Driver information system

A portable information system comprising:

• a plurality of switches each for initiating access to a remote server in a different one of a corresponding plurality of operating modes;
• a positioning system for generating position data related to a geographic location of the system;
• a wireless communication device coupled to the switches and to the positioning system for passing the generated position data to a remote server in response to a signal from the switches, and then receiving information from the server in response to passing the position data to the server;
• and
• an audio output device coupled to the wireless communication device for presenting the received information.

A method of providing information to a mobile user comprising:

• generating a initiation signal in response to the mobile user activating one a plurality of switches each for initiating access to a remote server in a different one of a corresponding plurality of operating modes;
• accepting position data related to the geographic location of the user from a positioning system;
• establishing a communication session with the remote server over a wireless communication channel;
• providing the position data to the remote server;
• accepting information from the remote server in response to providing the position data;
• and
• presenting the accepted information as an acoustic signal to the mobile user.

An in-vehicle navigation system for providing route information through a road network comprising:

• a first stored database including information related to roads in the road network within a first geographic area;
• and
• an onboard computer programmed to perform the functions including
• (a) accepting a specification of a starting and an ending location in the road network,
• (b) if the starting and the ending locations are within the first geographic area, planning a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations, and
• (c) if the starting or the ending locations are not within the first geographic area, communicating with a remote server computer to retrieve information related to a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations.

A method of providing navigation information comprising:

• accepting a specification of starting and an ending location in a roadway network;
• accessing a second stored database that includes information related to major roads in the road network within a second geographic area;
• accessing a first stored database that includes information related to roads in the road network within a first geographic area, wherein the first geographic area includes a common area within the second geographic area, and the first stored database includes information about roads in the common area that is not included in the second stored database;
• if the starting and the ending locations are within the first geographic area, planning a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations;
• and
• if the starting or the ending locations are not within the first geographic area, communicating with a remote server computer to retrieve information related to a route through the road network from the starting to the ending locations.

A vehicle navigation system comprising:

• a printed map illustrating a geographic area, including a representation of a roadway network in the geographic area, and a plurality of annotations each identifying a different geographic feature in the geographic area;
• an input device for accepting one of the annotations from the printed map, said annotation identifying a chosen geographic feature;
• an onboard computer programmed to receive the accepted annotation and providing a planned route to the chosen geographic feature through the roadway network;
• and
• an output device for presenting the planned route information.

A method of providing navigation information comprising:

• providing a printed map illustrating a geographic area that includes a representation of a roadway network in the geographic area and a plurality of annotations each identifying a different geographic feature in the geographic area;
• accepting on an input device one of the annotations from the printed map, said annotation identifying a chosen geographic feature;
• planning a route to the chosen geographic feature through the roadway network;
• and
• presenting on an output device the planned route information.