Navigation system and intersection guidance method

Claim 2

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on a drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route to read out sound data corresponding to the retrieved result from said sound storing means and output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 3

A navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising enlarged view drawing means for making an enlarged illustration of an intersection on the basis of said road map data, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further giving instructions to said enlarged view drawing means to produce enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection, and outputting the produced enlarged view illustration data from said enlarged view drawing means to said image display means.

Claim 4

A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 5

A navigation system as defined in claim 2, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 6

A navigation system as defined in claim 1, further comprising enlarged view storing means for storing an enlarged illustration of an intersection, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further reading out enlarged illustration data of said first intersection from said enlarged view storing means and output the read enlarged illustration data to said image display means.

Claim 7

A navigation system as defined in claim 5, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 8

A navigation system as defined in claim 5, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 9

A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein said inputting means recognizes a voice of a user for inputting data.

Claim 10

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on the drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route, and obtaining a distance from said position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection on the basis of said road map data and further obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route to read out sound data corresponding to the obtained distance and advancing direction from said sound storing means and output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 11

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on the drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route, and obtaining a distance from said position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection on the basis of said road map data and further obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route to read out sound data corresponding to the obtained distance and advancing direction from said sound storing means and output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 12

A navigation system as defined in claim 9, further comprising enlarged view drawing means for making an enlarged illustration of an intersection on the basis of said road map data, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further giving instructions to said enlarged view drawing means to produce enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection, and outputting the produced enlarged view illustration data from said enlarged view drawing means to said image display means.

Claim 13

A navigation system as defined in claim 10, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 14

A navigation system as defined in claim 10, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 15

A navigation system as defined in claim 9, further comprising enlarged view storing means for storing an enlarged illustration of an intersection, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further reading out enlarged illustration data of said first intersection from said enlarged view storing means and output the read enlarged illustration data to said image display means.

Claim 16

A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 17

A navigation system as defined in claim 13, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 18

A navigation system as defined in claim 9, wherein said inputting means recognizes a voice of a user for inputting data.

Claim 19

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on the drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route, and obtaining a distance from said position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection on the basis of said road map data to read out sound data corresponding to the obtained distance from said sound storing means and output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 20

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on the drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route, and obtaining a distance from said position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection on the basis of said road map data to read out sound data corresponding to the obtained distance from said sound storing means and output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 21

A navigation system as defined in claim 17, further comprising enlarged view drawing means for making an enlarged illustration of an intersection on the basis of said road map data, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further giving instructions to said enlarged view drawing means to produce enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection, and outputting the produced enlarged view illustration data from said enlarged view drawing means to said image display means.

Claim 22

A navigation system as defined in claim 18, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 23

A navigation system as defined in claim 18, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 24

A navigation system as defined in claim 17, further comprising enlarged view storing means for storing an enlarged illustration of an intersection, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further reading out enlarged illustration data of said first intersection from said enlarged view storing means and output the read enlarged illustration data to said image display means.

Claim 25

A navigation system as defined in claim 21, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 26

A navigation system as defined in claim 21, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 27

A navigation system as defined in claim 17, wherein said inputting means recognizes a voice of a user for inputting data.

Claim 28

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on a drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route to obtain the advancing direction in said first intersection to read out sound data corresponding to the obtained advancing direction from said sound storing means to output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 29

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; sound storing means for storing guidance information on intersections as sound data; speech synthesizing means for performing a speech synthesizing process for said sound data to output a sound signal; voice outputting means for outputting as a voice said sound signal from said speech synthesizing means; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on a drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route to obtain the advancing direction in said first intersection to read out sound data corresponding to the obtained advancing direction from said sound storing means to output the read sound data to said speech synthesizing means.

Claim 30

A navigation system as defined in claim 25, further comprising enlarged view drawing means for making an enlarged illustration of an intersection on the basis of said road map data, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further giving instructions to said enlarged view drawing means to produce enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection, and outputting the produced enlarged view illustration data from said enlarged view drawing means to said image display means.

Claim 31

A navigation system as defined in claim 26, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 32

A navigation system as defined in claim 26, wherein said enlarged view illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 33

A navigation system as defined in claim 25, further comprising enlarged view storing means for storing an enlarged illustration of an intersection, said control means outputting said sound data from said sound storing means to said speech synthesizing means and further reading out enlarged illustration data of said first intersection from said enlarged view storing means and output the read enlarged illustration data to said image display means.

