Navigation device and method for the graphic output of navigaton instructions

• US 8,630,801 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Katzer, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/022,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/410, 701/411, 701/418, 701/423, 701/428, 701/431, 701/436, 701/437, 701/439, 701/445, 701/454, 701/457, 701/459, 701/468, 701/469, 701/487, 701/532, 701/533, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.24, 340/995.26, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance

Abstract

A system and method for determining and displaying a navigation route on a navigation device from one vehicle position to a travel destination. The navigation device can include processor with RAM, a mass storage device for holding a database with geographic data, as well as a display. Depending on whether a complex intersection is present on the navigation route, the complex intersection can be shown on the display in the form of a single perspective view. Embodiments of the invention can provide a high level of correlation between the actual situation on the road as seen by the user and the corresponding navigation maneuver displayed on the screen. The graphic output of navigation devices for complex intersections can also be improved regardless of whether the navigation device is a high-performance or very simple device.

Claims

1. A navigation device for determining and displaying a navigation route from one vehicle position to a travel destination, the device comprising:

a processor with RAM;

a mass storage device for holding-a database with geographic data; and

a display;

wherein the navigation device is programmed to evaluate and determine whether a distance between the relative spatial positions of at least two consecutive navigation maneuvers in the navigation route form a complex intersection, and if the at least two consecutive navigation maneuvers form a complex intersection, the complex intersection and the navigation route through the complex intersection are presented-on the display as a single, shared graphic perspective view.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is programmed to generate the perspective view.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view is generated based on at least one photograph or video recording of the actual navigation maneuvers.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view is generated based on at least one three-dimensional and/or photorealistically rendered recording of the actual navigation maneuvers.

5. The navigation device according claim 1, wherein the perspective view comprises at least one continuous arrow to symbolize the prescribed navigation route and associated navigation maneuvers.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view is static, and superposed by a movable or variable graphic element, the graphic element symbolizing the current location of the navigation device.

7. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the perspective view encompasses additional graphic elements, in particular signs, bridges, underpasses, points of interest, icons, building silhouettes, landmarks, or topography features based on the actual environment associated with a navigation maneuver.

8. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein the additional graphic elements are generated and stored independently of the perspective view.

9. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein the additional graphic elements exhibit a transparent image background.

10. A method for the graphic output of navigation instructions using a navigation device programmed for determining and displaying a navigation route including navigation maneuvers to travel from one vehicle position to a travel destination, the navigation device comprising a processor with RAM, a mass storage device for holding a geographic database, a display, and navigation software that can be loaded in the RAM or processor, the method comprising:

a) checking, using the processor, to see whether a complex intersection is present as part of generating a digital roadmap;

b) determining, using the processor, whether a complex intersection is present based on a distance between the relative spatial positions of at least two consecutive navigation maneuvers in the navigation route;

c) given a positive result of the determining performed in procedural step b), generating, using the processor, at least one photographic, videographic or rendered image of the complex intersection based on at least one image;

d) allocating, using the processor, geographic position information associated with the complex intersection to a perspective view;

e) referencing, using the processor, the perspective view to a digital roadmap at the location of the geographic position information; and

f) outputting, using the processor, the perspective view of the complex intersection and the navigation route through the complex intersection on the display.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein relevant characteristics of the actual complex intersection are included as part of the photographic, videographic or rendered image generation in procedural step c), in particular the number of lanes, right/left traffic, sign inscriptions, geometric properties of the driving lanes or overpasses/underpasses.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein in procedural step f), at least one sign is generated from a text file as an individual graphic element during route guidance or while rendering the perspective view.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein in procedural step f), only the instructional sign associated with a lane or turn of a navigation maneuver is displayed.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the perspective view in advance of the graphic output on the display is rendered on a separate system and stored in the database of the navigation device.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the perspective view in procedural step f) is generated with graphic rendering in process.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the perspective view is generated modularly by assembling individual graphic elements, wherein the individual graphic elements encompass in particular the road geometry, bridges, underpasses, signs, points of interest, icons, building silhouettes, or topographical landmarks.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the individual graphic elements exhibit a transparent image background.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the individual graphic elements are provided with exchangeable display formats.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the perspective view in procedural step f) is superposed with at least one continuous arrow showing the selected navigation route through the complex intersection.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the graphic curves or arrows are superposed onto the perspective view precisely to the lanes given several lanes that match the navigation route.

21. The method according to claim 10, wherein the perspective view is static and superposed with a movable or variable graphic element, wherein the graphic element symbolizes the current location of the navigation device.

22. The method according to claim 10, wherein the characteristics of the complex intersection are encoded in the file name of the perspective view.