Navigation device and method of controlling navigation device

• US 8,255,157 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Harada, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US12/670,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A navigation device that can easily select information matched with user'"'"'s favorite or intention from information on many stores and facilities is provided. In a car navigation device 1 for performing a route guidance of a moving object, plural symbols featured by individualities are displayed on a display panel 2, and when any one of the plural displayed symbols is selected, sightseeing information relevant to the individuality of the selected symbol is selected from the sightseeing facilities data base 31, and the selected sightseeing information is displayed on the display panel 2.

Claims

1. A navigation device for guiding a moving object, the navigation device comprising:

means for storing sightseeing information;

means for selectively displaying plural character icons featured by respective individualities on a display screen;

means for selecting, from the means for storing, sightseeing information containing information on facilities in association with the individuality of a character icon selected from the plural character icons displayed on the display screen; and

means for displaying the selected sightseeing information on the display screen,

wherein one facility may be relevant to plural character icons.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the means for selectively displaying displays the plural character icons on the display screen at the same time or at different times.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the character icon is displayed on the display screen with a color, a shape or the combination thereof which evokes the individuality by which the character icon is featured.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the means for selectively displaying displays explanation information to explain the individuality by which the character icon is featured.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing stores the sightseeing information by type, and the means for selecting selects the sightseeing information relating to the individuality of the selected character icon from the means for storing, and also further selects the sightseeing information of an indicated type from the selected sightseeing information.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing stores character icon relevant information representing the selected character icon in advance, and the means for selecting selects sightseeing information relating to the individuality of the selected character icon from the means for storing on the basis of the character icon relevant information stored in the means for storing sightseeing information.

7. A method of controlling a navigation device for guiding a moving object, the method comprising steps of:

storing in a storage medium sightseeing information;

selectively displaying plural character icons featured by respective individualities on a display screen;

selecting, from the storage medium, sightseeing information containing information on facilities in association with the individuality of a character icon selected from the plural character icons displayed on the display screen; and

displaying the selected sightseeing information on the display screen

wherein one facility may be relevant to plural character icons.