WO2009026871A1

WO2009026871A1 - Method for operating a navigation device

Info

Publication number: WO2009026871A1
Application number: PCT/DE2008/001179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Mitnacht
Original assignee: Navigon Ag
Priority date: 2007-08-29
Filing date: 2008-07-23
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Also published as: EP2183549A1; DE102007055411A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a device (4) for determining a route for a means of transport, in particular a navigation device or a mobile telephone, having a data link, having a position signal receiving means, in particular for GPS signals, having a data processing device which is also used to determine a position from the received position signals, having a user interface which is also used to uniquely identify the person using the device and to record user-specific points of interest, having a storage means (9) which is also intended to store user-specific data, and having a searching device which is used to search for user-specific data which are stored in a storage means (6, 9), said method having the following method steps of: a) automatically determining the position by taking received position signals into account; b) automatically starting an operation for searching for points of interest by taking into account the current position of the means of transport and the user data recorded using the user interface; c) automatically communicating the result of the operation for searching for points of interest to the user using the user interface.

Description

'Method for operating a navigation device'

The invention relates to a method for operating a device for determining a route course, in particular a navigation device or a mobile phone with data connection, according to the teaching of claim 1.

When using navigation devices or mobile phones with GPS functionality, it is common to initiate search queries manually by user input. These search queries can relate, for example, to objects which lie along the currently traced route and usually also within a certain radius with respect to the current position of a means of transportation. As part of such a search, the user of the navigation system or mobile phone is usually offered the option of restricting the search on the basis of specific search criteria, for example by specifying special destination categories, such as restaurants, petrol stations or museums.

The problem with this approach is that the user must be active in the context of the search itself and thereby possibly distracted from the traffic. In addition, the user may miss out on interesting points of interest because he is unaware that that such a potential POI, such as a particularly preferred restaurant, is on its upcoming route.

One possible solution to this problem is taught in US Pat. No. 7,155,339 B2. Here, the user of the navigation system is displayed a list of possible special destinations within defined distance ranges relative to the current position of the means of transportation. The POIs are displayed by the navigation system according to their distance from the means of transport along the currently traveled route. To search circular areas are defined, the centers are located on the traveled by the means of transportation and the radius is variable, so that by means of the circular areas various regions are defined, within which is searched for possible points of interest along the route. The circle radii must be specified manually by the user of the navigation device. Also, the user must make an extensive configuration of the system before starting the journey or while driving. He must first select the menu item "points of interest" using the user interface of the navigation system and then specify the POI category, for example "restaurants". Subsequently, it may be necessary to choose which type of restaurant should be displayed, for example a specific restaurant chain. This found selection must then be confirmed by the user in order to be considered in the calculation of the further course of the route.

Disadvantages of this approach are the manually required interaction between the user and the device as well as the fact that not all the points of interest for the user may be displayed within the specified search environment because the user has either not configured a POI category that may be of interest to him or because he is unaware that a potentially interesting POI could be on the track. On the other hand, the user activates as many as possible POIs, he is most likely supplied with too much information so that he can lose track or even get information that is not of interest to him.

US 2003/0167120 A1 teaches the structure of a navigation system which, by means of a data service, obtains map data which are provided with special destinations and which these special destinations are dependent on the current position of the means of locomotion by means of a display device together with the calculated route displays. Also, the system includes a POI memory in which the user can store particularly preferred points of interest.

The disadvantage of this approach is, above all, that in the case of multiple users of the navigation device, for example, in navigation devices in company cars or in the case of portable Navigationsge- rates, for the current user not relevant POIs are displayed, which may come from a previous user. In addition, the current user in this specific solution using a remote control must make system configurations, which, as already explained, can lead to distraction from the road.

Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to propose a new method for operating a generic device for determining a route in which the user at any time without complex interactions with the device has the opportunity, a special preferred by him special destination in the determination of the route also at short notice in the current route calculation to include.

This object is achieved by means of the method according to the teaching of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the generic method, an indication of a possible point of interest is provided by the device continuously and automatically, provided that this is located in the immediate vicinity of the facility location. In order to realize this, the method according to the invention causes a permanent position determination taking into account received position signals. In addition, a user must have identified himself through appropriate inputs using the user interface of the device. The device performs this user identification automatically by polling the user interface and capturing the user input. After detection of the user, the device automatically starts a POI search process to determine position-dependent and user-specific POIs, taking into account the determined current position and the identified user.

