Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
  • G08G1/096805—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route
  • G08G1/096811—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route where the route is computed offboard
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
  • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
  • G01C21/36—Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C5/00—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
  • G07C5/008—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles communicating information to a remotely located station
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
  • G08G1/096833—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where different aspects are considered when computing the route
  • G08G1/096844—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where different aspects are considered when computing the route where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
  • G08G1/096855—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the output is provided in a suitable form to the driver
  • G08G1/096861—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the output is provided in a suitable form to the driver where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
  • G08G1/096877—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the input to the navigation device is provided by a suitable I/O arrangement
  • G08G1/096894—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the input to the navigation device is provided by a suitable I/O arrangement where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/123—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams
  • G08G1/133—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an information system for vehicle navigation according to the preamble of claim 1.
• the vehicle navigation and tracking systems now being developed are normally based on positioning equipment for dead reckoning and an electronic compass or GPS receiver within the vehicles .
• the navigation itself uses a map-information database which is stored in the vehicle computer and/or in a central computer with which the vehicles can communicate.
• the map-information database contains i.a. all roads and streets as vectors and the street names, together with speed limits and the like as attributes.
• the navigation will then be assisted by some graphical support on a display in the vehicle.
• the navigation could be dynamic, with the route selection continuously affected by the traffic picture.
• the information can be further transmitted to a management centre for the vehicle fleet.
• EP 0 345 818 Another example of a known system for navigational assistance is described in European Patent Application EP 0 345 818.
• This system comprises a central computer for route planning and a large number of short distance communication links to the vehicles.
• the information system is based on a common centre for processing data for vehicle navigation and can, just like the system described in American Patent US 4,954,958, translate telephone numbers belonging to fixed telephone installations into positions in terms of addresses and geographical coordinates.
• the system incorporates the unique feature that even telephone numbers belonging to mobile telephones placed in vehicles comprised by the system can be translated into the vehicles' current geographical positions. Positions and destinations can thus be given in terms of telephone numbers, and input data to the information system can be fed through simple numerical keyboards on for instance faxes and mobile telephones. This opens up completely new opportunities for ordering and presenting a whole set of new services from such terminals.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of an information system according to the invention.
• the information system comprises a common centre 1 containing a processor 2 with routines/software for route planning, and a database 3 which i.a. comprises map information and telephone number/address registers.
• the common centre is connected to the public telephone network (PTN) 4.
• the common centre is connected via the public telephone network to different terminals, such as computer terminals 5, faxes 6 and, via a mobile telephone system 7, terminals 12 in vehicles 9.
• the vehicles also contain equipment 10 by means of which information from a positioning system 11 can be used.
• terminal mentioned above will be used as a common label for different means for communicating with the common centre and can, as pointed out above, be represented by computer terminals, faxes, telephones, mobile telephones, etc.
• the common centre 1 represents an important part of the information system. Via the telephone network, its database 3 can be updated continuously with regard to traffic conditions, road works, transfer of telephone numbers etc., whereby up-to-date information can always be used for the route planning.
• a tele-number can be translated by the help of the database 3 into the subscriber's address which in turn can be translated into geographical coordinates.
• the term "tele-number” here means a telephone number, a number to computer terminals and faxes, a number to mobile telephones, etc.
• Input data to the information system regarding positions and destinations can thereby be any tele-number for a certain subscriber, the subscriber's address or corresponding geographical coordinates. For tele-numbers concerning mobile units, however, the subscriber's address cannot be used for positioning for obvious reasons.
• a trip plan or a route plan comprising one or more destinations given in terms of tele-numbers can be ordered and received.
• the trip plan or route plan is then received on paper which can be taken along during the transportation.
• a trip plan or route plan can be ordered from a stationary computer terminal 5, which plan is based on destination information in terms of tele-numbers which have been given to the common centre 1 by the computer terminal.
• the result of the work performed in the common centre is transmitted to the computer terminal where it is presented on the computer display or stored temporarily for later use. For instance, such services could be ordered from an automatic petrol pump at which the result is written on the receipt slip.
• Destinations can be given as tele-numbers both from and to a terminal 12 in a vehicle 9.
• the terminal could in this case be a mobile telephone or a computer terminal which for instance is included in the Mobitex system. Since the database in the common centre does not always contain the present position of the mobile terminal, this is given directly in terms of geographical coordinates when the vehicle connects itself to the centre or vice versa. These coordinates can for instance be received from a GPS-receiver 10 (Global Positioning System) in the vehicle, or from some other positioning system.
