U.S. patent application number 13/278750 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for navigation device and method for the geographic output of navigation instructions.
This patent application is currently assigned to NAVIGON AG. Invention is credited to Jochen Katzer.
Application Number | 20120041674 13/278750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39670215 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120041674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katzer; Jochen |
February 16, 2012 |
NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC OUTPUT OF
NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS
Abstract
A system and method for determining and displaying a navigation
route on a navigation device from one vehicle position to a travel
destination. The navigation device can include processor with RAM,
a mass storage device for holding a database with geographic data,
as well as a display. Embodiments of the invention can provide a
high level of correlation between the actual situation on the road
as seen by the user and the corresponding navigation maneuver
displayed on the screen. The graphic output of navigation devices
for complex intersections can also be improved regardless of
whether the navigation device is a high-performance or very simple
device.
Inventors: |
Katzer; Jochen;
(Gallmersgarten-Bergtshofen, DE) |
Assignee: |
NAVIGON AG
Hamburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
39670215 |
Appl. No.: |
13/278750 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12022215 |
Jan 30, 2008 |
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13278750 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3647 20130101;
G01C 21/3635 20130101; G01C 21/3658 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/461 |
International
Class: |
G01C 21/36 20060101
G01C021/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 010 166.1 |
Jun 29, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 030 345.0 |
Claims
1. A navigation device comprising: a memory including a plurality
of static individual graphic elements, the elements including a
first set corresponding to road geometry and a second set
corresponding to road signs; a display; and a processor coupled
with the memory and the display, the processor operable to:
determine that the device is approaching an upcoming intersection;
generate a static perspective view of the upcoming intersection by
modularly selecting and assembling elements from the sets of
individual graphic elements; and control the display to visually
present the static perspective view.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the static individual graphic
elements include a third set corresponding to directional arrows,
wherein the processor assembles the elements such that the selected
directional arrows indicate an intended path through the upcoming
intersection.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the static individual graphic
elements include a fourth set corresponding to building
silhouettes.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the static individual graphic
elements include a fifth set corresponding to bridges.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory further includes
textual sign information, wherein the processor is operable to
overlay the textual sign information on the selected road sign
elements to generate the static perspective view.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the individual graphic elements
include photographs.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory includes a table
correlating a plurality of intersections to the individual graphic
elements, wherein the processor accesses the table to select and
assemble elements from the sets of individual graphic elements.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor determines that the
device is approaching an upcoming intersection based upon a current
geographic location of the device.
9. A navigation device comprising: a memory including: a plurality
of static individual graphic elements, the elements including a
first set corresponding to road geometry, a second set
corresponding to road signs, and a third set corresponding to
directional arrows; and a table correlating a plurality of
intersections to the individual graphic elements; a display; and a
processor coupled with the memory and the display, the processor
operable to: calculate a route to a destination; determine that the
device is approaching one of the plurality of intersections;
generate a static perspective view of the approaching intersection
by referencing the table and modularly selecting and assembling
elements from the sets of individual graphic elements, wherein the
processor assembles the elements such that the selected directional
arrows indicate the route through the approaching intersection; and
control the display to visually present the static perspective
view.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the static individual graphic
elements include a fourth set corresponding to building
silhouettes.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein the static individual graphic
elements include a fifth set corresponding to bridges.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein the memory further includes
textual sign information, wherein the processor is operable to
overlay the textual sign information on the selected road sign
elements to generate the static perspective view.
13. The device of claim 9, wherein the individual graphic elements
include photographs.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor determines that
the device is approaching an upcoming intersection based upon a
current geographic location of the device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of, and claims
priority benefit to, co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent
application entitled "NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE GRAPHIC
OUTPUT OF NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS," application Ser. No.
12/022,215, filed Jan. 30, 2008, which itself claims the priority
benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2007 010 166.1 filed
Feb. 28, 2007, which itself also claims the priority benefit of
German Patent Application No. 10 2007 030 345.0 filed on Jun. 29,
2007. The contents of each of these applications are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] When using navigation devices, in particular when using
navigation systems while traveling in a motor vehicle, the
fundamental problem is that the driver must split his attention
between the actual conditions in front of the motor vehicle and the
display of navigation instructions on the screen of the navigation
device.
