WO2012022365A1

WO2012022365A1 - Navigation device & method

Info

Publication number: WO2012022365A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/005169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Alders; Jasper Michiel Van Hemert; Teun De Haas
Original assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
Priority date: 2010-08-19
Filing date: 2010-08-19
Publication date: 2012-02-23

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a navigation device (200), comprising a memory (230), a display device (240), and a toggle display module (490) arranged to receive a toggle input from a user and, in response, to store information in the memory (230) indicative of a display state of the navigation device (200) and to output on the display device a driving view (970) representing one or more geographic features proximal to a current location of the navigation device (200).

Description

NAVIGATION DEVICE & METHOD

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to navigation devices and to graphical user interface methods for navigation devices. Illustrative embodiments of the invention relate to portable navigation devices (so-called PNDs), in particular PNDs that include Global Positioning System (GPS) signal reception and processing functionality. Other embodiments relate, more generally, to any type of processing device that is configured to execute navigation software so as to provide route planning, and preferably also navigation, functionality.

Background to the Invention

Portable navigation devices (PNDs) that include GPS (Global Positioning System) signal reception and processing functionality are well known and are widely employed as in-car or other vehicle navigation systems.

In general terms, a modern PNDs comprises a processor, memory (at least one of volatile and non-volatile, and commonly both), and map data stored within said memory. The processor and memory cooperate to provide an execution environment in which a software operating system may be established, and additionally it is commonplace for one or more additional software programs to be provided to enable the functionality of the PND to be controlled, and to provide various other functions.

Typically these devices further comprise one or more input interfaces that allow a user to interact with and control the device, and one or more output interfaces by means of which information may be relayed to the user. Illustrative examples of output interfaces include a visual display and a speaker for audible output. Illustrative examples of input interfaces include one or more physical buttons to control on/off operation or other features of the device (which buttons need not necessarily be on the device itself but could be on a steering wheel if the device is built into a vehicle), and a microphone for detecting user speech. In a particularly preferred arrangement the output interface display may be configured as a touch sensitive display (by means of a touch sensitive overlay or otherwise) to additionally provide an input interface by means of which a user can operate the device by touch.

Devices of this type will also often include one or more physical connector interfaces by means of which power and optionally data signals can be transmitted to and received from the device, and optionally one or more wireless transmitters/receivers to allow communication over cellular telecommunications and other signal and data networks, for example Wi-Fi, Wi-Max GSM and the like.

PND devices of this type also include a GPS antenna by means of which satellite-broadcast signals, including location data, can be received and subsequently processed to determine a current location of the device.

The PND device may also include electronic gyroscopes and accelerometers which produce signals that can be processed to determine the current angular and linear acceleration, and in turn, and in conjunction with location information derived from the GPS signal, velocity and relative displacement of the device and thus the vehicle in which it is mounted. Typically such features are most commonly provided in in-vehicle navigation systems, but may also be provided in PND devices if it is expedient to do so.

The utility of such PNDs is manifested primarily in their ability to determine a route between a first location (typically a start or current location) and a second location (typically a destination). These locations can be input by a user of the device, by any of a wide variety of different methods, for example by postcode, street name and house number, previously stored "well known" destinations (such as famous locations, municipal locations (such as sports grounds or swimming baths) or other points of interest), and favourite or recently visited destinations.

Typically, the PND is enabled by software for computing a "best" or "optimum" route between the start and destination address locations from the map data. A "best" or "optimum" route is determined on the basis of predetermined criteria and need not necessarily be the fastest or shortest route. The selection of the route along which to guide the driver can be very sophisticated, and the selected route may take into account existing, predicted and dynamically and/or wirelessly received traffic and road information, historical information about road speeds, and the driver's own preferences for the factors determining road choice (for example the driver may specify that the route should not include motorways or toll roads).

In addition, the device may continually monitor road and traffic conditions, and offer to or choose to change the route over which the remainder of the journey is to be made due to changed conditions. Real time traffic monitoring systems, based on various technologies (e.g. mobile phone data exchanges, fixed cameras, GPS fleet tracking) are being used to identify traffic delays and to feed the information into notification systems.

