U.S. patent application number 13/640101 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for navigation or mapping apparatus & method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Breght Roderick Boschker, Rob Van Seggelen. Invention is credited to Breght Roderick Boschker, Rob Van Seggelen.
Application Number | 20130212509 13/640101 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43304077 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130212509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Seggelen; Rob ; et
al. |
August 15, 2013 |
NAVIGATION OR MAPPING APPARATUS & METHOD
Abstract
The invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising a
display (240) for displaying a digital map to a user, a processor
(210) configured to access digital map data and cause a digital map
to be displayed to a user using the display, and a user interface
operable by a user to enable the user to interact with the
apparatus. The user interface is arranged to allow a user to
provide, on the displayed digital map displayed to the user, an
indication of a selected region present in the digital map. The
processor (210) is arranged to determine digital map data relating
to the selected region indicated by the user, and to carry out one
or more operations relating to the selected region using the
determined digital map data.
Inventors: |
Van Seggelen; Rob; (Budel,
NL) ; Boschker; Breght Roderick; (Hilversum,
NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Van Seggelen; Rob
Boschker; Breght Roderick |
Budel
Hilversum |
|
NL
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
43304077 |
Appl. No.: |
13/640101 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
September 24, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP10/64151 |
371 Date: |
January 22, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61322325 |
Apr 9, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/771 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 8/70 20130101; G06F
3/0484 20130101; G06T 11/60 20130101; G06F 9/541 20130101; G01C
21/34 20130101; G01C 21/3484 20130101; G01C 21/3626 20130101; G01C
21/3664 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/771 |
International
Class: |
G01C 21/36 20060101
G01C021/36; G06F 3/0484 20060101 G06F003/0484 |
Claims
1. A navigation or mapping apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a
display for displaying a digital map to a user; a processor
configured to access digital map data and cause a digital map to be
displayed to a user using the display; and a user interface
operable by a user to enable the user to interact with the
apparatus; wherein the user interface is arranged to allow a user
to select a continuous region present in the digital map by
providing one or more indications on the displayed digital map in
use; and wherein, when a selection of a continuous region is
received from a user in use, the processor is arranged to determine
digital map data corresponding to at least part of the selected
region, and to perform one or more operations in relation to the
selected region using the determined digital map data.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication is in the form
of a boundary on the digital map displayed, and wherein the
processor is arranged to infer therefrom a selected region
comprising the boundary and a region bounded thereby.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indication is in the form
of a shape on the displayed digital map covering the selected
region, and having a boundary defining an extent of the selected
region.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is arranged to
determine a subset of the digital map data corresponding to
locations included in the selected region.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indication of the selected
region is in the form of a shape or line drawn by the user on the
displayed map.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display is a touch display
and the selected region is indicated by the user touching a part of
the display.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display is a touch display
and the apparatus is arranged to allow the user to indicate the
selected region using a single or multi touch gesture conducted on
the display.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is arranged to
cause a graphical representation of a boundary to be provided on
the displayed map to the user, which representation may be
manipulated by the user to set an indication of the selected region
or wherein the processor is arranged to cause a graphical
representation of a boundary of changing size to be provided on the
displayed map, wherein the user may provide an indication to the
apparatus when the boundary reaches a desired size to set the
indication of the selected region.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is arranged to
receive an input from the user indicative of the desire to set an
indication of a selected region, and to cause a graphical
representation of a boundary to be provided on the displayed map to
the user in response to such an indication.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is arranged to
perform one or more of the following operations using the
determined data: a search for a given item or items in the selected
region, monitoring the selected region in respect of a given change
in the region, causing an alert to be provided in relation to
determining the occurrence of a given event or the presence of an
item within the selected region, setting a region in respect of
which certain functions are to be performed by the apparatus, and
displaying navigation data relating to the selected region.
11. A method of operating a navigation or mapping apparatus, the
method comprising controlling the navigation or mapping apparatus
to perform a method comprising the steps of: accessing digital map
data and using the accessed digital map data to display a digital
map; receiving from a user via a user interface of the apparatus a
selection of a continuous region present in the displayed digital
map, wherein the region is selected by the user providing one or
more indications on the displayed digital map; determining digital
map data corresponding to at least a part of the selected region;
and carrying out one or more operations in relation to the selected
region using the digital map data.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the indication of the selected
region received from the user is in the form of a boundary on the
digital map displayed, and wherein the method further comprises
inferring from the boundary a selected region comprising the
boundary and a region bounded thereby or wherein the indication of
the selected region received from the user is in the form of a
shape on the displayed digital map covering the selected region,
and having a boundary defining an extent of the selected
region.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the display is a touch display
and the selected region is indicated by the user touching a part of
the display.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the display is a touch display
and the indication of the selected region received from the user in
the form of a single or multi touch gesture conducted on the
display, the method further comprising inferring the selected
region from the gesture.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the method comprises providing a
graphical representation of a boundary on the displayed map, which
representation may be manipulated by the user to set an indication
of the selected region or providing a graphical representation of a
boundary of changing size on the displayed map, and receiving an
indication from the user when the boundary reaches a desired size
to set the indication of the selected region.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein the method comprises receiving
an input from the user indicative of the desire to set an
indication of a selected region, and providing the graphical
representation of a boundary on the displayed map to the user in
response to such an indication, wherein the input from the user
comprises an indication of a discrete point on the display, and the
method comprises providing the graphical indication of a boundary
centred upon the discrete point.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein the method comprises one or more
of the following operations using the determined digital data:
searching for a given item or items in the selected region,
monitoring the selected region in respect of a given change in the
region, causing an alert to be provided in relation to determining
the occurrence of a given event or the presence of an item within
the selected region, setting a region in respect of which certain
functions are to be performed by the apparatus, and displaying
navigation data relating to the selected region.
18. A portable navigation device (PND) comprising the apparatus in
accordance with claim 1.
19. An integrated navigation system comprising the apparatus of
claim 1.
20. A non-transitory computer program product comprising computer
readable instructions executable to perform a method according to
claim 11.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to navigation or mapping apparatus,
and methods of operating navigation or mapping apparatus.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention relate to portable
navigation devices (so-called PNDs), in particular PNDs that
include Global Positioning System (GPS) signal reception and
processing functionality. The invention is also applicable to a
navigation apparatus which forms part of an integrated navigation
system, e.g. an in-vehicle navigation system. Other embodiments
relate, more generally, to any type of processing device that is
configured to execute navigation or mapping software so as to
provide route planning, and preferably also navigation,
functionality, and methods of operating such devices. In
particular, although not exclusively, the invention is concerned
with the interaction between a user and the digital map data of
such devices.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a navigation or mapping
apparatus, and methods of operating such apparatus. The apparatus
may be of any suitable form as discussed above, and in more detail
below. One illustrative embodiment of the apparatus is a portable
navigation device comprising the apparatus of the invention.
Portable navigation devices (PNDs) that include GPS (Global
Positioning System) signal reception and processing functionality
are well known and are widely employed as in-car or other vehicle
navigation systems.
[0003] In general terms, a modern PNDs comprises a processor,
memory (at least one of volatile and non-volatile, and commonly
both), and map data stored within said memory. The processor and
memory cooperate to provide an execution environment in which a
software operating system may be established, and additionally it
is commonplace for one or more additional software programs to be
provided to enable the functionality of the PND to be controlled,
and to provide various other functions.
[0004] Typically these devices further comprise one or more input
interfaces that allow a user to interact with and control the
device, and one or more output interfaces by means of which
information may be relayed to the user. Illustrative examples of
output interfaces include a visual display and a speaker for
audible output. Illustrative examples of input interfaces include
one or more physical buttons to control on/off operation or other
features of the device (which buttons need not necessarily be on
the device itself but could be on a steering wheel if the device is
built into a vehicle), and a microphone for detecting user speech.
In a particularly preferred arrangement the output interface
display may be configured as a touch sensitive display (by means of
a touch sensitive overlay or otherwise) to additionally provide an
input interface by means of which a user can operate the device by
touch.
[0005] Devices of this type will also often include one or more
physical connector interfaces by means of which power and
optionally data signals can be transmitted to and received from the
device, and optionally one or more wireless transmitters/receivers
to allow communication over cellular telecommunications and other
signal and data networks, for example Wi-Fi, Wi-Max GSM and the
like.
[0006] PND devices of this type also include a GPS antenna by means
of which satellite-broadcast signals, including location data, can
be received and subsequently processed to determine a current
location of the device.
[0007] The PND device may also include electronic gyroscopes and
accelerometers which produce signals that can be processed to
determine the current angular and linear acceleration, and in turn,
and in conjunction with location information derived from the GPS
signal, velocity and relative displacement of the device and thus
the vehicle in which it is mounted. Typically such features are
most commonly provided in in-vehicle navigation systems, but may
also be provided in PND devices if it is expedient to do so.
[0008] The utility of such PNDs is manifested primarily in their
ability to determine a route between a first location (typically a
start or current location) and a second location (typically a
destination). These locations can be input by a user of the device,
by any of a wide variety of different methods, for example by
postcode, street name and house number, previously stored "well
known" destinations (such as famous locations, municipal locations
(such as sports grounds or swimming baths) or other points of
interest), and favourite or recently visited destinations.
[0009] Typically, the PND is enabled by software for computing a
"best" or "optimum" route between the start and destination address
locations from the map data. A "best" or "optimum" route is
determined on the basis of predetermined criteria and need not
necessarily be the fastest or shortest route. The selection of the
route along which to guide the driver can be very sophisticated,
and the selected route may take into account existing, predicted
and dynamically and/or wirelessly received traffic and road
information, historical information about road speeds, and the
driver's own preferences for the factors determining road choice
(for example the driver may specify that the route should not
include motorways or toll roads).
[0010] In addition, the device may continually monitor road and
traffic conditions, and offer to or choose to change the route over
which the remainder of the journey is to be made due to changed
conditions. Real time traffic monitoring systems, based on various
technologies (e.g. mobile phone data exchanges, fixed cameras, GPS
fleet tracking) are being used to identify traffic delays and to
feed the information into notification systems.
[0011] PNDs of this type may typically be mounted on the dashboard
or windscreen of a vehicle, but may also be formed as part of an
on-board computer of the vehicle radio or indeed as part of the
control system of the vehicle itself. The navigation device may
also be part of a hand-held system, such as a PDA (Portable Digital
Assistant) a media player, a mobile phone or the like, and in these
cases, the normal functionality of the hand-held system is extended
by means of the installation of software on the device to perform
both route calculation and navigation along a calculated route.