[0003] However, this problem is most serious precisely in cases
where the motor vehicle approaches a comparatively complicated set
of maneuvers with which the driver is not yet familiar. In such a
situation, the driver is confronted with the dilemma of having to
discern and understand the display on the navigation screen, while
at the same time keeping an eye on the actual traffic situation and
line of the road. In addition, the driver must recognize the
correlating features between what is displayed on the navigation
screen and the actual situation on the road, thereby associating
the graphic navigation instructions to the actual situation so as
to follow the right way through the upcoming set of maneuvers.
[0004] In other words, this means that especially high requirements
are to be placed on the graphic display of navigation devices
precisely where complex intersections are to be displayed on the
screen in an intuitively discernible way.
[0005] Known from prior art in this regard from U.S. Pat. No.
5,739,772 is to output complicated navigation maneuvers, e.g., with
several consecutive turns one after the other, as a row of
schematic arrows on the screen. However, in this known teaching,
complicated navigation maneuvers are presented as a sequence of
various symbols or arrows, while the entire navigation maneuver is
not logically or graphically summarized in a single display.
[0006] In particular, however, such complex intersections are only
symbolically depicted according to this teaching known from prior
art, often making it difficult for the driver to intuitively
recognize the correlation between what is displayed on the
navigation screen and the actual situation on the road.
[0007] Conventional navigation systems known from prior art
generally display complex intersections as consecutive,
time-resolved individual maneuvers, so that the overview needed by
the user cannot be put together on the display of the navigation
device. As an alternative, the complex intersections in standard
navigation systems are displayed solely within the framework of a
conventional 2-D map or symbol representation. However, this
frequently overwhelms the user, since the symbol or map
representation does not correlate with his visual perspective. This
holds all the more true since driving through a complex
intersection demands a very high level of concentration on the road
situation, so that the user can only focus very little on
interpreting an abstract representation on the screen of the
navigation device.
SUMMARY
[0008] Against this backdrop, the present invention provides a
navigation device and a method for graphically outputting
navigation instructions that overcome the mentioned disadvantages
and limitations existing in prior art.
[0009] In particular, an embodiment of the present invention can
allow the user to recognize the display of complex intersections on
the screen of a navigation device in an especially easy and
intuitive manner. This can provide high level of correlation
between the actual situation on the road as seen by the user while
approaching a complex intersection and the corresponding navigation
maneuver displayed on the screen. This can improve comfort and
safety during the use of navigation devices, especially while
approaching and traversing complex intersections.
[0010] According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a
navigation device for determining displaying a navigation route
from one vehicle position to a travel destination. The navigation
device can include a processor with RAM, a mass storage device for
holding a database with geographic data, and a display. Depending
on the relative spatial position of at least two consecutive
intersecting points in the navigation route, the consecutive
intersecting points can be depicted on the display as a single,
shared perspective view.
[0011] According to another embodiment, the present invention
provides a method for the graphic output of navigation instructions
using a navigation device programmed for determining and displaying
a navigation route from one vehicle position to a travel
destination. The navigation device can include a processor with
RAM, a mass storage device for holding a geographic database, a
display, and navigation software that can be loaded in the RAM or
processor. The method can include the steps of checking to see
whether a complex intersection is present as part of generating a
digital roadmap, generating at least one photographic, videographic
or rendered image of the complex intersection, generating a graphic
perspective view of the complex intersection based on the at least
one image, allocating geographic position information to the
perspective view, referencing the perspective view to a digital
roadmap at the location of the geographic position information,
during the navigation process, using the navigation device to check
whether a complex intersection is present, or whether a
corresponding perspective view allocated to the upcoming
intersection is present, and outputting the perspective view of the
complex intersection on the display.
