Abstract:
The present invention discloses a route guiding system and a method thereof. The route guiding system in accordance with the present invention determines whether a user is approaching a crossway point based on the user&#39;s current position. In case the user is determined to approach a crossway point, other crossway points having a road connecting to this crossway point and scenic spots along such crossway points are searched from the electronic map. Finally, such roads connecting to these crossway points and relevant information concerning these scenic spots are displayed. In this fashion, the user can move randomly for promenade along the streets according to the scenic spot information displayed on the route guiding system without specifically setting any destination.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a route guiding system and a method thereof, and in particular to the technical field of a route guiding operation without specifically setting destinations by users. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Navigation devices are widely applied in vehicle electronic devices and handheld devices nowadays. Users can utilize the navigation device to schedule an optimal driving route and to move on and arrive at the destination in accordance with the navigation messages provided by the navigation device. However, the navigation mode in a conventional navigation device still requires entering specific destinations to enable navigation function, but users may occasionally have no specific target in mind for their itineraries when using the navigation device and perhaps simply intends to move or drive around for recreational purposes based on the electronic map and scenic spot information stored in the navigation device. Therefore, in absence of destination inputs, the conventional navigation device will display all electronic maps and scenic spot information, forcing users to select the scenic spot they actually intend to visit among various complicated screens. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    With regard to the aforementioned drawbacks found in the prior art, one objective of the present invention is to provide a route guiding system and a method thereof, so as to enable a navigation mode requiring no destination inputs and to increase more route guiding selections. 
         [0006]    According to one objective of the present invention, a route guiding system is herein proposed for guiding a user to select a movement path. The route guiding system comprises a display module, a data storage module, a positioning module, a crossway point determining module and a process module. The data storage module may store an electronic map and data concerning a plurality of scenic spots, in which the electronic map comprises data for a plurality of roads as well as a plurality of crossway points located between the plurality of roads. The positioning module may provide position data of the user. The crossway point determining module may determine whether the user is approaching a first crossway point among the plurality of crossway points based on the provided position data and the electronic map. In case the user is determined as getting near to the first crossway point, the crossway point determining module determines at least one second crossway point having a road connecting to the first crossway point. Next, the process module may search for the scenic spots located between the first crossway point and at least one second crossway point from the data storage module, and may drive the display module to display the first crossway point, the roads between the first crossway point and at least one second crossway point as well as relevant information about the scenic spots found from the search results. 
         [0007]    Herein the route guiding system may further comprise an input module used to allow entering properties of scenic spots to be displayed, and the process module may perform searches based on the inputted properties of scenic spots. 
         [0008]    Herein the relevant information concerning the scenic spots obtained from the searches may comprise the number of scenic spots obtained thereby. 
         [0009]    Herein the process module may determine the scenic spot the user is approaching according to the position data, and then generate a prompt signal comprising the data for the scenic spot to which the user is approaching. 
         [0010]    According to another objective of the present invention, a route guiding method is herein proposed for guiding a user to select the movement path, which route guiding method comprising the following steps. Initially, an electronic map and data concerning a plurality of scenic spots are provided. Position data of the user are acquired by using a positioning module, then determining whether the user is approaching a first crossway point in the electronic map. When the user is determined to approach the first crossway point, at least one second crossway point having a road connecting to the first crossway point is determined based on the electronic map, further searching for the scenic spots located between the first crossway point and the at least one second crossway point, and then displaying the first crossway point, the roads between the first crossway point and the at least one second crossway point as well as relevant information about the scenic spots acquired from the search results. 
         [0011]    Herein the route guiding method may further comprise the step of allowing the user to enter properties of scenic spots to be displayed and performing searches based on the inputted properties of scenic spots. 
         [0012]    Herein the relevant information concerning the scenic spots acquired from the searches may comprise the number of scenic spots obtained thereby. 
