1
`
`VWGoA - Ex. 1010
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Petitioner
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13,2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG. 2
`
`11
`
`12
`
`CD‘R°M
`
`on ROM
`-
`CONTROLLER
`
`SCEDNTQTEL
`R
`INTERFACE
`
`17
`
`16
`
`REMOTE
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`18
`
`19
`
`W
`
`20
`
`26
`
`1
`
`22
`
`DISPLAY
`CONTROLLER
`
`VIDEO RAM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MENU/DETAILED
`INFORMATION
`GENERATOR
`
`CURSOR IMAGE
`GENERATOR
`
`
`
`VEHICLE POSI-
`TION MARK
`GENERATOR
`
`28
`
`27
`
`DISPLAY
`DEVICE
`
`13
`
`POSITION
`MEASUREMENT
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`MAP
`INFORMATION
`MEMORY
`
`YELLOW PAGE
`DATA STORAGE
`MEMORY
`
`3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`I=|(3. 3
`
`ROAD TYPE
`
`; ROAD NAME
`
`THE NUMBER OF NODES
`CONSTITUTING ROAD
`T'3.TIEA°DE
`=
`250022
`E
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STREET NAME
`
`THE NUMBER OF NODES
`CONSTITUTING STREET
`
`FIRST NODE WIDTH
`
`SECOND NODE WIDTH
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
`
`RLDT
`
`
`
`ROAD 1
`
`ROAD 2
`
`
`
`"U I\)
`
`
`
`STREET A
`
`
`STREET B
`
`
`
`Pn
`
`
`
`CRDT
`
`NODE NUMBER
`
`
`“DDT
`
`
`
`1
`
`
`
`2
`
`SET OF NODE NUMBERS
`OF OTHER END NODES
`OF LINK CONSTITUTING
`SECOND INTERSECTION
`
`Q1
`
`Q2
`
`
`
`
` SET OF NODE NUMBERS
`
`
`OF OTHER END NODES
`OF LINK CONSTITUTING
`
`FIRST INTERSECTION
`
`
`
`INTERSECTION
`IDENTIFICATION POINTER
`FLAG
`
`COORDINATE
`
`LONGlTUDE-
`LATITUDE
`
`LONGlTUDE-
`LATITUDE
`
`1
`
` SET OF NODE NUMBERS
`
`OF OTHER END NODES
`Qi
`OF LINK CONSTITUTING
`
`ITH INTERSECTION
`
`
`4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`F=(XT2, YT2)
`
`PRIMITIVE TYPE
`(LINE)
`COLOR
`
`LINE TYPE
`
`STRING
`]LONGITUDEI
`
`LATITUDE
`COORDINATE
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`F=(XT2,YT2)
`
`POLYGON
`
`G1
`
`G2
`
`G3
`G4
`
`
`
`PRIMITIVE TYPE
`(POLYGON)
`
`COLOR
`LINE TYPE
`
`PRESENCEI
`ABSENCE OF
`PAINTED OVER
`
`STRING
`
`
`
`
`ATTRIBUTE
`DATA
`
`LONGITUDEI
`LATITUDE
`COORDINATE
`
`
`
`5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`
`
`JR HIGASHI NIHON
`AKIHABARA BUILDING
`
`HI
`
`
`
`
`
`
`fl.'I.'IlZ'
`
`<
`
`KOWA
`
`B<unLom\G:’
`
`DAIICHI BEKKN
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`BA
`
`BUILDING USER
`
`BUILDING THE NUMBER
`POSITION NAME
`OF FLOORS
`
`
`
`BUILDING NAME
`
`FIRST USER NAME
`
`SECOND USER NAME
`
`
`
` nTHUSERNAME
`
`USER DETAILED
`DATABASE
`
`USER NAME
`
`TEL Nu
`
`ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FLOOR No.