[0012] The navigation device according to an embodiment of the
present invention can be used to ascertain and display a navigation
route, in particular from a vehicle position to a travel
destination, and consists of a processor with RAM, a mass storage
device for holding a database with geographic data, along with a
display. Depending on the relative spatial position of at least two
consecutive intersections in the navigation route, the consecutive
intersections can be depicted on the display as a single, shared
perspective view. This can be advantageous in that complex
intersections, e.g., highway intersections, frequently exhibit
several consecutive turns that the driver or user of the navigation
system might have difficulty seeing, especially if not familiar
with the surroundings.
[0013] Based on the relative spatial position, e.g., distance, of
consecutive intersections or turns, if need be along with other
parameters, like expected vehicle speed or road class, an
evaluation an be performed to determine whether several sequential
turns should be consolidated and displayed in a single, shared
representation on the screen of the navigation device. If this is
the case, a corresponding perspective view can be generated or
retrieved from the mass storage device of the navigation device
that contains the turns to be combined into an overview. The
viewing angle of the perspective depiction here can correspond to
the viewing perspective of the user, i.e., in particular to the
perspective of the driver of a motor vehicle. Therefore, the user
can intuitively ascertain the entire complex intersection or entire
sequence of consecutive turns by glancing at the screen of the
navigation device, and hence easily and safely follow the correct
route, even given difficult maneuvers in an unknown
environment.
[0014] When and how the characteristics of an intersection are
determined and evaluated can be initially not even relevant with
respect to realizing embodiments of the invention. In particular,
the relative spatial position of consecutive intersections can be
determined and evaluated, and the resultant decision as to whether
to generate a uniform, perspective view encompassing several
intersections can be made in advance as part of generating a
roadmap. In this case, the navigation device can be programmed to
call up the perspective view prepared or generated in advance and
display it on the screen at a specific time before reaching the
corresponding complex intersection. In proceeding in this way, the
limited hardware and software resources of the navigation device do
not have to be used to generate a highly realistic perspective
view, which might potentially involve a high computational outlay,
but rather, this can be done with a correspondingly designed
computer system at the roadmap provider or navigation system
manufacturer and/or a manufacturer of auxiliary data for
conventional roadmaps. In this way, very high quality perspective
views of the complex intersection can already be generated or
prepared by the manufacturer, and filed along with the roadmap in
the mass storage of the navigation device. However, alternative
embodiments of the invention can also make it possible to program
the navigation device itself to determine and evaluate the relative
spatial position of at least two intersections or other
characteristics of a complex intersection and/or generate the
corresponding perspective view of the complex intersection.
[0015] Regardless of the device and method used in generating the
perspective view, however, another embodiment of the invention can
provide that the perspective view be generated based on a
photograph or video recording of the actual turn involved. As
opposed to completely virtual perspective views, this can ensure
that the perspective views output by the navigation device will
correspond very precisely with the actual situation. In addition,
the required computing power can be reduced in this way compared to
the complete virtual rendering of the perspective views.
[0016] An alternative embodiment of the invention provides that the
perspective view be generated based on a three-dimensional and/or
photorealistically rendered recording of the actual turn.
Close-to-real or hyper realistic three-dimensional representations
or perspective views can be generated even without photographs or
video recordings that are already available or must be
generated.
[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the perspective view
can encompass graphic curves or substantially continuous arrows to
highlight the prescribed route. In this way, the route to be
followed by the user can be visualized in complete perspective and
continuously, even if the route comprises several consecutive
turns. This can provide a continuous visualization of the lane to
be followed over several successive maneuvers, which can be easier
to for a user to follow than separate arrow representations of
individual, successive maneuvers.
[0018] Another embodiment of the invention provides that the
perspective view itself be static and superposed on the screen of
the navigation device with a movable graphic element, wherein the
graphic element symbolizes the current location of the user or
navigation device. Users can thereby easily identify and track
their own position and changes therein on the navigation device
screen, even during the (temporarily) static display of the
perspective view on the screen of the navigation device. In
particular, this graphic element can be a positional representation
of the vehicle, but also a progress bar that describes the approach
to the maneuver.