         [0013]    Herein the route guiding method may further comprise the step of determining the scenic spot the user is approaching according to the position data and generating a prompt signal comprising the data for the scenic spot to which the user is approaching. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the route guiding system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a first display interface example of the route guiding system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a second display interface example of the route guiding system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a third display interface example of the route guiding system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the route guiding method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the scenic spot prompt in the route guiding method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , wherein a block diagram of the route guiding system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a first display interface example, a second display interface example and a third display interface example thereof are respectively shown. In those Figures, the route guiding system  1  may comprise a display module  11 , a data storage module  12 , a positioning module  13 , a crossway point determining module  14 , a process module  15  and an input module  16 . The data storage module  12  may store an electronic map  121  and data for a plurality of scenic spots  122 , in which the electronic map  121  may comprise data for a plurality of roads  123  and a plurality of crossway points  124  between the plurality of roads  123 . The crossway points  124  may indicate the locations where roads mutually intersect or join. The data storage module  12  may be a CD drive. Flash memory or hard disc drive. The positioning module  13  may provide position data  131  of the user and is preferably a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, an electronic compass or a gyroscope. The position data  131  preferably comprises longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the user. 
         [0021]    The crossway point determining module  14  may determine whether the user is approaching any one of the plurality of crossway points  124  based on the position data  131  and the electronic map  121 . If the user is determined to be&#39;not approaching any crossway point, e.g. the distance between the position data  131  of the user and positions of all such crossway points is greater than a preset distance value, then the crossway point determining module  14  continues to receive the position data  131  from the positioning module  13  and to engage in determination. On the other hand, when the crossway point determining module  14  calculates that the distance between the position data  131  of the user and one crossway point  124  is less than the preset distance value, the user is determined as approaching the crossway point  124 , e.g. the user is approaching to a first crossway point  1241  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Subsequently, the crossway point determining module  14  may determine the at least one crossway point having a road  123  connected to the first crossway point  1241 , as the second crossway point  1242  and the second crossway point  1243  shown in the  FIG. 2 . Since the user did not previously set any destination as the route guiding system  1  started, the route guiding system  1  is unable to calculate a preferred guide route. Therefore, through determination upon the second crossway point  1242 , it allows the user to further select relevant information concerning the target to head for. 
         [0022]    Sequentially, the process module  15  may search on the data storage module  12  and find out the scenic spots  122  located between the first crossway point  1241  and the second crossway point  1242 ,  1243 , e.g. AA restaurant, BB hotel, CC gas station, DD restaurant, EE playground, AB restaurant, BC restaurant shown in the  FIG. 2 . The scenic spots  122  found by process module  15  indicate the scenic spots that the user may pass by as moving from the first crossway point  1241  to the second crossway point  1242  or  1243 . Next, the display module  11  is driven to display at least the first crossway point  1241 , the roads between the first crossway point  1241  and at least one of the second crossway points  1242 ,  1243 , as well as relevant information  19  for the located scenic spots  122 . The relevant information for these scenic spots may comprise the number of scenic spots found in the process, or data concerning such scenic spots. 
         [0023]    In case that the data for such scenic spots further comprise names, properties (e.g. restaurant, gas station, school or entertainment sites) or levels (such as grand, general or small in size), the user is allowed to enter the scenic spot property intended to be displayed through the input module  16 , and the process module  15  performs search operations based on the scenic spot property inputted by the user. For example, suppose the user wants to find a restaurant for a meal but has not yet decided which restaurant to go to, then he/she may set “Restaurant” as the scenic spot property intended to be displayed. When the user approaches the first crossway point  1241 , there exist two route options, one for the second crossway point  1242 , and the other for the second crossway point  1243 . In order to facilitate better understanding of the the more appropriate option, the route guiding system  1  respectively shows the number of restaurants, or information thereof, located between the first crossway point  1241  and the second crossway point  1242 ,  1243 . Then, the user may select to move along the route where more restaurants can be found, or otherwise to browse the restaurant information for selecting the restaurant he/she personally adores. 
         [0024]    Besides, the process module  15  may, as required, determine the scenic spots  122  to which the user is approaching based on the position data  131 , and generate a prompt signal  17  comprising the data about such scenic spots  122  around the user, as shown in  FIG. 3 , or furthermore such scenic spots  122  can be highlighted e.g. by different foreground/background colors or in various font sizes etc. The prompt signal  17  can be displayed as marquees on the display module or rendered in audio fashion, thereby enhancing the aliveness of route guiding operations for the user. The process module  15  can also generate a corresponding prompt signal  17  as the user is getting near to the crossway point. 
