at least temporarily with the first transmitting/receiving unit located in the vehicle and which has a further data memory, in which at least one of a road map and guide vectors are stored which can be transmitted to the vehicle device, wherein a. the data input device (11) of the vehicle device is designed for entering with alphanumeric characters at least one of the place name and the street name of a selected destination, b. the destination memory (17) contains coordinates of centers (OMK) of the destinations which can be input, c. the vehicle device has means (11) through which a destination vector can be determined from the vehicle position and the coordinates of the center (OMK) of the destination and can be output in a display (13), and means to transmit data to the beacon device for identifying the destination, d. the beacon device includes means responsive to said selected destination received from the vehicle device to transmit to the vehicle as it passes the center coordinates (OMK) of at least one of the places associated with the beacon, and route tree with guide vector chains of the long distance route net, e. the vehicle device has means (12) to compare the received center coordinares with the destination coordinates for (a) in case of a deviation, providing a guide vector to the nearest beacon located in the direction toward the destination, and (b) in case of agreement, controlling the beacon device to transmit portions of at least one of the road map of the destination area and guide vectors to the destination to the vehicle device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 336 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system with a vehicle device located in a vehicle having a data input device, a data output device, a destination memory for place names, with a data memory for road maps or guide vectors and with a first transmitting/receiving unit, and with at least one stationary device of a beacon located outside of the vehicle having a second transmitting/receiving unit which is in communication at least temporarily with the first transmitting/receiving unit located in the vehicle and which has a further data memory, in which at least one of a road map and guide vectors are stored which can be transmitted to the vehicle device, wherein a. the data input device (11) of the vehicle device is designed for entering with alphanumeric characters at least one of the place name and the street name of a selected destination, b. the destination memory (17) contains coordinates of centers (OMK) of the destinations which can be input, c. the vehicle device has means (11) through which a destination vector can be determined from the vehicle position and the coordinates of the center (OMK) of the destination and can be output in a display (13), and means to transmit data to the beacon device for identifying the destination, d. the beacon device includes means responsive to said selected destination received from the vehicle device to transmit to the vehicle as it passes the center coordinates (OMK) of at least one of the places associated with the beacon, and route tree with guide vector chains of the long distance route net, e. the vehicle device has means (12) to compare the received center coordinares with the destination coordinates for (a) in case of a deviation, providing a guide vector to the nearest beacon located in the direction toward the destination, and (b) in case of agreement, controlling the beacon device to transmit portions of at least one of the road map of the destination area and guide vectors to the destination to the vehicle device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data memory (17) of the vehicle device is a component of the device for the traffic message channel (TMC memory) of a car radio.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the memory of the beacon device contains further information regarding at least one of entry permits and fee deductions for parking fees and tolls.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the digitized road net as far as only the next beacon is stored in the road map (34) of the beacon device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 44 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein, on demand of a vehicle, a sequence of road sections (guide vector chain) containing the travel route in the direction toward the destination can be transmitted by the beacon to the vehicle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output of the travel direction data takes place by means of at least one of arrow symbols and audible output at the data output.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output of the travel direction data is in the form of a map display.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one of the travel route and the guide vector chain is shown in color.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 41 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a locating and navigation device is provided in the vehicle, and correction of the compound navigation can be made on the basis of the coordinates received from the beacon.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the vehicle device and the beacon device have an arrangement for deducting user fees for parking fees and tolls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the beacon device registers the movement of a vehicle and identifies the vehicle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 10, wherein a credit card can be inserted into the device of the vehicle, from which the toll can be deducted.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the deduction of a fee can be performed after approval of the credit card.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

A vehicle and destination guidance system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising means for automatic registration of the license plates of the vehicle in case of an invalid credit card.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-04-16	1999-10-16	2000-04-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-04-16	2003-10-16	2004-04-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-04-16	2007-10-16	2008-04-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle guidance system using beacon transmissions of destination data

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