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, the perspective view
on the screen of the navigation device encompasses additional
graphic elements, in particular signs, bridges, underpasses, points
of interest, icons, building silhouettes, landmarks, or topography
of the terrain model based on the actual environment of the turn or
the complex intersection. This can provide especially realistic
depictions of particularly complex turns, since the user finds the
correspondingly highlighted landmark features on both the actual
road and on the screen of the navigation device, and hence can draw
upon them for purposes of better orientation.
[0020] The additional graphic elements can be generated
independently of the perspective view and modularly stored. This
can save on storage space, and make uniform the other graphic
elements, which hence only have to be generated or stored in one or
a few standard configurations. Depending on requirements, the
separately stored additional graphic elements can then be called up
and superposed on the perspective view, either modularly or in the
form of a graphic toolbox system.
[0021] Depending on the approach to the respective turn, it can
also be provided that the displayed additional graphic elements,
e.g., signs or bridges, become larger and larger, which only
requires a little computing power owing to the perspective view
shown as a static background, but still allows the user to
visualize the approach to the upcoming complex intersection.
[0022] The additional graphic elements also can each exhibit a
transparent image background. As a result, the additional graphic
elements and perspective view or road silhouette can be easily and
seamlessly superposed, regardless of the shape, size or graphic
complexity of the additional graphic elements.
[0023] Aspects of the present invention further relate to a method
for the graphic output of navigation instructions by means of a
navigation device programmed to determine and display a navigation
route from a vehicle position to a travel destination. The
navigation device can include a processor with RAM, a mass storage
device for holding a geographic database, a display, and navigation
software that can be loaded in the RAM or processor.
[0024] The method according to an embodiment of the invention can
include the procedural steps outlined below.
[0025] To start out with, an evaluation can be performed to check
for the existence of a complex intersection in a first procedural
step a), in the context of generating a digital roadmap. In
particular, this can take place based on the distance between
several consecutive individual maneuvers along a navigation route,
the expected vehicle speed, the road class, or based on other
intersection attributes present in the roadmap.
[0026] If the analysis and evaluation in the preceding step yields
a positive result, at least one image of the road situation
comprising the consecutive intersections can be generated in
another procedural step b) based on photographs, videos and/or
renderings.
[0027] The at least one image generated in the preceding step can
then be used to generate a graphic perspective view of the complex
intersection.
[0028] Geographic position information can then be allocated to the
perspective view, and the perspective view can be referenced to a
digital roadmap at the location of the geographic position
information. In this way, the previously generated perspective view
can be linked to a specific geographic position, so that, as the
corresponding geographic position is approached, the accompanying
perspective view can be called up.
[0029] During the navigation process, the navigation device can
check whether a complex intersection is coming up, or whether a
corresponding perspective view is allocated to an upcoming
navigation maneuver or its geographic position. If so, the
perspective view can be output on the display of the navigation
device.
[0030] Complex intersections can be converted into corresponding
graphic perspective views based on recordings of the actual road
situation or on renderings and then stored within the context of
the method according to the invention. The graphic perspective
views of complex intersections can be generated based on an
evaluation of the relative spatial position of immediately
consecutive turns, the actual or expected vehicle speed, the road
class and/or other characteristics to classify complex
intersections. This evaluation can be used to determine whether a
complex intersection or several consecutive turns must be displayed
in a single perspective view. If so, a perspective view can be
generated that combines the turns or the complex intersection into
a single overview.
[0031] The method according to an embodiment of the invention can
be realized regardless of the criteria used in evaluating an
intersection as being a complex intersection. However, in an
embodiment, the complex intersection can encompass at least two
consecutive turns or intersection points. Situations posing a
difficulty to the user, such as those with several consecutive lane
changes or turning actions, can be depicted in a uniform and vivid
overview, so that the user can compare the actual situation and
screen display, and in so doing find his way through the complex
intersection in a largely intuitive manner.
