Server-based navigation system and method of operating same

A method in a navigation system of sending data from a service center to a navigation unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending data associated with a first set of points along a selected route, the first set of points reflecting warnings of upcoming maneuvers along the selected route;
• sending data associated with a second set of points along the selected route, the second set of points reflecting instructions of upcoming maneuvers along the selected route;
• and
• sending data associated with a third set of points along the selected route, the third set of points reflecting confirmations of maneuvers along the selected route.

A method in a navigation system, the system having a service center and a navigation unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending a starting point and a destination point to the service center;
• selecting in the service center a route for the navigation unit based on the starting point and the destination point;
• generating data in the service center associated with a first set of points on the route that correspond to warnings of maneuvers along the route;
• generating data in the service center associated with a second set of points on the route that correspond to instructions of maneuvers along the route;
• generating data in the service center associated with a third set of points on the route that correspond to confirmations of maneuvers along the route;
• and
• sending the data associated with the first, second and third sets of points from the service center to the navigation unit.

A method in a service center of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a starting point and a destination point from a navigation unit;
• selecting a route for the navigation unit based on the starting point and the destination point;
• generating data associated with a first set of points on the route that correspond to warnings of maneuvers along the route;
• generating data associated with a second set of points on the route that correspond to instructions of maneuvers along the route;
• generating data associated with a third set of points that correspond to confirmations of maneuvers along the route;
• and
• sending the data associated with the first, second and third sets of points to the navigation unit.

A navigation unit for use in a navigation system, the navigation unit comprising:

• a wireless communication device for transmitting a starting point and a destination point to a service center and for receiving data from the service center that is associated with a plurality of points, the plurality of points including a set of warning points, a set of instruction points, and a set of confirmation points;
• a first memory for storing the data associated with the plurality of points;
• a second memory for storing messages;
• an output for presenting messages stored in the second memory;
• a microcomputer for processing the data associated with the plurality of points;
• and
• a global positioning system module for determining a current location of the navigation unit;
• wherein the data associated the plurality of points includes a set of coordinates reflecting the location of each point, the microcomputer capable of comparing the current location of the navigation unit with each set of coordinates for the points.

A navigation system comprising:

• a navigation unit that is capable of transmitting a current location and a desired destination from a user;
• and
• a service center that is capable of receiving the current location and the desired destination and selecting a route between the current location and the desired destination, the service center being further capable of generating and transmitting data associated with a set of confirmation points on the selected route;
• wherein the set of confirmation points includes a first confirmation point and a second confirmation point, the first confirmation point positioned on the route before an upcoming maneuver on the route, the second confirmation point positioned on the route after the upcoming maneuver on the route.

A navigation system comprising:

• a navigation unit that is capable of transmitting a current location and a desired destination from a user;
• and
• a service center that is capable of receiving the current location and the desired destination and selecting a route between the current location and the desired destination, the service center being further capable of generating and transmitting data associated with a set of confirmation points on the selected route;
• wherein the set of confirmation points includes a first confirmation point and a second confirmation point, the first confirmation point positioned on the route before an intersection where there is an opportunity for the user of the navigation unit to leave the route, the second confirmation point positioned on the route after the intersection where there is the opportunity for the user of the navigation unit to leave the route.

A method in a navigation system of sending data from a service center to a navigation unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending a starting point and a destination point to the service center;
• selecting in the service center a route for the navigation unit based on the starting point and the destination point;
• generating data in the service center associated with a set of confirmation points along the selected route;
• and
• sending to the navigation unit the data associated with the set of confirmation points along the selected route;
• wherein the set of confirmation points includes a first confirmation point and a second confirmation point, the first confirmation point positioned on the route before an upcoming maneuver on the selected route, the second confirmation point positioned on the route after the upcoming maneuver on the selected route.

A method in a navigation system of sending data from a service center to a navigation unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending a starting point and a destination point to the service center;
• selecting in the service center a route for the navigation unit based on the starting point and the destination point;
• generating data in the service center associated with a set of confirmation points along the selected route;
• and
• sending to the navigation unit the data associated with the set of confirmation points along the selected route;
• wherein the set of confirmation points includes a first confirmation point and a second confirmation point, the first confirmation point positioned on the route before an intersection where there is an opportunity for a user of the navigation unit to leave the route, the second confirmation point positioned on the route after the intersection where there is the opportunity for the user of the navigation unit to leave the route.