NAVIGATION APPARATUS

• US 20110153199A1
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: MAEDA, Munenori, MORIMOTO, Ryuichi
• Application Number:
  US12/966,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096805 where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A drive recorder for installation in a vehicle detects occurrence of predetermined events such as an accident, and records an “event occurrence location” that is a location of the vehicle at the time of the event occurrence. A navigation apparatus obtains the “event occurrence location” recorded by the drive recorder, and if there is the “event occurrence location” in the range of a map displayed on a display, the navigation apparatus superimposes a warning mark on the event occurrence location. Thereby the location, where the event occurred actually, is indicated on the map. Thus it is possible to inform the location where an attention is required for driving, adapting to the actual driving.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for installation in a vehicle, the navigation apparatus comprising:

a data obtaining unit that obtains recorded data, recorded by a drive recorder that records the recorded data including an event occurrence location where an event occurred;

a location obtaining unit that obtains a vehicle location that is a current location of the vehicle; and

a display unit that displays a map that explicitly identifies the event occurrence location and the vehicle location.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the recorded data further includes a type of the event, and

the display unit explicitly identifies the type of the event that occurred at the event occurrence location, on the event occurrence location on the map.

3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the recorded data includes a plurality of the event occurrence locations and further includes moving image data that shows image data recorded when the event occurred at each respective event occurrence location, and

the navigation apparatus further comprises a receiver that receives a selection of any of the plurality of event occurrence locations on the map from a user, and

the display unit plays back and displays the moving image data of the event that occurred at one of the plurality of the event occurrence locations which is selected by the user.

4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the display unit displays an index in accordance with how many times the event occurred at the event occurrence location, on the event occurrence location on the map.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a route finding unit that finds a first route from the vehicle location to a destination; and

a number calculating unit that calculates the number of the event occurrence locations existing on the first route.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an informing unit that informs a user of the number of the event occurrence locations existing on the first route.

7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the route finding unit finds a second route that circumvents the event occurrence location if the number of the event occurrence locations existing on the first route is equal to or above a threshold value.

8. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a route setting unit that is capable of finding a route from the vehicle location to a destination, which circumvents the event occurrence location.

9. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sound output unit that outputs a guidance sound that announces that the vehicle location is approaching the event occurrence location, when the vehicle location is within a predetermined distance of the event occurrence location.

10. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recorded data includes moving image data showing the event that occurred at the event occurrence location, and the display unit shows the moving image data when instructed to do so by a user of the navigation apparatus.

11. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recorded data for the event is recorded when the event occurs.

12. An in-vehicle display system for installation in a vehicle, the in-vehicle display system comprising:

a drive recorder that records recorded data including an event occurrence location where an event occurred;

a location obtaining unit that obtains a vehicle location that is a current location of the vehicle; and

a display unit that displays a map that explicitly identifies the event occurrence location and the vehicle location.

13. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 12, wherein

the recorded data further includes a type of the event, and

the display unit explicitly identifies the type of the event that occurred at the event occurrence location, on the event occurrence location on the map.

14. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 12, wherein

the recorded data includes a plurality of the event occurrence locations and further includes moving image data that shows image data recorded when the event occurred at each respective event occurrence location, and

the in-vehicle display system further comprises a receiver that receives a selection of any of the plurality of event occurrence locations on the map from a user, and

the display unit plays back and displays the moving image data of the event that occurred at one of the plurality of event occurrence locations which is selected by the user.

15. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 12, wherein

the display unit displays an index in accordance with how many times the event occurred at the event occurrence location, on the event occurrence location on the map.

16. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a route finding unit that finds a first route from the vehicle location to a destination; and

a number calculating unit that calculates the number of the event occurrence locations existing on the first route.

17. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 12, wherein the recorded data includes moving image data showing the event that occurred at the event occurrence location, and the display unit shows the moving image data when instructed to do so by a user of the in-vehicle display system.

18. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 12, wherein the recorded data for the event is recorded when the event occurs.

19. A map displaying method for displaying a map in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining recorded data, recorded by a drive recorder that records the recorded data including an event occurrence location where an event occurred;

(b) obtaining a vehicle location that is a current location of the vehicle; and

(c) displaying a map that explicitly identifies the event occurrence location and the vehicle location.

20. The map displaying method according to claim 19, wherein

the recorded data further includes a type of the event, and

the step (c) explicitly identifies the type of the event that occurred at the event occurrence location, on the event occurrence location on the map.

21. The map displaying method according to claim 19, wherein

the recorded data includes a plurality of the event occurrence locations and further includes moving image data that shows image data recorded when the event occurred at each respective event occurrence location, and

the map displaying method further comprises the steps of:

(d) receiving a selection of any of the plurality of event occurrence locations on the map from a user; and

(e) playing back and displaying the moving image data of the event that occurred at one of the plurality of event occurrence locations which is selected by the user.

22. The map displaying method according to claim 19, wherein

the step (c) displays an index in accordance with how many times the event occurred at the event occurrence location, on the event occurrence location on the map.

23. The map displaying method according to claim 19, the method further comprising the steps of:

(f) finding a first route from the vehicle location to a destination; and

(g) calculating the number of the event occurrence locations existing on the first route.

24. The map displaying method according to claim 23, the method further comprising the step of:

(h) informing a user of the number of the event occurrence locations existing on the first route.

25. The map displaying method according to claim 19, wherein the recorded data includes moving image data showing the event that occurred at the event occurrence location, and the displaying step shows the moving image data.

26. The map displaying method according to claim 19, wherein the recorded data for the event is recorded when the event occurs.