(12) United States Patent
`Yokota et al.
`
`I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006356837Bl
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`Mar.12,2002
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) NAVIGATION SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Tatsuo Yokota, Torrance; Hikaru
`Wako, Redondo Beach, both of CA
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc., Tokyo (JP)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/813,230
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 19, 2001
`
`Int. CI.7 .............................................. G06F 165/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 701/208; 701/213; 701/210
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 701/208, 209,
`701/21, 212, 213, 207, 25
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,897,792 A
`5,189,430 A
`
`1/1990 Hosoi
`2/1993 Yano et al.
`
`6,253,150 Bl * 6/2001 Nakamura .................. 701/208
`6,269,305 Bl * 7/2001 Yamashita .................. 701/209
`6,278,938 Bl * 8/2001 Alumbaugh ................ 701/208
`6,289,278 Bl * 9/2001 Endo et al. ................. 702/208
`6,292,749 B2 * 9/2001 Kohli ......................... 701/213
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Richard M. Camby
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brinks Hofer Gilson &
`Liane
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A travel state monitoring unit monitors whether the vehicle
`position deviates from a road so as to be in the off-road travel
`state, on the basis of the map information and the vehicle
`position. When the vehicle position is in the off-road state,
`a travel trail generating unit generates off-road travel trail
`data and stores the data in an off-road travel trail storage
`unit. A display control unit displays, by the user's
`instruction, the off-road travel trail superimposed with the
`map, using the off-road travel trail data. The route search
`unit searches a route to an off-road point and displays the
`route.
`
`27 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
`ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION
`
`TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`REGISTERED NAME
`•POSlTION-DATAOF-APOINYWHEREA-
`OF A POINT
`VEHICLE ENTERED OFF-ROAD
`;p-osli'10N-DATA-OFTHE
`;6iScRffiP6srr10N-DATAOF-AVEHICLE
`REGISTERED POINT
`;P-6s1TiONDiiTAOF-ilP6iNTi!M:RE_A __
`;fio1NTER___________
`VEHICLE RETURNED ON THE ROAD
`_ _ _ _ _ __
`SETTING •Auto/Monual, POINT"---------
`UNIT
`•START/END OF DATA
`GENERATION TRC ~~~~AIL
`- - - - -... DATA
`GENERATING
`ORM
`UNIT
`
`STP
`
`CPM
`
`,-'
`
`OFRM
`
`OFF-ROAD
`TRAVEL TRAIL
`STORAGE
`UNIT
`
`DPLC
`
`RTS
`
`IM1
`
`IM2
`
`1
`
`Navico Ex. 1012
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`FIG. 1
`
`FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
`ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION
`
`STP
`;
`
`SETTING
`UNIT
`
`CPM
`/
`POSITION
`MEASUREMENT
`UNIT
`
`MAP
`STORAGE
`UNIT
`)
`MPS
`
`TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`REGISTERED NAME
`OFA POINT
`•POSlTION-DATAOF-APOir1irwAEREA-
`.-poslf1of.f DATA-OF THE
`VEHICLE ENTERED OFF-ROAD
`. I
`; 61SCRETE P6srrio~f DATA OYA VEHICLE
`REGISTERED POINT
`------------------------------
`-
`-PO.f.fTE:_R_ - - - - --- ---
`•POSITION DATA OF A POINT WHERE A
`---------
`VEHICLE RETURNED ON THE R OAD
`eAuto/Monuol, POIN,.... _______
`i---------
`•START/END OF DATA
`GENERATION TRC__,.. OFF-ROAD
`OFF-ROAD
`TRAVEL TRAIL
`TRAVEL TRAIL -
`- DATA ~
`STORAGE
`GENERATING
`UNIT
`UNIT
`
`O)RM
`
`,. ,.
`
`DfM
`
`TRAVEL
`STATE
`MONITORING
`- UNIT
`
`OFF-ROAD
`ON-ROAD
`
`MOM.../
`
`MEMORY
`CAPACITY
`MONITORING
`UNIT
`
`~
`-~ DISPLAY
`~ ~ CONTROL
`UNIT
`
`-
`
`t
`I.+ ROUTE
`'-----;.. SEARCH
`- UNIT
`
`~DPLC
`
`{MNT
`
`MONITOR
`DISPLAY
`
`,.
`
`/
`
`/ ,.
`,.
`
`/
`
`,.-"RTS
`
`.......
