(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0220923 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 5, 2006
`Tanizaki et al.
`
`US 2006O220923A1
`
`(54) MAP DISPLAY METHOD
`(76) Inventors: Masaaki Tanizaki, Tokyo (JP); Kishiko
`Maruyama, Tokyo (JP); Shigeru
`Shimada, Tokyo (JP)
`Correspondence Address:
`Stanley P Fisher
`Reed Smith Hazel & Thomas
`3110 Fairview Park Drive
`Suite 1400
`Falls Church, VA 22042 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`10/565,300
`(22) PCT Filed:
`Aug. 18, 2004
`(86). PCT No.:
`PCT/PO4/11840
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Aug. 22, 2003 (JP)...................................... 2003-298821
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`G08G L/23
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .......................................................... 340/995.1
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A map display method whereby the contents of a road map
`displayed can be easily and clearly grasped regardless of the
`running conditions of a vehicle.
`In a Summarized map displayed on a display Screen 10, an
`area including a vehicle position 11, a destination 13 and a
`guide route 12 between them is displayed in simplified
`fashion. At a position far from the destination, as shown in
`FIG. 2A, a Summarized map of a wide area is displayed and
`objects including a road 14 and a facility 15 are limited to
`a greater degree. With the approach of the vehicle position
`11 to the destination 13, as shown in FIG. 2B, the contraction
`scale is decreased and a Summarized map of a middle area
`is displayed, while at the same time increasing the objects
`displayed. With a further approach of the vehicle position 11
`to the destination 13, as shown in FIG. 2C, a narrower area
`is displayed in Summarization, while at the same time
`displaying Substantially all the objects, thereby making it
`possible to grasp the neighborhood of the destination 13 in
`detail.
`
`VEHICLESPEED
`DETECTOR
`
`3
`
`4
`
`COMMUNICATION
`UNT
`
`5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`POSITION DETECTOR
`
`CONTROLUNT
`
`INPUT UNIT
`
`9
`
`8
`
`VOICE INPUTIOUTPUT
`UNT
`
`7
`
`
`
`DISPLAYUNIT
`
`
`
`MAPDATABASE
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 1 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 1 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`FIG.1
`
`POSITION DETECTOR
`
`VEHICLESPEED
`DETECTOR
`
`COMMUNICATION
`
`5
`
`MEMORY
`
`INPUT UNIT
`
`VOICE INPUTIOUTPUT
`
`DISPLAYUNIT
`
`6
`d
`s
`MAPDATABASE
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 2 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 2 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`MIDDLE
`AREA
`
`1 O
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 3 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 3 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`DAISANIMARY
`HOOL ()
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CEPOSITION
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 4 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 4 of 12
`FIG.4
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`100
`
`MEASUREVEHICLE
`POSITION
`
`J RECEIVEDESTINATION
`INPUT
`
`102
`
`RETRIEVEROUTE
`
`
`
`103
`
`DETERMINEDISPLAY
`RANGE
`
`1 04
`
`DETERMINEDISPLAY LIMITAMOUNT OF EACH OBJECT
`
`
`
`w
`
`FROMTABLE
`
`105
`
`READMAPDATA
`
`
`
`1 O6
`
`COMPAREAND ADJUST NUMBER OF OBJECTSN INTIAL VALUE
`LAYER AND DETERMINEDVALUE
`
`107
`
`GEOMETRICALLY
`PROCESSAND
`ARRANGE
`
`
`
`
`
`MEASUREVEHICLE
`
`11 O
`
`
`
`gold
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 5 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 5 of 12
`FIG.5
`
`
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 6 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 6 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`FIG.7
`
`SET GUIDE ROUTETOPRIORITYp1
`
`SETMAINROAD TOPRIORITYp2
`
`SETBRANCHROADSTOPRIORITYp3
`
`SETNAMEDROADSTOPRIORITYp4
`
`SETSTRAIGHTROADS CONNECTED TOBRANCH
`ROADSTOPRIORITYp5
`
`2OO
`
`201
`
`2O2
`
`203
`
`204
`
`41
`
`42
`
`
`
`43
`
`44
`
`45
`
`ID AERCATEGORY PEN PATTERNDATA
`
`46
`
`47
`
`NAME
`
`PRORTY
`
`
`
`1 O O
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`O 3
`
`O
`
`1004 100
`|
`|
`
`
`
`20
`40
`
`polyline (x,y).xnyn) (NAME FUCHUKADO) p4
`|
`|
`|
`
`
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 7 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 7 of 12
`FIG.9
