Navigation system

• US 8,874,364 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Lathrop, Brian, Finn, Brian Michael, Chang, Jackie
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Application Number:
  US11/890,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/408, 701/410, 701/458, 701/538, 701/25, 340/990, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.2, 340/903, 345/501, 345/1.3, 345/205, 345/206, 345/440, 345/536, 345/537
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/02 Picture taking arrangements specially adapted for photogrammetry or photographic surveying, e.g. controlling overlapping of pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

In a navigation system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, for determining the route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, the navigation system includes a display device for displaying the route in a map display or a map-type display, and/or a direction indication that corresponds to the route, and it is possible to simultaneously display a canonically oriented graphic or image of a prominent route point with the aid of the display device.

Claims

1. A navigation system for determining a route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, comprising:

a processor configured to correlate a geocode of the destination point with a geocode of a canonically oriented static photographic image of a prominent route point, wherein the geocode of the image is stored along with image data of the image in a data file; and

a display device configured to display at least one of (a) the route in at least one of (i) a map display and (ii) a map-type display and (b) a direction indication that corresponds to the route, the display device configured to simultaneously display the canonically oriented static photographic image of a prominent route point,

wherein the canonically oriented static photographic image of the prominent route point is shown only within at least one of a specified time or distance from the prominent route point and prior to the prominent route point.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the image includes geographic information.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the data file is in EXIF format.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system is adapted to perform a method including:

inputting the destination point;

determining the route from the location of the navigation system to the input destination point;

displaying at least one of (a) the route in at least one of (i) the map display and (ii) the map-type display and (b) the direction indication that corresponds to the route; and

simultaneous displaying the canonically oriented static photographic image of the prominent route point.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image is an actual depiction of the prominent route point.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image allows the user to ascertain the actual appearance of the prominent route point.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of (i) the map display and (ii) the map-type display is arranged on the left side of the display device, and the canonically oriented photographic image is arranged on the right side of the display device.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the display device is adapted to replace the canonically oriented static photographic with another canonically oriented static photographic image without user input.

9. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a navigation system configured to determine a route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, the navigation system including;

a processor configured to correlate a geocode of the destination point with a geocode of a canonically oriented static photographic image of a prominent route point, wherein the geocode of the image is stored along with image data of the image in a data file; and

a display device configured to display at least one of (a) the route in at least one of (i) a map display and (ii) a map-type display and (b) a direction indication that corresponds to the route, the display device configured to simultaneously display the canonically oriented static photographic image of a prominent route point,

wherein the canonically oriented static photographic image of the prominent route point is shown only within at least one of a specified time or distance from the prominent route point and prior to the prominent route point.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the image includes geographic information.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the data file is in EXIF format.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising:

a camera configured to record an image of an environment of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the data file is created by a device and the geocode corresponds to a location of the motor vehicle.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the navigation system is adapted to perform a method including:

inputting the destination point;

determining the route from the location of the navigation system to the input destination point;

displaying at least one of (a) the route in at least one of (i) the map display and (ii) the map-type display and (b) the direction indication that corresponds to the route; and

simultaneous displaying the canonically oriented static photographic image of the prominent route point.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the display device is adapted to replace the canonically oriented static photographic with another canonically oriented static photographic image without user input.

15. A method for operating a navigation system, comprising:

inputting a destination point;

determining a route from a location of the navigation system to the input destination point;

correlating a geocode of the destination point with a aeocode of a canonically oriented static photographic image of a prominent route point, wherein the geocode of the image is stored along with image data of the image in a data file; and

displaying at least one of (a) the route in at least one of (i) a map display and (ii) a map-type display and (b) a direction indication that corresponds to the route; and

simultaneous displaying a canonically oriented static photographic image of a prominent route point and prior to the prominent route point.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the image includes geographic information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the navigation system is included in a motor vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising replacing the canonically oriented static photographic image with another canonically oriented static photographic image without further input.