Map displaying method and apparatus, and navigation system having the map displaying apparatus

Claim 2

A navigation system comprising a map database device for storing map information at least including information regarding topographical features and roads; a current location detection device for detecting a current location of an automobile on which said navigation system is mounted; a map display device for fetching map information in an area specified in response to said detected current location of said automobile, generating a perspective map viewing the ground plane from a view point using said obtained map information, and generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding said perspective map; and a display device for displaying a map image according to said graphic data, wherein said map display device comprises a view point setting unit for executing at least setting procedures of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map; and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, said map database includes height information of a topographic feature existing at least in a part of an available map area, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information in a display area or an area including the display area which is specified in response to said detected current location of said automobile when said height information of a topographical feature is included in the display area or the area including the display area.

Claim 3

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for accepting requests to set at least one of a type and a height of said automobile, wherein said map display device establishes said view point using said established variables in response to the accepted request, and generates graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated using said established view point.

Claim 4

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements existing at least in a part of an available map area, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information when said height information is available for the map including the constituent elements in a display area or an area including the display of said perspective map.

Claim 5

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements existing at least in a part of an available map area, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information when said height information is available for the map including the constituent elements in a display area or an area including the display of said perspective map.

Claim 6

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said location indicated by said input location information is a current location of a moving object, and said view point setting unit repeats its view point setting procedure when renewed location information is provided with movement of said moving object.

Claim 7

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said view point setting unit establishes and maintains said view point so as to keep a predetermined relative spatial relationship to a current location of the moving object.

Claim 8

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said view point setting unit keeps the previous view point position, and reestablishes a line of sight so as to be able to capture said moving object in the current location within its field of view if a relative spatial relationship between the newly-provided current location of said moving object and the previously-established view point satisfies a predetermined condition range.

Claim 9

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said view point setting unit fixes the height of said view point when said moving object is located within a part of an area extending a predetermined range from the current location of said moving object if an amount of topographic variation in the area is not larger than a predetermined value.

Claim 10

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements existing at least in a part of an available map area, wherein said location indicated by said input location information is a current location of an automobile, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point for generating said perspective map looking from inside of said automobile based on said height information of the map constituent element at the current location of said automobile and a height of said automobile's body.

Claim 11

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements existing at least in a part of an available map area, wherein said location indicated by said input location information is a current location of an automobile, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point for generating said perspective map looking from inside of said automobile based on said height information of the map constituent element at the current location of said automobile and a height of said automobile's body.

Claim 12

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising input means for accepting requests from a user regarding the height of said view point to be set, wherein said input location information is a current location of an automobile, and when said requested height of said view point is not larger than the first predetermined value, said view point setting unit establishes said view point inside of said automobile, and when said requested height of said view point is larger than the second predetermined value, said view point setting unit establishes said view point above and behind said automobile.

Claim 13

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising input means for accepting requests from a user regarding a display scale to be set, wherein said moving object is an automobile, and when said requested display scale is not larger than the third predetermined value, said view point setting unit establishes said view point inside of said automobile, and when said requested display scale is larger than the fourth predetermined value, said viewpoint setting unit establishes said view point above and behind said automobile.

Claim 14

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 4 , further comprising input means for accepting requests regarding a view angle to be set for generating said perspective map, wherein said display processing unit sets a value of a view angle to one of a predetermined normal value and a wide value larger than said normal value according to said accepted request, and generates graphic data for displaying said perspective map in accordance with said established view angle.

Claim 15

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising selection means for accepting requests regarding a selection of a display method between a pseudo three dimensional display method which makes it possible to give a distinctive impression of distance by executing perspective transformation procedures on two dimensional horizontal data containing said map information, and a three dimensional display method which displays a scenery image using two dimensional horizontal data and said height information of map constituent elements included in said map information, wherein when said pseudo three dimensional display method is selected, said view point setting unit establishes said view point at a predetermined height with respect to the ground plane at sea level and when said three dimensional display method is selected, said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information of the map constituent element at said input location or a location which is separated from said input location for a predetermined distance.

Claim 16

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said view point setting unit establishes a height of said view point so as to maintain a predetermined spatial relationship to said input location before and after the chance when said display method is changed by said selection means between said pseudo three dimensional display method and said three dimensional display method.

Claim 17

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising decision means for deciding if said height information said obtained map information, wherein said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information when said decision means decides that said height information is included in said map information, and establishes said view point at a predetermined height with respect to the ground plane at sea level when said decision means decides that said height information is not included.

