WO2000010029A1

WO2000010029A1 - Turn-by-turn route system

Info

Publication number: WO2000010029A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000655
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Charles Gunthorpe; Ralph Joseph Gatt
Original assignee: ALTER-TECH PTY Ltd
Current assignee: ALTER-TECH PTY Ltd
Priority date: 1998-08-12
Filing date: 1999-08-12
Publication date: 2000-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2001-02-12
Also published as: AUPP523398A0

Abstract

A system (1) for providing navigational instructions to a user is disclosed. The system (1) including a remote processor (4) and at least one mobile apparatus (2). The mobile apparatus (2) includes a means (3) for inputting a selected destination, a means (9) for determining position information of a first position of the mobile apparatus (2), a means (11) for transmitting the selected destination and the first position to the remote processor (4), a means (11) for receiving a plurality of location coordinates from the remote processor (4), a means (5) for processing the plurality of location co-ordinates and position information of further positions of the mobile apparatus (2) to compute navigational instructions, and a means (3) for conveying the navigational instructions to the user. The remote processor (4) includes a means (21) for storing mapping information of a predetermined area, a means (13) for receiving the selected destination and the first position and a means (17) for determining a route from the first position to the destination utilising the mapping information. The route includes the plurality of location coordinates. The remote processor (4) also includes a means (13) for transmitting the plurality of location coordinates to the mobile apparatus (2).

Description

. .

TURN-BY-TURN ROUTE SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems for navigation and, in particular, to a navigation system which delivers routing instructions to a person, typically in command of a transport device.

Background Art In-vehicle navigation systems have existed for many years but have only become practical since the introduction of the GPS satellite system, and recent price reductions in vehicle personal computer (PC) technology. Traditionally, vehicle PCs include a database which contains digital maps of all streets and suburbs in the area of use. More recently, such systems also include some form of user interface and many of the systems include a small screen and a vehicle location sub-system. The screen is mounted so as to be viewed by the driver. The user selects a destination through the user interface and the PC calculates the best route to the destination. The best route may be shown on the screen as a map with the chosen route highlighted. The driver begins their journey and the map moves as the car travels toward the destination. The vehicle location system continually tracks the position of the vehicle and updates the map as the journey progresses. Traditionally, the vehicle location has been tracked by using GPS in combination with the vehicle speedometer and direction sensor (Dead Reckoning), such that the PC is able to monitor the track that the car has travelled and estimate the position of the car on the chosen route. The driver of the vehicle is therefore able to observe the vehicle position on the screen and follow the highlighted route to the destination.

The vehicle PC moving map arrangements suffer from high installation and maintenance costs. The digital maps are supplied from a local authority and are expensive. Street changes and closures mean that these maps are often outdated soon after they are installed. The maps can be updated regularly using HOT SWAP magnetic disk database arrangements or CD ROM technology, however, these are very expensive and can be unreliable. Another problem with this arrangement is that the Dead reckoning type position location systems can be inaccurate and cannot detect when a car has deviated from the chosen route, or correctly advise a Distance to Turn. Dead reckoning systems generally produce errors in the order of 2-3% over distance travelled. The error can be improved using a technique known as 'map matching". However, even with map matching, Dead reckoning systems still result in errors in the order of 10's of meters. A further problem with the above arrangement is that in the event that a car accident or some other factor closes a particular road or causes heavy congestion, there is no means by which the PC can allow for such an occurrence when calculating the best route. There is also the problem that in order to track their course, drivers must continually take their eyes off the road to view the map. This action has inherent dangers and in many countries the moving map arrangements are against the law.

