Walker navigation device, walker navigation method, and program

• US 7,428,461 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsunaga, Takayuki, Ohnishi, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/548,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/214, 342/357.01, 342/357.02
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator

Abstract

A pedestrian navigation device (10A) of this invention has a position information reception unit (12), which obtains current position information from a GPS (20); a position information analysis unit (13), which calculates the current position by analyzing received current position information; a MAPDB (Map Data Base) (14), which stores map information; a multi-path control unit (17), which specifies a multi-path control distance to control multi-path interference; a central processing portion (11), which calculates current position display information, based on the current position calculated by the position information analysis unit (13), on map information stored in the MAPDB (14), and on the multi-path control distance specified by the multi-path control unit (17); a display unit (15), which displays current position display information; and an input unit (16), which inputs distance specification value and route search conditions and issues instructions to begin navigation. By this means, a pedestrian navigation device is provided, which enables to accurately navigate the route of a pedestrian by appropriately correcting the multi-path interference.

Claims

1. A pedestrian navigation device for navigating the route of a pedestrian, comprising:

position information reception means for obtaining current position information;

position information analysis means for calculating a current position by analyzing said current position information received by said position information reception means;

map information storage means for storing map information;

multi-path control means for specifying a multi-path control distance to control multi-path interference;

central processing means for calculating current position display information, based on said current position calculated by said position information analysis means, on said map information stored by said map information storage means, and on said multi-path control distance specified by said multi-path control means;

display means for displaying said current position display information calculated by said central processing means; and

,

input means for inputting a distance specification value to specify said multi-path control distance; and

characterized in that

said multi-path control means specifies said multi-path control distance according to said distance specification value input by said input means.

2. The pedestrian navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that by said multi-path control means,

(a) if distance specification value is input by said input means, said multi-path control distance is specified according to said distance specification value;

but

(b) if distance specification value is not input by said input means, said multi-path control distance is specified, based on said current position calculated by said position information analysis means, and on mesh data of said map information stored by said map information storage means.

3. The pedestrian navigation device according to claim 2, characterized in that said position information reception means obtains current position information from a GPS(Global Positioning System).

4. The pedestrian navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that said position information reception means obtains current position information from a GPS(Global Positioning System).

5. A pedestrian navigation device for navigating the route of a pedestrian, comprising:

position information reception means for obtaining current position information;

position information analysis means for calculating current position by analyzing said current position information received by said position information reception means;

map information storage means for storing map information;

multi-path control means for specifying multi-path control distance to control multi-path interference;

multi-path history storage means for storing multi-path history information relating past multi-path control distance and map information;

central processing means for calculating current position display information, based on said current position calculated by said position information analysis means, on said map information stored by said map information storage means, and on said multi-path control distance specified by said multi-path control means;

display means for displaying said current position display information calculated by said central processing means; and

,

input means for inputting a distance specification value to specify said multi-path control distance; and

characterized in that by said multi-path control means,

(a) if the distance specification value is input by said input means, said multi-path control distance is specified according to said distance specification value;

but

(b) if the distance specification value is not input by said input means, said multi-path history information stored by said multi-path history storage means is searched, based on said current position calculated by said position information analysis means, and on said map information stored by said map information storage means; and

(b-1) if said multi-path history information is stored by said multi-path history storage means, said multi-path control distance is specified based on said multi-path history information;

but

(b-2) if said multi-path history information is not stored by said multi-path history storage means, said multi-path control distance is specified, based on said current position calculated by said position information analysis means, and on mesh data of said map information stored by said map information storage means.

6. The pedestrian navigation device according to claim 5, characterized in that said position information reception means obtains current position information from a GPS(Global Positioning System).

7. A pedestrian navigation method for navigating the route of a pedestrian, comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining current position information;

(B) calculating a current position by analyzing said obtained current position information;

(C) regarding a multi-path control distance to control multi-path interference,

(C-1) if the distance specification value is input, specifying a multi-path control distance according to said distance specification value₁₃ G but

(C-2) if the distance specification value is not input, specifying a multi-path control distance, based on said calculated current position, and on mesh data of said map information prepared beforehand; and

(D) calculating current position display information, based on said calculated current position, on map information prepared beforehand, and on said specified multi-path control distance; and

(E) displaying said calculated current position display information.

8. A computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for allowing a portable terminal to navigate a pedestrian route wherein the computer program logic is executable by a processor in the portable terminal to perform the method according to claim 7.

9. A pedestrian navigation method for navigating the route of a pedestrian, comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining current position information;

(B) calculating a current position by analyzing said obtained current position information;

(C) when specifying a multi-path control distance to control multi-path interference and in addition relating map information and the multi-path control distance to store as multi-path history information,

(C-1) if the distance specification value is input, said multi-path control distance is specified according to said distance specification value, and in addition map information and the multi-path control distance are related to be stored as multi-path history information;

but

(C-2) if the distance specification value is not input, multi-path history information is searched, based on said calculated current position, and on said map information prepared beforehand; and

(C-2-1) if said multi-path history information is stored, said multi-path control distance is specified based on said multi-path history information;

but

(C-2-2) if said multi-path history information is not stored, said multi-path control distance is specified, based on said calculated current position, and on mesh data of said map information prepared beforehand, and in addition map information and the multi-path control distance are related to be stored as multi-path history information;

(D) calculating current position display information, based on said calculated current position, on map information prepared beforehand, and on said specified multi-path control distance; and

(E) displaying said current position display information.

10. The pedestrian navigation method according to claim 9, characterized in that in said step (A), current position information is obtained from the GPS.

11. A computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for allowing a portable terminal to navigate a pedestrian route wherein the computer program logic is executable by a processor in the portable terminal to perform the method according to claim 10.

12. A computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for allowing a portable terminal to navigate a pedestrian route wherein the computer program logic is executable by a processor in the portable terminal to perform the method according to claim 9.