Vehicle navigation system and related software program

• US 20040204834A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takamitsu, Manabe, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 6,895,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance

Abstract

A vehicle navigation system includes a computer-based control unit with a display unit. A group of regions or spots on a given map are designated beforehand as on-map targets. A judgement is made as to whether a predetermined condition for each on-map target, having been set beforehand, is fulfilled or not based on vehicle traveling conditions. The result of judgement is memorized. A user is informed directly or indirectly of the present status as to fulfillment/nonfulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target based on the judgement information.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation system possessing information storing capability, comprising:

judging and memorizing means for making a judgement as to whether a predetermined condition for each on-map target is fulfilled or not based on vehicle traveling conditions and for memorizing judgement information obtained as a result of said judgement, when a group of regions or spots on a given map are designated beforehand as on-map targets; and

informing means for directly or indirectly informing a user of present status as to fulfillment/nonfulfillment of said predetermined condition for each on-map target based on said judgement information memorized by said judging and memorizing means.

2. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting said group of regions or spots on the given map as said on-map targets.

3. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising condition setting means for setting said predetermined condition.

4. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition is fulfilled upon vehicle arriving at or entering into said each on-map target.

5. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein fulfillment of said predetermined condition is checked based on a period of time during which a vehicle is positioned on said on-map target.

6. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein fulfillment of said predetermined condition is checked based on a traveling distance of a vehicle when said on-map target represents a predetermined region.

7. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said informing means gives a map display so that fulfillment/nonfulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target is discriminable from others on a map.

8. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said informing means displays a map on which said group of regions or spots are distinctively shown, and gives said map display according to which fulfillment/nonfulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target is discriminable from others on a map.

9. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 8, wherein a color adopted for representing said on-map target is changed considering the present status as to fulfillment/nonfulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target.

10. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 7, wherein a on-map target informed by said informing means is usable as a goal or transit point for route guidance.

11. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 7, wherein

said judging and memorizing means further memorizes additional information with respect to fulfillment/nonfulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target, and

said informing means informs said additional information in connection with a corresponding on-map target.

12. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said additional information is a number of times with respect to fulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target.

13. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said additional information is time information with respect to fulfillment of the predetermined condition for each on-map target.

14. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said informing means displays said additional information on or beside a corresponding on-map target on a map.

15. The vehicle navigation system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said informing means changes a display pattern of said on-map target based on said additional information in contrast with those of other on-map targets.

16. A software program used for the vehicle navigation system possessing information storing capability, comprising:

a step of making a judgement as to whether a predetermined condition for each on-map target is fulfilled or not based on vehicle traveling conditions and memorizing judgement information obtained as a result of said judgement, when a group of regions or spots on a given map are designated beforehand as on-map targets; and

a step of directly or indirectly informing a user of present status as to fulfillment/nonfulfillment of said predetermined condition for each on-map target based on said judgement information.