Map display controller and computer readable medium including instructions for displaying map image

• US 8,099,233 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuno, Nagako, Nagiyama, Kei
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US12/073,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 340988-996, 701200-216
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05

Abstract

A map display controller displays a three-dimensional map image on a display screen of a display device, and superimposes a route wall standing from a route and along the route in the three dimensional map image on the display device. This reduces a difficulty in confirming the route behind structures such as a building in the three-dimensional map image displayed on the display screen.

Claims

1. A map display controller for displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device, the map display controller comprising:

means for specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image, and acquiring estimated passage schedule information indicating a passage time on or after a current time in each of a plurality of positions on the route;

means for generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route specified by the specifying means, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

means for displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data generated by the generating means; and

means for acquiring data corresponding to a time range,

wherein;

the generating means specifies, as part of the configuration data, wall surface display information that is displayed on a wall surface of the towering structure, the wall surface display information corresponding to the data acquired by the acquiring means; and

a positional range on the route, the positional range where the wall surface display information is arranged, is specified based on the time range corresponded to by the data acquired by the acquiring means and the estimated passage schedule information.

3. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determining, as part of the configuration data, data of a height of the towering structure in the three-dimensional space such that the height becomes higher as an amount of the wall surface information becomes larger.

4. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the displaying means scrolls the wall surface display information within the wall surface vertically in accordance with operation by a user when an upper end of the towering structure goes beyond a display range of the display device.

5. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the displaying means scrolls the wall surface display information within the wall surface along the route in accordance with operation by a user.

6. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a height of the towering structure in the three-dimensional space such that the height becomes lower as a depression angle relative to the three-dimensional map image becomes larger.

7. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a height of the towering structure in the three-dimensional space such that the height becomes lower as a viewpoint of a user is nearer to a front side in the three-dimensional space.

8. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a display color of the towering structure such that the display color becomes white.

9. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a lightness of a display color of the towering structure such that the lightness becomes higher than average lightness of the three-dimensional map image displayed on the display device.

10. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, with respect to the towering structure, one data of lightness, color tone, saturation, pattern, and transmission, such that the one data changes along a height direction in the towering structure.

11. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a transmission of the towering structure such that the transmission becomes higher at an upper position in the towering structure.

12. The map display controller according to claim 1, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a color of the towering structure such that a color of a portion touching the route in the towering structure becomes a color enabling continuity of the route to be recognized in a display screen of the display device.

13. The map display controller according to claim 12, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of the color of the towering structure such that the color of the portion touching the route in the towering structure becomes constant in the display screen of the display device.

14. The map display controller according to claim 12, wherein

the generating means determining, as part of the configuration data, data of a height of the towering structure in the three-dimensional space such that the height becomes higher as an amount of the wall surface information becomes larger.

2. A map display controller for displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device, the map display controller comprising:

means for specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

means for generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route specified by the specifying means, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

means for displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data generated by the generating means; and

means for acquiring data including positional information;

wherein;

the generating means specifies, as part of the configuration data, wall surface display information that is displayed on a wall surface of the towering structure, the wall surface display information corresponding to the data acquired by the acquiring means; and

a positional range on the route, the positional range where the wall surface display information is arranged, is specified based on the positional information included in the data acquired by the acquiring means.

15. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the displaying means scrolls the wall surface display information within the wall surface vertically in accordance with operation by a user when an upper end of the towering structure goes beyond a display range of the display device.

16. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the displaying means scrolls the wall surface display information within the wall surface along the route in accordance with operation by a user.

17. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a height of the towering structure in the three-dimensional space such that the height becomes lower as a depression angle relative to the three-dimensional map image becomes larger.

18. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a height of the towering structure in the three-dimensional space such that the height becomes lower as a viewpoint of a user is nearer to a front side in the three-dimensional space.

19. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a display color of the towering structure such that the display color becomes white.

20. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a lightness of a display color of the towering structure such that the lightness becomes higher than average lightness of the three-dimensional map image displayed on the display device.

21. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, with respect to the towering structure, one data of lightness, color tone, saturation, pattern, and transmission, such that the one data changes along a height direction in the towering structure.

22. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a transmission of the towering structure such that the transmission becomes higher at an upper position in the towering structure.

