Navigation device for people

Translation of description of equivalent WO 9611381 A1

Means for guidance of persons

description

The invention relates to a device for the guidance of persons comprising a navigation unit having a receiving device for wirelessly transmitted information for identifying the current geographical position, a communication unit, which comprises an input unit, in particular for entering a target position and an output unit, in particular the issue of path guidance, and a computer in particular for route planning, which comprises a memory with at least one digitalised road map and the data is technically connected with the navigation unit via the communication unit.

DE 3445 668 a generic device for navigation of a vehicle is known, which has a portable controller. The controller is designed as a portable handset and has its own display to issue Wegroutenhinweisen well as operating devices in particular for entering a desired target position. An integrated in the handset Route computer that has access to a stored digital road network map, calculated from a predetermined starting position a Wegroute to a predetermined target position. This can already before the journey Routenpianungen perform, the particular route of computer Wegroute can then be adapted by hand to the individual needs, taking into account traffic conditions, if known. For guidance exported as handset control device in the vehicle, connected via an interface with the other institutions of Zielführungs¬ system, in particular with a navigation device for determining the current geographic position. Based on the current geographical position

- 2 - of the vehicle and the Wegroute the vehicle is guided by issuing appropriate driving instructions on the screen to the destination.

A disadvantage of the known device of the generic type in that the routing device is fully functional only in motor vehicles, in which pre-installed additional components (eg navigation computer, Anzeigeinrichtungen) and with the control part can be connected, but not as in public transport, railways or walk to Route guidance can be carried. The known routing device allows outside of the vehicle only route planning and or optimization. A switch to other means of transport, without breaking off the route guidance is not possible with the routing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handy and portable device for guidance of persons with, is possible at any time a switch to other forms of transport, particularly public transport, railways, leased vehicles and the like, without breaking off the route guidance. Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used in virtually any geographic area without requiring the carrying of data stored on storage media very extensive geographical data, in particular city and street directories etc.

This object is inventively characterized by the features specified in patent claim 1. By the characterizing features of the dependent claims 2 to 14, the device is further ausgestaltbar in an advantageous manner.

The invention provides that the means for guidance of people a navigation unit, a communication unit and a computer for route calculation includes in particular, the computer has a memory having at least a digitized road map and the navigation unit has a data connected via the communication unit. The navigation unit has a receiving device for wirelessly transmitted information for identifying the current geographical position, the communication unit, an input unit, in particular for entering a target position and an output unit for outputting particular path guidance. Here, the navigation unit, the communication unit, the input unit and the output unit form a portable

- device-related unit, which is provided with its own power supply and a transmitting and receiving unit. The calculator for calculating essential parts of the route planning is stationary outside the portable unit and connected to a transmitter / receiver for wireless transmission of route information between the computer and the portable unit.

This ensures that neither a powerful computer, yet for every city or area where you happen to be or will stop, stored on a storage medium comprehensive geographic data, city and street directories have to be carried for the entire respective region etc. , The externally arranged stationary computer enables an almost universal availability and a significant weight reduction of the device for navigation, which can be carried out by portable. The attribute "fixed" in this context means only that the computer used for route calculation does not have to be carried by the target-based person, but is installed at any location. This computer exchanges its route information from a plurality of portable units of the invention. Preferably, the space provided wireless transmitting and receiving unit is designed as a radio telephone.

Particularly advantageous with regard to the determination of the current geographical position is when the radiotelephone of the wireless transmitting and receiving unit is connectable to a cellular established radio telephone network, wherein the position determination based on the signal transit times from the current geographic position to individual receiving stations of the radio telephone network by the computer can be carried out or for example by a computer system of the mobile telephone network. Conveniently, the radio telephone should be provided for this purpose with means for regular sending his Kenπungsdaten. As a result, the already existing radio telephone network to be used simultaneously for locating.

With particularly high accuracy can be the current geographical position thereby determine if the navigation unit is designed as Funkpeilsystem.

A particularly light and small navigation unit can be achieved in that the navigation unit is designed as a receiver for navigation satellite system is. It is advantageous if the receiving device of the navigation unit is arranged to receive correction signals with which the accuracy of position detection can be improved.

Advantageously, it is provided that the output unit comprises a display and that the current position is displayed on the display with an environment map.

The technical equipment and the weight of the travel control system can thereby be further reduced, that the issue of route instructions is gradual and the external computer can be controlled. This allows the required memory in the portable unit even with extensive route information to be small and a low-cost memory can be used.

A particularly compact and robust routing device results when the output unit is simultaneously designed as an input unit, wherein the input in particular the target position can be effected by marking or handwritten input on the display.

As appropriate, it has been found, when the output unit and or the input unit is adapted for transmission of voice information.

Electronically easy and light in weight can be constructed the travel control system, when the communication unit comprises a microcomputer.

A universal travel control system is obtained if the communication unit has an interface through which they can be integrated into the electronics of a motor vehicle.

Advantageously, it is provided that the communication unit via the interface with an integrated in the dashboard of a motor vehicle for outputting information display is connectable.

