Method of Operating a Navigation System to Provide Route Guidance

• US 20110054772A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Wiklund, Christopher S., Dannenbring, Aaron J., Rossio, Sara B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects

Abstract

A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A preferred name of a feature visible from a road segment is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. A guidance message stating the preferred name of the feature visible from the road segment is determined. The preferred name includes at least one visible descriptor selected from a group consisting of a color of the identified feature, a building material of the identified feature, a shape of the identified feature, an architectural style of the identified feature, and a decorative element of the identified feature.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a guidance message for traveling a route comprising at least one road segment, the method comprising:

obtaining data from a geographic database associated with the navigation system identifying a feature visible from the road segment;

obtaining data from the geographic database representing a color of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the color of the identified feature.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining data from the geographic database representing a building material of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the building material of the identified feature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining data from the geographic database representing a shape of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the shape of the identified feature.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining data from the geographic database representing an architectural style of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the architectural style of the identified feature.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining data from the geographic database representing a decorative element of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the decorative element of the identified feature.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining data from the geographic database representing a local nickname of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the local nickname of the identified feature.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining data from the geographic database representing a brand name of the identified feature; and

providing the guidance message stating the brand name of the identified feature.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the guidance message is provided via a user interface associated with the navigation system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the guidance message states a business name of the identified feature.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the guidance message is provided as the navigation system passes the identified visible feature.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the guidance message is provided prior to an intersection.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of obtaining data identifying a plurality of features visible from the road segment, wherein the guidance message referencing the feature having a highest importance value.

13. A navigation system comprising:

a processor,

a geographic database associated with the processor,

a guidance application program executed on the processor to provide a guidance message for traveling a route comprising a road segment, wherein the guidance application program obtains data from the geographic database identifying a feature visible from the road segment, and provides the guidance message including a preferred name of the identified feature, wherein the preferred name is selected from a group consisting of a color of the identified feature, a building material of the identified feature, a shape of the identified feature, an architectural style of the identified feature, a decorative element of the identified feature, and a local nickname of the identified feature.

14. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein the preferred name further includes a brand name associated with the identified feature.

15. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein if the preferred name is not available, the guidance message includes a business name of the identified feature.

16. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a guidance message, the method comprising:

obtaining data from a geographic database associated with the navigation system to identify a preferred name of a feature visible from a road segment; and

providing a guidance message stating the preferred name of the feature visible from the road segment, wherein the preferred name includes at least one visible descriptor selected from a group consisting of a color of the identified feature, a building material of the identified feature, a shape of the identified feature, an architectural style of the identified feature, and a decorative element of the identified feature.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the preferred name further includes a brand name associated with the identified feature.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the preferred name further includes a local nickname associated with the identified feature.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the guidance message is provided when passing the identified feature.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the guidance message is provided prior to an intersection.