[0032] In another embodiment of the invention, additional relevant
characteristics of the turn or complex intersection can be acquired
in the context of the photographic, videographic or rendered
imaging products in procedural step b). This can include the
respective number of lanes, any right/left traffic, signs and their
inscriptions, geometric properties of the driving lanes,
surrounding landmarks and/or overpasses or underpasses, in
particular bridges. In this way, the three-dimensional or
perspective view of the complex intersection can be made especially
realistic, by incorporating additional relevant characteristics
into the perspective view while generating the perspective view.
This can help to ensure that the user will rapidly and intuitively
recognize and reconcile the perspective view with the actual road
situation, and can help to further decrease the risk of distraction
by complicated depictions on the navigation screen.
[0033] A method according to an embodiment of the invention can
further be realized regardless of where, when and how the
perspective view of the complex intersection is generated, as long
as the perspective view can be geographically allocated to the
complex intersection, so that the perspective view can be called up
and displayed in time while driving the route.
[0034] In a further embodiment of the invention, the perspective
view can be rendered on a separate system in advance of the actual
graphic output of the navigation device and is stored in the
database of the navigation device. In particular, this can
economize on the processor capacity of the navigation device, since
the already prefabricated, stored perspective views can be accessed
as needed. Hence, the stored perspective view need only be called
up in time while driving the route, and displayed on the screen of
the navigation device. This can allow simple or lesser-cost
navigation systems to easily output high-quality or photorealistic
perspective views of complex intersections.
[0035] An alternative embodiment of the invention provides that the
perspective view be generated during the course of the navigation
or graphic rendering. In other words, the perspective view can be
generated by the navigation device itself based on data or graphic
modules stored in the database of the navigation device.
[0036] Regardless of whether the perspective view is generated in
advance on a separate system, e.g., of the navigation supplier, or
by the navigation device itself during navigation, another
embodiment of the invention provides that the perspective view be
generated modularly by assembling individual graphic elements. The
individual graphic elements here can encompass in particular the
road geometry, bridges, underpasses, signs, points of interest,
icons, building silhouettes and/or topographical landmarks. This
first can help to economize on storage space and computing power,
and the other graphic elements can be made largely uniform. In
addition, the additional graphic elements can hence each be
generated or stored in only a few standard configurations, after
which they can be combined into a kind of graphic module toolbox,
so as to generate the perspective view in this way.
[0037] Here the entire perspective view can be generated modularly
using individual building blocks, or, if required, only specific
elements, such as signs and directional arrows, can be superposed
over the finished, stored perspective views which additionally
include the background, road geometry and bridges/underpasses.
[0038] Specific displayed elements, e.g., signs or bridges, can
become larger and larger while approaching the respective maneuver,
but without having to change the perspective view or the depiction
of road geometry itself. This can make it possible to easily
visualize the approach to the maneuver without having to constantly
recompute the entire screen contents.
[0039] The individual graphic elements here can exhibit a
transparent image background, making it possible to easily and
seamlessly superpose the individual graphic elements, regardless of
their shape, size and graphic complexity, to produce the complete
perspective view.
[0040] In another embodiment of the invention, the individual
graphic elements cam be provided with changeable display formats.
These display formats, also referred to as "skins", relating in
particular to the respectively used colors, fill patterns,
textures, line widths, type fonts/colors and sizes, can be
comprehensively adjusted or altered. As a result, each individual
graphic element, and hence also the finished perspective view, can
correspond to the respectively selected display format without the
high outlay of having to separately render the graphic elements.
This can yield an easy way to adjust the appearance of the overall
graphic to the respective specific basic conditions, such as
day/night display, customer preferences and the like.
[0041] In another embodiment of the invention, at least one sign
can be generated as an individual graphic element from a stored
text while following the route or rendering the perspective view.
This can minimize the storage space required for a simultaneously
realistic, graphic depiction of road signs with substantially any
text content. In other words, the signs to be displayed may not be
stored in the form of graphic files, but rather, only features of
the signs, such as the sign text in particular, but also other
features, including in particular sign size, symbols, colors, etc.
displayed on the signs, can be stored in the form of descriptive
files or text files. The actual sign graphic can then be generated
form the stored attributes as needed.
