Vehicle guidance method for navigation system

• US 6,374,183 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oshida, Naoya, Takahashi, Shigehito
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/510,898
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/210, 701/209, 701/208, 701/207, 701/206, 701/205, 701/202, 340/990, 340/995, 340/998, 340/996, 342/357, 342/457, 342/451, 364/449
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

A navigation system provides route guidance to a destination even when a facility in an unmapped area is input as the destination. When a facility in an unmapped area is input as a destination, the navigation system obtains a guidance route to an appropriate freeway exit near the facility, thus guiding a vehicle along the guidance route. Subsequently, the navigation system displays an arrow indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the facility and a linear distance from the vehicle position to the facility, thus guiding the vehicle to the destination. The guidance is provided until the vehicle arrives at the destination.

Claims

1. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system for guiding a vehicle along a guidance route during traveling of the vehicle to a destination identified by a user, the method comprising:

providing stored road information for mapped areas;

obtaining, when the identified destination is in an unmapped area so that no stored road information around the identified destination is available for route guidance, a freeway exit near the identified destination as a temporary destination in a mapped area;

guiding the vehicle along the guidance mute to the temporary destination; and

thereafter providing an Indication of the straight line direction from the vehicle position to the identified destination.

2. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

organizing correspondence between a facility, a location thereof, and a freeway exit into a database; and

inputting data for designating the facility as the destination and obtaining the freeway exit corresponding to the facility from the database.

3. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to one of claims 1 and 2, the method further comprising:

displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, a line indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the destination on a display screen; and

guiding the vehicle to the destination.

4. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to one of claims 1 and 2, the method further comprising:

displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, an arrow indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the destination on a display screen; and

guiding the vehicle to the destination.

5. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to one of claims 1 and 2, the method further comprising:

displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, one of a line and an arrow indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the destination and a linear distance from the vehicle position to the destination on a display screen; and

guiding the vehicle to the destination.

6. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system for guiding a vehicle along a guidance route during traveling of the vehicle to a destination identified by a user, the method comprising:

providing stored road information for mapped areas;

obtaining, when the identified destination is in an unmapped area so that no stored road information around the identified destination is available for route guidance, a freeway exit near the identified destination as a temporary destination in a mapped area;

guiding the vehicle along the guidance route to the temporary destination; and

thereafter providing an indication of the straight line direction from the vehicle position to the input destination;

the method further comprising organizing a facility, a location thereof, information on whether the facility is in an unmapped area, and a freeway exit corresponding to the facility into a database; and

obtaining, when the facility in an unmapped area is identified as the destination, a freeway exit corresponding to the facility from the database.

7. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to claim 6, the method further comprising:

displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, a line indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the destination on a display screen; and

guiding the vehicle to the destination.

8. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to claim 6, the method further comprising:

displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, an arrow indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the destination on a display screen; and

guiding the vehicle to the destination.

9. A vehicle guidance method for a navigation system according to claim 6, the method further comprising:

displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, one of a line and an arrow indicating the direction from a vehicle position to the destination and a linear distance from the vehicle position to the destination on a display screen; and

guiding the vehicle to the destination.

10. A navigation system for providing guidance in accordance with a searched route, comprising:

input means for identifying a destination;

position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle;

storage means for providing stored road information for mapped areas and organizing correspondence between a facility, a location thereof, and a freeway exit into a database;

guidance route control means for searching for, based on the stored road information in said storage means, a route from the vehicle position detected by said position detecting means to the destination identified through said input means; and

display means for displaying the route searched for by said guidance route control means;

wherein said guidance control means obtains, when no stored road information around the destination identified through said input means is available for route guidance, a freeway exit near the destination as a temporary destination, and guides the vehicle along a guidance route to the temporary destination.

11. A navigation system according to claim 10, further comprising a means for displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, an arrow indicating the direction from the vehicle position to the destination.

12. A navigation system according to claim 10, further comprising a means for displaying, when the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, a line indicating the direction from the vehicle position to the destination.

13. A navigation system according to claim 10, further comprising a destination direction/distance display means for displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, one of a line and an arrow indicating the direction from the vehicle position to the destination and a linear distance from the vehicle position to the destination.

14. A navigation system for providing guidance in accordance with a searched route, comprising:

input means for identifying a destination;

position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle;

storage means for providing stored road information for mapped areas and organizing a facility, a location thereof, information on whether the facility is in an unmapped area, and a freeway exit near the facility into a database; and

guidance route control means for searching for, based on the stored road information in said storage means, a route from the vehicle position detected by said detecting means to the destination identified through said input means;

wherein said guidance control means obtains, when the destination identified through said input means is in an unmapped area, a freeway exit near the facility as a temporary destination and obtains a guidance route to the temporary destination.

15. A navigation system according to claim 14, further comprising a means for displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, an arrow indicating the direction from the vehicle position to the destination.

16. A navigation system according to claim 14, further comprising a means for displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, a line indicating the direction from the vehicle position to the destination.

17. A navigation system according to claim 14, further comprising a destination direction/distance display means for displaying, after the vehicle has arrived at the temporary destination, one of a line and an arrow indicating the direction from the vehicle position to the destination and a linear distance from the vehicle position to the destination.