US5878368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Navigation system with user definable cost values
Assignee: Beacon Navigation GmbH
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Filing: 1996-09-13
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2016-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A navigation system permits the user to designate certain roads or areas to avoid when planning a route. The navigation system generally includes a database of road segments and a cost associated with the road segments, such as estimated time of travel across that road segment and estimated length of travel across that road segment. The navigation system determines a route from a selected beginning point to a desired destination by evaluating the cost of the road segments to be traveled in several potential routes and recommends the potential route having the lowest total cost. The user can selectively modify the cost of selected road segments to indicate a preference or avoidance of such roads. By increasing the cost of a road segment, the navigation system is less likely to recommend a potential route which includes that road segment. Similarly, by decreasing the cost of a selected road segment, the navigation system is more likely to recommend a potential route which includes that road segment.
Inventors
- 👤 Brent L. DeGraaf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0968; G08G1/096805; G08G1/096827; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/3453; G01C21/3461; G01C21/3492; G08G1/096833; G08G1/096838; G08G1/096855; G08G1/096861; G08G1/096872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A navigation system comprising: a database of road segments to be travelled by a user, said database including a cost associated with each said road segment; a system for selecting a beginning point relative to said database of roads; a user input device for selecting a desired destination relative to said database of roads, said user input device manually selecting at least one of said road segments and adjusting said cost of said at least one selected road segment; and a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said beginning point and said desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected at least one road segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A navigation system comprising: a database of road segments to be travelled by a user, said database including a cost associated with each said road segment; a system for selecting a beginning point relative to said database of roads; a user input device for selecting a desired destination relative to said database of roads, said user input device manually selecting at least one of said road segments and adjusting said cost of said at least one selected road segment; and a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said beginning point and said desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected at least one road segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device enters the first few letters of said selected road segment, said user input device selecting said selected road segment from a list of road segments including said first few letters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects a city and adjusts the cost for a plurality of road segments in said selected city.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects from at least three values in order to adjust said cost of said at least one selected road segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said system for adjusting said cost includes a system for receiving congestion information, said congestion information including identification of a congested area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects a road segment to avoid, said system for adjusting said cost increasing the cost for said selected road segment to avoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said system for determining a route recommends a plurality of recommended road segments in said route, said user input device selecting at least one, but not all, of said plurality of recommended road segments, said user input device selectively editing the cost of said selected at least one of said recommended road segments, said system for determining a route determining a second route including said plurality of recommended road segments other than said selected at least one road segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
The navigation system of claim 1 further including a memory storing each selected road segment for which the cost has been adjusted and the associated adjusted cost of said selected road segment, wherein said beginning point is a first beginning point, said destination is a first destination and said route is a first route, said system for determining a route determining a second route from said database of roads between a second beginning point different from said first beginning point and a second desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of each said selected road segment as stored in said memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein each said selected road segment and its associated adjusted cost is further associated with a user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said road segments each have an associated road type, said user input device selecting a road type and adjusting the cost for all road segments of said selected type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The navigation system of claim 10 wherein said road type includes freeways.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said user input device selects between decreasing and increasing the cost of said selected road segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
A navigation system comprising: a database of road segments to be travelled by a user, said database including a cost associated with each said road segment, said road segments each having a time cost and a distance cost; a system for selecting a beginning point relative to said database of roads; a user input device for selecting a desired destination relative to said database of roads; a system for adjusting said cost of at least one selected road segment of said plurality of road segments utilizing said user-input device; and a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said beginning point and said desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected road segment, said system for determining a route comparing the time cost of a first road segment with a distance cost of a second road segment and recommending a route based upon a time/distance weighting factor, said user input device adjusting said time/distance weighting factor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A navigation system comprising: a database of road segments to be travelled by a user, said database including a cost associated with each said road segment, said road segments each having a time cost and a distance cost; a system for selecting a beginning point relative to said database of roads; a user input device for selecting a desired destination relative to said database of roads; a system for adjusting said cost of at least one selected road segment of said plurality of road segments utilizing said user-input device; and a system for determining a route from said database of roads between said beginning point and said desired destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected road segment, said system for determining a route comparing the time cost of a first road segment with a distance cost of a second road segment and recommending a route based upon a time/distance weighting factor, said user input device adjusting said time/distance weighting factor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The navigation system of claim 13 wherein said road segments each have an associated road type, said system for adjusting said cost adjusting the cost for all road segments of a selected type.