ROUTE INFORMATION DISPLAY DEVICE AND ROUTE INFORMATION DISPLAY METHOD

• US 20080177462A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jun Ozawa, Mototaka Yoshioka
• Inventors: Ozawa, Jun, Yoshioka, Mototaka
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A route information display device is provided which calculates a branch point in routes to a plurality of inputted destinations, and uses the branch point to control information modes.

A route information display device according to the present invention includes: a departure point input unit (1012) that detects a current location of the user; a multiple destination input unit (1004) that accepts input of a plurality of destinations; a route search unit (1005) that searches for respective routes from the current location to the plurality of destinations; a branch point calculation unit (1007) that calculates a branch point of the respective searched routes; and a route information display unit (1011) that displays information regarding routes to the branch point and information regarding routes beyond the branch point in different modes, wherein the route information display device supports easy comprehension of information by the user by calculating a branch point of a plurality of inputted destinations and providing information in consideration of the branch point.

Claims

1. A route information display device comprising:

a departure point input unit operable to accept input of a departure point;

a multiple destination input unit operable to accept input of a plurality of different destination points;

a route search unit operable to search for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;

a branch point calculation unit operable to calculate a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point; and

a route information display unit operable to display information regarding the route using the branch point,

wherein, when the classifications of the destinations differ, said route information display unit is operable to display information regarding a route from the departure point to the branch point calculated by said branch point calculation unit.

2. A route information display device comprising:

a departure point input unit operable to accept input of a departure point;

a multiple destination input unit operable to accept input of a plurality of different destination points;

a route search unit operable to search for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;

a branch point calculation unit operable to calculate a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point; and

a route information display unit operable to display information regarding the route using the branch point,

wherein, when the classifications of the destinations are the same, said route information display unit is operable to display information regarding a route from the branch point calculated by said branch point calculation unit to the destination.

3. A route information display method comprising:

a departure point input step of accepting input of a departure point;

a multiple destination input step of accepting input of a plurality of different destination points;

a route search step of searching for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;

a branch point calculation step of calculating a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point; and

a display step of displaying information regarding the route using the branch point,

wherein in said display step, when the classifications of the destinations differ, information regarding a route from the departure point to the branch point calculated in said branch point calculation step is displayed.

4. A route information display method comprising:

a departure point input step of accepting input of a departure point;

a multiple destination input step of accepting input of a plurality of different destination points;

a route search step of searching for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;

a branch point calculation step of calculating a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point; and

a display step of displaying information regarding the route using the branch point,

wherein in said display step, when the classifications of the destinations are the same, information regarding a route from the branch point calculated in said branch point calculation step to the destination is displayed.

5. A program stored on a computer-readable medium that causes a computer to perform a route information display method, the method comprising:

a departure point input step of accepting input of a departure point;

a multiple destination input step of accepting input of a plurality of different destination points;

a route search step of searching for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;

a branch point calculation step of calculating a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point; and

a display step of displaying information regarding the route using the branch point,

wherein in said display step, when the classifications of the destinations differ, information regarding a route from the departure point to the branch point calculated in said branch point calculation step is displayed.

6. A program stored on a computer-readable medium that causes a computer to perform a route information display method, the method comprising:

a departure point input step of accepting input of a departure point;

a multiple destination input step of accepting input of a plurality of different destination points;

a route search step of searching for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;

a branch point calculation step of calculating a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point; and

a display step of displaying information regarding the route using the branch point,

wherein in said display step, when the classifications of the destinations are the same, information regarding a route from the branch point calculated in said branch point calculation step to the destination is displayed.