[0012] Route planning and navigation functionality may also be
provided by a desktop or mobile computing resource running
appropriate software. For example, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC)
provides an on-line route planning and navigation facility at
http://www.rac.co.uk, which facility allows a user to enter a start
point and a destination whereupon the server to which the user's PC
is connected calculates a route (aspects of which may be user
specified), generates a map, and generates a set of exhaustive
navigation instructions for guiding the user from the selected
start point to the selected destination. The facility also provides
for pseudo three-dimensional rendering of a calculated route, and
route preview functionality which simulates a user travelling along
the route and thereby provides the user with a preview of the
calculated route.
[0013] In the context of a PND, once a route has been calculated,
the user interacts with the navigation device to select the desired
calculated route, optionally from a list of proposed routes.
Optionally, the user may intervene in, or guide the route selection
process, for example by specifying that certain routes, roads,
locations or criteria are to be avoided or are mandatory for a
particular journey. The route calculation aspect of the PND forms
one primary function, and navigation along such a route is another
primary function.
[0014] During navigation along a calculated route, it is usual for
such PNDs to provide visual and/or audible instructions to guide
the user along a chosen route to the end of that route, i.e. the
desired destination. It is also usual for PNDs to display map
information on-screen during the navigation, such information
regularly being updated on-screen so that the map information
displayed is representative of the current location of the device,
and thus of the user or user's vehicle if the device is being used
for in-vehicle navigation.
[0015] An icon displayed on-screen typically denotes the current
device location, and is centred with the map information of current
and surrounding roads in the vicinity of the current device
location and other map features also being displayed. Additionally,
navigation information may be displayed, optionally in a status bar
above, below or to one side of the displayed map information,
examples of navigation information include a distance to the next
deviation from the current road required to be taken by the user,
the nature of that deviation possibly being represented by a
further icon suggestive of the particular type of deviation, for
example a left or right turn. The navigation function also
determines the content, duration and timing of audible instructions
by means of which the user can be guided along the route. As can be
appreciated a simple instruction such as "turn left in 100 m"
requires significant processing and analysis. As previously
mentioned, user interaction with the device may be by a touch
screen, or additionally or alternately by steering column mounted
remote control, by voice activation or by any other suitable
method.
[0016] A further important function provided by the device is
automatic route re-calculation in the event that: a user deviates
from the previously calculated route during navigation (either by
accident or intentionally); real-time traffic conditions dictate
that an alternative route would be more expedient and the device is
suitably enabled to recognize such conditions automatically, or if
a user actively causes the device to perform route re-calculation
for any reason.
[0017] It is also known to allow a route to be calculated with user
defined criteria; for example, the user may prefer a scenic route
to be calculated by the device, or may wish to avoid any roads on
which traffic congestion is likely, expected or currently
prevailing. The device software would then calculate various routes
and weigh more favourably those that include along their route the
highest number of points of interest (known as POIs) tagged as
being for example of scenic beauty, or, using stored information
indicative of prevailing traffic conditions on particular roads,
order the calculated routes in terms of a level of likely
congestion or delay on account thereof. Other POI-based and traffic
information-based route calculation and navigation criteria are
also possible.
[0018] Although the route calculation and navigation functions are
fundamental to the overall utility of PNDs, it is possible to use
the device purely for information display, or "free-driving", in
which only map information relevant to the current device location
is displayed, and in which no route has been calculated and no
navigation is currently being performed by the device. Such a mode
of operation is often applicable when the user already knows the
route along which it is desired to travel and does not require
navigation assistance.
[0019] Devices of the type described above, for example the GO950
LIVE model manufactured and supplied by TomTom International B.V.,
provide a reliable means for enabling users to navigate from one
position to another.
[0020] As will be appreciated from the above discussion, operation
of such navigation or mapping apparatus typically involves
interaction between the apparatus and a user at various times in
order to control the apparatus. For example, the user may specify a
start point and/or a destination between which a route is to be
planned. The user may interact with the device to modify a
suggested route e.g. to avoid/go via certain locations, or to try
to avoid traffic identified by apparatus with a traffic detecting
function. Existing apparatus may also provide considerable scope
for interaction with the user to enable the user to customise
operation of the device, and provide route planning according to
user preferences. For example, the user may specify that routes
avoiding motorways or ferries be calculated where possible. The
apparatus may enable the user to interact with the apparatus in
relation to a wide range of functions, not necessarily directly
relating to route planning. For example the user may be able to
interact with the apparatus in order to correct errors found in a
map, or to search for features such as points of interest (POI) in
a vicinity. There are numerous scenarios in which interaction
between the user and the apparatus is necessary or desirable.
[0021] As described above, navigation or mapping apparatus may
include one or more user interfaces to enable a user to interact
with the apparatus. Typically the user provides instructions via
the user interface to control the operation of the device via a
menu based system. The user may navigate through the menu system
using commands provided using various types of user interface, such
as speech based or touch based interfaces, as well as cursor based
systems, button presses etc. While such systems are of great
utility, the Applicant has realised that there is scope for a more
intuitive approach to the interaction between the user and a
mapping or navigation apparatus in relation to operations involving
digital map data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided a navigation or mapping apparatus, the apparatus
comprising; a display for displaying a digital map to a user, a
processor configured to access digital map data and cause a digital
map to be displayed to a user using the display, and a user
interface operable by a user to enable the user to interact with
the apparatus; wherein the user interface is arranged to allow a
user to select a continuous region present in the digital map by
providing one or more indications on the displayed digital map in
use, and wherein, when a selection of a continuous region is
received from a user in use, the processor is arranged to determine
digital map data relating to at least part of the selected region,
and to perform one or more operations in relation to the selected
region using the determined digital map data.
[0023] In accordance with the invention therefore, the navigation
or mapping apparatus is arranged such that a user may select a
continuous region of interest present in a digital map displayed to
the user via a user interface of the apparatus. The region is
selected by one or more indications provided on the displayed
digital map. The apparatus is arranged to receive the selection of
the continuous region from a user and determine digital map data
relating to the selected region. The apparatus then carries out one
or more operations in relation to the selected region. The
operations are carried out using the digital map data for the
selected region.
[0024] In accordance with the invention, it has been found that
interaction between the user and the apparatus in relation to
operations involving digital map data may proceed more intuitively.
In effect, the user may directly specify a selected continuous
region of interest in a map displayed to the user. By identifying
the region in the displayed digital map in this manner, the need to
provide multiple instructions via a menu based system may be
avoided. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus is
arranged such that a user may select the selected region using one
or more indications made directly on the displayed map. In other
words, rather than going through a conventional menu system to
indicate a region of interest using a series of text or speech
based commands, the user may directly point to the region on the
displayed map itself. This may provide more intuitive operation,
and reduce the number of steps required for the user to indicate a
selected region. It will be appreciated that conventional menu
based systems do not readily lend themselves to selection of a
given continuous region of the map rather than a discrete point.
The ability to readily specify a selected continuous region of the
map in accordance with the invention opens up a range of possible
operations enhancing the effectiveness and utility of the mapping
or navigation apparatus.
[0025] The present invention also extends to a method of operating
a navigation or mapping apparatus in accordance with the invention
in any of its aspects and embodiments.
[0026] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there
is provided a method of operating a navigation or mapping
apparatus, the method comprising controlling the navigation or
mapping apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of;
accessing digital map data and using the accessed digital map data
to display a digital map, receiving from a user via a user
interface of the apparatus a selection of a continuous region
present in the displayed digital map, wherein the region is
selected by the user providing one or more indications on the
displayed digital map; determining digital map data corresponding
to at least a part of the selected region, and carrying out one or
more operations in relation to the selected region using the
digital map data.
[0027] It will be appreciated that the invention in this further
aspect may comprise any or all of the features described in respect
of the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, and vice
versa. Thus, if not explicitly stated, the method of operating the
apparatus may comprise the steps of controlling the apparatus to
perform any of the functions described in relation to the
apparatus, and the apparatus of the invention may be arranged to
perform any of the method steps herein described. In the method
aspects of the invention, the navigation or mapping apparatus
comprises a display for displaying a digital map to a user, a
processor configured to access digital map data and cause a digital
map to be displayed to a user via the display, and a user interface
operable by a user to enable the user to interact with the
apparatus.
[0028] In accordance with the invention in any of its aspects, the
apparatus receives from a user a selection of continuous region of
interest in relation to which the apparatus may determine digital
map data. This may enable the apparatus to carry out operations in
respect of the region of interest. The operations may be mapping or
navigation operations. Typically the region will be a region of
interest which the user wishes to include in an operation performed
by the apparatus. However it could be envisaged that the region may
be one that the user wishes it to be excluded from an operation,
and the apparatus may carry out an operation in relation to the
selected region which involves marking it as excluded from a
further operation. In embodiments the operation(s) are carried out
in relation to the selected region and not another region of the
map. In embodiments the operation(s) are carried out only in
relation to the selected region. As used herein, the "selected
continuous region" includes a boundary and a region bounded by the
boundary. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be arranged
to determine digital map data and perform one or more operations in
respect of at least a part of the boundary and/or the bounded
region of the selected region. The apparatus may determine a subset
of digital map data corresponding to locations included in the
selected region.
[0029] In accordance with the invention, the selected region may be
indicated via the user interface in any manner which involves the
user providing one or more indications on the displayed digital
map. Each indication on the displayed digital map is an indication
of a region of the displayed digital map. In any of the embodiments
of the invention, the selected continuous region may be indicated
using a single indication or a plurality of indications. Preferably
each indication provided by the user is an indication of a
continuous region of the displayed digital map. Where multiple
indications are made, the indications may be made simultaneously or
sequentially, and the indications may or may not overlap.
[0030] The selected region may directly correspond to the one or
more regions indicated by the user on the displayed digital map. In
these embodiments the one or more indications provided by the user
may define a shape corresponding to the shape of an intended
selected region. For example, where multiple indications are
provided, the indications may together define a shape corresponding
to the shape of an intended selected region. For example, a user
may draw a vertical line and then a second line perpendicular
thereto, and overlapping the first line to select an L shaped
region.
[0031] In other embodiments, the processor may be arranged to infer
an intended selected region from one or more regions indicated on
the digital map by the user. For example, the processor may be
arranged to infer a precise selected region from one or more
regions indicated by a user approximately indicative of an intended
selected region. The step of inferring a precise selected region
may comprise inferring a precise boundary for the selected region
from the region(s) indicated by the user. The processor may be
arranged to, for example, infer a selected region including only
land from a general indication of a region or regions provided by
the user including both land and water.
[0032] In some embodiments the processor may be arranged to infer
an intended selected region including the one or more regions
indicated by the user. Thus the indicated region or regions may be
a subset of an intended selected region. For example, the user may
indicate a region within a given state, and the processor may then
infer that the intended selected region is the whole state.
