Method of switching guide mode in navigation system

• US 6,385,538 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/583,437
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/212, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes

Abstract

The navigation system initializes a route guide by a map guide mode or a route guide by an arrow guide mode, and appropriately switches the guide mode to execute route guidance for a vehicle, wherein, when a predetermined condition occurs while guiding the vehicle by a guide mode different from an initialized guide mode, the system automatically switches the guide mode into the initialized guide mode.

Claims

1. A navigation system that initializes a route guide by a map guide mode or a route guide by an arrow guide mode, and appropriately switches the guide mode to execute route guidance for a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

a storage means that stores map data,

a current position detection means that detects a current position of the vehicle,

a means for initializing route guidance by either a map guide mode or an arrow guide mode,

a control unit that outputs as travel guide information either of a map guide image and an arrow guide image on the basis of data stored in the storage means and data detected by the current position detection means, and

a display unit that displays the travel guide information,

wherein the control unit includes a switching means that, when the vehicle approaches a guide point of an intersection with the arrow guide mode being the initialized mode, automatically switches from the map guide image into the arrow guide image on the basis of map data stored in the storage means and the current position detected by the current position detection means.

2. A navigation system that initializes a route guide by a map guide mode or a route guide by an arrow guide mode, and appropriately switches the guide mode to execute route guidance for a vehicle, the navigation system comprising:

a storage means that stores map data,

a current position detection means that detects a current position of the vehicle,

a means for initializing route guidance by either a map guide mode or an arrow guide mode,

a control unit that outputs as travel guide information either of a map guide image and an arrow guide image on the basis of data stored in the storage means and data detected by the current position detection means, and

a display unit that displays the travel guide information,

wherein the control unit includes a switching means that, when the vehicle passes a guide point of an intersection with the map guide mode being the initialized mode, automatically switches from the arrow guide image into the map guide image on the basis of map data stored in the storage means and the current position detected by the current position detection means.

3. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system that initializes a route guide by a map guide mode or a route guide by an arrow guide mode, and appropriately switches the guide mode to execute route guidance for a vehicle, wherein, when a predetermined condition exists and the guide mode is different from an initialized guide mode, the guide mode is automatically switched into the initialized guide mode.

4. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route with the arrow guide mode being the initialized mode, and thereafter returns to the guide route, a predetermined condition is judged to exist and the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

5. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route with the arrow guide mode being the initialized mode, and thereafter returns to an original guide route, the predetermined condition is judged to exist and the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

6. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route with the arrow guide mode being the initialized mode, and thereafter returns to an original guide route, if the vehicle approaches a guide point of an intersection within a specific distance, the predetermined condition is judged to exist and the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

7. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route, thereafter a route to a destination is re-searched, and the vehicle returns to the route, the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

8. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from the guide route, thereafter a route to at least a point of intersection on the guide route is researched, and the vehicle returns to the route, the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

9. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route with the arrow guide mode being the initialized mode, thereafter returns to the guide route, and a guide point of an intersection and guide contents at the moment when the vehicle returns to the guide route are different from those before deviating from the route, the predetermined condition is judged to exist and the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

10. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the vehicle approaches a point of intersection with the arrow guide mode being the initialized mode, the predetermined condition is judged to exist and the guide mode is automatically switched from the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

11. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route while driving with the arrow guide mode, thereafter returns to the guide route, and a guide point of an intersection and guide contents at the time when the vehicle returns to the guide route are the same as those before deviating from the route, the system automatically switches the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

12. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route while driving with the map guide mode, thereafter returns to the guide route, and a guide point of an intersection and guide contents at the time when the vehicle returns to the guide route are the same as those before deviating from the route, the system continues guidance by the map guide mode.

13. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the vehicle passes a point of intersection with the map guide mode being the initialized mode, the predetermined condition is judged to exist and the guide mode is automatically switched from the arrow guide mode into the map guide mode.

14. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system that initializes a route guide by a map guide mode or a route guide by an arrow guide mode, and appropriately switches the guide mode to execute route guidance for a vehicle, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route and thereafter returns to the guide route, if the guide information for route guidance is the same as that before deviating from the route, the guide mode is automatically switched into the mode existing before deviating from the route, and if the guide information is different from that before deviating from the route, the guide mode is automatically switched into the initialized guide mode.

15. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system that initializes a route guide by a map guide mode, as claimed in claim 14, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route while driving with the arrow guide mode and thereafter returns to the guide route, if the guide information for route guidance is different from that before deviating from the route, the system continues guidance by the map guide mode.

16. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system that initializes a route guide by a map guide mode, as claimed in claim 14, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route while driving with the arrow guide mode and thereafter returns to the guide route, if the guide information for route guidance is the same as that before deviating from the route, the system automatically switches the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

17. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system that initializes a route guide by an arrow guide mode, as claimed in claim 14, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route while driving with the map guide mode and thereafter returns to the guide route, if the guide information for route guidance is different from that before deviating from the route, the system automatically switches the map guide mode into the arrow guide mode.

18. A method of switching a guide mode in a navigation system that initializes a route guide by an arrow guide mode, as claimed in claim 14, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from a guide route while driving with the map guide mode and thereafter returns to the guide route, if the guide information for route guidance is the same as that before deviating from the route, the system continues guidance by the map guide mode.