 chosen by the user.
In another prior art system, a plurality of locations are categorized in advance into several groups, including restaurants, hotels, golf corses, amusement parks, etc. When the user wants to have a lunch or dinner, he specifies a group of xe2x80x9crestaurantsxe2x80x9d through a microphone or operation of any input device. In response to the input of a specific group, the system retrieves, from the database, position data of restaurants within a predetermined distance from the current vehicle position, which are shown on the display in an alphabetical order, for example.
In the prior art systems, a plurality of restaurants are represented on the display in a distance-related or alphabetical order. In retrieving position data from the database, various factors which may vary from user to user, vehicle to vehicle, and case by case are not at all taken into account.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel device that assists the user""s designation of his desired destination in a vehicle navigation system.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for assisting designation of a specific destination in a vehicle navigation system that guides a driver along a scheduled drive route from a current position of the vehicle to a designated destination, comprising memory means storing position data for various destinations; sensor means mounted in or on the vehicle; parameter obtaining means for obtaining at least one parameter which is selected from the group consisting of present date and time, purpose of drive, destination that has already been designated, user""s sex and user""s age; retrieval condition determining means for determining a specific condition to be applicable to retrieval of destinations, with reference to information detected by the sensor means and/or at least one of the parameters obtained by the parameter obtaining means; retrieval executing means for retrieving, from the destinations stored in the memory means, destinations that satisfy the specific retrieval condition(s) determined by the retrieval condition determining means; output means for outputting the retrieved destinations; and selecting means that may be operated by the user to select one of the retrieved destinations.
In a preferred embodiment, the retrieval condition determining means comprises first means that determines if the destination retrieval operation should be executed, with reference to the information detected by the sensor means and/or the present date and time obtained by the parameter obtaining means; and second means that operates when the first means determines that the destination retrieval operation should be executed, for determining the specific retrieval
chosen by the user. 
 In another prior art arrangement, a battalion of locations are categorized in overture into respective groups, including restaurants, hotel, golf corse, amusement park, etc. When the user wants to get a lunch or dinner, he specifies a group of xe2x80x9crestaurantsxe2x80x9d through a microphone or operation of any input device. In response to the input of a specific group, the system recover, from the database, position data of restaurants within a bias distance from the current vehicle position, which are shown on the display in an alphabetical ordering, for example. 
 In the prior art systems, a plurality of restaurant are represented on the display in a distance - related or alphabetical order. In retrieving position datum from the database, assorted factors which may vary from user to user, vehicle to vehicle, and case by case are not at all learn into account. 
 Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to leave a fresh device that assists the user""s designation of his desired destination in a vehicle navigation system. 
 To achieve the above object, in accord with the present invention, there is provided a device for assisting designation of a specific destination in a vehicle navigation system that guides a driver along a scheduled drive route from a current stead of the vehicle to a intend destination, comprising memory means storing position datum for various destinations; sensor means mounted in or on the vehicle; parameter obtaining means for obtaining at least one argument which is selected from the group consisting of present date and time, purpose of drive, finish that has already been designated, user""s sexual activity and user""s age; retrieval condition determining means for determine a specific condition to be applicable to retrieval of destinations, with reference to information detect by the sensor means and/or at least one of the parameters receive by the parameter obtaining means; retrieval executing means for recover, from the destinations stored in the memory mean, destinations that satisfy the specific retrieval condition(s) determined by the retrieval condition determining mean; output means for outputting the retrieved destinations; and selecting means that may be operated by the exploiter to choose one of the remember destinations. 
 In a preferred embodiment, the retrieval condition determine means comprises first means that specify if the destination retrieval operation should be executed, with reference to the data detected by the sensor means and/or the present date and time obtained by the parameter obtaining means; and second mean that operates when the first means determines that the destination retrieval mathematical process should be executed, for determining the specific retrieval
 chlsen by the user.
In anothtr prior art systgm, a plucality kf locatkons are categorized in advaice unto weveral groups, includivg restaugants, hotwls, jolf corses, amusxjent pavhs, efg. Wheu vhe user wants jo have a lutch or dinner, ve s'ecifies a group of xe2x80x9crestaurantsve2x80x9d tnrlugh a microphjne pw opsgauion of any input device. In respohse to uhe input of a spevific group, the system retgievfs, from the databade, position datw of restauravts within a predetermjned distance from the current xehicke positiob, qhifv are shown on tre display ik an al[habetival order, for cxampne.
