US 8,014,942 B2 · Remote destination programming for vehicle navigation

Abstract

Remote destination programming enables a user to define a desired destination (402, 406, 410) in advance of a journey. The destination may be stored in a user profile (502, 504) on a remote navigation server (400, 500). It may be uploaded there via a web interface (402), or through land-line or wireless telecom communications (410). Subsequently, for example beginning at a rental car agency, the navigation server supports navigation through any of several modes of operation, including a first mode in which the desired destination information is downloaded from the server (520) so as to program target navigation equipment (522) on-board the rental vehicle. In another mode, the user's GPS-enabled communication device (428) interacts with the navigation server (500) to upload periodic location data (430), and receive turn-by-turn directions (530) for the user. In this mode, there is no need for separate on-board navigation equipment to assist the user to the desired location.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A navigation server implemented as a collection of executable computer code components stored in machine-readable media and accessible for execution on a server hardware system, a navigation server code components comprising:

a first communication process for uploading and associating destination data with a stored profile of a user, wherein the destination data defines a desired location to which the user would travel;
the communication process further adapted to upload and associate target device data with the user profile, wherein the target device data identifies a target GPS-enabled navigation device;
and
a second communication process for downloading destination information from the navigation server using in-band signaling, wherein the destination information is for programming the target device with the destination data, wherein the in-band signaling is communicated over a voice channel connection of a wireless telecommunications network.

1 more element

A computer-implemented method for navigation in a rental vehicle comprising:

in a web server, establishing a user profile to assist a user in future travel in a rental vehicle;
receiving data that identifies a destination location;
storing the destination location data in association with the user profile for later use;
generating destination programming data responsive to receiving the destination location data
receiving a link to a rental vehicle reservation;
receiving a remote destination programming request;
responsive to the remote destination programming request, establishing a communication session with a target navigation device or a selected mobile communication device wherein the target navigation device is located in a rental vehicle associated with the said rental vehicle reservation;
and
downloading the stored destination location programming data to the selected mobile communication device or the target navigation device via in-band signaling to remotely program the target navigation device in the rental vehicle with the user's destination location.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Remote destination programming for vehicle navigation

Life of this patent

Remote destination programming for vehicle navigation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27