Navigation system and landmark highlighting method

• US 20070115142A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakashima, Yasuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,541,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A control circuit memorizes identification information of a landmark and a visits count relative to a spot assigned the landmark, in a visits count storing unit. The control circuit updates the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit when the spot assigned the landmark is visited. When a certain landmark becomes included in a map display range on a display unit, the control circuit refers to the visits count storing unit to determine whether a visits count relative to the certain landmark is greater than a predetermined count. The certain landmark is highlighted on the map when the visits count is determined to be greater than the predetermined count.

Claims

1. A navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the system comprising:

a visits count storing unit that stores (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

a visits count update unit that updates the visits count in the visits count storing unit when the spot is visited;

a highlighting unit that

(i) refers to the visits count storing unit when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit and

(ii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a predetermined value; and

a visits count decrement unit that decrements the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit when a predetermined time period elapses.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein

the visits count update unit increments the visits count when the spot assigned the landmark is designated as a destination after a destination retrieval.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein

the visits count update unit increments the visits count when a vehicle in which the system is provided stops at the spot assigned the landmark longer than a predetermined time period.

4. The navigation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a daily activity area defining unit that defines a daily activity area, wherein the highlighting unit

(i) refers to the visits count storing unit when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit,

(ii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(iii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area.

5. A navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the system comprising:

a visits count storing unit that stores (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

a visits count update unit that updates the visits count in the visits count storing unit when the spot is visited;

a daily activity area defining unit that defines a daily activity area; and

a highlighting unit that

(i) refers to the visits count storing unit when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit,

(ii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(iii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area.

6. The navigation system of claim 5, wherein

the daily activity area defining unit

(i) memorizes a first minimum value and a first maximum value in latitude and a second minimum value and a second maximum value in longitude within an activity range undergone for a predetermined time period, and

(ii) defines as a daily activity area a rectangular coordinate range defined by the first and second maximum values and the first and second minimum values.

7. The navigation system of claim 5, wherein

the daily activity area defining unit,

(i) when a predetermined time period elapses, increases the first and second minimum values and decreases the first and second maximum values to thereby decrease the daily activity area, and

(ii) when the system gets out of the daily activity area, updates the first and second minimum values and the first and second maximum values to thereby increase the daily activity area.

8. A landmark highlighting method used in a navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the method comprising:

storing (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

updating the stored visits count when the spot is visited;

decrementing the stored visits count when a predetermined time period elapses; and

referring to the stored visits count when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit and then highlighting the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a predetermined value.

9. The landmark highlighting method of claim 8, wherein

the visits count is incremented when the spot assigned the landmark is designated as a destination after a destination retrieval.

10. The landmark highlighting method of claim 8, wherein

the visits count is incremented when a vehicle in which the system is provided stops at the spot assigned the landmark longer than a predetermined time period.

11. The landmark highlighting method of claim 8, further comprising:

defining a daily activity area, wherein,

when the activity area is defined,

the stored visits count is referred to when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit and then

(i) the landmark is highlighted when the stored visits count is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(ii) the landmark is highlighted when the stored visits count is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area.

12. A landmark highlighting method used in a navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the method comprising:

storing (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

updating the stored visits count when the spot is visited;

defining a daily activity area; and

referring to the stored visits count when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit

(i) to highlight the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(ii) to highlight the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area.

13. The landmark highlighting method of claim 12, wherein

when the daily activity area is defined,

(i) a first minimum value and a first maximum value in latitude and a second minimum value and a second maximum value in longitude within an activity range undergone for a predetermined time period are memorized, and

(ii) a rectangular coordinate range defined by the first and second maximum values and the first and second minimum values is defined as the daily activity area.

14. The landmark highlighting method of claim 12, wherein

(i) when a predetermined time period elapses, the first and second minimum values are increased and the first and second maximum values are decreased to thereby decrease the daily activity area, and

(ii) when the system gets out of the daily activity area, the first and second minimum values and the first and second maximum values are updated to thereby increase the daily activity area.

15. A navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the system comprising:

visits count storing means that stores (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

visits count update means that updates the visits count in the visits count storing means when the spot is visited;

highlighting means that

(i) refers to the visits count storing means when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit and

(ii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing means is greater than a predetermined value; and

visits count decrement means that decrements the visits count stored in the visits count storing means when a predetermined time period elapses.