`
`-------------
`
`HUT
`TEL No. -----
`r-----9
`HUT
`ENTRANCE J- TR
`,,
`
`CALL
`
`HUT
`ENTRANCE iPT2
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`HUT I
`~
`;--"TR
`_,
`I
`
`IM1
`
`1M2
`
`2
`
`

`

`lo-"
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`O'I
`(It
`~
`O'I
`rJ'J.
`e
`
`'"""' ~
`0 .....,
`N
`~ .....
`'Jl =-~
`
`N c c
`'"""' ~N
`~ :;
`~
`
`N
`
`~ = ......
`~ ......
`~
`\JJ. .
`d .
`
`GRT
`
`DISPLAY
`MONITOR
`
`26
`
`::0
`fT1
`N
`Ul
`fT1
`-4 :c
`Ul -< z
`
`fT1
`G)
`l>
`~
`
`GENERATOR
`
`19
`
`----------MARK
`
`VEHICLE
`
`24
`
`ROM
`
`..................... ...,__ ___ _
`,, --------(cid:173)
`
`UNIT
`VOICE GUIDE
`
`27
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`INFORMATION Ill! •Ill! ·I DISPLAY
`
`MEMORY
`
`MAP
`
`25
`
`22
`
`21
`
`17
`
`CPU
`CONTROL
`NAVIGITION
`
`EQUIPMENT
`MEASUREMENT
`POSITION
`
`16
`
`1 e •I• • 1 REMOTE CONTROL
`
`INTERFACE
`
`CONTROLLER
`DVD
`
`15
`
`UNIT
`CONTROL
`REMOTE
`
`BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
`
`12
`
`FIG. 2
`
`14
`
`13
`
`DVD
`
`11
`
`GUIDE ROUTE SEARCH SOFWARE
`MAP MATCHING SOFTWARE
`MONITORING SOFTWARE FOR TRAIL
`REMAINING MEMORY CAPACITY
`SETUP SOFTWARE
`DESTINATION SETTING SOFTWARE
`TRAIL EDIT SOFTWARE
`--------------------------
`I TRAIL STORAGE/DISPLAY SOFTWARE I ',
`
`20b
`
`20a
`
`OFF-ROAD TRAIL LIST TRL
`
`ADDRESS LIST AOL
`
`\ ADDRESS BOOK MEMORY
`
`I COMMUNICATION
`
`INTERFACE
`
`28
`
`AUTOMOBILE I
`CTL
`
`TEL PHONE
`
`-----------------------
`
`20
`
`18 ~ CURRENT TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`
`GUIDE ROUTE DATA
`
`----
`
`~?_~K I
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 3of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`FIG.3
`
`CONSTRUCTION OF THE ADDRESS BOOK MEMORY
`
`AOL
`)
`
`ADDRESS LIST
`
`NO.
`
`Name
`
`1
`
`2
`
`YAOHAN
`
`AIRPORT
`HONDA
`
`Address
`
`.......
`.......
`
`TEL NO.
`. ...
`. ...
`
`POSITION
`TRAIL
`(LONGITUDE Af'.D POINTER
`LATITUDE)
`. ... ~
`. ... ~
`
`n
`
`HUT
`
`....
`
`Xn, Yn
`
`A1
`
`100
`
`TRL
`)
`
`OFF-ROAR TRAIL LIST
`
`~
`}
`
`~
`A2
`
`TRAIL 1
`1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
`TRAIL 2
`
`I
`NUMBER
`I
`: p3 I
`: P2
`P1
`OF
`POINTS N C LONGITUDE AND l
`LATITUDE>
`:
`
`OFF-ROAD ON-ROAD
`POINT
`POINT
`(FIRST
`(SECOND
`ENTRANCE) ENTRANCE>
`
`DATE
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 4of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`FIG. 4
`
`PROCESSING FLOW OF STORING OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`
`START
`
`101
`
`ON-OFF SETTING OF AUTOMATICALLY STORING
`OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`
`STORE POSITION DATA
`OF OFF-ROAD POINT
`
`NO ~--~.___------...
`~---~ AUTOMATIC STORAGE?
`
`105
`
`YES~-~----~~~-~-.-~
`.----~-~----~-~~
`STORE/DISPLAY TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`106
`
`107
`
`STORE/ DISPLAY
`TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`ON-ROAD POINT=
`OFF-ROAD POINT?
