DE102008036748A1 - Method for operating a navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device, comprising an input device, at which operator commands and / or location information, in particular route start points and / or route destination points, can be input, a map database in which a map of a geographical area is stored in electronic form in which the map database comprises indicia data sets in which the indications of signposts in the geographical area are stored in alphanumeric form, - a position determination unit which determines the current position of the navigation device, in particular from satellite signals, - a route calculation unit for calculating routes taking into account the data the map database, wherein the routes each lead from a route start point, in particular from the current position, to a route destination, at least one route guidance unit, the maneuvering instructions for following the drive route Ke calculated along the active route, - a display device (03), depending on the current position, a sign icon can be displayed, the sign icon represents at least a portion of the alphanumerically stored data of the associated information sign record, where a) the alphanumeric data of the signage data set analyzed in an analysis module, b) depending on the analysis result, the graphical representation of the ...

Description

The The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device according to the preamble of claim 1.

generic Navigation devices, for example, as mobile or fixed built-in navigation devices or as mobile phones can be designed with suitable navigation software, serve the user according to a precalculated Route from a route start point to a route destination. The navigation device is provided with an input device, a map database, a position determination unit, a Route calculation unit, a route guidance unit and equipped a display device.

In order to make it easier for the user, especially when driving a motor vehicle, to follow the maneuvering instructions, it is known that an information sign icon is displayed on the display device depending on the current position. The information sign symbol reflects the information content of a sign posted at the appropriate place. The corresponding data regarding the information content of the signposts are stored in signage records which are part of the map database. The DE 20 2005 014 631 U1 describes, for example, a navigation device that is suitable for displaying such information sign symbols. For example, if the driver is driving on a motorway and should drive off at the next exit, reading out the information plate record at the next exit will read out the corresponding exit number, which is stored in alphanumeric form in the information plate record, and display it in a sign symbol on the display device. The graphic design of the information sign symbols is standardized and takes no account of the information contents of the information sign data set to be displayed. Especially with greater information content, this means that the content displayed with the information sign symbol can be detected by the driver only within a very short time. In particular, to capture the information content, the driver often has to read and record a large amount of text in order to be able to understand the information given with the information sign symbol. As a result, the traffic safety is impaired and hinders the ease of use.

outgoing From this prior art, it is therefore an object of the present Invention a new method for operating a navigation device with the insertion of information symbols, with which Road safety and ease of use are improved can.

These The object is achieved by a method according to the teaching of claim 1 solved.

advantageous Embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The inventive method is based on the idea, that the alphanumeric contained in the signage records Data no longer just read out and in a given graphical mask, but that instead the alphanumeric Content analyzed in an analysis module. Dependent from this content analysis of the data of the signage data record to be displayed then the graphic representation of the sign icon in Characteristically modified, whereby it is the task of the modified Representation of the information sign icon is the information contained faster and more convenient to capture. Last will be then the graphically modified sign icon for the user displayed on the display device.

Of great importance for the meaningful use of the information sign symbols for the driver is the display of roads, which he has to continue to follow when driving on the planned route. If, for example, the driver has to leave the motorway to follow a certain federal highway in the direction of a specific city, the road sign number of the main road and the necessary direction are usually indicated on the information sign symbol by indicating a town or town located in that direction. This type of presentation corresponds to the usual presentation, which is also used on the existing signs along the road. In particular, the detection of the road number is very difficult in the previous type of design of the information sign symbols for the driver, since the street numbers are compared to the given place names are very short and therefore displayed only relatively small. To capture the road number, the driver must therefore often read the entire text, which is often not possible with a quick look at the display device. To improve the detectability of road numbers, such as the numbers of highways or highways, therefore, according to a preferred method variant of the signage record is searched to see if street numbers are included roads that are part of the route. If this is the case, the corresponding street number will be highlighted graphically in the modified sign icon. The graphic highlighting of the road number can be done by a suitable border or by a suitable enlargement of the road number text respectively.

Becomes found in the analysis of the data in the signage data record, that on the appropriate sign several on the route lying roads with street number are included It often does not make sense all of these street numbers at the same time to be displayed in the information sign symbol. Rather, it is in such cases make sense to display only the street number in the modified information sign icon, to the road with the highest road class belongs. So are for example on a sign Both a highway and a federal highway with their displayed street numbers, so would according to this preferred variant of the method respectively only the motorway number is displayed in the modified information sign icon.

