Method and device for displaying animated navigation information

• US 6,317,689 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garmin Corporation (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Corporation (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Lee, Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/501,112
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/1, 701/2, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 342/357.03, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 342/352, 342/357.01, 342/357.07, 345/441, 345/442, 345/443, 345/473, 345/474, 455/556, 455/566
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers

Abstract

A method and device for displaying animated navigation information has a processor, a memory, a display, and an input, housed in a portable, handheld housing. In various embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of frames are stored in memory, wherein each frame includes data indicative of a still-shot of a portion of an animated sequence represented by the total plurality of frames. The processor retrieves the frames in sequence for display on the display, such that successively displaying each of the frames on the display presents a visualization on the display of animated movement. In one aspect of the invention, animation is provided upon power up of the unit to provide the user with an indication of the nature of use and features of the unit. In another aspect of the invention, animation is provided to provide an indication to the user of satellite signal acquisition for use in navigation purposes. In another aspect of the invention, a graphical menu driven system is provided, such that upon entry of menu selection, a graphical representation indicative of the selection made appears on the display screen. In accordance with another aspect, as the user of the navigation unit moves with the navigation unit on his or her person, the navigation unit tracks the movement and provides an animated, graphical representation indicative of movement of the user.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a receiver unit for receiving position information from at least one remote source;

a processor unit connected to said receiver unit, wherein said processor unit is programmed with one or more threshold values, thereby creating one or more ranges of speed of the moving object;

a memory unit, for storing data, connected to said processor unit;

an input unit connected to said processor unit, whereby a user of said device can selectively input instructions into said processor unit; and

a display panel disposed on said housing, wherein data indicative of a moving, animated object is stored in said memory unit, and a visual representation thereof, corresponding to one of said speed ranges, is output to said display.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said memory unit has cartographic data stored therein.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the moving object is in the general form of a person.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the moving object is in the form of a person walking.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said data indicative of a moving animated object includes an indicia marking a path traversed by said moving object.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said display depicts movement of a character relative to movement of a user of said device.

7. The device of claim 1, further including data stored in said memory unit indicative of a menu, wherein said menu displays a function of said device that may be performed by said processor unit.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said menu presents an option allowing a user to set a marker on a route.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said menu presents an option to enable a user to recall a marked location on a route.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein activation of the option to set a marker on said menu results in graphic information indicative of a character planting a flag being presented on said display.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein said menu presents an option to enable a user to define a route.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the moving object places multiple markers.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a GPS receiver.

14. A device comprising:

a housing including a receiver unit for receiving data from a remote source connected to a memory unit for storing data, which is connected to a processor unit for manipulating data and;

a display panel disposed on said housing, and an input unit disposed on said housing and connected to said processor unit, whereby a user of said device can selectively input data into said processor unit, wherein data indicative of an animation is stored in said memory unit, and wherein after power-up of said device, said device begins to acquire signals from a plurality of satellites and wherein an animation corresponding to said data indicative of the animation stored in memory is displayed on said display panel, said animation including a graphic representation of a plurality of satellites and an object acquiring signals from said graphically displayed plurality of satellites.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said object is indicative of an individual.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said graphic representation of said individual is a representation of an individual holding a GPS receiver.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said animation further includes a graphic representation indicative of said satellites being in a state of signal acquisition by said GPS receiver held by said individual.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said animation further comprises a toggling display between selected ones of said satellite images of said plurality of satellites.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said animation further comprises the appearance of a line formed between said GPS receiver and a selected satellite when a signal corresponding to said selected satellite has been acquired.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein said device comprises a GPS receiver.

21. A method of displaying information on a display of a navigation device, said method comprising:

storing animated data indicative of use of the navigation device in a memory of the navigation device;

establishing at least one speed threshold value;

determining when said navigation device is in motion, retrieving said animation information from said memory and outputting it on a display of the navigation device; and

when a determined motion of said navigation device is greater than said selected threshold, then altering said animated information output on said display in a manner indicative of said speed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the object has features that give the appearance of movement.