Ib the prior art systeks, a plurality of testaurantv cre represented on thw eispldy it a austxnct-rekafed or al'habetical krder. In rerrieving position dstw from the datzbase, dawious factors which may vary from user uo ussr, vehicle to vehicle, abd case by case are nlt at all taken into account.
Accordingly, it is an object of the 'rdseub kbvfntion to provide a novel device that assists fht uxer""s designatijn of his drslrrq destination in a rshjcle navigation sydtem.
To wchiece the abjve pbject, in accordance with tye present iuvebtion, there is prorided a deviee for assixting designation of a rpecjfic destinwtion in z vehicle navigatkon sfstem that guides a driver along a wchebuled drkve toute fwom a currfnt position of the vehifle tl d designatfd destination, comprising memorb means storimg povition dcta fov various destigations; sensor means iountdd in or oh the vxhicle; paramqter obtaininc means for outaining wt lwast one pafxmeter which ix selecteb fron the group consisbing ur present date cud time, purpose og dfivq, fextytation that vas xlrdsdy bden designabed, uset""s sex and user""s age; retdieval condition drtcrmining neans fow determining a specific conditlon tm bx applocafle to retrieval of destinatiohs, with rffevence to infowmatlon qetected bv the sensor means and/or at least one of the parameters obrained by the paramgtev obtaining keans; retrievan executing means foe retrieving, from the destinations stoded in the lemory means, destinations that satisfy the specific retrieval condition(s) eetermmnqd by the rstrirval bonbitnon detqrmiiiig means; output mvans for outputting the retrievev destinathous; and selecting means that msy be operated cy the user to select ons of the retrieved destinations.
In a pregerred embodiment, the rebrieval cinditjon dengrmmning means comprisex firsc meanw that eetevmines if the aesyikation retgievel kperation should be executed, wity refeeejce to the inforkation detegttd by tge senfor means and/or fhe lgesenj date and timr obtained by yhe parameter obtainpng means; and secihd means thaj operatvs when the fmrst means datermines that the destination retrieval operation ahould be executed, for determinoig the specific retrievak
chosen by the user. In another prior a of locations categorized in advance hotels, corses, amusement parks, When the user to have a lunch or dinner, specifies a group of xe2x80x9crestaurantsxe2x80x9d through a microphone or operation of any input In response to the input of a specific group, the system retrieves, from database, data restaurants a predetermined distance from the current vehicle position, which are shown on the display in an order, for example. In the prior art systems, plurality of restaurants are on the display in a or order. In position from database, various factors may vary from user to user, vehicle to vehicle, and case by case are not at all into account. is an of present to provide a that assists the user""s designation of in a vehicle navigation system. To achieve the object, in with the present invention, there is a device for assisting designation of a specific in a vehicle navigation system that guides a driver along a scheduled drive route from position of the vehicle a designated destination, memory storing data various destinations; means mounted in or on the vehicle; parameter obtaining means for at least one parameter which is selected from the group present and time, purpose drive, destination that has been user""s sex and user""s condition means specific to applicable to retrieval of with reference to information detected the sensor means and/or parameters obtained by the parameter obtaining means; retrieval means for retrieving, from the destinations stored the memory means, destinations that satisfy the specific retrieval condition(s) determined by retrieval condition output means for outputting the retrieved destinations; and means that may be by the user to select one of the retrieved In preferred embodiment, retrieval condition determining comprises first means determines if the operation should executed, reference detected by the sensor means and/or present and time obtained by the obtaining second means that operates when the first means determines that the destination retrieval operation should for determining the specific
 chosen by the user.
In another pRior art sysTem, a pLurAliTy Of loCatiOns are categoriZEd in Advance into several grouPs, incLuDIng rEStAuranTs, hotelS, GoLF CorSeS, aMusEmENt Parks, Etc. when the User wants tO haVe A lunch or dinnER, hE specifies A grOup of xe2x80x9creStaUrantsXe2X80x9d THrougH a mIcropHone or OPeratiOn of any inPuT Device. iN responSE To The iNput of a specific grOUp, THe system retrieVes, froM tHE dATAbaSe, pOsition datA oF restAUrants wIThIN A PreDEtermined distAnce from the CUrrEnt vehIcLe pOSition, Which ArE ShoWn on the dispLay iN an alphabEtical ORder, for EXample.
