Navigation device for people

The invention relates to a device for guiding the target Of persons comprising a navigation unit, Which comprises a receiving device for wireless transmission Information about the detection of the current geographic location Position, a communication unit, Which is an input unit for input A target position and an output unit For outputting routing information, And a computer for route planning.

German patent document DE 34 45 568 discloses a device according to the invention A device for targeting a vehicle is known, Which comprises a portable control device. The control device is a portable hand tool And has its own display Output route guidance as well as bedding facilities Especially to enter a desired one Target position. An integrated handset Route computer, access to a stored digital Road network map, calculated out of a A route leading to a Predetermined position. This allows already Before the start of the route planning The routing determined by the route computer By hand to the personal desires Consideration of the traffic conditions, as far as Are known. To the goal guidance Is the control device designed as a hand-held device In the vehicle via an interface with the andaren Facilities of the guidance system, in particular With a navigation device for determining The current geographical position. View The current geographical position of the vehicle And the route is the vehicle through output Corresponding driving notes on the display To the goal.

A disadvantage is the known device Of the type in question, in such a way that the destination guidance system Is fully functional only in motor vehicles in which Additional components (eg navigation computers, Display devices) and connected to the Control part, but not in public areas Transport, train or walking to the destination Can be carried out. The known guidance device Allows outside the vehicle only Route planning and / or optimization. A change On other means of transport, without the guidance With the goal guidance facility is not possible.

The document WO-A-96/0711 = EP-A-0 777 863 (published 07.03.1996) is an older right in the Meaning of Article 54 (3), (4) EPC. It describes a navigation information system With a portable or Vehicle-proof mobile part and a centralized station. In the mobile part are a GPS receiver, means for The information input and output and a mobile telephone available. In the central station the Computers and databases as well as an interface controller. Communication between the control center and The mobile part takes place via the mobile telephone network instead of. The user uses the mobile part to communicate using The telephone keypad or an operator from the Central navigation information.

It is <b>task</b> Of the present invention Handy and portable device Of persons with whom at any time a change Other means of transport, in particular public transport Transport, railways, rented motor vehicles And the like, without aborting the target guide. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus Is to create a facility that is almost bellebig Large geographical areas, Without de entourage of stored on storage media Very extensive geographical data, In particular local and street directories, etc. require.

The <b>solution</b> This object is according to the invention Characterized by the ones indicated in claim 1 Characteristics. Through the distinctive Features of subclaims 2 to 7 are the device In an advantageous manner.

The invention provides that the device for the Guidance of persons a navigation unit, a Communication unit and a computer For route calculation, the computer A memory having at least one digitized road map And with the navigation unit The communication unit can be connected by data link Is. The navigation unit has a receiving device For wirelessly transmitted information for detection The current geographical position, the An input unit For inputting a target position and an output unit For outputting guidance information. The navigation unit, the Communication unit, the input unit and the Output unit is a portable device unit, Which has its own power supply and a transmitter- And receiving unit Calculation of essential points of route planning Arranged in a stationary manner outside the portable unit And connected to a transceiver Wireless transmission of route information between The computer and the portable unit.

This ensures that neither a high-performance, Calculator, nor for any city or any Area where you are staying or staying Is stored on a storage medium Geographical data, local and street directories Etc. for the entire region Need to become. The externally arranged town Computer provides nearly universal availability And a significant weight reduction of the device To the goal leadership, which is carried out thereby tragically can be. The attribute "stationary" means in this The only thing that is relevant to the route calculation Used computers are not targeted Person has to be carried along, but at a Anywhere. This computer is exchanging Its route information with a plurality of inventive Portable units. Preferably Is the wireless transmitting and receiving unit provided for this purpose As a radio transmitter.

Of particular advantage with regard to the determination The current geographical position is, That the wireless transmitter of the wireless sending and receiving unit With a cellular radio network , Wherein the position determination Based on the signal propagation times from the current geographical Position to individual receiving stations of the Radio telephone network through the computer or eg by A computer system of the radio telephone network Can It is advisable to use the radio telephone With a device for regular transmission Its identification port. Thereby The existing telephone network at the same time For location.

With particularly high accuracy, the Determine the current geographical position, When the navigation unit is designed as a radio directional system Is.

A particularly light and small navigation unit Is achieved in that the navigation unit As a receiver for a navigation satellite system is trained. It is thereby advantageous if The receiving device of the navigation unit to the Reception of correction signals with which The accuracy of position detection is improved can be.

Furthermore, it is provided that The output unit has a display, and that, The display shows the current position with an environment map Is displayed.

The equipment and the equipment The weight of the guidance device can thereby be reduced That the output of route hints Step by step and from the external computer Is controllable. This allows the required memory In the portable unit even with extensive route information Small and a cheap store be used.

A particularly compact and robust target guidance system Is obtained when the output unit At the same time as an input unit, wherein The input, in particular, of the target position Mark or handwritten input on the display Respectively.

It has proved to be expedient if The output unit and / or the input unit Transmission of voice information.

Electronically simple and light weight The target guidance device can be established if The communication unit comprises a microcomputer

A universal target guidance system Is obtained when the communication unit Has an interface, via which it is integrated into the electronics Of a motor vehicle.