[0033] In accordance with any of the embodiments of the invention,
the processor may be arranged to infer an intended selected region
from one or more indications in the form of gestures provided by
the user.
[0034] It will be appreciated that the way in which the processor
infers an intended selected region from one or more regions
indicated by the user may be controlled, for example, by setting a
mode of operation of the device. The processor may be arranged to
be able to infer an intended selected region from one or more
indicated regions in any of the above manners depending upon the
selected mode.
[0035] In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus is
arranged to allow the user to provide via the user interface an
indication of at least the boundary of the selected region of
interest on the displayed map, and the method performed comprises
receiving such an indication from the user. In embodiments the
apparatus is arranged such that the user may provide an indication
of the selected region on the displayed map in the form of a line
denoting a boundary of the selected region. In a simple embodiment,
the boundary may be a line separating one part of the displayed map
from another. In preferred embodiments the boundary encloses the
selected region of interest. In these embodiments the processor may
be arranged to receive from the user via the user interface an
indication of a boundary and to infer therefrom a selected region
comprising the boundary and a region bounded e.g. enclosed thereby.
The selected region may be a circular region. The method may
comprise controlling the processor to perform such steps.
[0036] In other embodiments the indication of the selected region
is in the form of a shape covering the selected region, and having
a boundary defining an extent of the selected region. In other
words, the user may provide an indication in the form of a boundary
of the selected region or may provide an indication in the form of
a filled shape covering the selected region.
[0037] In preferred embodiments the user interface is an interface
by means of which a user can operate the device by touch, i.e. a
touch sensitive interface, and the user provides one or more touch
indications to select the continuous region. In some particularly
preferred embodiments the display comprises the touch sensitive
user interface, i.e. the display is a touch display. In these
embodiments the user may select the continuous region using one or
more indications in the form of touch gestures on the displayed
digital map. For example, the user may directly indicate a selected
region by touching a part or parts of the display corresponding to
the region of the map to be selected. This may provide a more
intuitive operation allowing the user to manually indicate the
selected region. The user interface may be arranged to permit the
user to select the region using a single or multi touch gesture. In
some embodiments the user may indicate the selected region by
drawing the selected region on to the map. In other embodiments the
user may indicate the selected region by performing a multi touch
gesture on the map, and the processor is arranged to infer the
selected region from the multi touch gesture performed by the user.
Such embodiments may be particularly, although not exclusively,
applicable to navigation device type implementations of the
apparatus.
[0038] It will be appreciated that other forms of user interface
may be used. In some embodiments the user interface may be arranged
to permit the user to select the region of the map using one or
more cursor based indications. The user interface may then comprise
an arrangement to permit the user to control the position of a
cursor on the display. This may be achieved using any suitable user
input device e.g. a mouse, touch pad, control stick or pad, a
rotary control, key stroke etc. Although not limited thereto, such
embodiments may be useful in the context of implementations which
do not use a specific portable navigation device, for example
implementations using mapping software run on a general computer
system.
[0039] In embodiments the apparatus is arranged to allow the user
to indicate the selected region by drawing on the displayed map,
and the received indication of the region is in the form of a drawn
shape or line on the displayed map. This could be achieved by the
user manually drawing the boundary on the display in embodiments in
which the display comprises a touch display, or alternatively by
controlling the movement of a cursor on the display e.g. via a
mouse or other suitable device. Such arrangements may be used to
indicate the selected region by drawing the boundary of the
selected region or a shape covering the selected region.
[0040] In some embodiments in which the display comprises a touch
display, the apparatus is arranged to permit the user to indicate
the selected region using a single or multi touch gesture conducted
on the display. Thus the indication or indications in these
embodiments are touch gestures. In these embodiments, the processor
may be arranged to detect a single or multi touch gesture conducted
by the user on the display, and to infer the extent of the selected
region therefrom. The gesture may indicate the boundary of the
selected region or a shape covering the selected region. In
embodiments using a multi gesture indication, any conventional
multi gesture indication may be used, such as the use of pinch
points, a rotating movement etc.
[0041] In other embodiments the processor is arranged to provide a
graphical representation of a boundary on the displayed map to the
user, which representation may be used by the user to provide an
indication of the selected region of interest. It will be
appreciated that the processor is arranged to cause the
representation to be displayed, and the other steps mentioned
herein, and may do this directly or indirectly. In embodiments the
boundary may be manipulated by the user to set the indication of
the selected region of interest. For example the boundary may be
manipulated by the user to set the size, position and/or shape of
the selected region. Such an embodiment may be implemented by
providing a graphical representation in the form of a frame. The
frame may be dragged across the display and the perimeter of the
frame dragged in or out to adjust the size of the frame. In other
embodiments the processor may be arranged to provide a graphical
representation of a boundary of changing size on the displayed map,
wherein the user may provide an indication to the apparatus when
the boundary reaches a desired size to set the indication of the
selected region. The boundary may change size over time, for
example growing over time, and/or may change size in response to an
action by a user, for example increased pressure on the
display.
[0042] In embodiments in which the processor is arranged to provide
a graphical representation of the boundary on the map which may be
used by the user to indicate the selected region, the processor may
be arranged to receive an input from the user indicative of the
desire to set an indication of a selected region, and to provide
the graphical representation of a boundary on the displayed map to
the user in response to such an indication. In other words, the
processor may be arranged to enable a boundary setting mode in
response to an input from a user. In embodiments the input from a
user may comprise an indication of a discrete point on the display.
The processor may then be arranged to provide a graphical
indication of a boundary centred upon the discrete point. This may
be particularly applicable to embodiments in which the boundary is
not directly manipulable by a user, e.g. where the processor
provides a boundary of changing size to be used in setting the
boundary. It will be appreciated that these embodiments in which
the processor provides a graphical representation of a boundary
which may be used by the user to set an indication of the selected
region may be particularly applicable to embodiments which do not
use a touch screen user interface, providing ease of operation for
the user.
[0043] The step of the user selecting the continuous region may
occur at any point during the operation of the apparatus. The
processor may be arranged to prompt the user to select a region,
and the selection may be provided in response to such a prompt. For
example a prompt may be issued at a given point in a procedure the
user is carrying out using the apparatus when it is necessary or
desirable to define a given geographic region.
[0044] In accordance with the invention in any of its embodiments,
the apparatus is arranged to determine digital map data relating to
the selected region. It will be appreciated that in accordance with
the invention, the apparatus is arranged to determine digital map
data relating to the region of the map selected by the user, and to
carry out an operation relating to the selected region using the
data. Thus in contrast to merely, for example, providing a display
related function such as a panning or zooming of the display in
relation to a region selected by a user, the apparatus is arranged
to carry out a function in relation to the underlying digital map
data related to the selected region. The invention allows the user
to interact with the underlying digital map by selecting the region
on the displayed digital map. The digital map data relating to the
selected region is digital map data corresponding to the geographic
area represented by the selected region of the displayed map.
[0045] In accordance with the invention the step of determining
digital map data relating to the selected region may comprise the
processor determining a subset of digital map data for the
displayed region of the map including some, or all of the data
corresponding to locations encompassed by the selected region. For
example it may be sufficient for the processor to determine only
the data corresponding to the boundary of the selected region, or
the processor may determine all digital map data included in the
geographic area represented by the selected region of the displayed
map. The processor may determine digital map corresponding only to
certain categories of data e.g. location within the selected region
e.g. points of interest (POI), cities, position of business
contacts etc. The selection of the region effectively highlights
the region of interest to the user.
[0046] The digital map data may be determined in any manner, as
described in relation to accessing the digital map data for display
below. For example the data may be retrieved from a remote or local
source of stored data. In embodiments the apparatus comprises a
memory storing digital map data, and the step of determining the
digital map data comprises retrieving stored digital map data from
the memory. Alternatively or additionally, the data may be obtained
in other manners by the apparatus. For example, the data may be
received by the apparatus. For example, the data may be received
e.g. from a live feed, downloaded, or may be transmitted to the
apparatus e.g. from another navigation apparatus etc. Digital map
data could be inferred from a social networking site of a user when
the apparatus is suitably linked to a given site.
[0047] The digital map data determined in accordance with the
invention may be of any type, and may depend upon the operation to
be performed in respect of the selected region. In some embodiments
this could be specified by the user, e.g. by setting a mode of
operation, or may be inferred depending upon the circumstances of
use of the apparatus, the point in the operation of the apparatus
at which region selection is invoked, time of day etc.
[0048] The digital map data may include digital map data in the
form of navigation data. Navigation data relating to the selected
region may include any data relevant to navigation in the selected
region. The navigation data may be data relating to a road network
of the selected region. Alternatively or additionally, the
navigation data may include data relating to the attributes of
location(s) or road(s) in the region. By way of example, attributes
may include any or all of; direction of travel for one way roads,
speed limits, level of scenicity, average wind direction or speed,
closed hours, danger level, windingness, quality of surface etc.
The attribute information may include attributes of interest in
general to users intending to navigate a route, or to specific
classes of user e.g. bikers etc. The navigation data may include
point or area based locations. For example, the navigation data may
include the positions of points of interest (POI), contacts,
favourite locations, local search results etc in the selected
region. Navigation data may also include position and/or velocity
data relating to object(s) or person(s) i.e. moving object(s) or
person(s) in the selected region.
[0049] It will be appreciated that navigation data may be stored
with other digital map data, or may be provided separately to other
forms of digital map data. For example, navigation data may be
inferred, downloaded, added to other map data etc. Accordingly, it
will be understood that operations involving digital map data in
the form of navigation data may equally be carried out using
mapping apparatus, rather than navigation apparatus, which are able
to access digital map data in the form of navigation data.
[0050] By determining the digital map data of any type relating to
the selected region, the apparatus may carry out one or more
operations in relation to the selected region. Determined digital
map data at least allows the apparatus to determine which areas of
the map are included in the region. An operation using the
determined digital map data may comprise flagging the determined
digital map data as being included in the selected region. This may
facilitate carrying out subsequent operations in relation to the
digital map data. The apparatus may be arranged to determine one
form of digital map data, and use this to carry out an operation in
relation to the selected region which also uses another form of
digital map data. The apparatus may be arranged to carry out one or
more of the operations described below.
[0051] In some embodiments, the selected region may be a region in
respect of which the user wishes a search to be carried out. In
some embodiments the processor is arranged to perform a search for
a given item or items of the selected region using the determined
digital map data. The search may be carried out among the
determined digital map data. In other arrangements, it is envisaged
that the determined digital map data may be used to determine the
extent of the selected region, to enable a search among a different
form of digital map data e.g. road attribute information relating
to roads within the selected region to be performed. The search may
be for a given item(s) specified by the user.
