Navigation device and method for enhanced map display

• US 20080165182A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Jurgens, Sven-Erik, Geelen, Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining map information for display on an integrated input and display device of a navigation device, based upon a determined route of travel of the navigation device; determining, prior to display on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, whether or not the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern; enhancing, upon determining that the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern, the determined at least one designated pattern; and displaying the determined map information, including the enhanced at least one designated pattern, in three dimensions on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine map information for subsequent display, based upon a determined route of travel of the navigation device, the processor further being useable to determine, prior to display, whether or not the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern and to enhance, upon determining that the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern, the determined at least one designated pattern; and an integrated input and display device to display the determined map information, including the enhanced at least one designated pattern, in three dimensions.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining map information for display on an integrated input and display device of a navigation device, based upon a determined route of travel of the navigation device;

determining, prior to display on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device, whether or not the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern;

enhancing, upon determining that the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern, the determined at least one designated pattern; and

displaying the determined map information, including the enhanced at least one designated pattern, in three dimensions on the integrated input and display device of the navigation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing includes at least one of emphasizing outlines, changing a color shade and increasing a number of pixels representing at least a portion of the determined at least one designated pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one designated pattern includes at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one designated pattern includes at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining includes scanning the determined map information to detect an edge of at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing includes emphasizing an outline of the detected edge.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining includes scanning the determined map information to detect an edge of at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing includes emphasizing an outline of the detected edge.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing includes changing a color shade of at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing includes changing a color shade of at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing includes increasing a number of pixels representing at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing includes increasing a number of pixels representing at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

11. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device, causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim 1.

12. A navigation device, comprising:

a processor to determine map information for subsequent display, based upon a determined route of travel of the navigation device, the processor further being useable to determine, prior to display, whether or not the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern and to enhance, upon determining that the determined map information includes at least one designated pattern, the determined at least one designated pattern; and

an integrated input and display device to display the determined map information, including the enhanced at least one designated pattern, in three dimensions.

13. The navigation device of claim 12, wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes at least one of emphasizing outlines, changing a color shade and increasing a number of pixels representing at least a portion of the determined at least one designated pattern.

14. The navigation device of claim 12, wherein the at least one designated pattern includes at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

15. The navigation device of claim 13, wherein the at least one designated pattern includes at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

16. The navigation device of claim 14, wherein the determining, by the processor, includes scanning the determined map information to detect an edge of at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes emphasizing an outline of the detected edge.

17. The navigation device of claim 15, wherein the determining, by the processor, includes scanning the determined map information to detect a edge of at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes emphasizing an outline of the detected edge.

18. The navigation device of claim 14, wherein the determining, by the processor, includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes changing a color shade of at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

19. The navigation device of claim 15 wherein the determining, by the processor, includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes changing a color shade of at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

20. The navigation device of claim 14 wherein the determining, by the processor, includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes increasing a number of pixels representing at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.

21. The navigation device of claim 15, wherein the determining, by the processor, includes scanning the determined map information to detect at least one of a body of water and a building footprint and wherein the enhancing, by the processor, includes increasing a number of pixels representing at least a portion of the at least one of a body of water and a building footprint.