Abstract:
In a navigation system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, for determining the route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, the navigation system includes an output device for outputting the route and/or a direction indication that corresponds to the route, and an input device for inputting the destination point, graphics or images of selectable destination points being representable for the input of a destination point.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a navigation system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, for determining the route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0002]    U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0164412 describes a system for 3D-navigation for motor vehicles, which includes an arrangement that combines a first motor vehicle and an environment scanner to generate a three-dimensional image of an environment of the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment of the first motor vehicle, as well as at least one second motor vehicle and a communication connection between the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle for transmitting to the second motor vehicle the three-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle. 
         [0003]    European Published Patent Application No. 0 875 730 and German Published Patent Application No. 698 15 940 describe a map data display device for use in a vehicle navigation device which has a data-conversion device for recording points of map data according to a map, from a viewpoint through a viewing line that originates from the viewpoint and has an angle of depression with respect to the plane of the map; and for perspectively projecting the points of the map data onto a viewing plane, which is fixed perpendicularly to the viewing line and is a predefined distance from the viewpoint, in order to generate map display data. This produces a bird&#39;s eye view of a surrounding area. A navigation system having a bird&#39;s eye view of an environment is also described in French Published Patent Application No. 2 634 707 as well as in the document “autoconnect 2005,” Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH &amp; Co. KG, Leuschnerstr. 1, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany, pages 18 and 21. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Example embodiments of the present invention may improve the operability of a navigation system. Example embodiments of the present invention may facilitate the input of destination points into a navigation system. 
         [0005]    In a navigation system according to an example embodiment of the present invention, e.g., for a motor vehicle, for determining the route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, the navigation system includes an output device for outputting the route and/or a direction indication that corresponds to the route, as well as an input device for inputting the destination point, and graphics or images of selectable destination points are able to be represented for the input of a destination point. 
         [0006]    An output device may allow an optical output and/or an acoustic output of a route and/or a direction indication that corresponds to the route. An output device may be a display, for example. An input device may include operating elements such as buttons, rotary switches, etc., or similar elements. An input device may also be, or include, a touch panel or a touch screen arranged above a display. If the selection of graphics or images is greater than displayable simultaneously, then scrolling through the graphics or images may be provided. 
         [0007]    A graphic or image may be geocoded. Geocoding indicates, e.g., that the coordinates of a point on the earth are assigned on the graphic or image, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , for instance. The graphic in  FIG. 2  is assigned the coordinates 370, 53 minutes, 46 seconds northern latitude and 1220, 16 minutes, 9 seconds western latitude. 
         [0008]    The graphic data of a graphic or image may be stored in a data file together with a geocoding. The graphic data of a graphic or image together with a geocoding may be stored in a data file in EXIF format. The graphics or images may be displayable sorted by categories. Categories may be, for instance, hotels, restaurants, monuments, etc., or similar things. However, categories may also be transmitters or authors of particular graphics or images. 
         [0009]    The navigation system may be assigned a camera for recording an image of an environment of the motor vehicle, and a device for creating a data file including the image and a geocoding that corresponds to the location of the navigation system or motor vehicle. 
         [0010]    In a method for operating a navigation system which includes one or a plurality of the aforementioned features, e.g., a navigation system for a motor vehicle, for determining the route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, graphics or images of selectable destination points are displayed. 
         [0011]    The graphics or images may be shown sorted by categories. 
         [0012]    A motor vehicle may be, e.g., a land vehicle that may be used individually in road traffic. Motor vehicles, however, are specifically not limited to land vehicles having an internal combustion engine. 
         [0013]    According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a navigation system for determining a route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point includes: an output device configured to output at least one of (a) the route and (b) a direction indication that corresponds to the route; and an input device configured to input the destination point, images of selectable destinations representable for input of a destination. 
         [0014]    An image may include a geocode. 
         [0015]    The navigation system may be configured to store image data of an image and a geocode in a data file. 
         [0016]    The navigation system may be configured to store image data of an image together with a geocode in a data file in EXIF format. 
         [0017]    The images may be displayable sorted by categories. 
         [0018]    According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a motor vehicle includes a navigation system configured to determine a route from a location of the navigation-system to a destination point. The navigation system may include any one or more of the features described herein. 
         [0019]    The motor vehicle may include: a camera configured to record an image of an environment of the motor vehicle; and a device configured to create a data file including the image and a geocode that corresponds to the location of the motor vehicle. 
         [0020]    According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a navigation system includes: displaying at least one of (a) graphics and (b) images of selectable destination points; inputting a destination point by selecting one of the displayed images; determining a route from a location of the navigation system to the input destination point; and outputting at least one of (a) the route and (b) a direction indication that corresponds to the route. 