Preferably, at the start of the point-of-interest search operation, a search device included in the device searches the memory for POIs or POI categories specified by the user.

It is assumed here that the user has registered with the registration of his data from him particularly preferred points of interest or special destination categories before the trip, so that the

Device without further user input is able to identify the user-specific points of interest and to consider in the search process.

The communication of the result of the POI search operation to the current user is done by means of the user interface, for example using a display device, such as a display. In addition, it is advantageous if the display of the POIs is supplemented by means of specific additional information, such as advertising messages. In particular, it is also advantageous to supplement the display with information specific to the target, the display of which makes sense only in the vicinity of the current position of the means of transportation.

The device carries out the POI search for the user with each new position fully automatically on the basis of the information obtained by the user identification information. Apart from a user identification before departure then no further interactions between device and user are required. The user can concentrate fully on the traffic during this time and does not have to perform elaborate search criteria configurations. If a corresponding POI is found by the facility, the facility automatically alerts the user to the search result.

This has the advantage that no place of interest to the user is passed unnoticed, especially not if such a place initially does not involve the actual final destination of the entire route on which the route guidance is based.

Also, the user is potentially informed of interesting targets for him, about whose existence the user may not have been informed and which he would pass unnoticed without appropriate notice of the device.

Preferably, the user can choose whether and, if appropriate, to what extent the result of the special destination search process is to be taken into account by the facility when determining the further route. If the user accepts a corresponding notice of the device, it is automatically routed to the point of interest. The point of interest is automatically added to the route and used by the facility as an intermediate destination in the determination of the further route from the current position of the means of transport. taken into account. The route leads inevitably past the point of interest.

The device preferably controls the start of the point-of-interest search process automatically, taking into account the particular position of the means of progress in which a POI search process was last started. Only when significant for the determination of POIs significant changes in position of the means of transport is thus a query. It is thus avoided that the data processing device is excessively stressed by unnecessary starts of the search algorithm.

It is recommended to design the implementation of the method in such a way that a point of interest already determined within the scope of the point of interest search operation is stored by the device automatically and / or by means of a query on the user interface. For example, a POI determined by the device could be stored in an address book included in the device.

This automatism ultimately leads to the advantage that the navigation system, the profile of the current user permanently, dynamically and automatically extends, creating a certain learning effect and thereby the specific needs of the user can be covered even better in the future. The device can reconsider points of interest that have already been identified and stored in the context of a previous POI search during new POIs, even during the current trip. Likewise, additional search parameters could be considered.

The user is preferably made aware of the special destinations found within the scope of the special destination search process in accordance with a user-parameterable special destination ranking, which are displayed visually on a display device comprised by the user interface, so that the user can quickly obtain an overview of the viewfinder. receives information and is first informed of it for highly relevant goals. It is also advantageous if sorting takes place according to a user-specific evaluation of the points of interest and / or according to further possible user-specific criteria during the result display.

Particularly preferably, the device comprises a first control means which can be freely parameterized, in particular by means of the user interface, by means of which the device automatically controls the start frequency of the point-of-interest search operation. The control means adjusts the start of the search process to the local conditions and thus actively influences the start frequency of the search process.

Due to the simple geometric properties, the use of a circular area for controlling the starting frequency is particularly suitable. Based on the current position of the means of locomotion, a first circle center is defined, and by means of the first control means a first circle radius is defined, wherein the starting frequency of the POI search is then controlled taking into account the defined by means of the circle center and the circle radius first circle by checking whether the current position of the means of transportation is still within the first circle defined in the previous search process. If the position is substantially at the circumference of the circle, this is taken as an opportunity to start a new search. In this way, a region surrounding the route can be automatically and rhythmically targeted and, if required, user-specifically searched for points of interest.

Particularly preferably, the device comprises a second, preferably freely parameterizable by means of the user interface, control means, by means of which the device affects the result of the POI search automatically. For this purpose, for example, on the basis of the current position of the means of locomotion at the time of starting the POI search second center defined and defined by the second control means a second circle radius, in particular the determined within the scope of the POI search POI defined taking into account the means of the second circle center and the second circle radius second circle, in particular by means of the circular area, are pre-selected by the device. In this case, the device searches for the area defined by means of the circular area before the actual point-of-interest search operation for potential points of interest in question for the subsequent point-search operation that follows.

