Map display device and navigation device

• US 20050052462A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atsushi Yamashita, Hiroyuki Hamada, Kiyomi Sakamoto, Teruaki Ata
• Original Assignee: Atsushi Yamashita, Hiroyuki Hamada, Kiyomi Sakamoto, Teruaki Ata
• Inventors: Hamada, Hiroyuki, Yamashita, Atsushi, Sakamoto, Kiyomi, Ata, Teruaki
• Application Number:
  US10/958,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052462A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

In a map display device, a communications part 7 receives various information from an external system, and a map data arranging part 4 arranges in a map space object models each indicating those various information. Such data arrangement is done based on map data stored in a map data storage part 3, information from the communications part 7 and an input part 2, and object model display information stored in an object model display information storage part 6. A display 5 then displays a resultant map image. In such manner, various time-varying information are appropriately arranged for display on the map image so as to make a user intuitively understand what those information mean.

Claims

1-59. -59. (Canceled)

60. A map display device for converting externally provided communications information into an applicable object model for arrangement on a map image, said map display device comprising:

an input part for receiving an instruction from a user;

a map data storage part for storing map data;

an object model display information storage part for storing object model display information for displaying at least one object model having a shape which allows the user to understand content of the communications information on the map image;

a communications part for receiving the communications information, the communications information including information which varies in real time;

a map data arranging part for creating the at least one object model by interpreting the communications information and the object model display information provided by said object model display information storage part, and arranging the at least one object model at a position on the map image based on the communications information; and

a display part for displaying a resultant map image including the map image and the at least one object model obtained by said map data arranging part, wherein

the communications information includes information indicating a frozen road, and

said map data arranging part arranges the at least one object model representing icy conditions in a region of the image map corresponding to the frozen road, the at least one object model being a 3D model.

61. A map display for converting externally provided communications information into an applicable object model for arrangement on a map image, said map display device comprising:

an input part for receiving an instruction from a user;

a map data storage part for storing map data;

an object model display information storage part for storing object model display information for displaying at least one object model having a shape which allows the user to understand content of the communications information on the map image;

a communications part for receiving the communications information, the communications information including information which varies in real time;

a map data arranging part for creating the at least one object model by interpreting the communications information and the object model display information provided by said object model display information storage part, and arranging the at least one object model at a position on the map image based on the communications information; and

a display part for displaying a resultant map image including the map image and the at least one object model obtained by said map data arranging part, wherein

the communications information includes traffic jam information indicating a jammed road, and

said map data arranging part arranges the at least one object model representing a traffic jam in a region of the image map corresponding to the jammed road, the at least one object model being a 3D model.

62. The map display device according to claim 61, wherein said map data arranging part arranges a plurality of object models representing vehicles in the region of the image map corresponding to the jammed road, the plurality of object models being 3D models.

63. A map display device for converting externally provided communications information into an applicable object model for arrangement on a map image, said map display device comprising:

an input part for receiving an instruction from a user;

a map data storage part for storing map data;

an object model display information storage part for storing object model display information for displaying at least one object model having a shape which allows the user to understand content of the communications information on the map image;

a communications part for receiving the communications information, the communications information including information which varies in real time;

a map data arranging part for creating the at least one object model by interpreting the communications information and the object model display information provided by said object model display information storage part, and arranging the at least one object model at a position on the map image based on the communications information; and

a display part for displaying a resultant map image including the map image and the at least one object model obtained by said map data arranging part, wherein

the communications information includes accident information including information indicating a site of an accident, and

said map data arranging part arranges the at least one object model representing a traffic accident in a region of the map image corresponding to the site of the accident, the at least one object model being a 3D model.

64. A map display device for converting externally provided communications information into an applicable object model for arrangement on a map image, said map display device comprising:

an input part for receiving an instruction from a user;

a map data storage part for storing map data;

an object model display information storage part for storing object model display information for displaying at least one object model having a shape which allows the user to understand content of the communications information on the map image;

a communications part for receiving the communications information, the communications information including information which varies in real time;

a map data arranging part for creating the at least one object model by interpreting the communications information and the object model display information provided by said object model display information storage part, and arranging the at least one object model at a position on the map image based on the communications information; and

a display part for displaying a resultant map image including the map image and the at least one object model obtained by said map data arranging part, wherein

the communications information includes information indicating availability of a specific parking lot, and

said map data arranging part arranges the at least one object model representing the availability in a region of the map image corresponding to the specific parking lot, the at least one object model being a 3D model.