Navigation system

• US 7,623,964 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Toma, Kazuhiro, Tada, Takahiko, Kijima, Shoji, Koseki, Hitoshi, Hamada, Yuko, Morita, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/541,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 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

Abstract

A navigation system includes: an intersection enlargement creation unit that creates based upon map data an intersection enlargement over a predetermined map range around a target guidance-requiring intersection present on a recommended route, at which a turn should be made; an intersection enlargement display unit that displays at a display monitor the intersection enlargement having been created by the intersection enlargement creation unit; and a mark display unit that displays an indicator mark indicating an advancing path shape at a next guidance-requiring intersection immediately beyond the target guidance-requiring intersection over the intersection enlargement on display at the display monitor.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

an intersection enlargement creation unit that creates based upon map data an intersection enlargement over a predetermined map range around a target guidance-requiring intersection present on a recommended route, at which a turn should be made;

an intersection enlargement display unit that displays at a display monitor the intersection enlargement having been created by the intersection enlargement creation unit; and

a mark display unit that displays an indicator mark indicating an advancing path shape at a next guidance-requiring intersection immediately beyond the target guidance-requiring intersection over the intersection enlargement on display at the display monitor.

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

when the next guidance-requiring intersection is a circular intersection, the mark display unit displays a circular intersection mark indicating the advancing path shape at the next guidance-requiring intersection as the indicator mark.

3. A navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first decision-making unit that makes a decision based upon road type information recorded in the map data as to whether or not the next guidance-requiring intersection is a circular intersection, wherein;

if the first decision-making unit determines that the next guidance-requiring intersection is a circular intersection, the mark display unit displays the circular intersection mark, whereas if the first decision-making unit does not determine that the next guidance-requiring intersection is a circular intersection, the mark display unit does not display the circular intersection mark.

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

when the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within a predetermined range outside the map range for the intersection enlargement, the mark display unit displays a regular intersection mark indicating the advancing path shape at the next guidance-requiring intersection as the indicator mark.

5. A navigation system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second decision-making unit that makes a decision based upon a distance from the target guidance-requiring intersection to the next guidance-requiring intersection as to whether or not the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within the predetermined range, wherein;

if the second decision-making unit determines that the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within the predetermined range, the mark display unit displays the regular intersection mark, whereas if the second decision-making unit does not determine that the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within the predetermined range, the mark display unit does not display the regular intersection mark.

6. A navigation system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second decision-making unit that makes a decision based upon a distance from a boundary of the map range for the intersection enlargement to the next guidance-requiring intersection as to whether or not the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within the predetermined range, wherein;

if the second decision-making unit determines that the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within the predetermined range, the mark display unit displays the regular intersection mark, whereas if the second decision-making unit does not determine that the next guidance-requiring intersection is present within the predetermined range, the mark display unit does not display the regular intersection mark.

7. A navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a distance decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not a distance to the target guidance-requiring intersection is equal to or less than a predetermined specific value and;

an abridged map creation unit that creates an abridged map by simplifying shapes of roads present within the predetermined map range if the distance decision-making unit determines that the distance to the target guidance-requiring intersection is equal to or less than the predetermined value, wherein;

the intersection enlargement creation unit creates the intersection enlargement based upon the abridged map created by the abridged map creation unit.

8. A navigation method, comprising:

creating an intersection enlargement for a target guidance-requiring intersection present on a recommended route, at which a turn should be made, based upon map data over a predetermined map range;

displaying the intersection enlargement having been created at a display monitor; and

displaying an indicator mark indicating an advancing path shape at a next guidance-requiring intersection present immediately beyond the target guidance-requiring intersection over the intersection enlargement on display at the display monitor.