Navigation system and landmark highlighting method

• US 7,541,945 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakashima, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/598,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.24, 340/995.23, 340/995.19, 340/995.14, 340/995.12, 340/995.16, 340/995.15, 340/995.26, 340/990, 340/995.1, 701/202, 701/211
• US Class Current: 340/995.24
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A control circuit memorizes identification information of a landmark and a visits count relative to a spot assigned the landmark, in a visits count storing unit. The control circuit updates the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit when the spot assigned the landmark is visited. When a certain landmark becomes included in a map display range on a display unit, the control circuit refers to the visits count storing unit to determine whether a visits count relative to the certain landmark is greater than a predetermined count. The certain landmark is highlighted on the map when the visits count is determined to be greater than the predetermined count.

Claims

1. A navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the system comprising:

a visits count storing unit that stores (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

a visits count update unit that updates the visits count in the visits count storing unit when the spot is visited;

a daily activity area defining unit that defines a daily activity area; and

a highlighting unit that

(i) refers to the visits count storing unit when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit,

(ii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(iii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area,

wherein

the daily activity area defining unit

(i) memorizes a first minimum value and a first maximum value in latitude and a second minimum value and a second maximum value in longitude within an activity range undergone for a predetermined time period, and

(ii) defines as a daily activity area a rectangular coordinate range defined by the first and second maximum values and the first and second minimum values.

2. A navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the system comprising:

a visits count storing unit that stores (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

a visits count update unit that updates the visits count in the visits count storing unit when the spot is visited;

a daily activity area defining unit that defines a daily activity area; and

a highlighting unit that

(i) refers to the visits count storing unit when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit,

(ii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(iii) highlights the landmark when the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area,

wherein

the daily activity area defining unit,

(i) when a predetermined time period elapses, increases the first and second minimum values and decreases the first and second maximum values to thereby decrease the daily activity area, and

(ii) when the system gets out of the daily activity area, updates the first and second minimum values and the first and second maximum values to thereby increase the daily activity area.

3. A landmark highlighting method used in a navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the method comprising:

storing (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

updating the stored visits count when the spot is visited;

defining a daily activity area; and

referring to the stored visits count when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit

(i) to highlight the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(ii) to highlight the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area,

wherein

when the daily activity area is defined,

(i) a first minimum value and a first maximum value in latitude and a second minimum value and a second maximum value in longitude within an activity range undergone for a predetermined time period are memorized, and

(ii) a rectangular coordinate range defined by the first and second maximum values and the first and second minimum values is defined as the daily activity area.

4. A landmark highlighting method used in a navigation system displaying in a display unit a map and a landmark assigned to a spot, the method comprising:

storing (i) identification information of a landmark assigned to a spot and (ii) a visits count relative to the spot;

updating the stored visits count when the spot is visited;

defining a daily activity area; and

referring to the stored visits count when the spot is included in a map display range in the display unit

(i) to highlight the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a first predetermined value when the spot is included in the daily activity area, and

(ii) to highlight the landmark when the stored visits count is greater than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, when the spot is included in a not-daily activity area,

wherein

(i) when a predetermined time period elapses, the first and second minimum values are increased and the first and second maximum values are decreased to thereby decrease the daily activity area, and

(ii) when the system gets out of the daily activity area, the first and second minimum values and the first and second maximum values are updated to thereby increase the daily activity area.