Providing navigation instructions

• US 20110001751A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Group Services Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Group Services Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Alsed, Jesper, Ekstrand, Simon, Carlsson, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,214,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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: G09B 29/102 using electrical means

Abstract

A method in a device for providing navigation instructions in a three-dimensional map environment comprises receiving a start and end positions, determining a route, determining graphical two-dimensional map data, generating navigation instructions comprising setting a transparency level and transmitting the navigation instructions to a display. Corresponding device and computer program product are also provided.

Claims

1. A method performed in a device for providing navigation instructions in a three-dimensional map environment, comprising:

receiving a start position and an end position;

determining a route from said start position to said end position;

determining, for a position on said route, graphical two-dimensional map data related to said position;

retrieving said graphical two-dimensional map data;

generating, for said position of said route, navigation instructions by;

projecting said graphical two-dimensional map data on a plane in a three-dimensional map environment and adding a representation of said route;

adding graphical three-dimensional map objects to said projected graphical two-dimensional map data by utilising said graphical three-dimensional map objects data; and

setting a transparency level of said graphical three-dimensional map objects; and

transmitting said navigation instructions to a display.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to adjusting said transparency level; and

adjusting said transparency level according to said received information.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a mode of transportation for said device, and wherein said transparency level depends on said mode of transportation.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a transportation speed for said device, and wherein said transparency level depends on said transportation speed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein setting a transparency level comprises:

grouping said graphical three-dimensional map objects into at least two groups of graphical three-dimensional map objects; and

setting individual transparency levels for each one of said groups of graphical three-dimensional map objects.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said grouping depends on said position of said route.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein a first group of said at least two groups comprises graphical three-dimensional map objects associated with said position of said route, and wherein a second group of said at least two groups comprises graphical three-dimensional map objects not associated with said position of said route.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

retrieving information pertaining to individual distances between said position of said route and each one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects, and wherein said transparency level of each one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects depends on said individual distances.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein setting a transparency level comprises:

determining at least one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects to be located at a position in said three-dimensional map environment such that a rendered surface of said at least one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects at least partly overlaps said route, and

setting a transparency level of said at least one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects such that said route is visible through said rendered surface.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a current position of said route, and wherein said transparency level depends on said current position.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

retrieving information pertaining to current individual distances between said current position and each one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects, and wherein the transparency level of each one of said graphical three-dimensional map objects depends on said current individual distances.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining, for said position of said route, a graphical three-dimensional map objects data related to said position;

retrieving said graphical three-dimensional map objects data; and

adding said graphical three-dimensional map objects data to said three-dimensional map environment.

13. A device for providing navigation instructions in a three-dimensional map environment, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a start position and an end position,

a processing unit that;

determines a route from said start position to said end position;

determines, for a position on said route, graphical two-dimensional map data related to said position;

retrieves said graphical two-dimensional map data, and

generates, for said position of said route, navigation instructions by;

projecting said graphical two-dimensional map data on a plane in a three-dimensional map environment and adding a representation of said route;

adding graphical three-dimensional map objects to said projected graphical two-dimensional map data by utilising said graphical three-dimensional map objects data; and

setting a transparency level of said graphical three-dimensional map objects; and

a transmitter for transmitting said navigation instructions.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a display for displaying said navigation instructions.

15. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium comprising computer program code portions, the computer program product comprising:

executable code that receives a start position and an end position;

executable code that determines a route from said start position to said end position;

executable code that determines, for a position on said route, graphical two-dimensional map data related to said position;

executable code that retrieves said graphical two-dimensional map data;

executable code that generates, for said position of said route, navigation instructions by;

projecting said graphical two-dimensional map data on a plane in a three-dimensional map environment and adding a representation of said route;

adding graphical three-dimensional map objects to said projected graphical two-dimensional map data by utilising said graphical three-dimensional map objects data; and

setting a transparency level of said graphical three-dimensional map objects; and

executable code that transmits said navigation instructions to a display.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising:

executable code that receives information pertaining to adjusting said transparency level; and

executable code that adjusts said transparency level according to said received information.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising:

executable code that receives information pertaining to a mode of transportation for said device, and wherein said transparency level depends on said mode of transportation.

18. The computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising:

executable code that receives information pertaining to a transportation speed for said device, and wherein said transparency level depends on said transportation speed.

19. The computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising:

executable code that receives information pertaining to a current position of said route, and wherein said transparency level depends on said current position.

20. The computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising:

executable code that determines, for said position of said route, a graphical three-dimensional map objects data related to said position;

executable code that retrieves said graphical three-dimensional map objects data; and

executable code that adds said graphical three-dimensional map objects data to said three-dimensional map environment.