WO2009115070A1

WO2009115070A1 - Method for operating a navigation device

Info

Publication number: WO2009115070A1
Application number: PCT/DE2009/000175
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thorsten W. Schmidt
Original assignee: Navignon Ag
Priority date: 2008-03-17
Filing date: 2009-02-17
Publication date: 2009-09-24
Also published as: DE102008036748A1; WO2009115070A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device, comprising – an input device where operator commands and/or location information, particularly route starting points and/or route destination points, can be entered, - a map database, in which a map of a geographical area is stored in electronic form, wherein the map database comprises information sign data sets in which information about information signs in the geographical area is stored in alphanumerical form, - a position determination unit, which determines the current position of the navigation device, particularly from satellite signals, - a route calculation unit for calculating routes while taking the data of the map database into consideration, wherein the routes each lead from a route starting point, particularly the current position, to a route destination point, - at least one route guidance unit, which calculates maneuvering instructions to follow the road along the active route, - an indicator device (03), which can indicate an information signal symbol as a function of the current position, wherein the information sign symbol represents at least part of the alphanumerically stored data of the associated information sign data set, wherein a) the alphanumeric data of the information signal data set is analyzed in an analysis module, b) the graphical representation of the information sign symbol is modified as a function of the result of the analysis, and c) the graphically modified information sign symbol (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) is indicated on the indicator device (03).

Description

Method for operating a navigation device

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

Generic navigation devices, which may be designed, for example, as mobile or permanently installed navigation devices or as mobile phones with suitable navigation software, serve to guide the user according to a precalculated route from a route starting point to a route destination. The navigation device is equipped with an input device, a map database, a position determination unit, a route calculation unit, a route guidance unit and 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. DE 20 2005 014 631 U1 describes, for example, a navigation device that is suitable for the insertion of 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 icon 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 great deal 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.

Based on this prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a new method for operating a navigation device with the display of information sign symbols, with which the traffic safety and ease of use can be improved.

This object is achieved by a method according to the teaching of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The inventive method is based on the basic idea that the alphanumeric data contained in the signage data sets are no longer simply read out and displayed in a predetermined graphical mask, but instead that the content of an alphanumeric data in an analysis module. Depending on this content analysis of the information to be displayed on the signage data record, the graphical representation of the information sign symbol is then modified in a characteristic manner, wherein the object of the modified representation of the information sign symbol is to be able to detect the information contained faster and more conveniently. Finally, the graphically modified sign icon is then displayed to the user on the display.

Of great importance for the meaningful use of the sign symbols for the driver is the display of roads, which he has to continue to follow when driving on the planned route. For example, if the driver has to leave the highway to follow a certain state highway toward a particular city, the road sign number of the main road and the necessary direction will usually be indicated on the information sign icon by indicating a city 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 for the driver in the previous type of design of the information sign symbols, since the road numbers are compared to the specified 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 in 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 street number can thereby by a suitable border or by a suitable enlargement of the street number text.

If, during the analysis of the data in the information sign data record, it is found that there are several roads along the route with road number on the corresponding information sign, it often makes no sense to display all of these road numbers at the same time in the information sign symbol. Rather, in such cases, it makes sense to display only the road number in the modified sign icon that belongs to the road with the highest road class. Thus, for example, if both a motorway and a federal highway with their respective street numbers are displayed on an information sign, only the motorway number would be displayed in the modified information sign icon according to this preferred method variant.

If it is determined in the analysis module that the signboard does not contain a road with a road number that is on the desired route, the display of such a road number in the modified information sign icon can still be enabled. To do this, the precalculated route is searched for the next street with street number. In this case, it is advantageous to limit the search depth to a road with a road number by means of at least one predefinable parameter, which can take into account, in particular, the route length, the number of turn maneuvers or the travel time. This thus found street number can then be displayed graphically highlighted when displaying the modified sign icon.

If it is determined in the analysis module that there are several street numbers for the information sign, it is advantageous to display only one street number in order not to burden the overview on the information sign representation. It is therefore necessary to perform filtering which is displayed from the plurality of road numbers. As an advantageous filter criterion, the road class can be selected. In any case, a street number of higher street class is of greater importance to the user and is preferred to a street number of lower street class. This ensures that important roads are taken into account and not replaced by less important roads.

As a further advantageous filter criterion, the numerical value of the road numbers is evaluated. In combination with the filter criterion road class, it is achieved that, for competing street numbers of the same road class, the corresponding more important one is selected, since as a rule roads with small numbers have a particularly high significance. Alternatively, for simplification or acceleration of the method, only the number of digits of the numerical value of the street number can be evaluated.

It is known to display the information sign symbols with certain colorings, wherein the color of the coloring is usually matched to the corresponding color of the signs in the corresponding country. If, for example, a warning sign symbol is to be displayed for a sign on a German motorway, it will be colored blue in accordance with the German motorway signs, and the texts will be displayed in white text. When displaying signage symbols for signs, which stand along a main road, a yellow coloring with black writing is used in Germany. In other countries, of course, there may be different coloring schemes. For example, in Italy highways are equipped with green signs, whereas highways have blue signs. This type of coloring of the sign icon often results in the display of street numbers a problem. If, for example, a street number for a street belonging to another street class appears on the information sign symbol, the coloring of the street is correct Road number does not match the actual conditions. If, for example, in Germany an information sign positioned on a motorway indicates a federal road with the corresponding road number, this road number is highlighted in yellow on the actual road sign, whereas the sign itself has a blue coloring. In order to be able to reproduce these actual circumstances when inserting the information sign symbol, it is therefore particularly advantageous if it is determined in the analysis module whether the street whose street number is to be displayed in the information sign icon belongs to another, second street class. In the case of a difference between the road class of the road of the sign icon and the road class of the road number displayed on the sign icon, the road number may be displayed with a modified colored frame. For example, in the example given above, for a highway sign icon when displaying the road number for a national road, a small yellow frame would be displayed in the blue-colored sign icon with the road number of the national road indicated therein.

