Method for generating manoeuvre graphics in a navigation device

• US 9,019,173 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elektrobit Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Elektrobit Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Voigt, Carlo, Bast, Tanja
• Primary Examiner(s): Repko, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOSSAIN, FM RASHED
• Application Number:
  US13/141,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,317 Days
• Field of Search: 345/441
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance

Abstract

A technique for controlling a navigation device to generate a navigation maneuver graphics for a road junction maneuver is proposed. A device embodiment of this technique comprises a routing module adapted to provide routing information pertaining to a scheduled route, with the scheduled route comprising the road junction. Furthermore, an interface to a map database is provided, with the map database containing road data pertaining to the upcoming road junction. A processor of the navigation device analyzes the road data to determine one or more junction geometry parameters of the road junction and to compose, based on the junction geometry parameters and from a plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements, junction graphics data representative of the road junction. The processor is further adapted to generate, from the routing information and the junction geometry parameters, maneuver indication graphics data representative of the junction maneuver. A display module may then render navigation maneuver graphics based on the junction graphics data and the maneuver indication graphics data.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a navigation device to generate a navigation manoeuvre graphics for a road junction manoeuvre, the method comprising the following steps performed by the navigation device:

providing a plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements in a vector graphics format, the pre-defined graphical junction elements comprising at least one of junction-type-related graphical elements, road-related graphical elements and lane-related graphical elements in the vector graphics format;

receiving, from a routing module of the navigation device, routing information pertaining to a scheduled route, the scheduled route comprising a road junction;

retrieving, from a map database, road data pertaining to the road junction, wherein the retrieved road data comprises lane information for the road junction;

analysing the road data to determine one or more junction geometry parameters of the road junction, wherein at least one of the determined junction geometry parameters relates to the lane information;

composing, based on the junction geometry parameters and from the plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements, junction graphics data representative of the road junction and the lane information;

generating, from the routing information and the junction geometry parameters, manoeuvre indication graphics data representative of a lane based junction manoeuvre; and

generating a navigation manoeuvre graphics based on the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lane information comprises at least one of a number of lanes comprised by a specific road of the junction, a lane type for a lane comprised by a road and an egress lane or road associated with a lane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical junction elements comprise at least one of a roundabout element, a road background element one or more lane boundary marking elements, and one or more lane arrow elements indicative of a junction egress lane or road each.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the junction geometry parameters comprise at least one of a junction type, a number of roads crossing at the junction, an angle at which a road enters the junction, a number of lanes comprised by a road, a lane type for a lane comprised by a road, and an egress lane or road associated with a lane.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the manoeuvre indication graphics data is indicative of a least one of a junction ingress and a junction egress.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the manoeuvre indication graphics data is indicative of at least one of a junction ingress lane and a junction egress lane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the manoeuvre indication graphics data are indicative of a line or an arrow.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining graphics settings, wherein the graphics settings include at least one of country-specific graphics settings and user-specific graphics settings; and

processing at least one of the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data taking into account the graphics settings.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining image settings, wherein the image settings include at least one of an image size and an image tilt angle; and

processing at least one of the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data taking into account the image settings.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code portions causing a navigation device to perform the steps of:

providing a plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements in a vector graphics format, the pre-defined graphical junction elements comprising at least one of junction-type-related graphical elements, road-related graphical elements and lane-related graphical elements in the vector graphics format;

receiving, from a routing module of the navigation device, routing information pertaining to a schedule route, the scheduled route comprising a road junction;

retrieving, from a map database, road data pertaining to the road junction, wherein the retrieved road data comprises lane information for the road function;

analyzing the road data to determine one or more junction geometry parameters of the road function, wherein at least one of the determined junction geometry parameters relates to the lane information;

composing, based on the junction geometry parameters and from the plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements, junction graphics data representative of the road junction and the lane information;

generating, from the routing information and the junction geometry parameters, manoeuvre indication graphics data representative of a lane based junction manoeuvre; and

generating a navigation manoeuvre graphics based on the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data.

11. A navigation device adapted to generate a navigation manoeuvre graphics for a road junction manoeuvre, comprising:

a graphics element storage module adapted to store a plurality of pre-defined graphical elements, wherein the graphical elements are stored in a vector graphics format, the pre-defined graphical junction elements comprising at least one of junction-type-related graphical elements, road-related graphical elements and lane-related graphical elements in the vector graphics format;

a routing module adapted to provide routing information pertaining to a scheduled route, the scheduled route comprising a road junction;

an interface to a map database containing road data pertaining to the road junction, wherein the road data comprises lane information for the road junction; and

a processor adapted to analyse the road data to determine one or more junction geometry parameters of the upcoming road junction, wherein at least one of the determined junction geometry parameters relates to the lane information, to compose, based on the junction geometry parameters and from the plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements, junction graphics data representative of the road junction and the lane information, to generate, from the routing information and the junction geometry parameters, manoeuvre indication graphics data representative of a lane based junction manoeuvre; and

to generate a navigation manoeuvre graphics based on the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data.

12. The navigation device of claim 11, further comprising at least one of a display module for outputting the manoeuvre indication graphics data, a navigation sensor module for determining the current location of the navigation device, and the map database.

13. The navigation device of claim 11, further comprising at least one of

a graphics settings storage, wherein the graphics settings storage include at least one of country-specific graphics settings and user-specific graphics settings;

and wherein the processor is adapted to processing at least one of the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data taking into account the graphics settings; and

an image settings storage, wherein the image settings include at least one of an image size and an image tilt angle; and

wherein the processor is adapted to processing at least one of the junction graphics data and the manoeuvre indication graphics data taking into account the image settings.