Method and System for Providing Environmentally-Optimized Navigation Routes

Abstract

A method (500) and navigation system (100) are provided that generate a navigation route that is environmentally optimized between an origin and destination. Upon receiving an origination location and destination from a user or other source, such as a GPS satellite (104), a route determination module (302) determines multiple routes between the origination location and destination. An environmental analysis module (301) then processes each route to determine an environmental impact value. An evaluation module (303) then can selects a proposed route for presentation to the user via a presentation module (304). Alternatively, the evaluation module (303) may select two or more routes, which the presentation module (304) may present with corresponding environmental impact data such that the user may select a particular route. Additionally, a green coach module (306) may provide instructions to the user for more environmentally beneficial operation of a vehicle (102).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional application, and claims priority and benefit under 35 U.S.C. §121 from U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 331,177, filed Dec. 9, 2008, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for route navigation between an origin and a destination, and more specifically to generating a plurality of possible navigation routes and processing each navigation route to select a less environmentally harmful navigation route for presentation to a user.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]Navigation systems, be they vehicular, handheld, embedded in an electronic device, or other, are devices that provide maps and navigation instructions to a user so the user can travel from an origination location to a destination location. Some navigation devices include a proximity detection device, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This is often less than ideal in that a selected route may take longer to traverse than other longer routes due to traffic, traffic signals, accidents and so forth.

However, these systems fail to provide any advantage over the distance based systems as they often fail to consider traffic congestion, accidents, number of traffic signals or intersections, and so forth.

The problem with each of these prior art navigation systems is that the presume time is the highest priority interest when selecting a navigation route from multiple navigation routes.

However, for many people time is not the foremost consideration.

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