Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-07-03
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256029
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to navigation or route guidance systems and, more particularly, to a graphical user interface having improved access to multiple information screens for a route guidance system.
Navigation systems generally provide a recommended route from a starting point to a desired destination. Generally, the starting point and desired destination are selected from a large database of roads stored in a mass media storage, such as a CD ROM, which includes the roads in the area to be traveled by the user. The navigation system can be located in a personal computer or it can be installed in a vehicle. If the navigation system is installed in a vehicle, the starting point is typically the current position of the vehicle, which can be input to the navigation system by an associated position determining system that usually includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver.
The navigation system determines a route from the starting point to the destination utilizing an algorithm well known to those in the art and currently in use in many navigation systems. Usually there are many potential routes between the selected starting point and the desired destination. Typical navigation systems select a recommended route based upon certain “cost” values associated with each segment of road in the road database. These cost values include the length of the road segment and the estimated time of travel through the road segment. The navigation system selects the potential route with the lowest total cost to be the recommended route. Depending upon the predetermined algorithm of the navigation system, the navigation system will recommend the route with the shortest total length, the lowest total time, or some weighted average of length and time.
The recommended route is then displayed to the user as a map showing the starting point and desired destination and highlighting the recommended route. Preferably, if the navigation system is installed in a vehicle, the navigation system displays the current position of the vehicle and provides turn-by-turn instructions to the driver, guiding the driver to the selected destination.
Navigation systems typically include a graphical user interface that allows a user to input the desired destination. For example, the user must input a city name for the desired destination. Since a full keyboard is impractical in a vehicle, the typical graphical user interface includes a directional input device such as a four-way button. The user is presented with the letters of the alphabet arranged in a single large rectangular array. The typical system requires the user to scroll through the alphabet one letter at a time using the directional input device, selecting a desired letter when it becomes highlighted. These systems have the disadvantage of requiring a large number of key strokes to input a given letter and the city name. Such systems can also be very time consuming and frustrating for a user. Further, with the viewable area limited by the screen size, the displayed characters are commonly limited to only those that are essential.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a graphical user interface and a method that permits a user to rapidly select one character from a large array of characters using a simple input device. It is furthermore desirable to provide a graphical user interface that allows access to any number of characters without increasing the display size and with only a minimal number of keystrokes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, this invention provides a unique arrangement of characters in combination with a directional input device which allows a user to select one character from a large array of characters while allowing an unlimited number of symbols to be displayed.
The graphical user interface generally includes a display device and a directional input device that is manipulatable by a user. The display device displays a plurality of groups arranged adjacent a start position. Each group is located in a unique predetermined direction relative to the start position. Each group further includes a plurality of symbols that are arranged adjacent a central position in the group. The directional input device is connected to the display device and is capable of transmitting a selection signal and a plurality of output signals, each of which is associated with one of the unique predetermined directions. Each of the groups is activated in response to one of the output signals. In addition, each symbol within an activated group is also activated in response to one of the output signals. An activated symbol can be selected by the user in response to the selection signal.
If the symbol the user desires to input is not displayed, the user actuates a first group. A first symbol of the first group such as “More”, is thereby activated. If the first group does not contains the symbol desired by the user, the user sends a selection signal from the directional input device to the display device. The first symbol “More” is thereby selected.
The first group will now display a second plurality of symbols. The first symbol of the first group, continues to occupy the first position of the group. If the user still does not see the desired symbol the user continues to send a selection signal from the directional input device until the desired symbol is displayed. Preferably, a sequence of the plurality of symbols are shown at the first group, each transmission of the selection signal displaying the next plurality of symbols until the originally displayed first plurality of symbols are again displayed in the first group.
Once the desired symbol is displayed in the first group, the user selectively keys the directional arrows to move the directional input device and thereby sends a second directional signal to the display device. The symbol located in the direction associated with the second directional signal is then activated. If the user then sends a selection signal, the activated symbol is selected. Any number of symbols can thus be displayed in a limited viewable area of the first group while maintaining the selection methodology.
These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be described as follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5263174 (1993-11-01), Layman
patent: 5661476 (1997-08-01), Wang et al.
patent: 5689667 (1997-11-01), Kurtenbach
patent: 5706448 (1998-01-01), Blades
patent: 5805167 (1998-09-01), Van Cruyningen
patent: 5929857 (1999-07-01), Dinallo et al.
patent: 6037942 (2000-03-01), Millington
Bayerl Raymond J.
Carlson Gaskey & Olds P.C.
Luu Sy D.
Magellan DIS, Inc.
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