`
`
`BDB1
`BDB2
`BDB3
`
`7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`DECISION KEY AFTER
`DETAILED MAP IS
`SCROLLED
`
`101
`
`FIG. 7
`
`102
`
`
`G
`
`INFORMATION
`
`..
`
`MN
`
`SELECT ' INFORMATION”
`
`103
`
`
`
`
`
`
`" 1‘ 1 i‘ ’‘ SERVICE INFORMATION
`SALES PROMOTION
`""""" DEPARTMENT
`PAGER SALES
`KIXXX .
`M NT
`6TEMAcm TATEMON0
`KINROSHA FUKUSHI SHISETU
`KYOUKAI
`
`[OBJECT LIST + TOWN MAP]
`
`
`
`@ °GRADUALLY INCLINE RIGHT-SCREEN MAP
`‘RAISE BUILDING AFTER INCLINING OPERATION OF MAP
`
`104
`MOVE TO ANOTHER
`
`
`OBJECT [N
`
`
`'""‘géIL>EASRTII,ARE(r)II1"°TI°N
`'
`'\_~\\ OBJECT LIST
`EPARTMENT
`.‘
`“(mu PAGER
`ALE
`>-
`Q
`
`KINROSHA FUKUSHI SHISETU
`"
`
`KVOUKAI
`
`
`
`X*XX* SERVICE INFORMATION
`
`OBJECT SELECTION
`FROM OBJECT LIST
`
`ALES
`PAGER
`OTEMACHI meuono
`KINROSHA FUKUSHI SHISETU
`Q xvouxu
`
`
`
`
`D”:
`
`|_sT
`
`GO
`TARGET
`PLACE BACK
`
`xxxxx
`SERVICE INFORMATION
`
`
`
`1-1, NISHI-GOTANDA
`SHINAGAWA, TOKYO
`
`[DETAILED INFORMATION DISPLAY+
`3-DIMENSIONAL MAP]
`
`SET TO TARGET PLACE->
`START RouTE SEARCH
`
`107
`
`8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG. 8
`
`9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG. 9A
`
`FIG. 9B
`
`BL
`
`FL
`
`BL
`
`FL
`
`BL
`
`FIG. 90
`
`W3
`
`FL
`
`H3
`
`FIG. 9D
`
`BL
`
`6?
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG. 10
`
`
` —_
`
`11
`SEARC
`
`u
`
`201
`
`MN U CSR
`
`T 202
`E>
`
`-
`
`-
`
`[SEARCH RESULT TOWN MAP DISPLAY]
`
`DIF
`:
`
`SELECT '|NFORMAT|ON'
`on TIME OUT
`
`
`
`
`SET TO TARGET PLACE
`
`START ROUTE SEARCH
`
`I
`
`204
`
`
`
`| SET MENU BY DEC
`|NFOR- GO ‘
`MATION BACK ~
`SERVICE INFORMATION >
`-
`I
`III.-.AEIIII=°IsIes Q Q
`'
`‘Q ;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[DETAILED INFORMATION DISPLAY
`+ TOWN MAP]
`
`DIF
`
`@ -GRADUALLY INCLINE RIGHT-SCREEN MAP
`
`‘RAISE BUILDING AFTER INCLINING OPERATION OF MAP
`
`DISPLAY INFORMATION
`lNFOR- GO
`MATION BACK
`
`SERVICE INFORMATION
`
`1-1, NISHI-GOTANDA
`SHINAGAWA, TOKYO
`
`START ROUTE SEARCH
`
`SET TO TARGET PLACE
`
`I
`
`[DETAILED INFORMATION DISPLAY
`+ 3-DIMENSIONAL MAP]
`
`11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG. 11A
`
`FIG. 11B
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`Z9
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 13 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG. 13
`
`PM"
`
`.5
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 13, 2001
`
`Sheet 14 of 14
`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`FIG.
