Vehicle navigation system apparatus and method providing enhanced information regarding geographic entities

• US 6,587,787 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US09/526,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/212, 701/201, 701/206, 701/214, 701/209, 701/211, 701/213, 701/217, 340/995, 340/990, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A vehicle navigation apparatus displays a map on a display screen by using detailed map information. The apparatus displays map information at a plurality of scale, or zoom, levels. The apparatus selectively displays or does not display any given road based on both display scale and the importance, or priority, of the road. The apparatus displays names of municipalities, counties, states, and the like, depending on display scale. The apparatus displays adjacent municipalities, counties, states, and the like in different colors, depending on display scale. The apparatus displays municipalities using generic icons, icons of varying sizes, and icons of varying shapes, depending on municipality size, regional geography, and display scale. The apparatus may display point-of-interest icons in rural areas, depending on regional geography and display scale, and may shift their display locations to accommodate displaying more important information. The apparatus displays roads of relatively lower priority in rural areas, depending on regional geography and display scale, and may display them in a different visual style to distinguish them. The apparatus accepts user input that can affect whether to display names, various icons, and/or roads of various priorities. A method governs the operation of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) storing information in the map database, such information comprising names of geographic areas and roads; and

(c) displaying information from the map database;

wherein the step of displaying information comprises;

(d) creating a first display layer from the map database, the first display layer comprising roads;

(e) creating a second display layer from the map database, the second display layer comprising names of geographic areas; and

(f) concurrently displaying the first and second display layers, wherein the first and second display layers are movable relative to each other.

2. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a set of types of geographic areas;

(b) defining a distinct visual style for the names of each type of geographic area;

(c) providing a map database;

(d) storing information in the map database, such information comprising names of geographic areas and types of geographic areas; and

(e) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including the name of each displayed geographic area, and for each geographic area displayed, displaying the name of the geographic area in the distinct visual style for the type of the geographic area.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the types of geographic areas comprise municipalities, counties, and states.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selection of information to be displayed from the map database is governed by input from a user input device.

5. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) defining a set of types of geographic areas;

(c) storing information in the map database regarding geographic areas, such information comprising, for each geographic area, the boundaries of the geographic area and the type of the geographic area;

(d) assigning a color to each geographic area such that no two geographic areas that share a common boundary are assigned the same color;

(e) for each geographic area, storing the color assigned to the geographic area in the map database; and

(f) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including the assigned color for each displayed geographic area.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the types of geographic areas comprise municipalities, counties, and states.

7. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) defining a set of types of geographic areas, the types of geographic areas comprising municipalities;

(c) storing information in the map database regarding geographic areas, such information comprising, for each geographic area, the size of the geographic area and the type of the geographic area;

(d) for each municipality, storing an icon in the map database, wherein the icon is representative of the size of the municipality; and

(e) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including, for each displayed municipality, the icon for that municipality.

8. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) defining a set of types of geographic areas, the types of geographic areas comprising municipalities;

(c) defining a set of icons of varying appearances;

(d) assigning a municipality size range to each icon in the set;

(e) storing information in the map database regarding geographic areas, such information comprising, for each geographic area, the size of the geographic area and the type of the geographic area;

(f) for each municipality, storing an icon in the map database, wherein the icon is the icon from the set of icons whose municipality size range includes the size of the municipality in the map database; and

(g) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including, for each displayed municipality, the icon for that municipality.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the icons in the set vary from one another by at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of size, pattern, color, orientation, and shading.

10. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) defining a set of types of geographic areas, the types of geographic areas comprising municipalities;

(c) storing information in the map database regarding geographic areas, such information comprising, for each geographic area, the boundaries of the geographic area and the type of the geographic area;

(d) for each municipality, creating a boundary shape icon whose shape generally reflects the shape of the boundaries of the municipality;

(e) for each municipality, storing the boundary shape icon in the map database; and

(f) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including, for each displayed municipality, an icon selected from the set of a generic icon and the boundary shape icon for that municipality;

wherein the information stored in the map database further comprises, for each municipality, the size of the municipality, and

wherein the method further comprises the step of setting a threshold size and wherein, for each municipality, a generic icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is less than the threshold size and the boundary shape icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is not less than the threshold size.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information stored in the map database further comprises the size of the municipality, and

wherein the size of the boundary shape icon is generally proportional to the size of the municipality.

12. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) defining a set of types of geographic areas, the types of geographic areas comprising municipalities;

(c) storing information in the map database regarding geographic areas, such information comprising, for each geographic area, the road network of the geographic area and the type of the geographic area;

(d) for each municipality, creating a road network icon whose shape generally reflects the shape of the road network of the municipality;

(e) for each municipality, storing the road network icon in the map database; and

(f) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including, for each displayed municipality, an icon selected from the set of a generic icon and the road network icon for that municipality.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the information stored in the map database further comprises the size of the municipality, and

wherein the size of the road network icon is generally proportional to the size of the municipality.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the information stored in the map database further comprises, for each municipality, the size of the municipality, and

wherein the method further comprises the step of setting a threshold size, and

wherein, for each municipality, a generic icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is less than the threshold size and the road network icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is not less than the threshold size.

15. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) defining a set of types of geographic areas, the types of geographic areas comprising municipalities;

(c) storing information in the map database regarding geographic areas, such information comprising, for each geographic area, the boundaries of the geographic area, the road network of the geographic area, and the type of the geographic area;

(d) for each municipality, creating a boundary shape icon whose shape generally reflects the shape of the boundaries of the municipality;

(e) for each municipality, storing the boundary shape icon in the map database;

(f) for each municipality, creating a road network icon whose shape generally reflects the shape of the road network of the municipality;

(g) for each municipality, storing the road network icon in the map database; and

(h) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including, for each displayed municipality, an icon selected from the set of a generic icon, the boundary shape icon for that municipality, and the road network icon for that municipality.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the information stored in the map database further comprises the size of the municipality, and

wherein the size of the boundary shape icon is generally proportional to the size of the municipality, and

wherein the size of the road network icon is generally proportional to the size of the municipality.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the information stored in the map database further comprises, for each municipality, the size of the municipality, and

wherein the method further comprises the step of setting a first threshold size and a second threshold size, the second threshold size greater than the first threshold size, and

wherein, for each municipality, a generic icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is less than the first threshold size, the boundary shape icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is not less than the first threshold size and is less than the second threshold size, and the road network icon is displayed if the size of the municipality is not less than the second threshold size.

18. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) storing information in the map database, such information comprising types of roads and at least one of the set of layouts of roads and types of areas, the types of areas comprising urban areas and rural areas;

(c) assigning a priority to each road in the map database based on the type of the road;

(d) setting a first set of road display criteria for displaying a standard collection of roads;

(e) setting a second set of road display criteria for further displaying upgradable roads;

(f) identifying each road that satisfies either the first set of road display criteria or the second set of road display criteria in the map database;

(g) determining whether upgradable roads will be displayed; and

(h) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including roads that satisfy the first set of road display criteria, the displayed information further including roads that satisfy the second set of road display criteria only if it was determined that upgradable roads would be displayed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein roads that satisfy only the second display criteria are displayed in a visual style distinct from the visual style used to display roads that satisfy the first display criteria.

20. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) storing information in the map database, such information comprising at least one of the set of locales that provide services, types of roads, layouts of roads, and types or areas, the types of areas comprising urban areas and rural areas;

(c) setting a set of locale size criteria, such criteria based at least in part on at least one of the set of the population of the locale, the number of available services in the locale, and the distance to the locale from surrounding locales;

(d) setting a set of locale type criteria, such criteria based at least in part on at least one of the set of the types of available services in the locale, the types of roads that connect the locale to surrounding locales, the layout of roads that connect the locale to surrounding locales, and the types of areas in which the locale and surrounding locales exist;

(e) storing in the map database information on each locale that satisfies at least one of the set of the locale size criteria and the locale type criteria, the information comprising, for each such locale, the location of the locale and the availability of services in the locale;

(f) determining whether upgraded service icons will be displayed; and

(g) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including service icons for locales that satisfy the criteria, only if it was determined that upgraded service icons would be displayed.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of shifting the display location of available services icons to accommodate display of more important information.

22. A location display method in a navigation apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a map database;

(b) storing information on the map database, such information comprising types of roads and at least one of the set of layouts of roads and types of areas, the types of areas comprising urban areas and rural areas;

(c) assigning a priority to each road on the map database based on the type of the road;

(d) defining an array of scale levels;

(e) defining a set of first road display criteria for displaying a standard collection of roads, one member of the set of first road display criteria corresponding to each scale level in the array of scale levels;

(f) defining a set of second road display criteria for further displaying upgradable roads, one member of the set of second road display criteria corresponding to each scale level in the array of scale levels;

(g) storing each road that satisfies either the first set of road display criteria or the second set of road display criteria in the map database;

(h) determining whether upgradable roads will be displayed;

(i) selecting a scale level to be displayed; and

(j) displaying information from the map database, the displayed information including roads that satisfy the first set of road display criteria for the scale level being displayed, the displayed information further including roads that satisfy the second set of road display criteria for the scale being displayed only if it was determined that upgradable roads would be displayed.

23. A vehicle navigation apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a microprocessor;

(b) a memory associated with the microprocessor;

(c) a display controller, the display controller comprising computer software on the microprocessor;

(d) a remote controller, the remote controller providing input to the microprocessor;

(e) a display unit, the display unit driven by the display controller;

(f) a CD-ROM drive;

(g) a CD-ROM, the CD-ROM providing input to the microprocessor via the CD-ROM drive;

(h) a map database, the map database provided on the CD-ROM; and

(i) a location system, the location system providing input to the microprocessor,

wherein the display controller creates map displays comprising geographic areas and the names of geographic areas, such that no two geographic areas that share a common boundary are displayed using the same color.

24. The vehicle navigation apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the map displays further comprise roads, and

the names of geographic areas are scrollable independently of the roads.

25. The vehicle navigation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the appearance of the map displays is variable, the variability based on:

default values for geographic area size and road priority, and

user overrides of the default values.