Lead route guidance system, portable route lead guidance device, and program

• US 8,135,536 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsunaga, Takayuki, Sakamoto, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US11/793,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,636 Days
• Field of Search: 701/26, 701200-226, 342/46, 342/357.21, 342/357.22, 342/357.39, 342/357.59, 342/357.71, 715/737, 715/738, 715/850, 715/851, 715/854, 715/FOR.207, 715/FOR.178, 715/972, 715/756, 715716-723, 715/727, 715/728, 340/539.25, 340988-996, 340/995.13, 340/995.27, 725/10, 725/53, 725105-118, 455/454, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A lead route guidance system capable of displaying route guidance not causing the user to be confused by the difference between the line of vision and the route guidance image, a portable route lead guidance device, and program are provided. The lead route guidance system comprises route storage means storing a route from a start point to a destination, route guidance image creating means for creating a route guidance image (24) containing a route image (22) for specifying the route and a lead image (23) for leading the route by displaying a lead position on the route ahead of the current position of the user, a display screen (11) for displaying thereon the route guidance image (24), walk detecting means for detecting walk of the user, and lead position updating means for updating the lead position depending on the walk of the user when the walk of the user is detected.

Claims

1. A route lead guidance system, comprising:

a display screen to display a route guidance image;

an acceleration detecting device to detect acceleration;

a route storage memory to store a route from a starting point to a destination, and to store a guidance point located on the route at which guidance is provided to the user; and

a controller, the controller comprising

a route guidance image creator to create the route guidance image including a route image specifying the route, and to create a lead image showing a lead position on the route ahead of a user'"'"'s current position to lead the route;

a walk detector to detect the user'"'"'s walking based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting device;

a lead position updater to update the lead position in accordance with the user'"'"'s walking as the user'"'"'s walking is detected by the walk detector, wherein the lead position updater includes a lead position calculator that calculates a moving distance of the lead position based on a predetermined time period during which walking is detected by the walk detector and a preset moving speed of the lead position, and the lead position updater updates the lead position based on the calculated moving distance of the lead position;

a guidance point judger to judge whether the lead position arrives at the guidance point on the route; and

wherein the lead position updater suspends updating of the lead position as the lead position arrives at the guidance point.

2. The route lead guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

a lead image setter to set an updated lead image that specifies that the lead position is being updated as the lead image when the lead position is being updated and sets a suspended lead image that specifies that updating of the lead position is suspended as the lead image when updating of the lead position is suspended.

3. The route lead guidance system according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the route guidance image created by the route guidance image creator includes a lead position update instruction image that enables the user to instruct executing and suspending updating of the lead position;

and

the lead position updater executes and suspends updating of the lead position in accordance with an entry to the lead position update instruction image.

4. The route lead guidance system according to claim 3, further comprising:

an update instruction image setter to set an update suspension instruction image that instructs suspension of updating of the lead position as the lead position update instruction image when the lead position is being updated and sets an update instruction image that instructs execution of updating of the lead position as the lead position update instruction image when updating of the lead position is suspended.

5. A portable route lead guidance device, comprising:

a display screen to display a route guidance image;

an acceleration detecting device to detect acceleration;

a route storage memory to store a route from a starting point to a destination, and to store a guidance point located on the route at which guidance is provided to the user; and

a controller, the controller comprising;

a route guidance image creator to create a route guidance image including a route image specifying the route, and to create a lead image showing a lead position on the route ahead of a user'"'"'s current position to lead the route;

a walk detector to detect the user'"'"'s walking based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting device;

a lead position updater to update the lead position in accordance with the user'"'"'s walking as the user'"'"'s walking is detected by the walk detector, wherein the lead position updater includes a lead position calculator that calculates a moving distance of the lead position based on a predetermined time period during which walking is detected by the walk detector and a preset moving speed of the lead position, and the lead position updater updates the lead position based on the calculated moving distance of the lead position;

a guidance point arrival judger to judge whether the lead position arrives at the guidance point on the route; and

wherein the lead position updater suspends updating of the lead position as the lead position arrives at the guidance point.