Abstract: An off-road trail recording method and apparatus for use with a navigation system for recording an off-road trail when a vehicle travels in an off-road area to safely return to the original road. The off-road trail recording is achieved without regard to on/off settings of the off-road trail recording function by the user. The navigation system automatically detects that the vehicle has left the road and starts recording the off-road trail in a background mode. When the user turns on the off-road trail recording function later, the navigation system prompts the user to decide whether the off-road trail recorded in the background should be recovered in a normal mode. The navigation system provides various means for recording the off-road trail with reduced resolution when the memory capacity is exhausted or insufficient.

Abstract: A navigation method and system for guiding a user to a destination while providing area-specific information useful for guiding and warning the user such as local traffic laws, driving conditions, traffic customs, weather conditions, etc. that is specifically tailored for each user. The area-specific information is customized for a user in order to give the area-specific information to the user that is most relevant to that particular user. The navigation system informs the user of the area-specific information that is different from that of the user's home area or the information specific to the calculated route to the destination or unique to the current location of the user. Further, the navigation system customizes the calculated route such that driving conditions and situations that are unfamiliar to the user will be minimized.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for specifying the destination easily and quickly. The navigation system is designed to enable a user to quickly select a street name and easily specify the address number of the destination through a map image of the selected street. The navigation system includes a menu for changing a keyboard screen or other input screen to a map screen showing the image of the selected street. A user can find a location of the destination on the image of the selected street. Various display methods are provided to promote quick and easy operations for finding the location on the selected street. When there are two or more streets having same street name with different street types or street prefixes, the navigation system displays selection means for a user to select one of the streets.

Abstract: A navigation method and system allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions while a vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding vehicles and obstacles as detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. The navigation method includes the steps of detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary, detecting other vehicles and obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor and measuring distances therefrom when the vehicle is in motion, evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions, and changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor of the navigation system where selection of the entries is limited by the degree of accessibility.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying a guidance map showing appropriate number of upcoming and subsequent turns on the route to the destination with an appropriate and enlarged display size. The guidance map includes a highlighted route indicating the directions of turns. The navigation system applies various test conditions to the geometry of the streets to determine the number of turns to be displayed. Then, the navigation system enlarges the guidance map so that the map covers the area that can show the adjusted number of turns and the streets at the maximum size.

Abstract: An arrival detection method for automatically detecting arrival of a current destination based on various conditions and proceeding to route guidance for the next destination when two or more destinations are specified. The method includes the steps of guiding a vehicle of the user to a current destination through a route guidance operation of the navigation system, detecting whether a current vehicle position is within a predetermined distance from the current destination, applying a primary condition when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance, applying a secondary condition when the primary condition is met, and determining arrival at the current destination when the secondary condition is met and proceeding to a route guidance operation for the next destination.