[0042] A certain scope of signs encountered especially frequently
can be stored as a finished, pre-generated graphic, wherein other
signs to be displayed additionally in the absence of a
pre-generated graphic can then be generated and rendered from the
corresponding descriptive files. Both the graphic and text-based
generation and/or depiction of signs can be provided in
parallel.
[0043] In another embodiment of the invention, only the sign
pointing to a lane or turn to be followed by the user can be
displayed. This can help give the user a better and easier overview
of the screen display, since the signs not relevant for the route
can be masked out. As an alternative, all signs present in the
actual road situation can be displayed, wherein the sign pointing
to the lane or turn to be followed can be highlighted relative to
the other present, but currently less relevant signs. This can help
achieve an even better correlation between the overall situation
displayed on the screen of the navigation device and the actual
situation on the road, without impairing the clarity of the
perspective view with respect to the route to be followed.
[0044] In another embodiment of the invention, at least one
continuous graphic curve or at least one continuous arrow can be
superposed onto the perspective view in compliance with the
navigation route selected or to be followed. In this way, the user
can continually visualize the route to be followed in perspective,
even if it consists of several consecutive turns. The perspective
view can be superposed by the arrow corresponding to the selected
route in the navigation system. Several curves or arrows can be
stored or displayed for one and the same combination of entries and
exits for the complex intersection, provided there are several
permissible paths from the entry to the exit of the complex
intersection.
[0045] The actually selected lane can be used to select between
several present graphic curves or several arrows to be followed
while entering the complex intersection. However, all present route
guide arrows that correspond to the route to be followed can
optionally be displayed simultaneously, showing the precise lane.
This means that a separate arrow can be displayed for each lane
that matches the route to be followed, while the route guide arrows
for those lanes that do not reflect the current maneuver are masked
out. In this way, the user can immediately discern whether there
are several lanes available to choose from without exiting the
current maneuver or the route. In addition, the user can
immediately get a direct overview of whether he is on one of the
potentially several permissible lanes, which can be associated with
a correspondingly increased level of safety for the user.
[0046] In another embodiment of the invention, the perspective view
can be substantially static, but superposed by a moveable graphic
element. The movable graphic element can symbolize the current
location of the user or the navigation device. In this way, the
user can better recognize his or her own position and changes
therein on the navigation screen not just during normal navigation,
but also for the temporary period for which an substantially static
perspective view is displayed.
[0047] In another embodiment of the invention, the relevant
characteristics of the complex intersection can be encoded in the
file name of the perspective view. Hence, the perspective view
respectively required in relation to a specific complex
intersection can be clearly accessed at all times, regardless of
whether the perspective view has already been fully generated and
stored in the memory of the navigation device, or is compiled or
rendered during the navigation process using individual graphic
elements. In other words, a perspective view belonging to a complex
intersection can either be called up directly just by referencing
the corresponding file name (if the finished graphic is already
present in the mass storage of the navigation device), or the
generation of the corresponding perspective view can be initiated,
also be just calling up the file name (if no corresponding finished
graphic is present).
[0048] The invention will be described in greater detail below
based on drawings, which only represent exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of an example for a
perspective view of a complex intersection generated using a
navigation device according to an embodiment of the invention or a
method according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0050] FIG. 2 is a depiction corresponding to FIG. 1 of another
example for a perspective view of a complex intersection;
[0051] FIG. 3 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 of
another example for a perspective view of a complex
intersection;
[0052] FIG. 4 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 3 of
another example for a perspective view of a complex intersection on
a smaller navigation screen;
[0053] FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of a background graphics
module as a graphic element for generating a perspective view of a
complex intersection;
[0054] FIG. 6 is a depiction corresponding to FIG. 5 of a road
geometry graphics module for generating a perspective view of a
complex intersection;
[0055] FIG. 7 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6 of a
bridge graphics module for generating a perspective view of a
complex intersection;
[0056] FIG. 8 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 7 of a
sign graphics module for generating a perspective view of a complex
intersection;
[0057] FIG. 9 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 8 of a
directional arrow graphics module for generating a perspective view
of a complex intersection;
[0058] FIG. 10 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 9 of the
perspective view generated using the graphics modules according to
FIGS. 4 to 8;
[0059] FIG. 11 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 10 once
again of the maneuvering situation according to FIG. 2;
[0060] FIG. 12 is a schematic top view of the distribution tree of
a roadmap belonging to the maneuvering situation according to FIG.
