Navigation system, abridged map distribution apparatus and vehicle guiding method

• US 7,231,297 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sumizawa, Akio, Hayashi, Tomoyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/071,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/209, 701/210, 340/995.19, 340/995.21, 342/357.01, 342/191, 342/357.09
• 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

The navigation system according to the present invention, which guides a subject vehicle to a destination by displaying at a display monitor an arrow indicating the direction of the next turn instead of displaying a map includes a decision-making device that makes a decision as to whether or not the subject vehicle is currently located on a recommended route to a destination set in advance based upon the current position of the subject vehicle, an abridged map generating device that generates an abridged map by abridging a map based upon map data and a display control device that displays at the display monitor the abridged map and the subject vehicle position if the decision-making device determines that the subject vehicle is not currently located on the recommended route.

Claims

1. A navigation system that guides a subject vehicle to a destination by displaying at a display monitor an arrow indicating a direction of a next turn without displaying a map, comprising:

a decision-making device that makes a decision as to whether or not the subject vehicle is currently located on a recommended route to a destination set in advance based upon a current position of the subject vehicle;

an abridged map generating device that generates an abridged map by abridging a map based upon map data; and

a display control device that displays at the display monitor the abridged map and the subject vehicle position if the decision-making device determines that the subject vehicle is not currently located on the recommended route.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map by executing linearization processing and orthogonalization processing on road shapes.

3. A navigation system according to claim 2, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map over a predetermined map range in reference to the subject vehicle position.

4. A navigation system according to claim 3, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map over a map range determined based upon the subject vehicle position and a specific geographic point on the recommended route selected in correspondence to the subject vehicle position.

5. A navigation system according to claim 4, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map over a circular map range around the subject vehicle position over a radius extending over a length determined based upon a distance from the subject vehicle position to the specific geographic point.

6. A navigation system according to claim 5, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on a route-search eligible road that is closest to the subject vehicle position as the specific geographic point.

7. A navigation system according to claim 5, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on the recommended route last traveled by the subject vehicle as the specific geographic point.

8. A navigation system according to claim 4, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on a route-search eligible road that is closest to the subject vehicle position as the specific geographic point.

9. A navigation system according to claim 4, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on the recommended route last traveled by the subject vehicle as the specific geographic point.

10. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map over a predetermined map range in reference to the subject vehicle position.

11. A navigation system according to claim 10, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map over a map range determined based upon the subject vehicle position and a specific geographic point on the recommended route selected in correspondence to the subject vehicle position.

12. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein:

the abridged map generating device generates the abridged map over a circular map range around the subject vehicle position over a radius extending over a length determined based upon a distance from the subject vehicle position to the specific geographic point.

13. A navigation system according to claim 12, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on a route-search eligible road that is closest to the subject vehicle position as the specific geographic point.

14. A navigation system according to claim 12, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on the recommended route last traveled by the subject vehicle as the specific geographic point.

15. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on a route-search eligible road that is closest to the subject vehicle position as the specific geographic point.

16. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein:

the abridged map generating device selects a point on the recommended route last traveled by the subject vehicle as the specific geographic point.

17. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

the display control device rotates the abridged map so that the subject vehicle heading direction is oriented upward and displays the abridged map at the display monitor.

18. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein:

the display control device updates the subject vehicle position on the abridged map so that the subject vehicle position continues to be displayed with the abridged map at the display monitor until the subject vehicle moves onto the recommended route.

19. An abridged map distribution apparatus that generates an abridged map and distributes the abridged map to a navigation system that guides a subject vehicle to a destination by displaying at a display monitor an arrow indicating a direction of a next turn instead of displaying a map, comprising:

an abridged map generating device that generates an abridged map by abridging a map based upon map data if the abridged map distribution apparatus receives from the navigation system that the subject vehicle is not currently located on a recommended route; and

an abridged map distributing device that distributes the abridged map generated by the abridged map generating device to the navigation system.

20. A vehicle guiding method through which a subject vehicle is guided to a destination by displaying an arrow indicating a direction of a next turn instead of displaying a map, comprising:

making a decision as to whether or not the subject vehicle is currently located on a recommended route to a destination set in advance based upon a current position of the subject vehicle;

generating an abridged map by abridging a map based upon map data if the subject vehicle is determined to be located off the recommended route; and

displaying the abridged map with the subject vehicle position.

21. A navigation system that guides a subject vehicle to a destination by displaying at a display monitor an arrow indicating a direction of a next turn without displaying a map, comprising:

a decision-making device that makes a decision as to whether or not the subject vehicle is currently located on a recommended route to a destination set in advance based upon a current position of the subject vehicle;

an abridged map generating device that generates an abridged map to indicate a positional relationship between the subject vehicle and the recommended route by abridging a map based upon map data; and

a display control device that displays at the display monitor the abridged map and the subject vehicle position if the decision-making device determines that the subject vehicle is not currently located on the recommended route.

22. An abridged map distribution apparatus that generates an abridged map and distributes the abridged map to a navigation system that guides a subject vehicle to a destination by displaying at a display monitor an arrow indicating a direction of a next turn instead of displaying a map, comprising:

an abridged map generating device that generates an abridged map to indicate a positional relationship between the subject vehicle and a recommended route by abridging a map based upon map data if the abridged map distribution apparatus receives from the navigation system that the subject vehicle is not currently located on a recommended route; and

an abridged map distributing device that distributes the abridged map generated by the abridged map generating device to the navigation system.

23. A vehicle guiding method through which a subject vehicle is guided to a destination by displaying an arrow indicating a direction of a next turn instead of displaying a map, comprising:

making a decision as to whether or not the subject vehicle is currently located on a recommended route to a destination set in advance based upon a current position of the subject vehicle;

generating an abridged map to indicate a positional relationship between the subject vehicle and a recommended route by abridging a map based upon map data if the subject vehicle is determined to be located off the recommended route; and

displaying the abridged map with the subject vehicle position.