Image display

• US 20030078724A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Takao, Ohta, Takashi, Takeuchi, Hiroshi, Matsumoto, Yasuo, Kamikawa, Noriyuki, Fujimoto, Shoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• 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 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention was achieved in order to provide an image display whereby one can extremely easily know the current position of one'"'"'s own and also grasp the actual situation around the current position, and with which the user gets highly satisfied, having a display device to display a photo picture v₁ on a prescribed reduced scale prepared based on photo data on a scale s₁ read from a storage device in which photo data of two or more types on different scales to one area is stored, and a display switching device to conduct display switching to a photo picture v₂ on another reduced scale prepared based on photo data on another scale s₂ different from the scale s₁ with a user'"'"'s command.

Claims

1. An image display, which has:

a first photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture on a prescribed reduced scale, based on photo data read from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored; and

a first photo picture display device to display a photo picture on the prescribed reduced scale which is prepared by the first photo picture preparing device;

comprising;

a second photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture on another reduced scale different from the prescribed reduced scale based on the photo data; and

a first display switching device to conduct display switching to a photo picture on the another reduced scale which is prepared by the second photo picture preparing device with a user'"'"'s command to switch the reduced scale;

wherein the first and second photo picture preparing devices prepare the photo pictures without enlargement.

2. An image display, which has:

a third photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture on a prescribed reduced scale, based on photo data on a prescribed scale read from a second photo data storage device in which photo data of two or more types on different scales to one area is stored; and

a second photo picture display device to display a photo picture on the prescribed reduced scale which is prepared by the third photo picture preparing device;

comprising;

a fourth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture on another reduced scale different from the prescribed reduced scale, based on photo data on another scale different from the prescribed scale read from the second photo data storage device; and

a second display switching device to conduct display switching to a photo picture on the another reduced scale which is prepared by the fourth photo picture preparing device with a user'"'"'s command to switch the reduced scale.

3. An image display, which has:

a first map picture preparing device to prepare a map picture based on map data read from a map data storage device in which map data is stored; and

a first map picture display device to display a map picture which is prepared by the first map picture preparing device;

comprising;

a fifth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture showing the periphery of the current position of one'"'"'s own, based on photo data regarding the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position read based on the one'"'"'s current position information from a third photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth covering limited areas is stored;

a first one'"'"'s position judging device to judge whether the one is within the areas based on the one'"'"'s current position information; and

a third photo picture display device to display a photo picture showing the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position which is prepared by the fifth photo picture preparing device, when the first one'"'"'s position judging device judges the one to be within the areas.

4. An image display, which has:

a first map picture preparing device to prepare a map picture based on map data read from a map data storage device in which map data is stored; and

a first map picture display device to display a map picture which is prepared by the first map picture preparing device;

comprising

a fifth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture showing the periphery of the current position of one'"'"'s own, based on photo data regarding the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position read based on the one'"'"'s current position information from a third photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth covering limited areas is stored;

a first one'"'"'s position judging device to judge whether the one is within the areas based on the one'"'"'s current position information; and

a fourth photo picture display device to display a photo picture showing the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position which is prepared by the fifth photo picture preparing device, with a user'"'"'s command to display the photo picture while the one has been judged to be within the areas by the first one'"'"'s position judging device.

5. An image display, which has:

a first map picture preparing device to prepare a map picture based on map data read from a map data storage device in which map data is stored; and

a first map picture display device to display a map picture which is prepared by the first map picture preparing device;

comprising;

a fifth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture showing the periphery of the current position of one'"'"'s own, based on photo data regarding the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position read based on the one'"'"'s current position information from a third photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth covering limited areas is stored;

a first one'"'"'s position judging device to judge whether the one is within the areas based on the one'"'"'s current position information;

a first switch forming device to form a command switch for giving a command to display the photo picture, when the first one'"'"'s position judging device judges the one to be within the areas; and

a fifth photo picture display device to display a photo picture showing the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position which is prepared by the fifth photo picture preparing device, when the command switch is turned on by a user.

6. An image display, comprising:

a sixth photo picture preparing device to prepare photo pictures showing prescribed spots, based on photo data regarding the prescribed spots existing on a guidance route or around the guidance route read based on the guidance route information from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored; and

a sixth photo picture display device to display a photo picture showing the prescribed spot which is prepared by the sixth photo picture preparing device.

