초록 ▼

An improved remote control unit for an in-vehicle navigation system and methods for use thereof. The improved remote control unit includes a re-writable data storage memory and a data reception interface through which data from an external computing device can be transmitted to the remote control un

An improved remote control unit for an in-vehicle navigation system and methods for use thereof. The improved remote control unit includes a re-writable data storage memory and a data reception interface through which data from an external computing device can be transmitted to the remote control unit and stored in the re-writable data storage memory. The remote control unit also includes appropriate programming that provides for receiving data from an external computing device, storing the data in the re-writable data storage memory, and then transmitting the stored data from the re-writable data storage memory to the in-vehicle navigation system from a data transmission interface of the improved remote control unit. The improved remote control unit can also be used to transfer data from the in-vehicle navigation system to an external computing device. In one embodiment, the data reception interface is implemented by replacing the uni-directional infrared transmitter of a conventional remote control unit with a bi-directional infrared interface capable of both transmitting and receiving data.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An improved remote control unit for a navigation system, wherein the navigation system is installed in a vehicle and wherein said improved remote control unit comprises:a housing removable from said vehicle and having a size suitable for holding in a hand of a driver of said vehicle

[ I claim:] [1.] An improved remote control unit for a navigation system, wherein the navigation system is installed in a vehicle and wherein said improved remote control unit comprises:a housing removable from said vehicle and having a size suitable for holding in a hand of a driver of said vehicle;an energy supply mounted in said housing;a user interface located on said housing by which the driver can manually input commands for control of said navigation system;a data transmission interface located on said housing by which data signals embodying the commands input by the driver are transmitted from said housing to a data input port on said navigation system wherein said data transmission interface is coupled to receive energy for operation thereof from said energy supply;a re-writable data storage memory located in said housing;a data reception interface located on said housing through which data from an external computing device other than the navigation system can be input into said re-writable memory; andprogramming stored within said housing providing for operating the data reception interface to receive data therefrom for temporary storage in said re-writable data storage memory and transmission therefrom via said data transmission interface.