Patent Description:
Manoeuvring a car in an urban area with complex crossings and irregular connections cause difficulties for drivers to follow the route determined and displayed by the navigation system.

The state of the art discloses conventional navigation techniques with informing the road name, the direction to take and the estimated distance to make a turn at a turning point. These solutions are not sufficiently intuitive and are not clearly recognizable by the driver.

<CIT> discloses a navigation device and method in which a front camera captures an image to extract a crossing sign that can be displayed in a pronounced manner. <CIT> discloses an electronic navigation system in which external server provides a navigation module, which can calculate routes with user-specific learned landmarks and cause them to be displayed on an interface of a client device. <CIT> discloses a vehicle control system in which a camera captures an image of an object close to an intersection and displays the image on the display unit. <CIT> discloses a route guidance system that can sense the visual activity of a driver and displays a vision guidance reference object on the display in an enlarged manner. <CIT> discloses a guiding technology in which a landmark information is confirmed to be present prior to highlighting the landmark information in the captured image. <CIT> discloses an intersection guidance method in which a selected representation POI corresponding to a turning direction is displayed. <CIT> discloses a digital mapping technique in which visually oriented driving directions including waypoints can be given.

The invention is based on the objective problem to provide a navigation system and a corresponding method that provides an improved and more intuitive guidance to follow the determined route at turning points.

According to the invention a vehicle navigation system is provided as appended in claim <NUM>.

A sensor means may comprise different types of sensors. For example, the sensor means may comprise a position sensor, for example GPS sensor, a GLONASS sensor or a Galileo sensor to generate position data indicative of the current geographical position of the vehicle, but the invention is not restricted thereto. The sensor means may also comprise a velocity sensor to generate velocity data indicative of the current velocity of the vehicle. The display unit may for example be part of an interface unit. The display unit is configured to visualize route information to communicate with the driver. A processor unit may be a microprocessor, a central processing unit or the like. The selection of the destination by the user may preferably be performed via a manual selection input, for example by using a user interface. A turning point may be a point at which the vehicle has to be manoeuvred to follow the determined route into a different direction. The route may be determined based on conventional techniques, e.g. by using the generated position data for geolocation in combination with for example electronic maps for displaying. A point of interest may be an object, in particular a geo-object but the invention is not restricted thereto. A point of interest suitable for recognition may be a point of interest which the driver should be able to notice when making the turn at the turning point. The highlighting of the point of interest may be preferably performed such that the perception of the driver of the determined point of interest on the display unit is improved by the highlighting. Highlighting may mean that the point of interest looks more significant than any other point of interest and thus is perceptive for human and physical recognition. Approaching to the turning point in other words may be expressed as coming to the turning point.

The invention has the advantage, that the driver of the vehicle is supported when turning at a turning point since the display unit highlights a particularly recognizable point of interest that the driver can see at the turning point in the real environment. The turning for the driver thus becomes more intuitive. Further, the display unit presents the information in a highlighted way such that the physical perception and recognition by the driver of the determined point of interest is improved. This highlighted information provides direct feedback for enabling improved orientation to turn the vehicle and to follow the route correctly avoiding detours. Thereby, also efficiency of transport and transport flow of vehicles is improved. Due to matching of the highlighted point of interest with the actual object to be recognized at the turning point environment makes it easier for the driver to turn since it is more intuitive.

In a preferred embodiment the processor unit may be configured to determine an estimated time to reach the turning point based on the generated data and is configured to determine that the vehicle is approaching the turning point, when the estimated time is below a threshold time. The threshold time may be for example <NUM> seconds or <NUM> seconds, but the invention is not restricted thereto. The estimated time may be determined based on the distance to the turning point and current velocity, determined by a sensor means, for example a position sensor as for example a GPS sensor or the like, see above, and a velocity sensor. This determination has the advantage that regardless of the current velocity of the vehicle the navigation system provides a sufficient time window for the driver to perceive and recognize the highlighted point of interest on the display unit and in the real environment.

