Detailed Route Intersection Guidance Patents (Class 701/437)
  • Patent number: 8234064
    Abstract: It is possible to display a lane guide map that takes into consideration connections between each of the lanes (m1 to m8) and reduction in the visibility of the lane guide map is prevented. The invention includes a current position detecting unit; a lane list setting processing means that produces a lane list (LsI 1) that takes into consideration connections between each of the lanes for lane groups (LkI 1 to LkI 3) in road links that are present in a lane list display section; a rendering range determination processing means that determines whether or not the number of lanes in the lane list (LsI 1) is larger than the number of lanes that has been set in a display unit (35); and a display range adjustment processing means that selects predetermined lanes in the lane list (LsI 1) and displays only the selected lanes. Lanes that have a low display necessity can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shino Oonishi, Takaaki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20120158292
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for road identification includes receiving a request at a vehicle computing system for a crossroad identification. The method also includes determining, via the vehicle computing system, a crossroad along a route-being-traveled corresponding to the request. The method further includes outputting, from the vehicle computing system to an output, the determined crossroad responsive to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20120158290
    Abstract: A navigation user interface displays a route to be navigated over a road view map. If a user selects a particular segment of the displayed route, text-based directions associated with the particular route segment are displayed, with a selectable area to return to the map view. Additionally, as the road view map is zoomed in, when the zoom level reaches a threshold zoom level, the navigation user interface automatically transitions to displaying a satellite view map overlaid with at least a portion of the route to be navigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Aarti Bharathan, Liang Chen, Jae Pum Park
  • Publication number: 20120150433
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to the use of electronic maps and providing information about intersecting streets. A given region of interest on a map may include any number of features. Features of interest, including road segments and intersections, can be filtered to remove non-street data. The results may be analyzed according to individual street segments. Each segment may be identified by a feature ID, and the relationship each segment has with a given intersection is analyzed. Thus, the direction of a segment into or out of an intersection is determined, along with the physical locations of the beginning and end of the segment. This information is used to provide robust map information that may be displayed to a user. Heuristics can be applied to the map information to provide coherent address or direction information to the user for a given point of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: Tudor Hulubei
  • Publication number: 20120136570
    Abstract: Provided are a device for automatically generating route restriction information of intersections between main roads and narrow streets, and a method therefor. With respect to a specific intersection which is an intersection between a main road and a narrow street, firstly, it is determined to prohibit a right turn and passing through the intersection. Under these conditions, when it is sufficiently confirmed, by using external information, that the right turn and passing through the intersection can be allowed at the specific intersection, the route restriction regarding the direction is released. Probe information and traffic restriction data are used for the external information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA MAPMASTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yumiko Yamashita, Takashi Yamada, Shintaro Ohsaki, Cheng Li
  • Patent number: 8190173
    Abstract: The system contains a central computer unit having a first database controlled by a first logic unit. At least one mobile computer unit is joined with the mobile equipment. Each of the mobile computer units has a second database controlled by a second logic unit. At least one wireless communication device enables communication between said first logic unit and said second logic unit, wherein said mobile computer unit is operable independent of the first logic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems Mining Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan P. Olson
  • Patent number: 8180567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation device (10). The navigation device (10) is arranged to display navigation directions (3, 4, 5) on a display (18). The navigation device (10) is further arranged to receive a feed from a camera (24). The navigation device (10) is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image fr>m the feed fr>m the camera (24) and the navigation directions (3, 4, 5) on the display (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Marc Mattu
  • Patent number: 8180568
    Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system includes the following steps: a) computing a route from a starting point to a destination, wherein the route consists of a sequence of road segments and junctions between the road segments that is selected from a database, in which a geographic area is described in the form of road segments and junctions, with a route computation method, b) computing at least one maneuvering instruction that contains instructions for the user in order to follow the route from the current position, and c) computing and displaying a schematic maneuvering image on a display device, wherein the schematic maneuvering image graphically illustrates the maneuvering instructions in schematic form, wherein adjacent junctions that do not lie along the route and/or adjacent road segments that do not lie along the route and do not converge with a junction along the route are also analyzed during the computation of the schematic maneuvering image, wherein at least part of the adjacent road segmen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Garmin Würzburg GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten W. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8170795
    Abstract: A vehicle navigation system helps guide a driver to a destination by enhancing visualization of upcoming intersections. The navigation system stores animation data that depicts the intersection as it will appear to the driver. The animation data may be a sequence of images (e.g., digital camera images) taken at intervals before and after the intersection. The navigation system may show the images in synchronism with the progress of the vehicle to provide an animated display of the intersection for the driver. The animated display aids the driver with following a recommended navigation route to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Brülle-Drews, Volker Grabs
  • Patent number: 8165804
    Abstract: A normal route guidance of a navigation apparatus based on guidance information retrieved from a hard disk drive is switched to a turn list display based on the guidance information from an external memory when a vehicle enters a high-altitude area. The navigation apparatus calculates a navigation route to a destination, and determines if the navigation route passes a high-altitude area. If the route passes the high-altitude area, the guidance information of a high-altitude area section of the navigation route is written in the eternal memory. Thus, while the vehicle is traveling, the navigation apparatus having the hard disk drive continues its navigation operation by displaying the turn list even when an operation of the hard disk drive is stopped due to a function restriction in the high-altitude area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takashima
  • Publication number: 20120089331
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a destination location from a communication are described. One embodiment of a method includes receiving electronic communications data from a mobile communications device, at a computing device. The electronic communications data is parsed to identify a partial address term of interest related to the destination location in the electronic communications data. A position of the destination location is determined from the partial address term of interest. Routing data of a vehicle from a current location of the vehicle to the destination location is determined and provided to a user of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Randell Schmidt, Jeffrey Edward Pierfelice
  • Publication number: 20120078511
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to enhance the direction navigation capabilities of GPS-enabled devices, through the use of light indicators is proposed. The light indicators are positioned on the top, bottom, and sides of the GPS screen. The light indicators blink at different rates relatively to a distance to a destination. The light indicators show various effects to indicate various instructions, such as to go forward direction, to go onto an overhead bridge, to enter into an underground tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicants: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASIA PTE., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seong Hong LIM
  • Patent number: 8131466
    Abstract: When a vehicle travels along a guidance path and approaches an intersection, a vehicle navigation system determines crossing points between a circle having its center set to the intersection and a predetermined radius, and an approach link and an exit link for the intersection. The system also sets a direction connecting the crossing point for the approach link and the intersection as an approach direction, and sets a direction connecting the intersection and the crossing point for the exit link as an exit direction. The system determines a traveling direction at the intersection based on an angular difference between the approach direction and the exit direction, and determines a display position of the intersection on a screen. Further, an enlarged intersection image is drawn such that the approach direction is aligned with a 12 o'clock direction on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsunori Iwatani
  • Patent number: 8131467
    Abstract: A route information display device calculates a branch point in routes to a plurality of inputted destinations, and uses the branch point to control information modes. A route information display device includes: a departure point input unit that detects a current location of the user; a multiple destination input unit that accepts input of a plurality of destinations; a route search unit that searches for respective routes from the current location to the plurality of destinations; a branch point calculation unit that calculates a branch point of the respective searched routes; and a route information display unit that displays information regarding routes to the branch point and information regarding routes beyond the branch point in different modes, wherein the route information display device supports easy comprehension of information by the user by calculating a branch point of a plurality of inputted destinations and providing information in consideration of the branch point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mototaka Yoshioka, Jun Ozawa