11; and
[0061] FIG. 13 is a property table of the perspective view
belonging to the maneuvering situation according to FIGS. 11 and 12
to define the file name for the perspective view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0062] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an example for a
perspective view of a complex intersection depicted or generated
using the navigation device according to the invention or the
method according to the invention. As evident, the depicted
maneuver encompasses two consecutive navigation maneuvers. The
first maneuver involves changing lanes from highway A66 to highway
A5, while the first lane change initially comprises both successive
traveling directions of the A5. This is followed immediately by
another turn scenario, specifically the decision as to the
direction in which to travel down the A5. In the present navigation
route, the A5 is to be taken in the traveling direction of
Steinbach, Eschborn, Base1. Therefore, the complicated intersection
according to FIG. 1 requires a first navigation instruction to exit
the A66 onto the initially still common entry point to both
traveling directions of the A5, followed right away by another
navigation instruction to remain on one of the two straight lanes
continuing in the direction of A5 Steinbach, Eschborn, Base1.
[0063] The perspective view according to FIG. 1 graphically
combines both navigation instructions into a single perspective
view, and superposes a directional arrow 1 that also encompasses
both navigation maneuvers over the depiction of the entire complex
intersection. In this way, the driver can recognize the entire
upcoming situation at a glance, and intuitively immediately select
the correct lane through the entire complex intersection.
[0064] First of all, the ability to intuitively recognize the
situation is supported by the fact that the perspective view
according to FIG. 1 roughly matches the actual viewing level of the
driver, so that the same perspective angles and vanishing points as
for the actual road situation appear on the navigation screen.
[0065] In addition, the perspective view according to FIG. 1
encompasses a series of landmarks that are also encountered in the
accompanying actual road situation. This includes in particular the
highlighted guardrails 2, the background or horizon 3 symbolizing
the surrounding countryside, as well as the graphically depicted
highway signs 4 that match the actual exit signs.
[0066] Taken together, these features in the perspective view yield
a high level of correlation between the actual situation on the
road and what is depicted on the screen of the navigation device,
wherein the only significant difference between the actual
situation and the screen display involves the additionally present
arrow representation 1 for visualizing the lane to be followed.
[0067] FIG. 2 shows an intersection similar to FIG. 1, the
difference being that FIG. 2 is based on a navigation route where
the additional exit that immediately follows the first exit from
the highway must be followed. The interplay between the perspective
view encompassing the entire maneuver and the superposed
directional arrow 1 here again allow the driver to recognize the
lane to be followed through the complex intersection at one glance.
As opposed to FIG. 1, the depiction on FIG. 2 utilized a background
3 showing an urban environment that matches the corresponding
actual highway exit according to FIG. 2.
[0068] The complex intersection shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the
intersection according to FIG. 1. As opposed to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
depiction according to FIG. 3 also incorporates some additional
information relating in particular to the currently traversed route
5 and designation of the currently reached turn 6. The screen
display according to FIG. 3 further includes an additional
schematic view of the two upcoming, successive turn maneuvers 7
(with approach bar) and 8. FIG. 3 also clearly illustrates the form
in which the signs are displayed. The depicted traffic signs 4 are
rendered in a highly realistic manner on the one hand, but shown
semitransparently on the other, so that the user can ascertain both
the texts on the traffic signs 4 while at the same time still
discerning the image background.
