Portable Navigation Terminal and Program

• US 20080288166A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Onishi, Keisuke, Kikuchi, Shin
• Granted Patent: US 8,103,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A portable navigation device where a map being displayed on a display section is fixed by performing map stop operation at a portable navigation terminal where an appropriate map is selected and displayed so as to correspond to the speed of movement. A portable navigation terminal (10) has speed detecting means (104) for detecting the speed of movement of the terminal, a map data request/acquisition section (105) for requesting, according to the movement speed detected by the speed detecting mean, different kinds of map data to an information distributing server and acquiring the map data, and an operation section (16) having a map stop button for stopping, at a desired time point during the movement, change in the kind of map displayed on display means. The portable navigation terminal (10) further has manual scroll means (164), a zoom-in button (162), and a zoom-out button (163) that have the function of the map stop button.

Claims

1. A portable navigation terminal that transmits current position information obtained from a GPS system to an information distribution server, receives map information and route information from the information distribution server, and displays a map and a route on display means, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

speed detecting means for detecting the traveling speed thereof;

a map data request/acquisition section for requesting and acquiring different types of map data from the information distribution server depending on the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting means;

an operation means including a map stop button for stopping the change being made in the type of map displayed on the display means at an arbitrary point in time during travel; and

map change prohibition means for inhibiting the process of switching the type of map currently displayed on the display means when the map stopping button is operated;

whereupon, if the map stopping button is operated, the map change prohibition means inhibits the process of switching the map displayed to a map corresponding to the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting means such that the map currently displayed on the display means continues to be displayed without being substituted by another type of map regardless of the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal.

15. The portable navigation terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a GPS receiver, wherein the traveling speed is detected based on the average traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal between two points of the GPS system.

16. The portable navigation terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 14, and which is further provided with an acceleration sensor, wherein the portable navigation terminal integrates the output of the acceleration sensor and detects the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal.

2. A program for causing a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal to transmit current position information obtained from a GPS system to an information distribution server, receive map information and route information from the information distribution server, and display a map and a route on display means and execute the following processes:

detect the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal;

request and acquire, different types of map data from the information distribution server depending on the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting means; and

inhibit switching of the type of map displayed on the display means if the map stopping button is activated, regardless of the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting means.

3. A portable navigation terminal that receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the various layers of map data in accordance with the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

display means;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer;

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means based on the map management table;

auto-scroll means for continually displaying the current position of the portable navigation terminal at a predetermined position on the display means; and

auto-scroll setting storage means for storing the auto-scroll display setting for each type of map displayed on the display means when it is switched for another type of map using the manual zoom means based on the map data stored in each layer.

4. The portable navigation terminal according to claim 3, further comprising map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data, wherein the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out in the map data management table for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means.

5. A portable navigation terminal that receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data contained in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed detected by a speed detecting means and displays maps, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

display means;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer;

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means based on the map management table;

auto-scroll means for continually displaying the current position of the portable navigation terminal at a predetermined position on the display means; and

auto-scroll setting storage means for storing the auto-scroll display setting for each type of map displayed on the display means when it is switched for another type of map using manual zoom means based on the map data stored in each layer,

and if auto-scroll display setting for a map switched by manual zoom means is not stored in the auto scroll setting storage means, the auto-scrolling process in the display means terminates.

6. The portable navigation terminal according to claim 5, further comprising map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data, wherein the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out in the map data management table for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means.

7. A portable navigation terminal that receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data contained in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed detected by a speed detecting means and displays maps, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

display means;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer;

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means based on the map management table;

auto-scroll means for continually displaying the current position of the portable navigation terminal at a predetermined position on the display means, and operates in conjunction with the auto-zoom means, if activated.

8. The portable navigation terminal according to claim 7, further comprising map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data, wherein the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out in the map data management table for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means.

9. A portable navigation terminal that receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the various layers of map data in accordance with the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

display means;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer;

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means based on the map management table;

auto-scroll means for continually displaying the current position of the portable navigation terminal at a predetermined position on the display means; and

manual scroll means for scrolling a map manually on the display means, whereby the auto-zoom means and the auto-scroll means are simultaneously turned off if the manual scroll means is operated effectively.

10. The portable navigation terminal according to claim 9, further comprising map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data, wherein the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out in the map data management table for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means.

11. A portable navigation terminal that receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data contained in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed detected by a speed detecting means and displays maps, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

display means;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer;

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal; and

auto-zoom setting storage means for storing the auto-zoom display setting for each type of map that the auto-zoom means can automatically select based on the map data contained in each layer,

12. The portable navigation terminal according to claim 11, further comprising map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data, wherein the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out in the map data management table for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing section.

