Display method and apparatus for navigation system

Claim 2

A display method of a vehicle navigation system for assisting a driver to drive the vehicle, comprising the following steps of: detecting whether a vehicle is in motion or stationary and sending a corresponding signal to a controller of the navigation system; changing a display screen of the navigation system to an in-motion main menu when the vehicle is in motion and a menu key is pressed by the driver; and changing the display screen of the navigation system to a stationary main menu when the vehicle is stationary and the menu key is pressed by the driver; wherein the in-motion main menu displays an item list showing less than a predetermined number of items in one page for specifying a destination.

Claim 3

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein a display scroll function is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 4

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle navigation system disables a key input method of selecting the destination by inputting characters or numbers through a key board when the vehicle is in motion while enabling the key input method when the vehicle is stationary.

Claim 5

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein items in the item list in the in-motion main menu are limited to methods of specifying the destination.

Claim 6

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of methods shown in the item list in the in-motion main menu is ten or less.

Claim 7

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein an initial highlight position is on a middle point of the item list in the in-motion main menu, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right or left direction on the item list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 8

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a category list showing categories of destination when an item of point of interest in the in-motion main menu is selected when the vehicle is in motion, wherein the category list includes less than a predetermined number of categories of the destination in one page of the display screen, and wherein a display scroll function for the category list is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 9

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 7 , and wherein an initial highlight position is on a middle point of the category list, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right or left direction on the category list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 10

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 8 , and a number of categories in the category list is ten or less.

Claim 11

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 7 , further comprising a step of displaying a name list showing names of destination when one of the categories in the list of categories is selected, wherein the name list includes less than a predetermined number of names of the destination in one page of the display screen, an address information box indicating an address of one of the names highlighted by an operation of a key, and wherein the display scroll function for the name list is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 12

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 10 , wherein a number of names in the name list is less than ten, and wherein an initial highlight position is on a middle point of the name list, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, left or right direction on the name list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 13

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying destination history list showing destination points when an item of destination history (“previous destination”) in the in-motion main menu is selected, wherein the address list includes less than a predetermined number of addresses of the destination in one page of the display; screen, and wherein a display scroll function for the address list is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 14

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 12 , wherein a number of addresses in the address list is less than ten, and wherein an initial highlight position is on a middle point of the address list, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right or left direction on the address list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 15

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a name list showing names of registered points when an item of registered points (“address book”) in the in-motion main menu is selected, wherein the name list includes less than a predetermined number of names of the destination in one page of the display screen, an address information box indicating an address of one of the names highlighted by an operation of a key, and wherein the display scroll function for the name list is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 16

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 14 , wherein a number of names in the name list is less than ten, and wherein an initial highlight position is on a middle point of the name list, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right or left direction on the name list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 17

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 14 , the names in the name list are arranged in positions formed of three-by-three matrix, and the initial highlight position is at a center of the matrix, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right, left or diagonal direction on the name list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 18

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a locator map screen when the destination of travel is not set in the navigation system, wherein the locator map screen displays a map image of an area within a predetermined distance from the vehicle and a vehicle current position mark in the map image showing a current position of the vehicle and a street image on which the vehicle is running.

Claim 19

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the locator map screen further includes information showing a name of the street on which the vehicle is running.

Claim 20

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a route guidance screen when the destination of travel is set and an appropriate route to the destination is determined by the navigation system, wherein the route guidance screen displays a map image of an area within a predetermined distance from the vehicle and a vehicle current position mark in the map image showing a current position of the vehicle, an image of a current street on which the vehicle is running, a name of a cross street on which the vehicle is to make a turn, and a direction of the turn on the cross street.

Claim 21

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 19 , wherein the route guidance screen further includes information showing a name of the street on which the vehicle is running, a distance to the cross street, and a distance to the destination.

Claim 22

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a warning message when the navigation system detects that the vehicle is in motion and suspending an operation of a menu screen that is designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary.

Claim 23

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a warning message when the navigation system detects that the vehicle is in motion and suspending an operation of a menu screen that is designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary, and enabling the main menu when a passenger of the vehicle is to operate the navigation system.

Claim 24

A display method of a vehicle navigation system for assisting a driver to drive the vehicle, comprising the following steps of: displaying a locator map screen when a destination of travel is not set in the navigation system, the locator map screen displaying a map image of an area surrounding the vehicle and a vehicle current position in the map image and a street image on which the vehicle is running; detecting whether a vehicle is in motion or stationary and sending a corresponding signal to a controller of the navigation system; changing a display screen of the navigation system to an in-motion main menu when the vehicle is in motion and a menu key is pressed by the driver; changing the display screen of the navigation system to a stationary main menu when the vehicle is stationary; specifying the destination in the navigation system through break down menus designed for either in motion or stationary of the vehicle; and displaying a route guidance screen when the destination of travel is set and an appropriate route to the destination is determined by the navigation system; wherein each of the break down menus displayed when the vehicle is in motion has listed items less than a predetermined number which are shown in one page of display screen for which a display scroll function is disabled.

