DE202006003913U1 - Navigation device with size-dependent address element sorting - Google Patents

Abstract

Navigation device with
a device for entering information and
a screen,
which navigation device is designed to display address element lists with address elements for selection on the screen when information has been entered via the information input device that matches a plurality of address elements,
characterized in that the navigation device is further adapted to display the address element lists sorted according to the size of the individual address elements.

Description

The The present invention relates to a navigation device.

Navigation devices, in particular with GPS modules for satellite navigation, have been around known and used for many years. To navigation is entered a target, whereupon the navigation device a driving or Marching route calculated and under continuous own position determination the ride or the march there accompanied with the destination leading information.

The Target is done by the user either voice-controlled or by single-letter input via a keyboard or a keyboard touch-sensitive Screen.

It is known in particular from previously used navigation destination addresses Compile files that are called during further navigation processes can be to facilitate the re-entry of a previously used goal.

Of the The present invention is based on the technical problem specify in particular with regard to the navigation destination input improved navigation device.

To is a navigation device provided with a device for inputting Information and a screen, which designed navigation device is to list address element lists with address elements to choose from Screen when information about the information input device have been entered that match several address elements, characterized in that the navigation device is further adapted to the address element lists according to the size of the individual address elements sorted.

preferred Embodiments are in the dependent claims specified.

to Clarification is first to note that the concept of the navigation device itself not exclusively on devices with a receiver for navigation signals, about GPS signals or Galileo signals relates. As a navigation device is also here a terminal (Terminal), which is specific to the operation of navigation functions is designed, in particular a dedicated software for navigation contains but for the actual navigation operation needs to be linked to additional hardware, for example with a GPS receiver. The navigation device can so For example, a Pocket PC with a suitable software installed be.

The The basic idea of the invention is that the relatively small device size is more typical navigation devices and the correspondingly small screen formats only a very limited Allow display of address element lists. These lists are included with the address elements, the individual information, such as localities or roads, which make up the complete Navigation address composed. This often leads to that the user has to perform relatively many operating steps, to the actually desired Reach and select address element. For example, he has to scroll the list accordingly, or several individual ones Give the first letter of the address element before that actually desired Address element appears. Indeed but is the probability that relatively large cities, localities or roads to be navigated much higher than the corresponding one Probability of small towns, towns or roads. In An overall view will make the navigation easier to use and much faster and more efficient if the user is able to do one size-dependent sorting to use the address elements. Conversely, one can also notice that this equals good or improved Operability and comparable or improved time ultimately smaller screen sizes and thus smaller device sizes can be represented.

In According to a preferred embodiment, the user can adjust, according to which criterion should be sorted. Should he actually once search for relatively small address elements and prefer for example, with a scrolling function (scroll function) to him to roll known alphabetical location of a longer list, so can he for such cases trust alphabetical sorting.

In a preferred embodiment the invention is at least provided that the cities and Towns sorted by size can be represented. This is important because, for example, in the federal territory or even in other territories to certain initial letter combinations very many cities and towns exist and in the vast majority of towns are approached should.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that at least the streets within a certain town or town can be displayed in alphabetical order. Again, this is important because users are usually less familiar with the street names than with the city and place names, which makes it harder for them to do so Street name lists long to search for the right entry. Street names are also often longer and thus difficult to read.

One particular aspect of the invention relates to the fact that the address elements, especially cities, Localities and / or roads, in one after the telephone subscriber number and not number of inhabitants or street length Size order sorted. The navigation device can be the number of telephone subscribers from a phonebook memory to which it is external, about one available online Server, can access. Particularly preferred way is the phonebook memory however, in the device integrated and will for executed elsewhere Used purposes.

Farther is preferably a particular area of the screen for a different one Representation of the list entry or address element arranged there provided, such as an enlarged or, particularly preferred manner, multi-line representation. So can about always the screen element centered address element two or three lines shown be while the remaining List entries only be reproduced in a single line. The central list entry is therefore with a larger information content readable, for example, with district information to localities or district details to roads, without the in principle accessible information abundance of all list items to a corresponding bloating lead to the list display would. For example, by list roles, all list entries in the bring the appropriate screen area.

Further can advantageously be provided when searching, for example rolls, that in addition to a list-like display in a first screen area additionally a second screen area outside the list view is provided in which a particular list entry to a particular Location of the first screen area with much larger text content is shown. For example, the list may be on path names restrict, as possible many list entries to be able to display on the screen being about for the respective central list entry of the one or the few existing residents displayed in the second screen area become. So can an optimal combination of a clear List display on the one hand and the playback of the existing one Information or a substantial part of it without confusing Switching operations be guaranteed.

Preferably For example, the information input device is a touch-sensitive screen that For example, provide a letter field for typing letters can. touch-sensitive Screens have been chosen for their convenient combination of flexibility, size and clarity especially in the field of navigation devices proven.

A preferred embodiment of the navigation device according to the invention is designed for one Screen display with a control surface, which control surface between a beginning and an end about a stretch is long, and designed to be stroked by one along the control surface contact an operating parameter is adjusted, wherein the adjustment of the operating parameter with the length and the direction of the touch correlated and wherein the stroking touch with sufficient remaining Length in the control surface can be set at any starting point in the control surface.

The The basic idea here is an operating element on the touch-sensitive screen is pictured and over stroking touch is served. So you can use a pen or a finger on one Place on the control surface put on and move while maintaining the touch, causing the operating function results. For this purpose, the control surface is elongated, and in front of preferably straight elongated. So it extends between a beginning and an end of the control surface over a Route that is significantly longer is as the vertical width of the control surface. Preferably, the Operation one-dimensional, so is a movement in the width direction without Effect on the operating function.

The stroking touch adjusts an operating parameter, the adjustment itself with direction and length the stroking touch (strictly monotone). The quantitative extent of the adjustment should So with the length correlate to the touch, while the direction or the sign of the adjustment with the direction to correlate with the movement. These correlations are preferred linear, but not necessarily. They are also embodiments conceivable in which, for example, a center region of the operating surface in terms the correlation of length the touch and the quantitative extent of the parameter adjustment less sensitive reacts as the border areas.

Furthermore, the operating movement should be started or terminated in any desired starting point in the operating surface, as long as the distance required for the desired adjustment remains in the operating surface. So it should not be necessary to put the pen or finger on a certain position before the operation can take place. Together with the stroking movement, this makes it possible to realize a particularly intuitive and simple operation which does not involve precise placement of the finger or pencil at the beginning of the movement and therefore easy to use, especially under the difficult conditions in a vehicle or during a hike.

Preferably is the control surface, as already noted, just stretched out, while continuing preferably arranged vertically and preferably on a lateral Edge of the screen is positioned. You can, for example, the take the right edge of the screen. This makes them even more limited Recognizability of the screen content, for example due to poor visibility, for the Easily find operator and disturbs or limits the usable screen area in a minimal way.

Finally is preferred that the degree of adjustment of the operating parameter exclusively with direction and length the stroking touch correlate. While there are, for example, touch pads on notebooks or conventional Computer mice also known operating concepts in which, for example, the speed taken into account and the "gear ratio", for example, between mouse movement and cursor movement on a screen is speed-dependent. Such concepts are also conceivable in the present context, because of the simplicity and ease intended by the invention and intuitive controllability but less preferred.

In an illustrative representation, the control panel according to the invention can be anyway in a straight shape so with a perpendicular to the axis of rotation seen Top view of a control wheel (or projection of a control wheel) compare, in which only the extent and direction of the rotational movement crucial are, but not for example, where the wheel for the rotational movement touched becomes. The preferred exclusive Assignment of the length of the stroking touch to the parameter adjustment, regardless of the location of the corresponding Distance within the control surface, by the way not the increasingly tangential view of the wheel near the edges of the Projection and the resulting shifts in the ratio of Distances in the projection and actual distances on the two-dimensional scale correspond. In this sense, the analogy with the control wheel is limited.

at In another preferred embodiment, the implementation of the stroking touch in the parameter adjustment not in the strict sense continuously, but gradually, in a sense "rastered" or "ratcheting". The control surface according to the invention is generally well suited for the adjustment of one-dimensional ordered operating parameters, for what further Course will be given examples. In many cases it is but cheap, to adjust these operating parameters in certain increments and not allow any adjustments below this step size.

there the sweeping movement can be linked to acoustic signals, for example, a soft click when each step is exceeded. But independent Of these, acoustic signals are preferred, such as a sounding sound Reaching the end of an adjustment range. The acoustic accompaniment also facilitates intuitive operation with u. U. restricted visual control options and reinforced the "mechanical" and therefore intuitive descriptive character of the control panel according to the invention.