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`100
`
`MEASUREVEHICLE
`POSITION
`
`O1
`
`RECEIVE DESTINATION
`INPUT
`
`102 -- RETRIEVEROUTE
`
`103
`
`DETERMINE
`DISPLAYRANGE
`
`3OO
`
`DETERMINE CONTRACTION SCALEaFROMDISPLAY
`SCREEN AND DISPLAYRANGE
`
`
`
`301
`
`Z
`
`-->
`
`3O3
`
`SUMMARIZATION
`DEGREEy=z
`
`SUMMARIZATION
`DEGREEy=zmin
`
`305
`
`DETERMINENUMBER OF OBJECTS READIN CORRESPONDENCE WITH
`SUMMARIZATIONDEGREEy
`
`306
`
`READMAPDATA
`
`307
`
`DETERMINE OBJECTS DISPLAYED
`
`1 O7
`
`GEOMETRICALLY PROC
`ESSANDARRANGE
`
`108
`
`109
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`MEASUREVEHICLE
`POSITION
`
`110 sorored
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 8 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 8 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`FIG. 1 OA
`
`R TOKYOSTATION,
`ENTRALENTRANCE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`40a
`
`DAMAR)
`I
`
`
`
`TOKYO
`STATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`O Hall.
`
`
`
`
`
`N TOKYO STATION,
`t
`CE
`NTRAL POST OFFICE
`
`SOUTHENTRANCE
`
`O
`CHYODA
`
`TTOKYOTSUBISH
`BANK
`
`in a trial
`
`
`
`
`
`f
`
`
`
`I
`
`KOKYO OUTER
`GARDEN
`
`HIBIYA
`STATION
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 9 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 9 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`FIG.1 1A
`
`
`
`MTSUBISH
`ELECTRIC
`O
`
`TOKYOMTSUBSH
`
`41a
`
`TOKYO
`
`STATION
`
`"r
`
`TOKYOSTATION,
`SOUTHENTRANCE
`
`wo
`
`NUBASH-MAE
`STATION
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 10 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 10 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`FIG. 12
`CHARACTER,
`
`C
`
`
`
`RUNNING AT
`HIGH SPEED
`RUNNING AT
`LOW SPEED
`
`
`
`BAISAN
`RBIMARY &
`SHOOL
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 11 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 11 of 12
`FIG.14
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`(b)
`
`
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 12 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 5, 2006 Sheet 12 of 12
`
`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`
`
`CD
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 13 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`Oct. 5, 2006
`
`MAP DISPLAY METHOD
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`0001. This invention relates to a map display method for
`measuring the present position of an automotive vehicle,
`displaying, on a display screen, a map including the present
`position and the present vehicle position on the map and
`guiding an occupant of the vehicle to a destination.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`0002. In the prior art, a car navigation apparatus for
`permitting the occupant to easily view the route to a desti
`nation and guiding the vehicle positively to the destination
`has been proposed (for example, JP-A-7-103779).
`Patent Document 1: JP-A-7-103779
`0003. In the car navigation apparatus described in this
`Patent Document 1, the contraction scale of the road map
`displayed is changed with the progression of the vehicle to
`the destination, and the road map on display is progressively
`enlarged with the approach to the destination. In this con
`ventional apparatus, the contraction scale of the road map on
`display is determined in Such a manner that the present
`vehicle position is always displayed in the neighborhood of
`a corner of the display screen and the destination is dis
`played in the neighborhood of the diagonally opposite
`corner of the display screen in accordance with the ratio of
`the linear distance between the present vehicle position and
`the destination to the length of the diagonal line of the
`display Screen.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`Problem to be Solved by the Invention
`0004. In the car navigation apparatus described in Patent
`Document 1, the road map is displayed in more detail with
`the approach to the destination. In the case where the vehicle
`is running in an area somewhat distant from the destination,
`however, the marks indicating roads and facilities are dis
`played in fine detail on the road map covering a wide area,
`and so are the names of places, roads and facilities, which
`are very hard to read, especially, for an occupant driving the
`vehicle. The present position where the vehicle is running,
`therefore, may not be easily determined from the road map.
