Three-dimensional map navigation display device and device and method for creating data used therein

• US 6,411,293 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Kiyomi, Ueyama, Yoshiki, Takahira, Yutaka, Ata, Teruaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/319,864
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/420, 345/423, 345/427, 345/428
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A model transforming data generating portion 4 extracts parameter data corresponding to a given road area from two-dimensional map data in a two-dimensional map data storage portion 3. Subsequently, the model transforming data generating portion 4 reads out pattern data corresponding to the specified road area from a pattern model storage portion 5 and generates model transforming data. An image data generating portion 6 transforms a corresponding three-dimensional map display model by using the generated model transforming data to generate three-dimensional image data. The generated three-dimensional image data is given to and displayed in a display 7. The operator operates an input portion 2 on the basis of the contents displayed in the display 7 to correct the generated model transforming data.

Claims

1. A model transforming data creating device for creating model transforming data operable to transform a form of a transformable three-dimensional map display model, wherein a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map is classified in advance into a plurality of patterns and the transformable three-dimensional map display model is prepared for each of the patterns, said model transforming data creating device comprising:

a two-dimensional map data storage device operable to store two-dimensional map data;

a parameter data extracting device operable to extract parameter data corresponding to the given part from the two-dimensional map data stored in said two-dimensional map data storage device;

a parameter data analyzing device operable to analyze the parameter data extracted by said parameter data extracting device to generate the model transforming data; and

a storage device operable to store the model transforming data generated by said parameter data analyzing device.

2. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 1, further comprising a pattern model storage device operable to store pattern data defining parameters required when transforming the form of the transformable three-dimensional map display model for each of the patterns, wherein said parameter data analyzing device comprises:

a pattern data reading device operable to read the pattern data corresponding to the given part from said pattern model storage device; and

a data converting device operable to convert the parameter data extracted by said parameter data extracting device into the model transforming data on a basis of the pattern data read out by said pattern data reading device.

3. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 2, wherein said pattern data reading device comprises a pattern determining device operable to determine a pattern on a basis of the parameter data extracted by said parameter data extracting device and read out the pattern data corresponding to a determined pattern from said pattern model storage device.

4. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 3, wherein said pattern determining device comprises:

a branching part road attribute deciding device operable to decide attributes of roads around a branching point on a basis of the parameter data extracted by said parameter data extracting device; and

a branch type deciding device operable to decide a type of the branching on a basis of the road attributes decided by said branching part road attribute deciding device to determine the pattern.

5. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 4, wherein said parameter data analyzing device further comprises:

a parameter data classifying device operable to classify the parameter data into groups according to a road function on a basis of the pattern determined by said pattern determining device; and

a data integrating device operable to integrate the parameter data classified by said parameter data classifying device within each of the classified groups;

wherein said data converting device converts the parameter data integrated by said data integrating device into the model transforming data.

6. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 5, wherein said parameter data classifying device comprises:

a link tracing device operable to trace a desired link on a basis of the two-dimensional parameter data extracted by said two-dimensional parameter data extracting device and temporarily store and hold data of the traced link; and

a link data classifying device operable to classify the link data stored and held in said link tracing device on a basis of the pattern determined by said pattern determining device.

7. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 2, wherein said pattern data reading device reads the pattern data corresponding to a pattern indicated by an operator from said pattern data storage device.

8. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 2, wherein said data converting device obtains values of part of the parameters defined by the pattern data read by said pattern data reading device directly from the parameter data extracted by said parameter data extracting device and obtains remaining parameter values by inference processing.

9. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 2, wherein said data converting device obtains values of part of the parameters defined by the pattern data read by said pattern data reading device directly from the parameter data extracted by said parameter data extracting device and obtains remaining parameter values through an instruction from an operator.

10. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an image data generating device operable to generate three-dimensional image data by applying the model transforming data generated by said parameter data analyzing device to the corresponding transformable three-dimensional map display model and transform the form of the transformable three-dimensional map display model; and

a display device operable to display the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on a basis of the three-dimensional image data generated by said image data generating device.

11. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 10, further comprising a model transforming data correcting device operable to correct the model transforming data generated by said parameter data analyzing device in response to an instruction from an operator.

12. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 1, wherein said parameter data extracting device extracts the parameter data of a part indicated by an operator from the two-dimensional map data.

13. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 1, wherein said parameter data extracting device extracts the parameter data of a part which conforms with a previously set condition from the two-dimensional map data.

14. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 1, wherein the transformable three-dimensional map display model represents at least one of a multi-level intersection, an underpass, a junction, an elevated road, and a freeway.

15. A navigation device for displaying at least one of the multi-level intersection, the underpass, the junction, the elevated road, and the freeway by providing the model transforming data generated by the model transforming data creating device according to claim 14 to the corresponding transformable three-dimensional map display model.

16. The model transforming data creating device according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional map data storage device is a large-capacity storage device containing one of a CD-ROM and a DVD.

17. A method for creating model transforming data operable to transform a form of a transformable three-dimensional map display model, wherein a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map is classified in advance into a plurality of patterns and the transformable three-dimensional map display model is prepared for each of the patterns, said method comprising:

storing two-dimensional map data;

extracting parameter data corresponding to the given part from the stored two-dimensional map data;

analyzing the extracted parameter data to generate the model transforming data; and

storing the model transforming data.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

generating three-dimensional image data by applying the model transforming data to the corresponding transformable three-dimensional map display model and transforming the form of the transformable three-dimensional map display model; and

displaying the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on a basis of the generated three-dimensional image data.