         [0025]    In addition, the process module  15  can optionally record the position data  131  and calculate the movement speed  18  of the user according to the recorded position data  131 , thereby determining the number of scenic spots to be displayed based on the movement speed  18  of the user. For example, in case the scenic spots  122  are classified as different levels, in order to avoid the risk of excessive amount of information complicating the guide screen, the process module  15  may initially search simply on the scenic spots having higher levels, such as restaurants of bigger service sites or international chain restaurants. When the process module  15  determines that the user&#39;s movement speed is reduced, indicating the user might be interested in a certain nearby scenic spot, the process module  15  thus gradually narrows down the search to scenic spots of lower levels, allowing clearer perspective on local scenic spots, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The differences between  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3  lie in that there additionally, in  FIG. 4 , show certain scenic spots of lower levels such as hh snack bar, kk jewelry store, jj mobile phone shop, fg playground and ss costume store and so forth. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the process module  15  can optionally record the road  123  each time chosen by the user to move along, and predict the destination of the user in accordance with the road  123  chosen by the user, thereby further providing more advanced information such as meteorological information, traffic information around the predicted destination or miscellaneous activity information and the like. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart of the route guiding method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the Figure, the illustrated route guiding method is about to guiding a user to select movement path without inputting a destination, comprising the following steps. In STEP S 11 , an electronic map and the data of a plurality of scenic spots are provided. Such data can be accessed from a CD drive, a Flash memory or a hard disc drive. The data of scenic spots may comprise name, property and level of the scenic spot. 
         [0028]    Next, in STEP S 12 , position data of the user is acquired by using a positioning module. The positioning module is preferably a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, an electronic compass or a gyroscope, while the position data preferably comprises longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the user position. 
         [0029]    In STEP S 13 , whether the user is approaching any crossway point in the electronic map is determined. In case that the user is deemed as not moving toward any crossway point, the process returns to STEP S 12 ; 
         [0030]    Suppose the user is deemed as moving toward one of the crossway points in the electronic map, hereinafter referred as the first crossway point, then in STEP S 14 , determining other crossway points having a road connected to the first crossway point therebetween based on the electronic map, hereinafter referred as the second crossway points. The second crossway points found in such searches indicate the targets to which the user can selectively move forward. 
         [0031]    In STEP S 15 , the scenic spots located between the first crossway point and the at least one second crossway point are searched. Since no destination was entered from the start and in order to allow the user to choose a suitable target to go forward, it is possible to provide the scenic spots that the user may pass by while moving from the first crossway point to the second crossway point. Here, in STEP S 15 , it may optionally comprise allowing the user to input the scenic spot property intended to be displayed, e.g. restaurant or entertainment site, and then performing search operations based on the inputted scenic spot property, thereby offering more suitable information for the user; 
         [0032]    Next, in STEP S 16 , the first crossway point, roads between the first crossway point and the at least one second crossway point as well as relevant information about the scenic spots acquired in search operations are displayed. Such relevant information may comprise the number of scenic spots found thereby. 
         [0033]    Moreover, the route guiding method in accordance with the present invention may comprise, as required, recording the road chosen by the user to move along, and predicting the destination of the user in accordance with the road chosen by the user, thereby further providing more advanced information such as meteorological information, traffic information around the predicted destination or miscellaneous activity information and the like. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a flowchart of the scenic spot prompt in the route guiding method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the Figure, different levels are recorded in the data of the scenic spots, and thus the route guiding method in accordance with the present invention can modify the displays of scenic spots based on the speed of the user, in which die present embodiment extends from the STEP S 16  shown in  FIG. 5 , comprising the following steps. In STEP S 21 , position data are recorded; in STEP S 22 , the movement speed of the user is calculated according to the recorded position data; in STEP S 23 , whether the movement speed is lower than a threshold is determined; if not, then STEP S 21  is performed. Otherwise, in case the movement speed is deemed to be lower than a threshold, then in STEP S 24 , the scenic spots which are near to the user, of lower levels and not shown in STEP S 16  are searched. Next in STEP S 25 , the scenic spots acquired thereby are displayed. And subsequently in STEP S 26 , a prompt signal comprising die data about the scenic spots to which the user is approaching is generated, and thereby having the signal rendered. 
         [0035]    The aforementioned descriptions are only exemplary, rather than being restrictive. All effectively equivalent modifications or changes made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be deemed as being encompassed by the claims set forth hereinafter.