`0005. In the car navigation apparatus, the road map in the
`neighborhood of the present position of the vehicle can be
`also displayed. The road map of the same contraction scale,
`however, is viewed by the occupant differently on a toll road
`for high speed running and an ordinary road where the
`vehicle cannot be driven at high speed. From Such a road
`map, the occupant of the vehicle running at high speed on a
`toll road may not be able to determine easily where his/her
`vehicle is located.
`0006 The object of this invention is to obviate this
`problem, and to provide a map display method whereby the
`contents of a road map on display can be easily and clearly
`grasped without regard to the running conditions of the
`vehicle.
`
`MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
`0007. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object,
`according to a typical aspect of the invention, there is
`
`provided a map display method for detecting the present
`position of a vehicle and displaying a road map including a
`vehicle position mark indicating the detected present vehicle
`position and a guide route to be followed by the vehicle,
`wherein a Summarized map indicating the guide route from
`the present vehicle position to the destination is displayed,
`which Summarized map is Summarized to a Summarization
`degree corresponding to the distance from the present
`vehicle position to the destination.
`0008 Also, in this summarized map, the display amount
`of the roads and other display elements constituting the
`Summarized map is changed in accordance with the Sum
`marization degree.
`0009. Also, according to this invention, there is provided
`a map display method for detecting the present position of
`a vehicle and displaying a road map including a vehicle
`position mark indicating the detected present vehicle posi
`tion and a guide route to be followed by the vehicle, wherein
`a Summarized map indicating a local area including the
`guide route from the present vehicle position is displayed,
`and in the local Summarized map, the display amount of the
`roads and other display elements constituting the Summa
`rized map is changed in accordance with the vehicle running
`speed.
`0010 Also, in this local summarized map, the range of
`the display area is changed in accordance with the vehicle
`running speed.
`
`ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
`0011. According to this invention, a Summarized map
`indicating the running route can be displayed in simplified
`fashion as compared with a plane map, and the contraction
`scale of the Summarized map is changed to change the range
`of a display area in accordance with the distance from the
`present vehicle position to the destination, wherein the
`Summarized map is easy to view and the relative position of
`the vehicle can be intuitively grasped wherever the vehicle
`may be located on the guide route.
`0012. Also, in view of the fact that the display amount of
`objects on the Summarized map is changed in accordance
`with the distance between the vehicle position and the
`destination, the Summarized map is easier to view wherever
`the vehicle is located on the guide route. The other objects,
`features and advantages of the invention will be made
`apparent by the description of embodiments of the invention
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`0013 Embodiments of the invention are described below
`with reference to the drawings.
`0014 FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a
`car navigation apparatus using the map display method
`according to an embodiment of the invention. Reference
`numeral 1 designates a control unit, numeral 2 a position
`detector, numeral 3 a vehicle speed detector, numeral 4 a
`communication unit, numeral 5 a memory, numeral 6 a map
`data base, numeral 7 a display unit, numeral 8 a voice
`input/output unit and numeral 9 an input unit.
`0015. In this diagram, the map data of each area are
`stored in the map database 6 and downloaded to the memory
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 14 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`Oct. 5, 2006
`
`5 provisionally from an external Source through the com
`munication unit 4. The map data stored in the memory 5 are
`stored in the map database 6 under the control of the control
`unit 1. The map data of the whole nation is not initially
`required to be stored, but in the absence of the map data on
`the area where the vehicle with the car navigation apparatus
`mounted thereon (hereinafter referred to simply as the
`vehicle) is running, the map data of the particular area can
`be requested from a server (not shown) through the com
`munication unit 4 and distributed from the server. Never
`theless, the whole map data can of course be stored in the
`map data base 6 in advance.