• GPS-receiver 10 Global Positioning System
• vehicle unit 8 A new type of standardised equipment to be used for future services within road transport informatics is placed in the vehicle 9.
• This equipment called “vehicle unit 8" in the following, is made up of a microcomputer with memory to which the GPS receiver 19 with antenna is connected.
• the vehicle unit is further connected to a GSM-telephone and equipped with a computer interface, an alarm input and a power supply connection.
• the GPS-receiver and the vehicle unit could of course be integrated in one unit.
• the software for the vehicle unit 8 is designed in such a way that in the vehicle the GSM telephone keyboard, display and sound unit can be used for the input, display and reproduction of data, and its radio unit for data communication with the common centre 1 via the mobile telephone system and the public telephone network 4.
• the software can further automatically store away ongoing route guidance activities in case of normal use of the GSM-telephone, and restore these when the phone call is terminated.
• Data input and output through the computer interface can also be communicated further via the GSM-telephone.
• the specific software for the information system can be transmitted to the vehicle unit from the common centre via the GSM-telephone.
• the vehicle unit 8 does not need to be exposed or directly accessible in the driver compartment, but instead it can be installed wherever it is easiest to do so. Since established systems such as GSM are used, the vehicle equipment becomes relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
• the computer terminal 5 can for instance be located at a company whose vehicles are to be guided to different destinations. Via modem, it is possible for the computer terminal to communicate with the vehicle terminal 12 for reporting to and from the vehicle. All manual inputs to the information system that can be done in the vehicle, can also be done directly via the computer terminal 5. The computer terminal can consequently communicate directly with the common centre, which simplifies the input if the trip comprise a large number of destinations.
• trip plan refers to a determination of a suitable visiting sequence for a number of destinations from the vehicles origin. In addition, the distance and travel time between these respective destinations are calculated.
• Various software for trip planning is commercially available.
• one or more destinations can be given in terms of tele-numbers which are then transmitted to the common centre together with the present GPS-coordinates for the vehicle via a pre-installed tele-number.
• the sequence for the destinations is optimised in the common centre, whereby the present position is also considered as a final destination if nothing else is given.
• the information is then transmitted back to the vehicle and presented in the form of registers via the GSM-telephone display, which could comprise two rows with twelve characters each.
• the activities could be as follows.
• Row 1 shows the tele-number to the first destination and row 2 shows road distance and estimated travel time from the origin.
• Row 1 shows the tele-number to the second destination and row 2 shows road distance and estimated travel time from the first destination.
• Row 1 shows the tele-number to the third destination and row 2 shows road distance and estimated travel time from the second destination.
• Route guidance (see below) can then be ordered from the recommended sequence.
• trip planning can be ordered from a fixed computer terminal 5 communicating with the common centre 1.
• the full address and accumulated road distances and travel times are also shown.
• the sequence can be later transmitted to the vehicle terminals via the public telephone network and GSM.
• the route guidance itself is then ordered from the vehicle as above.
• Trip planning can also be received via a fax. Tele-numbers to preferred destinations and origin, if other than the fax, are then given via the fax keyboard and the common centre replies with a trip plan which is received on paper and can be brought along in the vehicle.
• the trip plan contains the same information as received via the fixed computer terminals.
• the earlier mentioned route guidance refers to a detailed description of the route to one or more destinations from the vehicle origin.
• the route guidance is ordered from the common centre via a pre-installed tele-number and is transmitted to the vehicle 9 where it is stored in the vehicle unit 8 in order to be presented in a way that is controlled by the position from the GPS-receiver 10.
• the route guidance contains the names or numbers of all roads and streets on the trip, and the coordinates of all crossings where a turn is to be made, as well as the distance between these. If the distance is more than ten kilometres, then additional coordinates with this division are included. The coordinates shortly before all turns that are to be passed or rejected are also included. In addition, the destination address, the road distance thereto, and an estimate of the arrival time based on estimates at each turn or at each ten kilometres are also included. To present the route guidance through the GSM-telephone display, its two rows with twelve characters can each be used as follows:
• row 1 shows the present road or street designation (12 first characters).
• Row 2 shows present road distance to the destination and estimated arriving time.
• row 1 shows the next road or street.
• Row 2 shows a number of flashing arrows to the right (>>>>>) or left, one arrow for each 50 meters left to the crossing.
• rows 1 and 2 show the full road or street address.
• row 2 displays an error message and the buzzer sounds. Only when one is driving back to the crossing does the display go over to one of the earlier alternatives.