[0052] The given item(s) may be a road or location attribute,
person(s) and/or object(s). Object(s) may include a selected type
of map feature such as points of interest (POI), address book
entries or speed cameras. In embodiments in which the item(s) are
POI, the processor may be arranged to search among all POIs present
in the region, or among only selected categories of POI, e.g.
recently used POI categories, or POI categories relating to the
mode of operation of the device e.g. leisure or business. In some
embodiments search may be for a road or location attribute, and may
be for a given type of road or location attribute. By way of
example, a road attribute may be any or all of; speed limit, level
of scenicity, average wind direction or speed, closed hours, danger
level, windingness, quality of surface.
[0053] The search may be carried out according to predefined
settings and/or user defined settings or preferences.
[0054] In some embodiments the apparatus further comprises a memory
storing digital map data regarding the location of given item(s),
and the processor may perform a search among the stored data of
item(s) present in the selected region.
[0055] In embodiments in which a search is carried among stored
location data, the processor may be arranged to take into account a
time when selecting a category of stored location data within which
to search. The time may be a current time, or a specified time at
which the route is to be travelled. For example, at a certain time
of day or of week when the user is expected to be at work, the
processor may default to search (first) among work locations, while
at another time of day or week e.g. weekends, the processor may
(first) search among family locations. Thus, in embodiments the
processor may take into consideration a time when searching among
different categories of stored location data, and may find
different stored specific location data in respect of the same
selected region depending upon the time. Other factors which may
alternatively or additionally be taken into account when
determining the way in which a search among location data is to be
performed may include weather, user's previous actions, user
profiles etc.
[0056] The processor may be arranged to cause found item(s) to be
displayed on the map. For example found item(s) may include
particular road or location attributes, object(s) or person(s).
[0057] The processor may be arranged to cause an alert or
notification to be generated when the given item is found in the
region. Such an alert or notification may be an audible and/or
visual alert or notification.
[0058] In other embodiments, the region may be a region which the
user wishes to monitor in respect of a given change. Thus, in
embodiments the processor is arranged to monitor the selected
region in respect of a given change in the region using the digital
map data. The change may be a change in relation to the digital map
data. The change may be in relation to digital map data of the
navigation data type. For example the change may be a map
correction, or change in attribute of a road or location. The
change may be the appearance or disappearance of a given object or
person. For example the apparatus may be arranged to determine when
a person or object crosses the boundary of the selected region into
or out of the selected region. The change may be the occurrence of
a specified event. The apparatus may be arranged to generate an
alert or notification when the given change occurs. Such an alert
or notification may be an audible and/or visual alert or
notification.
[0059] In some embodiments the operation may comprise using the
determined digital map data to display navigation data relating to
the selected region. The navigation data may be all navigation
data, or a subset of navigation data. For example the subset may be
a particular category or categories of navigation data e.g. a
particular road attribute etc. For example, the average wind levels
for roads in the selected region may be displayed.
[0060] In other embodiments the selected region may be selected by
a user as part of a process to specify user preferences or
customise settings. In embodiments the selected region may be used
to designate a geographic region in respect of which the user
wishes the apparatus to carry out certain functions. This may be
carried out using determined digital map data for the region. In
embodiments the processor is arranged to set a designated region
corresponding to the selected region in respect of which certain
functions are to be performed by the apparatus. The functions may
be in relation to any of the digital map data for the selected
region. Thus the functions may be the displaying of certain digital
map data e.g. navigation data. Such functions may include
displaying of road attributes, the position of given item(s) e.g.
the position of speed cameras, points of interest, providing an
indication as to fuel prices, etc. The apparatus may be arranged to
carry out the one or more functions in relation the selected region
and not to other regions. In embodiments the processor may be
arranged to carry out the function(s) when the user is within the
selected region. In embodiments in which the apparatus is a
navigation apparatus, the processor may determine when the
apparatus is within the selected region and carry out the function
when the apparatus is within the selected region.
[0061] In other embodiments the selected region may be an alert
region, wherein the user wishes to receive alerts regarding a given
event or presence of an item within the selected region. Such an
alert may be an audible and/or visual alert. The alert region may
be set using determined digital map data. In these embodiments the
processor may be arranged to cause an alert to be provided in
relation to determining the occurrence of a given event or the
presence of an item within the selected region. The processor may
be arranged to detect the given event or presence of an item within
the selected region, and when the given event or presence of an
item is detected, cause an alert to be provided. The item may be a
person, or any other type of item as discussed above. In
embodiments the processor may be arranged to provide an alert when
the user enters, leaves or is in the selected region. In
embodiments in which the apparatus is a navigation apparatus, the
processor may determine when the apparatus is within, enters or
leaves the selected region and provide the notification or alert
regarding the given event or item when the apparatus is in the
selected region. In embodiments the processor is arranged to
provide the alert upon the apparatus crossing a boundary of the
region into and/or out of the selected region. The given event or
item may be the presence of an item such as a speed camera, POI,
traffic jam, entry or exit of a contact into the area etc. The item
or event may be prespecified by a user.
[0062] Accordingly, the processor may be arranged to perform one or
more of the following operations using the determined digital map
data; a search for a given item or items in the selected region,
monitoring the selected region in respect of a given change in the
region, causing an alert to be provided in relation to determining
the occurrence of a given event or the presence of an item within
the selected region, setting a region in respect of which certain
functions are to be performed by the apparatus, or displaying
navigation data relating to the selected region.
[0063] In preferred embodiments of the invention in any of its
aspects or embodiments, the processor is arranged to cause at least
the boundary of the selected region to be illustrated on the map,
and the method performed comprises the step of illustrating at
least the boundary of the selected region on the map. In
embodiments the entire selected region may be illustrated on the
map. The step of illustrating at least the boundary of the selected
region may comprise highlighting at least the boundary of the
selected region. The at least the boundary of the selected region
on the map may be illustrated as it is selected by a user. For
example the boundary of the selected region may appear to be drawn
on to the displayed map as the user indicates the boundary.
[0064] The processor of the apparatus is arranged to access the
digital map data. In some preferred embodiments the apparatus
comprises a memory storing digital map data, and the processor is
arranged to retrieve the digital map data from the store. However,
it will be appreciated that the processor may retrieve the digital
map data directly or indirectly in any suitable manner. The digital
map data may not be stored locally. For example the digital map
data may be downloaded from a remote source. This is applicable for
accessing digital map data when providing the displayed map and/or
determining the digital data for the selected region.
[0065] The principles of the present invention are applicable to
any form of mapping or navigation apparatus. In preferred
embodiments the apparatus is a navigation apparatus. One particular
area of utility is in relation to portable navigation devices
(PND). In embodiments, therefore, the mapping or navigation
apparatus is an apparatus of a portable navigation device (PND). In
accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides a
portable navigation device (PND) comprising the apparatus in
accordance with any of the aspects or embodiments of the invention
described. Accordingly, in embodiments of the invention, the method
is a method of operating a mapping or navigation system of a
portable navigation device.
[0066] The invention is also applicable to navigation apparatus
which is provided as part of an integrated navigation system. For
example the apparatus may form part of an in-vehicle integrated
navigation system. In accordance with another aspect of the
invention, the present invention provides a navigation system
comprising a navigation apparatus in accordance with any of the
aspects or embodiments of the invention described. Accordingly, in
embodiments of the invention, the method is a method of operating a
navigation apparatus of a navigation system. The navigation system
may be an integrated in-vehicle navigation system.
[0067] Regardless of its implementation, a navigation apparatus of
the present invention may comprise a processor, memory, and digital
map data stored within said memory. The processor and memory
cooperate to provide an execution environment in which a software
operating system may be established. One or more additional
software programs may be provided to enable the functionality of
the apparatus to be controlled, and to provide various other
functions. A navigation apparatus of the invention may preferably
include GPS (Global Positioning System) signal reception and
processing functionality. The apparatus may comprise one or more
output interfaces by means of which information may be relayed to
the user. The output interface(s) may include a speaker for audible
output in addition to the visual display. The apparatus may
comprise input interfaces including one or more physical buttons to
control on/off operation or other features of the apparatus.
[0068] In other embodiments, the mapping or navigation apparatus
may be implemented by means of an application of a processing
device which does not form part of a specific mapping or navigation
device. For example the invention may be implemented using a
suitable computer system arranged to execute mapping or navigation
software. The system may be a mobile or portable computer system
e.g. a mobile telephone or laptop, or may be a desktop system.
[0069] It will be appreciated that, in accordance with the
invention in any of its aspects, the selected region of the digital
map indicated by the user is a continuous region, and not a
discrete point or points. Thus, rather than merely pointing to a
single point on the displayed map, the user indicates an extended
region on the map.
[0070] References to the "indicated region" or the "selected
region" herein should be understood to refer to the region
indicated or selected by the user on the displayed digital map if
this is not explicitly stated.
[0071] Advantages of these embodiments are set out hereafter, and
further details and features of each of these embodiments are
defined in the accompanying dependent claims and elsewhere in the
following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0072] Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention,
and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be
described by way of illustrative example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0073] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a Global Positioning
System (GPS);
[0074] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of electronic components
arranged to provide a navigation device;
[0075] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the manner in which a
navigation device may receive information over a wireless
communication channel;
[0076] FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrative perspective views of a
navigation device;
[0077] FIGS. 5a to 5i are illustrative screenshots from a TomTom GO
950 LIVE PND for a destination input process;
[0078] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an embodiment involving a PND
calculating a route using a selected region in the form of a path
indicated on a displayed map by the user, of which FIG. 6
illustrates the path indicated by the user, and FIG. 7 illustrates
the route calculated;
[0079] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment involving a PND
modifying a calculated route to avoid a selected region indicated
on a displayed map by a user, of which FIG. 8 illustrates the way
in which the user selects the region to be avoided, and FIG. 9
illustrates the modified route;
[0080] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate further embodiments in accordance
with the invention as claimed involving setting a selected region
in response to an indication on the displayed map by a user of
which;
[0081] FIG. 10 illustrates the setting of a selected region using a
multi touch gesture, and FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a method of
setting a selected region in which the user sets a center point for
the region as shown in FIG. 11 and the PND provides a boundary of
increasing radius to enable the user to set a selected area of
desired size as shown in FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0082] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described with particular reference to a PND. It should be
remembered, however, that the teachings of the present invention
are not limited to PNDs but are instead universally applicable to
any type of processing device that is configured to execute
navigation software so as to provide route planning and navigation
functionality. It follows therefore that in the context of the
present application, a navigation device is intended to include
(without limitation) any type of route planning and navigation
device, irrespective of whether that device is embodied as a PND, a
navigation device built into a vehicle, or indeed a computing
resource (such as a desktop or portable personal computer (PC),
mobile telephone or portable digital assistant (PDA)) executing
route planning and navigation software.
