Search function for portable navigation device

Abstract

A personal navigation device is set out including a display, memory, a processor, a wireless signal receptor and a user input receiver. The memory includes several destination identifiers indicative of a number of recently visited destinations. A database is also included, the database itself including digitized map data and descriptive data identifying features represented within the digitized map data. The personal navigation device also includes software capable of performing navigation between a current location determined from the wireless signals received and a destination at least partially identified by said user input. The software further includes a facility for displaying one or more categories of destination which when selected causes the display of one or more destination identifiers of the recently visited destinations of that category in list format, and for performing a search within the descriptive data representative of the particular destination category in response to the user input.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) on each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60 / 879,523 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60 / 879,549 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60 / 879,553 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60 / 879,577 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60 / 879,599 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60 / 879,529 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60 / 879,601 filed Jan. 10, 2007, the entire contents of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The content of the aforementioned is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to an improved search function, and more specifically to an improved search function for a portable navigation device (PND) which possesses a screen for information display and which enables user selection of one or more items displayed thereon to provide an input for said PND.[0003]Portable navigation devices (PNDs) typically include a processor, memory (both ROM and RAM), a display, wireless ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]According to the present invention, there is provided a PND comprising a display, memory, processing means, wireless signal reception means, and means for receiving user input, said memory including at least a predetermined number of destination identifiers indicative of a number of recently visited destinations, and one or more databases containing digitized map data and descriptive data identifying features represented within said digitized map data, said PND including software capable of performi

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage of this operation is that the entry of alphanumeric characters causes immediate execution of the database search, and the concomitant display of the results without regard for the separate list of the most recently visited or entered destination.

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