ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND NAVIGATION IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD

• US 20100217515A1
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: ARAI, Satoshi, KUBO, Rikiya, ITOH, Yoshiyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a storage module, a location measuring module, a communication module, and a navigation image generating module. The storage module stores image data corresponding to respective symbols, and data of simplified diagram templates in each of which positions are set on an image showing a shape of a road, symbols being placed at the respective positions. The location measuring module measures a current location. The communication module transmits the current location to an external communication apparatus and receives navigation information on a navigation point corresponding to the current location, the navigation information including a simplified diagram template identification number, symbol identification numbers, and position specification numbers. The navigation image generating module generates the navigation image by reading the simplified diagram template and the image data of the symbols, and placing the image data at positions on the simplified diagram template.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus configured to display a navigation image, the apparatus comprising:

a storage module configured to store image data corresponding to respective symbols to be displayed on the navigation image, and data of simplified diagram templates in which positions are set on an image showing a shape of a road in a simplified manner, symbols being placed at the respective positions;

a location measuring module configured to measure a current location of the electronic apparatus;

a communication module configured to transmit the measured current location to an external communication apparatus and to receive navigation information on a navigation point corresponding to the current location from the external communication apparatus, the navigation information including a simplified diagram template identification number, symbol identification numbers, and position specification numbers; and

a navigation image generating module configured to generate the navigation image by reading the simplified diagram template corresponding to the simplified diagram template identification number and the image data of the symbols corresponding to the symbol identification numbers from the storage module, and placing the read image data of the symbol at positions on the read simplified diagram template specified by the position specification numbers.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a destination setting module configured to set a starting point and a destination for navigation,

wherein the communication module is configured to transmit information indicative of the starting point and the destination and the measured current location to the external communication apparatus and to receive navigation information on the navigation point corresponding to the current location from the external communication apparatus, the navigation information including the simplified diagram template identification number, the symbol identification numbers, and the position specification numbers, for each navigation point on a route from the starting point to the destination at which navigation is provided.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the navigation point comprises a point on the route where a course needs to be changed, a road fork, or an intersection.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the navigation information comprises information on character strings placed on the simplified diagram template.

5. A navigation image display method of displaying a navigation image on a display device of an electronic apparatus,

the electronic apparatus being configured to store image data corresponding to respective symbols to be displayed on the navigation image, and data of simplified diagram templates in each of which positions are set on an image showing a shape of a road in a simplified manner, symbols being placed at the respective positions, the method comprising:

measuring a current location of the electronic apparatus;

transmitting the measured current location to an external communication apparatus and receiving navigation information on a navigation point corresponding to the current location from the external communication apparatus, the navigation information including a simplified diagram template identification number, symbol identification numbers, and position specification numbers; and

generating the navigation image by reading the simplified diagram template corresponding to the simplified diagram template identification number and the image data of the symbols corresponding to the symbol identification numbers from the electronic apparatus and placing the read image data of the symbols at positions on the read simplified diagram template specified by the position specification numbers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising setting a starting point and a destination for navigation,

wherein the transmitting the measured current location comprises

transmitting information indicative of the starting point and the destination and the measured current location to the external communication apparatus, and

receiving navigation information on the navigation point from the external communication apparatus, the navigation information including the simplified diagram template identification number, the symbol identification numbers, and the position specification numbers, for each navigation point on a route from the starting point to the destination at which navigation is provided.