The second category of prior art may be termed "spoken instruction" navigation systems in that the in-vehicle PC includes a speech-generating program. Such an arrangement is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,177,685 (Davis et al). The automobile navigation system of Davis et al provides spoken instructions to the driver of an automobile to guide the driver along a route. The system includes an in-vehicle PC comprising a map database, route finding algorithms, a vehicle location system and discourse generating programs. The vehicle location system accepts input from a traditional position sensor which measures automobile movement (magnitude and direction) continuously, and using this data in conjunction with the map database, determines the position of the automobile. Based on the current position of the automobile and the PC chosen route, the discourse generating programs compose driving instructions and other messages according to a discourse model, as they are needed. The instructions and messages are sent to the voice generating apparatus which conveys them to the driver.

Davis et al also discloses an arrangement which uses a computing apparatus, mounted remotely from the vehicle. In that embodiment, two cellular phones installed in the vehicle are used to transmit data from the car to the remote computing apparatus, and to receive voice from a speech generator in the computing apparatus. Data from a position sensor installed in the automobile is sent through one cellular phone in the vehicle equipped with a modem to a modem connected to the remote computing apparatus. The computer apparatus calculates the best route using the received data and then a voice generating apparatus sends speech to the other cellular phone installed in the automobile. The arrangement is implemented using a large workstation computer. With such an arrangement, whilst the computing overhead in the car can be reduced, it still suffers from the same disadvantages of moving map systems such as high installation and maintenance costs, database maps having to be updated regularly and that the PC has no means by which to allow for occurrences such as car accidents or heavy traffic congestion when calculating the best route. This arrangement has the added disadvantages in that it would be unworkable for a large number of users. This is due to the fact that there would be a large delay in receiving and transmitting voice instructions when a large number of users are accessing the system. Further, the cost of continually operating two cellular mobile telephones is prohibitive. Still further, cross talk is common with mobile phones and noise bursts and signal loss make it hard to hear meaning that often instructions would be lost and need to be re-transmitted causing further delay.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the above mentioned arrangements.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for providing navigational instructions to a user, said system including: a remote processor; and at least one mobile apparatus including:

(i) means for inputting a selected destination;

(ii) means for determining position information of a first position of said mobile apparatus;

(iii) means for transmitting the selected destination and the first position to said remote processor;

(iv) means for receiving a plurality of location coordinates from said remote processor; (v) means for processing, said plurality of location co-ordinates and position information of further positions of said mobile apparatus, to compute navigational instructions; and

(vi) means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user; said remote processor including: (i) means for storing mapping information of a predetermined area;

(ii) means for receiving said selected destination and said first position; (iii) means for determining a route from said first position to said destination utilising said mapping information, said route including said plurality of location coordinates; (iv) means for transmitting said plurality of location coordinates to said mobile apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing navigational instructions to a user, said method including the steps of: storing mapping information of a predetermined area; inputting a selected destination; receiving and storing position information of a first position of said user; transmitting the selected destination and first position data to a remote processor; using said remote processor to determine a route from said first position to said selected destination utilising said mapping information; receiving a plurality of location coordinates, which represent said determined route, from said remote processor; processing said plurality of received location co-ordinates and position information of further positions of said user to compute navigational instructions; and conveying said navigational instructions to said user. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for providing navigational instructions to a user, said apparatus including: means for inputting a selected destination; means for determining position information of a first position at said mobile apparatus; means for transmitting the selected destination and current position data to a remote processor; means for receiving position information; means for receiving a plurality of location coordinates from said remote processor; means for processing said plurality of location coordinates and position information of further positions of said user to compute said navigational instructions; and means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for providing navigational map co-ordinates, said apparatus including: means for storing mapping information of a predetermined area; means for receiving a user selected destination and a current position; means for determining a route from said current position to said destination utilising said mapping information, said route including said plurality of location coordinates; and means for transmitting said plurality of location coordinates to a mobile apparatus.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system to aid the navigation of a vehicle between present coordinates and intended coordinates comprising a user interface for entry of said coordinates and a processor having associated map information for determining a navigational route between said present and intended coordinates, said route being presented to the user via said user interface as a series of commands associated with a traversal of said route by said vehicle characterised in that said user interface is locatable with said vehicle and said processor is configured at a location remote from said vehicle, and said series of commands are conveyed from said processor to said user interface using a communication signal.

