Method and device for representation of information for a navigational apparatus

The invention relates to a method and a device for presenting information to a navigation device.

Navigation devices, especially those for vehicles, are designed such that a map information is displayed or played, which is stored in a large capacity memory, for example a CD-ROM, the reproduction is performed on a screen. The map information may be given in the form of curves (direction or course), name, distance and directions of roads, squares along the streets, in the form of squares and names of intersections and of locations and names of buildings.

The purpose of such a navigation system is the driver on the screen indicate the location, on which there is the vehicle, the vehicle position is always displayed with the map image as a background. The display of the vehicle position with the map image in the background can be done in the following way: The vehicle position is fixed relative to the screen to a position (generally a central position) and the background image is moved when the vehicle (forward) moves. This method is again classified into two methods:<ol><li>a) The top of the screen is fixed, for example, oriented to the north. The background image is displaced parallel to the direction of the mark or of the vehicle symbol. Although the marker is fixed to a position on the screen, it changes its direction in accordance with the actual movement or travel direction of the vehicle and the background image shifts in an appropriate manner in accordance with the change of direction of the marking.</li><li>b) The tag does not change its direction in accordance with the change in direction of the vehicle. However, the wallpaper of the folder is moved in parallel and rotating in accordance with the actual movement of the vehicle.</li></ol>

According to a second basic method, a frame portion of the card is detected again, keeping the top of the card is firmly fixed to the north. The vehicle mark moves on the fixed image of the card until the vehicle reaches the edge portion of the map image. At this time, and then appear successively more, not shifting portions of the map. In another navigation system recommended by the system path is to enter the destination with respect to the map on the screen automatically selected to the destination and shown on the map.

The navigation system, which indicates a combination of both the route and the current vehicle position basically shows only the route along which the vehicle moves forward. At best, it includes corners, can at which turn the vehicle. Therefore, such a navigation system has the following disadvantages: In the display method, the length of the remaining route is shorter when the vehicle position along the route indicated moves. Furthermore, the bottom of the screen may possibly be achieved. At this time, the continuation of the route is not shown and the driver is not able to determine the current vehicle position. If the position of the mark / the symbol of the vehicle is located at the other method, in the middle of the screen, the length of the reproduced directions is approximately more than half of the total length of the screen. This is from the viewpoint of effective use of a narrow or small screen disadvantageous.

From the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE4118603C2"><text>DE 41 18 603 C2</text></patcit> is a navigation device for vehicles known with a display of predetermined size for displaying a map image with a device for setting the scale of the map image, with a device for determining the current vehicle position, reproduced in a first council the map image with such a scale and shifted so is that the current vehicle position is displayed in each case approximately in the middle of the display, while the route is displayed with substantially maximum length together with the map image in the second mode, wherein in the second mode before the display a map image is set on the display which allows a representation of a maximum portion of the travel path, after which pass through while maintaining the same scale of the displayed portion of the travel path, and that the next map image is displayed after driving through the displayed portion of the travel path, which has the same scale and again an indication of a maximum section the travel path ensured. From the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP0542331A"><text>EP 0542331</text></patcit> is a navigation device is known, comprising a memory for storing cartographic data, a position acquisition unit, a control unit, an input unit, an image memory and a display unit, wherein the control unit is set up, data a user along a predetermined route on the basis of contained by the position acquisition unit and to direct the cartographic data, wherein the control unit is also arranged to store for displaying a relevant map section via the display unit in the image memory repeated cartographic data, which have been selected depending on a determined by the position acquisition unit current position, wherein the control unit image processing means comprises to reproduce by means of the display unit, the predetermined route in a distinct manner in the note section, wherein the image processing means represent the reaching of said current position by the boat route segment in different ways, with only the local environment of the current vehicle position is reproduced, including local Straßenkreuzungssturkturen and Routenandeutungeszeichen in the map.