Claim 18

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising decision means for deciding if said height information is included in said obtained map information, wherein said view point setting unit establishes said view point at a predetermined height with respect to the ground plane at sea level for displaying the map using a pseudo three dimensional display method if a plurality of map meshes to be displayed are further included in said map information, and said decision means decides that at least one of said map meshes contains no height information.

Claim 19

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on height information of map constituent element when said height information exists for the map constituent element in a display area specified in response to a location indicated by the input location information or an area including the display area, said display processing unit generates graphic data for displaying a graphic image illustrating said moving object superposed on a scenery image to be displayed, and changes said graphic image of said moving object in response to a change of a relative spatial relationship between said established view point and said moving object due to a change in the setting condition of said view point setting unit.

Claim 20

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on height information of map constituent element when said height information exists for the map constituent element in a display area specified in response to a location indicated by the input location information or an area including the display area, said display processing unit generates graphic data for displaying a graphic image illustrating said moving object superposed on a scenery image to be displayed, and changes said graphic image of said moving object in response to a change of a relative spatial relationship between said established view point and said moving object due to a change in the setting condition of said view point setting unit.

Claim 21

A map display method in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from a map database; a perspective map looking toward a ground plane from a view point is generated using said obtained map information; and a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is displayed on a display device, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements in a display area or an area including the display area of said perspective map, and said view point for generating said perspective map is established based on said height information.

Claim 22

A map display method in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from a map database; a perspective map looking toward a ground plane from a view point is generated using said obtained map information; and a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is displayed on a display device, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements in a display area or an area including the display area of said perspective map, and said view point for generating said perspective map is established based on said height information.

Claim 23

A map display method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said view point is renewed every time a new input location information is provided.

Claim 24

A map display method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said input location information is a current location of a moving object, and a new height of said view point is established every time said current location of the moving object is renewed.

Claim 27

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements existing at least in a part of an available map area, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information of map constituent elements at said input location or a location separating a predetermined distance from said input location when said height information is available for the map constituent elements in a display area or an area including the display area of said perspective map.

Claim 28

A map display apparatus connecting to a map database and a display device for displaying a map, in which map information in an area specified in response to a location indicated by an input location information is read from the map database; a perspective map looking from a view point toward a ground plane is generated using said obtained map information; graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map is generated; and the graphic data is outputted to said display device, comprising a view point setting unit for setting at least a height of said view point among variables to be set for generating said perspective map, and a display processing unit for generating graphic data for displaying a scenery image corresponding to said perspective map generated in response to said view point established by said view point setting unit, wherein said map database includes height information of map constituent elements existing at least in a part of an available map area, and said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information of map constituent elements at said input location or a location separating a predetermined distance from said input location when said height information is available for the map constituent elements in a display area or an area including the display area of said perspective map.

Claim 29

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 21 , further comprising input means for accepting requests from a user regarding the height of said view point to be set, wherein said input location information is a current location of an automobile, and when said requested height of said view point is not larger than a first predetermined value, said view point setting unit establishes said view point inside of said automobile, and when said requested height of said view point is within a second predetermined range, said view point setting unit establishes said view point above and behind said automobile.

Claim 30

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 21 , further comprising input means for accepting requests from a user regarding a display scale to be set, wherein said input location information is a current location of an automobile, and when said requested display scale is not larger than a third predetermined value, said view point setting unit establishes said view point inside of said automobile, and when said requested display scale is within a fourth predetermined range, said view point setting unit establishes said view point above and behind said automobile.

Claim 31

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 21 , wherein said view point is renewed every time a new input location information is provided.

Claim 32

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 21 , wherein said input location information is a current location of a moving object, and a new height of said view point is established every time said current location of the moving object is renewed.

Claim 33

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 21 , further comprising decision means for deciding if said height information is included in said obtained map information, wherein said view point setting unit establishes said view point based on said height information when said decision means decides that said height information is included in said map information, and establishes said view point at a predetermined height with respect to the ground plane at sea level when said decision means decides that said height information is not included.

Claim 34

A map display apparatus in accordance with claim 21 , further comprising decision means for deciding if said height information is included in said obtained map information, wherein said view point setting unit establishes said view point at a predetermined height with respect to the ground plane at sea level for displaying the map using a pseudo three dimensional display method if a plurality of map meshes to be displayed are further included in said map information, and said decision means decides that at least one of said map meshes contains no height information.