Method and device for finding a parked vehicle

A device for assisting a driver in finding his parked vehicle, the device comprising:

• a navigation system disposed on the vehicle for determining at least one of position data of the vehicle and data about a traveled route;
• a data transmission unit for connection to said navigation system to receive at least one of said position data of the vehicle and said data about the traveled route and to transmit at least one of said position data of the vehicle and said data about the traveled route;
• an intermediate memory disposed outside of the vehicle and having a memory unit and a transmitting/receiving unit connected to said memory unit, said transmitting/receiving unit receiving said data transmitted by said data transmission unit via a first transmission link said intermediate memory storing at least one of said position data and said data about the traveled route in said memory unit;
• and
• a mobile terminal unit to be carried by the driver when leaving the vehicle, said mobile terminal unit for one of accommodating and connecting a display unit, said mobile terminal unit communicating, via a second transmission link, with said intermediate memory to receive at least one of said position data and said data about the traveled route as stored in said memory unit and to facilitate display thereof for observation by the driver.

A method for assisting a driver in finding his parked vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining, using a navigation system disposed aboard the vehicle, at least one of position data of the vehicle and data about a traveled route;
• b) receiving, using a data transmission unit connected to said navigation system, at least one of said position data of the vehicle and said data about the traveled route from said navigation system;
• c) transmitting, using said transmission unit and via transmission link, said data to one of a mobile terminal unit which the driver can carry along when leaving the car and an intermediate memory;
• d) storing said data in a memory unit;
• and
• e) reading, using said mobile terminal unit, at least one of said position data of the vehicle, said traveled route, and information associated therewith from said memory unit;
• and
• f) displaying said data on a display unlit for observation by the driver.