NAVIGATION METHOD OF MOBILE TERMINAL AND APPARATUS THEREOF

• US 20110130959A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: HWANG, Kyu-Tae
• Granted Patent: US 9,347,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile terminal and an method searches a point of interest (POI). The navigation apparatus of a mobile terminal includes a storage unit configured to store map data, a display unit configured to display the map data, and a controller configured to search a destination from the map data, display the searched destination on the display unit, and display an icon for searching points of interest near the destination.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a display unit; and

a controller configured to provide a point of interest (POI) search function on the display unit, to search for at least one POI associated with a location using the POI search function, to display on the display unit a plurality of POI categories based on the search result, and to display on the display unit a selectable POI icon for each of the POI categories for obtaining at least one POI associated with the corresponding POI category.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the plurality of POI categories and the selectable POI for each of the POI categories simultaneously.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller searches a first POI from the map data, displays the first POI on the display unit, and displays an icon for searching points of interest near the first POI.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller displays an icon for searching points of interest within a preset radius of a center, the center being a displayed destination or first POI.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller displays an icon for setting a reference point on the display unit, and displays a distance from each destination within a destination search result or each POI within a POI search result to the reference point.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller displays a distance from a current location to the each destination or the each POI.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the icon for setting the reference point comprises an item for displaying a distance from each destination or each POI to a prestored point, a current location or a preset destination.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller sets the reference point, searches points of interest within a preset radius of the set reference point, and displays the searched points of interest on the display unit when the icon for setting the reference point is selected.

9. A navigation method of a mobile terminal, comprising:

storing map data;

displaying the map data on a display unit of the mobile terminal;

providing a point of interest (POI) search function on the display unit;

searching for at least one POI associated with a location using the POI search function;

displaying a plurality of POI categories based on the search result; and

displaying a selectable POI icon for each of the POI categories for obtaining at least one POI associated with the corresponding POI category.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising simultaneously displaying the plurality of POI categories and the selectable POI for each of the POI categories.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

searching a first point of interest(POI) from the map data, and displaying the first POI on the display unit; and

displaying an icon for searching points of interest near the first POI.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said displaying the icon comprises displaying an icon for searching points of interest within a preset radius of a center, the center being the first POI or a destination.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying an icon for setting a reference point on the display unit; and

displaying a distance from each destination within a destination search result or each POI within a POI search result to the reference point.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying a distance from a current location to each destination or each POI.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the icon for setting the reference point comprises an item for displaying a distance from each destination or each POI to a prestored point, a current location or a preset destination.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

setting the reference point, searching points of interest within a preset radius of the set reference point, and displaying the searched points of interest on the display unit when the icon for setting the reference point is selected.

17. A navigation apparatus of a mobile terminal, comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) module configured to generate vehicle location data on the basis of a GPS signal received from a satellite;

a map matching unit configured to match the vehicle location data with map data stored in a storage unit and output the matched information;

a controller configured to generate road guide information on the basis of the matched information;

a display unit configured to display a road guide map included in the road guide information; and

an audio output unit configured to output road guide voice information included in the road guide information,

wherein the controller searches a first destination from the map data, displays the first destination on the display unit, and displays an icon for searching points of interest (POI) near the first destination.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller searches a first POI from the map data, displays the first POI on the display unit, and displays an icon for searching points of interest near the first POI.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller displays an icon for searching points of interest within a preset radius of the first destination, or displays an icon for searching points of interest within a preset radius of the first POI.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller displays an icon for setting a reference point on the display unit, and displays a distance from each destination within a destination search result or each POI within a POI search result to the reference point.

21. A navigation method of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

generating vehicle location data on the basis of a global positioning system (GPS) signal received from a satellite;

matching the vehicle location data with map data stored in a storage unit;

outputting the matched information;

generating road guide information on the basis of the matched information;

displaying a road guide map included in the road guide information on a display unit;

outputting road guide voice information included in the road guide information;

searching a first destination from the map data and displaying the first destination on the display unit; and

displaying an icon for searching points of interest near the first destination.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising;

searching a first point of interest from the map data,

displaying the first point of interest on the display unit, and

displaying an icon for searching points of interest near the first point of interest.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said displaying the icon comprises displaying an icon for searching points of interest within a preset radius of the first destination, or displaying an icon for searching points of interest within a preset radius of the first point of interest.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

displaying an icon for setting a reference point on the display unit, and displaying a distance from each destination within a destination search result or each POI within a POI search result to the reference point.