Further preferably, a third control means, in particular freely parameterizable by means of the user interface, is included by the device, by means of which the device controls the scope of the POI search automatically. Preferably, a third circle center is defined on the basis of the current position of the means of locomotion at the time of starting the POI search and third circle defined by the third control means, wherein the searched in the context of the POI search area under consideration of the means defined by the third circle center and the third circle third Circle is defined and limited by the institution. This circle is usually within the first and / or second circle discussed above.

As long as the means of locomotion moves along the course of the route and as long as no new search process has been started, only the area defined by means of at least one of the circles, and thus the landscape located in the vicinity of the means of locomotion, is searched for points of interest. The user thus has the option of restricting the POI search and any modification of the route to be performed to an acceptable radius. It is very particularly preferred that at least one of the three control means is automatically influenced by the device taking into account the result of the POI search operation, so that the device can automatically optimize the search process depending on the number of POIs found.

Navigation systems, in particular also mobile telephones which are equipped with navigation functionality, often use online portals instead of local data carriers such as DVDs / CDs or memory cards, for example by means of conventional data transmission methods (GPRS / UMTS / HSDPA / EDGE / WIMAX / WLAN / ETC.) is accessed. The search for points of interest by means of an online portal can therefore be initiated by the user directly at the device, whereby search criteria deviating from the standard search can also be specified.

Preferably, the previously mentioned device is realized as a first device, wherein a second device is provided additionally or exclusively for the operation of the first device, for example in the form of an online portal.

This second device likewise comprises a storage means (eg with an online database) which also stores special destination data and can be searched by the search device during a POI search operation. All data relevant to the search, in particular the possible additional search criteria mentioned above, must be transferred from the first device to the online portal for this purpose. After completing the search, the results are transferred from the online portal to the first device where they are communicated locally to the user via the user interface. For this purpose, both devices communicate with one another by means of a communication means encompassed by each device, preferably wirelessly. Among other things, the first device uses access to the online portal to access destinations of particular interest to the identified user, which are stored in the second storage means. In order to access this data, access to the user profile stored in the storage means of the second device is carried out remotely following the operation of the user identification, which could for example be done locally by means of the user interface of the first device. The user profile may also include additional search criteria to configure the search process.

Preferably, the identification of the user and / or takes place

Detection of user-specific points of interest by means of the first and / or the second device, the devices exchanging these data always or only when necessary. The user then has the option, for example, of creating and supplementing his user profile via Internet access from the comfort of his home on the portal, while updating or supplementing this data dynamically and automatically with each journey, so that no matter which device determines the points of interest , only the current data is used as the basis for the search process. This applies both to the special destinations and to the configuration data relevant to the search.

This function can advantageously be supplemented by the fact that both devices exchange user-specific data, in particular points of interest, preferably with position information, of other users registered on the devices, in particular in accordance with a user data enabling means. For this purpose, the device accesses areas of the second storage means, which are reserved for other users and are protected by means of identification parameters. For example, this could be data from users of a user forum, with all members of the forum being granted access to certain data (e.g., custom POIs). By means of this

Measure is the yield of the search process by means of the now additional existing database, which goes far beyond the scope of the actual user

Accordingly, there are in principle at least two different operating modes for carrying out the method according to the invention. In the first mode of operation, the detection and detection of the points of interest is done locally on the first device, and in the second mode, the detection and detection of the points of interest is performed using access to a second device remote from the device. Also, a mixed operation between the two modes is, as was clear from the previous explanations, possible. The second device could also include its own search device, which is controlled for example by means of the first device.

In addition, in the context of the second mode of operation by means of the second device, in particular taking into account at least one of the control means, a preselection of POIs relevant for the POI search can take place. In this case, the special destinations determined as part of the preselection are preferably transmitted from the second device to the first device and are preferably temporarily stored by the first device for use as part of a POI search. This makes it possible to drastically reduce the number of accesses of the first device to the second device. The memory of the first device fulfills the function of a cache memory (buffer).

