Navigation methods and apparatus

• US 9,638,539 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Tertoolen, Simone, Janpoladyan, Lilit
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bendidi, Rachid
• Application Number:
  US14/143,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20140114574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 701532, 701533, 701534
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map

Abstract

A method of operating a navigation apparatus is provided. A calculated route is shown on a map display of the apparatus together with a current position indication. In one embodiment, a maximum map scale is determined which will result in a representation of the entire remainder of the route being shown within a visible map display area during travel along the route. In another embodiment, a map scale is set, and the map display is then controlled to maximize the amount of the remainder of the route which is shown within a visible map display area for the given map scale during travel along the route.

Claims

1. A method for displaying route information using a navigation apparatus, comprising:

determining a route from a first location to a second location; and

providing, on an electronic map displayed by the navigation apparatus, a representation of a current position and a representation of a remainder of the determined route during travel along the determined route,

wherein the method comprises scaling the displayed map so as to maximize a map scale while providing a representation of the entire remainder of the determined route in a visible map display area during travel along the route, wherein the scaling of the displayed map comprises determining a smallest rectangle or square bounding all points on the remainder of the route and determining a map scale to result in the smallest square or rectangle just fitting into the visible map display area.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising calculating a first maximized map scale to result in a representation of the entire remainder of the determined route being provided in the visible map display area when the current position is at a first distance along the route from the second location, and applying the first maximized map scale to the display, and repeating the steps of calculating a maximized map scale to result in a representation of the entire remainder of the determined route being provided in the visible map display area and applying the maximized map scale to the display when the current position is at one or more different lesser distances along the route from the second location.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling the map display such that the representation of current position and the representation of the remainder of the determined route fill the visible map display area in a given direction during travel along the route.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling the map display such that the representation of the current position and the representation of the remainder of the route extend from one edge of the visible map display area to another edge thereof during travel along the route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said map is a two dimensional map.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed map is maintained at a fixed rotational orientation during travel along the route.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remainder of the route that is represented in the visible map display area is not linear.

8. A navigation apparatus, comprising:

a display for displaying an electronic map to a user; and

one or more processors arranged to;

determine a route from a first location to a second location;

provide, on the electronic map displayed on the display, a representation of a current position and a representation of a remainder of the route determined from the first location to the second location, and

scale the displayed map so as to maximize the map scale while providing a representation of the entire remainder of the determined route in a visible map display area during travel along the route, wherein the scaling of the displayed map comprises determining a smallest rectangle or square bounding all points on the remainder of the route, and determining a map scale to result in the smallest square or rectangle just fitting into the visible map display area.

9. The navigation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the remainder of the route that is represented in the visible map display area is not linear.

10. A non-transitory computer program product comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for displaying route information using a navigation apparatus, comprising:

determining a route from a first location to a second location; and

providing, on an electronic map displayed by the navigation apparatus, a representation of a current position and a representation of a remainder of the determined route during travel along the determined route,

wherein the method comprises scaling the displayed electronic map so as to maximize a map scale while providing a representation of the entire remainder of the determined route in a visible map display area during travel along the route, wherein the scaling of the displayed electronic map comprises determining a smallest rectangle or square bounding all points on the remainder of the route, and determining a map scale to result in the smallest square or rectangle just fitting into the visible map display area.

11. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 10, wherein the remainder of the route that is represented in the visible map display area is not linear.