[0083] It will also be apparent from the following that the
teachings of the present invention even have utility in
circumstances where a user is not seeking instructions on how to
navigate from one point to another, but merely wishes to be
provided with a view of a given location. In such circumstances the
"destination" location selected by the user need not have a
corresponding start location from which the user wishes to start
navigating, and as a consequence references herein to the
"destination" location or indeed to a "destination" view should not
be interpreted to mean that the generation of a route is essential,
that travelling to the "destination" must occur, or indeed that the
presence of a destination requires the designation of a
corresponding start location.
[0084] With the above provisos in mind, FIG. 1 illustrates an
example view of Global Positioning System (GPS), usable by
navigation devices. Such systems are known and are used for a
variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite-radio based
navigation system capable of determining continuous position,
velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for an
unlimited number of users. Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS
incorporates a plurality of satellites which orbit the earth in
extremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS
satellites can relay their location to any number of receiving
units.
[0085] The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially
equipped to receive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for
GPS satellite signals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS
satellite, the device determines the precise location of that
satellite via one of a plurality of different conventional methods.
The device will continue scanning, in most instances, for signals
until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals
(noting that position is not normally, but can be determined, with
only two signals using other triangulation techniques).
Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizes the
three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional position
relative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner.
Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow the
receiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the
same geometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and
velocity data can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by
an unlimited number of users.
[0086] As shown in FIG. 1, the GPS system is denoted generally by
reference numeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit
about the earth 124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not
necessarily synchronous with the orbits of other satellites 120
and, in fact, is likely asynchronous. A GPS receiver 140 is shown
receiving spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from the
various satellites 120.
[0087] The spread spectrum signals 160, continuously transmitted
from each satellite 120, utilize a highly accurate frequency
standard accomplished with an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each
satellite 120, as part of its data signal transmission 160,
transmits a data stream indicative of that particular satellite
120. It is appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art that
the GPS receiver device 140 generally acquires spread spectrum GPS
satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120 for the
GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensional position
by triangulation. Acquisition of an additional signal, resulting in
signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permits the GPS
receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional position in
a known manner.
[0088] FIG. 2 is an illustrative representation of electronic
components of a navigation device 200 according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, in block component format. It
should be noted that the block diagram of the navigation device 200
is not inclusive of all components of the navigation device, but is
only representative of many example components.
[0089] The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not
shown). The housing includes a processor 210 connected to an input
device 220 and a display screen 240. The input device 220 can
include a keyboard device, voice input device, touch panel and/or
any other known input device utilised to input information; and the
display screen 240 can include any type of display screen such as
an LCD display, for example. In a particularly preferred
arrangement the input device 220 and display screen 240 are
integrated into an integrated input and display device, including a
touchpad or touchscreen input so that a user need only touch a
portion of the display screen 240 to select one of a plurality of
display choices or to activate one of a plurality of virtual
buttons.
[0090] The navigation device may include an output device 260, for
example an audible output device (e.g. a loudspeaker). As output
device 260 can produce audible information for a user of the
navigation device 200, it is should equally be understood that
input device 240 can include a microphone and software for
receiving input voice commands as well.
[0091] In the navigation device 200, processor 210 is operatively
connected to and set to receive input information from input device
220 via a connection 225, and operatively connected to at least one
of display screen 240 and output device 260, via output connections
245, to output information thereto. Further, the processor 210 is
operably coupled to a memory resource 230 via connection 235 and is
further adapted to receive/send information from/to input/output
(I/O) ports 270 via connection 275, wherein the I/O port 270 is
connectable to an I/O device 280 external to the navigation device
200. The memory resource 230 comprises, for example, a volatile
memory, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) and a non-volatile
memory, for example a digital memory, such as a flash memory. The
external I/O device 280 may include, but is not limited to an
external listening device such as an earpiece for example. The
connection to I/O device 280 can further be a wired or wireless
connection to any other external device such as a car stereo unit
for hands-free operation and/or for voice activated operation for
example, for connection to an ear piece or head phones, and/or for
connection to a mobile phone for example, wherein the mobile phone
connection may be used to establish a data connection between the
navigation device 200 and the internet or any other network for
example, and/or to establish a connection to a server via the
internet or some other network for example.
[0092] FIG. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between
the processor 210 and an antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255,
wherein the antenna/receiver 250 can be a GPS antenna/receiver for
example. It will be understood that the antenna and receiver
designated by reference numeral 250 are combined schematically for
illustration, but that the antenna and receiver may be separately
located components, and that the antenna may be a GPS patch antenna
or helical antenna for example.
[0093] Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in
the art that the electronic components shown in FIG. 2 are powered
by power sources (not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, different
configurations of the components shown in FIG. 2 are considered to
be within the scope of the present application. For example, the
components shown in FIG. 2 may be in communication with one another
via wired and/or wireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope
of the navigation device 200 of the present application includes a
portable or handheld navigation device 200.
[0094] In addition, the portable or handheld navigation device 200
of FIG. 2 can be connected or "docked" in a known manner to a
vehicle such as a bicycle, a motorbike, a car or a boat for
example. Such a navigation device 200 is then removable from the
docked location for portable or handheld navigation use.
[0095] Referring now to FIG. 3, the navigation device 200 may
establish a "mobile" or telecommunications network connection with
a server 302 via a mobile device (not shown) (such as a mobile
phone, PDA, and/or any device with mobile phone technology)
establishing a digital connection (such as a digital connection via
known Bluetooth technology for example). Thereafter, through its
network service provider, the mobile device can establish a network
connection (through the internet for example) with a server 302. As
such, a "mobile" network connection is established between the
navigation device 200 (which can be, and often times is mobile as
it travels alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 to provide
a "real-time" or at least very "up to date" gateway for
information.
[0096] The establishing of the network connection between the
mobile device (via a service provider) and another device such as
the server 302, using an internet (such as the World Wide Web) for
example, can be done in a known manner. This can include use of
TCP/IP layered protocol for example. The mobile device can utilize
any number of communication standards such as CDMA, GSM, WAN,
etc.
[0097] As such, an internet connection may be utilised which is
achieved via data connection, via a mobile phone or mobile phone
technology within the navigation device 200 for example. For this
connection, an internet connection between the server 302 and the
navigation device 200 is established. This can be done, for
example, through a mobile phone or other mobile device and a GPRS
(General Packet Radio Service)-connection (GPRS connection is a
high-speed data connection for mobile devices provided by telecom
operators; GPRS is a method to connect to the internet).
[0098] The navigation device 200 can further complete a data
connection with the mobile device, and eventually with the internet
and server 302, via existing Bluetooth technology for example, in a
known manner, wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of
standards, such as the GPRS, the Data Protocol Standard for the GSM
standard, for example.
[0099] The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone
technology within the navigation device 200 itself (including an
antenna for example, or optionally using the internal antenna of
the navigation device 200). The mobile phone technology within the
navigation device 200 can include internal components as specified
above, and/or can include an insertable card (e.g. Subscriber
Identity Module or SIM card), complete with necessary mobile phone
technology and/or an antenna for example. As such, mobile phone
technology within the navigation device 200 can similarly establish
a network connection between the navigation device 200 and the
server 302, via the internet for example, in a manner similar to
that of any mobile device.
[0100] For GPRS phone settings, a Bluetooth enabled navigation
device may be used to correctly work with the ever changing
spectrum of mobile phone models, manufacturers, etc.,
model/manufacturer specific settings may be stored on the
navigation device 200 for example. The data stored for this
information can be updated.
[0101] In FIG. 3 the navigation device 200 is depicted as being in
communication with the server 302 via a generic communications
channel 318 that can be implemented by any of a number of different
arrangements. The server 302 and a navigation device 200 can
communicate when a connection via communications channel 318 is
established between the server 302 and the navigation device 200
(noting that such a connection can be a data connection via mobile
device, a direct connection via personal computer via the internet,
etc.).
[0102] The server 302 includes, in addition to other components
which may not be illustrated, a processor 304 operatively connected
to a memory 306 and further operatively connected, via a wired or
wireless connection 314, to a mass data storage device 312. The
processor 304 is further operatively connected to transmitter 308
and receiver 310, to transmit and send information to and from
navigation device 200 via communications channel 318. The signals
sent and received may include data, communication, and/or other
propagated signals. The transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be
selected or designed according to the communications requirement
and communication technology used in the communication design for
the navigation system 200. Further, it should be noted that the
functions of transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be combined into
a signal transceiver.
[0103] Server 302 is further connected to (or includes) a mass
storage device 312, noting that the mass storage device 312 may be
coupled to the server 302 via communication link 314. The mass
storage device 312 contains a store of navigation data and map
information, and can again be a separate device from the server 302
or can be incorporated into the server 302.
[0104] The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the
server 302 through communications channel 318, and includes
processor, memory, etc. as previously described with regard to FIG.
2, as well as transmitter 320 and receiver 322 to send and receive
signals and/or data through the communications channel 318, noting
that these devices can further be used to communicate with devices
other than server 302. Further, the transmitter 320 and receiver
322 are selected or designed according to communication
requirements and communication technology used in the communication
design for the navigation device 200 and the functions of the
transmitter 320 and receiver 322 may be combined into a single
transceiver.
[0105] Software stored in server memory 306 provides instructions
for the processor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services
to the navigation device 200. One service provided by the server
302 involves processing requests from the navigation device 200 and
transmitting navigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the
navigation device 200. Another service provided by the server 302
includes processing the navigation data using various algorithms
for a desired application and sending the results of these
calculations to the navigation device 200.
[0106] The communication channel 318 generically represents the
propagating medium or path that connects the navigation device 200
and the server 302. Both the server 302 and navigation device 200
include a transmitter for transmitting data through the
communication channel and a receiver for receiving data that has
been transmitted through the communication channel.
[0107] The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particular
communication technology. Additionally, the communication channel
318 is not limited to a single communication technology; that is,
the channel 318 may include several communication links that use a
variety of technology. For example, the communication channel 318
can be adapted to provide a path for electrical, optical, and/or
electromagnetic communications, etc. As such, the communication
channel 318 includes, but is not limited to, one or a combination
of the following: electric circuits, electrical conductors such as
wires and coaxial cables, fibre optic cables, converters,
radio-frequency (RF) waves, the atmosphere, empty space, etc.
Furthermore, the communication channel 318 can include intermediate
devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and
receivers, for example.
