Navigation system

NAVIGATION SYSTEM

0002The present invention relates to a navigation system, such as a map.

0003The problems of navigation, particularly in built up areas, are well known. People have difficulties reading maps, correlating the representations on maps with the actual scenery around them and so on. Moreover, the level of detail in a map is normally much less than that required to reach one's intended destination. In particular, a user needs to understand either his/her immediate surroundings or locality or to be able to extrapolate from a map. This causes navigation difficulties for many people.

0004The present invention seeks to provide an improved navigation system.

0005According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation system including a user device comprising a display, user input means for inputting data representative of a location co-ordinate and display generating means operable to generate on the display a three dimensional view of the environment indicated by inputted data.

0006Advantageously, the display generating means is operable to generate on the display a map or plan in addition to the three dimensional view. The map or plan may be displayed at the same time as the three dimensional view or separately therefrom. In the latter case, the system preferably provides the option, via a user input, of being able to toggle between the two views.

0007In the case of a plan, this may be a street plan or a floor layout of a building such as a museum or house.

0008The display generating means is preferably also able to display data relating to addresses or other locations of interest of desired destination and/or landmarks. Landmarks may include buildings, retail establishments and the like.

0009The three dimensional view is preferably in the form of a photograph or photograph-like image. However, the system could in addition or in the alternative provide three dimensional line drawings (perspective views) depending upon memory and display capacities.

0010The system preferably also provides an orientation device, such as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) user unit, and means to indicate on the display position and/or direction of travel. Such indication can be by display of an appropriate three dimensional view and/or by an indication on a generated map, such as by an arrow.

0011The system is preferably designed to provide written and/or oral directions.

0012The navigation system is preferably also provided with a remote base unit at which map and/or view data is stored for transfer to the user device. In this manner, the user device need not have a large memory for storing a large number of views and maps. The base unit can transfer the appropriate views and maps in accordance with the user's needs and requests.

0013In the preferred embodiment, communication between the user device and the base unit is via a standard communications system such as a cellular telephone system, radio signal, satellite communication and the like. Advantageously, the system is incorporated into a portable telephone or in a navigation system in a vehicle. It is also envisaged that the user device could be a personal computer and that the communication system could be via the Internet. The computer could be portable but not necessarily so.

0014By this system, the user can obtain a view of his/her intended location and route. In the preferred embodiment, this is correlated with a map to show where the user is in relation to other landmarks and the user's desired destination or path. There is no need to be able to read maps accurately. Moreover, it is possible with the three dimensional views, particularly when in the form of photographs, to give far more visual cues than is possible with a map, thus facilitating orientation. The system could be thought of as providing a virtual view which can be correlated to the physical surroundings. In the preferred embodiment, the user is provided with the ability to travel 'virtually' to a location by navigating through a series of digital photographs taken at street-level from the first-person perspective. The information presented in this way directly represents the 'user experience' and, unlike reading a street-map, requires no further translation.

0015An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

0016Figures la and lb show an embodiment of double display with direction of travel indication and with view changes in the direction of travel;

0017Figures 2a and 2b show an embodiment of double display with direction of travel indication and with view changes in a direction of travel opposite to that o Figures la and lb:

0018Figures 3a and 3b show an embodiment of displays with, direction of travel indication and landmarks; and

0019Figures 4a and 4b show an embodiment of displays with landmarks and written directions.

0020The following description focuses on the display features of the invention. The apparatus for implementing the system can be readily derived by the skilled reader. Indeed, it is possible to implement the system with simple modification of existing equipment, both at the user end and at the base system.

0021In the preferred embodiment, the presentation format on a user display shows a digital photograph alongside the corresponding street-map of the same location with an arrow representing the direction the 'viewer' is facing. By clicking on direction arrows or by other analogous input, the user can navigate the region, being then presented with the corresponding next photograph and street-map information. For example, when viewing a photograph showing a road that continues ahead of the viewer, clicking the 'South' direction button would emulate turning around 180° to show the view in the opposite direction. Similarly, clicking the 'North' direction button would simulate walking down the road and present a new digital photograph showing a view taken further along the road.

0022From any given photograph, directions can be obtained to reach this destination from various starting points. The directions are preferably presented in a step-through set of text instructions, each one accompanied by a corresponding photograph relating to the surroundings of the given instruction.

0023This system can be implemented on hand-held devices such as a Palm <img file="WO02063243A1_D0001.tif" /> as well as WAP portable telephones. The presentation format on a telephone is likely to differ slightly from that which can be presented on a personal computer (or Web Browser) but the principle of Virtual walking' by navigating digital photographs is substantially the same. Of course, with a telephone, there are at present limitations as to display size and quality and transmission rates.

0024Example 1 ('Virtual Walking')

0025The screenshot of Figures la and lb show the view from a specific point along London Wall in the City of London. The photo is accompanied by an A-Z format street map graphic showing the same location, together with a pointer showing the direction the user is facing. The arrows around the photograph represent possible directions in which the user can 'walk'.

0026By. activating the top direction arrow (that is, straight ahead) the view changes to the screenshot of Figure lb, which shows a photograph from further along the road, together with the corresponding street-map graphic.

