NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE GRAPHIC OUTPUT OF NAVIGATON INSTRUCTIONS

• US 20080208450A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Katzer, Jochen
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance

Abstract

A system and method for determining and displaying a navigation route on a navigation device from one vehicle position to a travel destination. The navigation device can include processor with RAM, a mass storage device for holding a database with geographic data, as well as a display. Depending on whether a complex intersection is present on the navigation route, the complex intersection can be shown on the display in the form of a single perspective view. Embodiments of the invention can provide a high level of correlation between the actual situation on the road as seen by the user and the corresponding navigation maneuver displayed on the screen. The graphic output of navigation devices for complex intersections can also be improved regardless of whether the navigation device is a high-performance or very simple device.

Claims

1. A navigation device for determining and displaying a navigation route from one vehicle position to a travel destination, the device comprising:

a processor with RAM;

a mass storage device for holding a database with geographic data; and

a display;

wherein depending on the relative spatial position of at least two consecutive intersecting points in the navigation route, the consecutive intersecting points are depicted on the display as a single, shared perspective view.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is programmed to evaluate and determine the relative spatial position of the at least two intersecting points.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is programmed to generate the perspective view.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view is generated based on at least one photograph or video recording of the actual turns.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view is generated based on at least one three-dimensional and/or photorealistically rendered recording of the actual turns.

6. The navigation device according claim 1, wherein the perspective view comprises at least one graphic curve or at least one continuous arrow to symbolize the prescribed route.

7. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view is static, and superposed by a movable or variable graphic element, the graphic element symbolizing the current location of the navigation device.

8. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view encompasses additional graphic elements, in particular signs, bridges, underpasses, points of interest, icons, building silhouettes, landmarks, or topography features based on the actual environment of the turn.

9. The navigation device according to claim 8, wherein the additional graphic elements are generated and stored independently of the perspective view.

10. The navigation device according to claim 8, wherein the additional graphic elements exhibit a transparent image background.

11. A method for the graphic output of navigation instructions using a navigation device programmed for determining and displaying a navigation route from one vehicle position to a travel destination, the navigation device comprising a processor with RAM, a mass storage device for holding a geographic database, a display, and navigation software that can be loaded in the RAM or processor, the method comprising:

a) checking to see whether a complex intersection is present as part of generating a digital roadmap;

b) given a positive result of the check performed in procedural step a), generating at least one photographic, videographic or rendered image of the complex intersection;

c) generating a graphic perspective view of the complex intersection based on the at least one image;

d) allocating geographic position information to the perspective view;

e) referencing the perspective view to a digital roadmap at the location of the geographic position information;

f) during the navigation process, using the navigation device to check whether a complex intersection is present, or whether a corresponding perspective view allocated to the upcoming intersection is present; and

g) given a positive result of the check performed in procedural step f), outputting the perspective view of the complex intersection on the display.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the complex intersection encompasses at least two consecutive intersecting points.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein relevant characteristics of the actual intersection are included as part of the photographic, videographic or rendered image generation in procedural step b), in particular the number of lanes, right/left traffic, sign inscriptions, geometric properties of the driving lanes or overpasses/underpasses.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the perspective view in advance of the graphic output on the display is rendered on a separate system and stored in the database of the navigation device.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the perspective view in procedural step g) is generated with graphic rendering in process.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the perspective view is generated modularly by assembling individual graphic elements, wherein the individual graphic elements encompass in particular the road geometry, bridges, underpasses, signs, points of interest, icons, building silhouettes, or topographical landmarks.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the individual graphic elements exhibit a transparent image background.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the individual graphic elements are provided with exchangeable display formats.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein in procedural step g), at least one sign is generated from a text file as an individual graphic element during route guidance or while rendering the perspective view.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein in procedural step g), only the instructional sign that points to the lane or turn to be followed by the user is displayed.

21. The method according to claim 11, wherein the perspective view in procedural step g) is superposed with continuous graphic curves or arrows in accordance with the selected navigation route.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the graphic curves or arrows are superposed onto the perspective view precisely to the lanes given several lanes that match the route.

23. The method according to claim 11, wherein the perspective view is static and superposed with a movable or variable graphic element, wherein the graphic element symbolizes the current location of the user or navigation device.

24. The method according to claim 11, wherein the characteristics of the complex intersection are encoded in the file name of the perspective view.