PNDs of this type may typically be mounted on the dashboard or windscreen of a vehicle, but may also be formed as part of an on-board computer of the vehicle radio or indeed as part of the control system of the vehicle itself. The navigation device may also be part of a hand-held system, such as a PDA (Portable Digital Assistant) a media player, a mobile phone or the like, and in these cases, the normal functionality of the hand-held system is extended by means of the installation of software on the device to perform both route calculation and navigation along a calculated route.

Route planning and navigation functionality may also be provided by a desktop or mobile computing resource running appropriate software. For example, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) provides an on-line route planning and navigation facility at http://www.rac.co.uk, which facility allows a user to enter a start point and a destination whereupon the server to which the user's PC is connected calculates a route (aspects of which may be user specified), generates a map, and generates a set of exhaustive navigation instructions for guiding the user from the selected start point to the selected destination. The facility also provides for pseudo three-dimensional rendering of a calculated route, and route preview functionality which simulates a user travelling along the route and thereby provides the user with a preview of the calculated route.

In the context of a PND, once a route has been calculated, the user interacts with the navigation device to select the desired calculated route, optionally from a list of proposed routes. Optionally, the user may intervene in, or guide the route selection process, for example by specifying that certain routes, roads, locations or criteria are to be avoided or are mandatory for a particular journey. The route calculation aspect of the PND forms one primary function, and navigation along such a route is another primary function.

During navigation along a calculated route, it is usual for such PNDs to provide visual and/or audible instructions to guide the user along a chosen route to the end of that route, i.e. the desired destination. It is also usual for PNDs to display map information on-screen during the navigation, such information regularly being updated on-screen so that the map information displayed is representative of the current location of the device, and thus of the user or user's vehicle if the device is being used for in- vehicle navigation.

An icon displayed on-screen typically denotes the current device location, and is centred with the map information of current and surrounding roads in the vicinity of the current device location and other map features also being displayed. Additionally, navigation information may be displayed, optionally in a status bar above, below or to one side of the displayed map information, examples of navigation information include a distance to the next deviation from the current road required to be taken by the user, the nature of that deviation possibly being represented by a further icon suggestive of the particular type of deviation, for example a left or right turn. The navigation function also determines the content, duration and timing of audible instructions by means of which the user can be guided along the route. As can be appreciated a simple instruction such as "turn left in 100 m" requires significant processing and analysis. As previously mentioned, user interaction with the device may be by a touch screen, or additionally or alternately by steering column mounted remote control, by voice activation or by any other suitable method.

A further important function provided by the device is automatic route recalculation in the event that: a user deviates from the previously calculated route during navigation (either by accident or intentionally); real-time traffic conditions dictate that an alternative route would be more expedient and the device is suitably enabled to recognize such conditions automatically, or if a user actively causes the device to perform route re-calculation for any reason.

It is also known to allow a route to be calculated with user defined criteria; for example, the user may prefer a scenic route to be calculated by the device, or may wish to avoid any roads on which traffic congestion is likely, expected or currently prevailing. The device software would then calculate various routes and weigh more favourably those that include along their route the highest number of points of interest (known as POIs) tagged as being for example of scenic beauty, or, using stored information indicative of prevailing traffic conditions on particular roads, order the calculated routes in terms of a level of likely congestion or delay on account thereof. Other POI-based and traffic information-based route calculation and navigation criteria are also possible.

Although the route calculation and navigation functions are fundamental to the overall utility of PNDs, it is possible to use the device purely for information display, or "free-driving", in which only map information relevant to the current device location is displayed, and in which no route has been calculated and no navigation is currently being performed by the device. Such a mode of operation is often applicable when the user already knows the route along which it is desired to travel and does not require navigation assistance.

Devices of the type described above, for example the 720T model manufactured and supplied by TomTom International B.V., provide a reliable means for enabling users to navigate from one position to another.