Advantageously, it is provided that The communication unit via the interface with a In the dashboard of a motor vehicle Display for outputting information.

To guide a route using an always up-to-date Route, it is in continuing education Of the invention provides that the computer component Of a traffic management system.

With reference to the figures shown in the single FIGURE A device for the guidance of persons is the invention Below. The figure shows Schematically the structure of a portable target guidance device With an external computer Route calculation.

The portable target guidance device has a Navigation unit 1 serving as a receiver for a Navigation satellite system (eg GPS system) Is. The satellite signals for the determination of the Current geographic position are supported by a Receiving device of the navigation unit 1. To determine the current geographic location The received satellite signals are sent to the Communication unit 2 connected to the navigation unit 1 is connected to the data bus. To enter In particular the target position is the communication unit 2 is connected to an input unit 3; the Input is via a keyboard. The target guidance device Is for transmitting data to a transceiver unit 4, which are also connected to the Communication unit 2. See full ad Particularly of guidance information is the communication unit 2 with an output unit 5, Which has a display for the visual display of Guidance in the form of symbol arrows and Any other written information.

Alternatively, the navigation unit 1 can also As a radio directional system known per se be.

The display of the output unit 5 is designed such that, Which is controlled by the traffic computer 6 The current position can be displayed with an environmental map The device for targeting can be set to the operating mode "Output route guidance" through the Operator. In this mode Are transmitted only by the traffic computer 6 Route guidance notes are displayed on the display. A Further development of the invention provides that the output unit 5 simultaneously as an input unit 3 Is. In this embodiment of the target guidance device The target position is entered by marking Or handwritten input on the display. Is to A special electronic input pin is provided. Alternatively, the output unit 5 can be connected via a Speakers for voice output and the input unit 3 via a microphone for voice input be.

The control of the communication unit 2 connected units 1,3,5,4 as well as the Control of the data exchange between the units 1, 3, 5, 4 is expediently passed through into the communication unit 2 integrated microcomputer. To the Installation in a motor vehicle is the communication unit 2 also with a corresponding interface , Via which they are connected to the electronics of a motor vehicle Can be connected. Via this interface the Communication unit 2 with the display and output devices Of the motor vehicle.

Route calculation and generation of Directional indications are carried out in a position outside the tolerable range Device for arranging the traffic computation 6. The traffic computer 6 is connected via a Transmitter / receiver 7 data processing with the portable Target guidance device. For route calculation The traffic computer 6 has a digitized one Street map B, located in a store of the traffic computer 6 is stored. The streets of the road map B are characterized by their geographical data, In addition, certain attributes are the same Individual road sections assigned to it Provide information on whether the appropriate road section For example due to construction measures Is currently closed to traffic. The transmission and transmission Receiving unit 4 and the transceiver 7 Advantageously designed as a radio telephone, so that a targeted, Data exchange is possible at any time.

The traffic computer 6 is part of a Traffic guidance system, so that the target management, in particular When using the device in a car the current Transport situation; amongst other things May be temporary congestion, due to construction work Blocked roads, diversions, etc Determination of the optimal route will. In addition, one with a traffic control system Connected traffic computer 6 To provide information on the use of alternative means of transport (Driving and flight plans).

The portable device for the guidance of Individuals are equipped with their own power supply 9. This device can also be used eg from Pedestrians can be used to guide the route. In addition The device in a vehicle can be connected to the power supply Of the motor vehicle, Wherein the switching to the external power supply Automatically from the microcomputer becomes.

When a person is targeted, The keyboard of the input unit 3, the destination, the street name, For example, Marienplatz. Immediately after The destination unit triggers the communication unit 2 The determination of the current geographical position out. For this purpose, the receiver becomes a navigation satellite system 1 from the communication unit 2, To receive the satellite signals and the Communication unit 2. The Communication unit 2 transfers the data of the navigation unit 1 and the target position to the transmitting / receiving unit 4 for data transmission to the traffic computer 6. From transmitter / receiver 7 the Received data to the traffic computer 6, The route 8 is an optimal route Determined from the current position The traffic computer 6 determines the route by means of the route The next guidance notes, which together with The route map, the surrounding map and the marked ones Current position to the communication unit 2 be transmitted. In the operating mode "Environment" The communication unit receives the data of the Ambient map including the selected current Position to the output unit 5, which is the environmental map Displayed on the display In the operating mode "Output of route indications", the " Traffic computer 5 By the microcomputer of the communication unit 2 Eg in arrow symbols and after transfer to The output unit 5 in the form of a schematic Direction indication, with the directions as arrows Displayed on the display. In addition The directional information of the operator in Speech form via the loudspeaker The operator can switch between The two operating modes "Output of route indications" And "ambient map".

When used in a motor vehicle The unit to the goal guidance over the trained Interface of the communication unit 2 with the electronics Of the motor vehicle and integrated into the latter. The communication unit 2 shows the Driving not only via your own display, but Uses for display also in the motor vehicle installed Display.

The device according to the invention can be used in Universally to route planning, guidance and General orientation (eg current location, time requirement To the target) Only a small cost to the user.