(54) NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH CONTROL FEATURE LIMITING ACCESS TO NON-NAVIGATION APPLICATION
(75) Inventor: Choy Wai Lee, Olathe, KS (US)
(73) Assignee: Garmin Ltd. (KY)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 408 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 11/214,315
(22) Filed: Aug. 29, 2005
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2007/0050136 Al Mar. 1, 2007
(51) Int. CI.
G01C 21/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 701/213; 340/989
(58) Field of Classification Search 701/1,
701/36,200-213,93; 455/456.1^56; 340/989-995.1 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
6,708,086 B2* 3/2004 Richard 701/1
6,721,658 B2* 4/2004 Stadter et al 701/213
6,865,457 Bl * 3/2005 Mittelsteadt et al 701/35
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Richard M. Camby
A portable navigation device is provided that includes a receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites. The device includes memory that stores a non-navigation application and non-navigation information related to the non-navigation application. A user interface is configured to enable an operator to enter non-navigation instructions related to the non-navigation application. The a processor module is provided that calculates a position of the device based on the signals from the GPS satellites. The processor module implements the non-navigation application and performs non-navigation operations defined by the non-navigation application based on the non-navigation instructions entered by the user. The processor module disables the non-navigation application after a predetermined trial period of time following a start time unless and until an application access code is entered. Optionally, a cartridge they may be included that is configured to receive an application access cartridge containing the application access code. The code indicates that access to the non-navigation application has been purchased by the user of the device. The processor module enables the non-navigation application when the application access cartridge is entered into the cartridge bay with a valid code. The processor may not disable the non-navigation application, such as when an application access code is incurred before and in of the predetermined trial period of time.
23 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
