GPS assisted, radio-device communication apparatus and methods

For use with a vehicle having a location which changes from time to time, a GPS-based navigation system with a moving map display showing the location of the vehicle as the vehicle moves, the vehicle having a radio capable of wirelessly receiving selected radio stations which are within range, the system comprising:

• a) a GPS-based navigation system providing navigation information and GPS location data for a vehicle as the vehicle moves and displaying the vehicle location and path on a moving map display, the vehicle having a radio, which may be part of the navigation system or separate, for receiving selected radio stations;
• b) a database of radio station information including the identity, frequency and location thereof for one or more radio stations, the database information being accessible by one or more processors;
• c) the one or more processors operating in response to the vehicle's GPS location data and the database location data to identify one or more radio stations, if any, which is likely within range of the vehicle radio, based on at least the distance between the vehicle and the radio station, the radio station identification being updated from time to time as the vehicle moves;
• d) the one or more processors operating to enable the moving map display to visually display the identity of the one or more radio stations likely to be within range of the vehicle radio.

For use with a vehicle having a location which changes from time to time, a GPS-based navigation system with a moving map display showing the location of the vehicle as the vehicle moves, the vehicle having a radio capable of wirelessly receiving selected radio stations which are within range, components of the system comprising:

• a) a GPS-based navigation system providing navigation information and GPS location data for a vehicle as the vehicle travels and displaying the vehicle location and path on a moving map display as the vehicle travels toward a destination, the vehicle having a radio, which may be part of the navigation system or separate, for receiving selected radio stations;
• b) a database of radio station information including the identity, and frequency thereof for one or more radio stations associated with the destination as well as destination location data, the database information being accessible by one or more processors;
• c) the one or more processors operating in response to the vehicle's GPS location data and the database destination location data and in further response to a calculation of the distance between the vehicle and the destination to identify when one or more radio stations associated with the destination are likely within range of the vehicle radio as the vehicle moves;
• d) the one or more processors operating to enable the moving map display to automatically pop up a display of information pertaining to one or more radio stations associated with the destination when the vehicle radio is likely to be within range thereof.