Navigation device and method for displaying navigation information

• US 20080167811A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter
• Application Number:
  US11/907,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167811A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A method of displaying navigation information and a navigation device programmed with a map database and software

• • operable to display a current position of the device on a road navigation map,
  • operable to save several icons in at least one directory,
  • operable to display several icons on a screen, so that the user can choose at least one icon,
  • operable to display said at least one icon on said road navigation map assigned to said current position, and
  • operable to receive at least one icon from an external device, so that the user can add at least one icon to said at least one directory by means of an interface of said navigation device.

Claims

1. A navigation device programmed with a map database and software

operable to display a current position of the device on a road navigation map,

operable to save several icons in at least one directory,

operable to display several icons on a screen, so that the user can choose at least one icon,

operable to display said at least one icon on said road navigation map assigned to said current position, and

operable to receive at least one icon from an external device, so that the user can add at least one icon to said at least one directory by means of an interface of said navigation device.

2. Device according to claim 1, operable to transmit at least one icon to said external device using said interface of said navigation device.

3. Device according to claim 1, operable to automatically resize a received icon to a predetermined size for displaying on said road navigation map.

4. Device according to claim 1, operable to zoom the road navigation map, whereas said at least one icon is scaled up or down depending on a zoom factor.

5. Device according to claim 1, whereas at least one color is transparent, showing a part of said road navigation map underneath.

6. Device according to claim 1, operable to change the road navigation map between a two-dimensional view and a three-dimensional view, whereas a first icon is assigned to said two-dimensional view and a second icon is assigned to said three-dimensional view.

7. Device according to claim 1, operable to change the road navigation map between a daytime view and a nighttime view, whereas a first icon is assigned to said daytime view and a second icon is assigned to said nighttime view.

8. Device according to claim 1, whereas said at least one icon is a two-dimensional image.

9. Device according to claim 1, whereas said at least one icon is a vector graphic.

10. Device according to claim 1, whereas said at least one icon is animated depending on at least one estimated or measured parameter like daytime, nighttime, speed, acceleration, slowing down or distance.

11. A method of displaying navigation information, the method being deployed in a navigation device programmed with a map database and software operable to display a current position of the device on a road navigation map, whereas

several icons are saved in at least one directory,

several icons are displayed on a screen, so that the user can choose at least one icon,

said at least one icon is displayed on said road navigation map assigned to said current position, and

at least one icon is received from an external device so that the user can add at least one icon to said at least one directory by means of an user interface of said navigation device.