`0016. The map data base 6 has stored therein the road
`data and the display element data as the component elements
`of the map data, and by reading and combining the data of
`the component elements from the map database 6, the road
`map data is obtained, whereby a road map is displayed on
`the display screen of the display unit 7. The display elements
`include the elements (symbols and names) of the facilities
`Such as railroads, Schools, convenience stores and bridges
`and the equipment including traffic signals.
`0017. The position detector 2 is a device such as a GPS
`(Global Positioning System) for detecting the position of the
`vehicle, and the vehicle speed detector 3 is a device for
`detecting the moving speed of the vehicle. In the position
`detector 2, the position of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to
`as the vehicle position) is detected at predetermined time
`intervals. The vehicle position is detected by the position
`detector 2 at the position detection timing based on the
`detection result of the vehicle speed detector 3.
`0018. The input unit 9 includes a mechanical switching
`means operated by the occupant and a touch Switch dis
`played on the display screen of the display unit 7. The
`occupant, by operating the input unit 9, can input a com
`mand for the desired operation of the car navigation appa
`ratuS.
`0019. The control unit 1 is for controlling the various
`parts for navigation based on the command from the input
`unit 9. The road map data corresponding to the vehicle
`position based on the position information from the position
`detector 2 and the vehicle speed information from the
`vehicle speed detector 3 is read from the map database 6 and
`displayed on the display unit 7 together with a mark indi
`cating the present vehicle position (i.e. the vehicle position
`mark). According to this embodiment, the road map data can
`be displayed on the display unit 7, though not explained in
`detail, in any of various forms including a normal plane
`display in which the road map is displayed in the normal
`two-dimensional way, a bird’s-eye display in which a two
`dimensional road map is displayed as if viewed from a high
`view point, and a steric display in which, as a kind of a
`bird’s-eye display, buildings, three-dimensional objects like
`buildings and ups and downs of the ground are displayed
`stereoscopically. Other display forms available include, as
`described later, a Summarized display in which the required
`information is selectively picked up from a two-dimensional
`road map and roads, etc. are geometrically processed and
`displayed in a simplified fashion, and a two-screen display
`combining any of the display forms described above. In the
`case where a road map is displayed by other than the plane
`display, the control unit 1 processes the road map data read
`from the map database 6 and displays it on the display unit
`7.
`
`0020 Incidentally, the voice input/output unit 8 includes
`a speaker for outputting a voice guide or the like is output
`in operatively interlocked relation with the operation of
`guiding the vehicle on the road map displayed on the display
`screen of the display unit 7 and a reproducing device for a
`recording medium Such as a disk.
`0021 Next, the display forms according to this invention
`are explained.
`0022 FIGS. 2A to 2C show a map display method
`according to an embodiment of the invention, in which
`Summarized maps corresponding to the distance from the
`vehicle position to the destination are shown. Numeral 10
`designates a display screen of the display unit 7, numeral 11
`a vehicle position, numeral 12 a vehicle guide route,
`numeral 13 a destination, 14 roads other than the guide route
`12, numeral 15 a symbol of a facility, and numeral 16 names
`of roads or facilities.
`0023 The summarized map according to this embodi
`ment displays by Summarizing the area from the present
`vehicle position to the destination. With the approach of the
`vehicle position to the destination, the contraction scale is
`increased while the map area displayed on the display Screen
`of the display unit 7 is reduced.
`0024. The “contraction scale” is defined as the degree of
`contracting the map displayed on the display screen. Assume
`that the contraction scale of the map displayed without
`contraction on the display screen of the display unit 7 is 1.
`In the case where a map of a wider area is displayed on the
`display screen, the map is required to be contracted to the
`size of the display screen with a contraction scale of less
`than 1. For example, a map having an area four times as
`large as a map having the contraction scale C. of 1, if to be
`displayed on the display screen, is reduced to one fourth
`with the contraction scale C. of 4.
