METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20080201662A1
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Millington, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,140,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

Methods for inputting a destination in a navigation system by manually controlling an actuating device are provided. In an example method, at least the following menu items can be selected when the actuating device is actuated using a first motion type: a CHARACTER menu item provides a list of characters when selected, and a DIGIT menu item that provides a list of digits when selected. The first motion type may be used to actuate the actuating device to select one of the other non-selected menu items.

Claims

1. A method for inputting a destination in a navigation system that is controlled by moving an actuating device using a plurality of motion types, the method comprising:

actuating the actuating device using a first motion type to select from a plurality of menu items, the plurality of menu items including selectable items;

a CHARACTER menu item that provides a list of characters when selected; and

a DIGIT menu item that provides a list of digits when selected; and

using the first motion type to actuate the actuating device to select the other one of the selectable menu items.

2. The method of claim 1 where the selectable menu items further for actuating the actuating device using the first motion type includes:

a RECENT menu item that provides a list of previously entered text when selected;

a MORE menu item that provides a list of additional characters not contained in the CHARACTER menu item when selected; and

using the first motion type to actuate the actuating device to select any of the other selectable menu items when one of the CHARACTER or DIGIT menu items has been selected.

3. The method of claim 1 where the selectable menu items further include a DONE menu item selectable by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type where the selection of the DONE menu item provides confirmation of the entered text.

4. The method of claim 1 where the actuating device is actuated by moving the actuating device using the first motion type in different directions along a plane.

5. The method of claim 4 where four other non-selected menu items are selectable by moving the actuating device in four different directions.

6. The method of claim 1 where the menu items are shown on a display and the currently selected item is shown in a central part of the display surrounded by other menu items.

7. The method of claim 6 where one of the other menu items are selectable by moving the actuating device in the direction where the one other menu item is displayed.

8. The method of claim 1 where the actuating device can be actuated using a second motion type to select an element in the selected menu item when one of the menu items has been selected by actuating the actuating device in the first motion type.

9. The method of claim 8 where the actuating device can be actuated using a third motion type for confirming a selection made by actuating the actuating device using the second motion type.

10. The method of claim 1 where the first motion type is used for actuation of the actuating device to select of one of the menu items and other motion types are used to actuate the actuating device to select elements of the menu items and confirmation of selections.

11. The method of claim 1 where the selection of one of the menu items by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type is confirmed by actuating the actuating device using a motion type different from the first motion type of actuation.

12. The method of claim 11 where the third motion type involves moving the actuating device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the actuating device is moved using the first motion type of actuation.

13. The method of claim 9 where the second motion type for actuating the actuating device is a rotation of the actuating device.

14. The method of claim 2 where the selectable menu items is expanded to include a set of more selectable items when the MORE menu item is selected, the MORE menu items including:

a NEXT menu item containing a list of additional characters;

the CHARACTER menu item; and

the DONE menu item; and

where the MORE menu items are selectable using the first motion type to actuate the actuating device.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a starting element of the list of elements of the selected menu item in a central part of the display; and

displaying the other elements of the list around the central part.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

displaying the non-selected menu items radially outside the other elements of the list displayed around the element displayed in the central part.

17. A navigation system comprising:

an actuating device for manually inputting a destination;

a display for displaying a plurality of menu items selectable by actuating the actuating device using a first motion type, the display including at least the selectable menu items;

a CHARACTER menu item that provides a list of characters when selected;

a DIGIT menu item that provides a list of digits when selected;

where the display displays the selectable menu items that were not selected when one of the selectable menu items is selected, and where the actuating device is configured to select the selectable menu items that were not selected by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type.

18. The navigation system of claim 17 where the actuating device is a four-way actuating device adapted to be moved in four different directions in a plane.

19. The navigation system of claim 17 where the actuating device is adapted to be moved perpendicular to the plane for confirming a selection.

20. The navigation system of claim 17 where the actuating device is adapted to be rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise.

21. The navigation system of claim 17 where the display is adapted to display a second set of selectable menu items including:

a NEXT menu item that provides a list of additional characters when selected;

a RECENT menu item that provides a list of previously entered text when selected;

a MORE menu item that provides a list of additional characters not contained in the CHARACTER menu item when selected; and

a DONE menu item that confirms the entered text when selected.

22. The navigation system of claim 17 further comprising:

a display control unit for controlling the positioning of the menu items on the display by displaying an element of the list of the selected menu item in a central part of the display and at least some of the non-selected menu items around the displayed element.

23. The navigation system of claim 22 where the other elements of the list of the selected menu items are displayed around the element displayed in the central part, some of the non-selected menu items being displayed radially outside the other elements.

24. A navigation system comprising:

means for actuating by manually inputting a destination;

means for displaying at least two menu items selectable by actuating the means for actuating using a first motion type;

where one of the selectable menu items is selectable by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type, the means for displaying is configured to display four other non-selected menu items on the means for displaying, the means for actuating being configured to select each of the four other non-selected menu items by actuating the actuating means using the first motion type.

25. The navigation system of claim 24 where the means for displaying is configured to display a second set of selectable menu items including:

a CHARACTER menu item that provides a list of characters when selected;

a DIGIT menu item that provides a list of digits when selected;

a NEXT menu item that provides a list of additional characters when selected;

a RECENT menu item that provides a list of previously entered text when selected;

a MORE menu item that provides a list of additional characters not contained in the CHARACTER menu item when selected; and

a DONE menu item that confirms the entered text when selected.

26. A method for inputting a destination in a navigation system having a manually actuating device, the method comprising:

selecting at least two menu items shown on a display by actuating the actuating device using a first motion type;

displaying four other selectable menu items on the display when one of the menu items has been selected by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type; and

selecting one of each of the four other selectable menu items by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type.

27. The method of claim 26 where the step of selecting at least two menu items by actuating the actuating device using the first motion type includes:

moving the actuating device in a plane in different directions.