[0108] In one illustrative arrangement, the communication channel
318 includes telephone and computer networks. Furthermore, the
communication channel 318 may be capable of accommodating wireless
communication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency,
infrared communication, etc. Additionally, the communication
channel 318 can accommodate satellite communication.
[0109] The communication signals transmitted through the
communication channel 318 include, but are not limited to, signals
as may be required or desired for given communication technology.
For example, the signals may be adapted to be used in cellular
communication technology such as Time Division Multiple Access
(TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSM), etc. Both digital and analogue signals can be transmitted
through the communication channel 318. These signals may be
modulated, encrypted and/or compressed signals as may be desirable
for the communication technology.
[0110] The server 302 includes a remote server accessible by the
navigation device 200 via a wireless channel. The server 302 may
include a network server located on a local area network (LAN),
wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), etc.
[0111] The server 302 may include a personal computer such as a
desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 318 may
be a cable connected between the personal computer and the
navigation device 200. Alternatively, a personal computer may be
connected between the navigation device 200 and the server 302 to
establish an internet connection between the server 302 and the
navigation device 200. Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other
handheld device may establish a wireless connection to the
internet, for connecting the navigation device 200 to the server
302 via the internet.
[0112] The navigation device 200 may be provided with information
from the server 302 via information downloads which may be
periodically updated automatically or upon a user connecting
navigation device 200 to the server 302 and/or may be more dynamic
upon a more constant or frequent connection being made between the
server 302 and navigation device 200 via a wireless mobile
connection device and TCP/IP connection for example. For many
dynamic calculations, the processor 304 in the server 302 may be
used to handle the bulk of the processing needs, however, processor
210 of navigation device 200 can also handle much processing and
calculation, oftentimes independent of a connection to a server
302.
[0113] As indicated above in FIG. 2, a navigation device 200
includes a processor 210, an input device 220, and a display screen
240. The input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated
into an integrated input and display device to enable both input of
information (via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and display of
information through a touch panel screen, for example. Such a
screen may be a touch input LCD screen, for example, as is well
known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the
navigation device 200 can also include any additional input device
220 and/or any additional output device 260, such as audio
input/output devices for example.
[0114] FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a navigation device
200. As shown in FIG. 4A, the navigation device 200 may be a unit
that includes an integrated input and display device 290 (a touch
panel screen for example) and the other components of FIG. 2
(including but not limited to internal GPS receiver 250,
microprocessor 210, a power supply, memory systems 230, etc.).
[0115] The navigation device 200 may sit on an arm 292, which
itself may be secured to a vehicle dashboard/window/etc. using a
suction cup 294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station
to which the navigation device 200 can be docked.
[0116] As shown in FIG. 4B, the navigation device 200 can be docked
or otherwise connected to an arm 292 of the docking station by snap
connecting the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 for example.
The navigation device 200 may then be rotatable on the arm 292, as
shown by the arrow of FIG. 4B. To release the connection between
the navigation device 200 and the docking station, a button on the
navigation device 200 may be pressed, for example. Other equally
suitable arrangements for coupling and decoupling the navigation
device to a docking station are well known to persons of ordinary
skill in the art.
[0117] Referring now to FIGS. 5a-i there is depicted a series of
screenshots from a TomTom GO 950 LIVE navigation device. This model
of TomTom PND has a touchscreen interface for displaying
information to a user and for accepting input to the device from
the user. The screenshots show an illustrative destination location
input process for a user whose home location has been set to the
offices in The Hague of the European Patent Office, and who wishes
to navigate to a street address in Amsterdam, The Netherlands for
which they know the street name and building number.
[0118] When this user switches on their TomTom PND, the device
acquires a GPS fix and calculates (in a known manner) the current
location of the PND. The user is then presented with a display
showing in pseudo three-dimensions the local environment in which
the PND is determined to be located, and in a region of the display
below the local environment a series of control and status
messages.
[0119] By touching the display of the local environment, the PND
switches to display (as shown in FIG. 5a) a series of virtual
buttons 346, 348 by means of which a user can, inter alia, input a
destination that they wish to navigate to.
[0120] By touching the "navigate to" virtual button 348, the PND
switches to display (as shown in FIG. 5b) a plurality of virtual
buttons that are each associated with a different category of
selectable destinations. In this instance, the display shows a
"home" button that if pressed would set the destination to the
stored home location. However, in this instance as the user is
already at their home location (namely the EPO's offices in the
Hague) selecting this option would not cause a route to be
generated. The "favourite" button, if pressed, reveals a list of
destinations that the user has previously stored in the PND and if
one of these destinations is then selected the destination for the
route to be calculated is set to the selected previously stored
destination. The "recent destination" button, if pressed, reveals a
list of selectable destinations held in the memory of the PND and
to which the user has recently navigated. Selection of one of the
destinations populating this list would set the destination
location for this route to the selected (previously visited)
location. The "local search" button, if pressed, allows the user to
carry out a search for given items e.g. shops, services etc in the
local area, or an area local to a given destination, using the
Google local search service. The "arrow" shaped virtual button
opens a new menu of additional options, and the "address" button
350 commences a process by which the user can input the street
address of the destination that they wish to navigate to.
[0121] Since the user, in this example, knows the street address of
the destination that they wish to navigate to, it is assumed that
this "address" button is operated (by touching the button displayed
on the touchscreen), whereupon (as shown in FIG. 5c) the user is
presented with a series of address input options--in particular for
address input by "city centre", by "postcode", by "crossing or
intersection" (for example a junction of two roads) and by "street
and house number".
[0122] In this example the user knows the street address and house
number of the destination and hence selects the "street and house
number" virtual button 352 whereupon the user is then presented, as
shown in FIG. 5d, a prompt 354 to enter the name of the city that
they wish to navigate to, a flag button 356 by means of which the
user can select the country in which the desired city is located,
and a virtual keyboard 358 that may be operated by the user, if
necessary, to input the name of the destination city. The PND
therefore additionally provides the user with a list 360 of
selectable cites.
[0123] The user in this instance wishes to navigate to Amsterdam,
and on selection of Amsterdam from the list 360 (involving
scrolling through the list from the "R" entries) the PND displays,
as shown in FIG. 5e, a virtual keyboard 362 by means of which a
user can input street names, a prompt 366 for entry of a streetname
and, in this instance, as the user has previously navigated to a
street in Amsterdam, a list 364 of selectable streets in
Amsterdam.
[0124] In this example the user wishes to navigate to the street,
Rembrandtplein, that they have previously visited and so selects
Rembrandtplein from the displayed list 364.
[0125] Once a street has been selected, the PND then displays a
smaller virtual keypad 368 and prompts the user, by means of prompt
370, to enter the number of the house in the selected street and
city that they wish to navigate to. If the user has previously
navigated to a house number in this street, then that number (as
shown in FIG. 5f) is initially shown. If, as in this instance, the
user wishes to navigate to No. 35, Rembrandtplein once again, then
the user need only touch a "done" virtual button 372 displayed at
the bottom right hand corner of the display. If the user should
wish to navigate to a different house number in Rembrandtplein,
then all they need do is operate the keypad 368 to input the
appropriate house number.
[0126] Once the house number has been input, the user is asked in
FIG. 5g, whether they wish to depart, now, at a specific date and
time or at no specific date and time. In this instance the user is
not concerned about leaving at a particular time and hence selects
the "no specific date and time" option and presses the "done"
virtual button 374.
[0127] Selecting the "done" button 374 causes the PND to display a
further set of virtual buttons as shown in FIG. 5h offering options
as to the type of route the user wishes to calculate, for example
the fastest route, an eco route, the shortest route, a route
avoiding motorways, a walking route, or further options accessed by
pressing the arrow shaped virtual button. In this case, the user
selects the fastest route using button 376. This causes the PND to
calculate a route between the current location and the selected
destination and to display that route 378, as shown in FIG. 5i, on
a relatively low magnification map that shows the entire route. The
user provided with a "done" virtual button 380 which they can press
to indicate that they are happy with the calculated route, a "find
alternative" button 382 that the user can press to cause the PND to
calculate another route to the selected destination, and a
"details" button 384 that a user can press to reveal selectable
options for the display of more detailed information concerning the
currently displayed route 378. The display includes a summary tab
390 providing a summary of the route information, and a further
traffic tab 392 which the user may select to view detailed live
traffic information for the route.
[0128] Some embodiments will now be described by reference to FIGS.
6-12. FIGS. 10-12 illustrate embodiments in accordance with the
invention as claimed.
[0129] A first embodiment will be described by reference to FIGS. 6
and 7. This embodiment is concerned with a method by which a user
may select a path indicative of a route to be calculated. FIG. 6 is
a schematic representation of a display of a region of a map 400 in
which region the user desires to calculate a route in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention. The user will navigate to a
display of a map region of interest such as that shown in FIG. 6 by
a conventional operation. The display 400 includes a number virtual
buttons including an "Options" button 410, a "Find" button 412, a
"Panning" button 414 and a "Done" button 416. The find and panning
buttons may be used to help the user navigate to the relevant area
of the map for indicating a route. The map also includes a zoom
control bar 418.
[0130] In the illustrated example, the displayed area of the map
400 includes the user's home location which indicated by the home
icon 402. The user wishes to calculate a route between the home
location 402 and a work location 404 indicated by the star symbol
generally north east of the home location. In this example the
user's home location is in Utrecht and the user's work location is
in Amsterdam.
[0131] Rather than selecting the start point as being the home
address, and inputting a destination in the manner described above
in relation to FIGS. 5a-i via a series of menus, in this case the
user simply draws their finger in the direction of the arrow 406
over the displayed map in a gesture generally indicative of the
path of the route to be calculated. As the user performs this
gesture, the selected path is highlighted on the display to provide
the arrow 406 marked on the display 400. The processor determines
from the direction in which the user traced the path on the display
the desired direction of travel. In the embodiment illustrated this
is indicated with the arrowhead.
[0132] When the user has drawn the desired path on the display they
may press the "Done" button 416 so that the device proceeds to
carry out a route calculation based on the schematically indicated
path. The PND then determines the start point and destination for
the schematic route indicated by the user. In this case, the PND
recognises that the indicated start point is in the vicinity of the
user's home address, and therefore selects the start point as the
home address. The PND determines that the schematically indicated
destination is in the vicinity of the user's work address, and
therefore determines that the work address is the intended
destination.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 7, the device then proceeds to calculate a
route between the home and work addresses of the user, displaying
the route 408 on the map display 400 in the same manner as when a
route is selected using the conventional method described in FIGS.
5A-i. The PND retrieves digital map data for at least part of the
region of the map included in the schematically indicated path 406
and uses the digital map data to determine a route.
[0134] It will be appreciated that in this instance the user only
had to draw their finger over the display in order for the PND to
infer the desired route to be calculated and present a calculated
route, and did not have to go through a sequence of menu options to
select the start point, destination and route options using speech
or text based commands as illustrated by reference to the
conventional method of FIGS. 5a-i. The necessary information may be
inferred by the system from the path drawn by the user.
[0135] Alternatively, rather than waiting until the path has been
drawn on to the displayed map, the PND may be arranged to calculate
the route and/or search for a start point or destination
continuously while the user is selecting the path. TomTom's
"Instant Routing".TM. software enables routes to be instantaneously
calculated, and could be used to implement such an embodiment. This
would allow for visualizing route options and/or determining or
matching to locations while the user is still interacting with the
displayed map. The user may then be able to make "on the fly"
corrections to the route or path.
[0136] Regardless of when route calculation is performed, the PND
may determine the detailed route, including the start point and end
point from the schematic indication by the user in any one of a
number of manners. The PND may be arranged to compare the
schematically indicated start and destination points to stored
locations, such as stored favourites, recently visited locations,
home/work address, frequently visited locations, business
locations, address book entries, leisure locations etc. The user
may be able to set preferences as to how the PND will determine the
detailed route. For example they may set that the PND should search
first among favourites destinations when determining the detailed
destination from the schematic destination, or alternatively among
recently visited destinations. Another approach would be for the
PND to match the start point and destination to significant map
features e.g. towns, villages. This would avoid the need to take
into account stored location information, and could provide a
default in the event that no such stored information had been set,
or if the user had not set preferences as to which categories of
stored information should take precedence.
[0137] The PND may take into account the time of day or week when
performing the search, and may search among different categories
depending upon the time of day or week. The time may be the current
time, or a time specified by the user e.g. when they plan to travel
the route. For example, at a given time when the user is typically
at work, e.g. weekday mornings, the PND may first search among
stored work locations, while at weekends, the PND may search first
among leisure locations. A different start point may then be
determined for the same route depending upon the time of the day or
week. Such time preferences may be set by the user depending upon
their usual habits, working patterns etc. Other conditions which
may be taken into account when searching for locations may include
weather, or a user's previous actions, e.g. a derived user profile
which may be derived by the PND from e.g. historical visiting
profiles, or set by a user via their website etc.
[0138] In the event that the PND finds more than one possible
option for the start point or destination, or simply to confirm the
selection, the user may be presented with a menu of options from
which to select, with the most likely, or preferred type of start
point/destination e.g. a favourite at the top of the list. This may
proceed in a similar manner to suggesting destinations using
conventional systems, which may proposed recently visited
destinations or favourite destinations from which the user may make
a selection. Alternatively, to minimise the inputs required from
the user, the PND may simply present the user with a calculated
route based on its inferences in accordance with preset
preferences, or most likely destination/start point inferred from
the schematic indication.
[0139] The system may calculate the detailed route between the
start point and destination once established according to preset
preferences in the same manner as when the start point and
destination of a route are conventionally indicated in the manner
described with respect to FIGS. 5a-i. For example the PND may take
into account preset preferences such as the user's desire to
calculate the fastest route or a walking route. These may have been
preset or could be set in response to a further menu displayed by
the device prior to calculation of the route.
[0140] In exemplary embodiments the PND may additionally match the
schematically illustrated route between the start point and
destination, or parts thereof, to nearby significant map features
such as major roads, or to stored locations or sections of route,
such as a recently travelled sections of road, or a frequently
travelled section of road, and use such points or stretches of
route in the route calculation. In other words, rather than simply
inferring the start point, destination and direction of travel from
the schematically indicated path, and calculating a route in
accordance with conventional techniques, the PND may additionally
infer at least parts of the detailed route between the start point
and destination from the path drawn by the user. In this way, the
PND may calculate a detailed route likely to accord with the user's
intention, without the user needing to make further selections.
This may be carried out in a similar manner to the matching of
destination and start point locations. This may be carried out in a
similar manner to when a start point and/or destination are
determined as discussed above, and may involve taking into account
a time to determine how to search for routes, or via points.
[0141] It is envisaged that if the user wanted to cancel or restart
the route after starting to draw it on the display, they could do
so using a different type of gesture which would be recognised by
the PND. For example the device may be arranged to recognise a
further wiping gesture, or a discontinuity in the path as
indicative that the user wanted to start again.
[0142] Rather than just proposing a route as shown in FIG. 7, the
device may calculate a detailed itinerary from the schematically
indicated path, providing a route which goes via certain
intermediate destinations or via points in a given order. This may
involve matching the route to nearby map features or stored
locations/routes in a similar manner to that described above in
relation to the route calculation. The system may use route
planning settings, and/or user preferences to infer an itinerary.
The PND may infer intermediate destinations or via points from
preset user preferences. For example the user may predefine that
they wished to carry out a business trip, and the via point or
destinations may be selected from stored contacts or favourites
labelled as "Business Contacts" which are found to be near to the
determined route. Alternatively the user may define that the
itinerary is in relation to a "Leisure Trip", and the PND may
search among favourites or stored locations which are marked
"Leisure", or are point of interest (POI) locations. Point of
interest categories might include restaurants, playgrounds,
castles, etc. The time of day or week may be taken into account
when performing the search. Alternatively, e.g. if the user has not
set any preferences, the PND may take nearby significant map
features such as towns or villages closest to the indicated path as
via points or intermediate destinations in this itinerary.
[0143] It is envisaged that multiple users could simultaneously
interact with a displayed digital map in the manner described by
reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 to each draw a path on to the displayed
map indicative of a route to be calculated. The PND may then
simultaneously calculate and display the routes, enabling the users
to discuss route options as they might conventionally using a large
paper map.
[0144] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which a route has already
been calculated and displayed on the map for the user to review.
The route may have been calculated in the conventional manner, or
may have been calculated on the basis of a path schematically
indicated by the user using a method as described by reference to
FIGS. 6 and 7. In this instance the user wishes to modify the route
so that it does not go via a particular town.
[0145] The detailed route calculated 420 is highlighted on the map
as shown in FIG. 8. The display includes a number of virtual
buttons including one button 422 denoted "Options". The user may
enter the alternative route setting screen by selecting the
"Options" button 422 when the detailed route is displayed as shown
in FIG. 8. This may bring up certain options including calculating
an alternative route, which may then enable functionality to allow
the user to indicate the desired change. Alternatively the user may
be able to directly modify the indicated desired modification when
the detailed route is displayed as shown in FIG. 7 without needing
to go through any further menu system.
[0146] In order to inform the system that they wish to eliminate
part of the route, the user performs a wiping type motion on part
of the displayed detailed route 420. A wiped area 440 is displayed
on the detailed route 420 corresponding to the user's indication.
Once the user removes their finger from the screen, or in some
cases, after pressing the "done" button 442, the PND then
calculates an alternative route avoiding the indicated area. FIG. 9
illustrates the alternative route. This alternative route is marked
as the path 450 in FIG. 9 alongside the original unmodified route
420. The PDA may display information about the alternative route,
or a comparison of it to the original route in a similar manner to
when a user invokes alternative route calculating functionality
using conventional methods. For example, the system may provide
details regarding the length or travel time of the alternative
route in comparison to the original route, or the traffic levels on
the alternative route. Thus it will be seen that the user was able
to readily specify a change to the proposed route by directly
indicating an area to be avoided on the displayed map, rather than
going through menu options to specify the locations to be avoided
after selecting a calculate alternative route option in a
conventional manner. The system determines the digital map data
corresponding to the indicated region to enable the modified route
to be calculated. The apparatus may be arranged to infer a
particular location or route to be avoided from the selected region
indicated by a user in a similar manner to the embodiments of FIGS.
6 and 7 above, e.g. by searching for stored locations or
significant map features located in the selected region. The search
may take into account heuristic factors, e.g. a time of day in
order to infer a location or feature to be included or avoided.
[0147] The part of the route to be avoided could be a part of the
route the user wishes to avoid for any reason. The user may wish to
override a route suggested on the basis of preset preferences. If
the PND has displayed traffic information relating to the route, as
would be the case for the GO 950 LIVE device, the area may be an
area the user has decided to avoid as it is shown to have high
levels of traffic.
[0148] If the user instead wished to modify the originally
calculated route to go via a particular destination, the user could
swipe their finger over the desired area to be included in the
route in a similar manner to the way in which a part of the route
was deleted in FIG. 8. The system may then calculate an alternative
route in a similar manner. The system may determine that the
indicated region is to be included or excluded depending upon
whether it includes a part of the original route, or from the
gesture used by the user to indicate the region. Rather than
performing a wiping action, the user could instead draw an shape or
line to indicate a region to be avoided or included in a route.
[0149] The route may be modified as the user selects the region to
be included or excluded using an instantaneous route calculation
algorithm as discussed above. Likewise, it is envisaged that
multiple users may simultaneously select regions to be included or
excluded in routes to be calculated or by way of modification of
proposed routes, enabling the digital map to be used similarly to a
paper map, as a tool to discuss possible route options.
[0150] In the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the user is shown as
modifying an already calculated route. However, the same process
could be used when initially setting a route, with the user
indicating areas to be included or avoided in the route using
similar gestures. Such an embodiment could be used if the user only
wishes to exclude or include certain locations rather than
indicating the entirety of the route as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and
7. For example, the user may already have indicated a start point
and destination in a conventional manner, or by using gestures as
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The PND may then invite the user to
indicate areas to be included or avoided in the detailed route to
be calculated before proceeding with a route calculation according
to existing settings.
[0151] A similar approach may be used for the user to remove or
avoid particular point locations such as intermediate destinations,
way points or start or destination locations in a proposed route.
The user may then indicate a location to be included or excluded by
a manual gesture directly upon the displayed map. This may be
carried out on a magnified view of the map.
[0152] Another embodiment of the invention shown by reference to
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. In this embodiment, the PND is arranged to
allow a user to indicate a selected portion of a displayed map
using a touch based gesture. The map details are not shown in FIG.
10 for ease of illustration. FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment in
which the PND is arranged to receive a multi touch gesture based
indication on the display, and infer a selected region therefrom.
In the FIG. 10 embodiment the user touches a portion of the display
using two fingers to provide pinch points 502 in a multi-touch
gesture. As the user performs this gesture, the PDA determines a
boundary 503 having a circumference passing through the pinch
points. The boundary 503 encloses certain points denoted as dark
stars 504. The boundary 503 excludes a further point 506, denoted
by the light star lying outside the boundary 503. In this way, the
boundary 503 defines a search area 505 of included points. The PND
may thus determine which digital map data for the displayed
corresponds to the region enclosed by the boundary 503. The
boundary 503 and the area enclosed thereby defines a selected
region in respect of which operations may be carried out. The
boundary identifies a subset of the digital map data associated
with the map of interest to the user.
