Navigation system with route indicators

• US 6,430,501 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Didi (HK) Science and Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
• Inventors: Slominski, Anthony Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/487,654
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/211, 701/212, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation system displays a recommended route on a map display of road segments with a plurality of arrows arranged on the recommended route toward the destination. The recommended route is highlighted in a color different from other road segments on the map display and arrows of yet another color are also displayed along the recommended route oriented toward the destination.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a route in a navigation system including the steps of:

a. Selecting a destination from a map database;

b. Calculating a recommended route to the destination in the map database;

c. Displaying the recommended route including a plurality of arrows along the recommended route towards the destination; and

d. Displaying road segments other than said recommended route, adjacent said recommended route, in at least one color different from a first color in which said recommended route is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of displaying road segments other than said recommended route, adjacent said recommended route, in at least one color different from a first color in which said recommended route is displayed.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of displaying said destination adjacent said recommended route.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of displaying a portion of the recommended route and not displaying said destination.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of displaying said plurality of arrows on said recommended route.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of calculating a position on the display for each of the plurality of arrows and displaying each of said plurality of arrows at its calculated position.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of recalculating the position of each of said plurality of arrows after changing a scale of the display.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of changing an interval between said plurality of arrows proportionally to the changing of the scale of the display.

10. The method of claim 1 further including the step of displaying one of said plurality of arrows on a first road segment of said recommended route and another of said plurality of arrows on a second road segment of said recommended route.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommended route crosses itself.

12. The method of claim 1 further including the step of scrolling said plurality of arrows with said recommended route as the recommended route is traveled.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said recommended route is displayed as a plurality of road segments.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein display displays road segments other than said recommended route.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said step c. further includes the step of displaying the plurality of arrows on one of said road segments.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein said step c. further includes the step of displaying an icon representing a present location of the navigation system between two of the plurality of arrows.

6. A method for displaying a route in a navigation system including the steps of:

a. Selecting a destination from a map database;

b. Calculating a recommended route to the destination in the map database;

c. Displaying the recommended route including a plurality of arrows along the recommended route towards the destination; and

d. Displaying said arrows in a color different from the color of the recommended route.

13. A navigation system comprising:

a user input device for selecting a destination;

a CPU calculating a recommended route to the destination; and

a display displaying a plurality of arrows on the recommended route to the destination wherein said display displays said plurality of arrows in a color different from said recommended route.

15. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein said CPU calculates a current position of the display.

16. The navigation system of claim 15 wherein said CPU receives a signal from at least one navigation sensor, said CPU calculating the current position based upon the signal.

17. The navigation system of claim 15 wherein said display displays said current location.

18. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein said display displays said plurality of arrows in a color different from said recommended route.

19. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein said display displays said destination.

20. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein said display scrolls said plurality of arrows with the recommended route as the recommended route is traveled.

31. The navigation system of claim 13, wherein said display displays said recommended route as a plurality of road segments.

32. The navigation system of claim 31, wherein said display displays road segments other than said recommended route.

35. The navigation system of claim 31, wherein said display displays said plurality of arrows on one of said plurality of road segments.

36. The navigation system of claim 13, wherein said display displays an icon representing a present location of the navigation system between two of the plurality of arrows.

14. A navigation system comprising:

a user input device for selecting a destination;

a CPU calculating a recommended route to the destination; and

a display displaying a plurality of arrows on the recommended route to the destination wherein said display displays road segments other than said recommended route in at least one color different from a first color in which said recommended route is displayed.

21. A method for displaying a route in the navigation system including the steps of:

a. Selecting a destination from a map database of road segments;

b. Determining a current position of the navigation system relative to the map database;

c. Calculating a recommended route to the destination in the map database;

d. Displaying a plurality of said road segments including the recommended route;

e. Displaying the current position relative to said plurality of road segments;

f. Displaying a plurality of route indicators along the recommended route oriented towards the destination, including a first route indicator and a second route indicator on a first road segment and a third route indicator on a second road segment, said plurality of route indicators displayed in at least one color different from a first color in which said recommended route is displayed.

22. The method of claim 21 further including the step of recalculating the position of each of said plurality of route indicators based upon changing a scale of the display.

23. The method of claim 22 further including the step of changing an interval between said plurality of arrows proportionally to the changing of the scale of the display.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the step of scrolling said plurality of route indicators with said recommended route as the recommended route is traveled.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said plurality of route indicators comprises a plurality of arrows.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said step b. is performed after said step a.

27. A method for displaying a route in the navigation system including the steps or:

a. Selecting a destination from a map database of road segments;

b. Determining a current position of the navigation system relative to the map database;

c. Calculating a recommended route to the destination in tile map database;

d. Displaying a plurality of said road segments including the recommended route;

e. Displaying the current position relative to said plurality of road segments;

f. Displaying at least one arrow along the recommended route oriented towards the destination; and

g. displaying said arrow in a color different from a color of the recommended route.

28. The method of claim 27 further including the step of scrolling said at least one arrow with said recommended route as the recommended route is traveled.