Method and device for displaying animated navigation information

• US 6,397,148 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• 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:
  US09/931,128
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207,208,211,213,1,2 340/990,995,996 342/357.06,357.07 345/473,474,441,442,706 463/30,31,39,40,43
• 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 for receiving wirelessly transmitted signals;

a processor unit connected to said receiver;

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

an input connected to said processor; and

a display, wherein data indicative of an animated object is stored in said memory unit, wherein said animated object is displayed on said display and presents the appearance of motion when said device is in motion.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said object corresponds to a location of a user of said device.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the appearance of said motion corresponds to the movement of a user of said device.

4. 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;

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, wherein said animation thereto has at least two features which move relative to each other.

5. The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said method further comprising determining the location of said navigation device;

determining motion of said navigation device; and

corresponding said output to said display of said animation information with said motion.

6. A portable electronic device comprising:

a GPS receiver for determining position information associated with said device;

a display for displaying an object indicative of a location of the device, wherein said object is animated in that it has at least two features, wherein said features appear to move relative to each other corresponding to movement of said device.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said object is indicative of a person, wherein said features comprise arms.

8. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said object is indicative of a person wherein said features comprise legs.

9. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said object is indicative of a person, wherein said features comprise arms and legs.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

receiver for receiving wirelessly transmitted signals;

a processor unit connected to said receiver;

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

an input connected to said processor; and

a display, wherein data indicative of an animated object is stored in said memory unit;

wherein said animated object is displayed on said display and presents the appearance of motion when said device is in motion, wherein the appearance of said motion corresponds to movement of a user of said device.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

a GPS receiver for determining position information associated with said device;

a display for displaying an object indicative of a location of the device, wherein said object resembles a person and is animated in that it has at least one feature which corresponds to a bodily extremity of the person and which appears to move in correspondence with movement of said device.