[0153] The multi touch gesture embodiment of FIG. 10 is only one
example of the way in which a user may indicate a selected region
of a displayed map. In FIG. 11 an alternative approach is used.
Here the user presses their finger against the display screen. This
causes a boundary 600 in the form of a circle to appear on the map
centered about the point of contact. As the user keep their finger
pressed on the display the circle increases in radius to the size
shown in FIG. 12. The growth of the radius may be in response to
the duration that the user keeps their finger pressed against the
display, or the amount of pressure applied. The circle grows until
such time as the user removes their finger from the display,
indicating that the desired selected region bounded by the boundary
600 has been set. The selected region is highlighted on the
display.
[0154] There are numerous other ways in which the user might define
such a boundary defining a selected region and hence a set of
included and excluded points in the displayed map. Rather than
using a multi touch gesture, the user could draw a shape covering
the desired selected region on the displayed map, or a line
indicative of the boundary of the desired selected region. Such a
line could be in the shape of a lasso. In other arrangements, the
PND may present the user with a manipulable boundary to enable them
to set the selected area. For example the user may be able to drag
or resize the boundary etc.
[0155] In embodiments in which the PND presents the user with a
boundary, the user may first specify that they wish to enter a
boundary setting mode using an initial input, and then may be
presented with the boundary e.g. to manipulate or whose size is to
be set in a second operation. The initial input may be used to set
the centre point of the boundary presented to the user.
[0156] The functionality of FIGS. 10-12 may be invoked at any point
where a selected region is to be set. The user may first need to
select or confirm that they wish to enter a selected region setting
mode.
[0157] The embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 12 may be of use where the
user wishes to specify a selected region of the map for any reason.
Once the selected region has been set the PND may carry out any of
a number of operations. The operations use digital map data
relating to the selected region. For example, in one arrangement,
the selected region of the map may be a region which the user
wishes to search for points of interest, or selected points of
interest categories. The PND may carry out a search of the area for
POIs in general, or specified categories thereof, and display the
results on the map. The PND may display only POIs belonging only to
certain recently used POI categories, or may employ heuristics to
determine which POI categories to display, for example, based on
time of day, destination chosen, whether the device is in a leisure
or business mode etc. Searches may be carried out in respect of any
of a range of items, including objects or persons. For example the
user may wish to search for speed cameras, river crossings, address
book entries etc, or for the presence of a contact in the
region.
[0158] Another application of the embodiments of FIGS. 10-12 is in
relation to setting an alert region. For example the selected area
may be an area in which the user wishes to receive warnings
regarding the presence of speed traps. The PND may provide such
alerts when the user enters or leaves the selected region, or
both.
[0159] The selected region may be a region which the user wishes to
monitor in respect of a change. The change may be a change in
relation to map features, e.g. speed cameras etc, or a given event,
for example the entry or exit of a contact into the area. The PND
may be arranged to provide an alert when the given change
occurs.
[0160] The FIG. 10-12 embodiment may be used in a wide variety of
applications where the user wishes to specify a selected region to
the PND. This may be as part of a process to set up the PND or
provide user preferences. For example, the user may specify the
extent of a selected region in relation to which the PND is to
carry out a function, such as providing warnings of speed traps,
information regarding fuel prices etc.
[0161] The embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 may involve determining and
using digital map data in the form of navigation data to perform an
operation in respect of the selected region. Navigation data is
digital map data which carries relevance for navigation in its
broadest sense. Navigation data may be data relating to the road
network. Navigation data may include data relating to the
attributes of locations and/or roads in the selected region. For
example this may include attributes of routes in the form of speed
limits, scenicity, average wind direction/speed, closed hours,
danger levels, level of windingness, surface quality, typical
traffic levels etc, although these are only a few of the many
possible types of attribute. The data may relate to attributes of
general interest, or of interest to certain categories of user e.g.
bikers. For example, bikers may be interested in how winding roads
are, or the level of lorry traffic, road surface quality etc. In
some cases, point or area based locations such as points of
interest, contacts, favourites, local search results etc, may be
considered to be navigation data. Such point or area based
locations, such as national parks etc may influence the navigation
data of routes passing through the area. For example, the presence
of such points or areas may influence scenic level of the route.
The apparatus may be arranged to perform operations of the type
described above using such determined navigation data. By way of
example, the apparatus may be arranged to perform a search for
given types of navigation data relating to the selected region,
e.g. a particular type of road attribute etc. The apparatus may be
arranged to display a particular type of navigation data e.g. road
attribute relating to roads in the selected region. Digital map
data in the form of navigation data may be stored by the navigation
apparatus e.g. in conjunction with other types of digital map data,
or may be obtained by the apparatus e.g. in real time, or inferred
from a person. For example the PND may be arranged to obtain
location data relating to a person's friends from a social
networking site.
[0162] In some further examples, the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 may
be used to set an area in respect of which certain navigation data,
such as attribute data is to be searched for and displayed.
Examples of such navigation data may include wind
strength/direction, scenic level etc. Such information may be taken
into account by a user to plan a route, and may influence whether
the user wishes to avoid or go via the area. For example a caravan
user may wish to avoid routes having high average wind speeds. A
biker may be interested in the level of windingness of roads, the
surface quality, typical levels of lorries etc.
[0163] Although the embodiments described in FIGS. 6 to 12 have
been described by reference to a system including a touch display,
in which the user directly indicates a region of the map by
touching a part of the display, it will be appreciated that a
pointer based system in which a user manipulates a cursor could
also be used, or any other suitable technique which enables the
user to indicate a selected region on the map display. Such
implementations might be appropriate in relation to a mapping
device provided by a computing resource rather than a PND, enabling
the user to interact with the digital map and cause operations to
occur in relation to the digital map data using a mouse, touch pad
or other such interface. It is envisaged that a key or rotary based
input could also be used in some situations.
[0164] The embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 12 is particularly applicable
to non-touch based systems. For example, the user could specify the
centre point of the boundary using a mouse click or operation of a
user input device such as a rotary dial or a button once a cursor
had been positioned in the appropriate part of the display. Rather
than providing a boundary which grows over time or in response to a
user action, the PND may present the user with a boundary
illustrated on the display which the user may manipulate using a
user input device such as a dial, mouse, touch pad etc. to indicate
the selected region.
[0165] While the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 9 have been described by
reference to the use of a single touch gesture, it is envisaged
that a multi-touch gesture could alternatively be used to provide a
selected region in the form of a path to be calculated. Regardless
or whether a touch based indication or other form of indication is
used, the path may be selected using one or more indications. For
example, rather than being formed by a single line drawn on to the
displayed map as shown, the path may be selected using multiple
indications which together provide the selected region or path,
such as two lines drawn perpendicular to one another etc.
[0166] In accordance with any of the embodiments of the invention,
and particularly that of FIGS. 10-12, the processor may be arranged
to infer a selected area from one or more indications provided by a
user. For example, the user may provide one or more indications of
an approximate area from which the processor may infer a precise
selected area. The user may generally indicate a region comprising
both land and sea, e.g. a cluster of islands. The processor may
then be arranged to infer a boundary of a precise selected region
including only the land parts of the area. This may be achieved
using a suitable underlying algorithm. In another arrangement, the
processor may infer from an indication within a given region the
entire region is to be selected. For example, an indication of a
region comprised in a state may allow the processor to infer that
the entire state is to be selected. The way in which the processor
infers the selected region from an indication may be set by, for
example, specifying a mode of operation of the device, or
performing another setting operation. Such settings may be
specified by a user, or preset. The processor may operate according
to a default setting depending upon the type of operation the user
is trying to perform e.g. map correction, search etc.
[0167] A further application of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to
12 would be in relation to map corrections. The PND may include an
option in the main menu of the type shown in FIG. 5a inviting the
user to submit a map correction. When the user selects this virtual
button they may select a region of the map to be displayed
including an area in which they wish to make a correction.
Conventionally a correction is specified using a menu-based system
to enable the user to identify the nature of the correction, and
the part of the map to which it is to be applied. However using the
techniques of the present invention, the user may instead indicate
the change to be made directly using a gesture on the display, or
otherwise pointing to a part of the display using a touch based
system or otherwise. For example the user may swipe over a one-way
road to change the direction of the road, or may carry out a wiping
gesture on a road that is blocked, draw in turn restrictions,
roundabouts etc. The PND may be arranged to infer from the nature
of the gesture the type of correction to be made.
[0168] Another application of the present invention, particularly
relevant to the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12, would enable a user to
specify an area to enable them to input digital map data. For
example the user may specify a selected region in respect of which
they wish to submit additional or modified navigation data. The
navigation data may attribute information for a given road or
location of the region. For example the user may wish to mark a
route as being susceptible to high wind speeds, dangerous, fun etc.
Such navigation data may then be useful to other users e.g. caravan
users in the case of wind speed, when setting routes.
[0169] The embodiments of the invention thus provide an improved
method whereby the user may interact with the underlying digital
data of a map display by selecting a region of the map using an
indication directly on the displayed map. This selection does not
merely result in the manipulation of the map, but enables the
system to determine digital map data corresponding to at least part
of the selected region of the displayed map and carry out a
navigation or mapping function using the data, or a function in
relation to the specified region. In this way, the number of inputs
required by the user to specify a desired operation may be
significantly reduced. In the context of a navigation system this
may reduce levels of driver distraction, but in the context of all
types of mapping or navigation system the user is provided with a
more intuitive interface and greater ease of use.
[0170] It will also be appreciated that whilst various aspects and
embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been
described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the
particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to
encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations
thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
[0171] For example, whilst embodiments described in the foregoing
detailed description refer to GPS, it should be noted that the
navigation device may utilise any kind of position sensing
technology as an alternative to (or indeed in addition to) GPS. For
example the navigation device may utilise using other global
navigation satellite systems such as the European Galileo system.
Equally, it is not limited to satellite based but could readily
function using ground based beacons or any other kind of system
that enables the device to determine its geographic location.
[0172] It will also be well understood by persons of ordinary skill
in the art that whilst the preferred embodiment implements certain
functionality by means of software, that functionality could
equally be implemented solely in hardware (for example by means of
one or more ASICs (application specific integrated circuit)) or
indeed by a mix of hardware and software. As such, the scope of the
present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only
to being implemented in software.
[0173] Lastly, it should also be noted that whilst the accompanying
claims set out particular combinations of features described
herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the
particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to
encompass any combination of features or embodiments herein
disclosed irrespective of whether or not that particular
combination has been specifically enumerated in the accompanying
claims at this time.
* * * * *
References