Selective rendering of cartographic entities for a navigation system

• US 7,170,518 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Didi (HK) Science and Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
• Inventors: Palanisamy, Chandiran, Millington, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMINI, JAVID A
• Application Number:
  US09/535,733
• Time in Patent Office: 2,500 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/211, 701/200, 701/201, 701/65, 345/427, 345/418, 345/428
• US Class Current: 345/428
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A method of selectively providing cartographic features on a video display of a navigation system for improved rendering is provided. The method includes the steps of determining an operational mode of the navigation system, selecting a desired cartographic entity for a cartographic feature based upon the operational mode, and displaying the desired cartographic entity on the video display. For example, less detailed cartographic entities are selected for display when the navigation system is in an operational mode that requires the video display to be updated frequently ore a mode in which it is desirable to focus the user'"'"'s attention on a different cartographic entity. The less detailed cartographic entity may have a lower intensity than or contrast less with surrounding cartographic entities. In this manner, the user may be provided the desired level of map details with the video display regenerated rapidly.

Claims

1. A method of selectively displaying cartographic features on a video display of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining an operational mode of the navigation system, wherein the navigation system includes first and second operational modes with the first operational mode comprising an on-road mode in which a vehicle position is displayed relative to a road system and with the second operational mode comprising an off-road mode in which the vehicle position is displayed irrelative to a road system;

b) selecting a desired cartographic entity for a cartographic feature based upon the operational mode including selecting a less detailed desired cartographic entity for the cartographic feature in the first operational mode and selecting a more detailed desired cartographic entity than the less detailed desired cartographic entity for the same cartographic feature in the second operational mode; and

c) displaying the selected desired cartographic entity on the video display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the less detailed desired cartographic entity is no cartographic entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first cartographic entity is displayed when the navigation system is in off-road mode and said first cartographic entity is not displayed when the navigation system is in on-road mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation system includes a third operational mode comprising on-road guidance mode, and step b) includes selecting a least detailed desired cartographic entity that is one of the same as the less detailed desired cartographic entity and a less detailed version of the less detailed desired cartographic entity than the less detailed desired cartographic entity for the on-road mode.

5. A method of selectively displaying cartographic features on a video display of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining an operational mode of the navigation system, wherein the navigation system includes first and second operational modes and the first operational mode is defined by a predetermined vehicle speed;

b) selecting a desired cartographic entity for a cartographic feature based upon reaching the predetermined vehicle speed in the first operational mode including selecting a less detailed desired cartographic entity for the cartographic feature at the predetermined vehicle speed in the first operational mode and selecting a more detailed desired cartographic entity than the less detailed desired cartographic entity for the same cartographic feature in the second operational mode; and

c) displaying the select desired cartographic entity on the video display.

6. A method of selectively displaying cartographic features on a video display of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining an operational mode of the navigation system, wherein the navigation system includes first and second operational modes and the first operational mode comprises a panning mode in which a displayed area on the video display is shifted relative to a displayed vehicle location independent of a change in vehicle location;

b) selecting a desired cartographic entity for a cartographic feature based upon the operational mode including selecting a less detailed desired cartographic entity for the cartographic feature in the first operational mode and selecting a more detailed desired cartographic entity than the less detailed desired cartographic entity for the same cartographic feature in the second operational mode; and

c) displaying the selected desired cartographic entity on the video display.

7. A method of selectively displaying cartographic features on a video display of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining an operational mode of the navigation system, wherein the navigation system includes first and second operational modes and a less detailed desired cartographic entity is defined by a perimeter with cross-hatching disposed within the perimeter and a more detailed desired cartographic entity is defined by a perimeter with solid shading disposed within the perimeter;

b) selecting a desired cartographic entity for a cartographic feature based upon the operational mode including selecting a less detailed desired cartographic entity for the cartographic feature in the first operational mode and selecting a more detailed desired cartographic entity than the less detailed desired cartographic entity for the same cartographic feature in the second operational mode; and

c) displaying the selected desired cartographic entity on the video display.