`
`TRAIL OFF? NOCON)
`
`109
`
`NO
`
`YESCOFFJ
`
`~~--~--~
`STORE ON-ROAD POINT
`
`108
`
`REGISTERING OF
`POINTS INSIDE THE
`OFF-ROAD AREA ?
`
`YES
`
`112
`
`INPUT THE POINT NAME
`INSIDE THE OFF-ROAD
`AREA
`
`INPUT THE POINT NAME
`INSIDE THE OFF-ROAD
`AREA
`
`110
`
`STORE OFF-ROAD
`TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`STORE THE POINT NAME
`AND POSITION INSIDE
`THE OFF-ROAD AREA
`
`120
`
`111
`
`113
`
`STORE OFF-ROAD
`TRAVEL. TRAIL
`
`121
`
`END
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 5of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`EXAMPLE OF SETTING THE STORAGE METHOD (Auto /Manual) OF
`OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`
`FIG. 5(A)
`
`!Setup I
`
`Select
`
`FIG. 5(8)
`
`Display Setup
`Guidance Setup
`
`FIG.5(C)
`
`I Setup I Display Setup
`
`Brightness
`Display
`POI Icon
`Map
`Trail
`
`6
`Auto Color
`Hid~
`North Up
`Auto
`Return
`
`I Setup I Display Setup
`
`FIG.5(0)
`
`Trail
`
`Auto I Manual
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 6of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`DISPLAY EXAMPLE ( N0.1) OF A TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`FIG. 6(A)
`
`r---------,
`LWATERFALLre
`_________ .J
`
`r----,
`1 HUT'e
`L ___ _J
`
`(/YCM
`,"
`r------
`PT1 ____ ... <.__TR
`'"-ctvrR ----
`-
`----~~Cc 71-----
`---- o rHf----
`---- -... !:f Ur7
`---.1
`
`FIG. 6(8)
`
`,----:i ~CM
`•HUT1 '8J
`L---.J ,'
`
`•
`r----------,
`~~~~~~~~~J
`
`•'
`
`t'".
`I
`I
`
`I . --· ,
`
`,L-TR
`I , ,
`___ , ... "'"
`,__
`,
`L~NiR4"N----~­
`-----~c ro r?;----(cid:173)
`_____ ,_-,5_ Hur7
`---..J
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 7of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`DISPLAY EXAMPLE ( NO. 2) OF A TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`FIG. 7(A)
`WHEN THE OFF-ROAD POINT DIFFERS FROM THE ON-ROAD POINT
`
`FIG.7(8)
`IN CASE OF A BRANCHED TRAVEL
`
`BTR
`
`.. j
`
`r.----y
`•HUT•
`i-----------r'
`•WATERFALL I ~-' L - - - J •
`._ _________ .J '--~ -~CM
`'\rtaRA°NcH-P0tNT~
`I C-----------~
`I
`,'-\.._
`./ TR
`,~,. . .;:........
`r-......
`PT1 ,---:::/
`_,
`t...,'V / }l>4 ~ .............
`-.......... •vc~ ...... _
`........
`lo.;::-...
`.......... c;;: Jtu-..,
`I /tr::-''-..
`---- .... I,
`- ... J
`
`-...._,
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 8of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`FIG. 8
`
`PROCESSING FLOW OF STORING
`BRANCHED TRAVEL TRAIL DATA
`
`START
`
`ON/OFF SETTING OF DISPLAYING
`OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`· 201
`
`TRAVEL TO FOLLOW THE
`OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL
`
`202
`
`..--------N_O-< OFF THE OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL?
`
`204
`
`YES
`
`203
`
`205
`
`STORE POSITION DATA <LONGITUDE
`AND LATITUDE) OF A BRANCH POINT
`
`YES
`
`STORE/DISPLAY TRAVEL
`TRAIL AFTER BRANCH
`
`NO RETURN TO THE OFF-ROAD
`TRAVEL TRAIL ?
`
`208
`
`YES
`
`NO ON-ROAD?