The coloring of the information sign symbols or the coloring of the

Frame for displaying the street numbers should be matched to the corresponding color schemes in the respective states. For this purpose, a table is preferably maintained and read out in which display parameters, such as the background color of the information sign symbols, are stored for each country and each street class.

Alternatively or in addition to the graphic processing of the street numbers, it can also be determined in the analysis module whether data for describing a route-lying POI (Point of Interest) are contained in the information sign data record to which a specific icon is assigned. Such pictograms can be present, for example, for the representation of an airport, a sports stadium or an exhibition center be. If a corresponding text is found in the information label data record, then alternatively or in addition to this text, for example "airport", a suitable pictogram, for example a symbolized aircraft, can be displayed on the information sign symbol.

Additionally or in addition to the above elements on a signage data set can also be determined whether exit numbers are available for the current driving instruction. It is common in various countries to represent these exit numbers on the real signs, so it is advantageous for the sign display in the navigation system to bring these exit numbers also to display. The way in which the exit numbers are displayed is also based on country-specific display parameters. Therefore, to display the information plate with exit numbers, the display parameters for the country in which the vehicle is currently located can be accessed, which are stored in a table. Such presentation parameters may be the background color, the outline shape, the font color, etc.

Various aspects of the invention are illustrated schematically in the drawings and are explained below by way of example.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an information sign symbol;

FIG. 2 shows the display on the display device of a navigation device with a second embodiment of an information sign symbol; FIG.

3 shows the display on the display device of a navigation device with a third embodiment of an information sign symbol; 4 shows the display on a display device of a navigation device with a fourth embodiment of an information sign symbol;

5 shows the display on the display device of a navigation device with a fifth embodiment of an information sign symbol;

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

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

Fig. 2 shows a second imple mentation form 02 of a sign icon that can be displayed on a display device 03 of a navigation device. This is, for example, the display of a sign on a motorway ramp, which should inform the driver that he at the highway entrance to the A3

Turn towards Stuttgart. The road number of the next road to be driven, namely the "A3", is visually highlighted by a border and also colored blue according to the coloration of motorways.The information sign 02 itself is also colored blue, as it is assigned to a motorway ramp. Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment 04 of 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 icon, here in a circle, visually highlighted, and also the street number of the next street on the

Route, namely the "A355", with appropriate coloring superimposed.

4 shows a fourth embodiment 05 of an information sign symbol. In this example, the driver on the main road B 19 would be indicated that he should soon turn onto the A7 towards Kassel. The sign icon 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 of a sign icon, in which the street number of the currently traveled road, namely the "N3", is visually highlighted.

FIG. 6 shows the section from a table, from which information relating to display 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 outer shape they have, as well as which colors, background, font and border of the symbol for exit numbers have them.

Similarly, the two sections are constructed underneath, once for the street numbers that are displayed within a sign, and for the signs themselves.

Claims

claims

Method for operating a navigation device, comprising

an input device, on which operator commands and / or location information, in particular route start points and / or route destination points, can be entered,

a map database in which a map of a geographical area is stored in electronic form, the map database comprising indicia records in which the indications of indicia 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 each leading from a route start point, in particular from the current position, to a route destination,

at least one route guidance unit which calculates maneuvering instructions for following the route along the active route, a display device (03) on which an information sign icon can be displayed depending on the current position, the information sign symbol representing at least part of the alphanumerically stored data of the associated information sign data set represents, characterized in that a) the alphanumeric data of the signage data set are analyzed in an analysis module, b) depending on the analysis result, the graphical representation of the sign icon is modified, c) the graphically modified sign icon (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) the display device (03) is displayed.

2. The 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 an on-route road with road number, wherein upon detection of such a road, the assigned road number when displaying the modified sign icon ( 01, 02, 04, 05, 06) highlighted graphically, in particular outlined and / or enlarged, is shown.

3. The 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 are included with street number, when displayed the modified sign icon (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) the street number graphically highlighted, which has the highest road class.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is determined in the analysis module, whether the information sign data set to describe at least one on the desired route lying road with street number are included, in Nicht¬

Determining such a road number stored in the signpost data record the route is searched for the next road numbered road, and the road number assigned to this road is graphically highlighted, in particular bordered and / or displayed when the modified information sign symbol (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) is displayed or enlarged, is displayed.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sign icon (Ol, 02, 04, 05, 06) is displayed in a coloration, which is associated with a first street class, wherein in the analysis lysis module is determined whether the street for which the street number is in

Sign icon (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) is to be displayed, belongs to another, second street class, and wherein in case of a difference between the first street class and the second street class, the street number when displaying the modified sign icon (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) is displayed in a colored frame whose coloring is assigned to the second street class.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the coloring of the sign icon (01, 02, 04, 05, 06) and the coloring of the frame for displaying the street number corresponds to the colors that the signs of a particular street class, especially highways and highways , assigned.

7. The 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.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is determined in the analysis module, whether in the information sign data for describing an on-route POIs (point of interest), in particular for the description of an airport, a sports stadium or a Fairgrounds, are included, which is associated with a specific icon, which is displayed when the modified sign icon, this POI with the associated icon.