Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2001-11-06
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S208000, C340S990000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314370
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to navigation systems, and more particularly to a portable navigation system capable of displaying map information stored in a unique format, and capable of storing and displaying relatively unchanging information, such as information relating to facilities in the vicinity of the location of the navigation system or in the vicinity of any location selected relative to the stored map information, as well as relatively transitory, current information, such as current and/or predicted weather conditions at such location, and capable of displaying such information in conjunction with, and at least in part simultaneously with, a relevant portion of the stored map information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Navigation systems that can generate and display geographic map images are now available. Typically a navigation system that displays map images includes a computer or processor that has stored within its associated memory system, such as in secondary storage, data corresponding to the map images, or data from which the map images may be derived. The map image data, if stored as bit maps, may be retrieved and essentially directly displayed. The map image data may also be stored in another form, such as vector graphic data, from which the computer or processor may generate a map image.
One increasingly popular use of such navigation systems is for installation in mobile vehicles such as automobiles. Such navigation systems are then provided with a position sensing device, so that the appropriate map image can be selected based on the position of the automobile, so that the position of the automobile may be displayed on the map.
One drawback of common navigation systems is the poor quality of the map images they display. In systems that generate map images from data such as vector graphics data, the detail of the map image is generally sparse. Only objects that are specifically recorded in the data are displayed. While highly detailed vector graphics images are achievable, substantial processing power is required to generate detailed images with the necessary speed, particularly for real-time display of position-dependent map images, requiring expensive and/or specialized processors and/or taking processor time away from other functions that the navigation system might otherwise perform. On the other hand, systems that store detailed map images as bit maps do not store the images in a uniform format. Without a uniform format, the bit mapped images have varying size and distortion factors, making it difficult to accurately determine and display a given location on the map image. The varying size also leaves gaps on the screen as one image is replaced by another. Bit-mapped images also tend not to scale well, providing poor image quality at extremes of viewing scale.
Another drawback of common navigation systems is lack of portability. Navigation systems generally are installed in vehicles such as automobiles. The system cannot be easily removed and placed in another vehicle or carried to another location, and generally does not provide a self-contained power supply for stand-alone operation.
Another problem faced by navigation systems is that of providing a desired level of detailed information in straightforward, easily comprehensible format. Overly crowded graphics images that include too much information can be confusing to the user of the navigation system.
Another problem faced by navigation systems is the task of updating information, particularly relatively variable information, and providing such information to the user in a useful format.
Another problem faced by navigation systems is that of providing a convenient and useful method of moving around the map independently of tracking the position of the navigation system. A simple method of moving to desired portions of a map is needed.
Another problem faced by navigation systems is cost. A navigation system with good performance at reasonable cost is desirable.
A problem faced generally by navigation systems used in aeronautics is that while such information as flight paths, approach vectors, beacon locations and the like may easily be represented in vector graphics, the vector graphics engines used for such displays cannot easily represent the high level of detail and wealth of information provided by an aeronautical chart.
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a navigation system displaying improved aeronautical and other map images stored in a unique format, and providing useful information, including both information with relatively stable and relatively variable content, to the user in a straightforward, easily comprehensible format, with easy methods of moving around within the map images, all at reasonable cost such that both a portable navigation system and a vehicle-installed navigation system becomes practical. These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A navigation system includes a processor and bit-mapped earth surface map image data in a first data storage device accessed by the processor, the processor displaying an image essentially filling a display area of a display screen and centered on any latitude and longitude supplied to the processor, the image having no discontinuities. The processor may receive latitude and longitude inputs from a user via a user input device, or from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver incorporated in the navigation system. The displayed map image may thus be centered at a desired longitude and latitude or at the longitude and latitude of the navigation system itself.
The system may also employ three-dimensional map image data generated from aerial or satellite-based terrain mapping. The three-dimensional map image data may be displayed from a desired perspective, such as from the perspective of the real-time location of the navigation system itself, to provide a seamless three-dimensional moving map. The processor may receive altitude inputs from the user or from an altimeter, a GPS receiver, or the like to display the three-dimensional map from the desired perspective.
The system may include a second data storage device for storing data from and providing data to the processor. Route information such as flight plan data may then be stored in the second data storage device.
Information relating to the type of map system displayed and the scale at which it is displayed, to the currently displayed longitude and latitude, and other very significant information is always displayed with the displayed map image. Other information such as information relating to facilities such as airports GPS receiver status, navigation information from the GPS receiver, and flight plan information may be selectably displayed at a peripheral portion of the display area.
Overlays may be selectably displayed over the bit-mapped map image display, such as overlays of information or charts with corresponding features appropriately aligned. Chart overlays may include approach overlays and instrument flight rules route charts. Weather information, or other information of a constantly changing nature, may also be displayed in the form of overlays, such as by overlaying, over the map image, weather charts or weather-related satellite or radar images.
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Ames Maps, LLC
Chin Gary
Klarquist & Sparkman, LLP
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