Method and apparatus for displaying optimal path of moving objects in a navigation device

• US 9,109,920 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Krycinski, Stanton L
• Application Number:
  US12/197,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,549 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying an optimal path of moving objects, capable of providing forward path information of while the vehicle is waiting for its traffic signal at an intersection or is in a standstill state, in a navigation device are provided. An optimal path is set and stored according to a destination of a moving object. A current position of the moving object traveling along the optimal path is detected. When the moving object stops on the optimal path, it is determined if a traveling-stopped time of the moving object is greater than or equal to a predetermined time. When the traveling-stopped time of the moving object is greater than or equal to the predetermined time, a forward path for the detected current position of the moving object is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for displaying, in a navigational device, an optimal path of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

setting and displaying an optimal path according to a destination of the object;

detecting a current position of the object traveling along the optimal path;

determining, while the object is stopped on the optimal path, whether a traveling-stopped time of the object is at least equal to a predetermined time; and

displaying, upon determining that the traveling-stopped time is at least equal to the predetermined time, a forward path for the detected current position of the object,

wherein the forward path is an optimal path in a forward area that excludes an area within a first predetermined scope from the current position of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forward area is within a second predetermined scope from the current position of the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the forward path comprises displaying the object virtually traveling in the forward area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the forward path comprises displaying the forward path on a sub-screen divided from a display screen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving a user input for display of the forward path, displaying the forward path for the current position of the object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving a user input for stopping the display of the forward path, stopping the display of the forward path of the object.

7. A method for displaying, in a navigational device, an optimal path of an object in a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of:

setting and displaying an optimal path according to a destination of the object;

detecting a current position of the object traveling on the optimal path;

determining whether a user input for display of a forward path is received while the object is stopped on the optimal path; and

upon receiving the user input for display of the forward path, displaying the forward path for the current position of the object,

wherein the forward path is an optimal path in a forward area that excludes an area within a first predetermined scope from the current position of the object.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

measuring, if no user input requesting display of the forward path is received, a traveling-stopped time of the object; and

displaying the forward path for the current position of the object, when the traveling-stopped time of the object is at least equal to a predetermined time.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the forward area is within a second predetermined scope from the current position of the object.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the forward path comprises displaying the object virtually traveling in the forward area.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the forward path comprises displaying the forward path on a sub-screen divided from a display screen.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon receiving a user input for stopping the display of the forward path, stopping the display of the forward path of the object.

13. A method for displaying, in a navigation device, an optimal path of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

setting and displaying an optimal path according to a destination of the object;

detecting a current position of the object traveling on the optimal path;

determining whether a first intersection is situated within a predetermined first scope from the detected current position of the object while the object is stopped on the optimal path;

determining, when the first intersection is determined to be situated within the predetermined first scope, whether a second intersection is situated within a predetermined second scope; and

displaying, when the first intersection is determined to be situated within the first scope and the second intersection is determined to be situated within the predetermined second scope, a forward path for the current position of the object, including the first intersection and the second intersection,

wherein the forward path is an optimal path in a forward area that excludes an area within a third predetermined scope from the current position of the object.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying the forward path for the current position of the object, including the first intersection, when no second intersection is situated within the predetermined second scope.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the forward area is an area within the second predetermined scope from the current position of the object.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the forward path comprises displaying the object virtually traveling in the forward area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying the forward path comprises displaying the forward path on a sub-screen divided from a display screen.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

upon receiving a user input for display of the forward path, displaying the forward path for the current position of the object.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

upon receiving a user input for stopping the display of the forward path, stopping the display of the forward path of the object.

20. An apparatus for displaying, in a navigation device, an optimal path of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a map data DataBase (DB) for storing map data used for providing an optimal path based on a destination of the object;

a position detector for detecting a current position of the object traveling along the optimal path;

a display for displaying the optimal path and the current position of the object; and

a controller for setting the optimal path using the map data, determining whether a traveling-stopped time is at least equal to a predetermined time while the object is stopped on the optimal path, and controlling the display to display a forward path for the current position of the object when the traveling-stopped time is at least equal to the predetermined time,

wherein the forward path is an optimal path in a forward area that excludes an area within a first predetermined scope from the current position of the object.