Patent ID: 9671246
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: G01C,G06F,G06T

Claim:
1. A navigation or mapping apparatus comprising: a display for displaying a digital map to a user; a processor configured to access digital map data and cause a digital map to be displayed to a user using the display; and a user interface operable by a user to enable the user to interact with the apparatus; wherein the user interface is arranged to allow a user to select a continuous region present in the digital map by providing one or more indications on the displayed digital map in use, the selected continuous region being, a path indicative of a route the user wishes the apparatus to calculate; and wherein in use, when a selection of a continuous region present in the digital map is received from a user, the processor is arranged to: determine digital map data relating to the continuous region selected by the user, said determination of digital map data comprising selecting a precise start point and a precise end point for use in the route calculation based on an approximate start point and an approximate end point, respectively, of the path selected by the user, the selecting comprising: selecting the precise start point and the precise end point based on locations within a specified proximity of the approximate start point and the approximate end point fond in stored specified location data; the stored location data comprising user-specified location data and when no locations are found within the specified proximity of the approximate start point and the approximate end point in the stored specified location data, selecting the precise start point and precise end point based on significant map features, wherein the precise end point is a destination and further determined according to a time of day or week, and wherein the precise start point and the precise end point is in a different location than the approximate start point and the approximate end point, respectively; and calculate and provide as route from a start point to the precise end point.