Patent US6278935B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6278935B1
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Method and system for providing instructions about tollways with a navigation system
Assignee: Here Global BV
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Filing: 1999-07-23
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Granted: 2001-08-21
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Expires: 2019-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A navigation system provides a user thereof with warnings or advisories about toll gates that require exact change. The warnings or advisories are provided when the navigation system calculates a solution route to a destination specified by the user. The warnings or advisories are also provided when the user queries the navigation system about a particular specified portion of a road. The navigation system uses a geographic database that includes data about roads in a geographic region. The geographic database includes data about toll gates located along portions of roads including data about whether a toll gate along a portion or a road requires exact change.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence M. Kaplan
- 👤 Frank J. Kozak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of operation for a navigation system comprising: accepting a request from a vehicle driver to calculate a solution route to a destination indicated by the vehicle driver; accessing a geographic database that contains information about whether exact change is required at toll gates; and advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at a toll gate located along the solution route.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of operation for a navigation system comprising: accepting a request from a vehicle driver to calculate a solution route to a destination indicated by the vehicle driver; accessing a geographic database that contains information about whether exact change is required at toll gates; and advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at a toll gate located along the solution route.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: in conjunction with the step of advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at a toll gate located along the solution route, offering to calculate an alternative route.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: after advising the operator about said exact change, accepting a request from the vehicle driver to calculate an alternative route; and calculating a new solution route that does not include driving to a toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said navigation system is an in-vehicle system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: transmitting a first message from the vehicle to a server, wherein the message indicates that said driver has been provided with driving instructions that direct the driver to drive to a toll gate; on a database associated with said server, querying whether said toll gate requires exact change; and transmitting a second message from said server to said vehicle indicating whether said toll gate requires exact change.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: in conjunction with the step of advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at said toll gate, advising the vehicle driver that change can be obtained at a toll gate located before the toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing the vehicle driver with driving instructions to follow the solution route.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of advising the vehicle driver is provided with a visual warning message on a display panel of the navigation system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of operation for a navigation system installed in a vehicle comprising the steps of: receiving an inquiry through a user interface of said navigation system from a driver of said vehicle, wherein said inquiry asks whether a specified portion of a road includes a toll gate that requires exact change; accessing a geographic database that contains information about whether exact change is required at toll gates along said road; and in response to said inquiry, advising said driver whether said specified portion of a road includes a toll gate that requires exact change.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of operation for a navigation system installed in a vehicle comprising the steps of: receiving an inquiry through a user interface of said navigation system from a driver of said vehicle, wherein said inquiry asks whether a specified portion of a road includes a toll gate that requires exact change; accessing a geographic database that contains information about whether exact change is required at toll gates along said road; and in response to said inquiry, advising said driver whether said specified portion of a road includes a toll gate that requires exact change.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said navigation system is an in-vehicle system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of advising the vehicle driver is provided with a visual warning message on a display panel of the navigation system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of operation for a navigation system comprising: calculating a route to a destination using a geographic database; using data contained in the geographic database to determine whether exact change is required along any roads in the route; and advising an operator of said navigation system that exact change is required at a toll gate along the route.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of operation for a navigation system comprising: calculating a route to a destination using a geographic database; using data contained in the geographic database to determine whether exact change is required along any roads in the route; and advising an operator of said navigation system that exact change is required at a toll gate along the route.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of: after advising the operator about said exact change, accepting a request from said driver to calculate an alternative route that does not require exact change at a toll gate along the alternative route.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of advising the operator is provided with a visual warning message on a display panel of the navigation system.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a navigation system to calculate a route, the method comprising: accepting input from an operator of said navigation system that indicates that a calculated route should not include toll gates at which exact change is required; accepting input from the operator of said navigation system including at least a desired destination; and if said input indicates that a calculated route should not include any toll gates at which exact change is required, accessing a geographic database that contains information about whether exact change is required at tollgates, and calculating a route to said desired destination excluding any road that includes a toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a navigation system to calculate a route, the method comprising: accepting input from an operator of said navigation system that indicates that a calculated route should not include toll gates at which exact change is required; accepting input from the operator of said navigation system including at least a desired destination; and if said input indicates that a calculated route should not include any toll gates at which exact change is required, accessing a geographic database that contains information about whether exact change is required at tollgates, and calculating a route to said desired destination excluding any road that includes a toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said navigation system is an in-vehicle system.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of operation for a navigation for calculating routes, the method comprising: accepting a request from a user of the navigation system to avoid toll gates at which exact change is required; accepting a request from the user to calculate a route to a specified destination; accessing a geographic database to determine characteristics of roads, including whether a toll gate at which exact change is required is located along a road along said route; calculating a solution route to the specified destination based upon the characteristics of roads, wherein said solution route does not include a road along which is located a toll gate at which exact change is required; and indicating the solution route to the user.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of operation for a navigation for calculating routes, the method comprising: accepting a request from a user of the navigation system to avoid toll gates at which exact change is required; accepting a request from the user to calculate a route to a specified destination; accessing a geographic database to determine characteristics of roads, including whether a toll gate at which exact change is required is located along a road along said route; calculating a solution route to the specified destination based upon the characteristics of roads, wherein said solution route does not include a road along which is located a toll gate at which exact change is required; and indicating the solution route to the user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said step of accepting a request from a user of the navigation system to avoid toll gates at which exact change is required is specified as a default for the navigation system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said navigation system is an in-vehicle system.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operation for a navigation system comprising: accepting a request from a vehicle driver to calculate a solution route to a destination indicated by the vehicle driver; accessing a geographic database to determine characteristics of roads, including whether a toll gate at which exact change is required is located along said route; advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at a toll gate located along the solution route; after advising the operator about said exact change, accepting a request from the vehicle driver to calculate an alternative route; and calculating a new solution route that does not include driving to the toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operation for a navigation system comprising: accepting a request from a vehicle driver to calculate a solution route to a destination indicated by the vehicle driver; accessing a geographic database to determine characteristics of roads, including whether a toll gate at which exact change is required is located along said route; advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at a toll gate located along the solution route; after advising the operator about said exact change, accepting a request from the vehicle driver to calculate an alternative route; and calculating a new solution route that does not include driving to the toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: in conjunction with the step of advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at a toll gate located along the solution route, offering to calculate an alternative route.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said navigation system is an in-vehicle system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: transmitting a first message from the vehicle to a server, wherein the message indicates that said driver has been provided with driving instructions that direct the driver to drive to a toll gate; on a database associated with said server, querying whether said toll gate requires exact change; and transmitting a second message from said server to said vehicle indicating whether said toll gate requires exact change.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of: in conjunction with the step of advising the vehicle driver that exact change is required at said toll gate, advising the vehicle driver that change can be obtained at a toll gate located before the toll gate at which exact change is required.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising: providing the vehicle driver with driving instructions to follow the solution route.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of advising the vehicle driver is provided with a visual warning message on a display panel of the navigation system.
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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) | 2004-08-20 | 2005-02-19 | 2005-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-20 | 2009-02-19 | 2009-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-20 | 2013-02-19 | 2013-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |