Portable map display system for presenting a 3D map image and method thereof

• US 6,452,544 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Suomela, Riku, Hakala, Tero, Lehikoinen, Juha, Röykkee, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/864,958
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 701/213, 701/208
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A system and method for displaying map data to a person using either a hand-held or head-worn display is described. In one preferred system, a head-worn display is used. The location of the person and the direction of the person'"'"'s view is determined. A map image indicated by the location and direction is presented in the display. This map image is displayed in a three-dimensional perspective view, allowing the person to easily associate the objects in the map image with the real objects in the person'"'"'s field of view. In addition, the user may indicate a desired destination and the three-dimensional perspective view will be changed according to the user'"'"'s location relative to the desired destination.

Claims

1. A portable map display system comprising:

a) a portable map display device comprising;

i) a display unit;

ii) a self-locator unit for detecting a location of the portable map display device;

iii) a direction detector unit for detecting a direction the portable map display device is facing;

iv) a map data client for requesting map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the portable map display device, said map data request including the detected location of the portable map display device and the detected direction of the portable map display device;

v) a receiver unit for receiving the requested map data; and

vi) a data processor for processing the received map data for transmitting to the display unit and causing the display unit to present to a user a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the detected direction the portable map display device is facing; and

b) a map data server for receiving the map data request, for retrieving the requested map data using the detected location and the detected direction, and for sending the requested map data to the receiver unit of the portable map display device.

2. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable map display device is implemented in one of a head-worn display, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a cellular telephone, wherein the direction the portable map display device is facing is a direction a user points the one of a head-worn display, PDA, and a cellular telephone.

3. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the self-locator unit is comprised of one of a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a cellular telephone locating system, and a radio frequency (RF) beacon triangulation system.

4. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the direction detector unit is comprised of a digital compass.

5. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver unit receives map data from one of a server over a computer network, a server over a wireless communication link, and a local memory storage means.

6. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the map data server sends the requested map data to the portable map display device using one of a satellite broadcast system, a microwave broadcast system, and a digital video broadcasting (DVB) system.

7. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an additional information server for receiving an additional information request and for sending requested additional information to the portable map display device;

wherein the portable map display device further comprises;

an additional information client for requesting additional information and for receiving the requested additional information.

8. The portable map display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable map display device further comprises:

a map object selector unit for selecting, by a user, map objects displayed in the map image.

9. A method for dynamically producing a map image in a portable map display device, comprising:

determining a location of the portable map display device;

determining a direction that the portable map display device is facing;

generating a map data request, said map data request including the determined location of said portable map display device and the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;

transmitting the map data request over a communication link to a map data server;

generating, by the map data server, in response to the map data request, map data concerning the area in the vicinity of the determined location of said portable map display device in the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;

transmitting, by the map data server, the generated map data;

receiving, by the portable map device, the generated map data; and

displaying the generated map data as a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the determined location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing.

10. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 9, wherein the portable map display device is implemented in one of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and a cellular telephone, the determining the direction that the portable map display device is facing step comprising:

determining a direction in which a top end of the portable map display device is pointed.

11. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 9, wherein the portable map display device is a head-worn display, the determining the direction that the portable map display device is facing step comprising:

determining a direction of a line of sight of the head-worn display.

12. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

detecting an orientation of the line of sight of the head-worn display in respect to an actual horizon; and

correlating an artificial horizon of the three dimensional map image to correspond to the actual horizon in the line of sight of the head-worn display.

13. A portable map display system comprising:

a) a portable map display device comprising;

i) a display unit;

ii) a self-locator unit for detecting a location of the portable map display device;

iii) a direction detector unit for detecting a direction the portable map display device is facing;

iv) a receiver unit for receiving map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the detected location of the portable map display device in the detected direction of the portable map display device; and

v) a data processor for processing the received map data for transmitting to the display unit and causing the display unit to present to a user a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the detected direction the portable map display device is facing, wherein the spatial perspective comprises a projected view from a viewpoint upon a map plane, said viewpoint having a distance d from the map plane and a view-angle formed by the intersection of the map plane with a plane of the viewpoint;

b) an input unit for inputting a destination;

c) a destination distance calculator unit for determining the destination distance between the location of the portable map display device and the location of the destination; and

d) a spatial perspective component controller unit for changing at least one of distance d and the view-angle of the spatial perspective of the three dimensional image, wherein said change is proportionate to a change in the determined destination distance.

14. The portable map display system as recited in claim 13, wherein the user can directly control the spatial perspective component controller unit.

15. The portable map display system as recited in claim 13, wherein the spatial perspective component controller controls the distance d to decrease as the portable map display device approaches the destination.

16. The portable map display system as recited in claim 13, wherein the spatial perspective component controller controls the view-angle to decrease as the portable map display device approaches the destination.

17. The portable map display system as recited in claim 13, wherein the display unit comprises a head-worn display having a viewing portion, said viewing portion having a display section onto which the three dimensional image with spatial perspective may be displayed to a wearer of the head-worn display, wherein the direction the portable map display device is facing is a direction of a line of sight of the head-worn display.

18. The portable map display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the self-locator unit and the direction detector unit are integrated into the head-worn display.

19. The portable map display system as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

an orientation detector unit for detecting an orientation of the line of sight of the head-worn display in respect to an actual horizon;

wherein an artificial horizon of the three dimensional map image is correlated to correspond to the actual horizon in the line of sight of the head-worn display.

20. The portable map display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the viewing portion of said head-worn display is comprised of the display section and a transparent section through which light can pass.

21. The portable map display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the viewing portion of said head-worn display is transparent, and any part of the viewing portion may act as the display section.

22. The portable map display system as recited in claim 17, wherein a viewing portion of said head-worn display is comprised of two combination lens and display screen units, each of said two combination units for one eye of the user.

23. The portable map display system as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable map display device further comprises at least one of the input device, the destination distance calculator unit, and the spatial perspective component controller.

24. A method for dynamically producing a map image in a portable map display device, comprising:

determining a location of the portable map display device;

determining a direction that the portable map display device is facing;

receiving map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the determined location of said portable map display device in the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;

displaying the received map data as a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the determined location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing, wherein the spatial perspective comprises a projected view from a viewpoint upon a map plane, said viewpoint having a distance d from the map plane and a view-angle formed by the intersection of the map plane with a plane of the viewpoint;

inputting a destination;

determining a destination distance between the location of the portable map display device and the location of the destination; and

changing at least one of the distance d and the view-angle of the spatial perspective of the three dimensional image, wherein said change is proportionate to a change in the determined destination distance.

25. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

changing at least one of distance d and the view-angle of the viewpoint.

26. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 24, wherein the changing at least one of the distance d and the view-angle step comprises decreasing distance d as the portable map display device approaches the destination.

27. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 24, wherein the changing at least one of the distance d and the view-angle step comprises decreasing the view-angle as the portable map display device approaches the destination.

28. A method for dynamically producing a map image in a portable map display device, comprising:

determining a location of the portable map display device;

determining a direction that the portable map display device is facing;

receiving map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the determined location of said portable map display device in the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;

displaying in the portable map display device of the received map data as a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the determined location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;

generating an additional information request, said additional information concerning at least one map object in the displayed three dimensional map image;

transmitting the additional information request over a communication link to an additional information server;

generating, by the additional information server, a response to the additional information request, said response having additional information concerning the at least one map object in the displayed three dimensional map image; and

transmitting, by the additional information server to the portable map device, the created response.

29. The portable map imaging method as recited in claim 28, wherein the generating an additional information request comprises:

selecting, by a user of the portable map display device, at least one map object in the displayed three dimensional map image.