Navigation Device with Touch Screen: Task Away
A navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned between two user-defined places. The device may be further programmed to be able to display on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen showing a map and to allow the user to task away from that screen by touching the navigation mode screen. The device is especially advantageous for an in-car navigation device since it allows the user to easily and reliably task away, for example to the main menu, by simply touching the main navigation mode screen anywhere.
1 . A navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned between two user-defined places, wherein the device is further programmed to be able to display on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen showing a map and to allow the user to task away from that screen by touching the display in a region of sufficiently large size that selection can be achieved using a finger.
2 . The device of claim 1 where the device is programmed to allow the user to task away from that screen by touching anywhere on the display.
3 . The device of claim 1 where the device is programmed to allow the user to task away from that screen by touching the navigation mode screen near to the center of the screen.
4 . The device of claim 3 in which the device is mountable on a vehicle dashboard.
5 . The device of claim 4 in which the device is programmed such that tasking away from the main navigation mode screen causes the device to display the highest level in the menu hierarchy.
6 . The device of claim 5 in which the highest level in the menu hierarchy is represented by a set of graphical icons that can each be reliably selected using a finger.
7 . The device of claim 6 in which tasking away by toughing involves a single or a double touch.
8 . The device of claim 3 wherein said touch area is a square region having an area greater than 0.7 cm 2 .
9 . A method of enabling a user to interact with a navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned between two user-defined places, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
(a) displaying on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen showing a map;
(b) allowing the user to task away from that screen by touching the display in a region of sufficiently large size that selection can be achieved using a finger.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the method comprises the step of the user tasking away from that screen by touching the display anywhere on that screen.
11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the method comprises the step of the user tasking away from that screen by touching the navigation mode screen near to the centre of the screen.
12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the method comprises the preparatory step of mounting the device on a vehicle dashboard.
13 . The method of claim 9 wherein the step of tasking away from the main navigation mode screen causes the device to display the highest level in the menu hierarchy.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the highest level in the menu hierarchy is represented by a set of graphical icons that can each be reliably selected using a finger.
15 . The method of any preceding claim 13 wherein the step of tasking away by touching involves a single or a double touch.
16 . The method of claim 10 wherein said touch area is a square having an area greater than 0.7 cm 2 .