Claim 34

A navigation system as defined in claim 29, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 35

A navigation system as defined in claim 29, wherein said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes an advancing direction in said first intersection.

Claim 36

A navigation system as defined in claim 25, wherein said inputting means recognizes a voice of a user for inputting data.

Claim 37

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; enlarged view drawing means for producing enlarged illustration data of an intersection on the basis of said road map data; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on the drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route and for giving instructions to said enlarged view drawing means to produce enlarged illustration data of said first intersection, and further for outputting the produced enlarged illustration data from said enlarged view drawing means to said image display means.

Claim 38

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; enlarged view drawing means for producing enlarged illustration data of an intersection on the basis of said road map data; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on the drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route and for giving instructions to said enlarged view drawing means to produce enlarged illustration data of said first intersection, and further for outputting the produced enlarged illustration data from said enlarged view drawing means to said image display means.

Claim 39

A navigation system as defined in claim 33, wherein said control means obtains a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection on the basis of said road map data, and said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes said distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 40

A navigation system as defined in claim 33, wherein said control means obtains the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route, and said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes a course from said first intersection.

Claim 41

A navigation system as defined in claim 33, wherein said inputting means inputs data by recognizing a voice of the user.

Claim 42

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; enlarged view storing means for storing enlarged illustration data of an intersection; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on a drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route and for reading out enlarged illustration data of said first intersection from said enlarged view storing means to output the read enlarged illustration data to said image display means.

Claim 43

A navigation system comprising: position measuring means for measuring a position of a motor vehicle; map storing means for storing road map data; image display means for indicating an image signal including said road map data; enlarged view storing means for storing enlarged illustration data of an intersection; inputting means for inputting various kinds of data from a user; route setting means for setting a drive route on said road map data on the basis of starting point information and destination information inputted through said inputting means; route storing means for storing said drive route set by said route setting means; and control means for, when from said inputting means demanding output of guidance information on a first intersection on a drive route for next change of its advancing direction while said motor vehicle is running according to said drive route stored in said route storing means, retrieving said first intersection on the basis of said drive route and for reading out enlarged illustration data of said first intersection from said enlarged view storing means to output the read enlarged illustration data to said image display means.

Claim 44

A navigation system as defined in claim 37, wherein said control means obtains a distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection on the basis of said road map data, and said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes said distance from the position of said motor vehicle to said first intersection.

Claim 45

A navigation system as defined in claim 37, wherein said control means obtains the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route, and said enlarged illustration data of said first intersection includes a course from said first intersection.

Claim 46

A navigation system as defined in claim 37, wherein said inputting means inputs data by recognizing a voice of the user.

Claim 47

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step from the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; a fifth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a sixth step of outputting as a voice the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step and the advancing direction in first intersection obtained in the fifth step.

Claim 48

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step from the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; a fifth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a sixth step of outputting as a voice the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step and the advancing direction in first intersection obtained in the fifth step.

Claim 49

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step from the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; and a fifth step of outputting as a voice the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 50

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step from the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; and a fifth step of outputting as a voice the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 51

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a fifth step of outputting as a voice the advancing direction in said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 52

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a fifth step of outputting as a voice the advancing direction in said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 53

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step to the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; a fifth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a sixth step of outputting an enlarged illustration of said first intersection including the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step and the advancing direction in said first intersection obtained in the fifth step.

Claim 54

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step to the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; a fifth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a sixth step of outputting an enlarged illustration of said first intersection including the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step and the advancing direction in said first intersection obtained in the fifth step.

Claim 55

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step to the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; and a fifth step of outputting an enlarged illustration of said first intersection including the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 56

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of calculating a distance from the position of said motor vehicle obtained in the second step to the position of said first intersection obtained in the third step; and a fifth step of outputting an enlarged illustration of said first intersection including the distance from the position of said motor vehicle to the position of said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 57

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a fifth step of outputting an enlarged illustration of said first intersection including the advancing direction in said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.

Claim 58

An intersection guidance method which displays a measured position of a motor vehicle on road map data and outputs guidance information on an intersection when said motor vehicle runs according to a set drive route, said method comprising: a first step of checking whether or not there is a demand of output of guidance information on a first intersection on said drive route at which said motor vehicle next changes its advancing direction; a second step of obtaining information on a position of said motor vehicle; a third step of obtaining information on a position of said first intersection; a fourth step of obtaining the advancing direction in said first intersection on the basis of said drive route; and a fifth step of outputting an enlarged illustration of said first intersection including the advancing direction in said first intersection obtained in the fourth step.