8. A method of selectively displaying cartographic features on a video display of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining an operational mode of the navigation system;

b) selecting a first cartographic entity for a first cartographic feature based upon the operational mode, wherein the first cartographic entity is a vehicle route having a first intensity, and selecting a second intensity for a second desired cartographic entity for a second cartographic feature which is different than the first intensity; and

c) simultaneously displaying the first and second desired cartographic entities on the video display;

wherein the operation mode comprises on-road guidance mode in which a vehicle position is displayed relative to a road system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second intensities are selected from a color palette having a plurality of colors.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of colors are defined by blue, green, and red values with the first intensity having first blue, green, and red values and the second intensity having second blue, green, and red values that are a percentage of the first blue, green, and red values, respectively.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first intensity is approximately twenty-five percent less than the second intensity wherein the first blue, green, and red values are approximately twenty-five percent less than the second blue, green, and red values, respectively.

12. An apparatus for a navigation system configured to selectively display cartographic features, the apparatus comprising:

at least one position determining device for providing a vehicle location signal;

a database having a map with cartographic features and cartographic entities configured to represent said cartographic features;

a processor interconnected to said at least one positioning device and said database the processor operable to determine the location of the vehicle relative to said map;

a video display connected to said processor operable to display an area of said map;

a plurality of operational modes each mode operable to display said map area, wherein said processor is configured to determine an operational mode from said plurality of said operational modes and to select a desired cartographic entity for a cartographic feature based upon said operational mode, said processor configured to display said selected desired cartographic entity on said video display, wherein said plurality of operational modes includes first and second operational modes, and said processor is configured to select a less detailed desired cartographic entity for said cartographic feature in said first operational mode and to select a more detailed desired cartographic entity than said less detailed desired cartographic entity for said same cartographic feature in said second operational mode, and wherein said first operational mode comprises an on-road mode in which a vehicle position is displayed relative to a road system and said second operational mode comprises an off-road mode in which said vehicle position is displayed irrelative to a road system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said less detailed desired cartographic entity is no cartographic entity.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first operational mode is defined by a predetermined vehicle speed.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first operational mode comprises a panning mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said less detailed desired cartographic entity is defined by a perimeter with cross-hatching disposed within said perimeter and said more detailed cartographic entity is defined by said perimeter with solid shading disposed within said perimeter.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a first cartographic entity is displayed when said apparatus is in said off-road mode and said first cartographic entity is not displayed when said apparatus is in said on-road mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said apparatus includes a third operational mode comprising an on-road guidance mode relating to navigation guidance of the vehicle while traversing a road, and said processor is further operable to select a least detailed desired cartographic entity that is one of the same as said less detailed desired cartographic entity and a less detailed version of said less detailed desired cartographic entity.

19. A method of displaying a cartographic feature on a video display of a navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining an operational mode of the navigation system;

b) selecting a first desired intensity for a first desired cartographic entity defining a first cartographic entity based upon the operational mode and selecting a second desired intensity for a second desired cartographic entity based upon the operational mode; and

c) simultaneously displaying the first and second desired cartographic entity on the video display at the desired intensities;

wherein the operational mode comprises on-road guidance mode in which a vehicle position is displayed relative to a road system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first cartographic entity is a vehicle route having a vehicle route intensity and step b) includes selecting the desired intensity for the desired cartographic entity which is different than the vehicle route intensity.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the vehicle route intensity and desired intensity are selected from a color palette having a plurality of colors.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of colors is defined by blue, green, and red values with the vehicle route intensity having first blue, green, and red values and the second desired intensity having second blue, green, and red values that are a percentage of the first blue, green, and red values, respectively.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the desired intensity is approximately twenty-five percent less than the vehicle route intensity wherein the first, blue, green and red values are approximately twenty-five percent less than the second blue, green, and red values, respectively.