Patent ID: 7308359

Claim:
A navigation system comprising: a server operable to calculate a route between a first location and a second location; a navigation device operable to transmit the locations to the server and receive the route from the server over a communications link, the device including— a processor, a memory adapted to communicate to the processor, the memory storing cartographic data including data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types and the route, a display adapted to communicate with the processor and the memory and capable of displaying the cartographic data, wherein the processor recognizes when the device is approaching a decision point in the route and provides to the display an overlay screen on top of a presently displayed screen, such that at least a portion of the presently displayed screen remains visible, wherein the presently displayed screen is adapted to highlight at least a portion of the route and display motion of the device along the route, and wherein the overlay screen is adapted to display a preview of the decision point, including a highlighted portion indicating a course to follow through the decision point, and motion of the device on the course through the decision point; and wherein insignificant detail is removed from the overlay screen at the decision point based on a set of criteria, while the portion of the presently displayed screen remains unchanged.