Navigation system

• US 7,774,135 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US11/244,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/208, 701/211, 701/200, 701/207, 701/214, 340/995, 340/988, 455/456, 705/14, 348/9, 395/200.47, 715/740
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

Disclosed are a navigation system and/or a point information display method and a program. The navigation system consists mainly of: a stream receiver that receives broadcast streams; a data decoder that samples a data signal from the received streams and decodes the data signal into character string information; a matching block that performs matching to compare a predetermined keyword, which is associated with position information specified in map information data, with stored keywords and searches a keyword consistent with the keyword contained in the character string information; a position information searching block that searches position information associated with the keyword contained in the character string information and detected to be consistent with a stored keyword by the matching block; and a display unit that displays the detected position information while superimposing it on a display image.

Claims

1. A program stored on a computer readable medium and having instructions for controlling an information processor, in a portable system, that displays a map image and point information, said program being executed by said information processor and configured to provide the map image display comprising:

receiving a broadcast stream that includes a broadcast content having a commercial message;

automatically extracting a character string from the broadcast stream;

automatically identifying a matching keyword corresponding to the character string from a plurality of keywords provided in a keyword dictionary, the plurality of keywords respectively corresponding to businesses, such that a given business corresponds to the matched keyword; and

upon automatically identifying the matching keyword;

automatically searching for the given business in the direction of advancement of the portable system, the business associated with the commercial message;

automatically identifying point information for a landmark associated with the given business; and

automatically displaying the point information for the landmark superimposed on the map image such that the landmark for the given business is visually indicated on the map image, wherein the map image is displayed according to a navigational position of the portable system and the landmark is displayed in the direction of advancement of the portable system.

2. The program of claim 1, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image by having the landmark in a color that is different from that of the other landmarks.

3. The program of claim 1, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image by having the landmark flicker.

4. The program of claim 1, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image while the commercial message is being viewed or heard by a user.

5. The program of claim 1, wherein the broadcast content includes timing information for synchronizing the commercial message with the processing of the keyword information.

6. The program of claim 1, further comprising switching from displaying broadcast content to a map area display containing the landmark superimposed within the map area display.

7. The program of claim 1, further comprising switching from displaying broadcast content to a map area display containing the landmark superimposed within the map area display, while playing audio content of the commercial message and the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image while the audio content is played.

8. A system for controlling an information processor, in a portable system, that displays a map image and point information, the system comprising:

means for receiving a broadcast stream that includes a broadcast content having a commercial message;

means for automatically extracting a character string from the broadcast stream;

means for automatically identifying a matching keyword corresponding to the character string from a plurality of keywords provided in a keyword dictionary, the plurality of keywords respectively corresponding to businesses, such that a given business corresponds to the matched keyword; and

means for upon automatically identifying the matching keyword;

automatically searching for the given business in the direction of advancement of the portable system, the business associated with the commercial message;

automatically identifying point information for a landmark associated with the given business; and

automatically displaying the point information for the landmark superimposed on the map image such that the landmark for the given business is visually indicated on the map image, wherein the map image is displayed according to a navigational position of the portable system and the landmark is displayed in the direction of advancement of the portable system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image by having the landmark in a color that is different from that of the other landmarks.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image by having the landmark flicker.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image while the commercial message is being viewed or heard by a user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the broadcast content includes timing information for synchronizing the commercial message with the processing of the keyword information.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising switching from displaying broadcast content to a map area display containing the landmark superimposed within the map area display.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising switching from displaying broadcast content to a map area display containing the landmark superimposed within the map area display, while playing audio content of the commercial message and the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image while the audio content is played.

15. A computer implemented method, performed by a portable system, for displaying a map image and point information, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast stream that includes a broadcast content having a commercial message,

automatically extracting a character string from the broadcast stream;

automatically identifying a matching keyword corresponding to the character string from a plurality of keywords provided in a keyword dictionary, the plurality of keywords respectively corresponding to businesses, such that a given business corresponds to the matched keyword; and

upon automatically identifying the matching keyword;

automatically searching for the given business in the direction of advancement of the portable system, the business associated with the commercial message;

automatically identifying point information for a landmark associated with the given business; and

automatically displaying the point information for the landmark superimposed on the map image such that the landmark for the given business is visually indicated on the map image, wherein the map image is displayed according to a navigational position of the portable system and the landmark is displayed in the direction of advancement of the portable system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image by having the landmark in a color that is different from that of the other landmarks.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image by having the landmark flicker.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image while the commercial message is being viewed or heard by a user.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the broadcast content includes timing information for synchronizing the commercial message with the processing of the keyword information.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising switching from displaying broadcast content to a map area display containing the landmark superimposed within the map area display.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising switching from displaying broadcast content to a map area display containing the landmark superimposed within the map area display, while playing audio content of the commercial message and the landmark is visually distinguished from other landmarks on the map image while the audio content is played.

22. A system for controlling an information processor, in a portable system, that displays a map image and point information, the system comprising:

a reception portion that receives a broadcast stream that includes a broadcast content having a commercial message,

an extraction portion that automatically extracts a character string from the broadcast stream;

an identification portion that automatically identifies a matching keyword corresponding to the character string from a plurality of keywords provided in a keyword dictionary, the plurality of keywords respectively corresponding to businesses, such that a given business corresponds to the matched keyword; and

a display update portion that, upon automatically identifying the matching keyword;

automatically searches for the given business in the direction of advancement of the portable system, the business associated with the commercial message;

automatically identifies point information for a landmark associated with the given business; and

automatically displays the point information for the landmark superimposed on the map image such that the landmark for the given business is visually indicated on the map image, wherein the map image is displayed according to a navigational position of the portable system and the landmark is displayed in the direction of advancement of the portable system.