Navigation system character input device

Claim 1

An in-vehicle navigation system comprising: a database including a plurality of roads, said plurality of roads including a first road; a position determining system, said position determining system determining a position of the vehicle relative to said first road; a graphical user interface for selecting a destination from said database, said interface including a display device and input device; said display device displaying a plurality of groups, each of said groups including a plurality of symbols, each group located in one of a plurality of pre-determined directions relative to a start position; said plurality of symbols of each of said groups arranged about a central position in each of said groups; an input device connected to said display device, said input device having a selection signal and a plurality of directional output signals, each of said plurality of directional output signals, each of said plurality of output signals associated with one of said plurality of pre-determined directions; each group activatable in response to one of said plurality of output signals, each symbol within an activated group of said plurality of groups activatable in response to one of said plurality of output signals, an activated symbol selectable in response to said selection signal; and a route determination system, said system determining a route from said position of said vehicle to said destination, said route on said plurality of roads.

Claim 6

A method for entering text in a navigation system having a directional input device adapted to generate a selection signal and a plurality of directional output signals, each of said plurality of directional output signals associated with one of a plurality of pre-determined directions, said method comprising the steps of: a.) displaying a plurality of characters in a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of characters, each group located in one of said plurality of pre-determined directions relative to a start position, each plurality of characters of each of said groups arranged about a central position in each of said groups; b.) filtering said plurality of characters into a first subset based upon a list of words in a database, each word comprising a sequence of said plurality of characters; c.) enabling said first subset; d.) disabling said plurality of characters other than said first subset; and e.) activating one of said plurality of groups in response to receiving one of said plurality of directional output signals; f.) selecting from among said plurality of characters of said activated one of said plurality of groups of said enabled first subset in response to receiving said selection signal.

Claim 7

A method for entering text in a navigation system having a directional input device adapted to generate a selection signal and a plurality of directional output signals, each of said plurality of directional output signals associated with one of a plurality of pre-determined directions, said method comprising the steps of: a.) displaying a plurality of characters in a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of characters, each group located in one of said plurality of pre-determined directions relative to a start position, each plurality of characters of each of said groups arranged about a central position in each of said groups; b.) filtering said plurality of characters into a first subset based upon a list of words in a database, each word comprising a sequence of said plurality of characters; c.) enabling said first subset; d.) disabling said plurality of characters other than said first subset; and e.) activating one of said plurality of groups in response to receiving one of said plurality of directional output signals; f.) selecting from among said plurality of characters of said activated one of said plurality of groups of said enabled first subset in response to receiving said selection signal.