13. A portable navigation terminal that receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data contained in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

display means;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer; and

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal;

whereby the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal which serves as switching criterion is set out and stored in the map data management table to acquire a hysteretic characteristic depending on the direction of the switched map;

14. The portable navigation terminal according to claim 13, further comprising map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data, wherein the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means.

17. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer; and

auto-scroll setting storage means for storing auto-scroll display for each type of map displayed on the display means when it is switched for another type of map using the manual zoom means based on the map data stored in each layer,

and the program executes the following processes;

display a map on the display means by auto-zoom process in response to an activity of the auto-zoom means based on the map management table; and

perform auto scrolling based on the setting stored in the auto-scroll setting storage means in response to an activity of the auto-scroll means by which the current position of the portable navigation terminal is continually displayed at a predetermined position on the display means.

18. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map,

wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing a map to a predetermined size based on the map data; and

auto-scroll setting storage means for storing the auto-scroll display setting for each type of map displayed on the display means when it is switched for another type of map using the manual zoom means based on the map data stored in each layer,

and the program executes the following processes;

display a map on the display means by auto-zoom process in response to an activity of the auto-zoom means based on the map management table; and

perform auto scrolling based on the setting stored in the auto-scroll setting storage means in response to an activity of the auto-scroll means by which the current position of the portable navigation terminal is continually displayed at a predetermined position on the display means.

19. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer; and

auto-scroll setting storage means for storing the auto-scroll display setting for each type of map displayed on the display means when it is switched for another type of map using the manual zoom means based on the map data stored in each layer,

whereby the process of auto-scrolling in the display means is inhibited when auto-scroll display setting is not stored in the auto-scroll setting storage means for the resulting map after switching takes place using the manual zoom means.

20. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing the map to a predetermined size based on the map data; and

auto-scroll setting storage means for storing the auto-scroll display setting for each type of map displayed on the display means when it is switched for another type of map using the manual zoom means based on the map data stored in each layer as well as the auto-scroll display setting for maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing section,

whereby the process of auto-scrolling in the display means is inhibited when auto-scroll display setting is not stored in the auto-scroll setting storage means for the resulting map after switching takes place using the manual zoom means.

21. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as a switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer,

and the program executes the following processes;

an auto-zoom process of displaying the map on the display means based on the map management table in response to an operation of auto-zoom means;

display a map on the display means by auto-zoom process in response to an activity of the auto-zoom means based on the map management table;

perform auto-scrolling based on the setting stored in the auto-scroll setting storage means in response to an activity of the auto-scroll means by which the current position of the portable navigation terminal is continually displayed at a predetermined position on the display means; and

make the auto-scroll means operate in conjunction with the auto-zoom means, if made operative.

22. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing the map to a predetermined size based on the map data; and

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means,

and the program executes the following processes;

display a map on the display means by auto-zoom process in response to an activity of the auto-zoom means based on the map management table; and

perform auto scrolling based on the setting stored in the auto-scroll setting storage means in response to an activity of the auto-scroll means by which the current position of the portable navigation terminal is continually displayed at a predetermined position on the display means.

make the auto-scroll means operate in conjunction with the auto-zoom means, if made operative.

23. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means,

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means based on the map management table;

auto-scroll means for continually displaying the current position of the portable navigation terminal at a predetermined position on the display means; and

manual scroll means for scrolling a map manually on the display means, whereby the auto-zoom means and the auto-scroll means are simultaneously turned off if the manual scroll means is operated effectively.

24. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing the map to a predetermined size based on the map data;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing means;

auto-zoom means for automatically selecting the type of map to be displayed on the display means based on the map management table;

auto-scroll means for continually displaying the current position of the portable navigation terminal at a predetermined position on the display means; and

manual scroll means for scrolling a map manually on the display means, whereby the auto-zoom means and the auto-scroll means are simultaneously turned off if the manual scroll means is operated effectively.

25. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer; and

auto-zoom setting storage means for storing the auto-zoom display setting for each type of map that the auto-zoom means can automatically select based on the map data contained in each layer;

and the program displays a map on the display means by auto-zoom process in response to an activity of the auto-zoom means based on the map management table.

26. A program for a computer comprising a portable navigation terminal which receives map data from an information distribution server while switching the map data in several layers in accordance with the traveling speed of the portable navigation terminal detected by a speed detecting means and displays a map, wherein the portable navigation terminal comprises:

map data magnifying/reduction processing means for magnifying or reducing the map to a predetermined size based on the map data;

a map data management table in which the traveling speed that serves as switching criterion is set out for each type of map based on the map data in each layer as well as the traveling speed of maps generated by the map data magnifying/reduction processing section; and

auto-zoom setting storage means for storing the auto-zoom display setting for each type of map that the auto-zoom means can automatically select based on the map data contained in each layer;

and the program displays a map on the display means by auto-zoom process in response to an activity of the auto-zoom means based on the map management table.