The Correlation between the stroke of the stroking touch the control surface and the corresponding parameter adjustment, so to speak the "transmission ratio", is preferred adjustable to the individual preferences of the user or the Use of the control surface according to the invention for various Be able to account for operating functions in detail.

The already mentioned One-dimensionally ordered parameters can be, for example, volume adjustments or zoom functions in the screen display. Especially However, the control surface according to the invention is preferred for the Adjustment of the displayed area beyond the screen content List or the adjustment of a display position of a list within the Screen, even if it does not go beyond the screen. Such operating functions are common with the term "scrolling" and are often used on conventional screens on screens a sliding along a narrow elongated surface scroll bar (also scroll bar) operated. It is further preferred that the control surface according to the invention in different screen layouts or screen contents usage finds, so in the menu structure of the navigation device to different submenus belongs and represents a consistent element of the operation of the device.

Furthermore, a specific area of the screen is preferably provided for a different representation of the list entry arranged there, for example an enlarged or, particularly preferred, multi-line representation. For example, the list entry centered on the screen can always be displayed in two or three lines, while the other list entries are only displayed in a single line. The central list entry is therefore readable with a larger information content, without the information in principle accessible to all List entries would lead to a corresponding inflation of the list display. By operating via the described control panel, all list entries can be brought into the appropriate screen area.

If the control panel according to the invention to move within lists or other parameter representations used, it can often make sense be, especially when selecting content list entries for another Processing, to provide a separate selection operation before selection. Such a selection operation is commonly referred to as "clicking". Preferably is provided for this purpose, the respectively selectable list content or selectable Parameter value that exceeds can change the control surface according to the invention, directly with a pen or finger. In contrast, one should Tapping the control surface according to the invention itself do not constitute a selection function to separate short tap movements by putting on the finger or pen for, for example, a scroll function not to be a problem. Here would be a relatively precise motion control of Pen or finger necessary during navigation in vehicles or be problematic on foot can.

at conventional navigation devices the target is either voice-controlled or by single letter entry via a Keyboard or a touch-sensitive Screen.

One Another aspect of the present invention provides in this regard, that the navigation device is equipped with a built-in phonebook memory, in the telephone subscriber with name, address and telephone number stored as subscriber entries are, where data of a subscriber entry from the phone book memory selectable by a user and a navigation software of the navigation device as navigation address data supplied are, with the navigation software is designed to address from the subscriber entry for navigation.

The The basic idea here is the navigation device with telephone subscriber data equip. Telephone subscriber data are already available in a variety of forms available and usable, be it in the form of electronically available public or private telephone directories for cities, the whole federal territory and also about it addition, or in the form of user-created files, such as corporate telephone files, customer lists, etc. In the vast majority make contain such files in addition to the telephone or fax numbers of the Participants also regularly the addresses. It is therefore for saves the user labor and extends the application possibilities a navigation device considerably, if existing phone files can be used.

The Use of telephone files also has the advantage of being particularly easy updatability and also interchangeability. Because phone files commercially and in-house anyway and are maintained, they can be procured with little effort or updatable or exchangeable with other databases. The independent construction an address data list already made by the user manually or via voice input entered goals is in contrast much more elaborate, necessarily for new destinations not available and after some time is no longer sufficiently current.

For this sees the navigation device according to the invention a Phonebook memory, which is integrated in the device and in which Telephone subscriber data with names, addresses and telephone numbers of the individual Participants are saved. The term of the phonebook memory includes here also memory, the content structure and the Outline does not correspond to conventional telephone directories, such as after Similar to or similar to sorted industry books customer data list or other contact data lists sorted according to other criteria. Particularly preferably, the phonebook memory stores a commercially available complete inventory the telephone subscriber in a particular area, such as the German Germany.

Of the Users of the navigation device can in a conventional manner a particular subscriber entry choose, whereupon at least the address data of this entry of a navigation software of the device supplied as navigation address data be and for the navigation will be used.

A preferred embodiment of the navigation device according to the invention contains a telephone module, is thus at the same time a mobile phone, for example according to the GSM standard. It should the phone module access the same phonebook memory, so that the data and the storage space can be used twice.

Alternatively or additionally, another preferred embodiment contains an e-mail module, so it can, as already known by mobile phones, receive and send e-mails via mobile connections. In this case, it is then provided in particular that contact data obtained via e-mails, that is to say in particular so-called electronic business cards, can be fed to the navigation software and used by the latter for navigation. The user can, therefore, should be the person to whom he is navigating would like to be included in the phonebook store or he wants to save the effort of searching there, can send this person by e-mail address data, which then directly into the navigation or via the detour of a next to the previously mentioned phone book memory out further address memory for navigation can be used. Furthermore, it can be provided that subscriber entries from the telephone book memory or also address data entered manually or via voice input can be transferred to a contact data list of the e-mail module. Finally, it can be provided that the contact data obtained via e-mail for a telephone module, if available, are used and can be called by direct transfer from the e-mail module.

at the integrated phonebook memory is preferably around a semiconductor memory. In principle, but also come in hard disks Consider, as in miniaturized design example of MP3 players are known. In contrast, semiconductor memories have cost advantages and are much smaller and less sensitive. Especially preferred way If the semiconductor memory is an easily replaceable Memory card.

Of the Phonebook memory can, as already mentioned, the Telephone subscriber data also sorted sorted in another form contained than is the case with traditional telephone books. Especially however, an embodiment is preferred where the user has the choice between a classic one Phone book sorted storage variant and one like a classic one Business Directory sorted storage variant, so in one case by participant name and in the other case broken down by industry. Between the alternatives can through appropriate menu selection steps to get voted.

at In a particularly preferred embodiment, the navigation device leaves a setting to, with one or a majority of the industries listed in the Yellow Pages selected can be in map views of the navigation software on the screen to be displayed. This can be the information available in a particularly effective way link and the user can certain needs while the way, so to speak take into account on the way. For example, he can log into the navigation map Show where pharmacies can be found when on the Way to his navigation goal nor to buy a drug has done.

Further can search, such as roles, in the phonebook memory (in which Sorting form also always) be provided advantageously, that in addition to a list-like display in a first screen area additionally a second screen area outside the list view is provided in which a particular list entry to a particular Location of the first screen area with much larger text content is shown. For example, the list may be limited to names to preferably many list entries to be able to display on the screen being about for the each center displayed list entry of the complete existing Text or at least a multi-line part displayed in the second screen area becomes. So can an optimal combination of a clear List display on the one hand and the playback of the existing one Information or a substantial part of it without confusing Switching operations be guaranteed.

One Another aspect of the invention provides that the navigation device next to a navigation data memory and a remote data transmission device and is designed to leave the one in the Navigation data storage corresponding navigation data corresponding geographic area over the remote data transmission device Navigation data about a subsequent geographical area to load into the navigation data memory.

The The basic idea here is to provide additional navigation data if required other geographical areas via remote data transmission reload. The navigation device according to the invention is therefore able to, even on the way to a destination outside of the geographical data recorded by the stored navigation data Area to allow navigation to that destination by missing navigation data can be obtained. For example, that could Inventive navigation device before a States border determine that to the distance behind the state border navigation data missing and show this to the user. The user can then enter Reloading navigation data via the remote data transmission be in the way without having to go to a shop navigation device to connect to a computer or similar. With remote data transmission here is a wireless transmission meant, so not about sending data over the Internet or landline telephone line. Namely, the invention aims at that to make users independent of visiting certain "reload points".

The navigation to a detected outside of the stored navigation data geographic area target can be by the navigation device already at the beginning of the path be for example, by including rudimentary data on adjacent geographical areas, for example by storing to the border crossing points in question which cities behind the border crossings are usefully to approach via the respective border crossing. However, it can also be provided that the user must first specify an intermediate destination in the geographical area covered by the navigation data, for example the border crossing.

Further The invention may be limited to a comparatively recharge a small amount of data, for example only one corridor, which includes the route to the predetermined navigation destination and still has some leeway, so a certain corridor width, but not, for example, the entire affected territory includes.

It but can also be an embodiment favorable when exiting the navigation data corresponding geographically a relatively large dataset, such as the complete Navigation data to the adjacent national territory, to be reloaded.

The Decision between these possibilities may be charged conditional, for example, it may be cheaper for the user to in exceptional cases just reloading a corridor instead of the cost of a complete one another national territory or a larger geographical one defined in another way Room to take over.

Further The decision between these possibilities can also be made by the technical effort for the remote data transmission even and still available affected storage space in the navigation data store become. For example, could as a remote data transmission device a GPRS module in question, which is cheaper could turn out limit the amount of data to a corridor. On the other hand, too a mobile phone line with relatively large transmission powers into consideration come, especially a UMTS line. Then you can also transfer large data sets become. The connection between the remote data transmission technology and the transmitted However, data volume is not mandatory.

Prefers is a certain self-activity of the inventive navigation device by this at a certain threshold distance from the edge of the geographical Area to which navigation data is present, to reach the Randes becomes attentive. It can be either, for example, in the Framework of an agreement already made between the user and the provider of navigation data, automatically reload the missing data. It can also be a hint or a request to the user direct that a reload should be initialized or that a release for such is requested. The Nachladevorgang can namely with costs for be connected to the user or with loss of other data, because the total storage space is limited.

So It may be useful for Reloading also already occupied by other data space to disposal and to accept the loss of such data. Prefers is, however, the stored navigation data to the left In most cases, a return to this area is quite likely is.

As already mentioned at the beginning, is not an inventive navigation device necessarily with hardware for an actual navigation operation, in particular a GPS receiver equipped. Such embodiments are however preferred. Equally preferred are vehicle-independent mobile Handsets, which can be installed in vehicles as well as independently can be used. Particularly preferably, these are for garment bags suitable devices, So in the size of Pocket PCs, Handheld computers, PDAs or so-called smart phones.

in the The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment. Showing:

1 a perspective view of a navigation device according to the invention,

2 to 15 Screen contents of the navigation device 1 to different functional processes,

16 a schematic representation of the navigation device 1 for explaining the loading of navigation data via remote data transmission.

1 shows in perspective an inventive navigation device 1 , This is an approximately palm-sized data processing device with a about three quarters of the front surface of the device occupying touch-sensitive screen 2 , Such devices are known per se as PocketPC or Handheld or Personal Digital Assistant.

The navigation device 1 includes an Intel-compatible processor with a clock speed of over 300 MHz and 64 MB of main memory. It contains a GPS module for communication with a satellite navigation system in a conventional manner and a GSM module for mobile telephony. An unrecognizable slot at the top of the navigation device 1 contains a known from interchangeable SD memory card. On the navigation device 1 In addition to an operating system such as Windows Mobile 5.0 run a navigation software according to the invention, a telephone program and an e-mail program. The SD card is used, among other things, as a navigation data memory and contains so-called map data, for example from Teleatlas NV, version 3.2005. The hardware equipment of such mobile data processing equipment is known per se and need not be explained in detail here.

The operation takes place in addition to recognizable in the lower area actual buttons essentially on the touch screen 2 , The navigation device 1 is battery operated and is therefore suitable for use even for pedestrians and otherwise independent of a vehicle, but can be mounted with suitable brackets in a vehicle, especially a car, and connected there with a 12 V power supply and possibly also external antennas become.

The following 2 to 15 illustrate the function of the navigation device 1 out 1 by showing the respective display on the screen 2 The device, with a simple press of a button, allows selection between landscape and longitudinal format to suit the user preference or mounting position. The 1 to 4 are captured in landscape orientation, the following 5 to 8th in longitudinal format and the remaining figures in landscape format again.

The navigation software according to the invention is called up via an input page specified by the operating system and offers the choice between different menu options via an input screen (not shown here), some of which are shown below by way of example. In particular, the option "Phonebook" can be selected and leads to a 2 directly resembling screen with an input keyboard at the bottom.

In this example, a participant is to be searched in Munich, which is why the letter "M" is entered, whereupon the in 2 displayed screen appears. In an upper first screen area 5 One recognizes a list starting with "Munich" and the square-bracketed general structure of the postal codes occurring for Munich, which is continued with "Münster", "Mönchengladbach" and "Mannheim" as well as other cities not shown. It follows that the cities are not listed alphabetically, as usual, because then, for example, "Mannheim" would have to be in front of "Munich". Instead, they are sorted by their telephone number. The number of telephone subscribers has determined the navigation software from the data stock of the telephone book memory also realized in the SD card, from which also the displayed city list originates.

In this case, the user has a control panel displayed in the upper right area of the screen 6 used, which is a visually a wheel with horizontally lying in the plane of the screen rotation axis element reproduced. Vertical stroking movements via this control surface 6 scroll the displayed city list, with a click sound at each line level and a short ring when a list end is reached. In this example, the user has a pen or finger on the control surface 6 and move down until you hear a click and the list jumps up one level. Thus, "Münster" is now in the middle line of the screen area 5 and is "Mannheim" with in the screen area 5 while "Munich" is above the center line. If now the user starting from the in 2 state shown a vertical stroking movement on the control surface 6 performs upward, so rings a bell, because the upper end of the list is reached, jumps "Munich" in the middle list line and disappears "Mannheim" at the bottom of the screen area 5 , The user can then "Munich" or even in the in 2 Select state by direct tap with the pen or finger and use it for further menu steps.