`0025 The roads and the display elements in the summa
`rized map are limited more, the longer the distance from the
`vehicle position to the destination and hence the larger the
`area to be displayed. Specifically, the Summarized map
`facilitates the viewing of roads and display elements in spite
`of the change in contraction scale. The same roads and the
`same display elements are displayed, therefore, in Substan
`tially the same size for different contraction scales, without
`being Superposed one on another. In order to display roads
`and display elements in this way, the display amount of the
`roads and the display elements is required to be limited and
`processed to improve the visibility depending on the con
`traction scale of the map. The degree of this limitation and
`the processing is determined by the degree of Summarization
`indicating the degree to which the Summarized map is
`Summarized, i.e. the Summarization degree.
`0026.
`In the case where a map (contraction scale C. of 4)
`of an area four times larger than the area of a map having the
`contraction scale C. of 1 (hereinafter referred to as a refer
`ence map) and including the area of the reference map is
`displayed by being contracted to one fourth, for example, the
`roads and the display elements are also displayed by being
`contracted and become very difficult to view. In a summa
`rized map, the display amount is reduced by reducing the
`number of roads and display elements displayed to one forth
`and the roads and the display elements after reduction are
`enlarged in a manner not Superposed one on another to
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 15 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`Oct. 5, 2006
`
`facilitate the viewing. The degree to which the number of
`roads and display elements is reduced and enlarged is
`determined by the Summarization degree of the Summarized
`map.
`0027 FIGS. 2A to 2C show examples of summarized
`map displayed on the display screen 10 of the display unit
`7 (FIG. 1). In these summarized maps, symbols 15 of roads
`14 or facilities and characters indicating the names of places
`or facilities (names 16) are displayed, together with a mark
`A indicating the present vehicle position 11 (vehicle mark),
`an asterisk indicating the destination 13 (destination mark)
`and a vehicle guide route 12 from the vehicle position to the
`destination.
`0028. According to this embodiment, the summarized
`map is displayed on the display Screen 10 in Such a manner
`as to include the guide route from the present vehicle
`position to the destination. Therefore, the contraction scale
`of the Summarized map and the area displayed are changed
`in accordance with the distance from the present vehicle
`position to the destination.
`0029 FIG. 2A shows a summarized map with a long
`distance from the present vehicle position to the destination.
`In this case, the contraction scale is Small and a wide area is
`displayed by being Summarized. In this wide-area Summa
`rized map, the guide route 12 is displayed, together with a
`main road 14, a railroad 17, a symbol 15 indicating a river
`and a main facility and names 16 thereof which provide
`easily visible marks for the occupant driving the vehicle.
`Also, on the Summarized map, the roads and display ele
`ments are limited and processed to facilitate the viewing
`without difficulty.
`0030. According as the distance from the present vehicle
`position to the destination is shortened and the contraction
`scale is increased while the area indicated by the Summa
`rized map is narrowed, the display amount of the roads and
`the display elements is limited to lesser degree. In a Sum
`marized map for a middle area as shown in FIG. 2B, for
`example, a road 14a crossing the guide route 12 also comes
`to be displayed.
`0031
`Further, with the approach of the guided vehicle to
`the destination 13, as shown in FIG. 2C, a road map of a
`narrow area is displayed. This narrow-area road map, if 1 in
`contraction scale C, is not summarized, and all the roads and
`display elements are displayed together with the guide route
`12. In this case, these roads are displayed realistically with
`the same width, length and shape (curve, etc.) as in the
`ordinary road map. Also, the display elements including
`facilities and the names thereof displayed on this Summa
`rized map are increased in number, thereby facilitating the
`detection of the destination 13.
`0032. The map having the contraction scale C. of 1 is
`based on the map data obtained by cutting out an area that
`can be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 7
`as it is from the map database 6 (FIG. 1). Also in this case,
`the roads and display elements may be appropriately limited
`and processed.
