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  Apparatus and method for switching navigation mode between vehicle navigation mode and personal navigation mode in navigation deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070038364Title: Apparatus and method for switching navigation mode between vehicle navigation mode and personal navigation mode in navigation device Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation. Switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is performed according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder, whether a GPS speed provided by a GPS receiver is higher than a predetermined speed, and whether a step is detected using an output of an accelerometer. Since mode switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is automatically performed, a user does not need to manually perform mode switching. (end of abstract) Agent: Dilworth & Barrese, LLP - Uniondale, NY, US Inventors: Jae-Myeon Lee, Hyun-Su Hong, Sung-Chul Yang USPTO Applicaton #: 20070038364 - Class: 701200000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, And Relative Location, Navigation The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070038364. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to an application entitled "Apparatus and Method for Switching Navigation Mode between Car Navigation Mode and Personal Navigation Mode in Navigation Device" filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 19, 2005 and assigned Serial No. 2005-42075, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to a navigation system supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Vehicle navigation systems, for example a car navigation system, recognizes a current position of a user's car. It provides an optimal route to a user's desired destination to the user, and guides the user along the optimal route. Generally, car navigation calculates the current position of the car using a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor and a Dead Reckoning (DR) sensor and guides a route from the current position to the destination. [0006] Personal navigation devices guide a route for a walker, and is similar to car navigation. But unlike car navigation, it requires more accurate position measurement and more detailed route guiding because the speed of the walker is generally slower than that of the car. [0007] Thus, car navigation and personal navigation perform route guiding using different navigation algorithms. For example, car navigation recognizes a current position of a car by directly integrating outputs of an accelerometer sensor, whereas personal navigation detects steps of a walker to recognize a current position of the walker. For this reason, car navigation and personal navigation use separate dedicated navigation devices for performing different algorithms or are implemented to operate different algorithms separately even when using one navigation device. [0008] The use of separate navigation devices for car navigation and personal navigation increases cost and causes inconvenience. To solve the problem, a navigation device supporting both car navigation and personal navigation has been recently developed. [0009] However, in conventional navigation devices supporting car navigation and personal navigation, a user is required to manually perform mode switching between car navigation and personal navigation. In other words, the user manually terminates car navigation and initiates personal navigation to use personal navigation during the use of car navigation, and vice versa. [0010] As a result, conventional navigation devices cause inconvenience because the user has to separately input car navigation information and personal navigation information. Moreover, when the user mistakenly switches to car navigation for personal navigation or vice versa, it may result in wrong route guiding. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation, in which mode switching is automatically performed without a user's manipulation. [0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation, in which the navigation device determines whether a user uses a vehicle, such as a car, or walks. Upon such determination the navigation device automatically performs the appropriate mode switching. [0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device. The apparatus includes a personal navigation algorithm for implementing a personal navigation mode, a vehicle navigation algorithm for implementing a vehicle navigation mode, an external device interface for connecting the navigation device and an external device, a speed measuring unit for providing a speed of the navigation device, a step detecting unit for detecting a step according to movement of the navigation device, and a navigation algorithm controller for switching the navigation mode between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode. The switching of the navigation mode is done according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder through the external device interface, whether the speed of the navigation device is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, and whether a step is detected by the step detecting unit. [0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device. The method includes executing a navigation program upon request from a user and determining whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder, switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder and acquiring a speed of the navigation device if the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder, switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if the speed of the navigation device is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and acquiring a measured acceleration of the navigation device if the speed of the navigation device is less than a predetermined speed threshold, and determining whether a step is detected according to the recognition result, switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if a step is not detected, and switching the navigation mode into the personal navigation mode if a step is detected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the present invention; [0017] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating mode switching between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating mode switching between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating mode switching between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode according to a third embodiment of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating mode switching between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and Continue reading... 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