Navigation system

• US 20060276959A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Konda, Hiroaki, Ishii, Takaaki, Yoshimaru, Takashi, Owaki, Tsugumichi, Matsuoka, Yoji, Ishida, Teruyuki, Mutou, Keisuke, Nomura, Mami
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures

Abstract

According to the 1st aspect of the invention, a navigation system comprises: a storage unit that stores map data managed with links representing smallest road units; a road map display unit that displays a road map based upon the map data; a depressed position detection unit that detects a depressed position on the road map on display; and a route setting-unit that extracts a corresponding link corresponding to the depressed position and sets the extracted corresponding link as a route to a destination based upon the map data, and the route setting unit extracts a link adjacent to the corresponding link and makes a decision as to whether or not the adjacent link can be entered from the corresponding link based upon the map data.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a storage unit that stores map data managed with links representing smallest road units;

a road map display unit that displays a road map based upon the map data;

a depressed position detection unit that detects a depressed position on the road map on display; and

a route setting unit that extracts a corresponding link corresponding to the depressed position and sets the extracted corresponding link as a route to a destination based upon the map data, wherein;

the route setting unit extracts a link adjacent to the corresponding link and makes a decision as to whether or not the adjacent link can be entered from the corresponding link based upon the map data.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

if the adjacent link can be entered from the corresponding link and a subsequent depressed position corresponds to the adjacent link, the route setting unit sets the adjacent link as the route to the destination, and if the adjacent link cannot be entered from the corresponding link due to traffic control, the route setting unit does not set the adjacent link as the route to the destination even when the subsequent depressed position corresponds to the adjacent link.

3. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

the road map display unit displays a road corresponding to the adjacent link in a display mode different from a display mode of other roads if the route setting unit judges that the adjacent link cannot be entered from the corresponding link due to traffic control.

4. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein:

the road map display unit displays a road corresponding to the adjacent link in a display mode different from a display mode of other roads if the route setting unit judges that the adjacent link cannot be entered from the corresponding link due to traffic control.

5. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

the road map display unit does not display a road corresponding to the adjacent link if the route setting unit judges that the adjacent link cannot be entered from the corresponding link due to traffic control.

6. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein:

the road map display unit does not display a road corresponding to the adjacent link if the route setting unit judges that the adjacent link cannot be entered from the corresponding link due to traffic control.

7. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

if three or more links are detected to be connected to one point in the route having been set, the route setting unit judges that a route error has occurred and issues a route error alert.

8. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein:

if three or more links are detected to be connected to one point in the route having been set, the route setting unit judges that a route error has occurred and issues a route error alert.

9. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

if three or more links are detected to be connected to one point in the route having been set, the route setting unit judges that a route error has occurred, extracts a link manifesting the route error among the three or more links and indicates the extracted link as a route error link.

10. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein:

if three or more links are detected to be connected to one point in the route having been set, the route setting unit judges that a route error has occurred, extracts a link manifesting the route error among the three or more links and indicates the extracted link as a route error link.

11. A navigation system according to claim 7, wherein:

the route setting unit outputs a message asking whether or not to correct the route error and corrects the route having been set if a response indicating that the route error needs to be corrected is entered.

12. A navigation system according to claim 9, wherein:

the route setting unit outputs a message asking whether or not to correct the route error and corrects the route having been set if a response indicating that the route error needs to be corrected is entered.

13. A navigation system according to claim 7, wherein:

the route setting unit brings up a display that allows the link corresponding to the route error to be removed from the route having been set and removes the link corresponding to the route error from the route having been set in response to a cancel instruction.

14. A navigation system according to claim 9, wherein:

the route setting unit brings up a display that allows the link corresponding to the route error to be removed from the route having been set and removes the link corresponding to the route error from the route having been set in response to a cancel instruction.