Circumference search method for setting path and navigation system

1. A vicinity search method for route setting, the vicinity search method comprising:

retrieving a route between a start point and a destination;

determining a search radius with respect to the retrieved route;

retrieving a facility for each category in the determined search radius based on the retrieved route; and

displaying the retrieved facility for each category on the retrieved route,

wherein the determining sets a search radius of the start point, a search radius of the destination and a search radius of the route between the start point and the destination.

2. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the determining sets the search radius of the start point and destination to be greater than the search radius of the route between the start point and the destination.

3. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the determining sets the search radius of the start point to be greater than the search radius of the destination and the search radius of the route between the start point and the destination.

4. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the determining sets the search radius of the destination to be greater than the search radius of the start point and the search radius of the route between the start point and the destination.

5. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the determining sets the search radius of a current location on the retrieved route to be greater than the search radius of a route excluding the current location.

6. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the determining determines a link property of the retrieved route and determines the search radius based on the link property.

7. The vicinity search method of claim 6 , wherein the link property is any one of an express way and general road, and when the retrieved route is the general road, the search radius is set to be greater than the express way.

8. The vicinity search method of claim 6 , wherein the link property is any one of an express way and general road, and a link property different from the retrieved route is excluded and the search radius is determined.

9. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the retrieving of the facility comprises:

previously storing grid information of a facility where the user is located for each category as information in bits in a grid index with respect to a national map, the grid information indicating a location of the facility; and

ascertaining grid information corresponding to the search radius including the retrieved route and retrieving the facility for each category using information in bits corresponding to the grid information.

10. The vicinity search method of claim 9 , wherein the previously storing converts a grid unit into a bit of 2 n byte and provides information about a facility located in a corresponding grid as the information in bits for each category.

11. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the retrieving of the facility retrieves a facility within the search radius in an order selected by a user on at least one category.

12. The vicinity search method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying comprises representing the retrieved facility as an icon for each category and displaying a location of the facility on a map screen of the retrieved route using the icon.

13. The vicinity search method of claim 12 , wherein the displaying further comprises:

outputting voice guidance about the facility when the user is approaching the location of the displayed facility while driving.

14. The vicinity search method of claim 12 , wherein the displaying further comprises:

selecting at least one facility from facilities displayed on the map screen of the retrieved route; and

setting the selected facility as an intermediate point.

15. The vicinity search method of claim 14 , wherein the displaying further comprises:

displaying the facility, set as the intermediate point, differently from other facilities on the retrieved route.

16. The vicinity search method of claim 14 , wherein an order of passing the intermediate point is determined in an order selected by the user, an order of distance from the start point, or an order of distance from a current location.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing a vicinity search method for route setting, comprises:

retrieving a route between a start point and a destination;

determining a search radius with respect to the retrieved route;

retrieving a facility for each category in the determined search radius based on the retrieved route; and

displaying the retrieved facility for each category on the retrieved route,

wherein the determining sets a search radius of the start point, a search radius of the destination and a search radius of the route between the start point and the destination.

18. A navigation system, comprising:

a user interface to input, by a user, a facility retrieval command with respect to at least one item;

a storage unit changing a grid unit of a national map to a bit of 2 n byte and storing grid information of a facility for each category as information in bits; and

a control unit determining a search radius with respect to a route between a start point and a destination using the information in bits stored in the storage unit, retrieving a facility for each category in the determined search radius based on the retrieved route, and displaying the retrieved facility on the retrieved route for each category,

wherein the control unit sets a search radius of the start point, a search radius of the destination and a search radius of the route between the start point and destination.