Navigation Device And Method For Operating A Navigation Device

• US 20090063040A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Schliermann, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A navigation device (1) including an input device for inputting operator commands and/or location data, particularly starting points and/or destinations, a road network database, a route calculating unit for calculating a planned route with consideration of the location data and the road network database, wherein the route leads from the starting point to the destination, a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, particularly GPS-signals, a position determining unit that determines the current position based on the position signals, and at least one optical display device, has an editable image database, in which image data files (7) provided for being displayed on the display device can be managed in a user-defined fashion and method of operation.

Claims

1. A navigation device (1) comprising:

an input device for inputting operator commands and/or location data, particularly starting points and/or destinations;

a road network database;

a route calculating unit for calculating a planned route with consideration of the location data and the road network database, wherein the route leads from the starting point to the destination;

a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, particularly GPS-signals;

a position determining unit that determines the current position based on the position signals;

at least one optical display device; and

an editable image database, in which image data files (7) provided for being displayed on the display device can be managed in a user-defined fashion.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, in which the image database forms part of an address database or can be linked to an address database, wherein a user-defined image data file (7) is assigned to individual addresses (2) of the address database.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, in which several addresses of the address database form an address group, wherein a user-defined image data file is assigned to all addresses of the address group.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, in which photographs, particularly photographs of buildings or persons, are stored in the image database as image data files (7).

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, in which schematized image graphics (icons) are stored in the image database as image data files.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, in which the navigation device (1) has graphic display functions that are displayed on the display device, wherein a user-defined image data file is assigned to individual display functions, and wherein the assigned image data file (7) is displayed when the display function is invoked.

7. The navigation device according to claim 6, in which a graphic display function is provided for displaying the current position of a vehicle, wherein a user-defined image data file, particularly a vehicle icon, can be superimposed on the map displayed on the display device at the current position of the vehicle.

8. The navigation device according to claim 1, in which the image data files are stored on a removable storage medium, particularly on an exchangeable memory card.

9. A method for operating a navigation device (1) having an input device for inputting operator commands and/or location data, particularly starting points and/or destinations, a road network database, a route calculating unit for calculating a planned route with consideration of the location data and the road network database, wherein the route leads from the starting point to the destination, a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, particularly GPS-signals, a position determining unit that determines the current position based on the position signals, and at least one optical display device, said method comprising:

storing an image data file (7) in an editable image database of the navigation device by the user of the navigation device (1); and

invoking the image data file to display the image content of the image data file (7) on the display device.

10. The method according to claim 9, in which the image database forms part of an address database or can be linked to an address database, wherein a user-defined image data file (7) is assigned to individual addresses (2) of the address database, and wherein the display of a map section (11) that comprises an address (2) with an image data file (7) assigned thereto on the display device results in the image content of the assigned image data file (7) being displayed at the position of the address.

11. The method according to claim 9, in which the image database forms part of an address database or can be linked to an address database, wherein a user-defined image data file (7) is assigned to individual addresses (2) of the address database, and wherein the display of a selection menu that comprises an address (2) with an image data file (7) assigned thereto on the display device results in the assigned image data file being displayed at the position of the address.

12. The method according to claim 10, in which a list of available image data files is displayed during the editing of a new address (2) to be stored in the address database, wherein the selected image data file (7) is assigned to the new address (2).

13. The method according to claim 9, in which a display function that is assigned a user-defined image data file is invoked in a program-controlled fashion and the image content of an image data file (7) assigned to the display function is subsequently displayed.

14. The method according to claim 13, in which a map (11) with the current position of a vehicle is displayed on the display device, wherein a user-defined vehicle icon is read out of the image database and is displayed on the map (11) at the current position of the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 10, in which an image data file priority value (9) is assigned to individual addresses (2) of the address database with an image data file (7) assigned thereto, wherein the displayed image data file (7), particularly the image size of the displayed image data file (7), is changed in dependence on the scale of the map section and/or in dependence on the image data file priority value.

16. The method according to claim 9, in which the image data files (7) are downloaded to the navigation device from a database, particularly from an Internet server, via a data link and are stored on the navigation device.

17. The method according to claim 9, in which an image data file (7) is assigned to a location that is pre-stored in the road network database, particularly a Point of Interest (POI).

18. The method according to claim 10, in which a location pre-stored in the road network database, particularly a Point of Interest (POI), is stored in the address database in the form of a new address (2) and is simultaneously assigned an image data file (7).

19. The method according to claim 9, in which the size of an image data file (7) is checked in a program-controlled fashion when the image data file (7) is stored and/or assigned to an address (2) or a display function.

20. The method according to claim 19, in which the storage and/or assignment of the image data file (7) is prevented if a predefined maximum size is exceeded.

21. The method according to claim 19, in which the size of the image data file (7) is automatically reduced, particularly by means of scaling, if a predefined maximum size is exceeded.