Navigation device interface

• US 8,260,547 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Pauwels, Peter Frans
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/448,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/201, 701/211, 701/411, 701/428, 701/420, 701/431, 701/439, 345/854, 345/810, 715/810, 455/566
• US Class Current: 701/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A music configuration menu shortcut is provided in a PND by software which interacts within a music menu display device. In one embodiment, A PND having a display, memory, processing capability, one or more speakers, and at least one signal reception device by which the PND can determine its approximate position globally by way of software installed on the device is disclosed. The PND performs one or more primary navigation and/or route calculation functions, as well as one or more secondary functions including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in the memory. The software also causes the display of changing graphical map information during route navigation and is capable of being caused to display one or more configuration menus to enable a user to configure various primary or secondary device operation options. In at least one embodiment, the software further provides an option for the on-screen display of a user-selectable graphical indicator during route navigation in conjunction with the changing graphical map information, selection of the indicator during navigation causing the software to display a configuration menu specific to the reproduction of digital music. In an alternative embodiment, the music menu display device includes a physical button by which one or more of the music reproduction and/or configuration menus can be caused to be displayed.

Claims

1. A portable navigation device (PND) comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

a memory;

a processor;

at least one signal reception device to receive signals useable to determine an approximate global position of the PND in conjunction with software installed on the PND, the software also being configured to;

perform at least one of one or more primary navigation and route calculation functions, and one or more secondary functions including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in said memory, said digital content including at least one digital music file; and

cause the display to display changing graphical map information during navigation in conjunction with a user-selectable graphical indictor on a navigation screen,

wherein selection of the user-selectable graphical indicator during navigation by a user touching the display in a region where the user-selectable graphical indicator is displayed causes the software to cause the display to display one or other of a first and second configuration menu screen specific to the audible reproduction of the stored digital content based on whether a digital music file is being reproduced at the time the graphical indicator is selected.

2. A PND according to claim 1, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is a musical note indicator.

3. A PND according to claim 1, wherein the user-selectable graphical indicator is overlaid on the map information displayed on the navigation screen, and is at least partially transparent such that the map information is viewable therebeneath.

4. A PND according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration menu screen is displayed when a digital music file is being reproduced at the time the graphical indicator is selected and contains information regarding the digital music file being reproduced together with one or more user-selectable options, and the second configuration menu screen is displayed when a digital music file is not being reproduced at the time the graphical indicator is selected and contains one or more user-selectable options enabling one or more digital music files to be selected for immediate reproduction.

5. A PND according to claim 4, wherein the first configuration menu screen includes a user-selectable option button which, when selected, results in the display of a preferences menu on the display, in which various preferences relating to the digital music reproduction facility provided by the PND are displayed on the display.

6. A method of operating a portable navigation device (PND) including a touch sensitive display, a memory, a processor, and at least one signal reception device to receive signals useable to determine an approximate global position of the PND, the method comprising:

performing at least one of one or more primary navigation and route calculation functions on the PND;

performing one or more secondary functions on the PND including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in the memory, said digital content including at least one digital music file; and

causing the display to display changing graphical map information during navigation in conjunction with a user-selectable graphical indicator on a navigation screen;

wherein selection of the user-selectable graphical indicator during navigation by a user touching the display in a region where the user-selectable graphical indicator is displayed causes the display to display one or other of a first and second configuration menu screen specific to the audible reproduction of the stored digital content based on whether a digital music file is being reproduced at the time the graphical indicator is selected.

7. A non-transient computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a portable navigation device (PND) causing the PND to implement the method of claim 6, wherein the PND comprises:

a touch sensitive display,

a memory, a processor, and

at least one signal reception device to receive signals useable to determine an approximate global position of the PND.