The control surface 6 otherwise works as already described above, wherein the vertical movements of a pen or finger on the surface are linearly translated into list movements and in this embodiment, the direction of movement on the control surface 6 is exactly opposite to the list movement, so the pen so for example, must be moved down to view further down the list areas can.

The already mentioned and below the first screen area 5 and the control panel 6 arranged control surface 7 also allows the input of other letters, which would then a list of cities with the then corresponding two or more than two initial letters would be displayed, which in turn is sorted by size, namely number of telephone subscribers. The upper right button of the control surface 7 allows the previous letter entry to be deleted, while the lower left button jumps back one operating level. The Upper left button with the abbreviation ZIP allows the city search for postal code input.

The just described selection of the city of Munich then leads to a display as in 3 in which alphabetical participant lists appear. When viewing off 3 So again is a letter input, and here is the full name "Müller". The participants beginning with "Müller" appear in alphabetical order in Munich.

The fact that the user now moves in the participant stock of Munich, shows the top line of the screen content, in the screen according to 2 has shown that the user moves in the German participant booth. The software is therefore basically designed to manage international phone book data.

If now the user the control surface 6 If it is still used, it can "roll" to the beginning "miller" within the participant stock as with an ordinary scroll bar. As shown below 6 will be explained in more detail, while the letter field 7 hidden and instead described in more detail second screen area with more detailed information on each in the middle line of the first screen area 5 are displayed.

4 shows no further development of the operation according to the 2 and 3 but an alternative. If the user has selected the option "Address list" of the navigation software instead of the option "Phone book", he can select, for example, the city of Munich in a way that directly corresponds to the one described above. Now, however, appears according to 4 a street list in the first screen area 5 , In this example, the street list except the first list entry "Ortszentrum" is arranged alphabetically, ie it starts with the "Aachener Straße" instead of the largest street in Munich. The user can in the basic settings of the software for both the already described city and locality list according to 2 as well as for the street listing according to 4 choose between a subscriber number and an alphabetical order.

The Listing according to the invention according to number of participants has basically the advantage of dealing with the use of phone book data according to the invention very cheap can be combined. Especially with the street names is added that the number of telephone users compared to the Street length as the more realistic criterion appears. The probability, that one street Navigation goal is much more likely with the number of phone participants correlate as with their length.

If the user has selected a street in the manner described by tapping on the list entry, he may select a house number in a manner no longer illustrated, or one by a button in the first screen area 5 select the option "intersection". This option allows him to choose from a list of roads intersecting the selected road, a cross between two selected roads.

All in all can be in the described manner participants from the phone book inventory and / or Select navigation destinations, the for additional functions can be used.

5 shows a screen display with 3 compare here, however, for the city Dorsten instead of Munich and for the first letter "Kli" instead of "Müller". The first entry is klickTel GmbH, which can be selected by tapping.

6 shows a very similar screen display, but for illustrative purposes in longitudinal format. In contrast to 5 appears because of the additional input of "ck" here only the "klickTel GmbH" and here the explanatory note "Martin Luther Street" can no longer be specified in the same line, so that a highlighted representation of the middle entry in two-line notation appears in appearance. This two-line highlighting of the respective middle list entry in the first screen area 5 basically applies to all lists, but is not always needed for the presentation of the available text.

The software according to the invention has a further possibility of the more detailed representation of text contents, which in 6 is also shown. As long as the finger or pen on the control surface 6 lingers, becomes the letter field 7 hidden and instead in the corresponding second screen area, which now with 8th is a more complete text rendering to the entry of klickTel GmbH reproduced, namely with a slogan, the mailing address and the phone number. A corresponding possibility for more detailed text display while still touching the control panel 6 is available when the letter field is displayed 7 principle.

By selecting the entry of the klickTel GmbH, the screen contents are given according to 7 , Here is the text from the second screen area 8th out 6 slipped into the first screen area, whereas the second screen area is occupied by buttons, which in 7 summarily with 9 are designated. The buttons allow the calculation of navigation routes (upper left "Routes" button), the display of the selected target containing maps (upper middle button "Map"), the storage in a cache (upper right under "Save"), a phone call to the selected participant (lower left button "Call"), adding to a contact list, the for example, can also be used for e-mail functions (lower middle button "contact"), and finally the use as an additional target for navigation (bottom right).

