Method and navigation system for display of sections of a digital map data base as well as an improved operating unit and interface for same
First Claim
1. A method of displaying a predetermined section of a digital map database, which represents a real geographic area, on a display device, the digital map database containing map data representing geographic elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting respective geographic elements for display according to the predetermined section of the digital map database to be displayed; and
b) determining whether the respective geographic elements selected in step a) are associated with corresponding display-priority-determining attributes; and
c) evaluating the display-priority-determining attributes of the respective geographic elements having the display-priority-determining attributes to determine whether the respective geographic elements in the predetermined section should be actually visible in the display device, or not.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, operating unit, navigation system and interface for displaying a predetermined section of a digital map database, which represents a real geographic area, on a display device are described. The digital map database contains data representing various geographic elements. An attribute, which defines a display priority, is assigned to each geographic element. An evaluation is then performed to determine whether or not particular geographic elements in the predetermined section to be displayed should or should not be visible on the display device. A particular geographic element is made visible on the display device when it is located in the predetermined section and when its display-priority-determining attribute satisfies certain selection criteria or selection rules. This method prevents display of too many geographic elements, which would otherwise make the display congested thus producing an unclear display.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of displaying a predetermined section of a digital map database, which represents a real geographic area, on a display device, the digital map database containing map data representing geographic elements, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting respective geographic elements for display according to the predetermined section of the digital map database to be displayed; and
b) determining whether the respective geographic elements selected in step a) are associated with corresponding display-priority-determining attributes; and
c) evaluating the display-priority-determining attributes of the respective geographic elements having the display-priority-determining attributes to determine whether the respective geographic elements in the predetermined section should be actually visible in the display device, or not. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A digital map database (12) representing real geographic areas, the digital map database (12) including data regarding respective geographic elements and corresponding attributes correlated with the respective geographic elements, wherein at least one part of the geographic elements is provided with respective additional display-priority-determining attributes defining corresponding display priorities for said at least one part of the geographic elements, the additional display-priority-determining attributes determining whether or not the geographic elements in a predetermined section of the digital map database are actually visible or not on the display device.
- 17. An operating unit (14) for a navigation system (100) comprising a display device (16) for display of a predetermined section of a digital map database (12), said predetermined section representing a real geographic area, the digital map database (12) including map data regarding respective geographic elements, said operating unit (14) comprising means for evaluating display-priority-determining attributes of the respective geographic elements, said means for evaluating display-priority-determining attributes of the respective geographic elements determining whether the respective geographic elements are visible or not in the predetermined section according to the predetermined section and according to the display-priority-determining attributes.
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24. A navigation system (100) for vehicles including motor vehicles, said navigation system comprising a navigation module (10) including means for preparing a digital map database (12) and an operating unit (14) connected with the navigation module (10), said operating unit (14) having a display device (16) for displaying a predetermined section of the digital map database (12), said predetermined section representing a real geographic area;
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wherein the digital map database (12) includes data regarding respective geographic elements and corresponding attributes correlated with the respective geographic elements, wherein at least one part of the geographic elements is provided with corresponding additional display-priority-determining attributes defining corresponding display priorities for said at least one part of the geographic elements, the display priorities determining whether or not the geographic elements in the predetermined section of the digital map database are actually visible or not on the display device (16); and
wherein the operating unit (14) comprises means for evaluating the corresponding additional display-priority-determining attributes of the respective geographic elements, said means for evaluating the corresponding additional display-priority-determining attributes of the respective geographic elements determining whether the respective geographic elements are visible or not in the predetermined section according to the predetermined section and according to the additional display-priority-determining attributes. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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- 29. An interface (18) connecting a digital map database (12) and display means (14,16) for displaying a predetermined section of the digital data base (12), said digital database (12) representing actual geographic areas and containing data regarding respective geographic elements, said interface (18) including means for associating corresponding display-priority-determining attributes with the respective geographic elements during transfer of map data from the digital map database to the display means, said display-priority-determining attributes establishing whether or not individual ones of the respective geographic elements in the predetermined section of the digital database (12) are made visible or not in the display means in accordance with the predetermined section to be displayed.
Specification