Method of formatting navigation information with varying levels of detail

• US 7,027,916 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Furukawa, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/848,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/206, 701/208, 701/209, 701/214, 701/200, 701/207, 701/212, 340/988, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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 method of formatting navigation information is disclosed. The method can establish various different regions on a map. These regions can include varying levels of detail. Some of the regions can include more details than other regions. The regions can have different shapes and sizes, and in some cases, the regions can follow a route. Regions can also be established for end points.

Claims

1. A method for preparing navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for navigation information;

gathering information related to a route between a starting point and a destination point;

establishing a first region having a first level of detail;

establishing a second region having a second level of detail;

wherein the first level of detail is different than the second level of detail; and

wherein the first region and the second region are used to create map information configured to produce a map displaying the first region together with the second region.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first level of detail is greater than the second level of detail.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a third region is established, the third region having a third level of detail different than the first level of detail and the second level of detail.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the third level of detail is less than the second level of detail.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the third level of detail omits all details.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first level of detail includes all available details.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first region is established proximate the route.

8. A method for preparing navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for navigation information;

gathering information related to a route between a starting point and a destination point;

establishing a route first region associated with the route, having a first level of detail, and having a portion extending a first distance from the route;

establishing an end point first region associated with an end point, having the first level of detail, and extending a second distance from the end point; and

wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the end point is a starting point.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the end point is a destination point.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the end point first region includes a second portion, the second portion extending a third distance from the end point, and wherein the first distance is less than the third distance.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the end point first region includes a second portion, the second portion extending a third distance from the end point, and wherein the first distance is greater than the third distance.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first portion is established proximate the route.

14. A method for preparing navigation information comprising the steps of:

establishing a first region, a second region and a third region;

wherein the first region includes more detailed navigation information than the second region and wherein the second region includes more detailed navigation information than the third region;

wherein a route is located closer to the first region than the second region; and

wherein the first region, the second region, the third region and the route are used to create map information configured to produce a map displaying the first region, the second region, the third region and the route together on the map.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first region is disposed outward of the route.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first region surrounds the route.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second region is disposed outward of the first region.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second region surrounds the first region.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the third region is disposed outward of the second region.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the third region surrounds the second region.

21. A method for displaying navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving navigation information including;

first information related to a first region having a first level of detail;

second information related to a second region having a second level of detail;

wherein the first level of detail is different than the second level of detail and

wherein the first information and the second information are used to display a map showing both the first region and the second region together.

22. The method according to claim 21, Wherein the first level of detail is greater than the second level of detail.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein a third region is established, the third region having a third level of detail different than the first level of detail and the second level of detail.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the first region is established proximate the route.

25. A method for displaying navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving navigation information including a route first region associated with the route, having a first level of detail, and having a portion extending a first distance from the route;

the navigation information also including an end point first region associated with an end point, having the first level of detail, and extending a second distance from the end point;

wherein the first distance is less than the second distance; and

displaying a map showing the route first region and the end, point first region,

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the end point is a starting point.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the end point is a destination point.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the end point first region includes a second portion, the second portion extending a third distance from the end point, and wherein the first distance is less than the third distance.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the end point first region includes a second portion, the second portion extending a third distance from the end point, and wherein the first distance is greater then the third distance.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the first portion is established proximate the route.

31. A method for displaying navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving navigation information including a first region, a second region and a third region;

wherein the first region includes more detailed navigation information than the second region and wherein the second region includes more detailed navigation information than the third region;

wherein a route is located closer to the first region than the second region; and

displaying a map including the first region, the second region, the third region and the route together on the map.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the first region surrounds the route.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the second region is disposed outward of the first region.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the second region surrounds the first region.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the third region is disposed outward of the second region.