`
`YES
`
`206
`
`207
`
`209
`
`STORE POSITION DATA AND TRAVEL
`TRAIL DATA AFTER BRANCH, WITH
`THE ADDRESS NAME AS "BRANCH POINT"
`
`END
`
`9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 9of13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`EXAMPLE OF DISPLAY ON/OFF SETTING OF AN OFF-ROAD TRAVEL
`TRAIL
`
`FIG. 9( A)
`
`FIG. 9( B)
`
`I Setup
`
`Select
`
`I
`Display Setup
`I Guidance Setup
`
`I
`I
`
`FIG. 9(C)
`
`I Setup I Guidance Setup
`
`Voice Prompt
`Guidance
`Reroute
`Method
`Trail Display
`
`Normal
`Map
`Auto
`Shortest Route
`ON
`Return
`
`Fl G. 9( 0)
`
`I Setup I Guidance Setup
`
`Trail Display
`
`ON
`
`I OFF
`
`10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`FIG. 10
`
`MONITORING A STORABLE REMAINING DISTANCE
`IN THE OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL STORAGE PROCESSING
`
`START
`
`COUNT STORED DISCRETE POINT NUMBER PN IN THE
`OFF-ROAD TRAVEL TRAIL STORAGE/DISPLAY
`
`CALCULATE STORABLE REMAINING POINT NUMBER PTR
`PTR = PMAX .:. PN
`
`CALCULATE STORABLE REMAINING TRAVEL DISTANCE DTR
`
`301
`
`302
`
`303
`
`304
`
`DISPLAY PTR, DTR
`
`RETURN
`
`11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`DISPLAY EXAMPLE OF EDITING THE Address Book
`FIG. 1 HE)
`
`I option I
`
`Input Name
`
`HUT
`A B C D E F G H I J
`K L M N 0 P Q R S T
`u v w x Y z & I -
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
`Save
`Don~ t Save
`
`Delete
`
`Space
`
`FIG. 1 HF)
`
`Input Name
`
`I Option I
`HUT OCOTILLO
`A B C D E F G H I J
`K L M N 0 p Q R S T
`u v w x y z &
`I -
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
`Save
`Don t Save
`
`Delete
`
`Space
`
`60
`
`iu
`
`/
`
`FIG. 11(8)
`
`Select
`
`I Option I
`Edit Address Book
`Edit Recent Route
`Edit Todays Plan
`Save Current Position
`GPS Information
`Information
`Return
`
`F I G. 11 ( C )
`
`F I G. 11 ( G)
`
`I Option I
`
`Select Name
`
`I Opt ion I Change Phone Number
`
`HUT OCOTILLO
`31055512121
`
`I
`
`1
`4
`7
`Delete
`
`2
`5
`8
`0
`
`3
`6
`9
`Done
`
`ALPINE ELECTRONICS
`GREAT WESTERN BANK
`HOME
`MY FAVORITE BURGER
`HUT(N30°15'02°/Wll6°01'45°)
`
`FIG. 11( 0}
`I Option I Confirm Address
`HUT
`Los Angeles, California
`
`Change Name & Phone Number
`Delete from Address Book
`Don
`t Delete
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`FIG. 12
`
`PROCESSING FLOW OF A DESTINATION SETTING
`
`START
`
`SET A DESTINATION,
`US ING THE Address Book
`
`NO
`~-----
`
`IS THE DESTINATION INSIDE
`THE OFF-ROAD AREA ?
`YES
`
`403
`
`401
`
`402
`
`406
`
`DISPLAY THE NAME
`AND ADDRESS, ETC.
`
`DISPLAY THE MAP AND TRAVEL TRAIL
`SURROUNDING THE DESTINATION
`
`ARE THERE MORE THAN
`TWO ENTRANCES AVAILABLE
`TO THE DESTINATION ?
`
`NO
`
`SELECT ONE OF THE ENTRANCES
`
`407
`
`411
`
`408
`
`110K to Proceed" OR 11CALL 11 ?
`
`CALL
`
`OK to Proceed
`
`SEARCH THE GUIDE ROUTE TO
`THE OFF-ROAD POINT
`(ENTRANCE) AND DISPLAY
`
`410
`
`MAKE THE MOBILE
`TELEPHONE AT THE
`DESTINATION (HUT)
`CALL AUTOMATICALLY
`
`END
`
`404
`
`ENTER
`11 0K to Proceed 11
`
`405
`
`409
`
`SEARCH THE GUIDE
`ROUTE AND DISPLAY
`
`13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.12,2002
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`EXPLANATORY CHART OF THE DESTINATION INPUT METHOD BY THE
`Address Book
`FIG.13(A)
`
`FIG. 13(8) t
`I Dest I Find Destination by
`Address
`Intersection
`Point of Interest
`Mop Cursor
`Recent Route
`Address Book
`Today's Plan
`
`FIG.13(C) i
`
`I
`
`v--70
`
`-
`
`I Dest I Select Address
`YAOHAN COSTA MESA, CA
`ORANGE CNTY MSM OF ART-S CO C
`AIRPORT HONDA.LOSANGELS. CA
`TRIANGLE SOUARE.COSTAMESA.
