The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 06, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 14, 1999
Jerry S. Feigen, Chicago, IL (US);
Navigation Technologies Corp., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed that make a navigation system easier to use. According to one aspect of the disclosed system and method, an end-user is permitted to define at least one preferred cities list. The cities included on the preferred cities list are selected by the end-user from all the available cities that are represented in the geographic database used by the navigation system. Thereafter, when the preferred cities list is in use and the end-user operates the navigation system to provide a function that requires that the end-user make a selection of a city, the end-user is presented with a list of the cities from the preferred cities list instead of all the available cities represented in the geographic database used by the navigation system. The preferred cities list is not restricted to cities, but may also include any kinds of places or administrative areas. According to another aspect of the disclosed system and method, the end-user can define a preferred cities list using a graphical image representation of a geographic area. The end-user defines the boundaries of a shape overlaid on the graphical image representation of a geographic area. Each city or administrative area any part of which is encompassed within the geographic boundaries corresponding to the shape drawn on the graphical image representation is included in a preferred cities list. According to yet another aspect of the disclosed system and method, the end-user defines a preferred area that is not restricted to city boundaries. The end-user defines the boundaries of a shape overlaid on the graphical image representation of a geographic area. Thereafter, when the preferred area is used and the end-user operates the navigation system to provide a function, the function is limited to only those places, locations, and so on, that are within the geographic area corresponding to the defined shape.