Becomes in the analysis module found that no sign on the sign is included with street number on the desired Route is located, can display such road number still be enabled in the modified signboard symbol. This is the precalculated route to the next street searched with street number. It is advantageous the search depth for a street with street number to be limited by at least one predetermined parameter, in particular the route length, the number of turn maneuvers or consider the travel time. This so found Road number can then be displayed with the modified signage symbol displayed graphically highlighted.

Becomes in the analysis module found that several street numbers are present for the sign, so it is advantageous just a street number to indicate the overview on the signage not to burden. It is therefore necessary to perform a filtering, which from the A plurality of street numbers are displayed.

When Favorable filter criterion, the road class can be selected become. Such is a street number higher street class in any case for the user of larger Meaning, and becomes a street number lower street class preferred. This ensures that important roads be taken into account and not by less important roads be replaced.

When Another advantageous filter criterion is the numerical value evaluated the street numbers. In combination with the Filter criterion road class is achieved here that for competing street numbers of the same street class the more important one is selected, as a rule Streets with small numbers a particularly high importance to have. Alternatively, for a simplification or acceleration of the method, only the number of digits of the numerical value the road number are evaluated.

It is known the information sign symbols with certain colorings indicate the color of the coloring usually to the corresponding color of the signs in the corresponding Country is tuned. For example, for a on a German highway standing information sign an information sign symbol displayed, this will be according to the German highway signs dyed blue and the texts with white letters appears. When displaying information sign symbols for Signs that stand along a main road becomes in Germany a yellow coloring with black Font used. Of course, in other countries, there may be others Give coloring schemes. For example, in Italy Highways equipped with green signs, whereas Federal highways have blue signs. This kind The coloration of the information symbol appears at the time of insertion Road numbers are often a problem. Namely on the information sign a street number for One street appears, the other street class listened to, so is the coloring of the road number not consistent with the actual circumstances. For example, in Germany on a sign, which is positioned on a highway, on a main road with the corresponding street number, so is this street number on the actual street sign yellow background, whereas the sign itself a blue Coloring has. To these actual facts when playing the sign symbol, It is therefore particularly advantageous when detected in the analysis module is displayed, whether the road, their street number in the information sign icon to be heard, another, second street class. In the case of a difference between the street class of Road of information sign symbol and street class the street number shown on the information sign, can then be the road number with a modified colored Frames are displayed. In the example given above would for example, for a highway sign icon Display of the road number for a federal highway a small yellow frame in the blue colored sign icon with the street number of the main road indicated therein displayed.

The coloring of the information sign symbols or the coloring of the frames for displaying the street numbers should be coordinated with the corresponding color schemes in the respective states. For this purpose, a table is preferably maintained and read out in which for each Country and every street class display parameters, such as the background color of the information sign symbols, are stored.

alternative or additively to the graphic processing of the street numbers can also be determined in the analysis module, whether in the signage data set Data describing a POI on the route (Point of interest) to which a specific pictogram is assigned is. Such pictograms can be used for example the representation of an airport, a sports stadium or a Exhibition grounds are available. Will be a corresponding text found in the information sign record, then alternatively or additively to this text, for example 'airport', a suitable pictogram, for example a symbolized airplane, be displayed on the information sign symbol.

additionally or additively to the named elements on a signage data record can also be determined whether for the current driving instruction Exit numbers are available. It is common in different countries these exit numbers on the real signs represent, therefore It is advantageous for the signage in the Navigation system these exit numbers also for display bring. The way in which the exit numbers are displayed follows also country-specific representation parameters, therefore can to the display of the sign with exit numbers on the Representation parameters for the country in which the vehicle is located is currently being accessed, which are kept in a table. Such presentation parameters may be the background color, the outline shape, the font color etc.

Various Aspects of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained below by way of example.

It demonstrate:

1 a first embodiment of a sign icon;

2 the display on the display device of a navigation device with a second embodiment of a sign icon;

3 the display on the display device of a navigation device with a third embodiment of a sign icon;

4 the display on a display device of a navigation device with a fourth embodiment of a sign icon;

5 the display on the display device of a navigation device with a fifth embodiment of a sign icon;

6 a table with country-specific display parameters for signage elements.