Brief Description of the Drawings A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an in-vehicle turn-by-turn navigation system of the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an in-vehicle section of the turn-by-turn navigation system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a remote server section of the turn-by-turn navigation system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a car approaching a turn according to the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description The first embodiment is an in-vehicle navigation system that guides the driver of an automobile with audible turn-by-turn route instructions in co-operation with navigation signals received from a differentially corrected Global Positioning System (DGPS) unit. The system communicates with a remote server to calculate a route to a specified destination. The system supplies other data such as a 'distance to turn' and can determine when the vehicle has become lost.

Fig. 1 shows an overall functional block diagram of the navigation system 1 of a first embodiment which includes an in-vehicle section 2 and a remote server section 4.

The in-vehicle section 2 is typically incorporated within a motor vehicle and includes a user interface 3 through which a user can input a variety of commands including selecting a destination. The user interface 3 is connected to a processor 5, which is associated with a database 7. The database 7 includes all the street and suburb names, points of interest within a predetermined area. A unit 9 receives GPS position information from navigational satellites orbiting the earth together with differential correction data for error correcting the GPS position information, and supplies differentially corrected (DGPS) information to the processor 5. The processor 5 couples to a first remote interface 11 which provides for radio frequency communication with the remote server section 4 via a complementary second remote interface 13. The remote server section 4 includes a server 15 coupled to the second remote interface 13, and a route engine 17 which calculates a best route to the selected destination taking into account any traffic considerations sent to it by a traffic services input section 19. A mass storage unit 21, which contains current street and suburb digital maps and other information, is able to be accessed by the route engine 17 is also included. The mass storage unit 21 also preferably includes cached and pre-determined routes (eg. major arterioles).

Referring now to Fig. 2, utilising the in-vehicle section 2 a user selects a destination by inputting in a destination address including a desired street name through a user interface 3. The current position is taken from the DGPS unit 9, which is preferably updated once every second in a memory location 43 defining a current GPS position. The processor 5 then carries out a search of the database 7 and displays all of the suburbs which include that street name on a small display 25 which is mounted in view of the driver. The display 25 is preferably a display that reproduces only characters (eg. an LCD line display) and is not intended to be viewed during driving of the motor vehicle, but before the journey commences. The user selects the correct suburb using the keyboard 23. The processor 5 then establishes contact with the remote server section 4 through an I/O buffer 33 and a radio data transceiver 31 which together form the remote interface 11. The radio data transceiver 31 can be configured to operate on any useful frequency, and can use any method of modulation suitable for transmitting data, such as frequency modulation (FM), phase shift keying (PSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), to name just a few. In the first embodiment, the transceiver 31 comprises a cellular telephone arrangement. A route request command, which contains the requested destination and current position, is then sent by the processor 5 to the remote server section 4 via the data transceiver 31. The DGPS unit 9 includes a differential correction receiver 8 and a GPS receiver

27 which are coupled together. In the embodiment, the GPS unit 27 receives publicly available GPS signals from three or more GPS satellites and provides a current GPS position value (longitude and latitude). The differential error receiver 8 receives a separate transmission which contains current GPS differential correction data which is provided to the GPS 27 which then acts to error correct the GPS position value to provide a corrected GPS position to the processor 5. The differentially corrected GPS position (DGPS) is stored in the Processor Memory at memory location 43. In the preferred embodiment, the GPS differential correction information can be obtained from a subcarrier broadcast on a FM radio network - this service is called Radio Data Service (RDSO and is well known in the art. The use of differential error corrections with GPS, improves the position accuracy, typically to within meters.

In an alternative configuration (not illustrated) the receiver 8 is omitted and the GPS differential error signal can be provided via the remote interface 11. The GPS differential error signal is provided to the GPS unit 27 which may then compute the corrected GPS position (DGPS) for storage in memory location 43.

