Display method and apparatus for navigation system

• US 6,999,875 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tu, Ihung S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/774,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/212, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.19, 340/995.26, 715/767, 715/765, 715/778, 715/791, 715/794
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker

Abstract

A display method and apparatus for a navigation system continuously provides the user the predetermined type of information, typically, the route to the destination even when the user changes the screen to any type of screen in the middle of the route guidance mode. The display method is comprised of the steps of starting a route guidance mode for guiding a user to a destination, detecting whether a user has changed to a new screen different from that in the route guidance mode, determining whether the user has reached the destination, displaying a route guidance screen within the new screen when the user has not reached the destination.

Claims

1. A display method for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:

starting a route guidance mode for guiding a user to a selected destination;

detecting if a user has changed to a new screen other than that of the route guidance mode;

determining whether the user has reached the destination; and

displaying a route guidance screen within the new screen when the user has not reached the destination.

2. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether the user has reached the destination includes a step of checking whether an arrival detection signal is generated by the navigation system.

3. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether a sufficient vacant space exists in the new screen to display the route guidance screen therein, and if there is a sufficient vacant space, inserting the route guidance screen in the vacant space of the new screen.

4. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether a sufficient vacant space exists in the new screen to display the route guidance screen therein, and if there is not a sufficient vacant space, superposing the route guidance screen on images in the new screen.

5. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of presetting a size and a location of the route guidance screen in the navigation system.

6. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying the route guidance screen within the new screen includes a step of adjusting a size and a location of the route guidance screen in the new screen by the user.

7. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of adjusting the size and location of the route guidance screen includes a step of using an input device separate from a monitor screen of the navigation system or directly touching a surface of the monitor screen.

8. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of adjusting the size and location of the route guidance screen includes a step of using a minimize button or a maximize button on the route guidance screen.

9. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said route guidance screen illustrates at least a direction of turn at an intersection and an identification of a street at the intersection.

10. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said route guidance screen illustrates at least an image of an intersection, a direction of turn at an intersection, and a name of a street at the intersection.

11. A display apparatus for a navigation system, comprising:

means for starting a route guidance mode for guiding a user to a selected destination;

means for detecting whether a user has changed to a new screen other than that of the route guidance mode;

means for determining whether the user has reached the destination; and

means for displaying a route guidance screen within the new screen when the user has not reached the destination.

12. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, wherein said route guidance screen illustrates at least an image of an intersection, a direction of turn at an intersection, and a name of a street at the intersection.

13. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for determining whether the user has reached the destination includes means for checking whether an arrival detection signal is generated by the navigation system.

14. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for determining whether a sufficient vacant space exists in the new screen to display the route guidance screen therein, and if there is a sufficient vacant space, inserting the route guidance screen in the vacant space of the new screen.

15. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for determining whether a sufficient vacant space exists in the new screen to display the route guidance screen therein, and if there is not a sufficient vacant space, superposing the route guidance screen on images in the new screen.

16. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for presetting a size and a location of the route guidance screen in the navigation system.

17. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for displaying the route guidance screen within the new screen includes means for adjusting a size and a location of the route guidance screen in the new screen by the user.

18. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for adjusting the size and location of the route guidance screen includes means for using an input device separate from a monitor screen of the navigation system or directly touching a surface of the monitor screen.

19. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for adjusting the size and location of the route guidance screen includes means for using a minimize button or a maximize button on the route guidance screen.

20. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, wherein said route guidance screen illustrates at least a direction of turn at an intersection and an identification of a street at the intersection.