Abstract: A navigation method and system for guiding a user to a destination while providing area-specific information useful for guiding and warning the user such as local traffic laws, driving conditions, traffic customs, weather conditions, etc. that is specifically tailored for each user. The area-specific information is customized for a user in order to give the area-specific information to the user that is most relevant to that particular user. The navigation system informs the user of the area-specific information that is different from that of the user's home area or the information specific to the calculated route to the destination or unique to the current location of the user. Further, the navigation system customizes the calculated route such that driving conditions and situations that are unfamiliar to the user will be minimized.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying information necessary for guiding a driver of a vehicle. The navigation system is designed to enable a user (such as driver or passenger) quickly find and select the destination in a new area based on the names or places used in his/her home area. The navigation system includes a search method for searching a point of interest based on a list of preferred names specially created or based on a list of registered points used in his/her home area.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying a guidance map showing appropriate number of upcoming and subsequent turns on the route to the destination with an appropriate and enlarged display size. The guidance map includes a highlighted route indicating the directions of turns. The navigation system applies various test conditions to the geometry of the streets to determine the number of turns to be displayed. Then, the navigation system enlarges the guidance map so that the map covers the area having the height and the width that are sufficiently large relative to the adjusted number of turns and the streets fit within the mapped area.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying information for guiding a driver of a vehicle. The navigation system designed to achieve an easy and efficient operation by a user for displaying information or changing displayed images with use of a substantially simplified set of control keys. In he navigation system, an enter (selection) key functions not only to set and select a menu but also to switch between a p screen and a map zoom screen. Cursor (scroll) keys function not only to scroll a map image in the map screen but also to adjust a zoom scale of the map image in the ma zoom screen.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus displays a map on a display screen by using detailed map information. The apparatus displays map information at a plurality of scale, or zoom, levels. The apparatus selectively displays or does not display any given road based on both display scale and the importance, or priority, of the road. The apparatus displays names of municipalities, counties, states, and the like, depending on display scale. The apparatus displays adjacent municipalities, counties, states, and the like in different colors, depending on display scale. The apparatus displays municipalities using generic icons, icons of varying sizes, and icons of varying shapes, depending on municipality size, regional geography, and display scale. The apparatus may display point-of-interest icons in rural areas, depending on regional geography and display scale, and may shift their display locations to accommodate displaying more important information.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying information for guiding a driver of a vehicle. The navigation system is designed to achieve an easy and efficient operation by a driver for displaying information or changing displayed images with use of a substantially simplified set of control keys. In the navigation system, an enter (selection) key functions not only to set and select a menu but also to switch between a map screen and a map zoom screen. Cursor (scroll) keys function not only to scroll a map image in the map screen but also to adjust a zoom scale of the map image in the map zoom screen.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying information necessary for guiding a driver of a vehicle. The navigation system is designed to enable a user (such as driver or passenger) quickly find and select the destination in an new area based on the names or places used in his/her home area. The navigation system includes a search method for searching a point of interest based on a list of preferred names specially created or based on a list of registered points used in his/her home area.

Abstract: In an apparatus, menu items are displayed on a screen, and when a predetermined menu item is selected, a function corresponding to the selected menu item is executed. The menu item displaying method comprises the steps of determining whether a function corresponding to a menu item displayed on the screen can be executed, and when it is determined that the function cannot be executed, disabling the menu item corresponding to the function from being selected and displaying a reason why the menu item cannot be selected.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system for displaying information necessary for guiding a driver of a vehicle. The navigation system is designed to promote safe driving by producing different display forms and contents depending on whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary. When the vehicle is stationary, the navigation system can perform all of the functions. However, when the vehicle is in motion, the navigation system provides simplified and limited functions to ease the operations. The number of key strokes required for operating the navigation system is reduced when the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus for displaying POI (Point of Interest) icons at places on a map where points of interest are located, a map image depicting section (1) generates a map image using a single unit of map information and writes the generated map image into a video RAM, (2) then generates POI icon images and overlays the generated POI icon images on the map image for each map segment in a preset order when a total number of POI icons included in the segment is smaller than a preset number, such segments being obtained by dividing the unit of map information into n segments (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2), or generates POI icon images and overlays the generated POI icon images on the map image for the segment in order of icon type having a larger number of POI icons when the total number of POI icons included in the segment is larger than the preset number.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus for displaying POI (Point of Interest) icons at places on a map where points of interest are located, a map image depicting section (1) generates a map image using a single unit of map information and writes the generated map image into a video RAM, (2) then generates POI icon images and overlays the generated POI icon images on the map image for each map segment in a preset order when a total number of POI icons included in the segment is smaller than a preset number, such segments being obtained by dividing the unit of map information into n segments (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2), or generates POI icon images and overlays the generated POI icon images on the map image for the segment in order of icon type having a larger number of POI icons when the total number of POI icons included in the segment is larger than the preset number.

Abstract: The navigation system initializes a route guide by a map guide mode or a route guide by an arrow guide mode, and appropriately switches the guide mode to execute route guidance for a vehicle, wherein, when a predetermined condition occurs while guiding the vehicle by a guide mode different from an initialized guide mode, the system automatically switches the guide mode into the initialized guide mode.

Abstract: A travel state monitoring unit monitors whether the vehicle position deviates from a road so as to be in the off-road travel state, on the basis of the map information and the vehicle position. When the vehicle position is in the off-road state, a travel trail generating unit generates off-road travel trail data and stores the data in an off-road travel trail storage unit. A display control unit displays, by the user's instruction, the off-road travel trail superimposed with the map, using the off-road travel trail data. The route search unit searches a route to an off-road point and displays the route.