System and method for controlling the transmission of traffic information to a vehicle navigation system

A vehicle navigation system comprising:

• a vehicle navigation device, said device further comprising:
• a processing device,
• a storage device for storing map data,
• a GPS receiver for locating the position of the vehicle, and
• an onboard display device for displaying a location of the vehicle and a calculated route on a map;
• a mobile communication device in communication with the onboard vehicle navigation device and the server, the mobile communication device acting as a conduit for transmitting route guidance requests from the vehicle navigation device to the server, and for transmitting route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device;
• a broadcast source of traffic information;
• a mobile network source of traffic information;
• and
• a remotely located server having a processor and a database of map data, the server in communication with the mobile communication device, the broadcast source of traffic information and the mobile network source of traffic information, the server further including a software program(s) adapted to perform route guidance calculations based on destination information and vehicle location information received from the mobile communication device, to compare traffic information from the broadcast source with traffic information from the mobile network source, to detect a difference therebetween, and to compare any detected difference to a predetermined difference value;
• wherein, upon receipt of an initial request for route guidance data, the server is adapted to calculate a route and to transmit the route to the vehicle via the mobile communication device;
• and
• wherein, upon receipt of a subsequent request for updated route guidance data from the mobile communication device, the server is adapted to transmit updated route guidance data to the mobile communication device only when a detected difference between traffic information from the broadcast source and traffic information from the mobile network source is determined to exceed the predetermined difference value.

A navigation method for navigating a vehicle, comprising:

• providing a calculated route to a destination via at least a map presented on a vehicle navigation device located onboard the vehicle;
• providing sensors for detecting and reporting vehicle speed and direction and, while navigating the route, using signals from the sensors to update the map;
• providing a broadcast source of traffic information;
• providing a mobile network source of traffic information;
• placing a remotely located server having a processor and memory in communication with the broadcast source of traffic information and the mobile network source of traffic information;
• placing a mobile communication device in communication with the onboard vehicle navigation device and the server, the mobile communication device serving as a conduit for transmitting route guidance requests from the vehicle navigation device to the server, and for transmitting route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device;
• requesting from the server, by means of the vehicle navigation device and through the mobile communication device, updated route guidance data;
• at the server, upon receipt of a request for updated route guidance data from the vehicle navigation device, causing a software program associated with the server to compare traffic information obtained from the broadcast source with traffic information obtained from the mobile network source, to detect a difference therebetween, and to compare any detected difference to a predetermined difference value;
• transmitting updated route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device only when a detected difference between traffic information from the broadcast source and traffic information from the mobile network source is determined through execution of the software program to exceed the predetermined difference value;
• and
• upon receipt of the updated route guidance data at the vehicle navigation device, updating the calculated route to the destination.