• a synthetic voice may for instance say “Keep right” when the arrows start to flash, and “Turn-right” when only one arrow is left. How far from the crossing the arrows starts to flash depends on the vehicle speed. At 130 km/h the course of events can start with twelve arrows and at 30 km/h with two arrows.
• a route plan can also be received via a fax. Tele-numbers to preferred destinations and origin, if other than the fax, are then given via the fax keyboard and the common centre will reply with a route plan which is received on paper and can be brought along in the vehicle.
• the route plan contains names or number of all roads and streets on the trip, and the road distance and estimated travel time between all turns. In addition, the destination address, the total road distance and estimated travel time are also included.
• the route guidance can also include information concerning all open gas stations and restaurants along the recommended highways. All road toll stations along these highways may also be included. Pre-warning can be given at a set distance, at which the buzzer sounds and the GSM-telephone display shows the following:
• Row 1 shows GAS, FOOD or GAS & FOOD.
• Row 2 shows road distance to this destination and the road distance to the next subsequent gas station and/or restaurant.
• Row 1 shows ROAD TOLL.
• Row 2 shows road distance to this destination and the present fee.
• Future road toll stations will be of free-flowing type and, independent of charging system, these road tolls must be equipped with cameras for identifying the registration number of those vehicles that cannot be charged in the usual way. By having the road toll operator open a tele-number for charging, this could be done via the vehicle based on information from the common centre.
• the present date, time, GPS-coordinates and road distance from last stop are stored in the vehicle unit.
• a log book is created.
• the driver may chose to store the information under different accounts (0-9) to distinguish, for example, between private driving and driving for different customers, etc.
• the stored information can be transmitted to the common centre via a pre-installed tele-number.
• the GPS-coordinates are translated in the common centre into the closest road or street address and for each account a log-book is generated containing dates, times, addresses and driving distances. Outside cities, the address is given by the road name with distance and direction from, and name of, the nearest crossing road.
• the common centre can acknowledge these transmissions by transmitting back to the vehicle and storing in the vehicle unit the GPS-coordinates for all regional or national road tolls. In this manner, the passage of such can also be registered and presented in the log book.
• the log-books consisting of computer print-outs are then mailed directly to the GSM-subscriber and can be used for bookkeeping purposes. This requires that the vehicle registration number has been stored in the vehicle unit for representation in the log-book. For the account 0 only the total driving distance and number of road toll passages are presented, which is why this account can be used for private driving.
• Vehicle tracking which is a part of the information system can be ordered via the common centre using a GSM-telephone or a fax, whereby the vehicle tele-number is given via the GSM-telephone or the fax keyboard.
• the common centre can, by contact with the vehicle or directly through its database, find the latest registered positions of the vehicle. From corresponding geographical coordinates, the centre can determine the direction of travel and present road or street names with distances and directions from, and names of, the nearest crossing roads or streets. Position and travel directions are then sent as a text message to the GSM-telephone (Short Message Service) or the fax. Vehicle tracking cannot take place when trip registration is set for private driving (account 0) .
• Modern vehicles are to a high degree equipped with airbags and corresponding collision sensors, whose electrical signal can also activate the vehicle unit 8 so that an alarm message is sent to the common centre 1 via a pre- installed tele-number.
• information concerning the GPS coordinates of the vehicle can be obtained and, on the basis of the tele-number for the vehicle terminal, the GSM-subscriber can be identified. If the vehicle registration number, size, weight and goods, have been stored in the vehicle unit, then this information is also received. The information is put together and the GPS-coordinates are translated into a position and a travel direction, just as for the vehicle tracking above, then the nearest responsible emergency centre is notified.
• the route guidance comprises 1000 crossings or nodes. * Each node is described by 4 sets of coordinates with 8 digits for longitude and latitude, i.e. 8 numbers with 8 digits ( ⁇ 30 bit), which is 240 bit coded.
• Each road or link between these 100 nodes is described by 12 characters ( ⁇ 100 bit) and 2 numbers with 4 digits ( ⁇ 15 bit) for distance and time, which is 130 bit coded.
• the transmission of the log-book to the common centre and especially the software installation in the vehicle unit can naturally mean a lot greater data amounts, but longer transmission times are also easy to accept in these cases.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Navigation (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20392766

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (36)

Citations (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-02-02 SE SE9400319A patent/SE502406C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1995
  • 1995-02-01 EP EP95909170A patent/EP0742934A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1995-02-01 WO PCT/SE1995/000091 patent/WO1995021435A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (4)

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