`HUT
`RAGING WATERS-SAN DIMAS,SAN
`ALPINE, TORRANCE CA
`FOUNTAIN VALLEY REGIONAL HO,
`
`FIG.13( 0)
`l Dest
`I Confirm Destination
`
`ALPINE
`19145 GRAMERCY PL
`TORRANCE, CA
`
`BY Shortest Route METHOD
`OK to Proceed
`Save in Address Book
`Add to Today's Plan
`
`FIG.13(E)
`
`HUT
`TEL No-··· ....
`r-----
`HUT
`;
`ENTRANCE
`/'"'-TR
`----- _,,
`
`'
`
`CALL
`
`FIG. 13(F)
`
`H~T
`r----'
`HUT
`ENTRANCE,/
`------
`
`FlG.13(G)
`
`HUT
`ENTRANCE i PT2
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`l
`I
`
`HUT : •
`
`r----/
`HUT
`NTRANCE /
`/
`
`I
`
`CALL
`
`PT1
`
`14
`
`

`

`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`1
`NAVIGATION SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`15
`
`The present invention relates to a navigation system, more
`specifically to a navigation system that stores trail data of a
`vehicle traveling off-road, displays the off-road travel trail of
`the vehicle appropriately on a display screen, and sets a
`destination by means of the off-road travel trail data.
`A navigation system detects the position of a vehicle and
`reads out map data of the area surrounding the vehicle from
`a map storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD,
`displays the image of the map data on a display screen, and
`superimposes a vehicle mark (the user's own vehicle mark)
`with the map image at a specified position on the display
`screen. As the current position of the vehicle varies with the
`movement thereof, the navigation system moves the vehicle
`mark on the screen, or fixes the vehicle mark at a specific
`position such as the screen center and scrolls the map image,
`so that the driver can recognize the map information sur-
`rounding the vehicle position at a glance.
`This type of navigation system is provided with a travel
`route display function that superimposes the route on which
`the vehicle traveled in the past with the map image on the
`screen. The travel route display function stores the vehicle
`position (longitude and latitude) in a travel route memory as
`discrete travel route data, each time the vehicle position
`detected by the vehicle position detector varies by a constant
`distance, while drawing the map image on the screen, selects
`data to be taken in as the map image data from the discrete 30
`travel route data stored in the travel route memory, and
`identifiably draws the map image by changing the sequence
`of points or the color at a corresponding position on the map
`image.
`Therefore, because it can display the route on which the
`vehicle traveled in the past with the sequence of points on
`the road in the display screen, the navigation system having
`the travel route display function can easily bring the driver
`back to the point of departure, for example, by tracing back
`the travel route on the return, even if the driver travels to an
`unfamiliar place. In addition, if the driver travels again to the
`same place later, the driver can easily reach the place on the
`outward journey by re-tracing the travel route.
`However, the conventional navigation system stores the
`travel route only when traveling on roads, and does not have
`a function to store the travel route when traveling in off-road
`areas and display the travel route in the off-road areas. In the
`United States, for example, which has vast natural terrain,
`many users of the navigation system travel off-road. For
`example, they go deep in the mountains by jeep to camp or
`hunt deer or pheasants, they drive about in the desert or
`wilderness where no roads are available, they go to summer
`cabins without accessible roads deep in the mountains, and
`the like. On some later occasions, they may return to the
`cabin, campground or hunting area, where they once trav(cid:173)
`eled. However, since the conventional navigation system
`does not have a function to store the travel trail in the
`off-road areas, it has been difficult for users to reach the
`cabins or campgrounds. That is, the off-road travelers have
`a desire to store the off-road trails, to view the trails
`afterwards, and to re-trace the trails once again, which the
`conventional navigation system could not do.
`
`2
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible to
`store an off-road travel trail automatically or only when a
`user instructs, and to read out and display a desired travel
`trail afterwards.
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible to
`automatically store an off-road travel trail from an off-road
`point (entry point to an off-road area from an on-road area)
`to an on-road point (entry point to an on-road area from an
`off-road area).