`0033. In the series of summarized maps described above,
`with the change in distance between the running vehicle
`position 11 and the destination 13, the contraction scale is
`progressively increased and the display area narrowed, so
`that the Summarized map is displayed in increasingly
`
`enlarged form. In this case, the vehicle position is detected
`at intervals of about one to several seconds by the position
`detector 2 and the vehicle speed detector 3 (FIG. 1), and
`based on this detection result, a Summarized map is pro
`duced. In this case, therefore, the contraction scale of the
`Summarized map is changed and the display area is nar
`rowed at these time intervals, so that the Summarized road
`map progressively enlarged is displayed on the display
`screen 10.
`0034 FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams showing the map
`display method according to another embodiment of the
`invention, and represent an example of two-screen display.
`Numeral 20 designates a Summarized map, numeral 21 a
`plane map and 22 a traffic signal. The parts corresponding to
`those in FIGS. 2A to 2C are designated by the same
`reference numerals and not explained again.
`0035 FIG. 3A shows the two-screen display in the case
`where the distance from the vehicle position 11 to the
`destination 13 is long (far in distance). The display unit 7
`(FIG. 1), together with the display screen 10, includes
`operation means such as a “two-screen” button 25, a
`“vehicle position' button 26, a “scale” button 27 and a “total
`route' button 28. By operating the “two-screen” button 25,
`the summarized map 20 is displayed in the left half and the
`plane map 21 in the right half, for example, of the display
`screen 10. Although the component elements (roads and
`display elements) of the Summarized map 20 are similar to
`those of the summarized maps shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a
`summarized map of the neighborhood of the vehicle position
`is displayed by operating the “vehicle position” button 26.
`0036) The plane map 21 is an ordinary road map. By
`operating the “total route' button 28, however, the plane
`map 21 of the total route from the present vehicle position
`11 to the destination 13 is displayed. Also, by operating the
`“scale” button 28 with the prevailing contraction scale as a
`minimum one, the contraction scale of the plane map 21 can
`be changed. As a result, with the increase in contraction
`scale, a narrower area is displayed in progressively enlarged
`form by the plane map 21. The plane map 21 thus displayed,
`however, always covers an area including the present
`vehicle position 11, and therefore the situation in the neigh
`borhood of the vehicle position can be known in detail.
`0037. With the approach of the running vehicle 11 to the
`destination 13 and arrival at the position of a middle distance
`from the destination 13, as shown in FIG. 3B, the roads and
`display elements not displayed in the Summarized map 20
`shown in FIG. 3A come to be newly displayed in the
`Summarized map 20, like in the Summarized map 10 shown
`in FIG. 2B. The plane map 21, in contrast, is displayed in
`the same contraction scale unless the “scale” button 27 or the
`“total route' button 28 is operated. According as the vehicle
`runs, however, the area displayed is changed.
`0038. With the approach of the vehicle position 11 to the
`range of a predetermined distance from the destination 13,
`as shown in FIG. 3C, only the plane map 21 including the
`vehicle position 11 to the destination 13 is displayed in a
`one-screen display mode.
`0039. As described above, a local plane map of neigh
`borhood of the vehicle position can also be displayed in
`two-screen display mode together with the Summarized
`map. Further, in view of the fact that the contraction scale of
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1009, Page 16 of 22
`Hyundai Motor Company v. Mel Navip LLC
`IPR2024-00172
`
`

`

`US 2006/0220923 A1
`
`Oct. 5, 2006
`
`the plane map can be changed, the vehicle position in terms
`of the approximate distance to the destination can be grasped
`on the Summarized map, and by displaying the local plane
`map, the situation in the neighborhood of the present vehicle
`position can be known in detail, thereby making it possible
`to drive the vehicle more Smoothly as guided by the appa
`ratuS.
`0040. As described above, the summarized map can be
`combined also with a bird’s-eye display or a steric display
`in place of a plane map. In this case, the information on the
`neighborhood of the vehicle position in line with a more
`realistic visual field can be provided. Also, the display can
`be switched by the provision of a button to switch the screen
`in the menu bar.
`0041. With reference to FIG. 4, a specific example of the
`operation for display of a Summarized map by the control
`unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 is explained.
`0042. In this drawing, first, a power switch not shown is
`turned on. Then, the vehicle position is measured by the
`detection output of the position detector 2 (step 100). When
`the destination is input from the input unit 9 (step 101), the
`route (guide route) from the vehicle position to the destina
`tion is retrieved using the map data including the data on the
`roads and display elements in the map database 6 (step 102).