23. The map display controller according to claim 2, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of a color of the towering structure such that a color of a portion touching the route in the towering structure becomes a color enabling continuity of the route to be recognized in a display screen of the display device.

24. The map display controller according to claim 23, wherein

the generating means determines, as part of the configuration data, data of the color of the towering structure such that the color of the portion touching the route in the towering structure becomes constant in the display screen of the display device.

25. A program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions including a computer-implemented method for a map display controller displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device,

the instructions for implementing:

specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image, and acquiring estimated passage schedule information indicating a passage time on or after a current time in each of a plurality of positions on the route;

generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data; and

acquiring data corresponding to a time range,

wherein;

in the generating of the configuration data, as part of the configuration data, wall surface display information is specified which is displayed on a wall surface of the towering structure, the wall surface display information corresponding to the data corresponding to the time range; and

a positional range on the route, the positional range where the wall surface display information is arranged, is specified based on the time range corresponded to by the data and the estimated passage schedule information.

26. A program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions including a computer-implemented method for a map display controller displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device,

the instructions for implementing:

specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data; and

acquiring data including positional information;

wherein;

in the generating of the configuration data, as part of the configuration data, wall surface display information is specified which is displayed on a wall surface of the towering structure, the wall surface display information corresponding to the data including the positional information; and

a positional range on the route, the positional range where the wall surface display information is arranged, is specified based on the positional information included in the data acquired.

27. A map display controller for displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device, the map display controller comprising:

means for specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

means for generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route specified by the specifying means, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

means for displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data generated by the generating means; and

means for acquiring and using data from a storage medium,

wherein;

the generating means

generates, as the wall surface display information for displaying on the wall surface of the towering structure, an image which indicates information contained in additional data that is stored in the storage medium in association with the data based on a premise that the data is acquired from the storage medium and used by the acquiring means, and

includes the image, which is generated, into the configuration data.

28. A map display controller for displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device, the map display controller comprising:

means for specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

means for generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route specified by the specifying means, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

means for displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data generated by the generating means; and

means for acquiring weather data wirelessly from an outside of the map display controller,

wherein

the generating means

generates, as the wall surface display information for displaying on the wall surface of the towering structure, an image corresponding to weather indicated by the weather data acquired by the acquiring means, and

includes the image, which is generated, into the configuration data.

29. A map display controller for displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device, the map display controller comprising:

means for specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

means for generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route specified by the specifying means, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

means for displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data generated by the generating means; and

means for acquiring traffic status data wirelessly from an outside of the map display controller,

wherein

the generating means

generates, as the wall surface display information for displaying on the wall surface of the towering structure, an image corresponding to a traffic status indicated by the traffic status data acquired by the acquiring means, and

includes the image, which is generated, into the configuration data.

30. A program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions including a computer-implemented method for a map display controller displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device,

the instructions for implementing:

specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data; and

acquiring and using data from a storage medium,

wherein;

in the generating of the configuration data,

as the wall surface display information for displaying on the wall surface of the towering structure, an image is generated which indicates information contained in additional data that is stored in the storage medium in association with the data based on a premise that the data is acquired from the storage medium and used, and

the image, which is generated, is included into the configuration data.

31. A program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions including a computer-implemented method for a map display controller displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device,

the instructions for implementing:

specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data; and

acquiring weather data wirelessly from an outside of the map display controller,

wherein

in the generating of the configuration data,

as the wall surface display information for displaying on the wall surface of the towering structure, an image is generated which corresponds to weather indicated by the weather data acquired, and

the image, which is generated, is included into the configuration data.

32. A program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions including a computer-implemented method for a map display controller displaying a three-dimensional map image on a display device,

the instructions for implementing:

specifying a route in the three-dimensional map image;

generating configuration data for configuring a towering structure standing in a shape of a wall along the route, in a three-dimensional space shown by the three-dimensional map image;

displaying, on the display device, an image in which the towering structure is incorporated into the three-dimensional map image in accordance with the configuration data; and

acquiring traffic status data wirelessly from an outside of the map display controller,

wherein

in the generating of the configuration data,

as the wall surface display information for displaying on the wall surface of the towering structure, an image is generated which corresponds to a traffic status indicated by the traffic status data acquired, and

the image, which is generated, is included into the configuration data.