Method and device for displaying animated navigation information

• US 6,434,484 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• 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:
  US09/942,297
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/207, 701/211, 342/352, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.1, 348/14.1, 348/14.14, 348/14.15, 348/113, 348/114, 348/115, 348/116, 348/118, 348/119, 348/148, 348/152, 348/155, 348/14.16, 348/77, 348/143
• 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:

means for storing animation information;

means for receiving position information film at least one remote source;

means for displaying said stored animation information; and

means for controlling said display of said animation information, wherein said animation information is stored in a plurality of frames, and wherein said controlling means controls the display of said plurality of frames by retrieving each of said frames of said plurality in a successive manner and displaying each of said retrieved frames on said display;

wherein said animation information comprises an object having features which give the appearance of movement, and

wherein said object is in the general form of a person.

2. A portable electronic device comprising:

means for storing animation information;

means for receiving position information from at least one remote source;

means for displaying said stored animation information; and

means for controlling said display of said animation information, wherein said animation information is stored in a plurality of frames, and wherein said controlling means controls the display of said plurality of frames by retrieving each of said frames of said plurality in a successive maimer and displaying each of said retrieved frames on said display;

wherein said animation information comprises an object having features which give the appearance of movement; and

wherein said object is in the general form of a person walking.

3. A portable navigation device comprising:

a navigation receiver for receiving navigation signals from a plurality of sources;

a processor coupled with the navigation receiver for periodically calculating a current location of the navigation device as a function of the received navigation signals;

memory accessible by the processor for storing a plurality of animation frames of an animated object; and

a display coupled wit the processor for displaying the animated frames,

wherein the processor is configured to determine when the navigation device is moving and to sequentially display a succession of the animation frames on the display to indicate movement of the navigation device.

4. The navigation device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person.

5. The navigation device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person walking.

6. The navigation device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person carrying a flag.

7. The navigation device as set forth in claim 3, wherein The navigation receiver is a GPS receiver, the navigation signals are GPS satellite signals, and the plurality of sources are GPS satellites.

8. The navigation device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to determine direction of movement of the navigation device and to sequentially display animation frames having a plurality of different profiles of the animated object to indicate the direction of movement of the navigation device.

9. A portable navigation device comprising:

a navigation receiver for receiving navigation signals from a plurality of sources;

a processor coupled with the navigation receiver for periodically calculating a current location of the navigation device as a function of the received navigation signals;

memory accessible by the processor for storing a plurality of animation frames of an animated object; and

a display coupled with the processor for displaying the animated frames,

wherein the processor is configured to track real-time movement of the navigation device and to retrieve and sequentially display a succession of the animation frames on the display to indicate the real-time movement of the navigation device.

10. The navigation device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person having arms and legs.

11. The navigation device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a rate of the movement of the navigation device and to sequentially display the animation frames in such a manner so as to indicate the rate of the movement of the navigation device.

12. The navigation device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the processor sequentially displays the animation frames so that the arms and legs of the object move faster as the rate of movement of the navigation device increases.

13. The navigation device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person walking.

14. The navigation device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person carrying a flag.

15. The navigation device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the navigation receiver is a GPS receiver, the navigation signals are GPS satellite signals, and the plurality of sources are GPS satellites.

16. The navigation device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine direction of movement of the navigation device and to sequentially display animation frames having a plurality of different profiles of the animated object to indicate the direction of movement of the navigation device.

17. A method of indicating movement of a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of animation frames of an animated object in memory of the navigation device;

determining if the navigation device is moving; and

if the navigation device is moving, retrieving a plurality of the animation frames from the memory and sequentially displaying the animation frames on a display of the navigation device to indicate movement of the navigation device.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the step of determining if the navigation device is moving is accomplished with a GPS receiver that receives GPS signals from a plurality of satellites signals and a processor coupled with the GPS receiver that calculates a current location of the navigation device as a fiction of the received signals and that compares the current location with a previously-determined location.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person walking.

21. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the animated object is in the general form of a person carrying a flag.

22. The method as set forth in claim 17, further including the steps of:

determining direction of movement of the navigation device, and

sequentially displaying animation frames having a plurality of different profiles of the animated object to indicate the direction of movement of the navigation device.

23. The method as set forth in claim 17, further including the step of tracking real-time movement oft he navigation device and retrieving and sequentially displaying a succession of the animation frames on the display to indicate the real time movement of the navigation device.

24. The method as set forth in claim 17, further including the steps of determining a rate of the movement of the navigation device and sequentially displaying the animation frames in such a manner so as to indicate the rate of the movement.