Preferably, the processor unit may be configured to determine an estimated distance to the turning point based on the generated data and is configured to determine that the vehicle is approaching the turning point, when the determined distance is below a threshold distance. The distance may be determined based on the geographical position data received for example from a geographical sensor. Advantage here is that at crossings with traffic lights or in traffic jams, the distance criterion works reliably when the vehicle is not moving.

In a preferred embodiment not falling under the claimed invention, the processor unit may be configured to determine a point of interest among a plurality of points of interest at the turning point according to a stored predetermined priority list based on recognition strength of points of interest for a driver at the turning point. The most suitable point of interest for a particular turning point may thereby be highlighted.

Preferably, and not falling under the claimed invention, the processor unit may be configured to determine a point of interest among a plurality of points of interest based on if the point of interest is located on a side of the route to which the route is turning to at the turning point. Thereby, a criterion of a directional position with respect to the initial route of the point of interest is used to determine a most suitable point of interest for recognition.

Preferably, the processor unit may be configured to highlight the determined point of interest on the display unit via a colour, via intensity, brightness and/or via an animation. Combinations are also disclosed. These highlighting means improve physical recognition of the determined point of interest by the driver.

In a preferred embodiment, the point of interest may be a sign name, an icon, and/or building recognizable from the driver's point of view at the turning point. Combinations are also disclosed. These are preferable objects that can be usually readily recognized by a driver.

In another aspect of the invention a method for providing turn guidance to a driver of a vehicle is disclosed according to claim <NUM>.

In a further aspect of the invention a vehicle comprising a vehicle navigation system according to one of the above described embodiments is disclosed. The advantages of the above method and the above vehicle are similar to the advantages of the corresponding vehicle navigation system as formulated for example above or as in the following.

Further aspects of the present invention could be learned from the dependent claims or the following description.

The various embodiments presented in the embodiments of the invention are, so far not the opposite is made explicit, combinable with each other mediating advantages.

The invention is explained in the following according to the following figures according to example embodiments of the present invention in which it is shown:.

<FIG> shows schematically a vehicle navigation system <NUM> according to the present invention.

<FIG> shows a display unit <NUM> not falling under the claimed invention and <FIG> shows a display unit <NUM> for illustration of embodiments of the present invention. In the following, when appropriate, the description will be referred to one of the contents of <FIG>, respectively.

The vehicle navigation system <NUM> according to <FIG> comprises a sensor means <NUM>. The sensor means <NUM> is configured to generate data for use by the vehicle navigation system <NUM>. The sensor means <NUM> may be comprise a positional sensor and/or a velocity sensor, for example a GPS sensor. The vehicle navigation system <NUM> further comprises a display unit <NUM>. Further, the vehicle navigation system <NUM> comprises a processor unit <NUM>. As indicated by <FIG>, the sensor means <NUM> may be configured to transmit the generated data to the processor unit <NUM>. The processor unit <NUM> may be configured to transmit control signals to the display unit <NUM> to control the display unit <NUM> and in particular to control the content to be displayed by the display unit <NUM>. In other embodiments, not explicitly shown here, the display unit <NUM> may be part of a user interface and configured to receive a user input for example to select a route destination transmitted to the processor unit <NUM>.

In particular, the processor unit <NUM> is configured to generate a route <NUM> to a destination selected by a user based on the generated data by the sensor means <NUM>. The processor unit <NUM> is configured to control the display unit <NUM> to display the determined route <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention) to <NUM>. The route <NUM> according to the present invention comprises at least one turning point <NUM> and also at least one point of interest <NUM>, <NUM> located at the at least one turning point <NUM>, see also the <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention) to <NUM>. A turning point <NUM> may also be referred to as a point of manoeuvre, where the driver has to manoeuvre the vehicle. At such a turning point <NUM> the driver has to turn the vehicle to follow the route <NUM> indicated by the display unit <NUM> or at least to change lanes or the like. For example, the turning point <NUM> is located at a crossing, as can be seen in both examples in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention) and <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the processor unit <NUM> is configured to determine based on generated data by the sensor means <NUM> when the vehicle is approaching a turning point <NUM>. The generated data of the sensor means <NUM> may for example include the current position or the current velocity of the vehicle, but the invention is not restricted thereto.

