"POI sent to car" refers to the ability to transmit a specific Point of Interest (POI) – essentially an address or location you've found – from a mobile application directly to your vehicle's navigation system. This feature streamlines the process of getting directions by eliminating the need to manually enter destinations into your car's infotainment system.
Understanding Point of Interest (POI)
A Point of Interest (POI) is any specific location that someone might find useful or interesting. Common examples include:
- Restaurants and cafes
- Gas stations
- Hotels
- Shops and shopping centers
- Landmarks and tourist attractions
- Public facilities (hospitals, police stations)
Modern navigation systems and mapping applications allow users to search for these points, often providing detailed information like addresses, phone numbers, and reviews.
The "Send to Car" Feature Explained
The "Send to Car" or "Share from Phone" feature is a convenient capability offered by many automotive manufacturers, often integrated within their dedicated vehicle apps. This functionality allows users to:
- Search for a POI from within their smartphone application.
- Send the address of the chosen POI directly to the vehicle's Cloud Navigation system.
This process ensures that the destination is ready and waiting for you once you enter your car.
How Does POI Sending Work?
The workflow for sending a POI to your car is designed for simplicity and efficiency:
- Search on App: Using your vehicle manufacturer's app (e.g., the Toyota app), you search for a desired Point of Interest. This could be a new restaurant, a friend's address, or a specific business.
- Initiate Send: Once you've found the location, you'll typically see an option, such as "Send to Car" or "Share to Vehicle," to transmit its details.
- Receive in Vehicle: The POI's address is then sent to your car's Cloud Navigation system.
- Instant Pop-up (if applicable): A key advantage is that if your User Profile is loaded and active within the vehicle's system when you send the POI from your app, the destination will often pop up immediately over the map for selection. This allows for quick confirmation and route guidance initiation without any further input.
Benefits of Sending POIs to Your Car
This feature offers several practical advantages for drivers:
- Convenience: Search for destinations from the comfort of your home or on the go, then send them directly to your car.
- Time-Saving: Avoid the hassle of manually typing addresses into your car's navigation system, especially complex or long addresses.
- Reduced Distraction: By pre-loading destinations, you minimize the need to interact with the car's navigation while driving, enhancing safety.
- Accuracy: Ensures the exact address found on your phone is transferred, reducing errors from manual entry.
- Seamless Transition: Creates a smooth handoff from planning on your mobile device to navigating in your vehicle.
Key Components Involved
Several technological elements work together to enable the "POI sent to car" functionality:
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Mobile App | User interface for searching POIs and initiating the send command. |
| Cloud Navigation | Vehicle's navigation system that receives and processes the POI data. |
| User Profile | Ensures personalization and immediate display of the POI if loaded. |
| Connectivity | Requires an active data connection (cellular or Wi-Fi) for both devices. |
By leveraging these integrated systems, drivers can enjoy a more connected and efficient navigation experience.