0027Example 2 ('Virtual Walking')

0028In the example of Figures 2a and 2b, which represent the same starting point, the lower direction arrow is activated (representing a 180° turn-around by the user) to reveal the screenshot of Figure 2a, which shows the view in the opposite direction.

0029Example 3 ('Displaying Landmarks') Below the photograph are provided a plurality of icons which name landmarks that are visible in the region depicted by the photograph (in this example the landmarks are shops). By positioning a mouse pointer provided on the display over the name, the exact location on the photograph is highlighted with a yellow spot (in Figure 3 a screenshot the mouse has been placed over the 'Clarks' button). Clicking the name button will display a page of information about that particular landmark, as shown in the screenshot of Figure 3b.

0030Example 4 ('Directions')

0031Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, from either the 'landmark information' view or the 'street walking' view it is possible to request directions to reach this location from predetermined starting points (in the example shown the starting points are the nearest Underground or metro station, or one of three mainline stations: in this example, Liverpool St, Fenchurch St, and Cannon St).

0032The directions are displayed in a step-by-step sequence, with each instruction being accompanied by a photograph of the view at that particular location, as shown in the screenshot of Figure 4b.

0033It will be apparent that an implemented system could provide one or more of the above facilities, it being preferred that all these facilities are provided. As mentioned above, the various screenshots can be shown together, as depicted in each Figure, or separately with a toggle function if there are display limitations.

0034In the preferred embodiment, the displays as shown in Figures 1 to 4 are provided on a user device such as a computer, palm size computer or telephone.

0035In its simplest form, the user device provides for user entry of position and orientation and manual user adjustment of position during travel. However, in the preferred embodiment, the user device includes a GPS positioning unit which can provide automatic location, orientation and movement such that the map and views are automatically updated. The data is preferably held by and transmitted from a base unit. In practice, the base unit will provide a database of maps and digital photographs and means to transmit the data to the user device upon receipt of appropriate requests from the user device. The specific design and components required for the base unit will be readily apparent to the skilled person.

0036The principal features of the preferred embodiment of base unit are outlined below.

0037The web pages that facilitate the 'virtual walking' experience, as well as those giving directions and landmark information, are constructed 'on-the-fly' by programming code (for example .asp) reading a database. This is opposed to creating code manually for each individual page.

0038The database of the preferred embodiment includes three linked tables or databases:

0039Table 1 relates to the directions. Each record contains:

0040A unique identifier The photograph graphic name The text direction instruction

0041Table 2 relates to the 'virtual walking' display. Each record contains: The photograph graphic name (which is also a unique identifier)

0042One field for each direction (Ahead, Reverse, North, North East etc.) 15 fields for each starting location for directions - each field is a pointer to a Table 1 record, when output in the sequence keyed in the Table 2 record they will consist of the appropriate step-by-step directions The corresponding street-map graphic name

004320 groups of three fields relating to the landmark information:

0044One field containing the corresponding record identifier from Table 3 One field containing X co-ordinate data to plot the spot on the photograph to highlight the landmark

0045One field containing Y co-ordinate data to plot the spot on the photograph to highlight the landmark

0046Table 3 relates to the 'landmark' data

0047Each record contains:

0048A unique identifier

0049The landmark name (e.g. 'Clarks shoe Shop') The corresponding record identifier from Table 2

0050Final direction instruction

0051Five fields of text description

0052A type descriptor for the landmark (e.g. 'Shoes')

0053Contact email address Contact telephone number

0054Contact fax number

0055Postal address

0056Landmark graphic name (that is, name of view of Landmark)

0057Landmark button graphic name Website address

0058The virtual street- walking pages are constructed from data held in Table 2 and Table 3. If a direction field (for example North, South East, West) is blank, no arrow is displayed for . that direction, if it contains data, the arrow is displayed and the data contains the corresponding record identifier from Table 2 that is used to build the link for that direction.

0059The landmark icons are constructed in a similar fashion: Table 3 is scanned for records containing a pointer to the 'current' record in Table 2. Any records found to contain the pointer are used to construct the landmark link, display the appropriate button graphic, and embed the spot as a hidden layer at the correct co-ordinates on the photograph area of the page. The landmark page is constructed entirely from data held in Table 3. Direction information can be requested from this display and is accessed from the corresponding record in Table 2 via the pointer held in the table 3 record.

0060The directions page is constructed from a Table 2 record, which contains pointers to the records held in Table 1 in the same sequence in which they are to be output to screen. The final direction is read from Table 3 using the current record in Table 2 and is inserted as the last instruction.

0061As indicated above, the system could also be used to assist navigation in other areas, such as within a building, for example a museum or house. The user could be presented with a room or floor plan and then with three-dimensional views for navigation purposes. This could also be provided for viewing purposes, for example to determine whether the view or display in a particular room or in a particular part of a room is of interest.

0062The Tables referred to above, which in practice are likely to be databases, can either be stored in the user carried device or could be located in a remote base station which communicates with the user portable device. Similarly, the system could be implemented solely on a static computer, preferably providing downloaded or printed results.