초록 ▼

A travel direction speaking system that is based on a portable laptop computer. The computer determines a route between an origin and a destination using an electronic map, and prepares driving instructions based on the route. Each driving instruction includes the spatial position (longitude and lat

A travel direction speaking system that is based on a portable laptop computer. The computer determines a route between an origin and a destination using an electronic map, and prepares driving instructions based on the route. Each driving instruction includes the spatial position (longitude and latitude) of a change in direction at which the driving instruction applies. The system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit that provides the GPS determined position of the laptop computer. The computer compares the GPS position to the spatial position and outputs the corresponding driving instruction when the two positions are inferred to be within a specified range of each other. The range can be determined based distance or on a time period required to travel from the current position to a position at which the instructions should be spoken. The time period accounts for the amount of time required to speak the directions, for the reaction time of the driver at the speed that the laptop computer is moving within a vehicle and for an error in position associated with GPS commercial systems. When the time period has elapsed the directions are spoken. The system also includes a text to voice unit that converts the text driving instructions into a voice signal.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A portable computer system comprising:at least one computer readable storage medium embodying a geographical data base;output means for providing driving instructions;processing means adapted to perform the following operations:plan or maintain a route through the data ba

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A portable computer system comprising:at least one computer readable storage medium embodying a geographical data base;output means for providing driving instructions;processing means adapted to perform the following operations:plan or maintain a route through the data base, the route being embodied on the at least one computer readable storage medium;infer a current position along the route, based on a previously known position, the route, and an estimated radius of error associated with a position detecting device;determine a first estimated time or distance before which a driving instruction must be effected, based on the current position, the route, and the estimated radius of error;determine a second estimated time or distance before which the driving instruction must be given to allow the driving instruction to be effected at the first estimated time;cause the output means to deliver the driving instruction at the second estimated time.