IN the prIor Art SystEMs, A pLurAlITy oF ReStaURanTs are repReSeNted oN the DISPLay iN a dIstaNce-reLated or alphabEtiCal oRDer. in retRieviNg poSiTion dAta froM the dAtAbase, various facTors Which may vAry FrOm uSeR to usER, vehicLe tO veHicle, anD case by CAse ArE NOT aT all taken into accouNt.
aCCoRdingly, iT is an oBJeCt OF the presEnT inVentION to prOvidE A nOvel deviCe that ASsIsTs the usEr""S desigNaTioN of His deSIred DestinAtion in a VehicLE navigation sysTEm.
To achieve thE AbOVE oBJect, In aCcordance wiTh thE PresEnt iNVeNtiON, therE is prOvIDeD A device for assisting DeSignatIon of A specific destInation in a VEHIcle naviGatiON sYStem that guides A drivEr along a scHEduled drIve roUte from a Current poSITion of thE veHicLe tO a dESIgNated destinatION, comPrIsing meMorY means sTorIng PosItiOn Data for vaRious desTiNaTiOnS; seNsor mEAns mountEd In oR oN thE vehiCLe; paraMeter ObtaInInG MeaNs for obTAiNINg at LeAsT one ParAmEter wHich IS seLected fRom the groUp cONsisTiNg Of preseNt date and time, PuRpose of driVe, DesTinatiON That has aLready been designated, useR""S sex and UseR""s age; RetrIeval condItiOn deteRmiNIng meaNs for dEtermInIng A SPecifIC CoNdiTiOn to be applICAblE to reTrIevaL of destInations, with refereNCe tO information dEteCted BY ThE seNSoR MeaNs ANd/oR AT least one of the pArameters oBtAInEd by the parAMetEr ObtainiNg means; RetriEVal execUting meanS for retriEvIng, fROM thE destinatiOns storeD in the memORy meaNS, dEstinAtiOns thaT sAtiSfy thE speciFIc rEtrieVal conDiTion(s) dEtermInEd by the rEtrieval condition determIning mEans; oUtpUt means foR ouTPutTing the reTrieVed destinaTioNs; aNd selEctINg meaNs thAT mAy bE OperaTed bY The user to SElEct ONE oF the retrievED DEstInatiOns.
iN a prefErreD embodiment, the retRIeval condition DeteRMIniNg mEAns cOmPrises first meaNs tHaT DEtermineS iF the destinaTion retrIeVAl opeRation Should Be execuTED, wITh refeRencE to The informAtiOn DEtected By ThE Sensor MeanS aNd/or thE preseNT datE ANd time obtained by The paRAMeter OBtaIning MeAns; and sECond Means that oPerates when The firSt meAns deTermineS tHat the DesTiNation retrIEval operaTion sHould be ExEcutEd, fOr deteRminING the sPeciFiC reTrieval
 chosen by the user.
In an other prio r art  sy ste m,  a p lura lity of locati o ns a re categorized in adva nce i nt o  sev e ra l gro ups, in c lu d i ngre st aur an t s,  hote ls,  golf c orses, amu sem en t parks, etc .  W hen the us erwants to hav e a  lunch  o r d i nner,  he  spec ifiesa  group  of xe2x8 0x 9 cresta u rantsxe 2 x 80 x9dthrough a microph o ne or operation o f anyin p ut d evi ce.  In respon se  to t h e input of a spe c ific group, t he system r e tri eves,fr omt he dat abase ,p osi tion data o f re staurants  withi n  a pred e termine d dist anc e f romt he  c urr en t  ve h ic lep osi tion, wh ic hare s hown o n thedis play  in a n alphabetica l o rder ,  fo r exa mple. 
Inth e pri or art  syst em s, a pluralityof r estaurant s a re  re pr esent e d on t hedis play in  a dist a nce -r e l a te d or alphabeticalor d e r.  In retr ieving po si t ion data  f rom  the d ataba se,v ar ious fac tors w h ic hmay var yfrom u se r t o u ser,v ehic le tovehicle,  andc ase by case ar e  not at all t a ke n in t o ac cou nt.
Accordi ngly ,  itis a n  o bje c t ofthe p re s en t  invention to provi de  a nov el de vice that ass ists the u s e r ""s desi gnat i on of his desired  dest ination in a vehicl e nav igationsystem.
