Method and apparatus for inputting data indicating tentative destination for navigation system

• US 20080249709A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tran, Thai
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233

Abstract

A method and apparatus for inputting a tentative destination which is proximate to an intended destination when the address data for the intended destination is not found in the map database. The method includes the steps of allowing a user to specifying an intended destination in the navigation system and searching address data for the intended destination, notifying the user that the address data is not found in the map database, selecting a method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination which is considered proximate to the intended destination, allowing the user to specify the tentative destination through the selected input method, and determining a location of the tentative destination and detecting address data indicating the location of the tentative destination.

Claims

1. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:

allowing a user to specifying an intended destination in the navigation system and searching address data indicating the intended destination in a map database;

notifying the user that the address data indicating the intended destination is not found in the map database;

selecting a method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination which is considered proximate to the intended destination;

allowing the user to specify the tentative destination in the navigation system through the selected input method; and

determining a location of the tentative destination and detecting address data indicating the location of the tentative destination.

2. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of conducting a route guidance operation to the tentative destination.

3. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of detecting the address data of the tentative destination includes a step of determining the address data based on map data indicating road segments constituting a street that is associated with the tentative destination.

4. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a street name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a middle point of the street specified by the user and determining the address data of the middle point.

5. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an intersection which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination by selecting two street names.

6. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a city name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a center point of the city specified by the user and determining the address data of the center point.

7. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an area by a zip code which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a center point of the area specified by zip code and determining the address data of the center point.

8. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify a street name, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a middle point of the specified street within the specified geographical area and determining the address data of the middle point.

9. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify an intersection by selecting two street names, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding the intersection within the specified geographical area.

10. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said navigation system displays a list of candidate street names so that the user selects one or more street names from the list.

11. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination for a navigation system, comprising:

means for allowing a user to specifying an intended destination in the navigation system and searching address data indicating the intended destination in a map database;

means for notifying the user that the address data indicating the intended destination is not found in the map database;

means for selecting a method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination which is considered proximate to the intended destination;

means for allowing the user to specify the tentative destination in the navigation system through the selected input method; and

means for determining a location of the tentative destination and detecting address data indicating the location of the tentative destination.

12. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for conducting a route guidance operation to the tentative destination.

13. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for detecting the address data of the tentative destination includes means for determining the address data based on map data indicating road segments constituting a street that is associated with the tentative destination.

14. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a street name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said means for determining the location of the tentative destination includes means for finding a middle point of the street specified by the user and determining the address data of the middle point.

15. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an intersection which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination by selecting two street names.

16. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a city name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said means for determining the location of the tentative destination includes means for finding a center point of the city specified by the user and determining the address data of the center point.

17. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an area by a zip code which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said means for determining the location of the tentative destination includes means for finding a center point of the area specified by zip code and determining the address data of the center point.

18. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify a street name, and wherein said means for determining the location of the tentative destination includes means for finding a middle point of the specified street within the specified geographical area and determining the address data of the middle point.

19. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify an intersection by selecting two street names, and wherein said means for determining the location of the tentative destination includes means for finding the intersection within the specified geographical area.

20. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said navigation system displays a list of candidate street names so that the user selects one or more street names from the list.