Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-06
2001-05-29
Nguyen, Tan (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S212000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240361
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus in which a map and a cursor are displayed on display means and the map displayed on the display means is scrolled.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7
illustrates the operation for setting the destination in a conventional navigation apparatus.
The mark of an operator's vehicle location and a map in the vicinity of the location where the operator's vehicle is positioned are displayed on a display unit (display) (S
31
). To indicate the destination on the display unit, a joystick is leaned in a direction in which the map is to be scrolled and the map on the display unit is scrolled (S
32
). During scrolling, when the destination is indicated on the display unit and it is shown at the cursor, the joystick is pressed (a destination-decision button is pressed) (S
33
) to set the destination and to indicate information related to the set destination on the display unit (S
34
). For example, information such as the address of the destination and a facility name at the destination is indicated.
If scrolling is not continued, the address and the facility name are indicated. When scrolling is continued (S
35
), the address and the facility name being indicated are deleted (S
36
), and scrolling is performed (S
32
). During scrolling, when a new destination is indicated on the display unit and it is shown at the cursor, the joystick is pressed (the destination-decision button is pressed) (S
33
) to set the destination again and to indicate information related to the set destination, such as the address of the set destination and a facility name at the destination, on the display unit (S
34
).
As described above, the map is scrolled and when the cursor on the display unit is positioned on the destination, the destination-decision button is pressed. The destination setting operation is completed and the address of the destination and a facility name at the destination are indicated. It can be confirmed that the set destination is the desired one.
In the above conventional apparatus, the address or the facility name cannot be indicated unless a destination setting operation is performed. To obtain information as to a new place other than the set destination, such as the address thereof and a facility name at the place, it is necessary to perform the same destination setting operation. In other words, the map is scrolled so that the new place is indicated at the cursor (S
35
, S
36
, S
32
), and when the new place is indicated at the cursor, the destination-decision button needs to be pressed (S
33
). A troublesome operation of pressing the destination-decision button is required to indicate the address of the destination and a facility name at the destination.
When a place other than the destination is displayed on the display unit, if the displayed place is strange to an operator, the operator cannot identify the place. In this case, the operator cannot know which place is being displayed unless the destination-decision button is pressed.
When the map displayed on the display unit is scrolled to show a place other than that in which the operator's vehicle is included, if the operator does not know the location of the map which is currently displayed, the operator cannot recognize the relationship between the location of the map being displayed and the operator's vehicle location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation apparatus which can indicate the address of or a facility name at the location displayed at the cursor when the map is scrolled, without performing a troublesome operation such as pressing a destination-decision button.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation apparatus which allows the operator to easily recognize the relationship between the location of the map currently being displayed and the operator's vehicle location when the map displayed on a display unit is scrolled to show a map other than that in which the operator's vehicle location is included.
One of the foregoing objects is achieved in one aspect of the present invention through the provision of a navigation apparatus including: display means for displaying a map and a cursor; scrolling means for scrolling the map displayed on the display means; and place name-display control means for displaying on the display means the place name corresponding to the position of the cursor on the map displayed on the display means, when scrolling is performed.
According to the present invention, when a map is scrolled, the address of and a facility name at the location corresponding to the cursor can be displayed without performing a troublesome operation, such as pressing a destination-decision button.
One of the foregoing objects is achieved in another aspect of the present invention through the provision of a navigation apparatus including: display means for displaying a map and a cursor; scrolling means for scrolling the map displayed on the display means; and direction-display control means for displaying on the display means the direction viewed from the operator's vehicle location or the specified location to the location corresponding to the cursor displayed on the display means.
According to the present invention, when the map displayed on the display unit is scrolled to show a map which does not include the operator's vehicle location, the operator can easily recognize the relationship between the currently displayed map and the operator's vehicle location.
One of the foregoing objects is achieved in still another aspects of the present invention through the provision of a navigation apparatus including: display means for displaying a map and a cursor; place-name-display control means for displaying on the display means the place name of the location on the map corresponding to the cursor displayed on the display means; and display-place-name changing means for changing the place name of the location on the map corresponding to the cursor according to the scale of the map displayed on the display means.
According to the present invention, the place name of the location on a map corresponding to the cursor can be appropriately displayed as a country name, a prefecture name, a city or town name, or a house number according to the scale of the map displayed on the display means.
One of the foregoing objects is achieved in yet another aspect of the present invention through the provision of a navigation apparatus including: display means for displaying a map and a cursor; scrolling means for scrolling the map displayed on the display means; a database in which a location on the map corresponds to its name; and display control means for displaying on the display means, when a specified time period elapses after the map displayed on the display means is scrolled and scrolling is stopped, the name of the location corresponding to the cursor on the map displayed on the display means.
According to the present invention, when a map is scrolled, a facility name at the location corresponding to the cursor can be displayed without performing a troublesome operation, such as pressing a destination-decision button.
One of the foregoing objects is achieved in a further aspect of the present invention through the provision of a navigation apparatus including: display means for displaying a map and a cursor; a database in which a location on the map corresponds to its river name, its sea name, its mountain name, or its lake name; and display control means for displaying on the display means the river name, the sea name, the mountain name, or the lake name of the location corresponding to the cursor on the map displayed on the display means.
According to the present invention, it is easier to identify a displayed location than when only an address is indicated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5272638 (1993-12-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5471392 (1995-11-01), Yamashita
patent: 5587911 (1996-12-01), A
Ise Masato
McGovern John P.
Alpine Electronics Inc.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Nguyen Tan
LandOfFree
Navigation apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Navigation apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Navigation apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436611