Navigation device, program for the same and method for indicating information of the same

• US 20110010085A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US12/801,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map

Abstract

A destination setting unit is configured to set a destination on a map. A time setting unit is configured to set a target time by which a user should arrive at the destination. A specifying unit is configured to associate an intermediate point, which is on a path to the destination, with a departure time, by which the user should leave the intermediate point so as to arrive at the destination by the target time. The specifying unit is further configured to specify the associated intermediate point and the departure time. An indication unit is configured to indicate the associated intermediate point and the departure time on a display device such that the user can recognize a correspondence between the associated intermediate point and the departure time.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

a destination setting unit configured to set a destination on a map;

a time setting unit configured to set a target time by which a user should arrive at the destination;

a specifying unit configured to associate an intermediate point, which is on a path to the destination, with a departure time, by which the user should leave the intermediate point so as to arrive at the destination by the target time, and configured to specify the associated intermediate point and departure time; and

an indication unit configured to indicate the associated intermediate point and departure time on a display device such that the user can recognize a correspondence between the associated intermediate point and departure time.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the intermediate point includes a plurality of intermediate points, and

the indication unit is further configured to indicate a departure time contour formed by connecting the plurality of intermediate points, which are associated with a same departure time, with a line.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein

the departure time contour includes a plurality of departure time contours, and

the indication unit is further configured to indicate the plurality of departure time contours at a constant time interval.

4. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein

the departure time contour includes a plurality of departure time contours,

the indication unit is further configured to indicate the plurality of departure time contours at a plurality of different time intervals, and

the indication unit is further configured to set a time interval between two of the plurality of departure time contours near the target time to be less than a time interval between two of the plurality of departure time contours distant from the target time.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a determination unit configured to compare a present position with a departure time contour and compare a present time with a departure time, which is associated with the departure time contour, to determine whether the user can arrive at the destination by the target time; and

a notification unit configured to perform a notification when the determination unit determines that the user cannot arrive at the destination by the target time.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein

the specifying unit is further configured to:

set a plurality of temporary intermediate points at a regular interval on a circle centering on the destination;

search a path from the set plurality of temporary intermediate points to the destination; and

specify an intermediate point on the searched path and a departure time corresponding to the specified intermediate point.

7. A program product comprising instructions being executed by a computer, the instructions including a method comprising:

a destination setting unit configured to set a destination on a map;

a time setting unit configured to set a target time by which a user should arrive at the destination;

a specifying unit configured to associate an intermediate point, which is on a path to the destination, with a departure time, by which the user should leave the intermediate point so as to arrive at the destination by the target time; and

configured to specify the associated intermediate point and departure time; and

an indication unit configured to indicate the associated intermediate point and departure time on a display device such that the user can recognize a correspondence between the associated intermediate point and departure time.

8. A computer readable medium storing the program product according to claim 7.

9. A method for indicating information of a navigation device, the method comprising:

setting a destination on a map;

setting a target time by which a user should arrive at the destination;

associating an intermediate point, which is on a path to the destination, with a departure time, by which the user should leave the intermediate point so as to arrive at the destination by the target time; and

indicating the associated intermediate point and departure time on a display device such that the user can recognize a correspondence between the associated intermediate point and departure time.

10. A computer readable medium comprising instructions executed by a computer, the instructions including the method according to claim 9.