US 5,177,685 AGranted

Automobile navigation system using real time spoken driving instructions

AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology

InventorsJames R. Davis, Christopher M. Schmandt

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Abstract

An automobile navigation system which provides spoken instructions to the driver of an automobile to guide the driver along a route is disclosed. The heart of the system is a computing apparatus comprising a map database, route finding algorithms, a vehicle location system, discourse generating programs, and speech generating programs. Driver input means allows the driver to enter information such as a desired destination. The route finding algorithms in the computer apparatus calculate a route to the destination. The vehicle location system accepts input from a position sensor which measures automobile movement (magnitude and direction) continuously, and using this data in conjunction with the map database, determines the position of the automobile. Based on the current position of the automobile and the route, the discourse generating programs compose driving instructions and other messages according to a discourse model in real time as they are needed. The instructions and messages are sent to voice generating apparatus which conveys them to the driver.

Claims58

Dependent claims

An automobile navigation system which produces spoken instructions to direct a driver of an automobile to a destination in real time comprising:

computing apparatus for running and coordinating system processes,
driver input means functionally connected to said computing apparatus for entering data into said computing apparatus, said data including a desired destination,
a map database functionally connected to said computing apparatus which distinguishes between physical and legal connectivity,
position sensing apparatus installed in the automobile and functionally connected to said computing apparatus for providing said computing apparatus data for determining the automobile's current position,
a location system functionally connected to said computing apparatus for accepting data from said position sensing apparatus, for consulting said map database, and for determining the automobile's current position relative to the map database,
a route-finder functionally connected to said computing apparatus, for accepting the desired destination from said driver input means and the current position from said location system, for consulting said map database, and for computing a route to the destination,
a discourse generator functionally connected to said computing apparatus for accepting the current position from said location system and the route from said route finder, for consulting said map database, and for composing discourse including instructions and other messages for directing the driver to the destination from the current position,
a speech generator functionally connected to said discourse generator for generating speech from said discourse provided by said discourse generator, and
voice apparatus functionally connected to said speech generator for communicating said speech provided by said speech generator to said driver.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/565,274Filed 9 Aug 1990
Granted: 5 Jan 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60R 16/0373
For occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel: voice control
G01C 21/3415
Specially adapted for specific applications: dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or…
G01C 21/3629
Details of the output of route guidance instructions: guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech
B60R
Vehicle fittings and parts