Method and apparatus for inputting data indicating tentative destination for navigation system

• US 7,640,099 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): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/732,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/206, 701/209, 701/211, 701/300, 340/995.16, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233

Abstract

A method and apparatus allows a user to input a tentative destination which is proximate to an intended destination when the address data for the intended destination is not found in the map database. The method includes the steps of allowing a user to specifying an intended destination in the navigation system and searching address data for the intended destination, notifying the user that the address data is not found in the map database, selecting a method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination which is considered proximate to the intended destination, allowing the user to specify the tentative destination through the selected input method, and determining a location of the tentative destination and detecting address data indicating the location of the tentative destination.

Claims

1. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:

allowing a user to specify an intended destination in the navigation system and searching address data indicating the intended destination in a map database of the navigation system;

through a display screen of the navigation system, notifying the user that the address data indicating the intended destination is not found in the map database and prompting the user to determine whether to proceed for finding a partial route to the intended destination;

selecting a method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination which is considered proximate to the intended destination;

allowing the user to specify the tentative destination in the navigation system through the selected input method; and

determining a location of the tentative destination and detecting address data indicating the location of the tentative destination for calculating the partial route to the intended destination.

2. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of conducting a route guidance operation to the tentative destination.

3. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of detecting the address data of the tentative destination includes a step of determining the address data based on map data indicating road segments constituting a street that is associated with the tentative destination.

4. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a street name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a middle point of the street specified by the user and determining the address data of the middle point.

5. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an intersection which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination by selecting two street names.

6. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a city name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a center point of the city specified by the user and determining the address data of the center point.

7. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an area by a zip code which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a center point of the area specified by zip code and determining the address data of the center point.

8. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify a street name, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding a middle point of the specified street within the specified geographical area and determining the address data of the middle point.

9. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify an intersection by selecting two street names, and wherein said step of determining the location of the tentative destination includes a step of finding the intersection within the specified geographical area.

10. A method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 1, wherein said navigation system displays a list of candidate street names so that the user selects one or more street names from the list.

11. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination for a navigation system, comprising:

an input device for allowing a user to specify an intended destination in the navigation system and searching address data indicating the intended destination in a map database of the navigation system;

a display for notifying the user that the address data indicating the intended destination is not found in the map database and prompting the user to determine whether to proceed for finding a partial route to the intended destination;

a CPU for controlling an overall operation of the navigation system where the CPU controls the display to show a screen so that the user can select a method for inputting data indicating a tentative destination which is considered proximate to the intended destination;

wherein the input device and the display allow the user to specify the tentative destination in the navigation system through the selected input method; and

wherein the CPU determines a location of the tentative destination and detects address data indicating the location of the tentative destination for calculating the partial route to the intended destination.

12. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein the navigation system conducts a route guidance operation to the tentative destination based on the address data determined by the CPU.

13. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said CPU detects the address data based on map data indicating road segments constituting a street that is associated with the tentative destination.

14. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a street name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said CPU detects a middle point of the street specified by the user and determines the address data of the middle point.

15. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an intersection which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination by selecting two street names.

16. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a city name which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said CPU detects a center point of the city specified by the user and determines the address data of the center point.

17. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify an area by a zip code which is considered by the user proximate to the intended destination, and wherein said CPU detects a center point of the area specified by zip code and determines the address data of the center point.

18. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify a street name, and wherein said CPU detects a middle point of the specified street within the specified geographical area and determines the address data of the middle point.

19. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said input method allows the user to specify a geographical area by a city name or a zip code and also to specify an intersection by selecting two street names, and wherein said CPU detects the intersection within the specified geographical area and determines the address data of the intersection.

20. An apparatus for inputting data indicating a tentative destination as defined in claim 11, wherein said navigation system displays a list of candidate street names so that the user selects one or more street names from the list.