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) manually selecting a road segment from said database of roads; d) adjusting a cost associated with said selected road segment; and e) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected road segment.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) manually selecting a road segment from said database of roads; d) adjusting a cost associated with said selected road segment; and e) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said destination based upon said adjusted cost of said selected road segment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 wherein said step c) further includes the steps of: entering the first few letters of the name of said selected road segment; selecting said road segment from a list of road segments having said first few letters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of: associating an estimated time of travel with said road segment; associating a length of travel with said road segment; and adjusting the cost of a road segment proportionally to its estimated time of travel or estimated length of travel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of: selecting a time/distance factor for evaluating the cost of potential routes between said beginning point and said desired destination; selectively adjusting said time/distance factor; and determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said desired destination based upon said time/distance factor, said estimated time of travel and said length of travel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of: determining a present position relative to said database of roads; and selecting said present position relative to said database of roads as said beginning point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 further including the steps of: displaying a list of road segments for which the cost has been adjusted; selecting said selected road segment from said list of road segments; and adjusting the cost of said selected road segment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 wherein said step d) includes the step of decreasing the cost of said selected road segment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 15 wherein said step d) includes the step of selecting between increasing or decreasing the cost of said selected road segment.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) adjusting a cost associated with a selected road segment in said database of roads; and d) selecting a time/distance factor for evaluating the cost of potential routes between said beginning point and said desired destination; e) comparing the estimated time of travel of a first potential route with the length of travel of a second potential route utilizing said time/distance factor; f) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said desired destination based upon said time/distance factor, said estimated time of travel and said length of travel.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) adjusting a cost associated with a selected road segment in said database of roads; and d) selecting a time/distance factor for evaluating the cost of potential routes between said beginning point and said desired destination; e) comparing the estimated time of travel of a first potential route with the length of travel of a second potential route utilizing said time/distance factor; f) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said desired destination based upon said time/distance factor, said estimated time of travel and said length of travel.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) selecting a road segment to avoid; d) increasing the cost of said road segment; e) comparing said increased cost for said road segment to avoid with a cost of an alternative route not including said road segment; and f) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said destination based upon said increased cost.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) selecting a road segment to avoid; d) increasing the cost of said road segment; e) comparing said increased cost for said road segment to avoid with a cost of an alternative route not including said road segment; and f) determining a route from said database of roads from said beginning point to said destination based upon said increased cost.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method for planning a route according to claim 24 further including the steps of: displaying a first route comprising a plurality of road segments from said beginning point to said destination; selecting one of said plurality of road segments as a road segment to avoid; and determining a second route to said destination from said position of said vehicle, said second route not including said road segment to avoid.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads, said database of roads having a plurality of road segments; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) associating a time cost with each said road segment; d) associating a distance cost with each said road segment; e) selecting a first time/distance factor; f) selecting a first recommended route from said beginning point to said destination based upon said time cost of said road segments, said distance cost of said road segments and said first time/distance factor; g) changing said first time/distance factor after said step f) to a second time/distance factor; and h) selecting a second recommended route from said beginning point to said destination based upon said time cost of said road segments, said distance cost of said road segments and said second time/distance factor, said second recommended route including at least one road segment not included in said first recommended route.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for planning a route including the steps of: a) selecting a beginning point relative to a database of roads, said database of roads having a plurality of road segments; b) selecting a destination relative to said database of roads; c) associating a time cost with each said road segment; d) associating a distance cost with each said road segment; e) selecting a first time/distance factor; f) selecting a first recommended route from said beginning point to said destination based upon said time cost of said road segments, said distance cost of said road segments and said first time/distance factor; g) changing said first time/distance factor after said step f) to a second time/distance factor; and h) selecting a second recommended route from said beginning point to said destination based upon said time cost of said road segments, said distance cost of said road segments and said second time/distance factor, said second recommended route including at least one road segment not included in said first recommended route.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |