Turn-by-turn navigation system and next direction guidance method using the same

• US 7,844,394 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Hee Jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto; Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/892,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.17, 340/995.14, 340/995.2, 340/995.27, 701/206
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A turn-by-turn navigation system includes a positioning module receiving position information and updating real time road information on a road where a car is currently located, a map database storing map information required for driving the car, a route planning/route guidance module receiving the real time road information and the map information and generating current guidance information and next guidance information, a turn-by-turn graphic user interface module receiving the current and next guidance information and generating current and next guidance images, and an image display unit displaying the current and next guidance images.

Claims

1. A turn-by-turn navigation system, comprising:

a positioning unit configured to recognize position information and update real time information related to a road on which a vehicle is currently located based on information received from a satellite;

a map unit configured to store information related to a navigation route between a current vehicle position and an identified destination;

a guidance unit configured to process the real time information related to the road and the information related to the navigation route and generate current guidance information and next guidance information;

a graphic unit configured to process the current guidance information and next guidance information and generate a current guidance image and a next guidance image, the current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and indicating a current direction of travel and a direction of a next maneuver and the next guidance image based on a projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and indicating a next direction of travel and a direction of a second-to-next maneuver, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image; and

a display unit configured to concurrently display the current guidance image and next guidance image, the current guidance image concurrently displayed with an approximate distance indicating how far the current vehicle position is from a position of the next maneuver and the next guidance image indicating how far the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver is from a position of the second-to-next maneuver,

wherein the display unit is further configured to display urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image, the urgency indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, wherein the color is assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency, each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and

wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon a distance between the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver and the position of the second-to-next maneuver.

2. The turn-by-turn navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is further configured to obtain the position information from a global positioning system.

3. The turn-by-turn navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display the current guidance image indicating the direction of the next maneuver as larger than the next guidance image indicating the direction of the second-to-next maneuver.

4. The turn-by-turn navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the graphic unit is further configured to generate each of the current guidance image and the next guidance image comprising one of an indication to go straight, a left turn indication, a right turn indication, a U-turn indication, or a P-turn indication.

5. The turn-by-turn navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display a high level road approaching signal or a high level road evading signal.

6. The turn-by-turn navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display an underground approaching signal or an underground evading signal.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display the next guidance image using a different color than a color used for the current guidance image.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the display unit is further configured to display the next guidance image as one of green, red or yellow.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the display unit is further configured to display road information.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the display unit is further configured to display the name of a street related to the next maneuver.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphic unit is further configured to generate the current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and the navigation route and generate the next guidance image based on the projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and the navigation route.

31. The turn-by-turn navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the next guidance information is converted into a new current guidance information after the next maneuver is performed, replacing the current guidance information with the next guidance information.

7. A method for guiding a next direction using a turn-by-turn navigation system, the method comprising:

recognizing a destination;

receiving information from a satellite;

identifying a current vehicle position and generating a navigation route to the destination based on the information;

generating a current guidance image and a next guidance image;

concurrently displaying the current guidance image and next guidance image, the current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and indicating a current direction of travel and a direction of a next maneuver and the next guidance image based on a projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and indicating a next direction of travel and a direction of a second-to-next maneuver, the next guidance image further indicating how far the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver is from a position of the second-to-next maneuver, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image;

displaying an approximate distance indicating how far the current vehicle position is from a position of the next maneuver; and

displaying urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image,

wherein the urgency is indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, the color being assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency and each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon a distance between the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver and the position of the second-to-next maneuver.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein recognizing the destination comprises processing an input received via one of a keypad, a touch screen, or a voice.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising obtaining the current vehicle position from a global positioning system.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying the current guidance image indicating the direction of the next maneuver as larger than the next guidance image indicating the direction of the second-to-next maneuver.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein each of the current guidance image and the next guidance image comprises one of an indication to go straight, a left turn indication, a right turn indication, a U-turn indication or a P-turn indication.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying a high level road approaching signal or a high level road evading signal.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying an underground approaching signal or an underground evading signal.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying the next guidance image using a different color than a color used for the current guidance image.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising displaying the next guidance image as one of green, red or yellow.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising displaying road information.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying the name of a street related to the next maneuver.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising displaying road information.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising displaying the name of a street related to the next maneuver.

20. The method according to claim 7, further comprising generating the current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and the navigation route and generating the next guidance image based on the projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and the navigation route.

23. The method according to claim 10, wherein the display unit is further configured to display road information.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the display unit is further configured to display the name of a street related to the next maneuver.

32. The method according to claim 7, wherein the next guidance image is converted into a new current guidance image after the next maneuver is performed, replacing the current guidance image with the next guidance image.

28. A method for guiding a next direction using a turn-by-turn navigation system, the method comprising:

receiving information from a satellite;

generating a current guidance image and a next guidance image based on the information;

concurrently displaying the current guidance image and next guidance image, the current guidance image indicating a current direction of travel and a direction of a next maneuver, and the next guidance image indicating a next direction of travel and a direction of a second-to-next maneuver after the next maneuver is performed, the next guidance image further indicating how far a projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver is from a position of the second-to-next maneuver, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image;

displaying an approximate distance indicating how far a current vehicle position is from a position of the next maneuver; and

displaying urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image,

wherein the urgency is indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, the color being assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency and each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon how far the current vehicle position is from the position of the next maneuver and how far the current vehicle position is from the position of the second-to-next maneuver.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the current guidance image is based on the current vehicle position and the next guidance image is based on the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver.

