Navigation system map panning directional indicator

• US 6,175,801 B1
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Didi (HK) Science and Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/100,683
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 701/213, 701/224, 701/340, 701/98, 701/99, 701/95
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a map panning directional indicator for a navigation system. A display device of the navigation system displays the map panning indicator, which indicates both a current heading between a map panning cursor and a current vehicle location relative to a map database and a distance between the map panning cursor and the current vehicle location. The map panning cursor is displayed in the center of a map section as a user pans over map sections of the map database, which are displayed on the display device.

Claims

1. A method for indicating a position on a map of a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:

a.) determining a current vehicle location at a first position relative to a map database;

b.) displaying a cursor at a second position relative to said map database;

c.) computing a heading between said cursor and said current vehicle location; and

d.) based on said heading, indicating a direction from one of said cursor and said current vehicle location to the other of said cursor and said current vehicle location simultaneously with said step b).

2. A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the further steps of:

determining a current vehicle compass heading; and

displaying said current vehicle compass heading on said display.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step c.) comprises the additional steps of:

determining the latitude and the longitude coordinates of said second position;

determining the latitude and the longitude coordinates of said first position;

calculating an angle between said second position and said first position based on the coordinates; and

determining said heading in said step c.) based on said angle.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the further steps of:

detennining a straight line distance between said second position and said first position; and

displaying said straight line distance on said display.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 comprising the additional steps of:

determining the latitude and the longitude coordinates of said second position;

determining the latitude and the longitude coordinates of said first position; and

determining said straight line distance based on the coordinates.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining a route via said map database between said first position and said second position; and

displaying at least a portion of said route on said display.

7. A method for indicating a position on a map of a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:

a.) determining a first position relative to a map database;

b.) displaying on a display a cursor at a second position relative to said map database;

c.) computing a heading between said second position and said first position;

d.) based on said heading, indicating a direction from said second position to said first position;

e.) moving said cursor from said second position to a third position relative to said map database;

f.) computing a second heading between said third position and said first position; and

g.) based on said second heading, indicating the direction from said third position to said first position said steps e)-g) being performed after said steps a)-d).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first position is a current location of the navigation system.

9. A method for indicating a position on a map of a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:

a.) deteimining a first position relative to a map database;

b.) panning said display from a first screen section which includes said first position to a second screen section which does not include said first position;

c.) displaying on a display a cursor at a second position in the second screen section relative to said map database;

d.) computing a heading between said second position and said first position; and

e.) based on said heading, indicating a direction from said second position to said first position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first position is a current location of the navigation system.

11. A method for indicating a position on a map of a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:

a.) determining a first position relative to a map database;

b.) displaying on a display a cursor at a second position relative to said map database;

c.) computing a heading between said second position and said first position; and

d.) indicating a direction from said second position to said first position by selecting one of a plurality of pre-rendered bitmaps based on said heading and displaying said selected bitmap on said display to indicate said direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first position is a current location of the navigation system.

13. A navigation system comprising:

a map database;

a display for displaying a screen section of said map database;

a user input device for panning said screen section of said display relative to said map database;

a panning symbol on said screen section indicating a direction from one of a first location relative and said panning symbol to the other of said first location and said panning symbol.

14. A navigation system as recited in claim 13 further comprising:

a position determining device for determining a current position of said navigation system; and

said current position being used as said first location.

15. A navigation system as recited in claim 13 wherein said display further displays a current compass heading of said navigation system.

16. A navigation system as recited in claim 13 wherein said display further displays a straight line distance from said first location to said panning symbol.

17. A navigation system comprising:

a map database;

a display for displaying a screen section of said map database;

a user input device for panning said screen section of said display relative to said map database;

a plurality of pre-rendered panning symbols, a first panning symbol of said pre-rendered panning symbols selected for display based on said position of said first location relative to said panning symbol, said first panning symbol on said screen section indicating a position of a first location relative to said panning symbol.

18. A navigation system comprising:

a map database;

a display for displaying a screen section of said map database;

a user input device for panning said screen section of said display relative to said map database;

a panning symbol on said screen section indicating a position of a first location relative to said panning symbol;

a route determination system calculating a route between said first location and said panning symbol; and

said display displaying at least a portion of said route.

19. A navigation system comprising:

a database of road segments;

a display displaying a screen section of said database including a plurality of said road segments;

a user input device for selectively causing said display to pan through said database of road segments;

a position determining device for determining a current position relative to said database of road segments; and

an indicator on said display indicating a direction of said current position relative to said indicator, wherein said indicator comprises one of a plurality of pre-rendered bitmap symbols, one of said pre-rendered bitmap symbols displayed based on said direction.

20. A navigation system comprising:

a database of road segments;

a display displaying screen section of said database including a plurality of said road segments;

a user input device for selectively causing said display to pan through said database of road segments;

a position determining device for determining a current position relative to said database of road segments; and

an indicator on said display indicating a direction of said current position relative to said indicator wherein said display displays said indicator relative to said plurality of road segments.

21. A navigation system comprising:

a database of road segments;

a display displaying a screen section of said database including a plurality of said road segments;

a user input device for selectively causing said display to pan through said database of road segments;

a position determining device for determining a current position relative to said database of road segments;

a route determination system;

said route determination system determining a route on said database of roads between said current position and said indicator; and

said display displaying said route and an indicator on said display indicating a direction of said current position relative to said indicator.

22. A navigation system comprising:

a database of road segments;

a display displaying a screen section of said database including a plurality of said road segments;

a user input device for selectively causing said display to pan through said database of road segments;

a position detennining device for determining a current position relative to said database of road segments;

an indicator on said display indicating a direction of said current position relative to said indicator; and

said display further displays a distance between said current location and said indicator and said display displays a current compass heading of said navigation system.