Navigation apparatus

• US 20020063654A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transtechnology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Transtechnology Ltd.
• Inventors: Aoyama, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,515,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A navigation apparatus is equipped with a position acquisition section for acquiring positional information on a self-position, a map hold section for holding a map, and a central control section. The central control section functions as a first display control section for reading out the map containing the self-position from the map hold section and then causing display section to display the map containing the self-position, and also functions as a second display control section for setting a target spot at an arbitrary natural feature on the earth or arbitrary position within the map displayed on the display section and then causing the display section to display the target object. Furthermore, The central control section functions as an event generation section for generating a predetermined game event when the self position arrives at the target spot, or is within a predetermined allowable range, or moves around a predetermined range, and functions as a game process section for performing a game process in response to the generated game event.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

position acquisition means for acquiring positional information on a self-position;

map hold means for holding a map;

first display control means for reading out said map containing said self-position from said map hold means and then causing display means to display said map containing said self-position;

second display control means for setting a target spot at an arbitrary natural feature on the earth or arbitrary position within said map displayed on said display means and then causing said display means to display said target object;

event generation means for generating a predetermined game event when said self position arrives at said target spot, or is within a predetermined allowable range, or moves around a predetermined range; and

game process means for performing a game process in response to said generated game event.

2. The navigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said position acquisition means acquires said positional information by utilizing a global positioning system.

3. The navigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said game process means sets a quiz in response to said generated game event, and performs a game-points process, based on an answer to said quiz.

4. The navigation apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said game process means sets a quiz in response to said generated game event, and performs a game-points process, based on an answer to said quiz.

5. The navigation apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said quiz has contents related to said target spot.

6. The navigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said map hold means holds a virtual map including virtual geographical features and natural features on the earth.