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible,
`when the vehicle travels along an off-road travel trail and
`deviates from the off-road travel trail, to automatically store
`the travel trail after the deviation.
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible to
`register an off-road point and an on-road point as an entrance
`to the off-road trail to thereby search and display a guide
`route to a specific off-road entrance.
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible to
`register an off-road travel trail in association with a place
`name of a destination or transit point on the off-road travel,
`to thereby set a destination easily from a list of the place
`names afterwards and display the map or the travel trail
`surrounding the set destination afterwards.
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible,
`when a place name as a destination of an off-road travel trail
`is set, to search and display a guide route to the off-road
`entrance, or to call a facility associated with the place name
`by a mobile telephone.
`Another object of the invention is to make it possible to
`display a remaining capacity of the memory that stores the
`travel trail, for example, by a distance.
`The navigation system of the invention includes: (1) a
`position measurement unit that detects the user's own
`35 vehicle position, (2) a monitoring unit that monitors whether
`the vehicle position deviates from a road so as to be in an
`off-road state, (3) a travel trail generating unit that generates
`off-road travel trail data, when the vehicle is in the off-road
`state, and ( 4) a storage unit that stores the travel trail data.
`40 That is, the navigation system of the invention stores the
`off-road travel trail data in memory, and the user is able to
`read out desired off-road travel trail data and to display the
`travel trail appropriately.
`In another aspect of the navigation system of the
`45 invention, in storing the travel trail data, the user sets
`whether to generate the off-road travel trail data automati(cid:173)
`cally or to generate the data by an instruction from the user.
`If the setting is automatic, when the vehicle is in the off-road
`state, the system automatically generates and stores the
`50 off-road travel trail data from the off-road point to the
`on-road point. With this construction, the system achieves
`enhanced maneuverability and secure storage of the off-road
`travel trail. On the other hand, if the setting is to generate the
`data by an instruction from the user, the system begins to
`55 generate the off-road travel trail data by a generation starting
`instruction, and terminates the generation of the off-road
`travel trail data by a generation terminating instruction, and
`stores the data. With this construction, the system does not
`produce the travel trail data when the vehicle is in an area
`60 where the travel trail is not needed to be stored, such as
`shopping malls, public gardens, etc. Therefore, the system
`achieves effective use of the memory and does not store
`unnecessary travel trail data, and the user is able to easily
`retrieve and/or edit the data afterwards.
`In another aspect of the navigation system of the
`invention, when the user travels along an off-road travel trail
`and the vehicle position deviates (branches) from the off-
`
`20
`
`25
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a 65
`navigation system that displays an off-road travel trail
`afterwards.
`
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`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`3
`road travel trail, the system produces the position data of the
`branch point and the travel trail data after branching in
`association with the name of the branch point, and stores
`these data. With this construction, the user is able to search
`the destination by entering the branch point.
`Further, since the navigation system of the invention can
`register an off-road point and an on-road point as an off-road
`entrance, the user can select either one of them and cause the
`system to search and display a guide route to a specific
`off-road entrance.
`Moreover, since the navigation system of the invention
`can register an off-road travel trail in association with the
`destination of an off-road travel or the place name of a transit
`point on the off-road travel, the user is able to set the
`destination easily from a list of place names, and to display
`the map and the travel trail surrounding the destination thus
`set.
`In another aspect of the navigation system of the
`invention, when the user selects the destination of an off(cid:173)
`road travel or the place name of a transit point on an off-road
`travel and instructs a call, the system causes the automobile
`telephone to call a facility at that location. Thus, the user is
`able to call facilities located inside the off-road area with an
`easy operation.
`Further, the navigation system of the invention monitors
`the remaining capacity of the memory to store travel trail
`data, and displays the remaining capacity by means of a
`storable remaining point number or a storable remaining
`distance. Thus, the user is able to delete unnecessary off(cid:173)
`road travel trail data by editing, when the remaining memory
`capacity diminishes, and to store only the necessary trail
`data.