The operation of a device according to the invention will now be explained by way of example from the perspective of a user:

First of all, the user has to enter which goals he considers particularly interesting by means of the user interface. The device stores these inputs. In order to give the user assistance in entering the points of interest, the device could be called POI (Points of Interest) - specify categories that include, for example, the category "gas station", where all locations in the map along the determined route are marked, on which fuel for the vehicle can be purchased.Now, the user also has the option to define a single object in the map (with a specific geographical position) as his favorite destination, such as those favorite destinations could be accessed, for example, from the aforementioned online portal, where data on specific points of interest can be found on such an online portal In addition, the user may also make reviews for particular destinations / places or groups of destinations / places, eg restaurant chains or restaurant categories, by means of which the user may find the respective places relevant or not relevant to the search Moreover, it is conceivable that further parameter dependent assessments are made, these parameters being taken into account by the device as additional parameters during the POI search operation. For example, certain places may be more interesting at certain times of the day than at other times. These additional parameters can either be entered manually by means of the user interface of the device or be defined generically, so that eg during the usual opening times of a possible destination, for example a restaurant, this is also marked as POI. In this context, it is also advantageous that objects that have received a very positive rating from other members are also recognized as POIs. In this case, those members who are known to the user or whose profiles are sufficiently similar to those of the user can be classified as preferred members. Preferred members receive increased relevance in assessing a potential POI.

The user himself has the option to initiate a search on the online portal using the first device, in which case own criteria, such as certain categories, names, price level, ratings, etc., can be entered by means of the user interface of the first device and transmitted to the online portal in the form of a search query, so that there are suitable results in the current environment of the search engine Traveling means can be determined, wherein the result list is transmitted back to the first device and is displayed there by means of the user interface. For this manual mode, it is advantageous if the search radius is selected to be larger than in the context of the automatic mode of the device, in which there is no user interaction during the search. With unsatisfactory result sets, the search radius can be successively increased up to a predefinable limit radius. This process is repeated until a predefined minimum number of search results has been achieved.

Instead of information regarding the address of the point of interest, dynamic information provided by the online portal, such as up-to-the-minute information, may be displayed. As well as the conventional places of interest, the data transmitted by means of this information may also be used as an intermediate destination (insofar as it concerns position data) or as an address book entry.

The following three scenarios now describe examples of possible applications for the device according to the invention.

1 . Scenario:

A user of the device is a member of an online portal in which interesting places are described and provided with additional information (for example address and geographical position) and can be evaluated by other users. Every user has their own user profile in the portal in which their own preferences can be stored. Users can interact with other communicate with registered users. The user of the device is a collector of champagne bottles. While driving, the navigation system operated according to the invention seeks interesting destinations in the immediate vicinity of its respective location, taking into account the data obtained from the online portal. When navigating through Berlin, the navigation system makes a find: A member of the online portal, with whom the user has made contact via the online portal and shares the same passion for collecting, found a second-hand bookstore where such bottles can be found , and the address entered in the online portal. The navigation system according to the invention therefore notifies the user that this second-hand bookshop is currently located in the vicinity. Through a short user input, the user also learns more details, for example about whose recommendation this business has entered the online portal. By further user input, the position of the antiquarian book in the calculation of the further route, as viewed from the current position of the means of transport, taken as (intermediate) target and changed the course to the effect that the route now leads the antiquarian. In addition, the new adress of the antiquarian bookshop can be added to the address book of the navigation system.

2nd scenario:

A user is on business in Frankfurt. When he got hungry, he went in search of a restaurant. The chosen goal was a direct hit. The food tasted so good that he recommends this restaurant via the online portal to other users and stores the address as a particularly worthwhile point of interest. One year later, the user is back in Frankfurt. The device according to the invention now automatically determines the approach to this point of interest and immediately indicates this to the user. This immediately remembers the positive experience a year ago and spontaneously decides to stop there again. Through a simple user input, the indicated restaurant is taken over as an intermediate destination in its current route and the user is guided fully automatically to the restaurant by means of the device.

3rd scenario:

The collector from the first scenario is again in Berlin, but not in the immediate vicinity of the aforementioned antiquarian bookstore. By means of a request to the online portal, he again searches for addresses of collectors. He enters the relevant search criteria and sends them to the online portal. Due to the good rating, he is again made aware of the antiquarian, which is now visualized as the first entry in the display means of the user interface of the institution, because he had registered it as a POI at that time.

Detailed embodiments of the invention are illustrated schematically and explained by way of example in the drawings explained below, wherein not all illustrated aspects are essential for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Show it:

1 shows a detail of the flow chart for the inventive method;

FIG. 2 shows a possible procedure for controlling the search frequency and the search radius;

Figure 3 shows the operation of a navigation system, which includes the device according to the invention.