A problem has been noted surrounding user interaction with navigation devices.

In some instances, a user's interaction with a navigation device is not limited to a single input i.e. key-press. Some inputs necessary to control a navigation device consist of a sequence of inputs, particularly where it is necessary to input data to the navigation device. Examples of instances where it is necessary to provide a sequence of inputs to a navigation device include entering a new destination, varying route selection criteria, i.e. to determine if an alternative route is better for the user, and including a diversion in a route. When a user is currently receiving route guidance from a navigation device providing a sequence of user inputs to the navigation device can be inconvenient, particularly when those inputs are provided within one or more menus of the navigation device i.e. a display of the navigation device is utilised for menu or data input rather than route guidance.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome or at least ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art. In particular, it is an aim of embodiments of the present invention provide for more convenient user interaction with a navigation device.

Summary of the Invention

In pursuit of this aim, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a navigation device, comprising a memory, a display device and a toggle display module arranged to receive a toggle input from a user and, in response, to store information in the memory indicative of a display state of the navigation device and to output on the display device a driving view representing one or more geographic features proximal to a current location of the navigation device.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a graphical user interface for a navigation device, comprising outputting a screen of a graphical user interface on a display device, receiving a first toggle input from a user and, in response, storing information indicative of a display state of the navigation device and outputting on the display device a driving view representing one or more geographic features proximal to a current location of the navigation device.

Preferably, the screen of the display device is one of a menu providing one or more menu options or a data input screen. The menu or the data input screen may occupy substantially the entire display device.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to computer software comprising one or more software modules operable, when executed in an execution environment, to cause a processor to operating a graphical user interface for a navigation device, comprising outputting a screen of a graphical user interface on a display device, receiving a first toggle input from a user and, in response, storing information indicative of a display state of the navigation device and outputting on the display device a driving view representing one or more geographic features proximal to a current location of the navigation device.

Advantages of these embodiments are set out hereafter, and further details and features of each of these embodiments are defined in the accompanying dependent claims and elsewhere in the following detailed description. Brief Description of the Drawings

Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a Global Positioning System (GPS);

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of electronic components arranged to provide a navigation device;

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of the manner in which a navigation device may receive information over a wireless communication channel;

Figs. 4A and 4B are illustrative perspective views of a navigation device;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the software employed by the navigation device;

Fig. 6 is an input unit of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen of a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a further flow diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to a PND. It should be remembered, however, that the teachings of the present invention are not limited to PNDs but are instead universally applicable to any type of processing device that is configured to execute navigation software so as to provide route planning and navigation functionality. It follows therefore that in the context of the present application, a navigation device is intended to include (without limitation) any type of route planning and navigation device, irrespective of whether that device is embodied as a PND, a navigation device built into a vehicle, or indeed a computing resource (such as a desktop or portable personal computer (PC), mobile telephone or portable digital assistant (PDA)) executing route planning and navigation software.

With the above provisos in mind, Fig. 1 illustrates an example view of Global Positioning System (GPS), usable by navigation devices. Such systems are known and are used for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite-radio based navigation system capable of determining continuous position, velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for an unlimited number of users. Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality of satellites which orbit the earth in extremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to any number of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially equipped to receive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellite signals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the device determines the precise location of that satellite via one of a plurality of different conventional methods. The device will continue scanning, in most instances, for signals until it has acquired at least three different satellite signals (noting that position is not normally, but can be determined, with only two signals using other triangulation techniques). Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizes the three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional position relative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner. Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow the receiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the same geometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and velocity data can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by an unlimited number of users.

As shown in Figure 1 , the GPS system is denoted generally by reference numeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the earth 124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarily synchronous with the orbits of other satellites 120 and, in fact, is likely asynchronous. A GPS receiver 140 is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from the various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160, continuously transmitted from each satellite 120, utilize a highly accurate frequency standard accomplished with an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120, as part of its data signal transmission 160, transmits a data stream indicative of that particular satellite 120. It is appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art that the GPS receiver device 140 generally acquires spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120 for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensional position by triangulation. Acquisition of an additional signal, resulting in signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permits the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional position in a known manner.