`From the vehicle position, the destination and the guide
`route thus retrieved, a display range including these factors
`to be displayed on the display screen 10 of the display unit
`7 is determined (step 103).
`0043. A specific example of the method of determining
`this display range is explained with reference to FIG. 5.
`0044) In this drawing, from the vehicle position informa
`tion obtained by the detection output of the position detector
`2 and the destination information input from the input unit
`9, the map data 30 including them is retrieved from the map
`data base 6, and the vehicle position 11 and the destination
`13 are determined on the map data 30. Under predetermined
`conditions, the guide route 12 from the vehicle position 11
`to the destination 13 is retrieved. Then, a square or rectan
`gular area having four sides including a north-to-south
`straight line 32a passing through the vehicle position 11, the
`destination 13 or the guide route 12, whichever is located at
`the easternmost position, a west-to-east straight line 32b
`passing through the northernmost position, a north-to-south
`straight line 32c passing through the westernmost position
`and a west-to-east straight line 32d passing through the
`Southernmost position, is detected as a route area 31. Fur
`ther, an area including the route area 31 and having the same
`aspect ratio as the display screen 10 of the display unit 7 is
`determined as a map display area 33. This map display area
`33 is determined as a display range at step 103 shown in
`FIG. 4.
`0045. On the other hand, a table is set for determining the
`display limit amount for each type of object (a display
`element such as character/symbol and a road) in accordance
`with the screen size of the display unit 7. This limit amount
`may be set in terms of the number or the ratio of the
`occupied area to the area of the display screen 10 (=Total
`area (number of pixels) occupied by display elements/Area
`of display screen 10 (number of pixels)). Table 1 shown
`below is an example in which the display limit amount of
`characters/symbols and roads is expressed by the number,
`and Table 2 by the ratio of occupied area.
`
`TABLE 1.
`
`Screen size
`
`Characters/symbols
`
`Roads
`
`6 inches
`7 inches
`
`30
`35
`
`50
`60
`
`0046)
`
`Screen size
`(pixels)
`
`800 x 480
`1440 x 234
`
`TABLE 2
`
`Characters/symbols
`(%)
`
`2O
`30
`
`Roads
`(%)
`
`30
`35
`
`0047. In the case where the screen size of the display
`screen is 6 inches, for example, a maximum of 30 characters/
`symbols (or maximum of 20% in occupied area ratio) can be
`displayed, and a maximum of 50 roads (or maximum of 30%
`in occupied area ratio) can be displayed.
`0048 Returning to FIG. 4, upon determination of the
`display range as described above (step 103), the display limit
`amount of each object (road and display element making up
`the component elements of the map) shown in Tables 1 and
`2 is read (step 104). Also, the map data of the display range
`(the map display area 33 determined in the manner described
`with reference to FIG. 5) is read from the map database 6
`and temporarily stored in the memory 5 (step 105).
`0049. This map data include object data as described
`above. The number of each type of objects read from the
`map database 6 is determined (this number of each type of
`objects is called the number of objects in the initial value
`layer). This number of objects in the initial value layer is
`compared with the display limit amount obtained at step
`104, and the maximum number of each type of objects
`actually displayed in the Summarized map is adjusted to be
`equal to the display limit value. In this way, the roads and
`display elements actually displayed are determined from the
`objects in the initial value layer (step 106).
`0050. In this specific example, the display amount of
`objects is limited to the display limit amount shown in
`Tables 1 and 2. Based on this display limit amount, the
`degree to which the map is Summarized, i.e. the Summari
`Zation degree is changed in accordance with the contraction
`scale of the Summarized map.
`0051 Specifically, in the case where a summarized map
`is displayed on the contraction scale C., for example,
`assume that n is the number of object “roads” (number of
`objects in the initial value layer) read from the map database
`6 to display the Summarized map, and that M is the display
`limit value of this object (“50, for example, for the screen
`size shown in Table 1). In this summarized map, only M
`roads are disp