`
`14A
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TARGET PLACE
`
`PASSING POINT
`
`SPOT
`REGISTRATION
`
`INFORMATION
`
`KENSETU GOTANDA \
`BUILDING
`
` —l
`
`
` fi
`SPOT CAN BE SET IN MAP
`V[fill
`(‘?\\§\ \ \
`NISHI-GOTANDA .g\\
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEARCH WITHIN
`A RADIUS OF 1km
`
`
`
`
`
`TOKYU IKEGAMI \
`QLINE GOTANDA
`\
`
`917/’
`xxx \
`/ \\\ \
`
`
`'/ /L
`\\\\
`
`
`NISHI-GOTANDA
`1-CHOME
`
`WIN GOTANDA
`BUILDING
`
`
`CSR
`
`FIG. 14B
`PRIOR ART
`
`FIG. 14C
`PRIOR ART
`
`V‘?
`
`\
`
`X><><><><
`
`
`\‘ DISPLAY IRMATION
`INSTITUTION-OMPANY NAME LT
`
`.
`ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT,
`FINANCE SECTION
`SERVICE INFORMATION
`SERVICE DEPARTMENT
`DOMESTIC SERVICE SECTION
`"""""
`DESIGN LABORATORY DESIGN
`xxxxx
`xxxxx TKY BFIANA I-I RPRATIN
`
`“xxx SALES PROMOTION DEPARTMENT
`ME TI
`NTRL
`-
`,,/
`
`\
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'3?" DISPLAIFRMATION
`E3
`INFOR- GO
`TARGET PASSING SPOT
`~ MATION BACK PLACE
`POINT
`REGISTRATION
`-
`\\\\\\\i.
`
`
`NAME ><><><><X
`SERVICE INFORMATION
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`ADDRESS
`1-1 NISHI-GOTANDA
`SHINAGAWA, TOKYO
`
`
`
`
`
`I‘
`wm GOTANDA
`BUILDING
`
`NISHI-GOTANDA
`1-CHOME
`)_
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`
`V
`
`
`
`29
`
`
`IIECIUI
`
`
`
`15
`
`

`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`1
`LOCATION FLOOR NUMBER DISPLAY
`DEVICE IN NAVIGATION APPARATUS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a location floor number
`display method in a navigation apparatus and, more
`particularly,
`to a location floor number display method
`which visually displays the floor number of a floor, in a
`building, on which a target institution is located and displays
`detailed information of the target institution.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`A navigation apparatus which provides travel guidance
`for a vehicle to enable a driver to easily reach a target
`location detects the position of the vehicle, reads map data
`of the area surrounding the vehicle position from a
`CD-ROM, draws a map image on a display screen, and
`draws a vehicle position mark at a predetermined position on
`the map image in overlapping fashion. In accordance with a
`change in present position by movement of the vehicle, the
`vehicle position mark on the screen is moved, or the vehicle
`position mark is fixed at a predetermined position such as the
`center of the screen and the map is scrolled, so that the map
`information of the area surrounding the vehicle position can
`be always understood at a glance.
`The navigation apparatus has a route guiding function
`which searches a guide route from a starting location to a
`target
`location, displays the guide route on a map, and
`performs intersection guidance (display of an enlarged view
`of an intersection and a display of the direction to proceed).
`A recent navigation apparatus is designed such that vari-
`ous pinpoint searching operations can be performed by using
`Yellow Page data or detailed town map information. The
`detailed town map information is detailed map information
`including the positions and the planar shapes of buildings,
`roads, and the like such that, with respect to a town, the
`shapes of buildings, the widths of roads, the positions of
`signals, the directions of one-way roads, blind alleys, and the
`like can be realistically depicted.
`Regarding Yellow Page data, it is known to provide (1) a
`telephone number database in which a telephone number is
`input to search for the institution (various types of stores,
`sales oflices, banks, or the like) of the telephone number and
`to display the map surrounding the institution; (2) an insti-
`tution database which includes the names, jobs, positions
`(longitude/latitude), and the like of institutions (stores, sales
`oflices, banks, and the like) in units of institutions; (3) a
`building database; and the like. The building database
`includes detailed information (names, telephone numbers,
`addresses) of longitude/latitude positions, names, building
`users (companies, oflices, and the like) in units of buildings.
