Navigation system

• US 20030225509A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

Disclosed are a navigation system and/or a point information display method and a program. The navigation system consists mainly of: a stream receiver that receives broadcast streams; a data decoder that samples a data signal from the received streams and decodes the data signal into character string information; a matching block that performs matching to compare a predetermined keyword, which is associated with position information specified in map information data, with stored keywords and searches a keyword consistent with the keyword contained in the character string information; a position information searching block that searches position information associated with the keyword contained in the character string information and detected to be consistent with a stored keyword by the matching block; and a display unit that displays the detected position information while superimposing it on a display image.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a stream receiving means for receiving broadcast streams;

a data decoding means for sampling a data signal from the received streams and decoding the data signal into character string information;

a keyword recording means in which predetermined keywords associated with position information specified in map information data are recorded;

a matching means for performing matching so as to compare character string information with each of the keywords recorded in said keyword recording means and searching a keyword consistent with a keyword contained in the character string information;

a position information searching means for searching position information associated with the keyword contained in the character string information and detected to be consistent with a recorded keyword by said matching means; and

a display means for displaying the detected position information while superimposing it on a display image.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein if position information associated with a keyword is contained in a portion of a map image displayed in an area on said display means, said display means displays a mark indicating the position information while superimposing it on the map image.

3. A navigation system according to claim 2, further comprising a display control means that if position information associated with a keyword is not contained in a portion of a map image displayed in an area on said display means, changes the scale for the portion of the map image.

4. A navigation system according to claim 2, further comprising a navigation means that searches the route to the position of a mark displayed on said display means and informs a user of the route.

5. A navigation system comprising:

an information processing unit for sampling position information associated with contents acquired externally;

a display unit for displaying the sampled position information in association with the received contents while superimposing it on a map image.

6. A navigation system according to claim 5, further comprising a memory in which position information is temporarily stored, wherein:

if contents and position information cannot be displayed in association with each other, the position information is stored in said memory; and

said display unit displays position information read from said memory while superimposing it on the map image.

7. A point information display method for navigation systems comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast contents and decoding information of the contents;

judging whether the decoded information contains a keyword associated with point information concerning a position on a map; and

searching map information data for point information associated with the keyword contained in the decoded information, and displaying the point information while superimposing it on the map.

8. A program for controlling an information processor that displays a map image and point information, said program allowing said information processor to perform:

a process for receiving a broadcast radio wave, separating a predetermined signal from the other components of the radio wave, and decoding the predetermined signal;

a process for searching the decoded information for character string information consistent with any of keywords stored in said information processor;

a process for displaying the point information consistent with a stored keyword according to position information while superimposing it on the map image.