Navigation system, route search method, and storage medium

• US 7,647,167 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Apline Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Yamakage, Iwao
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMPLE, JONATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US11/406,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/200, 701/207, 701/209, 701/300
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map

Abstract

There are provided a navigation system, a route search method and a storage medium which are easily capable of setting a destination even if a telephone number, which is not contained in a storage device, is entered. A route search processing unit, in the case where, for example, positions corresponding to telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of the entered telephone number are four or more, selects four telephone numbers that are approximate to the entered telephone number, and sets the point of intersection, which is formed when the positions corresponding to the selected telephone numbers are connected diagonally by straight lines, as a destination. The route search processing unit searches for a route from the position of a user'"'"'s car, which is calculated by a vehicle position measuring unit, to a point that is set as a destination.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a storage unit that stores map data including positions corresponding to telephone numbers; and

a route search processing unit that sets a destination, wherein in the case where a position corresponding to a telephone number entered by a user is not stored in said storage unit and positions corresponding to one or more telephone numbers that match a number expressing the area of said entered telephone number are stored in said storage unit, the route search processing unit selects a predetermined number of telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number, and sets a destination based on positions corresponding to said selected telephone numbers to search for a route.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

in the case where positions corresponding to the telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number are four or more, said route search processing unit selects four of said telephone numbers and sets the point of intersection, which is formed when the positions corresponding to said telephone numbers are connected diagonally by straight lines, as a destination.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

in the case where positions corresponding to the telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number are two or more and less than four, said route search processing unit selects two of said telephone numbers and sets a central point, which is formed at the center when the positions corresponding to said telephone numbers are connected by a straight line, as a destination.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

in the case where only one telephone number matches the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number, said route search processing unit selects the telephone number and sets a position corresponding to the telephone number as a destination.

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

a display unit that displays a cursor, which indicates a predetermined range including a destination set by said route search processing unit, on said map data.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

in the case where a set destination is an inappropriate point, said route search processing unit resets a nearby appropriate point as a destination.

7. The navigation system according to claim 6, wherein

said inappropriate point is an inaccessible point.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

said selected telephone numbers are telephone numbers approximate to said entered telephone number.

9. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

the number expressing said area is an office number.

10. A route search method comprising:

storing map data including positions corresponding to telephone numbers; and

selecting a predetermined number of telephone numbers that match a number expressing the area of a telephone number entered by a user when a position corresponding to said entered telephone number is not stored and positions corresponding to one or more telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number are stored, and setting a destination based on positions corresponding to said selected telephone numbers to search for a route.

11. The route search method according to claim 10, wherein

in the case where positions corresponding to the telephone numbers that match the area of said entered telephone number are four or more, four of said telephone numbers are selected, and the point of intersection, which is formed when the positions corresponding to said telephone numbers are connected diagonally by straight lines, is set as a destination.

12. The route search method according to claim 10, wherein

in the case where positions corresponding to the telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number are two or more and less than four, two of said telephone numbers are selected, and a central point, which is formed at the center when the positions corresponding to said telephone numbers are connected by a straight line, is set as a destination.

13. The route search method according to claim 10, wherein

in the case where only one telephone number that matches the number expressing the area of said entered telephone number, the telephone number is selected and a position corresponding to the telephone number is set as a destination.

14. The route search method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying a cursor, which indicates a predetermined range including a destination set by said route search method, on said map data.

15. The route search method according to claim 10, wherein

said selected telephone numbers are telephone numbers approximate to said entered telephone number.

16. The route search method according to claim 10, wherein

in the case where a set destination is an inappropriate point, said route search processing unit resets a nearby appropriate point as a destination.

17. The route search method according to claim 16, wherein

said inappropriate point is an inaccessible point.

18. The route search method according to claim 10, wherein

the number expressing said area is an office number.

19. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for executing the route search method according to claim 10.