`Regarding pinpoint searching, for example, Yellow Page
`telephone number searching, pinpoint surrounding informa-
`tion searching, Japanese syllabary searching, and the like are
`used.
`
`The Yellow Page telephone number searching is a method
`of inputting the telephone number of a target institution to
`search for the map surrounding the institution and to display
`the map. A user operates the menu of a remote controller to
`request telephone number searching. When the user inputs a
`telephone number of a desired institution (e.g., a department
`store), a navigation control device calculates the department
`store name corresponding to the input telephone number
`with reference to a telephone-number-classified database,
`calculates position data of the department store with refer-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`ence to the institution database, and reads the map surround-
`ing the department store on the basis of the position data to
`display the map on the display screen.
`The pinpoint surrounding information searching is a
`method of searching for a target institution such as a drug
`store or a coffee shop within a radius of 1 km of a vehicle
`position or an arbitrary position from a 52-genre job clas-
`sification to display the map surrounding the target institu-
`tion. When a user operates the menu of a remote controller
`to request a map displayed by the surrounding information
`searching,
`the navigation control device displays a job-
`classified list. When the user selects a predetermined job
`name (e.g., department store), the navigation control device
`searches department stores within a radius of 1 km of the
`vehicle position with reference to the institution database to
`display a department store name list. When the user selects
`a desired department store name,
`the navigation control
`device displays the position of the department store selected
`with reference to the institution database on the map.
`The Japanese syllabary searching is a method of searching
`the map surrounding an institution by inputting the institu-
`tion name with Japanese syllables to display the map. When
`a user operates the menu of a remote controller to request
`map searching by inputting Japanese syllables, and the name
`of a desired institution (e.g., department store) is input with
`Japanese syllables, the navigation control device searches
`only a part of the name by partial coincidence searching to
`calculate the department store name with reference to the
`institution database. The navigation control device calcu-
`lates the position data of the indicated department store with
`reference to the institution database, and reads the map
`surrounding the department store on the basis of the position
`data to display the map on the display screen.
`On the basis of the detailed town map information, a
`detailed town map is displayed as shown in FIG. 14A, a
`target building is indicated by a cursor CSR, and“informa-
`tion” is selected from a setup menu. In this case, user names
`(company names or tenant names) of the building are listed
`in the order of Japanese syllabary as shown in FIG. 14B with
`reference to the building database, and a predetermined user
`is selected from the list. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14C,
`the name, address, telephone number of the user (company/
`tenant) are displayed (detailed information display). Accord-
`ing to this detailed information display function, a location
`can be easily checked even if the target institution is in a
`building. Even in a complicated street lined with buildings,
`the user does not lose his/her way. More specifically, the
`building of the target institution can be recognized by the
`detailed information display function. For this reason, when
`the building is input as a target location, a guide route to the
`building is searched and displayed, and the user can reach
`the target location even in a complicated street lined with
`buildings without losing his/her way.
`As described above, according to the conventional
`detailed information display function, a route to a building
`in which a target institution is located can be searched in
`order to be displayed. However, the floor number of a floor
`in the building on which the target institution is located
`cannot be known.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore, it is a first object of the present invention to
`display the floor number of a floor, in a building, on which
`a target institution is located to reliably guide a user to the
`target institution.
`It is a second object of the present invention to display a
`building three-dimensionally so that the floor number of a
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`
`US 6,201,544 B1
`
`3
`floor, in a building, on which a target institution is located is
`visually and simply displayed.
`It is a third object of the present invention to display an
`actual building three-dimensionally, even if the number of
`floors in the building is large, Without projecting out of the
`display screen; and to three-dimensionally display a
`building, even if the number of floors in the building is
`small, with a proper height.