7. An image display, comprising:

a seventh photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture based on photo data read from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored;

a seventh photo picture display device to display a photo picture which is prepared by the seventh photo picture preparing device; and

a detailed information providing device to provide detailed information regarding spots to a user, based on detailed data related to the spots existing within the area shown in the photo picture read from a detailed data storage device in which detailed data related to prescribed spots is stored.

8. An image display, comprising:

an eighth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture showing the periphery of a goal, based on photo data regarding the periphery of the goal read based on the goal position information from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored; and

an eighth photo picture display device to display the photo picture showing the periphery of the goal prepared by the eighth photo picture preparing device.

9. An image display according to claim 8, wherein the eighth photo picture display device displays the photo picture showing the periphery of the goal when the goal is selected by a user.

10. An image display according to claim 8, comprising:

a second one'"'"'s position judging device to judge whether one reaches close to the goal based on the one'"'"'s current position information and the goal position information;

wherein the eighth photo picture display device displays the photo picture showing the periphery of the goal when the second one'"'"'s position judging device judges the one to have reached close to the goal.

11. An image display, which has:

a first map picture preparing device to prepare a map picture based on map data read from a map data storage device in which map data is stored; and

a first map picture display device to display a map picture which is prepared by the first map picture preparing device;

comprising;

a seventh photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture based on photo data read from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored; and

a third display switching device to conduct display switching from the map picture to the photo picture and/or from the photo picture to the map picture with matching the area shown by the map picture with the area shown by the photo picture.

12. An image display, which has:

a ninth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture showing the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position, based on photo data related to the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position read based on the one'"'"'s current position information from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored;

a ninth photo picture display device to display a photo picture showing the periphery of the one'"'"'s current position which is prepared by the ninth photo picture preparing device; and

a first current position display device to show the one'"'"'s current position on the photo picture based on the one'"'"'s current position information;

comprising;

a second map picture preparing device to prepare a map picture based on map data read from a map data storage device in which map data is stored; and

a fourth display switching device to conduct step-by-step display switching from the photo picture to the map picture according to the one'"'"'s travel, by making the display area of the photo picture smaller, while making the display area of the map picture larger based on the one'"'"'s current position information.

13. An image display, comprising:

a tenth photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture, based on photo data read based on a predetermined condition from a fourth photo data storage device in which photo data taken in two or more different states to one area is stored; and

a tenth photo picture display device to display a photo picture which is prepared by the tenth photo picture preparing device.

14. An image display, which has:

a first map picture preparing device to prepare a map picture based on map data read from a map data storage device in which map data is stored; and

a first map picture display device to display a map picture which is prepared by the first map picture preparing device;

comprising;

a seventh photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture based on photo data read from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored; and

a multi-screen display device to display a map picture which is prepared by the first map picture preparing device and a photo picture which is prepared by the seventh photo picture preparing device on the same display screen.

15. An image display, comprising:

a seventh photo picture preparing device to prepare a photo picture based on photo data read from a first photo data storage device in which photo data showing the surface of the earth is stored; and

a seventh photo picture display device to display a photo picture which is prepared by the seventh photo picture preparing device;

wherein the seventh photo picture preparing device prepares a photo picture on which prescribed image processing is conducted based on a predetermined condition.

16. An image display, which has:

a display control device to display a map image and a real image on the same scale concerning the same area on a display screen based on map data and real image data;

wherein the display control device has a function of composing the map image and the real image so that in the background of either of the map image and the real image, the other image is overlaid in a given region, and only the other image can be seen in the composite region.

20. An image display according to claim 16, which is adopted in a navigation system that can guide oneself to a goal by providing information such as routes and maps required for reaching the goal to a user, wherein the given region is any of:

a peripheral area of the one'"'"'s own obtained based on the one'"'"'s position information;

a peripheral area of the goal obtained based on the goal position information;

a peripheral area of a preset facility obtained based on the preset facility position information; and

a peripheral area of a preselected position obtained based on position information of the preselected position previously pointed by the user.

21. An image display according to claim 16, which is adopted in a navigation system that can guide oneself to a goal by providing information such as routes and maps required for reaching the goal to a user;

wherein the given region is an almost upper half region or an almost lower half region on the display screen.

22. An image display according to claim 16, which is adopted in a navigation system that can guide oneself to a goal by providing information such as routes and maps required for reaching the goal to a user;

wherein the given region is a peripheral area of the route obtained based on route information regarding the route.