Figure 2 is an illustrative representation of electronic components of a navigation device 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in block component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of the navigation device 200 is not inclusive of all components of the navigation device, but is only representative of many example components.

The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). The housing includes a processor 210 connected to an input device 220 and a display screen 240. The input device 220 can include a keyboard device, voice input device, touch panel and/or any other known input device utilised to input information; and the display screen 240 can include any type of display screen such as an LCD display, for example. In a particularly preferred arrangement the input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device, including a touchpad or touchscreen input so that a user need only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of a plurality of display choices or to activate one of a plurality of virtual buttons.

The navigation device may include an output device 260, for example an audible output device (e.g. a loudspeaker). As output device 260 can produce audible information for a user of the navigation device 200, it is should equally be understood that input device 240 can include a microphone and software for receiving input voice commands as well.

In the navigation device 200, processor 210 is operatively connected to and set to receive input information from input device 220 via a connection 225, and operatively connected to at least one of display screen 240 and output device 260, via output connections 245, to output information thereto. Further, the processor 210 is operably coupled to a memory resource 230 via connection 235 and is further adapted to receive/send information from/to input/output (I/O) ports 270 via connection 275, wherein the I/O port 270 is connectible to an I/O device 280 external to the navigation device 200. The memory resource 230 comprises, for example, a volatile memory, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory, for example a digital memory, such as a flash memory. The external I/O device 280 may include, but is not limited to an external listening device such as an earpiece for example. The connection to I/O device 280 can further be a wired or wireless connection to any other external device such as a car stereo unit for hands-free operation and/or for voice activated operation for example, for connection to an ear piece or head phones, and/or for connection to a mobile phone for example, wherein the mobile phone connection may be used to establish a data connection between the navigation device 200 and the internet or any other network for example, and/or to establish a connection to a server via the internet or some other network for example.

Fig. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor 210 and an antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, wherein the antenna/receiver 250 can be a GPS antenna/receiver for example. It will be understood that the antenna and receiver designated by reference numeral 250 are combined schematically for illustration, but that the antenna and receiver may be separately located components, and that the antenna may be a GPS patch antenna or helical antenna for example.

Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic components shown in Fig. 2 are powered by power sources (not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, different configurations of the components shown in Fig. 2 are considered to be within the scope of the present application. For example, the components shown in Fig. 2 may be in communication with one another via wired and/or wireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope of the navigation device 200 of the present application includes a portable or handheld navigation device 200.

In addition, the portable or handheld navigation device 200 of Fig. 2 can be connected or "docked" in a known manner to a vehicle such as a bicycle, a motorbike, a car or a boat for example. Such a navigation device 200 is then removable from the docked location for portable or handheld navigation use.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the navigation device 200 may establish a "mobile" or telecommunications network connection with a server 302 via a mobile device (not shown) (such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device with mobile phone technology) establishing a digital connection (such as a digital connection via known Bluetooth technology for example). Thereafter, through its network service provider, the mobile device can establish a network connection (through the internet for example) with a server 302. As such, a "mobile" network connection is established between the navigation device 200 (which can be, and often times is mobile as it travels alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 to provide a "real-time" or at least very "up to date" gateway for information.

The establishing of the network connection between the mobile device (via a service provider) and another device such as the server 302, using an internet (such as the World Wide Web) for example, can be done in a known manner. This can include use of TCP/IP layered protocol for example. The mobile device can utilize any number of communication standards such as CDMA, GSM, WAN, etc.

As such, an internet connection may be utilised which is achieved via data connection, via a mobile phone or mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 for example. For this connection, an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 is established. This can be done, for example, through a mobile phone or other mobile device and a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)- connection (GPRS connection is a high-speed data connection for mobile devices provided by telecom operators; GPRS is a method to connect to the internet).