Further, the processor unit <NUM> is configured to determine a point of interest <NUM> at the turning point <NUM>, wherein the point of interest <NUM> is suitable for recognition by the driver at the turning point <NUM>. In alternative wording perception may be used for recognition. For example, as shown in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention), a building, here a restaurant building "Taqueria Chihuahua" is determined as point of interest <NUM> suitable for recognition. The determination of the point of interest <NUM> is performed when it is determined that the vehicle is approaching the turning point <NUM> or in other words coming to the turning point <NUM>. The point of interest <NUM>, <NUM> is also often referred to as POI. The point of interest <NUM> may be preferably a sign name, an icon, or a building recognizable from the driver's point of view at the turning point <NUM>, but the invention is not restricted thereto. The point of interest <NUM> may be any object that is suitable for recognition by the driver at the corresponding turning point <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the determined point of interest <NUM> is a library building "Venice - Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library".

The processor unit <NUM> is configured to control the display unit <NUM> to highlight the determined point of interest <NUM> on the display unit <NUM> as can be seen in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention) and <NUM>. In other words, the particular determined point of interest <NUM> is pointed up, when the vehicle is approaching or coming to the turning point <NUM>. The processor unit <NUM> may be configured to highlight the determined point of interest <NUM> on the display unit <NUM> via a colour, via intensity, brightness and/or via an animation. Also here, the invention is not restricted thereto. Any form of highlighting is included, which improves the human physical perception such that driving control is advantageously influenced. The present invention has the advantage, that the driver of the vehicle is supported when turning since the display unit <NUM> highlights a particularly determined recognizable point of interest <NUM> that the driver can see at the turning point in the real environment. The turning for the driver thus becomes more intuitive. Further, the display unit <NUM> displays the information in a highlighted way thus is perceptive to human and physical recognition. The physical perception by the driver of the particularly determined point of interest <NUM> is improved. This highlighted information provides direct feedback for enabling improved orientation to turn the vehicle and to follow the route correctly without additional detours. Thereby, also efficiency of transport and transport flow of vehicles is improved. By matching the highlighted point of interest <NUM> with the actual object to be recognized at the turning point environment the turning of the vehicle by the driver at the turning point is improved and more intuitive.

In a preferred example, the processor unit <NUM> may be configured to determine an estimated time Te to reach the turning point <NUM> based on the generated data. Then, the processor unit <NUM> may be configured to determine that the vehicle is approaching the turning point <NUM>, when the estimated time Te is below a threshold time Tth. For example, the generated data by the sensor means <NUM> may be local position of the vehicle, for example determined by a GPS sensor, and current velocity of the vehicle determined by a velocity sensor, for example by a GPS sensor. Then, the estimated time Te may be determined by the distance to the turning point <NUM> divided by the velocity. The determination has the advantage that regardless of the current velocity of the vehicle the navigation system provides a sufficient time window for the driver to recognize the highlighted point of interest on the display unit and in the real environment. The threshold time Tth may be preferably <NUM> seconds or <NUM> seconds, but the invention is not restricted thereto.

In alternative or additionally, the processor unit <NUM> may be configured to determine an estimated distance D to the turning point <NUM> based on the generated data and, may be configured to determine that the vehicle is approaching the turning point <NUM>, when the determined distance D is below a threshold distance Dth. Also here, distance may be determined by the processor unit <NUM> based on position data from the sensor means <NUM> indicative of a current position and the location of the turning point <NUM>, for example, by calculating the difference between these two location points. Such situation may be useful in cases of traffic lights. A threshold distance Dth may be for example <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, but the invention is not restricted thereto. The latter may be for example suitable in an inner city crossing.

