TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVE NAVIGATION BASED ON USER PREFERENCES
In a navigation device in accordance with the invention, user profiles may be stored and used to navigate a user who may be driving in a vehicle, on foot, or in other mode of transportation. Each user profile corresponds to one of the user's personae. For example, the user business profile corresponding to the user's business persona may be different from the user personal profile corresponding to the user's personal persona. For instance, the user business profile may include fine-dining type restaurants for business meetings while the user personal profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants for personal dining. The inventive navigation device provides the user with a navigated route, together with information concerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, blockages may also be established using the device to avoid selected areas, e.g., high crime areas, in the navigated route, or to block transmission of selected information concerning, e.g., uninteresting facilities and events, to the inventive navigation device.
1 - 53 . (canceled)
54 . A method for use in a navigation apparatus which includes a display, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a route to a destination;
planning the route to the destination;
providing, on the display, the planned route, and at least one indicator representing a waypoint in relation to the planned route; and
allowing a user to select the indicator to store the waypoint in a record, thereby facilitating navigation to a location indicated by the stored waypoint in the future.
55 . The method of claim 54 wherein the waypoint includes global positioning system (GPS) data.
56 . The method of claim 54 wherein the waypoint indicates a location of a goods or service provider.
57 . The method of claim 56 wherein the goods or service provider includes a restaurant.
58 . The method of claim 56 further comprising affording an option to contact the goods or service provider when the indicator is selected.
59 . The method of claim 58 further comprising establishing a communications connection to the goods or service provider when the option is selected.
60 . The method of claim 59 wherein the communications connection includes a telephone connection.
61 . The method of claim 54 wherein the record is associated with the user.
62 . A method for use in a navigation apparatus in a vehicle, the navigation apparatus including a display, comprising:
receiving information about a destination to be reached by the vehicle;
determining a route to the destination from a current location of the vehicle, data concerning the current location being provided by the navigation apparatus;
providing, on the display, the route, and at least one indicator representing a waypoint in relation to the route; and
allowing a user to select the indicator to store the waypoint in a record associated with the user, the waypoint when stored in the record being retrievable therefrom for use as a destination in a future navigation.
63 . The method of claim 62 wherein the waypoint includes GPS data.
64 . The method of claim 62 wherein the waypoint indicates a location of a goods or service provider.
65 . The method of claim 64 wherein the goods or service provider includes a restaurant.
66 . The method of claim 64 wherein the goods or service provider includes a vehicle service provider.
67 . The method of claim 62 wherein the record is maintained in the navigation apparatus.
68 . Apparatus for navigation, comprising:
an interface for receiving a request for a route to a destination;
a processor configured to plan the route to the destination;
a display for providing thereon the planned route, and at least one indicator representing a waypoint in relation to the planned route; and
a device for allowing a user to select the indicator to store the waypoint in a record, thereby facilitating navigation to a location indicated by the stored waypoint in the future.
69 . The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the waypoint includes GPS data.
70 . The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the waypoint indicates a location of a goods or service provider.
71 . The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the goods or service provider includes a restaurant.
72 . The apparatus of claim 70 wherein an option is afforded to contact the goods or service provider when the indicator is selected.
73 . The apparatus of claim 72 wherein a communications connection to the goods or service provider is established when the option is selected.
74 . The apparatus of claim 73 wherein the communications connection includes a telephone connection.
75 . The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the record is associated with the user.
76 . Navigation apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
an interface for receiving information about a destination to be reached by the vehicle;
a processor configured to determine a route to the destination from a current location of the vehicle, data concerning the current location being provided by the navigation apparatus;
a display for providing thereon the route, and at least one indicator representing a waypoint in relation to the route; and
a device for allowing a user to select the indicator to store the waypoint in a record associated with the user, the waypoint when stored in the record being retrievable therefrom for use as a destination in a future navigation.
77 . The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the waypoint includes GPS data.
78 . The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the waypoint indicates a location of a goods or service provider.
79 . The apparatus of claim 78 wherein the goods or service provider includes a restaurant.
80 . The apparatus of claim 78 wherein the goods or service provider includes a vehicle service provider.
81 . The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the record is maintained in the navigation apparatus.