In the present example, the user has tapped the "Call" button, whereupon the in 7 largely the first screen area above overlapping windows 10 is displayed. In the top line of this window 10 are the text hint "telephone dialing ...", slightly lower right the telephone service provider "T-Mobile D" and a little further down the left name and telephone number of the called party. This window 10 can be like the left of the two bottom buttons in the window 10 shows, hide. With the right of the two lower buttons the call process or the call can be ended. In the in 7 shown operating state, the navigation device according to the invention works like a mobile phone.

In In a similar way, you can also put a selected participant in one Take over the email program and also about an email program received contact information ("electronic business cards" or "signatures") for navigation purposes or Use telephone purposes.

8th shows a further use of the navigation software according to the invention. Here, the user has chosen instead of the previously described menus "phone book" and "address list" a menu "Business Directory". The corresponding database is held according to participant names by industry, in 8th example shown, for example, the branch name "tax offices", articulated. The business listings will be displayed according to the relevant industry collective terms, after the city or town has been selected, as previously described. One recognizes also that the entries graphic symbols 11 , here for "Offices and Authorities", are assigned in pictogram-like form. These symbols will be discussed again later. Incidentally, the operation of the "Business Directory" menu corresponds to the previous descriptions of the "Telephone Book" menu.

If the user has selected a subscriber from the phonebook or the business directory, a screen will appear as shown 7 , For example, this screen also allows selection via the "Routes" button, whereupon the navigation software is started. First, a screen appears as in 9 indicating that the navigation software is busy calculating the route. During this routine, it determines its own position with the aid of the GPS module already mentioned and determines, in a manner known per se, a favorable route from this position to the entered destination, with various options for the route being possible, such as minimum distance, minimum time, minimum intersection number, etc. During this routine, the lower left field in 9 Progress through 0-100% high percentages.

When the routine finishes, a screen appears as in 10 , Here can be in an upper line 12 the navigation destination not specified here is displayed. The largest part of the screen shows a perspective view map display, which can optionally also appear in a direct plan view and then contains street names. In this map display, the way ahead to the destination is marked in color.

The left and right at the edge of each centrally marked symbols + and - leave zoom in or zoom out by respectively tapping the map representation too.

The upper right button at the right edge of the line 12 when tapping, a menu line appears, with which the navigation menu can be ended, the sound can be switched off, can be selected between a day and night display of the screen content, and finally can be selected between the illustrated perspective view and the above-mentioned plan view.

The lower left area shows a traffic sign similar direction 13 and underneath a track 14 , Right of the track 14 find yourself a line 15 with a street indication. With the route information 14 It is shown at which distance the next maneuver occurs, here in 700 m. With the direction indication 13 On the one hand, it shows that the driver should turn right there, on the other hand that the corresponding intersection also offers the possibility to turn left and drive straight ahead. This information results from the drawn right-angling arrow and the two straight and pointing to the left in the reduced thickness "stub". The line 15 indicates that the road leading into this maneuver is called "Friedrichswall".

In the lower right area are in a field 16 (from top to bottom) the current time, the remaining distance to the destination as well as two technical status displays SIM and TMC are displayed. The status display SIM initially only means that the figures correspond to screen printouts from a simulation. In a real navigation would be here GPS and would display the strength of the GPS signal by the bar graph. Analogously, the strength of the TMC signal is displayed under TMC, namely a traffic message signal received at radio frequencies either via an external module or a module integrated in the navigation device according to the invention. Tapping on these status displays will bring up a screen that will inform you about the technical status in more detail.

The following 11 - 13 track the screen content for about a kilometer and are different from that of 12 on 13 from 627 km to 626 km jumping indication of the remaining distance only by the respective map representation.

14 shows a screen content from another navigation, in connection with the field displayed there 17 to be received. This is a display of a speed limit display in the map display, which receives the navigation software from the existing map data. This information can be further linked with the vehicle speed detected by the navigation software anyway and with the user-settable threshold values for a warning display when the speed limit is exceeded. When a new warning display appears, a voice output, such as the word "Achtung", can be added.

15 again shows a screen from another navigation, because of the icons 18 - 20 is pictured. Incidentally, the illustration is an example of the above-mentioned plan view instead of the perspective view.