At a turning point <NUM> there are more than one points of interest <NUM>, <NUM>. For example in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention) a hotel building "Marina del Rey Marriott" and a restaurant building "Taqueria Chihuahua" are displayed by the display unit <NUM> as points of interest. In <FIG>, for example, a parking lot, a library building "Venice - Abbott Kinney Memorial Branch Library" and a church "Venice Bible Church" are indicated by the display unit <NUM> as points of interest <NUM>.

Then, the processor unit <NUM> is configured to determine a point of interest <NUM> among a plurality of points of interest <NUM>, <NUM> at the turning point <NUM>. This may be done, for example, according to a stored predetermined priority list, not falling under the claimed invention, based on recognition strength from a driver's point of view at the turning point <NUM>. For example, it may be stored in a data base that at the turning point <NUM> in <FIG>, the building "Venice - Abbott Kinney Memorial Branch Library" is the most recognizable point of interest <NUM> for orientation at the particular turning point <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment not falling under the claimed invention, the processor unit <NUM> may be configured to determine a point of interest <NUM> among a plurality of points of interest <NUM>, <NUM> based on if the point of interest <NUM> is located on a side of the route <NUM> to which the route is turning to at the turning point <NUM>. For example, in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention), at the turning point <NUM> two points of interest are generally recognizable, which is the building "Taqueria Chihuahua" and the hotel building "Marina del Rey Marriott". But since according the determined route <NUM> the driver must turn right to follow the route <NUM>, the most recognizable building determined by the processor unit <NUM> may be the restaurant building "Taqueria Chihuahua" as it is located on the right side, as shown in <FIG> (not falling under the claimed invention). The latter thus provides better orientation and is therefore determined and highlighted on the display unit <NUM>.

Further, the processor unit <NUM> is configured to determine a point of interest <NUM> among a plurality of points of interest <NUM>, <NUM> on a side different to the side of the route <NUM> to which the route <NUM> is turning to at the turning point <NUM>, only when no point of interest suitable for recognition is determined on the side of the route <NUM> to which the route <NUM> is turning to at the turning point <NUM>. , in <FIG>, at the turning point <NUM> the route <NUM> turns left. The processor unit <NUM> here has determined that the parking lot on the left side is a point of interest <NUM> with low recognition strength for the driver. Therefore, in this case, the processor unit <NUM> has determined that the building "Venice-Abbott Kinney Memorial Branch Library" is the point of interest <NUM> with the highest recognition strength and thus highlights the latter in the display unit <NUM>, see also <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A vehicle navigation system (<NUM>), comprising:
- a sensor means (<NUM>) configured to generate data for use by the system;
- a display unit (<NUM>);
- a processor unit (<NUM>) configured to:
generate a route (<NUM>) for the vehicle to a destination selected by a user based on the generated data by the sensor means (<NUM>) and control the display unit (<NUM>) to display the route (<NUM>), wherein the route (<NUM>) comprises at least one turning point (<NUM>) and at least one point of interest (<NUM>) located at the at least one turning point (<NUM>);
determine based on generated data by the sensor means (<NUM>) when the vehicle is approaching a turning point (<NUM>);
characterized in,
when it is determined that the vehicle is approaching the turning point (<NUM>):
determine a point of interest (<NUM>) suitable for recognition by the driver at the turning point (<NUM>) with a highest recognition strength among a plurality of points of interest (<NUM>, <NUM>) on a side different to the side of the route (<NUM>) to which the route is turning to at the turning point (<NUM>), only when no point of interest suitable for recognition is determined on the side of the route (<NUM>) to which the route (<NUM>) is turning to at the turning point (<NUM>) by determining that any point of interest on the side of the route (<NUM>) to which the route (<NUM>) is turning to at the turning point (<NUM>) is a point of interest (<NUM>) with low recognition strength for the driver; and
control the display unit (<NUM>) to highlight the determined point of interest (<NUM>) while displaying the plurality of points of interest (<NUM>, <NUM>) on the display unit (<NUM>).