The preferred implementation of remote server section 4, seen in more detail in Fig. 3, where the interface 13 includes a radio data transceiver 35 which complements that of the in-vehicle section 2. The radio transceiver 35 receives the route request command and supplies it to a processor 39 of the remote server 15 via an input/output buffer 37. The remote processor 39 sends the route request command to the route engine 17 which calculates a best route for travelling between the current position and the destination. In carrying out the calculation of the best route, the route engine 17 uses digital map information which is contained in the mass storage unit 21. The route engine 17 can draw on cached or pre-determined routes to speed up the route determining process. As illustrated the route engine 17 and mass storage 21 may be incorporated within the server 15 the former for example as a software module implemented by the processor 39. The digital map information includes all latitude/longitude co-ordinates of the street positions in the area of operation, which are accurately known from survey data that is obtained by usual survey methods.

The route engine 17 also considers information which is supplied to the processor 39, by traffic services input 19, received via the I/O buffer 37. The traffic services input 19 can be any data received from organisations such as 'Traffic Watch' which constantly scans the radio data broadcast system, such as the police and emergency services radio system and correlates information relating to car accidents or heavy traffic congestion in the area. This information is received via the Traffic Service Input Section 19 and the digital map information may then be updated to take account of transient traffic problems. Longer term changes such as road closures and street name changes can be manually updated by a system manager. A route file which contains the best route information is produced by the route engine 17 and sent to the processor 39. The route file is sent to the in-vehicle section 2 via the remote interface units 11 and 13 and is stored in the database 7 at memory location 49. The route information includes street names, instructions and latitude/longitude coordinate data. WO 00/10029 . _β - PCT/AU99/00655

The DGPS position in the memory location 43 is continually updated during operation as the motor vehicle changes location during the journey to the Destination of the planned route. The distance to turn information is calculated and updated by the processor 5 using the route file latitude/longitude co-ordinate data in conjunction the DGPS position 43.

As seen in a Fig. 4, an automobile 47 is shown in which the in-vehicle section 2 of the navigation system 1 is situated. Also shown is a representation of a GPS orbiting satellite or space vehicle SV (representing the entire constellation of SV's). The automobile 47 is seen travelling on a road 60 approaching an intersection 61 with another road 62. The intersection 61 includes a survey location 63 which is known and resides in the digital map information 21 and which has been extracted by the route engine 17 to form part of the route file 49.

In the preferred embodiment, the GPS unit 9 is supplied with GPS position information 64 from the GPS orbiting satellite SV, via the GPS receiver 27. The in- vehicle section 4 is also supplied with a GPS differential error correction signal 65 from a base station 51 configured at a known reference location R, via the Differential Error Receiver 8. The GPS error information 65 is obtained by comparing a GPS position of the reference location R, obtained via the GPS signal 64 with a survey position of the reference location R. The GPS position information and GPS differential error correction signal are used to compute the corrected GPS position (DGPS) and stores it in memory location 43. Using the DGPS position and the survey location 63. the processor 5 can calculate the distance D from the automobile 47 to a particular street intersection 61. The method of calculating the distance between a current position and other known positions using satellite information is disclosed in Australian Patent No. 667205. It will be apparent from Fig. 4 that, because of the central position of the survey location 63 within the intersection 61, the distance D will be slightly longer than the distance to a left turn for the motor vehicle 47. However, that error will typically be within the error of distance measurement (less than five metres) and thus should be sufficient for unambiguously conveying the desired turning information to the driver. Using the distance D, the processor 5 then conveys turn-by-turn route instructions to the driver via a voice synthesis unit 41 which is included in the in-vehicle section 2. As seen in Fig 2, the voice synthesis unit 41 includes a memory 59 containing a selected number of predetermined audio phrases 57 such as "TURN", "LEFT", "RIGHT", etc. The unit 41 also includes a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) 53 and a loud speaker 55. The processor 5, continually computes the next turn instruction using the route file 49 and DGPS position signal 43. The route instructions include the name of the next turn street as well as a distance to turn parameter in units of meters. The processor 5 selects the correct audio phrase which is sent to the loud speaker 55 after being converted from a digital signal into an analogue signal by the DAC 53. The loud speaker 55 then conveys the route instructions to the driver. The next turn street information may also be displayed on the small display 25 along with the distance to turn parameter. A typical sequence of audible instructions sounded as the motor vehicle 47 approaches the intersection may be:

