NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100318291A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dense Media Incorporated
• Inventors: Gluck, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names

Abstract

A non-scaled, linearly compressed pictographic mapping system is provided for the visual display of information in a navigational aid. Unlike today'"'"'s road maps which use a point-arc-polygon paradigm, the new mapping uses a non-scaled, linearly-compressed pictographic design that shows roads as linear pictograms. The display has a columnar layout, whereby the descriptive elements are grouped together by type, and displayed one above the other in columns. The maps may also contain icons representing points of interest arranged in a cloud fashion. In this manner, the mapping paradigm also serves to increase traveler safety, provide navigation assistance during address-less trips, create valuable advertising space and new promotional opportunities, and dramatically increases the travelers'"'"' communications and entertainment options.

Claims

1. A visual display system comprising:

a display device;

a storage device configured and arranged to store information of interest data therein, said information of interest being associated with a plurality of visual depictions;

a display generator configured and arranged to read said stored information of interest data and to generate a non-scaled, random array of said visual depictions associated said information of interest data, said display generator providing said generated views to said display device; and

an input device configured and arranged to provide input to said display generator, wherein said input is used to determine in part what information of interest data is used in generating said visual depiction.

2. The visual display system of claim 1, wherein said visual depictions depict icons that are representations of the underlying information of interest.

3. The visual display system of claim 2, wherein said icons represent general classes of information, goods and services.

4. The visual display system of claim 1, wherein said visual depictions depict logos that are representations of the underlying information of interest.

5. The visual display system of claim 4, wherein said logos represent specific brand sources of information, goods and services.

6. The visual display system of claim 1, wherein said visual depictions are arranged in a cloud about a coordinate axis with the user'"'"'s current location depicted at a central point within the cloud, said visual depictions representing the relative geographic location at which the underlying information of interest may be accessed.

7. The visual display system of claim 6, wherein the coordinate axis rotates about the central point to orient the cloud of visual depictions relative to the user'"'"'s direction of travel.

8. The visual display system of claim 1, wherein said display includes a current travel road and intersecting roads perpendicular to said current travel road, wherein said visual depictions are arranged in a cloud about the periphery of said travel road and said intersecting road, said visual depictions representing the relative geographic location at which the underlying information of interest may be accessed.

9. The visual display system of claim 1, wherein said display device is selected from the group consisting of:

regular maps, idle screens, mobile devices, desktop displays and laptop displays

10. A road map display apparatus comprising:

a display device;

a storage device configured and arranged to store road map data and information of interest data therein, said information of interest being associated with a plurality of visual depictions;

a display generator configured and arranged to read said stored road map data to generate a non-scaled, linearly compressed, pictographic view of roads, and said stored information of interest data to generate a non-scaled, random array of said visual depictions associated said information of interest data on said display device, said display generator providing said generated views to said display device; and

an input device configured and arranged to provide input to said display generator, wherein said input is used to determine in part what road map data and information of interest data is used in generating said generated views.

11. The road map display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said visual depictions depict icons that are representations of the underlying information of interest.

12. The road map display apparatus of claim 11, wherein said icons represent general classes of information, goods and services.

13. The road map display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said visual depictions depict logos that are representations of the underlying information of interest.

14. The road map display apparatus of claim 13, wherein said logos represent specific brand sources of information, goods and services.

15. The road map display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pictographic view of said roads depicts representations of said roads as straight lines with no landmass features or scaling.

16. The road map display apparatus of claim 15, wherein said pictographic view includes information related to features adjacent said roads and information related to actual distance and estimated time required to travel to various locations along said road, said information displayed in columnar format adjacent said representation of said road.

17. The road map display apparatus of claim 15, wherein said visual depictions are arranged in a cloud about the periphery of said roads, said visual depictions representing the relative geographic location at which the underlying information of interest may be accessed.

18. The road map display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said display device is selected from the group consisting of:

regular maps, idle screens, mobile devices, desktop displays and laptop displays