Navigation apparatus and navigation method

• US 20100250113A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyata, Hiromasa
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• 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

Abstract

A navigation apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to measure a current position, a route guidance screen generation unit configured to generate a route guidance screen used for route guidance for a retrieved route from the current position to a destination and display the route guidance screen on a display unit, and a guidance image generation unit configured to, in a case where a remaining distance between the current position and the destination is a predetermined value or less while route guidance is performed using the route guidance screen, generate a guidance image in which a display subject representing the destination is highlighted such that the display subject is more prominently displayed than a vicinity of the display subject and display the guidance image on the display unit.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

positioning means for measuring a current position;

route guidance screen generating means for generating a route guidance screen used for route guidance for a retrieved route from the current position to a destination and displaying the route guidance screen on displaying means; and

guidance image generating means for, in a case where a remaining distance between the current position and the destination is a predetermined value or less while route guidance is performed using the route guidance screen, generating a guidance image in which a display subject representing the destination is highlighted such that the display subject is more prominently displayed than a vicinity of the display subject and displaying the guidance image on the displaying means.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guidance image generating means displays the guidance image in which the display subject is highlighted such that the display subject is given a three-dimensional appearance to be obtained when the display subject is viewed at a predetermined angle.

3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guidance image generating means displays the guidance image in which the display subject is highlighted such that the display subject is given a three-dimensional appearance to be obtained when the display subject is viewed immediately after a user has passed through a guidance point that is at a predetermined distance from the destination and at which the user is notified that the user is near the destination.

4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guidance image generating means displays the guidance image in which the display subject is highlighted such that the display subject is given a three-dimensional appearance to be obtained when the display subject is viewed from a destination arrival guidance point at which a user is notified that the user has arrived at a vicinity of the destination.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guidance image generating means displays the guidance image in which the display subject is highlighted such that the display subject is given a three-dimensional appearance to be obtained when the display subject is viewed immediately after a user has passed through the guidance point that is at a predetermined distance from the destination and at which the user is notified that the user is near the destination, and then displays the guidance image in which the display subject is highlighted such that the display subject is given a three-dimensional appearance to be obtained when the display subject is viewed from the destination arrival guidance point at which the user is notified that the user has arrived at a vicinity of the destination.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guidance image generating means displays the display subject in a predetermined color and displays an image of the display subject.

7. A navigation method comprising the steps of:

causing positioning means to measure a current position;

causing route guidance screen generating means to generate a route guidance screen used for route guidance for a retrieved route from the current position to a destination and display the route guidance screen on displaying means; and

causing guidance image generating means to, in a case where a remaining distance between the current position and the destination is a predetermined value or less while route guidance is performed using the route guidance screen, generate a guidance image in which a display subject representing the destination is highlighted such that the display subject is more prominently displayed than a vicinity of the display subject and display the guidance image on the displaying means.

8. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a positioning unit configured to measure a current position;

a route guidance screen generation unit configured to generate a route guidance screen used for route guidance for a retrieved route from the current position to a destination and display the route guidance screen on a display unit; and

a guidance image generation unit configured to, in a case where a remaining distance between the current position and the destination is a predetermined value or less while route guidance is performed using the route guidance screen, generate a guidance image in which a display subject representing the destination is highlighted such that the display subject is more prominently displayed than a vicinity of the display subject and display the guidance image on the display unit.