`It is a fourth object of the present invention to display the
`number of floors in the basement of a building in which a
`target institution is located to make it possible to easily
`recognize a location position.
`According to the present invention, the first and second
`objects can be achieved by a location floor number display
`method of a navigation apparatus comprising the steps of:
`(1) storing detailed map information including planar shapes
`of buildings and roads and storing building information
`including the number of floors of each building, user name
`(s) for a building, and the floor number of a floor on which
`a user is located; (2) displaying a detailed map on a display
`screen by using detailed map information;
`(3) when a
`building on the detailed map is indicated, calculating a user
`name list of the building from the building information to
`display the user name list on a part of the display screen, and
`displaying the detailed map on the other part of the screen
`such that the detailed map is inclined by an imaging process
`(e. g., birds-eye process), and three-dimensionally displaying
`the indicated building with a height corresponding to the
`number of floors; (4) when a user is specified from the user
`list, calculating the floor number of the floor on which the
`user is located from the building information; and (5)
`displaying the floor number in the three-dimensionally dis-
`played building such that the floor number can be identified,
`or displaying the floor number by characters.
`According to the present invention, the first and second
`objects can also be achieved by a location floor number
`display method of a navigation apparatus comprising the
`steps of:
`(1) storing detailed map information including
`planar shapes of buildings and roads and storing building
`information including the number of floors of each building,
`user name(s) for a building, and the location floor number of
`a user; (2) displaying a detailed map including a building in
`which a target institution is located by pinpoint searching on
`a display screen by using the detailed map information; (3)
`thereafter, displaying user information of a building user
`serving as the target institution on a part of the display screen
`and displaying the detailed map on the other part of the
`screen such that the detailed map is inclined by an imaging
`process (e.g., birds-eye process), and three-dimensionally
`displaying the building with a height corresponding to the
`number of floors; (4) calculating the floor number of the
`floor on which the user is located from the building infor-
`mation; and (5) displaying the floor number in the three-
`dimensionally displayed building such that the floor number
`can be identified, or displaying the floor number by char-
`acters.
`
`According to the present invention, the third object is
`achieved by a location floor number display method of a
`navigation apparatus comprising the steps of increasing
`compressibility as the number of floors of the building
`increases, and three-dimensionally displaying the building
`with a height obtained by multiplying the compressibility by
`the number of floors of the building.
`According to the present invention, the fourth object is
`achieved by a location floor number display method of a
`navigation apparatus comprising the step of, when a user is
`
`4
`located in a basement, displaying a location floor number in
`the basement by characters.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional building display of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a navigation apparatus
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the arrangement of road data in a map
`database.
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates detailed map graphic data.
`FIG. 5 depicts a detailed town map.
`FIG. 6 illustrates building data.
`FIG. 7 depicts a location floor number display process
`using detailed building information according to the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 8 illustrates a viewpoint position according to a
`birds-eye process.
`FIG. 9 depicts a building display.
`FIG. 10 depicts another location floor number display
`process using detailed building information according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 11 illustrates a birds-eye process (part 1).
`FIG. 12 illustrates a birds-eye process (part 2).
`FIG. 13 illustrates a birds-eye view.
`FIG. 14 depicts a conventional detailed information dis-
`play.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`35
`
`(a) Three-dimensional Building Display of the Present
`Invention
`
`FIG. 1 depicts a three-dimensional building display
`according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference
`symbol BL denotes a building in which a target institution
`(building user)
`is located;
`reference symbol FL is an
`L-shaped mark for visually displaying the floor number of
`the floor on which a building user serving as the target is
`located; reference symbol MP is a surrounding map image
`subjected to a birds-eye process While a height is set to be
`zero; and reference symbol FLC comprises characters indi-
`cating a location floor number.