The navigation device 200 can further complete a data connection with the mobile device, and eventually with the internet and server 302, via existing Bluetooth technology for example, in a known manner, wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of standards, such as the GSRM, the Data Protocol Standard for the GSM standard, for example.

The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 itself (including an antenna for example, or optionally using the internal antenna of the navigation device 200). The mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can include internal components as specified above, and/or can include an insertable card (e.g. Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card), complete with necessary mobile phone technology and/or an antenna for example. As such, mobile phone technology within the navigation device 200 can similarly establish a network connection between the navigation device 200 and the server 302, via the internet for example, in a manner similar to that of any mobile device.

For GPRS phone settings, a Bluetooth enabled navigation device may be used to correctly work with the ever changing spectrum of mobile phone models, manufacturers, etc., model/manufacturer specific settings may be stored on the navigation device 200 for example. The data stored for this information can be updated.

In Fig. 3 the navigation device 200 is depicted as being in communication with the server 302 via a generic communications channel 318 that can be implemented by any of a number of different arrangements. The server 302 and a navigation device 200 can communicate when a connection via communications channel 318 is established between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 (noting that such a connection can be a data connection via mobile device, a direct connection via personal computer via the internet, etc.).

The server 302 includes, in addition to other components which may not be illustrated, a processor 304 operatively connected to a memory 306 and further operatively connected, via a wired or wireless connection 314, to a mass data storage device 312. The processor 304 is further operatively connected to transmitter 308 and receiver 310, to transmit and send information to and from navigation device 200 via communications channel 318. The signals sent and received may include data, communication, and/or other propagated signals. The transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be selected or designed according to the communications requirement and communication technology used in the communication design for the navigation system 200. Further, it should be noted that the functions of transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may be combined into a signal transceiver.

Server 302 is further connected to (or includes) a mass storage device 312, noting that the mass storage device 312 may be coupled to the server 302 via communication link 314. The mass storage device 312 contains a store of navigation data and map information, and can again be a separate device from the server 302 or can be incorporated into the server 302.

The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the server 302 through communications channel 318, and includes processor, memory, etc. as previously described with regard to Fig. 2, as well as transmitter 320 and receiver 322 to send and receive signals and/or data through the communications channel 318, noting that these devices can further be used to communicate with devices other than server 302. Further, the transmitter 320 and receiver 322 are selected or designed according to communication requirements and communication technology used in the communication design for the navigation device 200 and the functions of the transmitter 320 and receiver 322 may be combined into a single transceiver.

Software stored in server memory 306 provides instructions for the processor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services to the navigation device 200. One service provided by the server 302 involves processing requests from the navigation device 200 and transmitting navigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the navigation device 200. Another service provided by the server 302 includes processing the navigation data using various algorithms for a desired application and sending the results of these calculations to the navigation device 200.

The communication channel 318 generically represents the propagating medium or path that connects the navigation device 200 and the server 302. Both the server 302 and navigation device 200 include a transmitter for transmitting data through the communication channel and a receiver for receiving data that has been transmitted through the communication channel.

The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particular communication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 318 is not limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel 318 may include several communication links that use a variety of technology. For example, the communication channel 318 can be adapted to provide a path for electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communications, etc. As such, the communication channel 318 includes, but is not limited to, one or a combination of the following: electric circuits, electrical conductors such as wires and coaxial cables, fibre optic cables, converters, radio-frequency (RF) waves, the atmosphere, empty space, etc. Furthermore, the communication channel 318 can include intermediate devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers, for example.

In one illustrative arrangement, the communication channel 318 includes telephone and computer networks. Furthermore, the communication channel 318 may be capable of accommodating wireless communication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, etc. Additionally, the communication channel 318 can accommodate satellite communication.

The communication signals transmitted through the communication channel 318 include, but are not limited to, signals as may be required or desired for given communication technology. For example, the signals may be adapted to be used in cellular communication technology such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), etc. Both digital and analogue signals can be transmitted through the communication channel 318. These signals may be modulated, encrypted and/or compressed signals as may be desirable for the communication technology.