         [0021]    Further features and aspects of example embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the appended Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a geocoded image data file. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a geocoded image data file. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a navigation module. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a display and operating device. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates the display and operating device illustrated in  FIG. 5  in a different display state. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates the display and operating device illustrated in  FIG. 5  in a different display state. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates the display and operating device illustrated in  FIG. 5  in a different display state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle  1 . Motor vehicle  1  includes a display and operating device  16  as well as a display and operating control  15  to control display and operating device  16 . Motor vehicle  1  also includes a navigation module  11 , which is connected to an antenna  12  for receiving items of information transmitted from satellite  2 . Navigation module  11  is connected to display and operating control  15  via a bus system  26 . Antenna  12  and navigation module  11  in conjunction with display and operating control  15  as well as display and operating device  16  form a navigation system  10 . 
         [0031]    In addition, motor vehicle  1  includes an image-transmission interface  20  by which geocoded image data files, as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  by way of example, are able to be read in. Image-transmission interface  20  may be, or include, an SD reader, for instance. As an alternative or in addition, image-transmission interface  20  may be arranged as a USB interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a Bluetooth interface, a cellular phone interface, etc. Image-transmission interface  20  may be connected to navigation module  11  via bus system  26 . It is also possible for image-transmission interface  20  to be connected to navigation module  11  for a data link in an alternative manner and/or to be part of navigation system  10 . Additional modules  25  such as a climate-control system, a telephone, an infotainment system, etc., may be connected to bus system  26 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a geocoded image data file  30 . Image data file  30  includes a graphic or image  31  as well as a geocoding  32 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the geocoding includes the entry 370, 53 minutes, 46 second northern latitude and 1220, 16 minutes, 9 seconds western longitude. Such a data file may be stored in EXIF format (EXchangeable Image File), as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this format, the graphic or image components, for example, are stored in JPEG format. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of navigation module  11 . Navigation module  11  includes a navigation algorithm  40  for determining the location of motor vehicle  1  as a function of the signals received from antenna  12  or as a function of items of information that are read in via an interface  46 , and for determining a route from this location to an input destination. Navigation algorithm  40  accesses a route atlas  44  for this purpose. Inputs into navigation algorithm  40  are made via an interface  41 , and outputs via an interface  42 . Furthermore, an interface  43  (EXIF tag parser API) is provided to read in geocoded image data files. The geocoded image data files read in in this manner may be stored in a memory  45 , for example. 
         [0034]    The method of functioning of navigation module  11  or navigation system  10  is described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 8 .  FIGS. 5 to 8  illustrate display and operating device  16 . In addition to operating elements, such as push-button switches and rotary buttons, display and operating device  16  includes a display  50  above which a touch screen is disposed. To input a destination point, an operator or user of motor vehicle  1  or navigation system  10  is offered a selection  51  of graphics or images of inputtable destination points. To provide the option of calling up additional selectable images or destination points, scroll push buttons  51 A and  51 B are displayed on the display. Touching the touch screen in the region of displayed scroll push buttons  51 A and  51 B allows scrolling through the assortment of selectable graphics or images or the destination points they represent. 
         [0035]    A destination point is selected by touching the touch screen in the region of a graphic or an image representing that particular destination point. For example, if the touch screen is touched in the region of graphic or image  52 , then the representation on display  50  changes, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Graphic or image  52  is shown in an enlarged view in that case. A display  53  of the geocoding of image or image  52  takes place in addition. By touching the touch screen in the area of operating element  54 , the position of destination point  71 , symbolized by graphic or image  52 , is indicated on a map  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In addition, an operating element  72  is displayed. 
         [0036]    By touching the touch screen in the region of operating element  72 , a calculation of the route from the location of navigation system  10  or motor vehicle  1  to selected destination point  71  is implemented. The route—as illustrated in FIG.  8 —is subsequently indicated in a map display  75 . Reference numeral  76  denotes the location of navigation system  10  or motor vehicle  1 , and reference numeral  73  denotes the route from location  76  of navigation system  10  or motor vehicle  1  to destination point  71 . 
         [0037]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 8 , an SD card reader is provided in display and operating device  16 . This SD card reader  60  is an exemplary embodiment for image-transmission interface  20 . 
         [0038]    Motor vehicle  1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , may include a camera  21  to record an image of the environment of motor vehicle  1 , and a geocoder  22  by which a graphic or image recorded by camera  21  is coded by a geocoding. To this end, geocoder  22  receives the coordinates of location  76  of motor vehicle  1  or navigation system  10  from navigation module  11 . An image data file generated by geocoder  22  is able to be read into navigation module  11 . As an alternative or in addition, the geocoded image data file may be transmitted to a stationary device and/or another motor vehicle via a communication interface  28 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  motor vehicle 
           2  satellite 
           10  navigation system 
           11  navigation module 
           12  antenna 
           15  display and operating control 
           16  display and operating device 
           20  image-transmission interface 
           21  camera 
           22  geocoder 
           25  additional modules 
           26  bus system 
           28  communication interface 
           30  image data file 
           31 ,  52  graphic or image 
           32  geocoding 
           40  navigation algorithm 
           41  interface 
           42 ,  43   46  interface 
           44  route atlas 
           45  memory 
           50  display 
           51  selection of graphics or images 
           51 A,  51 B scroll push button 
           53  display of a geocoding 
           54  operating element 
           60  SC card reader 
           70  map 
           71  destination point 
           72  operating element 
           73  route 
           75  map display 
           76  location