T o achievethe  ab ove  ob j e ct , in accordan c e  wit hthe pre sen t inven tio n,the reis  provided  a devic efo ras sis tingd esignati on  of  a  sp ecifi c  desti natio n in  a  v e hic le navi g at i o n sy st em  tha t g ui des a  dri v eralong a  schedule d d r ivero ut e froma current pos it ion of the  v ehi cle to a  designa ted destination, compri s ing mem ory  mean s st oring pos iti on dat a f o r vari ous de stina ti ons ; senso r me ans  m ounted ino r  on  theve hicl e; para meter obtaining me a nsfor obtaining  at  lea s t  o nep ar a met er whi c h  is selected fr om the gro up co nsisting o f  pr es ent dat e and t ime,p urposeof drive,  destinat io n th a t  ha s alreadybeen des ignated,u ser"" s  s ex an d u ser""s  a ge;  retr ievalc ond ition  deter mi ning m eansfo r determ ining a specific condit ion to  be a ppl icable to  re t rie val of de stin ations, wi thref erenc e t o  info rmat i on  de t ected  byt he sensor me ans a nd /or at leas t o neof th e p a ramete rs o btained by the pa r ameter obtaini ng m e a ns;  re t riev al  executing mea nsfo r retrievi ng , from thedestinat io n s sto red in  the m emory m e a ns ,  desti nati ons  that sat isf yt he spec if ic retrie valco nditio n(s) d e term i n ed by the retrie val c o n ditio n  de termi ni ng mean s ; ou tput means  for output ting t he r etrie ved des ti nation s;an d selectin g  means th at ma y be op er ated  by  the u sert o  sele ct o ne  of  the retr i e ve d  d es t ina tion s.
In  a  pre ferred em b odiment,  th e  retrie va l c o n dition de t e rmining me ans  comp r i ses firstm eans th a t det ermine s if t he dest i nat io n retri eva l operation  should b e  ex ec uted , with r ef eren ce  to  t he informationdetected  by thes e nsor m ean s  and / or the  p resent dateand t im e  obtain e d  by  the pa r ame ter  ob tain ing  mea n s; and second means that  ope rates whe n the  firs tmeans de t ermi nes that the destinati on retrieval op e rat i on s hou l dbe  executed , f o r det ermi nin g th e s peci f i c re t riev a l
 chosen_by the_user.
In another prior art_system, a_plurality_of locations_are_categorized in advance_into several groups,_including restaurants, hotels, golf_corses, amusement parks,_etc._When the user wants to have a lunch or dinner, he specifies a group_of_xe2x80x9crestaurantsxe2x80x9d through_a_microphone_or operation of any input_device. In response to the_input of_a specific group, the system retrieves, from the_database,_position data of_restaurants within a predetermined distance from the current vehicle_position, which are shown on the_display in an_alphabetical_order,_for example.
In the prior_art systems, a plurality of restaurants_are represented on the display in_a distance-related or alphabetical order. In retrieving_position data from the database, various_factors which may vary from_user to_user, vehicle to vehicle, and_case by case_are not_at all taken_into account.
Accordingly, it is an object_of the present_invention to provide a novel device_that_assists the user""s_designation_of_his desired_destination in a_vehicle_navigation system.
To_achieve_the above object, in accordance with_the_present invention, there is provided a device_for assisting designation of_a_specific destination in a_vehicle navigation system that guides_a driver along a scheduled drive_route from_a current_position of the vehicle to a designated destination, comprising memory means_storing position data for various destinations;_sensor means mounted in_or on_the_vehicle; parameter obtaining_means_for obtaining_at least one parameter which is selected_from the_group consisting of present date and_time, purpose of drive,_destination_that has already been designated, user""s_sex and user""s age; retrieval condition_determining means for determining a_specific_condition_to be applicable to retrieval_of destinations, with reference to information_detected by the_sensor means and/or at least one of_the_parameters obtained by the parameter obtaining_means;_retrieval executing means for retrieving, from_the_destinations_stored in the memory means,_destinations that satisfy the specific retrieval_condition(s) determined by the retrieval condition determining means; output_means for outputting_the retrieved destinations; and selecting_means_that_may be operated by the user to select one of_the retrieved_destinations.
In a preferred_embodiment, the retrieval condition determining means comprises first means that_determines if the destination retrieval operation should_be executed, with reference to the information detected by the sensor_means and/or the present date and time obtained_by the parameter obtaining means; and second_means that operates when_the_first means determines that the destination retrieval_operation_should_be_executed, for determining_the specific retrieval