Display method and apparatus for navigation system

• US 6,732,047 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: de Silva, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/066,981
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/209, 701/201, 701/211, 701/202, 701/212, 701/207, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

A display method and apparatus for navigation system for specifying the destination easily and quickly. The navigation system is designed to enable a user to quickly select a street name and easily specify the street number of the destination. The navigation system includes a menu for changing a street number of the displayed address through numeric keys. After selecting the street name on the map screen by pointing a cursor on a street image, the street number on the cursor point can be easily and quickly changed to match the destination because it is not necessary to input the street name through the key board.

Claims

1. A display method for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:

displaying a map image on a monitor screen and locating a street image on the map image which is considered as going to user'"'"'s destination;

specifying a point on said street image by a cursor (cursor point) on the map image;

displaying an address of said cursor point on the monitor screen for confirming said address which includes at least a street name and a street number;

changing said street number of said address of said cursor point on the street image to a street number depicting said user'"'"'s destination; and

calculating a route to said user'"'"'s destination from a current position and guiding the user to reach said user'"'"'s destination.

2. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing said street number includes a step of displaying a key board screen for changing said street number wherein said key board screen maintains said street name and other information on said address at said cursor point and allows to change only said street number.

3. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying and locating said street image includes a step of scrolling and/or zooming said map image on the monitor screen of said navigation system.

4. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of specifying said cursor point on said street image includes a step of scrolling and/or zooming said map image on the monitor screen of said navigation system.

5. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying the address at said cursor point on said street image includes a step of expressing a message on the monitor screen or by voice for explaining information associated with said cursor point.

6. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying the address at said cursor point on said street image includes a step of displaying a POI (point of interest) icon and expressing a message in a balloon format or voice for explaining information associated with said POI icon.

7. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of changing said street number includes a step of deleting a current street number and adding a new street number in a street number box on a key board screen.

8. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting a city name after changing said street number in a case where an address incorporating a new street number resulted from changing said street number belongs to a city different from that of said address at said cursor point.

9. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting an address of said user, s destination after changing said street number when two or more same addresses including both said street number that has been changed and said street name exist within a specified city.

10. A display method for a navigation system as defined in claim 9, wherein said two or more same addresses are distinguished from one another by specifying information including east/west or north/south of a particular street.

11. A display apparatus for a navigation system, comprising:

means for displaying a map image on a monitor screen of said navigation system and locating a street image on the map image which is considered as going to user'"'"'s destination;

means for specifying a point on said street image by a cursor (cursor point) on the map image;

means for displaying an address of said cursor point on the monitor screen for confirming said address which includes at least a street name and a street number;

means for changing said street number of said address of said cursor point on the street image to a street number depicting said user'"'"'s destination; and

means for calculating a route to said user'"'"'s destination from a current position and guiding the user to reach said user'"'"'s destination.

12. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for changing said street number displays a key board screen on the monitor screen for changing said street number wherein said key board screen maintains said street name and other information on said address at said cursor point and allows to change only said street number.

13. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for scrolling and zooming said map image on the monitor screen of said navigation system.

14. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for expressing a message on the monitor screen or by voice for explaining information associated with said cursor point.

15. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for displaying a POI (point of interest) icon and expressing a message in a balloon format on the monitor screen or voice for explaining information associated with said POI icon.

16. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for selecting a city name after changing said street number in a case where an address incorporating a new street number resulted from changing said street number belongs to a city different from that of said address at said cursor point.

17. A display apparatus for a navigation system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for selecting an address of said user'"'"'s destination after changing said street number when two or more same addresses including both said street number that has been changed and said street name exist within a specified city.

18. A display apparatus of a navigation system as defined in claim 17, wherein said two or more same addresses are distinguished from one another by specifying information including east/west or north/south of a particular street.