Claim 25

A display method of a vehicle navigation system for assisting a driver to drive the vehicle, comprising the following steps of: displaying a locator map screen when a destination of travel is not set in the navigation system, the locator map screen displaying a map image of an area surrounding the vehicle and a vehicle current position in the map image and a street image on which the vehicle is running; detecting whether a vehicle is in motion or stationary and sending a corresponding signal to a controller of the navigation system; changing a display screen of the navigation system to an in-motion main menu when the vehicle is in motion and a menu key is pressed by the driver; changing the display screen of the navigation system to a stationary main menu when the vehicle is stationary; specifying the destination in the navigation system through break down menus designed for either in motion or stationary of the vehicle; and displaying a route guidance screen when the destination of travel is set and an appropriate route to the destination is determined by the navigation system; wherein each of the break down menus displayed when the vehicle is in motion has listed items less than a predetermined number which are shown in one page of display screen for which a display scroll function is disabled.

Claim 26

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 23 , wherein the vehicle navigation system disables a key input method of selecting the destination by inputting characters or numbers through a key board when the vehicle is in motion while enabling the key input method when the vehicle is stationary.

Claim 27

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system for assisting a driver to drive the vehicle, comprising: means for detecting whether a vehicle is in motion or stationary and sending a corresponding signal to a controller of the navigation system; means for changing a display screen of the navigation system to an in-motion main menu when the vehicle is in motion and a menu key is pressed by the driver; means for displaying in-motion break down menus specifically made for use when the vehicle is in motion, the break down menus starting from the in-motion main menu; means for changing the display screen of the navigation system to a stationary main menu when the vehicle is stationary; and means for displaying stationary break down menus made for use when the vehicle is stationary, the break down menus starting from the stationary main menu; wherein each of the in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus displays an item list in one page of a display screen for which a display scroll function is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 28

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system for assisting a driver to drive the vehicle, comprising: means for detecting whether a vehicle is in motion or stationary and sending a corresponding signal to a controller of the navigation system; means for changing a display screen of the navigation system to an in-motion main menu when the vehicle is in motion and a menu key is pressed by the driver; means for displaying in-motion break down menus specifically made for use when the vehicle is in motion, the break down menus starting from the in-motion main menu; means for changing the display screen of the navigation system to a stationary main menu when the vehicle is stationary; and means for displaying stationary break down menus made for use when the vehicle is stationary, the break down menus starting from the stationary main menu; wherein each of the in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus displays an item list in one page of a display screen for which a display scroll function is disabled when the vehicle is in motion.

Claim 29

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , wherein the vehicle navigation system disables a key input method of selecting the destination by inputting characters or numbers through a key board when the vehicle is in motion while enabling the key input method when the vehicle is stationary.

Claim 30

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , wherein each of the in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus displays an item list in one page of a display screen on which an initial highlight is positioned at about a middle point of the item list, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right or left direction on the item list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 31

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , wherein each of the in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus displays an item list in one page of a display screen in which about seven or less items are listed on which an initial highlight is positioned at about a middle point of the item list.

Claim 32

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , wherein each of the in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus displays an item list in one page of a display screen in which about five or less items are listed on which an initial highlight is positioned at about a middle point of the item list.

Claim 33

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , wherein each of the in-motion main menu and the in-motion break down menus displays an item list in one page of a display screen in which a plurality of items are arranged in positions formed in a matrix form, and an initial highlight position is on a center of the matrix.

Claim 34

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 30 , the matrix is a three-by-three matrix capable of listing nine items in which the initial highlight position is on the center of the matrix, and the highlight is moved in either an upward, downward, right, left or diagonal direction on the item list by an operation of a control key of the navigation system.

Claim 35

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , further comprising means for displaying a locator map screen when the destination of travel is not set in the navigation system, wherein the locator map screen displays a map image of an area within a predetermined distance from the vehicle and a vehicle current position mark in the map image showing a current position of the vehicle and a street image on which the vehicle is running.

Claim 36

A display apparatus of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , further comprising means for displaying a route guidance screen when the destination of travel is set and an appropriate route to the destination is determined by the navigation system, wherein the route guidance screen displays a map image of an area within a predetermined distance from the vehicle and a vehicle current position mark in the map image showing a current position of the vehicle, an image of a current street on which the vehicle is running, a name of a cross street on which the vehicle is to make a turn, and a direction of the turn on the cross street.

Claim 37

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , wherein the route guidance screen further includes information showing a name of the street on which the vehicle is running, a distance to the cross street, and a distance to the destination.

Claim 38

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , further comprising means for displaying a warning message when the navigation system detects that the vehicle is in motion and suspending an operation of a menu screen that is designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary.

Claim 39

A display method of a vehicle navigation system as defined in claim 25 , further comprising means for displaying a warning message when the navigation system detects that the vehicle is in motion and suspending an operation of a menu screen that is designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary, and enabling the main menu when a passenger of the vehicle is to operate the navigation system.