Method and apparatus for navigation system for searching easily accessible POI along route

• US 20060089788A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Laverty, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

A search method and apparatus for a navigation system finds accessible points of interest (POI) along the route to the destination in a flexible manner. The navigation system changes its search range when the geographic condition warrants expansion of the search range. The search method is comprised of the steps of: searching POIs specified by a user along a route to a destination within a predetermined search range relative to the route, detecting POIs located within the predetermined search range, determining if a geographic condition on a specific area on the route exists that enables easy accessibility to POIs, expanding the search range if the geographic condition enabling the easy accessibility to POIs exists for the specific area, and detecting POIs located within the expanded search range.

Claims

1. A method for a navigation system for identifying and retrieving information on points of interest along a route, comprising the following steps of:

searching points of interest specified by a user along a route to a destination within a predetermined search range relative to the route;

detecting points of interest located within the predetermined search range;

determining if a geographic condition on a specific area on the route exists that enables easy accessibility to points of interest;

expanding the search range if the geographic condition enabling the easy accessibility to points of interest exists for the specific area; and

detecting points of interest located within the expanded search range.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said geographic condition is an intersection where the route to the destination intersects with a cross street.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said geographic condition is a freeway exit where the route to the destination includes a freeway.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said expanded search range has a circular shape that encompasses the specific area.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said expanded search range has a belt like shape that encompasses the specific area.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined search range is created by shifting a search circle on the route to the destination.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said geographic condition is an intersection where the route to the destination intersects with a cross street, and where said expanded search range having a circular shape is applied to the intersection.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said geographic condition is an intersection where the route to the destination intersects with a cross street, and where said expanded search range having a belt like shape is applied to the intersection along both directions of the cross street by shifting a search circle.

9. An apparatus for a navigation system for identifying and retrieving information on points of interest along a route, comprising:

means for searching points of interest specified by a user along a route to a destination within a predetermined search range relative to the route;

means for detecting points of interest located within the predetermined search range;

means for determining if a geographic condition on a specific area on the route exists that enables easy accessibility to points of interest;

means for expanding the search range if the geographic condition enabling the easy accessibility to points of interest exists for the specific area; and

means for detecting points of interest located within the expanded search range.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said geographic condition is an intersection where the route to the destination intersects with a cross street.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said geographic condition is a freeway exit where the route to the destination includes a freeway.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said expanded search range has a circular shape that encompasses the specific area.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said expanded search range has a belt like shape that encompasses the specific area.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said predetermined search range is created by shifting a search circle on the route to the destination.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said geographic condition is an intersection where the route to the destination intersects with a cross street, and where said expanded search range having a circular shape is applied to the intersection.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said geographic condition is an intersection where the route to the destination intersects with a cross street, and where said expanded search range having a belt like shape is applied to the intersection along both directions of the cross street by shifting a search circle.