`Other features and advantages of the present invention
`will be apparent from the following description taken in 35
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF
`THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a navigation
`system according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a navigation system;
`FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating a construction of an address
`book memory;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the storage processing of an
`off-road travel trail;
`FIG. 5 is an example of setting the storage method
`(Auto/Manual) of the off-road travel trail data;
`FIG. 6 is a display example (No. 1) of the travel trail;
`FIG. 7 is a display example (No. 2) of the travel trail;
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the storage processing of a
`branched travel trail;
`FIG. 9 is an example of the display on/off setting of the
`off-road travel trail;
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart of monitoring a storable remaining 55
`distance in the off-road travel trail storage processing;
`FIG. 11 is a display example of editing the Address Book;
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a destination setting; and
`FIG. 13 is an explanatory chart of the method of inputting 60
`a destination by the Address Book.
`
`4
`includes (1) a map storage unit MPS that stores map data, (2)
`a position measurement unit CPM that measures a position
`of the vehicle, (3) a travel state monitoring unit DRM that
`monitors the travel state of the vehicle, i.e., whether it is
`traveling off the road (off-road travel state) or has returned
`to the road (on-road travel state), ( 4) a travel trail data
`generating unit TRC that generates off-road travel trail data
`when the travel state becomes the off-road travel state, (5) a
`travel trail storage unit OFRM that stores off-road travel trail
`10 data, ( 6) a setting unit STP that executes various settings, (7)
`a memory capacity monitoring unit MQM that monitors the
`remaining memory capacity of the off-road travel trail
`storage unit OFRM, (8) a display control unit DPLC that
`generates a map, off-road travel trail, vehicle mark, searched
`15 route, etc., (9) a route search unit RTS that searches a route
`to a destination, and (10) a monitor display MNT.
`The setting unit STP sets whether to generate off-road
`travel trail data automatically (Auto) or manually by the
`instruction of a user (Manual). If the setting is Auto, the
`20 travel trail data generating unit TRC generates the off-road
`travel trail data automatically, when the vehicle is off-road,
`and stores it in the travel trail storage unit OFRM. That is,
`the travel state monitoring unit DRM monitors whether the
`vehicle position is off-road or has returned to the road
`25 (on-road), and the travel trail data generating unit TRC
`automatically generates for storage travel trail data from the
`off-road point to the on-road point in accordance with the
`monitored result. The off-road travel trail storage unit
`OFRM stores (1) a destination in an off-road area or the
`30 name of a point (registered name of a point) as a transit point
`during an off-road travel, which is inputted by the setting
`unit STP, (2) position data for the registered point, and (3)
`a pointer indicating a stored position of the travel trail data.
`The travel trail data include (1) position data of the point
`where the vehicle entered off-road, (2) discrete vehicle
`position data for each specific travel distance, and (3)
`position data of the point where the vehicle returned
`on-road.
`When generating travel trail data by the instruction from
`40 the user, the travel trail data generating unit TRC begins to
`generate off-road travel trail data in accordance with the
`generation start instruction from the setting unit STP, ter(cid:173)
`minates the generation of the off-road travel trail data in
`accordance with the generation termination instruction, and
`45 stores the data in the travel trail storage unit OFRM. Here,
`in association with the name of a point inputted on the start
`instruction or on the termination instruction, the travel trail
`data generating unit TRC causes the travel trail storage unit
`OFRM to store (1) the position data of the point, and (2) the
`50 travel trail data (the position data of the point where the
`vehicle entered off-road, and the discrete position data of the
`vehicle for each specific travel distance).
`The display control unit DPLC causes the monitor display
`MNT to display a list of the names of points stored in the
`travel trail storage unit OFRM by an instruction from the
`setting unit STP. Further, the display control unit DPLC
`causes the monitor display MNT to display an image IMl
`including the map surrounding the point (for example, a hut)
`that the user selected from the list, the off-road travel trail
`TR, and the name of the point (HUT). When the name of the
`point (HU1) selected by the user is set as the destination, the
`route search unit RTS searches the route to the off-road point
`PT (HUT ENTRANCE) that is stored in association with the
`name of the point and displays the route. When the point
`65 (HUT) is set as the destination, if an off-road point PTl and
`an on-road point PT2 corresponding to the name of the point
`(HUT) are each stored as entrances to the destination, as
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`(A) Outline Of The Invention
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a navigation
`system according to the invention. The navigation system
`
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`US 6,356,837 Bl
`
`5
`shown in image IM2, the user can select either one of them,
`and the route search unit RTS will search the route to the
`selected point for display. Further, when a point is set as the
`receiving station for a portable telephone or the like
`(CALL), the telephone number stored in association with the
`name of the point is inputted to the mobile telephone.