The symbol 18 should represent a sports stadium and symbolizes the outline term "sports facilities" from the business directory. Accordingly, the star marked with a "P" symbolizes 19 a police station and the petrol pump symbol 20 a gas station. The user can select the display of such industry symbols in the map views so that he receives additional information about on-the-way facilities depending on interest during navigation.

16 shows a schematic representation of the navigation device 1 on the left side in connection with three system different transmitters on the right side. The illustration clarifies that the navigation device 1 (from top to bottom) with operating system software OS, navigation software, a GPS module with associated antenna, a TMC module (which may also be located externally, for example in the car radio) with associated antenna, with a GSM / GPRS (mobile phone ) Module (or even UMTS module) with associated antenna and finally equipped with an e-mail software. All software parts cooperate with the operating system OS. In a manner known per se, the navigation software uses the GPS module for positioning. For this purpose, the GPS module receives signals from a satellite (SAT).

The TMC module receives Traffic messages about Radio frequencies used by the for Traffic Radio Radios are radiated. The navigation software can do this Consider information such as traffic jam warnings and route recommendations work in, as known.

The GSM / GPRS module leaves the navigation device 1 also work as a mobile phone. It has in the present invention still further tasks, which will be discussed in more detail below.

The Mail software allows e-mail contacts via the GSM / GPRS module and in the way already mentioned the use of electronic business cards and signatures in the navigation software.

The Navigation software accesses the navigation data storage in the in the lower area marked pluggable and exchangeable SD memory card to. In addition to these so-called card information contains the SD memory card Furthermore, the phone book data storage for the mentioned menus "phone book" and "business directory" as well as space for the user self-generated address lists. In the latter can also Telephone and e-mail contacts are stored.

Of course, the navigation device has 1 via the GSM module also the possibility for Internet access and can load data from the Internet.

The Remote data transmission device, with the navigation data according to the invention (Map data) to other geographic areas is embodied in the GSM / GPRS module. This module can after receive data packets defined by the GPRS standard. About this Channel is the reloading of corridor related map data in the Navigation data memory of the SD memory card possible.

at UMTS-compatible devices For example, instead of the GSM / GPRS module, a UMTS module may be present then the function of the remote data transmission device occupies. In both cases the modules are in radio contact with corresponding GSM / GPRS / UMTS transmitters.

So is the navigation device according to the invention in the Able to move easily and without significant technical Additional effort over a GPRS or UMTS or other remote data transmission server Loading navigation data when the need arises, in particular when approaching the edge of a covered by the existing navigation data Range.

Claims (12)

Navigation device having means for inputting information and a screen, which navigation device is adapted to display address element lists with address elements for selection on the screen, when information has been entered via the information input device that fits multiple address elements, characterized in that the navigation device further is designed to display the address element lists sorted according to the size of the individual address elements. navigation device according to claim 1, wherein it is adjustable whether the address element lists by size of the address elements or sorted by alphabetical order. navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the address elements are the designations of cities and localities are. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the address elements the names of streets are. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the size after the telephone subscriber number of the address element is evaluated and the telephone subscriber number from telephone book data in a telephone book memory is won. navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the phonebook memory integrated in the navigation device is. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display position the address element list is to be adjusted vertically and in one rela tively to the screen fixed area that respectively there arranged address element relative to the other displayed address elements is highlighted. navigation device according to claim 5, also in conjunction with claim 6 or 7, in which in participant entries the phone book memory can be searched and the subscriber entries in a first Screen area can be displayed and rolled as a list and one in a particular part of the first screen area respectively arranged subscriber entry in a second screen area outside the list representation in larger text extent is pictured. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the information input device a touch-sensitive Screen is. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims with a touch-sensitive screen, which is designed for a screen display with a control surface, which between a Beginning and an end over a stretch is long, and is designed so that stroked by a along the control surface contact an operating parameter is adjusted, the adjustment of the operating parameter with the length and the direction of the touch correlated and the stroking touch with sufficient remaining Length in the control surface can be set at any starting point in the control surface. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims with an integrated Telephone book memory, in the telephone subscriber with name, address and telephone numbers are stored as subscriber entries, wherein Data of a subscriber entry from the phonebook memory by a user selectable and a navigation software of the navigation device as navigation address data supplied are, with the navigation software is designed to address from the subscriber entry for navigation. navigation device according to one of the preceding claims with a navigation data memory and a remote data transmission device, which is designed to leave the one in the navigation data memory when leaving stored navigation data corresponding geographic area over the Remote data transmission device Navigation data about a subsequent geographical area to load into the navigation data memory.