1 shows a first embodiment 01 a sign icon. This information sign symbol is an information sign at a motorway exit 22 assigned and should inform the driver that he is leaving the highway at the exit 22 The B43 should follow direction Hofheim. Instead of the usual display of "(22) B43 Hofheim" which can be quite confusing for the driver, according to the invention the sign icon 01 the road number of the next road on the route, namely the "B43" visually highlighted by a framing. In addition, the road number B43 is colored in the customary for federal highways coloring, namely yellow, whereas the sign icon 01 otherwise the usual coloring for the highways, namely blue.

2 shows a second embodiment 02 a sign icon that on a display device 03 a navigation device can be displayed. This is, for example, the display of a sign on a motorway ramp, which should inform the driver that he should turn at the motorway junction on the A3 direction Stuttgart. The street number of the next road to be traveled, namely the "A3" is visually highlighted by a border and colored according to the coloring of highways and blue. The information sign symbol 02 itself is also dyed blue, since it is assigned to a motorway ramp.

3 shows a third embodiment 04 a sign icon for display on a display display device 03 , Again, the exit number of the next exit on the route with the corresponding symbol, here in a circle, visually highlighted, and also the street number of the next road on the route, namely the "A355", appears with appropriate coloring.

4 shows a fourth embodiment 05 a sign icon. In this example, the driver on the main road B19 would be indicated that he should soon turn onto the A7 towards Kassel. The information sign symbol 05 itself is, as usual for federal highways, colored yellow, whereas the reference to the street number "A7" with the corresponding frame is visually highlighted and colored blue.

5 shows a fifth embodiment 06 an information sign symbol in which the street number of the currently traveled road, namely the "N3" is visually highlighted.

6 shows the excerpt from a table, from which information regarding presentation parameters for elements of a signage for specific countries can be read out. The upper block shows parameters for exit numbers. It is defined here for example for 5 countries, whether exit numbers are displayed, if they exist, which external shape they have, as well as the colors background, font and border of the exit number symbol.

Similar are also the two sections built underneath, once for the street numbers that are inside a sign be displayed, and for the signs themselves.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 202005014631 U1 [0003]

Claims (8)

Method for operating a navigation device, comprising - an input device, at which operator commands and / or location information, in particular route start points and / or route destinations, can be entered, - a map database in which a map of a geographical area is stored in electronic form, wherein the map database Signage data sets, in which the indications on signs in the geographical area are stored in alphanumeric form, - a position determination unit, which determines the current position of the navigation device, in particular from satellite signals, - a route calculation unit for calculating routes taking into account the data of the map database, the routes in each case lead from a route starting point, in particular from the current position, to a route destination point, - at least one route guidance unit, the maneuvering instructions for following the route along the route calculated ven route, - a display device ( 03 ), on which depending on the current position a sign icon can be displayed, the sign icon represents at least part of the alphanumerically stored data of the associated signage data record, characterized in that a) the alphanumeric data of the signage data set are analyzed in an analysis module, b) dependent the graphical result of the sign icon is modified from the analysis result, c) the graphically modified information sign icon ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) on the display device ( 03 ) is shown. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is determined in the analysis module, if data are included in the signage data for describing a road lying on the road with road number, upon detection of such a road, the assigned road number when displaying the modified sign icon ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) is highlighted graphically, in particular outlined and / or enlarged. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that upon detection that in the information sign data for describing a plurality of roads lying on the route with street number are included, when displaying the modified sign icon ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) the road number is displayed graphically highlighted, which has the highest road class. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is determined in the analysis module whether data in the signage data for describing at least one lying on the desired route road with street number is included, wherein in non-detection of such stored in the information sign record road with street number the route is searched for the next street with a street number, and the street number associated with that street is displayed when the modified sign icon ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) is highlighted graphically, in particular outlined and / or enlarged, is displayed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the information sign symbol ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) is displayed in a coloration associated with a first street class, the analysis module determining whether the street for which the street number is in the sign icon ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ), and in a difference between the first road class and the second road class, the road number when displaying the modified sign icon ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) is displayed in a colored frame whose coloring is associated with the second street class. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the coloring of the information sign symbol ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) and the coloring of the frame to indicate the street number corresponds to the colors associated with the signs of a particular class of road, in particular motorways and main roads. A method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the coloring of the information sign symbol ( 01 . 02 . 04 . 05 . 06 ) and the coloring of the frame for displaying the road number is changed depending on the country-specific coloring of signs in certain states. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is determined in the analysis module, whether in the information plate data for the description of a on the Route lying POIs (point of interest), in particular for description an airport, sports stadium or exhibition center, are contained, to which a specific pictogram is assigned, when displayed the modified sign icon this POI with the associated icon is displayed.