To ensure guidance on the basis of an ever current route, it is a further development of the invention that the computer is part of a traffic management system.

- With the device for guidance of persons depicted in the single figure, the invention is explained in more detail below. The figure shows schematically the structure of a portable navigation device with an externally arranged calculator to calculate your route.

The portable route guidance device has a navigation unit 1, which is designed as a receiver for a navigation satellite system (eg, GPS system). The satellite signals to determine the current geographical position are received by a receiving device of the navigation unit. 1 To determine the current geographical position of the received satellite signals are passed to the communication unit 2, which is connected data link to the navigation unit. 1 To enter in particular the target position, the communication unit 2 is connected to an input unit 3; the input via a keyboard. The travel control system is provided for transmitting data with a transmitter / receiver unit 4, which is also connected to the communication unit. 2 To display particular Wegführungshinweisen the communication unit 2 is provided with an output unit 5, which has a display for visual display of direction signs in the form of Symbolpfeiien and possibly other written information.

Alternatively it can be 1 formed as a per se known Funkpeilsystem the navigation unit.

The display of the output unit 5 is designed so that controlled by the traffic computer 6 the current position with a local map displayed is. The device for navigation can "point issuing Wegrouten¬" to the operating mode are switched by the operator. In this mode, only the data transmitted from the traffic computer 6 Wegroutenhinweise be shown on the display. A development of the invention provides that the output unit 5 is simultaneously formed as an input unit. 3 In this configuration the routing device to enter the target position by marking or handwritten input on the display takes place. For this purpose a special electronic stylus is provided. Alternatively, the output unit 5 a

- 6 Speakers for voice output and the input unit 3 may be formed via a microphone for voice input.

The drive associated with the communication unit 2 units 1,3,5,4 and the control of data exchange between the units 1,3,5,4 are expediently produced by a built-in communication unit 2 microcomputer. For installation in a motor vehicle, the communication unit 2 is also provided with a corresponding interface through which they can be connected to the electronics of a motor vehicle. Through this interface, the communication unit 2 with the display and output devices of the motor vehicle is connected.

The route calculation and the generation of directional cues carried in an outside of the portable device for guidance arranged traffic computer 6. The traffic computer 6 is 7 for data processing can be connected via a transmitter / receiver to the portable navigation device. For calculating the route the traffic computer 6 has a digitized road map 8, which is stored in a memory of the traffic computer. 6 The streets of the road map 8 are characterized by their geographic data, moreover, certain attributes are assigned to the individual road sections that provide information as to whether the relevant section of road is closed, for example, due to construction at the time of the traffic. The transmitting and receiving unit 4 and the transmitter / receiver 7 are advantageously designed as a radio telephone, so that a specific data exchange is possible at any time.

The traffic computer 6 is part of a traffic management system, so that the route guidance, in particular take into account the current traffic conditions when using the device in a car; among other things, can intermittent congestion, due to construction road closures, detours, etc. taken into account in determining the optimal route. In addition, a service associated with a traffic control system traffic computer 6 enables the output of instructions to use alternative means of transport (train schedules).

The portable device for guidance of persons is equipped with its own power supply. 9 Thus, this unit can eg pedestrians be used for route guidance. In addition, the device can be connected in a vehicle to the power supply of the motor vehicle, where the switching is performed on the external power supply automatically by the microcomputer.

For guidance of a person by means of the keyboard of the input unit 3, the aim of the street name, eg. As Marienplatz, entered. Immediately after the destination entry solves the communication unit 2 to determine the current geographical position. For this, the receiver for a navigation satellite system 1 from the communication unit 2 is instructed to receive the satellite signals and to provide the communication unit 2 is available. The communication unit 2 transfers the data of the navigation unit 1 and the target position of the transmitting / receiving unit 4 for transmitting data to the traffic computer 6. From the transmitter / receiver 7, the received data passed to the traffic computer 6, the determined optimal Wegroute using the map 8 , Based on the current position determined the traffic computer 6 using the Wegroute the next Wegführungshinweise that are transmitted together with the Wegroute, the environment map and the marked current position to the communication unit. 2 In the "Area" passes the communication unit, the data of the environment map including the current position marked to the output unit 5 that displays the environment map on the display. In the "issue of Wegroutenhinweisen" received from the traffic computer 6 encoded signals are converted by the microcomputer of the communication unit 2, for example in the arrow symbols and after handover to the output unit 5 in the form of a schematic direction display in which the directions are shown as arrows on the screen output. In addition, the direction information of the operator is notified in spoken form via the loudspeaker. By pressing a key, the operator between the two operating modes "issuing Wegroutenhinweisen" and "Map" can switch back and forth.

When used in a motor vehicle, the unit is connected to the guidance on the interface formed the communication unit 2 with the electronics of the motor vehicle and integrated into this. It shows the

- 8th - Communication unit 2, the driving instructions not only via its own display on, but uses the display also installed in the vehicle display.

The inventive device can be in a universal way to Routβnplanung, using guidance and general orientation (eg, current location, time required to achieve target) and requires only a low cost to the user.

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