Navigation apparatus, navigation method and information recording medium containing navigation program readable by computer

• US 6,687,610 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Hashida, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/289,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 701/28, 701/207, 701/208, 701/212, 701/214, 701/211, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/995.1, 340/995.17, 340/995.24, 340/995.25, 340/995.27, 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.07, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities

Abstract

There is provided a navigation apparatus capable of executing a guide corresponding to an inside structure of a building which even if a vehicle is running in the building. The apparatus determines whether or not a current position of the vehicle is located in the building. If it is determined that the current position is located in the building, a plan view of the building is displayed. Then, the displayed plan view is used to carry out a navigation process.

Claims

1. A movable apparatus used by a user in a parking place comprising:

a detector which detects a present position of the movable apparatus; and

an informing device which informs the user of the present position of the movable apparatus in the parking place, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

2. The movable apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an acquiring device which acquires information with regard to an inside of the parking place; and

a recognizing device which recognizes the present position in the parking place based on the detected present position and the acquired information;

wherein the informing device informs the user of a parking zone as the present position in the parking place, if the user parks in the parking place.

3. A movable apparatus used by a user in a parking place comprising:

a detector which detects a present position of the movable apparatus;

a recognizing device which recognizes a walk passage in the parking place; and

an informing device which informs the user of information with regard to the walk passage, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

4. The movable apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an acquiring device which acquires information with regard to an inside of the parking place;

wherein the recognizing device recognizes the walk passage of surrounding of the present position in the parking place based on the detected present position and the acquired information;

the informing device informs the user of information with regard to the walk passage, if the user parks in the parking place.

5. A movable apparatus used by a user in a parking place comprising:

a detector which detects a present position of the movable apparatus;

a recognizing device which recognizes an elevator'"'"'s position in the parking place; and

an informing device which informs the user of the elevator'"'"'s position, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

6. The movable apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an acquiring device which acquires information with regard to an inside of the parking place;

wherein the recognizing device recognizes the elevator'"'"'s position of surrounding of the present position in the parking place based on the detected present position and the acquired information;

the informing device informs the user of the elevator'"'"'s position, if the user parks in the parking place.

7. A movable apparatus used by a user in a parking place comprising:

a detector which detects a present position of the movable apparatus;

an recognizing device which recognizes a parking fee of the parking place; and

an informing device which informs the user of the parking fee, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

8. A method for navigation in a parking place comprising:

detecting a present position of the movable apparatus; and

informing the user of the present position of the movable apparatus in the parking place, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

9. A method for navigation in a parking place comprising:

detecting a present position of the movable apparatus;

recognizing a walk passage in the parking place; and

informing the user of information with regard to the walk passage, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

10. A method for navigation in a parking place comprising:

detecting a present position of the movable apparatus;

recognizing an elevator'"'"'s position in the parking place; and

informing the user of the elevator'"'"'s position, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

11. A method for navigation in a parking place comprising:

detecting a present position of the movable apparatus;

recognizing a parking fee of the parking place; and

informing the user of the parking fee, if the detected present position is in the parking place.

12. An information recording medium in which a navigation program is readably recorded by a computer included in a navigation apparatus, the navigation program causing the computer to function as navigation processing devices, the navigation processing devices comprising:

a current position determining device for determining whether or not a current position of a movable body is located in a building;

a displaying device for displaying building information in relation to the building if the current position is located in the building; and

a processing device for carrying out a navigation process for guiding the movable body by using the displayed building information.