Navigation device, method and program

• US 20070179711A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Masato, Yahiro, Takao, Tobiyama, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention can provide a navigation device, method, and program for outputting information on a desired type of element facility, which exists on an expressway, with simple operation during driving on the expressway.

In the present embodiment a display mode such as a map not only includes a general road display mode which displays facilities such as general roads, family restaurants, and convenience stores, but also includes a highway mode. The highway mode is a predetermined expressway display mode which displays expressways and facilities on the expressways, and combines a simple map focusing mainly on expressways so that the expressways can be easily recognized, and a moving image. The searching and outputting portion 45 searches for a predetermined number of facility information items of a desired type of element facility from the road map data in accordance with a provided predetermined operation, and outputs the information items when the present location is above-described highway mode, the element facility existing ahead on the expressway.

Claims

1. A navigation device which displays a present location, searches for and guides on a route to a destination, on the basis of a prepared road map and data of facilities, wherein

the device comprises searching and outputting means for searching for and outputting a predetermined number of facility information items of a desired type of element facility included in facilities existing ahead on an expressway, when the present location is on an expressway, from the data in accordance with a predetermined operation performed and wherein,

the searching and out putting means is configured to simultaneously output at least two or more of the facilities including facility information of at least any two or more element facilities.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the searching and outputting means is configured to such that only the facility information of the element facility which exists before getting off the expressway is set as a target for searching and outputting, in the case in which the route to a destination is set.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, further comprising means for receiving selection of the target for searching and outputting from among a plurality of types of element facilities.

10. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving selection of the target for searching and outputting from among a plurality of types of element facilities.

4. A navigation method of displaying a present location, searching for and guiding on a route to a destination, on the basis of a prepared road map and data of facilities, wherein

the method comprises the process of searching and outputting searching for and outputting a predetermined number of facility information items of a desired type of element facility included in the facilities existing ahead on an expressway, when the present location is on an expressway, from the data in accordance with a predetermined operation performed, and wherein a computer executes a process of simultaneously outputting at least two or more of the facilities including facility information of at least any two or more element facilities.

5. The navigation method according to claim 4, wherein the process of searching and outputting is configured such that only the facility information of the element facility which exists before getting off the expressway is set as a target for searching and outputting, in the case in which the route to a destination is set.

6. The navigation method according to claim 5, further comprising the process of receiving selection of the target for searching and outputting from among a plurality of types of element facilities.

11. The navigation method according to claim 4, further comprising the process of receiving selection of the target for searching and outputting from among a plurality of types of element facilities.

7. A navigation program which controls a computer to display a present location, search for and guide on a route to a destination, on the basis of a prepared road map and data of facilities, wherein

the program causes the computer to execute the process of searching and outputting for searching for and outputting a predetermined number of facility information items of a desired type of element facility included in the facilities existing ahead on an expressway, when the present location is on an expressway, from the data in accordance with a predetermined operation performed and wherein the computer is caused to execute a process of simultaneously outputting at least two or more of the facilities including facility information of at least any two or more element facilities.

8. The navigation program according to claim 7, wherein, in the process of searching and outputting, the program causes the computer to set only the facility information of the element facility existing before getting off the expressway, as a target for searching and outputting, in the case in which the route to a destination is set.

9. The navigation program according to claim 8, further causing the computer to receive selection of the target for searching and outputting from among a plurality of types of element facilities.

12. The navigation program according to claim 7, further causing the computer to receive selection of the target for searching and outputting from among a plurality of types of element facilities.