`When the detailed town map MP is displayed on a display
`screen by using detailed map information including the
`planar shapes of buildings and roads, and the building BL on
`the detailed map is indicated, the detailed map is inclined by
`an imaging process (birds-eye process) for display, and the
`indicated building BL is three-dimensionally displayed with
`a height corresponding to the number of floors. When a
`target institution (building user) is specified, the floor num-
`ber of a floor on which the user is located is calculated from
`
`the building information, and the number of floors is dis-
`played in the building BL with the L-shaped mark FL such
`that the number of floors can be identified, or the number of
`floors is displayed by the characters FLC.
`(b) Navigation Apparatus
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a navigation apparatus
`according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2,
`reference numeral 11 denotes a map storage medium, e.g., a
`CD-ROM, for storing map information; 12, a CD-ROM
`controller for controlling the reading of the map information
`from the CD-ROM; 13, a position measurement device, for
`measuring the present position of a vehicle, which com-
`prises a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a moving
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`distance, a gyro for detecting a moving azimuth, a GPS, a
`CPU for calculating a position, and the like. Reference
`numeral 14 denotes a map information memory for storing
`the map information read from the CD-ROM; 15, a Yellow
`Page data storage memory for storing Yellow Page data read
`from the CD-ROM; 16, a remote controller for performing
`a menu selecting operation, an enlarging/reducing operation,
`a manual map scroll operation, and the like; and 17, a remote
`control interface.
`
`Reference numeral 18 denotes a processor (CPU) for
`controlling the navigation apparatus as a whole; 19, a ROM
`for storing various types of programs (guide route searching
`process, pinpoint searching process, location floor number
`display process, and the like); 20, a RAM for storing a
`process result; 21, a display controller for generating a map
`image; 22, a video RAM for storing the map image gener-
`ated by the display controller; 23, a menu/detailed informa-
`tion generator for generating a menu image or detailed
`information in a pinpoint searching process; 24, a cursor
`image generator; 25, a vehicle position mark generator; 26,
`an image synthesizer; 27, a display device for displaying an
`image output from the image synthesizer; and 28, a bus.
`(b) Contents of CD-ROM
`In addition to regular map information, Yellow Page data,
`detailed town map information, and the like are recorded on
`the CD-ROM 11.
`
`(b-1) Regular Map Information
`The regular map information includes: (1) a road layer;
`(2) a background layer for displaying an object on a map; (3)
`a character layer for displaying city,
`town, and village
`names; and (4) an IIS layer for storing IIS (Integrated
`Information Service) information. Of these layers, the road
`layer has road link data RLDT, node data NDDT, and
`intersection data CRDT as shown in FIG. 3.
`
`The road link data RLDT provides attribute information
`of a corresponding road, and includes data such as the
`number of all nodes on a road link, the numbers of nodes
`constituting the road, a road number (road name), and the
`type of the road (national road, highway, prefectural road, or
`other road).
`The intersection data CRDT is a set of nodes (referred to
`as intersection constituting nodes), of the nodes connected to
`each intersection on a map, which are closest to the corre-
`sponding intersection. The node data NDDT is a list of all
`nodes constituting a road, and includes position information
`(longitude/latitude) of each node, an intersection identifica-
`tion flag representing whether the node is an intersection,
`and a pointer or the like for indicating intersection data if the
`node is an intersection or indicating a road link to which the
`node belongs if the node is not an intersection.
`(b-2) Detailed Town Map Information
`Detailed town map information is divided into units, each
`of which is divided to have a longitudinal width and a
`latitudinal width. The range of each unit on absolute
`longitude/latitude coordinates (X, Y), as shown in FIG. 4, is
`determined by the absolute longitude/latitude coordinates
`(XT1, YT1) and (XT2, YT2) of the diagonal corners E and F
`of the unit. The map graphic data of each unit defines a large
`number of planar shapes such as roads, buildings, and parks.
`As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B,
`the map graphic data
`includes, in addition to a line, a primitive type such as a
`polygon, a color, a line type, and an attribute representing
`the presence/absence of painted over, and also longitude/
`latitude coordinate strings (X1, yl), (X2, y2), .
`.
`.
`, (xn, yn) of
`element points G1 to G” such as a change in direction if a
`line is defined or a vertex if a polygon is defined. By using
`the detailed map information, the detailed town map sur-
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`target
`rounding an indicated spot (vehicle position or
`location) can be displayed at a scale of 25 m/50 m as shown
`in FIG. 5.
`
`(b-3) Yellow Page Data
`Regarding Yellow Page data, it is known to provide (1) a
`telephone number database for searching for the institution
`corresponding to a telephone number by inputting the tele-
`phone number to display the map surrounding the institu-
`tion; (2) an institution database which includes the names,
`jobs, longitude/latitude positions, and the like of institutions;
`(3) a building database; and the like. The building database
`provides the detailed information of buildings. As shown in
`FIG. 6, the building database has a hierarchical structure
`defined by a building database BDB1, which is related to a
`building user database BDB2, which is related to a detailed
`user information database BDB3.
`
`The building database BDB1 includes the longitude/
`latitude position, the name, and the number of floors of each
`building. The building user database BDB2 includes the user
`name (company/tenant name) of the building. The detailed
`user information database BDB3 includes the detailed infor-
`
`mation of a user, i.e., a user name, a telephone number, an
`address, the location floor number of the user, and the like.
`(c) Location Floor Number Display Method using Detailed
`Building Information
`FIG. 7 depicts the sequence of a location floor number
`display method using detailed building information accord-
`ing to the present invention.
`A cursor is positioned in the vicinity of a target location
`by using the regular map, and a town map display is
`selected. With this operation,
`the display controller 21
`generates the town map image surrounding the target
`location, by using the detailed town map information of the
`area surrounding the target location to display the town map
`on a display screen. The town map is scrolled by operating
`the remote controller 16 to display a target building. The
`building indicated by the cursor CSR is selected by pressing
`a decision key. These operations are conducted in step 101.
`By pressing the decision key, the menu/information gen-
`erator 23 generates a setup menu MN in order to display the
`setup menu MN on the map such that the setup menu MN
`overlaps the map. In this manner, when a predetermined
`item of the setup menu MN is selected, route searching is
`performed by using a spot (building) indicated by the cursor
`as a target location, the spot is registered as a passing point,
`spot registration is performed, or
`the detailed building
`information can be displayed. These operations are included
`in step 102.
`When “information” is selected from the setup menu by
`a remote control operation, or when a set period of time has
`elapsed without any operation, the menu/information gen-
`erator 23 is started. The menu/information generator 23
`calculates a user name list (object list) of a building indi-
`cated by the cursor CSR from the building database stored
`in the Yellow Page data memory 15, and displays a user
`name list LST of the building in the order of Japanese
`syllabary on the left half of the screen in place of the setup
`menu. These operations are included in step 103.
`The display controller 21 performs a birds-eye process (to
`be described later) on the town map displayed on the right
`half of the screen and displays the town map such that the
`map image is gradually inclined. For example, as shown in
`FIG. 8, the map is sequentially rotated in a predetermined
`direction (A direction) while a distance H from a position
`above an indicated building BL to the building is kept
`constant and a viewpoint EY faces the ground; the birds-eye
`process is performed at multiple viewpoint positions
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`(X-mark positions) by using the planar shape data of the
`buildings and roads; and the town map is displayed on the
`basis of the shape data subjected to the birds-eye process.
`The process is performed until a straight line connecting the
`viewpoint to the building and the ground make 45°; thus, the
`town map is displayed such that the town map is gradually
`inclined.
`
`Upon the completion of the inclining operation, the dis-
`play controller 21 calculates the number of floors in the
`building indicated by the cursor CSR from the building
`database, generates the building image with a height corre-
`sponding to the number of floors, and displays the building
`BL three-dimensionally.
