US6212472B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for displaying current vehicle position
Assignee: Visteon Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1997-09-04
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Granted: 2001-04-03
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Expires: 2017-09-04
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are described for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system. After the current vehicle position is determined by a separate process, the system determines the road on which the vehicle is currently located. The system then refers to a map database to construct a current road database corresponding to the current road. A current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position is then determined. The system then refers to the current road database to determine a first geographical location based on the current vehicle road segment. The system then displays a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Nonaka
- 👤 Lihung Lin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system comprising the steps of: (A) determining a current road; (B) referring to a map database to construct a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) determining a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) referring to the current road database to determine a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) displaying a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system comprising the steps of: (A) determining a current road; (B) referring to a map database to construct a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) determining a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) referring to the current road database to determine a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) displaying a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first geographical location comprises a first intersection near the current vehicle position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle is on a route, the first intersection being immediately ahead of the current vehicle position on the route.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of displaying a distance to the first intersection from the current vehicle position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein steps (C)-(E) are performed periodically.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the referring step determines a second geographical location and the text representation of the current vehicle position refers to the second geographical location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second geographical locations comprise first and second intersections near the current vehicle position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the vehicle is on a route, the first intersection being ahead of the current vehicle position on the route, and the second intersection being behind the current vehicle position on the route.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein steps (C)-(E) are performed for a plurality of pairs of intersections on the current road.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying a distance to the first intersection from the current vehicle position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first geographical location comprises a street address corresponding to the current vehicle position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the vehicle is stopped on a route, the method further comprising the step of receiving user input requesting street address information, steps (A)-(E) being performed in response to the user input.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second geographical locations comprise a street address corresponding to the current vehicle position and a first intersection near the current vehicle position, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is on a route, the first intersection being immediately ahead of the current vehicle position on the route.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of displaying a distance to the first intersection from the current vehicle position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining whether the current road has changed; and repeating steps (A)-(E) when the current road has changed.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system comprising: (A) means for determining a current road; (B) means for referring to a map database and constructing a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) means for determining a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) means for referring to the current road database and determining a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) means for displaying a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system comprising: (A) means for determining a current road; (B) means for referring to a map database and constructing a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) means for determining a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) means for referring to the current road database and determining a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) means for displaying a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
161 words
A vehicle navigation system, comprising: a plurality of sensors for detecting a current vehicle position and a vehicle heading, and generating signals indicative thereof; a display for communicating the current vehicle position to a user; a database medium having map data stored therein; and a processor coupled to the sensors, the display, and the database medium, the processor being operable to (A) determine a current road; (B) refer to the database medium and construct a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) determine a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) refer to the current road database and determine a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) display a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
161 words
A vehicle navigation system, comprising: a plurality of sensors for detecting a current vehicle position and a vehicle heading, and generating signals indicative thereof; a display for communicating the current vehicle position to a user; a database medium having map data stored therein; and a processor coupled to the sensors, the display, and the database medium, the processor being operable to (A) determine a current road; (B) refer to the database medium and construct a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) determine a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) refer to the current road database and determine a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) display a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program product for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system, comprising: a computer-readable medium; and a computer program mechanism embedded in the computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of: (A) determining a current road; (B) referring to a map database to construct a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) determining a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) referring to the current road database to determine a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) displaying a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program product for displaying information corresponding to a current vehicle position on a display of a vehicle navigation system, comprising: a computer-readable medium; and a computer program mechanism embedded in the computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform the steps of: (A) determining a current road; (B) referring to a map database to construct a separate current road database, the current road database being a subset of the map database and comprising first nodes and first segments corresponding to the current road and second segments emanating from selected ones of the first nodes; (C) determining a current road segment corresponding to the current vehicle position; (D) referring to the current road database to determine a first geographical location based on the current road segment; and (E) displaying a text representation of the current vehicle position relative to the first geographical location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-04-02 | 2004-10-02 | 2005-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-02 | 2008-10-02 | 2009-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-02 | 2012-10-02 | 2013-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |