Map display for a navigation system

• US 20060089798A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Devries, Steven P., Herbst, James M., Groth, Eric, Kaufman, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for displaying map information on a computing device. Data are stored for rendering a simulation of travel along one or more road segments prior to embarking on travel along the road segments. The simulation is comprised of a sequence of views of the road network along each road segment from vantage points above or along the road network. Each road segment may be part of a calculated route and the simulation may include views for all the road segments contained in the calculated route. While the computing device is being conveyed along each road segment, the data stored for the simulation is used to show a view of the road network that includes the current position of the computing device on a display of the computing device.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information on a computing device comprising the steps of:

storing data for rendering a simulation of travel along a route prior to embarking on the route, wherein the simulation comprises a sequence of views of a road network along the route from vantage points above the road network; and

while the computing device is being conveyed along the route, displaying on a display of the computing device the view of the road network from the simulation that shows a current position of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the views are perspective views.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the views include an indicator mark representing the computing device, wherein the indicator mark is located at a position on the view corresponding to the current position of the computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data stored for rendering the simulation comprises a video stream.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the road network; and

selecting data from the map database that represents portions of the road network along the route, wherein the data selected from the map database is the data which is stored for rendering the simulation.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon detecting that the current position of the computing device is no longer on the route, accessing a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the current position of the computing device; and

displaying on the display of the computing device a view of the road network that shows the current position of the computing device, which is no longer on the route.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the view of the road network that shows the current position of the computing device, which is no longer on the route, is an overhead view.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the view of the road network that shows the current position of the computing device, which is no longer on the route, is a perspective view.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the view of the road network that shows the current position of the computing device, which is no longer on the route, also shows an indicator mark representing the computing device, wherein the indicator mark is located at a position on the view corresponding to the current position of the computing device.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

prior to the step of displaying on the display of the computing device a view of the road network that shows the current position of the computing device, which is no longer on the route, ceasing the step of displaying on the display of the computing device the view of the road network from the simulation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data for rendering the simulation of travel along a route is obtained from a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the road network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the map database is installed in the computing device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a portable navigation system.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is an in-vehicle navigation system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a portable navigation system that can be removably mounted in a vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to the step of storing, calculating a route from an origin to a destination.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the data for rendering a simulation of travel along a route includes all the data for traveling from the origin to the destination.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the data for rendering a simulation of travel along a route includes data for traveling only a portion of the way from the origin to the destination.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the data for rendering a simulation of travel along a route includes data for traveling from one maneuver to another.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the current position of the computing device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the current position is determined by a GPS unit associated with the computing device.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to the step of storing data, accessing a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the road network;

selecting 2D data from the map database that represents portions of the road network along the route; and

transposing the 2D data for rendering a perspective view image, wherein the transposed data is the data which is stored for rendering the simulation.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the vantage points are to the sides.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

matching a speed of travel along the route to a playback speed of the simulation so that the view of the road network from the simulation being displayed corresponds to an actual position of the computing device along the route.

25. A method for displaying map information on a computing device comprising the steps of:

storing data for rendering a simulation of travel along a road segment prior to embarking on travel along the road segment, wherein the simulation comprises a sequence of views of a road network along the road segment from vantage points above the road network; and

while the computing device is being conveyed along the road segment, displaying on a display of the computing device the view of the road network from the simulation that shows a current position of the computing device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein at least some of the views are perspective views.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein at least some of the views include an indicator mark representing the computing device, wherein the indicator mark is located at a position on the view corresponding to the current position of the computing device.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the data stored for rendering the simulation comprises a video stream.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

accessing a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the road network; and

selecting data from the map database that represents portions of the road network along the road segment, wherein the data selected from the map database is the data which is stored for rendering the simulation.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the current position is determined by a GPS unit associated with the computing device.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the data for rendering the simulation of travel along a road segment is obtained from a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the road network.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the map database is installed in the computing device.

33. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

prior to reaching a far end of the road segment upon which the computing device is being conveyed, storing data for rendering a simulation of travel along a successor road segment, wherein the successor road segment connects to the far end of the road segment upon which the computing device is being conveyed, and wherein the simulation comprises a sequence of views of the road network along the successor road segment from vantage points above the successor road segment.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

while the computing device is being conveyed along the successor road segment, determining a current position of the portable computing device; and

displaying on the display of the portable computing device the view of the road network from the simulation that shows the current position of the computing device on the successor road segment.

35. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

prior to reaching a far end of the road segment upon which the computing device is being conveyed, storing data for rendering a simulation of travel along each successor road segment that connects to the far end of the road segment upon which the computing device is being conveyed, and wherein each simulation comprises a sequence of views of the road network along the corresponding successor road segment from vantage points above the corresponding successor road segment.

36. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

determining the current position of the computing device while the computing device is being conveyed along the road segment.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein the computing device is a portable navigation system.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein the computing device is an in-vehicle navigation system.

39. The method of claim 25 wherein the computing device is a portable navigation system that can be removably mounted in a vehicle.

40. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

prior to the step of storing data, accessing a map database that contains data representing a geographic area that includes the road network;

selecting 2D data from the map database that represents portions of the road network along the road segment; and

transposing the 2D data for rendering a perspective view image, wherein the transposed data is the data which is stored for rendering the simulation.

41. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

matching a speed of travel along the road segment to a playback speed of the simulation so that the view of the road network from the simulation being displayed corresponds to an actual position of the computing device along the road segment.