US6097316A — Communication protocol for a vehicle navigation s…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 144 words

A navigation system for operating in a vehicle having a plurality of systems controlled by a vehicle controller, the plurality of systems including a user interface, the vehicle navigation system comprising: at least one receiver for receiving external data originating outside of the vehicle; at least one input for receiving vehicle data; a database medium having map data stored therein; a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the at least one receiver, the at least one input, and the database medium, the CPU being for performing navigation functions using the external data, the vehicle data, and the map data; a communication link coupled to the CPU for transmitting interface data to the vehicle controller; wherein the CPU selects one of a plurality of transmission protocols to transmit the interface data based, at least in part, on a data type associated with the interface data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 144 words

A navigation system for operating in a vehicle having a plurality of systems controlled by a vehicle controller, the plurality of systems including a user interface, the vehicle navigation system comprising: at least one receiver for receiving external data originating outside of the vehicle; at least one input for receiving vehicle data; a database medium having map data stored therein; a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the at least one receiver, the at least one input, and the database medium, the CPU being for performing navigation functions using the external data, the vehicle data, and the map data; a communication link coupled to the CPU for transmitting interface data to the vehicle controller; wherein the CPU selects one of a plurality of transmission protocols to transmit the interface data based, at least in part, on a data type associated with the interface data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one receiver comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and the external data comprises GPS data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one receiver comprises an RF receiver and the external data comprises traffic data.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one input comprises an odometer input and the vehicle data comprises odometer data.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 4 wherein the vehicle has an odometer which is controlled by the vehicle controller, the odometer input being for receiving odometer data from the vehicle controller.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one input comprises an angular velocity sensor input and the vehicle data comprises angular velocity data.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the communication link comprises a serial data link.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the communication link comprises a parallel data link.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The vehicle navigation system of claim 1 wherein the CPU selects the one of the plurality of transmission protocols based on a request for the interface data from the vehicle controller.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 117 words

In a vehicle having a plurality of systems controlled by a vehicle controller, the plurality of systems including a user interface and a navigation system, a method for transmitting interface data from the navigation system to the vehicle controller, comprising: receiving a request from the vehicle controller for the interface data to be presented in the user interface, the interface data having a data type associated therewith; selecting a first transmission protocol from a plurality of transmission protocols for transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller the first transmission protocol being selected based, at least in part, on the data type; and transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller according to the first transmission protocol.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 117 words

In a vehicle having a plurality of systems controlled by a vehicle controller, the plurality of systems including a user interface and a navigation system, a method for transmitting interface data from the navigation system to the vehicle controller, comprising: receiving a request from the vehicle controller for the interface data to be presented in the user interface, the interface data having a data type associated therewith; selecting a first transmission protocol from a plurality of transmission protocols for transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller the first transmission protocol being selected based, at least in part, on the data type; and transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller according to the first transmission protocol.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 10 wherein the first transmission protocol is selected based in part on the request received from the vehicle controller.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 94 words

The method of claim 10 wherein the interface data represents a plurality of records to be displayed in the user interface, transmitting the interface data according to the first transmission protocol comprising: transmitting a first number of the records as a first sequence of contiguous data packets from the navigation system to the vehicle controller, the first number being determined with reference to a capacity of the user interface to display the records; and thereafter, transmitting additional sequences of contiguous data packets corresponding to additional records from the navigation system to the vehicle controller.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of records are arranged in an ordered alphanumeric sequence, the first number of records being the first number of records in the alphanumeric sequence.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of records are arranged in an ordered alphanumeric sequence, the first number of records beginning with a first record which corresponds to at least one alphanumeric character entered in the user interface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the additional sequences of contiguous data packets include records preceding and following the first record in the alphanumeric sequence.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of records comprises city names.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of records comprises street names.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of records comprises point of interest names.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the additional sequences corresponds to a second number of the records, the second number being limited by a memory capacity associated with the vehicle controller.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 12 wherein a second number of additional sequences are transmitted, the second number corresponding to scrolling activity in the user interface.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 10 wherein the interface data represents a graphics screen to be displayed in the user interface, transmitting the interface data according to the first transmission protocol comprising transmitting a first sequence of contiguous data packets from the navigation system to the vehicle controller, the first sequence representing the entire graphics screen.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the graphics screen comprises a maneuver screen for alerting a user of the navigation system of an upcoming maneuver.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the graphic screen comprises a map display screen representing a map region and having an icon representing the vehicle displayed thereon.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 101 words

The method of claim 10 wherein the interface data represents a graphics screen to be displayed in the user interface, transmitting the interface data according to the first transmission protocol comprising transmitting a first sequence of contiguous data packets from the navigation system to the vehicle controller, the first sequence including identification data for identifying a generic graphics screen stored in memory associated with the vehicle controller, and specific graphics screen data, the generic graphics screen and the specific graphics screen data being combined under control of the vehicle controller to effect display of the graphics screen in the user interface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 24 wherein the graphics screen comprises a maneuver screen for alerting a user of the navigation system of an upcoming maneuver.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 24 wherein the graphic screen comprises a map display screen representing a map region and having an icon representing the vehicle displayed thereon.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 144 words

A computer program product for causing data to be transmitted from a navigation system to a vehicle controller in a vehicle having a plurality of systems controlled by the vehicle controller, the plurality of systems including a user interface and the navigation system, comprising: a computer-readable medium; and a computer program mechanism embedded in the computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of: in response to a request from the vehicle controller for interface data to be presented in the user interface, the interface data having a data type associated therewith, selecting a first transmission protocol from a plurality of transmission protocols for transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller, the first transmission protocol being selected based, at least in part, on the data type; and transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller according to the first transmission protocol.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 144 words

A computer program product for causing data to be transmitted from a navigation system to a vehicle controller in a vehicle having a plurality of systems controlled by the vehicle controller, the plurality of systems including a user interface and the navigation system, comprising: a computer-readable medium; and a computer program mechanism embedded in the computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of: in response to a request from the vehicle controller for interface data to be presented in the user interface, the interface data having a data type associated therewith, selecting a first transmission protocol from a plurality of transmission protocols for transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller, the first transmission protocol being selected based, at least in part, on the data type; and transmitting the interface data to the vehicle controller according to the first transmission protocol.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-08-01	2004-01-31	2004-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-08-01	2008-01-31	2008-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-08-01	2012-01-31	2012-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Communication protocol for a vehicle navigation system

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