The following explanation assumes that POIs have already been defined by the user using the user interface or the online portal. The device determines, taking into account all points of interest stored in the storage means within a specific map section (for example, within a circular area around the current GPS position). Each POI found is then checked to see if it belongs to the set of custom POIs, eg by checking if it can be assigned to a specific POI category. Since a corresponding check must be carried out with each new GPS position, the start of the search process takes into account special conditions.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates that part of the method according to the invention which was recognized by the device with each new one

GPS position is executed so that only significant changes in position lead to the start of the POI search algorithm.

A new search is always carried out only if the distance between the current GPS position and the current GPS position 2a-h (see FIG. 2) at which the previous search operation was started has a parameterizable distance (first radius 3a). This parameterizable distance can be defined for example by means of the first control means 3a-h This measure avoids the smallest position changes to a start of the search algorithm and thus to the continuous load of the data processing device By means of the first control means 3 ah, the frequency of the search queries regarding the search for surrounding POIs is thus directly controllable directly by the device.

The determination of potential points of interest takes place within a second distance (second radius 4a-h in FIG. 2), starting from the GPS position of the means of locomotion at the start time of the previous search ("Nearby objects are determined") the first control means 3 ah defined first distance, so that in any case no further search is necessary, as long as the user within the means of the first control means 3a-h defined first distance range stops. However, the actual POI search process occurs within a third distance (search radius, not shown) from the GPS position 2a-h. This search radius is usually smaller than the radii defined by the distances 3 ah or 4a-h. Determined points of interest remain stored until the next position change recognized as sufficiently changed and are only updated when the search process is restarted.

The process basically proceeds according to the following scheme:

In a determined change in the position of the means of transport is first checked whether it is a sufficient change of position. A change is only sufficient if at least the first freely definable distance 3a-h has been traveled since the last start of the search process. In the context of the implementation of the method according to the invention, this is preferably realized by means of a comparison operation between the distance covered and a comparison parameter (for example the first control means 3a-h).

If the change in position has been recognized as sufficient (distance traveled is greater than or equal to the current value of comparison parameter 3 ah), the determination of nearby special destinations (objects, container elements) is carried out which are stored in the storage means (preselected objects) by means of a first list. This process is sometimes referred to as "dropping into containers." Each preselected object within the first list is then analyzed, and such analysis is performed even if the change in position has not been recognized as sufficient, but in this case, only those before Examining the position change of existing container elements (potential points of interest) as no new search was started and therefore no new nearby potential POIs (objects) could be identified Potential points of interest plays a role above all in connection with the second device 5. By means of the online portal 5, the potential points of interest for a point of interest search and within the second distance 4a-h are preselected and loaded into the cache memory of the first device 4 or retrieved therefrom, in order to also perform an offline operation of the first Facility 4 to allow.

As part of the analysis of the objects found (potential POIs), several comparison operations are carried out. It is first checked whether the object currently selected from the first list is within a search radius (third radius) defined by means of a third control means (not shown) ("is object in the target radius") POI search, the result of which is then to be communicated directly to the user.

If this is the case, it is checked whether the object meets the user-specific selection criteria ("Does object match user preference?") If so too, the device stores the object in a second list and places it in a container with objects to be displayed ("Save object in list of objects to be displayed"). The objects stored in the second list become the

Visualization processed by the user interface sequentially.

If the object is not within the target radius, a check is made as to whether additional objects from the first list are to be checked ("Are there any further objects to examine?"). This is also provided in the case where one within the target radius ( third radius) object does not meet the user-specific selection criteria.

If further objects are stored within the first list (preselected objects), the aforementioned analysis steps become performed again for these objects. If there are no more objects in the list, the current search is finished.

Figure 2 shows schematically again the procedure described above, taking into account the route. The actual special search radius (third radius) was not drawn for reasons of clarity.

Along a route traveled 1 is regularly checked by the device, when an area defined by the first control means (first radius 3a-h) area is left by the vehicle. The definition of the area is made by means of the center 2a-h and the first radius 3 ah. If this area 2a-h, 3a-h is left, using the second facility (on-line mode), a re-preselecting seek operation is started and performed using the second control means (second radius 4a-h). Subsequently, by means of the third control means (third radius, not shown), the actual search process takes into account the preselected potential POIs. The starting time of the search defines the new GPS position, which repeats the steps mentioned above.

