Abstract: A method of presenting guidance of gesture input on a touch pad having a touch screen and a touch sensor and coupled to an infotainment system including a first screen in a vehicle, includes predicting one or more gestures available under a current control context at the infotainment system, generating one or more graphics corresponding with the one or more gestures, detecting a gesture on the touch screen by the touch sensor and transmitting the detected gesture to the infotainment system and displaying the one or more graphics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.

Abstract: The display method and apparatus for a navigation system interchangeably displays a normal map image and a simplified map image in accordance with a user's preference and complexity of the map image. The method includes the steps of checking whether a simple map mode or a normal map mode is set for displaying a map image on a monitor screen of the navigation system, determining which map elements are selected to be displayed when the simple map mode is set, and displaying the map image with only the selected map elements when the simple map mode is set while displaying the map image with all the map elements when the normal map mode is set. The navigation system is designed to switch between the normal map mode and the simple map mode either manually or automatically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system displays local brand icons in such a way that a user not familiar with the local brand icons can tell the types of business that the brand icons represent through graphic representations on a screen of the navigation system. The method includes the step of creating an icon database regarding generic icons and brand icons where the icon database includes information for distinguishing a local brand icon from a national brand icon, displaying the icons over a map image on a screen of a navigation system, detecting whether there is any local brand icon displayed on the screen, and indicating a business category of a business entity using the local brand icon when the local brand icon is detected on the screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of valuing contrast of representation on background displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus, by counting a number of the presentations on the background of the screen, adjusting contrast of the representations against the background displayed on the screen in response to the number of the representation on the background, and displaying the representations on the screen based on the adjusted contrast of the representation. The contrast of the representations against the background is set lower than original contrast against the background when the number of the representations is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The contrast of the representations is set higher than current contrast when the number of the representations on the screen is less than a predetermined number.

Abstract: A sports information viewing method for a navigation system designed for receiving sports information and displaying the sport information in multiple windows on a display device, the method performs a step of forming a database of sports information including current sports information and past sports information in a memory, a step for setting a keyword and priority for retrieving the sports information, a step for retrieving the sports information according to the keyword and the priority, a step for sorting the sports information according to a predetermined order, and a step for displaying the retrieved sports information on the display device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a navigation system to search specified type of information along a calculated route to a destination by incorporating search criteria based on city or other regional zones. The method includes the steps of building one or more zones to be traversed in travelling on the calculated route to the destination based on map data, displaying a list of zones on the calculated route to prompt a user to select a zone, displaying a list of types of information to prompt the user to select a type of information to be searched, searching information along the calculated route within the selected zone within a predetermined search range of the calculated route, and displaying the information of the selected type within the selected zone resulted from the search.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system displays local brand icons in such a way that a user not familiar with the local brand icons can tell the types of business that the brand icons represent through graphic representations on a screen of the navigation system. The method includes the step of creating an icon database regarding generic icons and brand icons where the icon database includes information for distinguishing a local brand icon from a national brand icon, displaying the icons over a map image on a screen of a navigation system, detecting whether there is any local brand icon displayed on the screen, and indicating a business category of a business entity using the local brand icon when the local brand icon is detected on the screen.

Abstract: A sports information viewing method for a navigation system designed for receiving sports information and displaying the sport information in multiple windows on a display device, the method comprises a step of forming a database of sports information including, current sports information and past sports information in a memory, a step for setting a keyword and priority for retrieving the sports information, a step for retrieving the sports information according to the keyword and the priority, a step for sorting the sports information according to a predetermined order, and a step for displaying the retrieved sports information on the display device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of valuing contrast of representation on background displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus, by counting a number of the presentations on the background of the screen, adjusting contrast of the representations against the background displayed on the screen in response to the number of the representation on the background, and displaying the representations on the screen based on the adjusted contrast of the representation. The contrast of the representations against the background is set lower than original contrast against the background when the number of the representations is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The contrast of the representations is set higher than current contrast when the number of the representations on the screen is less than a predetermined number.

Abstract: The display method and apparatus for a navigation system interchangeably displays a normal map image and a simplified map image in accordance with a user's preference and complexity of the map image. The method includes the steps of checking whether a simple map mode or a normal map mode is set for displaying a map image on a monitor screen of the navigation system, determining which map elements are selected to be displayed when the simple map mode is set, and displaying the map image with only the selected map elements when the simple map mode is set while displaying the map image with all the map elements when the normal map mode is set. The navigation system is designed to switch between the normal map mode and the simple map mode either manually or automatically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a navigation system allows a user to define and edits a favorite spot and retrieves points of interest (POI) information or other information associated with the favorite spot. The method includes the steps of creating a favorite spot by selecting a location on a map image displayed on the navigation system and setting a size of the favorite spot, selecting one of the favorite spots created in the navigation system, and retrieving information associated with the selected favorite spot. The navigation is able to inform the user that the user has entered a favorite spot or has left a favorite spot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a navigation system to search specified type of information along a calculated route to a destination by incorporating search criteria based on city or other regional zones. The method includes the steps of building one or more zones to be traversed in travelling on the calculated route to the destination based on map data, displaying a list of zones on the calculated route to prompt a user to select a zone, displaying a list of types of information to prompt the user to select a type of information to be searched, searching information along the calculated route within the selected zone within a predetermined search range of the calculated route, and displaying the information of the selected type within the selected zone resulted from the search.

Abstract: A Point of Interest (POI) icon display method in a navigation system is described for displaying a POI icon at a POI point on a map. For every POI in a POI category, the location point and type of POI are stored. Each POI is identified on the displayed map by the same POI icon, and when a POI icon of a POI is selected, the type of POI is displayed. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of POI icons, recognize the type of POI, such as the type of food of a restaurant (classified by country, such as Japanese food, Chinese food, Italian food, and French food), and provide a guide route to a desired POI quickly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a navigation system allows a user to define and edits a favorite spot and retrieves points of interest (POI) information or other information associated with the favorite spot. The method is comprised of the steps of creating a favorite spot by selecting a location on a map image displayed on the navigation system and setting a size of the favorite spot, selecting one of the favorite spots created in the navigation system, and retrieving information associated with the selected favorite spot. The navigation is able to inform the user that the user has entered a favorite spot or has left a favorite spot.

Abstract: The destination specifying method comprises: (1) configuring a database by associating a telephone number with a name, address, and position of a facility, and when a plurality of facilities share one telephone number, configuring a database by associating the one telephone number with a plurality of the facility names, (2) displaying a telephone number list on a display screen, when a destination is set by a telephone number, and (3) when a specific telephone number is selected from the list, if the telephone number is associated with a plurality of facilities, displaying a facility name list of a plurality of the facilities, and when a facility is selected from the facility name list, displaying detailed information regarding the selected facility. A system for carrying out this method is also described.

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 POI (Point of Interest) through a set of POIs specially made by a user or by the system. The navigation system includes a “Favorite POI” menu created based on user's preference or frequency of use and/or “Last POI” created based on most recent use. The user can directly select a POI through the “Favorite POI” or “Last POI”. Since this process does not require a long list of category and sub-category or page scrolling, the user can easily and quickly select the destination.