"100 metres Turn Left" "50 metres Turn Left"

"20 metres Turn Left" "Turn Left Now". In an alternative configuration (not illustrated), the navigational instructions are projected onto the front windscreen of the automobile using a head-up display device which is known in the art. The instructions can then be read by the driver as the automobile proceeds along the best route.

The processor 5 is configured to monitor the progress of the automobile from its initial position to the selected destination. For example, if the driver makes an error and has deviated from the selected route or if the route is unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances, the driver may send another route request command to the remote server section 4. In this instance, the processor 5 also conveys an instruction to the driver that an error has been made via the voice synthesis unit 41. The further route request command contains the location of the automobile at the time the further route request command is sent. Alternatively, the further route request command may be automatically generated by the processor 5. The processor 5 is configured to send another route request to the remote server section 4 upon receiving a request for an alternative route from the driver.

In a second embodiment, the navigation system is used by the pilot of a ship or boat in order to navigate the vessel. The in-vehicle section 2 can be incorporated within a vessel in the same way as in the automobile of the first embodiment. Utilising the in- vehicle section 2, the pilot selects a destination by inputting destination coordinates through the user interface 3. The current position is taken from the DGPS unit 9. The processor 5 then establishes contact with the remote service section 4. In the second embodiment, the database 7 includes all port names and land marks within a predetermined area. The mass storage unit 2, contained in the remote service section 4 includes digital maps with preferred shipping routes. In carrying out the calculation of the best shipping route, the route engine 17 uses the digital map information for example including known shipping channels, dangerous reefs, etc and can also consider information which is applied to the processor 39 by "shipping services", via the input 19. Further, the route file 49 which is sent to the in-vehicle section 2, includes latitude- longitude coordinate data, turn instructions, port names, land marks and channel markings. The route instructions are then conveyed to the ship pilot via the loud speaker 55 and/or display unit.

In a third embodiment, the turn-by-turn navigation system is used by the pilot of an air plane in order to route aircraft along designated flight paths. Again, the in-vehicle section 4 can be incorporated in the cockpit of the aircraft. The database 7 includes land mark location names in a predetermined area and the current altitude of the aircraft. The mass storage unit 21 includes digital maps with predetermined flight paths and altitude information. In carrying out the calculation of the best flight path, the route engine 17 uses the information stored in the mass storage unit 21 and can also consider information which is supplied to the processor 39 , by air traffic control, again, via the input 19. In the third embodiment, the route file 49 which is sent to the in-vehicle section 2 includes latitude-longitude coordinate data, turn instructions, names of land marks and altitude information. The pilot of the aircraft can then change his course and altitude based on the instructions conveyed via the loud speaker. In a fourth embodiment, the in-vehicle section 2 can be encapsulated in the casing of a mobile telephone. The user selects a destination and is guided by turn instructions in the same way as the automobile of the first embodiment. The mass storage unit 21, contained in the remote service section 4 can include guided tours within a predetermined area (eg. the botanical gardens, historic walks or city land mark tours). The database 7 can contain a key, such a number, which is related to the relevant guided tour, so that the user can select a guided tour within a predetermined area by keying in the number which is subsequently sent with the route request command to the remote service section 4. The route file 49 of the fourth embodiment, which is sent to the in-vehicle section, includes latitude-longitude coordinate data, turn instructions, names of land marks and other information which is relevant to the selected guided tour (eg. historic dates, botanical information). In this fashion, the mobile telephone handset utilises separate but interfaced sections, one for mobile telephone communications, one for GPS reception, and another for routing storage and audible reproduction. Differential GPS corrections may be transmitted from cellular base stations using keep alive WO 00/10029 . -i -i . PCT/AU99/00655

communications between the base station and handset which occur when the handset is enabled for operation, but when no telephone call is in progress.