As long as the vehicle is essentially within the area defined by means of the first control means (radii 3 a-3 h) and the area defined by the second control means (radii 4 a-4 h) (circular rings), it is ensured that any special destinations that may be present in the context of the previous search process already considered. If the vehicle moves beyond this area, possibly existing special destinations are determined by means of a new search process which is started when the limit area defined by means of the first control means (3 a-h) is exceeded.

As part of each search operation is checked according to the explanations to Figure 1, which points of interest are in the preselection intended first list and which of these points within a distance which is less than or equal to the distance to the user defined by the second control means (4a-h). Such points of interest (objects) are listed in the second list, taking into account their priority (FIG. 1, "List of objects to be displayed").

The priority of the special destinations can be defined, for example, by means of the airline distance or by means of the special destination itself and / or by means of user-specific specifications.

The user is alerted by the device to the POIs listed in the second list by means of the user interface, but at least to those entries with the highest priority.

A point of interest can be inserted directly into the route if the user confirms it. If at the time of the search, for example because of a deactivated route determination, no route is displayed, a route calculation process can be started taking into account the currently determined special destinations, which takes into account the currently determined special destinations.

The communication between the first and the second device using the operating mode that uses the online portal is outlined in Figure 3. The first device 4 comprises at least one

Communication means 10, a control unit 8, a position determination unit 7 and a first memory means (map database) 9. The second device 5 comprises at least one corresponding communication means 1 1 and a second memory means (portal database) 6. When contacting the first device 4 with the second Device 5, the first device 4 sends a request to the second device 5, the request comprising at least one user ID of the user currently identified by the first device and the current GPS position. The transmission takes place by means of the communication means 10, 11, preferably wirelessly using a protocol. kolls, preferably an internet protocol. On the basis of the request, the second device 5 checks by means of the user identification whether the requesting user is a user registered on the online portal. The user identifier, which can identify the user as a registered user of the second device 5 (online portal), is preferably supplemented by means of a password or by means of another authentication method known from the prior art. Due to the transmitted GPS position of the means of locomotion, the second device 5 knows the current position of the first device 4. Further data could be additionally transmitted depending on the current application by means of the protocol, for example the version number of the firmware, a device identifier or a desired format Reply and much more. The second device 5 now processes the request and searches the second memory (portal database) 6 for entries relevant to the request (points of interest). As a response to the requesting side (first device 4) a result list is transmitted, which can also be empty, if no data (points of interest) were found. The results are received by means of the first device 4 using the communication device 10 and forwarded to the control unit 8. If the result list is not empty, it is attempted, using the map database 9, to locate the results, which preferably have a coordinate, on the digital map stored in the map database 9 (map matching) and to the user by means of the interface included in the user interface Display means. This presentation can be done, for example, visually or acoustically. The user now preferably has the option of assessing and storing one or more of the results or having a route calculated such that at least one result is automatically used as an intermediate destination (point of interest) when determining the further course of the route. When assessing the results, it is possible to combine the information provided with the result list to display with the results and / or output acoustically. In addition, by means of a request to the second device 5, additional information, eg images, sounds and videos, can be requested. The first device 4 need not necessarily be a dedicated navigation system, other mobile devices, such as mobile phones, which have a positioning device available, for example, an internal or an external GPS module, which is accessible via Bluetooth, come into question for this purpose.

The query of the relevant targets by means of the first device 4 in the environment can be done in two ways:

a) In advance, e.g. Within a corridor along the currently traveled route or within a larger radius, points of interest are loaded from the online portal to the first facility. In accordance with the method described above, during the movement of the vehicle within the search radii 4a-h, special destinations are searched for, with the special destinations loaded from the online portal 5 being taken into account.

b) The search query is sent directly to the online portal 5. This requires a permanent connection to the online portal 5, preferably via the Internet, e.g. via UMTS, GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, WINMAX, WLAN, etc.

A further possible embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that user interactions at the user interface of the first device 4, which are in connection with the search results delivered by the online portal 5, are in turn transmitted to the online portal. Hereby, at least one identification can be made in the portal database 6 that the user has expressed closer interest in the point of interest found by the online portal 5. This can have advantages regarding the results of future searches.

