Method for providing navigation instructions

• US 7,440,851 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Draeger, Gerd, Friedrichs, Arne, Skwarek, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/494,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,252 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions

Abstract

A method for making destination guidance instructions available to a user, wherein at least two direction indications, from a current position to waypoints and to a destination, respectively, are prepared and are outputted for the user. At least one distance indication is also prepared. Output of these indications may be accomplished simultaneously on a display. Output of these indications may be used in a region where no known map data or route data are available to the user.

Claims

1. A method for making destination guidance instructions available to a user, comprising:

preparing at least one first direction indication proceeding from a current position of the user to a first destination-guidance waypoint that is close to the user and about which the user possesses map data or route data;

preparing at least one second direction indication from the current position to a destination or to a second destination-guidance waypoint that is closer to the destination than the first destination-guidance waypoint;

outputting the prepared direction indications simultaneously; and

preparing, for the prepared at least two direction indications, at least one distance indication, corresponding to one of the at least two direction indications; and

outputting to the user the at least one distance indication, together with the at least two direction indications;

wherein one of the first direction indication and the second direction indication is depicted in a foreground on a display, and

wherein a shortest of the at least two direction indications is always presented to the user in the foreground on the display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distance indication is depicted as a directional arrow on a display.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distance indication is depicted as a distance bar inside the at least one distance indication.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the at least two direction indications are outputted on a display together with descriptive attributes.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the descriptive attributes include at least one of a waypoint name and a street name.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predefined reference direction is outputted on a display in addition to the at least two direction indications.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined reference direction is compass North.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an at least one direction indication and the at least one distance indication are outputted acoustically.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the first direction indication and the distance indication depicted in the foreground on the display are outputted acoustically.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distance indication is outputted in text form.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the at least one direction indication and the at least one distance indication, the geometry of a map or route known to the user'"'"'s own navigation device is depicted in a background of a display.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the at least one direction indication and the at least one distance indication, a track recorded in an off-road region is depicted in a background of a display.

13. A method for making destination guidance instructions available to a user, comprising:

preparing at least one first direction indication proceeding from a current position of the user to a first destination-guidance waypoint that is close to the user and about which the user possesses map data or route data;

preparing at least one second direction indication from the current position to a destination or to a second destination-guidance waypoint that is closer to the destination than the first destination-guidance waypoint;

outputting the prepared direction indications simultaneously; and

preparing, for the prepared at least two direction indications, at least one distance indication, corresponding to one of the at least two direction indications; and

outputting to the user the at least one distance indication, together with the at least two direction indications;

wherein one of the first direction indication and the second direction indication is depicted in a foreground on a display, and

wherein the most favorable for the user of the at least two direction indications is always presented to the user in the foreground on the display.

14. A method for making destination guidance instructions available to a user, comprising:

preparing at least one first direction indication proceeding from a current position of the user to a first destination-guidance waypoint that is close to the user and about which the user possesses map data or route data;

preparing at least one second direction indication from the current position to a destination or to a second destination-guidance waypoint that is closer to the destination than the first destination-guidance waypoint;

outputting the prepared direction indications simultaneously; and

preparing, for the prepared at least two direction indications, at least one distance indication, corresponding to one of the at least two direction indications; and

outputting to the user the at least one distance indication, together with the at least two direction indications;

wherein one of the first direction indication and the second direction indication is depicted in a foreground on a display, and

wherein the presentation of the at least two direction indications is individually adjustable by the user.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least two direction indications depicted in the foreground on the display is the one currently more important by the user.