Navigation system and control method thereof

• US 8,401,792 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Yeh, Theresa I-Hsing, Tsai, Kun-Ming, Yeh, Joe Tsung-Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US12/591,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/418, 701/425, 701/487, 701/491, 701/526, 701/538, 701/541, 345173-183, 3404071-4072, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 701/540
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A navigation system includes a touch screen for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map, mode-switching means for issuing a mode-switching command to switch the navigation system into an input mode, a memory for storing a database, and a controller to recognize a handwriting input or a gesture input to acquire an input information, search the database for a facility information corresponding to the input information, and show facilities represented by the facility information in the navigation map.

Claims

1. A navigation system, comprising:

a controller;

a touch screen coupled to the controller, for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map in a first mode;

a memory device coupled to the controller, for storing a database containing a user reconfigurable set of symbols; and

mode-switching mechanism for issuing a mode-switching command to selectively switch the navigation system from the first mode into a second mode defining a handwriting input mode;

wherein the controller acquires input information by recognizing a handwriting input conducted on the touch screen corresponding with at least one of said reconfigurable set of symbols in the handwriting input mode, and searches the database responsive to a selective input symbol handwritten on said touch screen for a facility information corresponding to the input information, and displays facilities represented by the facility information in the navigation map in the first mode.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the mode-switching mechanism comprises a virtual graphical button displayed on the touch screen, for receiving a touch to issue the mode-switching command.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the mode-switching mechanism comprises a gesture pre-defined to issue the mode-switching command.

4. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein the gesture comprises a multi-finger touch.

5. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the controller compares the input information with a list to determine a category of the facilities corresponding to the input information.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises a capacitive touch panel.

7. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises a resistive touch panel.

8. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises an ultrasonic touch panel.

9. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises an infrared touch panel.

10. A navigation system, comprising:

a controller;

a touch screen coupled to the controller, for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map in a first mode;

a memory device coupled to the controller, for storing a database; and

mode-switching mechanism for issuing a mode-switching command to selectively switch the navigation system from the first mode into a second mode defining a gesture input mode;

wherein the controller acquires input information by recognizing a gesture input conducted on the touch screen corresponding with at least one of said reconfigurable set of symbols in the gesture input mode, and searches the database responsive to a selective input symbol on said touch screen for a facility information corresponding to the input information, and displays facilities represented by the facility information in the navigation map in the first mode.

11. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the mode-switching mechanism comprises a virtual graphical button displayed on the touch screen, for receiving a touch to issue the mode-switching command.

12. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the mode-switching mechanism comprises a gesture pre-defined to issue the mode-switching command.

13. The navigation system of claim 12, wherein the gesture comprises a multi-finger touch.

14. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the controller compares the input information with a list to determine a category of the facilities corresponding to the input information.

15. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the touch screen comprises a capacitive touch panel.

16. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the touch screen comprises a resistive touch panel.

17. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the touch screen comprises an ultrasonic touch panel.

18. The navigation system of claim 10, wherein the touch screen comprises an infrared touch panel.

19. A control method for a navigation system including a touch screen for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map, the control method comprising the steps of:

responsive to a mode-switching command, switching the navigation system from a first mode into a second mode defining a handwriting input mode;

in the handwriting input mode, recognizing a handwriting input conducted on the touch screen to acquire an input information;

searching a database containing a user reconfigurable set of symbols for a facility information corresponding with at least one of said reconfigurable set of symbols to the input information; and

showing facilities represented by the facility information in a navigation map in the first mode.

20. The control method of claim 19, further comprising the step of comparing the input information with a list to determine a category of the facilities corresponding to the input information.

21. The control method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

indicating locations of the facilities in the navigation map; and

prompting related information of the facilities on the touch screen.

22. A control method for a navigation system including a touch screen for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map, the control method comprising the steps of:

responsive to a mode-switching command, switching the navigation system from a first mode into a second mode defining a gesture input mode;

in the gesture input mode, recognizing a gesture input conducted on the touch screen to acquire an input information;

searching a database containing a user reconfigurable set of symbols for a facility information corresponding with at least one of said reconfigurable set of symbols to the input information; and

showing facilities represented by the facility information in the navigation map in the first mode.

23. The control method of claim 22, further comprising the step of comparing the input information with a list to determine a category of the facilities corresponding to the input information.

24. The control method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

indicating locations of the facilities in the navigation map; and

prompting related information of the facilities on the touch screen.