Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for combining an in-vehicle navigation system with a sound system in a vehicle. The combination permits the navigation system to project audible maneuver instructions to a driver. While projecting the audible maneuver instruction to the driver the vehicle navigation system moves the location of the projection of the maneuver instruction from a first location to a second location. The first location does not coincide with the content of the maneuver instruction and the second location does coincide with the content of the maneuver instruction. Thus, a system is provided wherein the driver perceives the audible maneuver instruction as moving in a direction which coincides with the content of the instruction.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display displaying a map of roads from a road database. The navigation system utilizes a palette of colors to display the road and background on the display. The palette preferably includes a plurality of shades for each of a plurality of colors to be displayed including the background color and the road color. The roads on the display are preferably anti-aliased by indexing a different intensity of the shade of the object based upon the relative position of the pixel and an ideal object area.

Abstract: A navigation system is used to assist a user in proceeding from a current location to a desired destination. The navigation system includes an input device for selecting a desired destination from a database of roads. The input device can also be used to specify a vehicle type, such as a truck, car, or bus, for example. The navigation system also includes a processor for determining a route from a current vehicle position to the desired destination in the database, where the route includes a plurality of maneuvers. An output device indicates a maneuver instruction to a driver at an interval before an upcoming maneuver along the route. The interval is determined based upon vehicle type such that the maneuver instruction will be communicated to the driver sooner for a larger vehicle than for a smaller vehicle. This allows the driver to have an adequate amount of time to position the vehicle to perform the upcoming maneuver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle location display for a navigation system. The vehicle location display operates in either a graphical display mode or a textual display mode. In the graphical display mode the vehicle location display automatically scales the display to display the current location of the vehicle on the street currently being traveled, the previous cross street, the next cross street, and other vehicle information. When traveling on a freeway, the graphical display mode displays the current location of the vehicle on the freeway being traveled, the previous cross street and the next cross street. In the textual display mode the vehicle location display provides the current vehicle location by street or freeway name, city, county, state, latitude and longitude coordinates. In addition, the current compass heading, the previous cross street and the next cross street are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for a graphical user interface for a navigation system. The graphical user interface includes a display having several groups of symbols with each group arranged in a unique pre-determined direction relative to a start position. A user manipulatable directional input device permits a user to select any one of the groups with a single keystroke. Once a group has been selected, the directional input device permits a user to activate any one of the symbols within a group with a single keystroke. An activated symbol can be selected with one keystroke by the user. Selection of a symbol then re-activates the start position.