Mobile vehicle navigation method and apparatus thereof

• US 8,072,354 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Eun-Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seoh, Minnah
• Application Number:
  US12/412,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 3409951- 9928
• US Class Current: 340/995.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

A method and device for updating map data of a navigation device. The method includes receiving information relating to an area update of the map data from a data server via a wireless broadcast to the navigation device; and displaying the information in graphical form on a map displayed on a display screen. The method may further include receiving a user input selecting an area on the map corresponding to the area update; wirelessly transmitting the area as an area selection to the data server; wirelessly receiving updated map information corresponding to the selected area from the data server; and loading the received updated map information into the navigation device.

Claims

1. A method of updating map data of a navigation device configured to be installed in one of a mobile terminal and a motor vehicle, comprising:

receiving information relating to an area update of the map data from a data server via a wireless broadcast to the navigation device; and

displaying the information in graphical form on a map displayed on a display screen,

wherein the step of displaying the information in graphical form comprises displaying, on a first area of the map corresponding to the area update, a changed area icon, while simultaneously displaying an icon-free second area of the map corresponding to an area not addressed in the area update, and

wherein the method further comprises;

receiving a user input to the changed area icon to select the first area of the map corresponding to the area update;

wirelessly transmitting to the data server a map update request that includes information identifying the first area;

wirelessly receiving version information of available map data corresponding to the first area from the data server;

comparing the version information of the available map data with version information of previously stored map data corresponding to the first area;

receiving updated map data when a version of the available map data is newer than a version of the previously stored map data; and

updating at least one of the changed area icon and the icon-free second area on the map based on the updated map data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation device is configured to be installed in a mobile vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

audibly announcing a receipt of the information relating to the area update.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the information in graphical form further comprises at least one of:

displaying a map search data identifier indicating a changed searchable data element on a corresponding area of the map; and

displaying a road network identifier indicating a changed road network on a corresponding area of the map.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enlarging or reducing the selected area in response to the user input.

6. A navigation device configured to be installed in one of a mobile terminal and a motor vehicle, the navigation device configured to display map data, comprising:

a display;

a wireless communication device;

a memory; and

a controller operatively connected to the display, wireless communication device and memory, the controller configured to

receive information relating to an area update of the map data from a data server via a wireless broadcast,

display the information in graphical form on a map on the display by displaying, on a first area of the map corresponding to the area update, a changed area icon, while simultaneously displaying an icon-free second area of the map corresponding to an area not addressed in the area update,

receive a user input to the changed area icon to select the first area of the map corresponding to the area update,

wirelessly transmit to the data server a map update request that includes information identifying the first area,

wirelessly receive from the data server version information of available map data corresponding to the first area,

compare the version information of the available map data with version information of previously stored map data corresponding to the first area,

receive updated map data when a version of the available map data is newer than a version of the previously stored map data, and

update at least one of the changed area icon and the icon-free second area on the map based on the updated map data.

7. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the navigation device is configured to be installed in a vehicle.

8. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to audibly announce a receipt of the information relating to the area update.

9. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to display at least one of

a map search data identifier indicating a changed searchable data element on a corresponding area of the map;

and

a road network identifier indicating a changed road network on a corresponding area of the map.

10. The navigation device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to enlarge or reduce the selected area in response to the user input.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a navigation device configured to display map data, the navigation device including;

a display;

a wireless communication device;

a memory; and

a controller operatively connected to the display, wireless communication device and memory, the controller configured to

receive information relating to an area update of the map data from a data server via a wireless broadcast,

display the information in graphical form on a map on the display by displaying, on a first area of the map corresponding to the area update, a changed area icon, while simultaneously displaying an icon-free second area of the map corresponding to an area not addressed in the area update,

receive a user input to the changed area icon to select the first area of the map corresponding to the area update,

wirelessly transmit to the data server a map update request that includes information identifying the first area,

wirelessly receive from the data server version information of available map data corresponding to the first area,

compare the version information of the available map data with version information of previously stored map data corresponding to the first area,

receive updated map data when a version of the available map data is newer than a version of the previously stored map data, and

update at least one of the changed area icon and the icon-free second area on the map based on the updated map data.