From the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE19516647"><text>DE 195 16 647</text></patcit> is a navigation device for motor vehicles with a store and a therefrom fed display a map section contained the current location known where in a small vehicle speed, the scale of the map detail increases automatically. Through the automatic selection of the magnification scale of the driver is relieved. Furthermore, it is ensured by the coupling with the vehicle speed, the driver actually contains the map section with the scale, he needs because of his driving behavior. At high speed, such as in highway driving, the map is represented with a small scale. It contains information on a relatively large area. Typically this is a scale of 1: 100 000. name. At low speeds, however, as those in urban traffic, the map scale is enlarged. As an example, a scale of 1: 10,000 apply. The adaptation of the scale can also be carried out in several stages. It can also, for example, an intermediate scale of 1: 50 000. be provided when the speed takes an average value. The allocation of the scale for each vehicle speed is sensibly made based on an average value of the vehicle speed. There is a period of 10 minutes is here, for example, set and put the speed averaging about this period. It is also proposed in the document, that the scale of change may also be dependent on the distance at which the vehicle is located in front of a destination. The destination in turn may for example be entered manually before driving, or might be already known even with a predetermined route. If the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of eg 1 km before reaching the goal, can be converted to the larger scale automatically. In order to locate the target is facilitated. A disadvantage of the known navigation apparatus, that the density of information required need not be automatically dependent on the vehicle speed so that the motor vehicle driver if appropriate, too much or too little information by the illustrated scale.

The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of creating a method and a device for presenting information to a navigation device, wherein the optimum representation of the information to the needs of the motor vehicle driver is adapted.

The solution to the technical problem is solved by the features of claims 1 and 2. The adaptive adjustment of the scale as a function of the distance between the current location and the nearest decision and / or landmark, the driver then a high information density contains always by choosing a small scale, if this really must orient. However, this may be the case even at high vehicle speeds, for example at the exit of a highway, so that according to the prior art, a very large scale would be indicated. In contrast, the driver an obtainable according DER invention when approaching the previously selected decision-making and / or landmarks always an enlarged scale, regardless of vehicle speed, so that the driver precisely when this has come to a decision, for example, because turn or other steering maneuver is necessary to get a maximum of information represented. After the driver has passed the decision point, increases again the scale, so that the driver regains an improved overall view. Next is the speed of adaptation, so for example, the clock frequency with a new representation is calculated, depending on the own vehicle speed. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

In a further preferred embodiment of the scale being chosen so that the current location and the closest decision point are possible full-frame shown on the display.

It is further provided that the driver select additional points of reference and / or can delete selected orientation points, allowing an individually adapted representation is possible. For example, the driver a routine part know very well, so that this large scale may representations may perceive as unnecessary and even disturbing. Conversely, there may be sections that keeps the driver for particularly confusing, so that this one would like to get shown more information.

In addition, the degree of adaptation for the convergence can be chosen differently, as the adaptation after passing a Entscheidunspunktes.

The invention will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment. The single FIGURE shows a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for displaying information for a navigation device.

The apparatus 1 comprises an input unit 2, a device 3 for position determination, an evaluation unit 4, an information memory 5, a controller 6 and a display 7th

The input unit 2, which is designed for example as alphanumeric keyboard is, its output connected to a data input of Auswerteeinhei. 4 Similarly, the device 3 for position determination is output side connected to a further input of the evaluation data. 4 About the input unit 2, a desired destination can be entered from the motor vehicle driver. The evaluation unit 4 then determines medium known algorithms an optimum route between the current location and the desired target point, to which reference is made to the traffic area data in the information storage 5, which are present for example in the form of a digital vector map. Optionally date traffic information to be considered when creating the route. After the route has been determined, it is displayed for the driver on the display. 7 In addition, 4 decision and landmarks are selected and highlighted in the route shown by the evaluation. Decision points are places where the driver has to actively take actions, such as turning off at crossings motorway exits and the like. Landmarks are places of high traffic density of information to which the driver actually does not need to be active, but could be tempted to faulty due to lack of overview. The driver can then confirm the route with the selected decision-making and landmarks shown on the display 7, or enter additional landmarks or delete selected points. If this input process is completed, there is in the evaluation unit 4, the entire route with a number of decision-making and landmarks. The evaluation unit 4 reads it, lying between the current location and the first decision or landmark traffic area data from the store 5, and sets them in a standard order, so that the current location and the closest decision or landmark as possible filling the picture on the display 7 being represented. Next Lying does not mean it necessarily the crow closest located point, but the temporally next to the passing point. It is also possible that the current location is always displayed in the center of the display. 7 Although this reduces the displayable information density, as about twice as large scale must be chosen, however, the central representation improve the visual perception of the driver. As the motor vehicle moves, the display on the display 7 is always right for a limited period. The clock rate at which the display must be updated on the display 7 is changed depending on the outer parameters of the vehicle speed. In addition, the clock speed of the traffic area density may be dependent. now approaching the motor vehicle to the orientation or decision point, so the information is presented in an increasingly smaller scale, so that the driver gets an optimal overview shortly before reaching the point. After passing the point, there are two alternative approaches. Either still the happening point is displayed for a short period, in which case the scale gradually increased, or it is immediately switched to the next orientation or decision point and was shown full-frame with the current location.