Abstract: When a rotary intersection is of large scale, “rotary intersection guidance based on exit number” is provided. That is, it is informed from what number exit road of the multiple exit roads of a rotary intersection, relative to an entrance road, the driver should get off. For example, the guidance of “Get off from the second exit road ahead” is provided. In contrast, when a rotary intersection is of small scale and the rotary intersection is in simple shape, “rotary intersection guidance based on direction guidance” is provided. That is, the direction of an exit road about which guidance is to be provided, relative to an entrance road, is informed. For example, the guidance of “Turn to the right” is provided.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus displays an expressway guide diagram indicating the names of plural exits at which a travelling vehicle can exit an expressway and the distance and estimated arrival time to each of the exits. The expressway guide diagram includes a map display for indicating a display of a surrounding-area map of an exit. When the map display is operated, the display scale of the surrounding-area map is determined so as to contain a predetermined number of representative facilities, and the surrounding-area map is displayed on a display device according to the display scale. Therefore, with respect to each exit at which the vehicle can get off the expressway, a map based on the proper display scale corresponding to the positional relationship between each exit and facilities can be displayed.

Abstract: When a rotary intersection is of large scale, “rotary intersection guidance based on exit number” is provided. That is, it is informed from what number exit road of the multiple exit roads of a rotary intersection, relative to an entrance road, the driver should get off. For example, the guidance of “Get off from the second exit road ahead” is provided. In contrast, when a rotary intersection is of small scale and the rotary intersection is in simple shape, “rotary intersection guidance based on direction guidance” is provided. That is, the direction of an exit road about which guidance is to be provided, relative to an entrance road, is informed. For example, the guidance of “Turn to the right” is provided.

Abstract: When a control circuit extracts data of an entity corresponding to a phone number, the control circuit retrieves phone numbers that accord, with respect to lower seven digits of a phone number, with the inputted phone number from among phone numbers included in retrieval data. After the entity having the phone number corresponding to the inputted phone number is extracted, a map including the entity extracted is displayed based on the position information of the entity extracted. Accordingly, even when the area code of the phone number is changed, the map including the corresponding entity can be displayed.

Abstract: When a control circuit extracts data of an entity corresponding to a phone number, the control circuit retrieves phone numbers that accord, with respect to lower seven digits of a phone number, with the inputted phone number from among phone numbers included in retrieval data. After the entity having the phone number corresponding to the inputted phone number is extracted, a map including the entity extracted is displayed based on the position information of the entity extracted. Accordingly, even when the area code of the phone number is changed, the map including the corresponding entity can be displayed.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus displays an expressway guide diagram indicating the names of plural exits at which a travelling vehicle can exit an expressway and the distance and estimated arrival time to each of the exits. The expressway guide diagram includes a map display for indicating a display of a surrounding-area map of an exit. When the map display is operated, the display scale of the surrounding-area map is determined so as to contain a predetermined number of representative facilities, and the surrounding-area map is displayed on a display device according to the display scale. Therefore, with respect to each exit at which the vehicle can get off the expressway, a map based on the proper display scale corresponding to the positional relationship between each exit and facilities can be displayed.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system stores road data and a plurality of schematic diagrams of junctions. Each schematic diagram represents a common pattern of a road forking to a loop road at a junction and includes a representation of the loop road and the forking pattern at the junction. When a motor vehicle approaches a junction, the system automatically determines by using road data whether a guide route forks to a loop road at the junction, and displays an appropriate schematic diagram selected from the stored schematic diagrams. The displayed diagram enables the driver to know the forking direction of the guide route at the next junction and whether the guide route forks to a loop road at the junction.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system stores road data and a plurality of schematic diagrams of junctions. Each schematic diagram represents a common pattern of a road forking to a loop road at a junction and includes a representation of the loop road and the forking pattern at the junction. When a motor vehicle approaches a junction, the system automatically determines by using road data whether a guide route forks to a loop road at the junction, and displays an appropriate schematic diagram selected from the stored schematic diagrams. The displayed diagram enables the driver to know the forking direction of the guide route at the next junction and whether the guide route forks to a loop road at the junction.

Abstract: A route setting device, which can provide a route setting device which realize a suitable route setting for each vehicle by using vehicle side data in order to comply with a situation where travel of the vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on the vehicle side data. An ECU sets a destination route by considering the number of passengers as vehicle side data. When the number is only one, that is only driver, the ECU sets the destination route without including carpool lane. On the contrary, when the number is two or more than two, the ECU calculates the destination including the carpool lane. Since many carpool lanes have some advantages compared to the normal roads such that the carpool lane is closer to an exit or the travel distance itself is shorter. Therefore, it can be expected that destination route is set more adequately by including the carpool lane.

Abstract: A map displaying apparatus comprises a displaying device for displaying a map, a map storing device for storing data of multiple maps showing predetermined areas with different scales, a facility storing device for storing data of facilities located in respective positions on the maps, a facility category selecting device for selecting a category of facility to be displayed on the displaying device, and a display controlling device for displaying one of the maps having different scales on the displaying device and for displaying facilities selected in their respective positions on the displayed map. The map displaying apparatus also includes a map scale controlling device for changing the scale of the map displayed on the displaying device so that the number of facilities displayed on the map is kept below a predetermined upper limit.

Abstract: An intersection determination process determines the state of intersection of adjacent segments in a display such as one for a vehicle navigation system, and if it is determined that there is an is an intersection between the segments, an orientation-intersection point transformation value table is referred to for computation of the intersection transformation value. This table shows the relationship of the combination of the orientations of the previous segment and the present segment with an intersection point transformation value. This intersection point transformation value is added to the coordinates of the end point of the previous segment to obtain the intersection. The intersection point derived in this way is generated as data for traffic display.