Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-01
2003-04-22
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 3663)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S200000, C701S211000, C455S414200, C455S418000, C455S456500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553309
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system for carrying out a navigation operation by using map data, and more particularly relates to a navigation system which the user can operate in accordance with a menu display having various functions of the navigation.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a navigation system, which performs a navigation for a car by using map data. In such a navigation system, there are prepared a plenty of functions in relation to the navigation. Thus, a menu screen is displayed so that the user can easily select one of the functions. This kind of menu screen has a hierarchy data structure, which includes an initial main menu screen for displaying main functions, and a sub menu screen for displaying additional functions of the main functions. The user operates the navigation system to select the function desired to be executed while watching this kind of menu screen, so that a comfortable navigation can be executed.
In the above described navigation system, the data structure of the menu screen is set in advance in accordance with the usage frequencies etc., of the respective functions. For example, a function expected to be frequently used is displayed as one of the selectable items on the main menu, so that the user can select it.
However, the usage manner of each function on the navigation cannot be uniquely determined, but is variable depending upon the actual usage condition of the navigation, the taste of the user or the like. Thus, the given menu screen, which is set in advance, may not be convenient for the user or may not be in line with the usage manner of the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is proposed in view of the above mentioned problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system, which can update a menu screen for the navigation and can perform a navigation while displaying a menu screen suitable for a usage manner or condition of a user.
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a first navigation system provided with: a present position detecting device for detecting a present position; a navigation device for performing a navigation in correspondence with the detected present position on the basis of map data; and a menu controlling device for controlling a menu display of the navigation by using menu information capable of being updated.
According to the first navigation system of the present invention, a menu using the menu information is displayed at the time of the navigation operation of the navigation system. When the user wants to update the menu information, the user can customize the menu information by using the menu information which is constructed by himself or herself fro example. Therefore, it is possible to perform the menu display suitable for the user's usage condition or manner of the navigation, and it is possible to realize the navigation superior in the operability.
In one aspect of the first navigation system of the present invention, the menu controlling device controls the menu display of the navigation by using another menu information set and fixed in advance, in addition to the menu information capable of being updated.
According to this aspect, at the time of the navigation operation, the menu display using the fixed menu information in addition to the menu information capable of being updated is performed. Thus, since the default menu information can be used, it is possible to display a simple menu display, which does not require any troublesome task for customizing, if it is not necessary to customize the menu display of the navigation.
In this aspect, the navigation system may be further provided with a menu selection device adapted to select one of the menu information, which is set and fixed in advance, and the menu information capable of being updated, as the menu information to be used for the menu display.
By constructing in this manner, it is possible to selectively perform the menu display of either the menu information capable of being updated or the fixed menu information, by virtue of the menu selection device, at the time of the navigation operation. Thus, the user can utilize the default menu information and the customized menu information by flexibly switching those to each other, so that the operability and convenience of the navigation can be even more improved.
Further in this case, the menu selection device may be adapted to select one of a plurality of menu information each capable of being updated, as the menu information to be used for the menu display.
By constructing in this manner, since there are prepared a plurality of menu information capable of being updated in the menu display, it is possible to selectively menu-display one of them by virtue of the menu selection device. Thus, the user can use the menu information optimum for the usage condition of the navigation, so that the operability and convenience of the navigation can be even more improved.
In another aspect of the first navigation system of the present invention, the navigation system is further provided with a reading device, to which an external record medium recorded with the menu information capable of being updated is set, for reading the menu information from the external record medium.
According to this aspect, at the time of navigation operation, the menu information recorded in the external record medium is read out, and the menu display is performed on the basis of the read out menu information. Thus, it is possible to expand the usage possibility of the menu information e.g., using the menu information constructed by the user's personal computer.
In another aspect of the first navigation system of the present invention, the navigation system is further provided with a wireless communication device for receiving the menu information capable of being updated from an external portion.
According to this aspect, at the time of the navigation operation, the menu information is received from the external portion by the wireless communication device such as a portable telephone, and the menu display is performed on the basis of the received menu information. Thus, the navigation system is quite suitable for the usage in a movable body, and it is possible to expand the usage possibility of the menu information.
In this aspect, the menu information capable of being updated may be reserved on an internet, and the wireless communication device receives the menu information capable of being updated by connecting to the internet.
By constructing in this manner, at the time of the navigation operation, the internet connection is achieved by the wireless communication device, and the menu information capable of being updated is downloaded to thereby perform the menu display on the basis of the downloaded menu information. Thus, by preparing a plurality of menu information in advance on the internet, the user can easily obtain the various menu information.
In another aspect of the first navigation system of the present invention, the navigation system is further provided with an operation device adapted to issue an operation command of the navigation in accordance with the menu display.
According to this aspect, when the menu for the navigation is displayed, by issuing the operation command by the operation device, it is possible to perform the function corresponding to the menu display. Thus, it is possible for the user to confirm the desirable function of the navigation on the menu display, and speedily perform it.
In this aspect, the navigation system may be further provided with an operation history memory for storing an operation history of the operation device, and the menu controlling device may control the menu display on the basis of the operation history.
By constructing in this manner, at the time of the navigation operation, the operation history of the operation command issued by the operation device is reserved, and then the menu display is controlled
Kaneko Michihiro
Nagaki Koichi
Ohmori Atsuo
Uchida Toshiharu
Yamauchi Keiichi
Black Thomas G.
Donnelly Arthur D.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Pioneer Corporation
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