17. An image display, which has:

a display control device to display a map image and a real image on the same scale concerning the same area on a display screen based on map data and real image data;

wherein the display control device has a function of composing the map image and the real image so that in the background of either of the map image and the real image, the other image is overlaid in a given region, and through either of the map image and the real image, the other image can be seen in the whole or part of the composite region.

18. An image display according to claim 17, comprising:

a composition level setting device which enables the setting of the composition level of the images;

wherein the display control device composes the images based on the composition level set by the composition level setting device concerning the composite region.

19. An image display according to claim 17, wherein the display control device composes the images so that the display brightness of a background image becomes higher from the composite region toward the outside of the region.

23. An image display, which has a first display control device to display a map image based on map data on a display screen, comprising:

a second display control device to display real images showing prescribed places on the same scale as the map image in the spaces of the prescribed places on the map image, based on space information showing the spaces of the prescribed places on the map and real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates.

26. An image display according to claim 23, comprising:

a place selection device which enables a selection of a specific place;

wherein the prescribed place is the specific place selected by the place selection device.

27. An image display according to claim 23, comprising:

a usage selection device which enables a selection of a usage of a place;

wherein the prescribed place is a place used for the usage selected by the usage selection device.

28. An image display according to claim 23, which is adopted in a navigation system that can guide oneself to a goal by providing information such as routes and maps required for reaching the goal to a user, comprising:

a storage device to store information regarding the past driving record of the one'"'"'s own; and

a place computing device to find a specific place based on the driving record stored in the storage device;

wherein the prescribed place is a place computed by the place computing device.

24. An image display, which has a first display control device to display a map image based on map data on a display screen, comprising:

a block computing device to find a block where a prescribed place is included based on address information showing the address of the prescribed place; and

a third display control device to display a real image showing a block on the same scale as the map image in the space of the block on the map image, based on space information showing the space of the block computed by the block computing device and real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates.

25. An image display, which has a first display control device to display a map image based on map data on a display screen, comprising:

a second display control device to display a real image showing a prescribed place on the same scale as the map image in the space of the prescribed place on the map image, based on space information showing the space of the prescribed place on the map and real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates;

a block computing device to find a block where the prescribed place is included based on address information showing the address of the prescribed place;

a third display control device to display a real image showing a block on the same scale as the map image in the space of the block on the map image, based on space information showing the space of the block computed by the block computing device and the real image data; and

a switching control device to control the proper use of the control by the second display control device and the control by the third display control device, depending on a predetermined condition.

29. An image display, which has a first display control device to display a map image based on map data on a display screen, comprising:

a fourth display control device to display a real image showing a prescribed block on the same scale as the map image in the space of the block on the map image, based on space information showing the space of the prescribed block and real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates.

30. An image display according to claim 29, which is adopted in a navigation system that can guide oneself to a goal by providing information such as routes and maps required for reaching the goal to a user, comprising:

a storage device to store information regarding the past driving record of the one'"'"'s own; and

a zone computing device to find a specific zone based on the driving record stored in the storage device;

wherein the prescribed block is a block including a zone computed by the zone computing device.

31. An image display, which has a fifth display control device to display a real image such as a satellite photograph or an air photograph showing the surface of the earth on a display screen, based on real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates;

wherein the fifth display control device differentiates a prescribed block from the other portion to display the real image, based on space information showing the space of the prescribed block and the real image data.

32. An image display according to claim 31, comprising:

a block selection device which enables a selection of a specific block;

wherein the prescribed block is the specific block selected by the block selection device.

33. An image display according to claim 31, which is adopted in a navigation system that can guide oneself to a goal by providing information such as routes and maps required for reaching the goal to a user, comprising:

a storage device to store information regarding the past driving record of the one'"'"'s own; and

a zone computing device to find a specific zone based on the driving record stored in the storage device;

wherein the prescribed block is a block including a zone computed by the zone computing device.

34. An image display, which has a fifth display control device to display a real image such as a satellite photograph or an air photograph showing the surface of the earth on a display screen, based on real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates;

wherein the fifth display control device displays a real image such as a satellite photograph or an air photograph showing a specific area based on information showing the specific area such as a park or a facility.

35. An image display, which has a sixth display control device to display a real image such as a satellite photograph or an air photograph showing the periphery of a specific position on a display screen, based on real image data formed so as to be able to correspond to the position coordinates and position information of the specific position such as one'"'"'s position;

comprising a specific position display device to show the specific position on a real image appearing on the display screen.