Generating a display image

1. A method for generating a display image for a navigation device, wherein the display image includes a map view for display on the navigation device and the map view comprises a two dimensional plan view, the method comprising:

identifying, using a processor, a plurality of map objects from a digital map for display in a display image on a navigation device, each of the map objects comprising a set of coordinate data points that together define a polygon;

identifying, using the processor, an outermost boundary defined by at least part of the set of coordinate data points;

determining, using the processor, that said map object includes one or more non-visible features if said set is determined to include any further coordinate data points within said boundary, non-visible features being features that are not visible to a user at ground level outside of the boundary;

generating, using the processor, an adapted set of map objects that does not include any of said non-visible features; and

generating, from said adapted set of map objects, a simplified display image for display on the navigation device, wherein said simplified display image does not include any of said non-visible features, using the processor.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each said map object defines a feature of said digital map for display in said display image, said display map includes a plurality of different types of features, and each said map object includes an indication of the type of feature that that map object relates to.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of said features is a non-visible feature, and said step of generating an adapted set of map objects comprises the steps of identifying which of said map objects relate to a non-visible feature and selecting map objects other than said identified map objects for inclusion in said adapted set of map objects.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein said non-visible feature comprises a courtyard.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of generating an adapted set of map objects comprises, for each said map object that is determined to include one or more non-visible features, the step of discarding all coordinate data points within said boundary to thereby provide an adapted map object for inclusion in said adapted set of map objects.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein said adapted set of map objects comprises said adapted map objects and any map objects that are determined, in said determining step, not to include any non-visible features.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each said map object comprises at least one constituent part that includes a plurality of data points defining a polygon.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said determining step comprises determining whether said map object includes a plurality of parts that each includes a plurality of coordinate data points, and identifying any map objects that are determined to have a plurality of constituent parts to be a map object that includes at least one non-visible feature.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein said step of generating an adapted set of map objects comprises, for each said map object that is determined to include one or more non-visible features, the step of discarding any constituent parts other than a first part that defines an outermost boundary of said map object to thereby provide an adapted map object for inclusion in said adapted set of map objects.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each said map object relates to a building in said digital map and defines one or more features of said building.

11. A computer program product, comprising executable software present on a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by a computer processor, implements the method as defined by claim 1 .

12. A navigation apparatus comprising a processor configured to generate a display image comprising a two-dimensional plan map view and a display screen configured to display said display image, wherein the processor is further configured to

identify a plurality of map objects from a digital map for display in the display image, each of the map objects comprising a set of coordinate data points that together define a polygon;

identify an outermost boundary defined by at least part of the set of coordinate data points;

determine that said map object includes one or more non-visible features if said set is determined to include any further coordinate data points within said boundary, non-visible features being features that are not visible to a user at ground level outside of the boundary;

generate an adapted set of map objects that does not include any of said non-visible features; and

generate, from said adapted set of map objects, a simplified display image to be displayed on the display screen, wherein said simplified display image does not include any of said non-visible features.

13. The navigation apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to infill the determined non-visible features with a graphic associated with said map object.

14. The navigation apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the determination of whether said map object includes one or more non-visible features further comprises:

acquiring coordinate data points that define said map object when said map object is included within a map view;

analysing the acquired coordinate data points for said map object to determine whether said map objects includes one or more non-visible features; and

flagging said map objects for further processing when said map object includes one or more non-visible features.

15. The navigation apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate a route; and

superpose said route onto said simplified display image.