`The setting unit STP sets whether or not to superimpose
`the off-road travel trail stored in the off-road travel trail
`storage unit OFRM with the map on the display. According
`to the setting of the display, the display control unit DPLC
`displays the off-road travel trail, and during travel along the
`off-road travel trail, the travel state monitoring unit DRM
`monitors whether the position of the vehicle is off the
`off-road travel trail. If the vehicle position goes off the
`off-road travel trail, the travel trail data generating unit TRC
`will regard the point of deviation from the off-road travel
`trail as a branch point, will generate the position data of the
`branch point in association with the name of the branch point
`and the off-road travel trail after the branch, and will cause
`the storage unit OFRM to store them.
`When the travel trail storage unit OFRM is able to store
`the vehicle position data for each specific travel distance in
`the form of a specific point number, the memory capacity
`monitoring unit MQM monitors the storable remaining point
`number, and causes the monitor MNT to display the storable
`remaining point number or the storable remaining travel
`distance.
`
`(B) Navigation System Of The Invention
`
`(a) Overall Construction
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a navigation system accord(cid:173)
`ing to the present invention. In the drawing, 11 signifies a
`map storage medium, for example, a DVD (digital video
`disk) that stores map information, 12 a DVD controller that 35
`controls the read-out of the map information from the DVD,
`13 a position measurement equipment that measures a
`current position of the vehicle, which includes a speed
`sensor that detects a distance of movement, an angular
`velocity sensor that detects an azimuth of a movement, a 40
`GPS receiver, and a position calculation CPU, and the like.
`14 signifies a map information memory that memorizes map
`information surrounding the vehicle position, which is read
`out from the DVD, 15 a remote control unit that executes
`various settings and instructions according to the menu 45
`selection, inputs the names of points and the telephone
`numbers, and executes operations such as expansion/
`contraction, etc., and 16 a remote control interface.
`17 signifies a CPU (navigation control unit) that controls
`the entire navigation system, 18 a ROM that stores various 50
`software and fixed data, in which the various software
`include (1) trail storage/display software for off-road travel,
`(2) trail edit software, (3) destination setting software, ( 4)
`setup software for various settings, (5) remaining capacity
`monitoring software for trail storage memory, (6) map 55
`matching software, (7) guide route search software, and the
`like. 19 signifies a work RAM that temporarily stores the
`processed results of guide route data GRT and off-road
`current travel trail data ORTR, etc., 20 an address book
`memory that stores an address list ADL and an off-road trail 60
`list TRL.
`Further, 21 signifies a display controller that generates a
`map image, off-road travel trail, guide route, etc., 22 a video
`RAM that stores images generated by the display controller,
`23 a menu/list generator that generates various menus and
`lists, 24 a vehicle mark generator that generates the position
`mark of the user's own vehicle, 25 an image synthesizer that
`
`15
`
`6
`synthesizes various images and outputs, 26 a display
`(monitor) that displays images outputted from the image
`synthesizer, 27 a voice guide unit that provides the distance
`and orientation to an intersection by voice, and 28 a com(cid:173)
`munication interface connected with external mobile tele(cid:173)
`phone CTL.
`(b) Address Book
`FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating the construction of the
`address book memory that stores the address list ADL and
`10 the off-road trail list TRL. The address list ADL holds, in
`association with the names of points (the address names),
`addresses, telephone numbers, position data of points (data
`of longitude and latitude), and trail pointers that indicate
`storage locations of travel trail data. The points include
`points outside the off-road area and points inside the off-road
`area. The points outside the off-road area are registered by
`the user while setting the destination, and the points inside
`the off-road area are registered automatically or by the user
`during traveling off-road. There do not exist travel trail data
`for points outside the off-road area (in this case, the trail
`20 pointer does not have any meaning), and there do not exist
`address data for points inside the off-road area. The off-road
`trail list TRL holds a plurality of off-road travel trails TRAIL
`1, TRAIL 2, ... Each of the off-road travel trails includes
`(1) a number (point number N) of discrete vehicle position
`25 data, (2) discrete vehicle position data (data of latitude and
`longitude) PcPN, (3) position data of an off-road point
`(point of deviation from an on-road travel), ( 4) position data
`of an on-road point (point of return from an off-road travel),
`(5) date of travel, and the like. Here, the system (navigation
`30 control unit) recognizes the off-road point and the on-road
`point as entrances to the off-road area.
`(c) Storage Processing Of