The above-described embodiments have several advantages which are outlined as follows: First, since all of the routing calculations are carried out by the remote server 15 in conjunction with the route engine 17, the processor 5 does not have to be as powerful as prior art arrangements which incorporated their own map data and route calculator. This fact markedly reduces the cost of the in-vehicle navigation system.

Second, since all of the digital map information is contained in the mass storage unit 21, the database 7 which is in the vehicle can be of a much smaller capacity which again reduces the cost of the navigation system. This has the added advantage in that the digital maps are retained at the server location 4 and can be constantly kept up to date which removes the necessity of constantly up-dating an in-vehicle database, as is required in prior art systems. Further, because the in-vehicle system is not map based, the display 25 need not have the capability to reproduce maps, and this also permits cost reductions through omitting what is usually an expensive cathode ray tube display or Active Matrix LCD display from the vehicle. Another advantage of reducing the need for a large display is the strict requirements for mounting such objects within the vehicle as an after market option. Thirdly, all communications between the in-vehicle section 2 and the server section 4 make use of simple text-based files and data. Thus the amount of data transferred therebetween is typically small. In this fashion, in the preferred embodiment, mobile cellular telephone communications between the motor vehicle and the server can be utilized without substantial expense as the route request can be sent, and the route file received by the motor vehicle within a small amount of time (eg. 10 seconds - 2 minutes, depending on the processing load on the server 15 at the time and the length of the route being calculated). Once the route file is received the cellular telephone call is terminated and no new call need be unless the driver becomes lost or decides to change destination, as described above. Where the system 1 includes many motor vehicles (each having a corresponding in-vehicle section 2) and a single server section 4, it may transpire that many route requests are received and/or processed substantially simultaneously. In such circumstances, some delay may occur in providing the route file and in such circumstances, the initial cellular telephone call may be terminated by the server 15, and re-established by the server 15 when the route file is ready for transmission. The use of cached and predetermined routes in the above-described situation can significantly reduce the processor calculation times. The cached and predetermined routes are possible since the mass storage unit 21 is located at the remote site and therefore, memory capacity is not a restriction as it would be in conventional systems, where the route engine and storage unit is located within the vehicle.

The foregoing describes only a number of embodiments of the present invention, and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the user interface 3 could include a touch screen or voice recognition system. Further, the mobile phone communications may be relaced by a private radio data network, such as that used by taxi-cabs throughout the world.

Claims

. -13 .CLAIMS:

1. A system for providing navigational instructions to a user, said system including: a remote processor; and at least one mobile apparatus including:

(i) means for inputting a selected destination;

(iv) means for receiving a plurality of location coordinates from said remote processor;

(v) means for processing, said plurality of location co-ordinates and position information of further positions of said mobile apparatus, to compute navigational instructions; and

(vi) means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user; said remote processor including:

(i) means for storing mapping information of a predetermined area; (ii) means for receiving said selected destination and said first position; (iii) means for determining a route from said first position to said destination utilising said mapping information, said route including said plurality of location coordinates;

(iv) means for transmitting said plurality of location coordinates to said mobile apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said remote processor further includes means for storing predetermined route sections.

3. The system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said remote processor further includes means for storing cached route sections.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined route sections are utilised in determining said route.

5. The system according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein said cached route sections are utilised in determining said route.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said mobile apparatus processing means is configured to send a first route request command to said remote processor once the user has entered said selected destination.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said first route request command contains said first position and said selected destination.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said mobile apparatus processing means is configured to monitor the progress of said user from said first position to said selected destination.