[0069] The complex intersection shown in FIG. 4 largely corresponds
to the perspective view depicted in FIG. 4. The difference between
the perspective view according to FIG. 4 and the perspective view
according to FIG. 3 lies solely in the fact that the perspective
view according to FIG. 4 was rendered for a smaller navigation
screen. For this reason, several graphic elements are shown on a
smaller scale or omitted entirely in the perspective view of FIG.
4, so as to still provide the user with an overview of the route 1
to be followed through the complex intersection.
[0070] FIGS. 5 to 10 illustrate how the perspective view is put
together modularly out of separately generated or stored graphic
modules in one embodiment of the present invention. In this case,
FIG. 5 shows the urban background or horizon reflecting the
environment in proximity to a city, FIG. 6 shows the road geometry
reflecting the current complex intersection, FIG. 7 shows a road
bridge present for the current intersection, FIG. 8 shows the
highway signs also associated with the current intersection, FIG. 9
shows the route guide arrows that correlate precisely to the lanes
in the current navigation route within the context of the current
intersection, and FIG. 10 finally shows the perspective view formed
by superposing the individual graphic elements of FIGS. 5 to 9. To
ensure that the graphic modules will be easily and seamlessly
superposed even at a low available graphic computing power, the
graphic modules according to FIGS. 6 to 9 that do not fill the
screen are excluded and provided with a transparent background,
e.g., in the PNG graphics format.
[0071] An overall view of FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrates the
correlation between the relevant characteristics of a complete
intersection (FIG. 11, see also FIG. 2) and the accompanying
distribution tree of the roadmap according to FIG. 12 and the
composition of the file name according to FIG. 13 to identify the
accompanying perspective view according to FIG. 11.
[0072] As evident from FIG. 11 (which corresponds to FIG. 2), two
lane changes in succession must be executed to arrive at the
"Schuttorf" exit contained in the navigation route present here
from highway A31. On the roadmap according to FIG. 12, this
corresponds to the entry into the complex intersection at the point
marked "Link ID 0" and the exit from the complex intersection at
the point marked "Link ID 3".
[0073] In order to reference the perspective view according to FIG.
11 associated with this drive through the complex intersection, a
specific file name is generated according to the table of FIG. 13.
The file name
"0.sub.--3.sub.--3.sub.--12.sub.--4_A3.sub.--8.sub.--0.sub.--421.png"
given once again under the table of FIG. 13 here contains all
features necessary for describing the complex intersection, in
particular the selection values highlighted in the table, which
match the route through the complex intersection present here.
[0074] In other words, the complete graphic route guide or
perspective view according to FIG. 11 can be displayed on screen
merely by calling up the file name
"0.sub.--3.sub.--3.sub.--12.sub.--4_A3.sub.--8.sub.--0.sub.--421.png".
In particular, this is independent of whether the perspective view
according to FIG. 11 has already been pre-generated and stored in
the mass storage device of the navigation device, or whether the
perspective view according to FIG. 11 is only rendered while
running the navigation program or put together out of individually
stored graphic modules. In each case, just the file name
"0.sub.--3.sub.--3.sub.--12.sub.--4_A3.sub.--8.sub.--0.sub.--421.png"
is sufficient for displaying the graphic according to FIG. 11 on
the screen of the navigation device.
[0075] As a consequence, embodiments of the invention yield a
navigation device and a method for the graphic output of navigation
instructions that provide the user with a simple, quick and
especially intuitive overview of complex intersections on the
screen of a navigation device.
[0076] Embodiments of the invention can make it possible to achieve
a high degree of correlation between what the user can actually see
out on the open road and the corresponding navigation maneuver as
displayed on the screen, largely independently of whether it is a
high-performance or very simple navigation device. As a result, the
graphic output of navigation devices can be improved for complex
intersections, so that potential hardware costs can be cut at the
same time. When used in motor vehicles, the improved guidance of
the driver through complicated maneuvers can improve safety
[0077] Hence, in the area of navigation devices, embodiments of the
present invention can make a fundamental contribution on the user
side to improving the user friendliness and traffic safety, but can
also be used by the manufacturer to improve cost efficiency.
* * * * *