33. The method according to claim 28, wherein the next guidance image is converted into a new current guidance image after the next maneuver is performed, replacing the current guidance image with the next guidance image.

30. A turn-by-turn navigation system receiving information required for navigation from a satellite, the turn-by-turn navigation system comprising:

a graphic unit configured to generate a current guidance image and a next guidance image, wherein the current guidance image is based on a current vehicle position and indicates a current direction of travel and a direction of a next maneuver, the next guidance image is based on a projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and indicates a next direction of travel and a direction of a second-to-next maneuver, and a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image; and

a display unit configured to concurrently display the current guidance image and next guidance image, the current guidance image concurrently displayed with an approximate distance indicating how far the current vehicle position is from a position of the next maneuver and the next guidance image indicating how far the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver is from a position of the second-to-next maneuver,

wherein the display unit is further configured to display urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image, the urgency indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, wherein the color is assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency, each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon how far the current vehicle position is from the position of the next maneuver and how far the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver is from the position of the second-to-next maneuver.

34. A turn-by-turn navigation system, comprising:

a positioning module receiving position information from a satellite and updating real time road information on a road on which a vehicle is currently located based on the information;

a map database storing map information required for driving the vehicle;

a route planning/route guidance module receiving the real time road information and the map information and generating current guidance information and next guidance information;

a turn-by-turn graphic user interface module receiving the current and next guidance information and generating a current guidance image indicating current turn information and a next guidance image indicating next turn information, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image; and

an image display unit displaying the current and next guidance images, and urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image,

wherein the urgency is indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, the color being assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency and each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon a distance between a position where the direction change is performed according to the next guidance image and a position where the direction change is performed according to the current guidance image.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the next guidance image and the current guidance image are displayed in one image.

36. A method for guiding a next direction using a turn-by-turn navigation system, the method comprising:

inputting a destination;

receiving information from satellite;

identifying a current vehicle position and generating a path to the input destination based on the information;

generating a current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and a next guidance image;

displaying the current guidance image indicating current turn information and next guidance image indicating next turn information, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image; and

displaying urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image,

wherein the urgency is indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, the color being assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency and each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon a distance between a position where the direction change is performed according to the next guidance image and a position where the direction change is performed according to the current guidance image.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the next guidance image and the current guidance image are displayed in one image.

38. A turn-by-turn navigation system, comprising:

a positioning unit configured to recognize position information and update real time information related to a road on which a vehicle is currently located based on information received from a satellite;

a map unit configured to store information related to a navigation route between a current vehicle position and an identified destination;

a guidance unit configured to process the real time information related to the road and the information related to the navigation route and generate current guidance information and next guidance information;

a graphic unit configured to process the current guidance information and next guidance information and generate a current guidance image and a next guidance image, the current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and indicating a current direction of travel and a direction of a next maneuver and the next guidance image based on a projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and indicating a next direction of travel and a direction of a second-to-next maneuver, the next guidance image further indicating how far the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver is from a position of the second-to-next maneuver; and

a display unit configured to concurrently display the current guidance image and next guidance image, the current guidance image concurrently displayed with an approximate distance indicating how far the current vehicle position is from a position of the next maneuver, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image, and wherein the next guidance image is converted into a new current guidance image after the next maneuver is performed, replacing the current guidance image with the next guidance image,

wherein the display unit is further configured to display urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image, the urgency indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, wherein the color is assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency, each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon a distance between the projected vehicle position after the next maneuver and the position of the second-to-next maneuver.

39. A method for guiding a next direction using a turn-by-turn navigation system, the method comprising:

recognizing a destination;

receiving information from a satellite;

identifying a current vehicle position and generating a navigation route to the destination based on the information;

generating a current guidance image and a next guidance image, wherein a size of the next guidance image is different from a size of the current guidance image;

concurrently displaying the current guidance image and next guidance image, the current guidance image based on the current vehicle position and indicating a current direction of travel and a direction of a next maneuver and the next guidance image based on a projected vehicle position after the next maneuver is performed and indicating a next direction of travel and a direction of a second-to-next maneuver;

displaying how far the current vehicle position is from a position of the next maneuver and how far the current vehicle position is from a position of the second-to-next maneuver, wherein the next guidance image is converted into a new current guidance image after the next maneuver is performed, replacing the current guidance image with the next guidance image; and

displaying urgency for performing a direction change according to the next guidance image after performing a direction change according to the current guidance image,

wherein the urgency is indicated by a color of the next guidance image displayed, the color being assigned to the next guidance image from a plurality of colors according to a level of the urgency and each level of the urgency corresponding to one of the plurality of colors, and wherein the level of the urgency is determined based upon a distance between the projected vehicle position after completion of the next maneuver and the position of the second-to-next maneuver.