`The display controller 21 calculates the floor number of a
`floor on which is located a user who is selected (displayed
`to be highlighted) from the user name list LST from the
`building database; displays the floor by an L-shaped mark
`FL in the three-dimensional building BL such that
`the
`number of floors can be identified; and, at the same time, the
`floor number (6F) is displayed by the characters FLC. The
`floor number may also be displayed by only one of either the
`L-shaped mark or the characters FLC. These operations are
`included in step 104.
`The three-dimensional display of the building is per-
`formed in the following manner. A vertical compressibility
`factor (1 is increased as the number of floors Ft of the
`
`building increases, and the planar shape of the building is
`raised from the ground up to a height H (=Ft~oL) obtained by
`multiplying the number of floors of the building by the
`compressibility factor. The width W of the L-shaped mark
`FL is a value (=H/Ft) obtained by dividing the height H of
`the building by the number of floors, and a mark drawing
`position is the position having a height h (=F~H/Ft) where
`the floor number of the user is represented by F. The floor
`numbers of buildings are classified into three sections, i.e.,
`1st to 10th floors, 11th to 30th floors, and 31st or more floors.
`The vertical compressibilities of the sections are represented
`by 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3, respectively, and the compressibility of
`the section in which the number of floors is large is made
`higher (O.1<O.2<O.3). In this manner, the building, even if the
`number of floors of the actual building is large, can be
`displayed without projecting out of the display screen; and
`the building, even if the number of floors is small, can be
`three-dimensionally displayed with a proper height.
`FIG. 9 illustrates examples of buildings in consideration
`of the above circumstances. When a user is located in a
`
`the building is three-
`basement, as shown in FIG. 9D,
`dimensionally displayed without displaying the L-shaped
`mark, and the floor number in the basement on which the
`user is located is displayed, e.g., the “second basement”.
`A target building user name is selected (displayed to be
`highlighted) on the user name list LST by a remote control
`operation. In this manner, the floor number of the floor on
`which the new selected user is located is calculated from the
`
`building database, and the floor number is displayed in the
`three-dimensional building BL by the L-shaped mark FL
`such that the floor number can be identified. At the same
`
`time, the floor number (7F) is displayed by the characters
`FLC. These operations are included in step 105.
`When the decision key of the remote controller is oper-
`ated in this state, the navigation apparatus calculates the
`detailed information (user name,
`telephone number, and
`address) DIF of the selected user from the building database
`to display the detailed information on the left side of the
`display screen in place of the user name list LST. In this
`manner, the number of a floor, in the building, on which a
`target institution is located can be checked, and the address
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`and the telephone number can be obtained. These operations
`are included in step 106.
`When a building (spot indicated by cursor) is set as a
`target place, the CPU begins to search for an optimum route
`from the vehicle position to the target place. These opera-
`tions are included in step 107.
`(d) Another Location Floor Number Display Process using
`Detailed Building Information
`The embodiment in FIG. 7 describes a case wherein a
`
`building is specified, and then a user name is specified.
`However, when pinpoint searching is performed by tele-
`phone number searching or Japanese syllabary searching, a
`town map including a building in which a target institution
`(building user) is located is displayed. In this case, the user
`already has been determined, and a new user name need not
`be specified.
`FIG. 10 illustrates another location floor number display
`process using detailed building information according to the
`present
`invention in the case wherein a user has been
`determined as described above, and a new user name need
`not be specified.
`Telephone number searching is selected by operating the
`menu of a remote controller to display a telephone number
`searching screen. Thereafter,
`the telephone number of a
`target institution is input. These operations are included in
`step 201.
`By inputting a telephone number, the CPU 18 calculates
`the institution name corresponding to the input telephone
`number with reference to a telephone-number-classified
`database stored in the Yellow Page data memory 15. The
`CPU 18 calculates the position data of the institution with
`reference to the institution database, and reads the detailed
`town map information of the area surrounding the institution
`into the map information memory 14 on the basis of the
`posit