Method and apparatus for displaying route guidance list for navigation system

• US 7,639,163 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tran, Thai
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/732,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.15, 340/995.16, 340/995.23, 340/995.27, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.21, 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209
• US Class Current: 340/995.19
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a navigation system displays a route guidance list that lists information on roads that intersect with a calculated route to the destination in an organized and simplified manner. The method includes the steps of calculating a route to a destination specified by a user, retrieving information on intersecting roads that intersect with the calculated route; and displaying a route guidance list which lists road names on which the calculated route is established and a distance associated with the intersecting road. The route guidance list shows one integrated road name if there are two or more identical road names consecutively on the calculated route and an overall distance of the identical road names that intersect with the calculated route.

Claims

1. A display method for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:

calculating a route to a destination specified by a user for performing a route guidance operation to the destination;

retrieving information on intersecting roads that intersect with the calculated route; and

displaying a route guidance list which lists road names on which the calculated route is established and a distance and a maneuver indicator informing a maneuvering direction associated with the intersecting road;

wherein the route guidance list shows one integrated road name if there are two or more identical road names consecutively on the calculated route and an overall distance that is a sum of all the distances associated with the intersecting roads of the identical road names that intersect with the calculated route.

2. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of changing the route guidance list to show a list of the identical road names that are broken down from the integrated road name.

3. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein said step of changing the route guidance list from the one showing the broken down road names to the one showing the integrated name is conducted by operating a switch on the navigation system.

4. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 2, further comprising a step of displaying an indicator showing that a road name indicated in the route guidance list is the integrated road name of two or more identical road names.

5. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the route guidance list that shows the broken down road names also shows the integrated road name at a top of the broken down road names.

6. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein information regarding the broken down road names are indented with respect to information regarding other entries in the route guidance list, thereby distinguishing the information on the broken down road names from that of the other entries.

7. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein information regarding the broken down road names are expressed by different font or size with respect to information regarding other entries in the route guidance list, thereby distinguishing the information on the broken down road names from that of the other entries.

8. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of changing the route guidance list to show a list of the identical road names that are broken down from the integrated road name or changing back the route guidance list to show the integrated road name.

9. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 8, wherein said step of changing the route guidance list between the one showing the broken down road names and the one showing the integrated name is conducted by operating a switch on the navigation system.

10. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 8, further comprising a step of displaying an indicator showing that a road name indicated in the route guidance list is the integrated road name of two or more identical road names.

11. A display apparatus for a navigation system, comprising:

means for calculating a route to a destination specified by a user for performing a route guidance operation to the destination;

means for retrieving information on intersecting roads that intersect with the calculated route; and

means for displaying a route guidance list which lists road names on which the calculated route is established and a distance and a maneuver indicator informing a maneuvering direction associated with the intersecting road;

wherein the route guidance list shows one integrated road name if there are two or more identical road names consecutively on the calculated route and an overall distance that is a sum of all the distances associated with the intersecting roads of the identical road names that intersect with the calculated route.

12. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for changing the route guidance list to show a list of the identical road names that are broken down from the integrated road name.

13. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for changing the route guidance list from the one showing the broken down road names to the one showing the integrated name is conducted by operating a switch on the navigation system.

14. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 12, further comprising means for displaying an indicator showing that a road name indicated in the route guidance list is the integrated road name of two or more identical road names.

15. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein the route guidance list that shows the broken down road names also shows the integrated road name at a top of the broken down road names.

16. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein information regarding the broken down road names are indented with respect to information regarding other entries in the route guidance list, thereby distinguishing the information on the broken down road names from that of the other entries.

17. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein information regarding the broken down road names are expressed by different font or size with respect to information regarding other entries in the route guidance list, thereby distinguishing the information on the broken down road names from that of the other entries.

18. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for changing the route guidance list to show a list of the identical road names that are broken down from the integrated road name or changing back the route guidance list to show the integrated road name.

19. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 18, wherein said means for changing the route guidance list between the one showing the broken down road names and the one showing the integrated name is conducted by operating a switch on the navigation system.

20. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 18, further comprising means for displaying an indicator showing that a road name indicated in the route guidance list is the integrated road name of two or more identical road names.