Methods and apparatus for providing voice guidance in a vehicle navigation system

A vehicle navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for generating data for use by the vehicle navigation system for navigation;
• a user interface for communicating with a user of the vehicle navigation system;
• guidance signal generation circuitry for generating a first signal;
• and
• a central processing unit which is operable to:
• generate a route from a first position to a destination in response to selection of the destination by the user, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generate a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• present an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers by the vehicle;
• and
• present all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location in response to generation of the first signal when the vehicle is at a first location on the route without regard to execution of the corresponding maneuvers.

A computer program product for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system and a vehicle, comprising:

• at least one computer-readable medium;
• and
• a computer program mechanism embedded in the at least one computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
• in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers by the vehicle;
• in response to a signal generated when the vehicle is at a first location on the route, presenting all remaining maneuver instructions corresponding to maneuvers on the route after the first location without regard to execution of the corresponding maneuvers.

A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;
• determining an ambient noise level;
• generating a first signal in response to determination of the ambient noise level;
• and
• in response to the first signal, adjusting the audio level associated with at least one instruction.

A vehicle navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for generating data for use by the vehicle navigation system for navigation;
• a user interface for communicating with a user of the vehicle navigation system;
• guidance signal generation circuitry for generating a first signal;
• and
• a central processing unit which is operable to:
• generate a route from a first position to a destination in response to selection of the destination by the user, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generate a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• present an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;
• determine an ambient noise level;
• generate a first signal in response to determination of the ambient noise level;
• and
• adjust the audio level associated with at least one instruction in response to the first signal.

A computer program product for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• at least one computer-readable medium;
• and
• a computer program mechanism embedded in the at least one computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
• in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;
• determining an ambient noise level;
• generating a first signal in response to determination of the ambient noise level;
• and
• in response to the first signal, adjusting the audio level associated with at least one instruction.

A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• and
• presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers;
• wherein selected ones of the maneuver instructions are associated with a street name comprising alphanumeric characters, the audio representation of the selected maneuver instructions including the associated street name and wherein the audio representation of the street name is constructed using voice synthesis techniques.

A vehicle navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for generating data for use by the vehicle navigation system for navigation;
• a user interface for communicating with a user of the vehicle navigation system;
• and
• a central processing unit which is operable to:
• generate a route from a first position to a destination in response to selection of the destination by the user, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generate a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• and
• present an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, wherein selected ones of the maneuver instructions are associated with a street name comprising alphanumeric characters, the audio representation of the selected maneuver instructions including the associated street name and wherein the audio representation of the street name is constructed using voice synthesis techniques.

A computer program product for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• at least one computer-readable medium;
• and
• a computer program mechanism embedded in the at least one computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
• in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• and
• presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers;
• wherein selected ones of the maneuver instructions are associated with a street name comprising alphanumeric characters, the audio representation of the selected maneuver instructions including the associated street name and wherein the audio representation of the street name is constructed using voice synthesis techniques.

A method for providing route guidance to a user of a vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• in response to selection of a destination by the user, generating a route from a first position to the destination, the route comprising a plurality of maneuvers;
• generating a plurality of maneuver instructions corresponding to the plurality of maneuvers;
• presenting an audio representation of each of the maneuver instructions prior to execution of a corresponding one of the maneuvers, each of the maneuver instructions having an audio level associated therewith;
• determining a vehicle speed;
• generating a first signal in response to determination of the vehicle speed;
• and
• in response to the first signal, adjusting the audio level associated with at least one instruction.