9. The system according to claims 7 or 8, wherein said mobile apparatus processing means is configured to send a subsequent route request command if the user makes an error, if the route is unnavigable due to unforeseen circumstances, or if the user decides to change destination, wherein said subsequent route request command contains a temporal location of the user at the time the subsequent route request command is sent.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said system conveys an instruction to the user if an error has been made.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a means for inputting when an instruction which is given by said system is impossible to complete and that an alternative route must be calculated.

12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said first apparatus processing means is configured to send a subsequent route request when an instruction which is given by said system is impossible to complete.

13. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a voice recognition means wherein the user input is spoken.

14. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further including touch screen means wherein the user input is carried out by touching said touch screen means.

15. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an input buffer between said means for receiving said satellite position information and said mobile apparatus processing means.

16. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mobile apparatus means for transmitting includes a mobile telephone.

17. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to the next turn and the name of the next street at which to turn.

18. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means for determining a route from said current position to said destination takes into account information supplied by Traffic Services in calculating said best route.

19. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route and a direction of said next turn.

20. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and altitude information.

21. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and site information related to features of said route.

22. The system according to claims 1 to 21, further comprising a marine vessel in which said mobile apparatus is installed.

23. The system according to claims 1 to 21, further comprising an aircraft in which said mobile apparatus is installed.

24. The system according to claims 1 to 21, wherein said mobile apparatus is configured as a portable hand held device.

25. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein said navigational instructions are audible.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said audible navigational instructions are sourced from a database of standard expressions.

27. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein said means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user, includes a head-up display.

28. A method of providing navigational instructions to a user, said method including the steps of: storing mapping information of a predetermined area; inputting a selected destination; receiving and storing position information of a first position of said user; transmitting the selected destination and first position data to a remote processor; using said remote processor to determine a route from said first position to said selected destination utilising said mapping information; receiving a plurality of location coordinates, which represent said determined route, from said remote processor; processing said plurality of received location co-ordinates and position information of further positions of said user to compute navigational instructions; and conveying said navigational instructions to said user.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said mapping information includes predetermined route sections.

30. The method according to any one of claims 28 or 29, wherein said mapping information includes cached route sections.

31. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, further including the step of sending a first route request command to said remote processor once the user has entered said selected destination.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said first route request command contains said first position and said selected destination.

33. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 32, further including the step of monitoring the progress of said user from said first position to said selected destination.

34. The method according to claim 31, further including the step of sending another route request command if the user makes an error, if the determined route is unnavigable due to unforeseen circumstances, or if the user decides to change destination, wherein said further route request command contains a temporal location of the user at the time the further route request command is sent.

35. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein an instruction is conveyed to the user if an error has been made.

36. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 35, further including the step of inputting when an instruction conveyed to the user is impossible to complete and that an alternative route must be calculated.

37. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 36, further including the step of sending another route request to said remote processor when an instruction which is given is impossible to complete.

38. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein the user input is spoken.

39. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 38, wherein the user input is carried out by touching a touch screen means.

40. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein in determining a route from said current position to said destination, information supplied by Traffic Services is considered.

41. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and a name of a next street at which to make said next turn.

42. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route and a direction of said next turn.

43. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and altitude information.

44. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and site information related to features of said route.

45. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein said navigational instructions are audible.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein said audible navigational instructions are sourced from a database of standard expressions.

47. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 46, wherein said means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user, includes a head-up display.

48. An apparatus for providing navigational instructions to a user, said apparatus including: means for inputting a selected destination; means for determining position information of a first position at said mobile apparatus; means for transmitting the selected destination and current position data to a remote processor; means for receiving position information; means for receiving a plurality of location coordinates from said remote processor; means for processing said plurality of location coordinates and position information of further positions of said user to compute said navigational instructions; and means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user.

