Navigation device and method for displaying map information
View Patent ↗Methods and devices are disclosed for providing map information to a user. The map information corresponds to a field of view. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes an input device to receive an input for selecting a desired destination and a display device to display map information including a route to the desired destination, a ground level and at least one icon elevated above the ground level. The at least one icon represents an object within the field of view. In at least one embodiment, a method is disclosed for providing map information to a user via a navigation device and corresponding to a field of view is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving at least one of an input and selection representing a desired destination and displaying map information including a route to the desired destination, a ground level and at least one icon elevated above the ground level. The at least one icon represents an object within the field of view.
1. A navigation device for providing map information to a user, the map information corresponding to a field of view, the navigation device comprising:
a processor;
a memory;
an input device to receive at least one of an input and a selection representing a desired destination; and
a display device to display map information including a route to the desired destination, a ground level, and at least one icon elevated above the ground level, the at least one icon representing an object within the field of view using the processor;
the processor being operable to elevate the at least one icon above the ground level when the navigation device is within a predetermined distance from the desired destination, and
the processor being further operable to cause the at least one icon to become at least partially transparent based on at least one of screen coverage of the at least one icon and distance of the at least one icon from the route.
2. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon is displayed as positioned at an end of a pole which extends to the ground level.
3. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon is displayed such that the icon is visible to the user regardless of an orientation of an object represented by the at least one icon.
4. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon represents at least one of a start point and the desired destination for the route.
5. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon represents at least one of a point of interest, a user designated location, a home location, and an itinerary waypoint.
6. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon represents a traffic device along the route.
7. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon is displayed as a three-dimensional icon.
8. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein a size of the at least one icon is based on a distance of the at least one icon from the route.
9. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon is an animated model of an object represented by the at least one icon.
10. The navigation device of claim 9 , wherein the navigation device is a portable navigation device.
11. The navigation device of claim 9 , wherein the navigation device is integrated into a vehicle.
12. A method of providing map information to user via a navigation device, the map information corresponding to a field of view, the method comprising:
receiving at least one of an input and a selection representing a desired destination; and
displaying map information including a route to the desired destination, a ground level and at least one icon elevated above the ground level, the at least one icon representing an object within the field of view;
wherein the at least one icon is elevated above the ground level when the at least one icon is located within the field of view corresponding to the map information being displayed, and
wherein the at least one icon becomes at least partially transparent based on at least one of screen coverage of the at least one icon and distance of the at least one icon from the route.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one icon represents at least one of a start point, the desired destination for the route, a point of interest, a user designated location, a home location, and an itinerary waypoint.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one icon is displayed as positioned at an end of a pole which extends to the ground level.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one icon represents a traffic device along the route.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising limiting a number of icons in the map information to a threshold number.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the map information includes a shadow associated with the at least one icon.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the size of the at least one icon is based on a distance of the at least icon from the route.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one icon is at least one of three-dimensional and animated.
20. A navigation device for providing map information to a user, the map information corresponding to a field of view, the navigation device comprising:
a processor;
a memory;
means for receiving at least one of an input and a selection representing a desired destination; and
means for displaying map information including a route to the desired destination, a ground level and at least one icon elevated above the ground level, the at least one icon representing an object within the field of view;
wherein the navigation device elevates the at least one icon above the ground level when the navigation device is within a predetermined distance from the desired destination, and
wherein the at least one icon becomes at least partially transparent based on at least one of screen coverage of the at least one icon and distance of the at least one icon from the route.
21. The navigation device of claim 20 , wherein the map information includes a pole between the at least one icon and a ground level location of an object represented by the at least one icon within the map information.
22. The navigation device of claim 20 , wherein the at least one icon includes a plurality of icons limited to a threshold number.
23. The navigation device of claim 20 , wherein the at least one icon represents a point of interest.
24. The navigation device of claim 20 , further comprising means for processing the map information to elevate the at least one icon above the ground level.
25. The navigation device of claim 20 , wherein the navigation device is a portable navigation device.
26. The navigation device of claim 20 , wherein the navigation device is integrated into a vehicle.
27. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one icon is one of a plurality of icon types selectable by the user or preprogramed into the navigation device.
28. The navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the transparency of the at least one icon becomes increasingly transparent as the distance of the at least one icon from the route increases.