Claims

claims

1 . Method for operating a device (4) for determining a route for a means of transportation, in particular a navigation device or a mobile phone, with data connection, with position signal receiving means, in particular for GPS signals, with data processing device, which also for determining a position from the received position signals serves, with a user interface, which also serves to uniquely identify the user of the device and to capture user-specific special destinations, and with memory means (9), also for storing user-specific data, and with search means which are used to search in a memory means (6, FIG. 9) stored user-specific data, with the following method steps: a) automatic position determination taking into account received position signals; b) automatic start of a POI search, taking into account the current position of the means of transport and the user data captured by the user interface; c) Automatic communication of the result of the POI search by means of the user interface to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the result of the Sonderzielsuchvorgangs in accordance with a

User input is taken into account in the determination of the further course of the route.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (4) automatically controls the start of the POI search, taking into account that position of the means of locomotion at the last a POI search was started.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a determined in the context of the Sonderzielsuchvorgangs special destination of the device (4) is automatically stored and / or by means of the user interface.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (4) takes into account at least one already determined in the context of a first POI search operation POI in a subsequent POI search operation.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the device (4) takes into account in the context of the POI search additional search parameters.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the user interface comprises a display means by means of which the representation of the result of the POI search operation is performed in accordance with a user-configurable ranking.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a, in particular parameterizable by means of the user interface, first control means (3a-h) is included, by means of which the device (4) controls the start of the POI search automatically ,

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that based on the current position of the means of locomotion, a first circle center (2a-h) is defined, and that by means of the first control means (3a-h), a first circle radius is defined, wherein the

Device (4) controls the start of the POI search, taking into account the means of the circle center (2a-h) and the circle radius (3 a-h) defined first circle.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a start of the Sonderzielsuchvorgangs always takes place only when a new position (2a-h) of the means of locomotion is determined, which lies substantially on the circumference (3a-h) of the first circle.

1 1. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a, in particular by means of the user interface parametrier- bares, second control means (4a-h) is included, by means of which the device (4) affects the result of the POI search automatically.

12. The method of claim 1 1, characterized in that based on the current position of the means of locomotion at the time of starting the POI search a second center of circle (2a-h) is defined, and that by means of the second control means (4a-h) a second Circle radius (4a-h) is defined, wherein the determinable in the context of the Sonderzielsuchvorgangs POIs are pre-selected by the device (4) taking into account the means of the second circle center (2a-h) and the second circle radius (4a-h) defined second circle.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a, in particular parameterizable by means of the user interface bares, third control means is included, by means of which the means (4) controls the scope of the POI search automatically.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that a third circle center point (2a-h) is defined on the basis of the current position of the means of locomotion at the time of starting the POI search, and that a third circle radius is defined by means of the third control means, wherein the area searched in the context of the POI search is defined by the device (4) taking into account the third circle defined by means of the third circle center (2a-h) and the third circle radius.

1 5. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the first (3 ah) and / or the second (4a-h) and / or the third control means taking into account the result of the POI search by the device ( 4) are influenced automatically.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the device is a first device (4) and that a second device (5) is provided with second memory means (6) for operating the first device (4), wherein both facilities

(4,5) communication means (10, 1 1), in particular for wireless communication, comprise and communicate by means of these communication means (10, 1 1), wherein the start of the POI search the first and / or the second memory means (6,9) searched becomes.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the identification of the user and / or the detection of user-specific inputs, in particular points of interest, by means of the first and / or the second device (4,5), wherein both devices (4, 5) exchange these data with each other.

1 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 6 or 1 7, characterized in that both means (4,5) exchange the results of a POI search, in particular determined POI, in particular with position statement, each other.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 1 8, characterized in that both means (4,5) exchange parameters for configuring the search device with each other.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that both means (4,5) user-specific data, in particular points of interest, in particular with position information, of users registered on the devices (4,5) exchange among themselves.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the Sonderzielsuchvorgang takes into account taking into account by means of the user interface of the first means (4) selected operating mode by means of the first and / or the second means (4,5).

22. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that by means of the second means (5), in particular taking into account at least one of the control means, a preselection of relevant for the POI search POI's.

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the special destinations determined in the context of the preselection are transmitted from the second device (5) to the first device (4) and preferably by the first device (4), in particular for use in the Context of a POI search, cached.