49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said processing means is configured to send a first route request command to said remote processor once the user has entered said selected destination.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said first route request command contains said first position and said selected destination.

51. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 50, wherein said processing means is configured to monitor the progress of said user from said first position to said selected destination.

52. The apparatus according to any one of claims 49 to 51, wherein said processing means is configured to send another route request command if the user makes an error, if a route is unnavigable due to unforeseen circumstances or if the user decides to change destination, wherein said further route request command contains a temporal location of the user at the time the further route request command is sent.

53. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 52, wherein said apparatus conveys an instruction to the user if an error has been made.

54. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 53, wherein said means for transmitting includes a mobile telephone.

55. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 52, further including a means for inputting when an instruction which is given by said system is impossible to complete and that an alternative route must be calculated.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said processing means is configured to send another route request when an instruction which is given by said system is impossible to complete.

57. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 56, further including a voice recognition means wherein the user input may be spoken.

58. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 57, further including touch screen means wherein the user input may be carried out by touching said touch screen means.

59. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 57, further including an input buffer between said means for receiving said satellite position information and said mobile apparatus processor means.

60. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 59, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and a name of a next street at which to make said next turn.

61. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 59, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, and a direction of said next turn.

62. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 59, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and altitude information.

63. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 59, wherein said navigational instruction include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and information related to features of said route.

64. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 63, further comprising a marine vessel in which said apparatus is installed.

65. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 63, further comprising an aircraft in which said apparatus is installed.

66. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 63, wherein said apparatus is configured as a portable hand held device.

67. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 66, wherein said navigational instructions are audible.

68. The apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said audible navigational instructions are sourced from a database of standard expressions.

69. The apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 68, wherein said means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user, includes a head-up display.

70. An apparatus for providing navigational map co-ordinates, said apparatus including: means for storing mapping information of a predetermined area; means for receiving a user selected destination and a current position; means for determining a route from said current position to said destination utilising said mapping information, said route including said plurality of location coordinates; and means for transmitting said plurality of location coordinates to a mobile apparatus.

71. The apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said apparatus further includes means for storing predetermined route sections.

72. The apparatus according to any one of claims 70 or 71, wherein said apparatus further includes means for storing cached route sections.

73. The system according to claim 71, wherein said predetermined route sections are utilised in determining said route.

74. The system according to any one of claims 72 or 73, wherein said cached route sections are utilised in determining said route.

75. The apparatus according to any one of claims 70 to 74, wherein said apparatus means for transmitting includes a mobile telephone.

76. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 or 75, wherein said means for determining a route from said current location to said selected destination takes into account information supplied by Traffic Services in determining said route.

77. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 or 75, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route and a direction of said next turn.

78. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 or 75, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and altitude information.

79. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 or 75, wherein said navigational instructions include a distance to a next turn in said route, a direction of said next turn and information related to features of said route.

80. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 to 79, further comprising a marine vessel in which said mobile apparatus is installed.

81. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 to 79, further comprising an aircraft in which said mobile apparatus is installed.

82. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 to 79, wherein said mobile apparatus is configured as a portable hand held device.

83. The apparatus according to any one of claims 74 to 79, wherein said navigational instructions are audible.

84. The apparatus according to claim 83, wherein said audible navigational instructions are sourced from a database of standard expressions.

85. The apparatus according to any one of claims 70 to 84, wherein said means for conveying said navigational instructions to said user, includes a head-up display.

86. A system to aid the navigation of a vehicle between present coordinates and intended coordinates comprising a user interface for entry of said coordinates and a processor having associated map information for determining a navigational route between said present and intended coordinates, said route being presented to the user via said user interface as a series of commands associated with a traversal of said route by said vehicle characterised in that said user interface is locatable with said vehicle and said processor is configured at a location remote from said vehicle, and said series of commands are conveyed from said processor to said user interface using a communication signal.