The server 302 includes a remote server accessible by the navigation device 200 via a wireless channel. The server 302 may include a network server located on a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), etc.

The server 302 may include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop computer, and the communication channel 318 may be a cable connected between the personal computer and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between the navigation device 200 and the server 302 to establish an internet connection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200. Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other handheld device may establish a wireless connection to the internet, for connecting the navigation device 200 to the server 302 via the internet.

The navigation device 200 may be provided with information from the server 302 via information downloads which may be periodically updated automatically or upon a user connecting navigation device 200 to the server 302 and/or may be more dynamic upon a more constant or frequent connection being made between the server 302 and navigation device 200 via a wireless mobile connection device and TCP/IP connection for example. For many dynamic calculations, the processor 304 in the server 302 may be used to handle the bulk of the processing needs, however, processor 210 of navigation device 200 can also handle much processing and calculation, oftentimes independent of a connection to a server 302.

As indicated above in Fig. 2, a navigation device 200 includes a processor 210, an input device 220, and a display screen 240. The input device 220 and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and display device to enable both input of information (via direct input, menu selection, etc.) and display of information through a touch panel screen, for example. Such a screen may be a touch input LCD screen, for example, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the navigation device 200 can also include any additional input device 220 and/or any additional output device 241 , such as audio input/output devices for example.

Figs 4A and 4B are perspective views of a navigation device 200. As shown in Fig. 4A, the navigation device 200 may be a unit that includes an integrated input and display device 290 (a touch panel screen for example) and the other components of fig. 2 (including but not limited to internal GPS receiver 250, microprocessor 210, a power supply, memory systems 230, etc.).

The navigation device 200 may sit on an arm 292, which itself may be secured to a vehicle dashboard/window/etc. using a suction cup 294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station to which the navigation device 200 can be docked.

As shown in Fig. 4B, the navigation device 200 can be docked or otherwise connected to an arm 292 of the docking station by snap connecting the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 for example. The navigation device 200 may then be rotatable on the arm 292, as shown by the arrow of Fig. 4B. To release the connection between the navigation device 200 and the docking station, a button on the navigation device 200 may be pressed, for example. Other equally suitable arrangements for coupling and decoupling the navigation device to a docking station are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, the memory resource 230 stores a boot loader program (not shown) that is executed by the processor 210 in order to load an operating system 470 from the memory resource 230 for execution by functional hardware components 460, which provides an environment in which application software 480 can run. The operating system 470 serves to control the functional hardware components 460 and resides between the application software 480 and the functional hardware components 460. The application software 480 provides an operational environment including the GUI that supports core functions of the navigation device 200, for example map viewing, route planning, navigation functions and any other functions associated therewith. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of this functionality comprises a toggle display module (TDM) 490, the function of which will now be described in detail in connection with the following figures.

Figure 6 illustrates an input unit 600 of a navigation device 200 for receiving a user's input. The input unit 600 shown in Figure 6 may be integrated within a vehicle i.e. mounted within a dashboard or other interior component i.e. interior trim of the vehicle, particularly where the navigation device 200 is an on-board navigation device of the vehicle, although the input unit 600 may also be associated with a portable navigation device. In this case, the input unit 600 may communicate with the portable navigation device 200 over a wired or wireless interface, such as Bluetooth or similar. The input unit 600 may be formed by physical switches which are responsive to applied pressure to cause a corresponding electronic output, although the input unit 600 may also be graphically displayed on a touch-sensitive display device 240 of the navigation device.

The input unit 600 in Figure 6 includes a direction control 610 and three function keys 620-640. The direction control 610 may be a circular-shaped button or displayed icon, or may be a rotary control. The direction control 610 is capable of being actuated in a plurality of directions. The direction control 610 shown in Figure 6 is capable of being actuated in four directions (up, down, right and left), although more directions are possible, such as up-left etc. The function keys 620-640 include a back key 620 which may be used to delete an input or, when in a menu system, to go up a level of menu i.e. back to the immediately previous menu. Option key 630 may be used to display one or more options currently available for a current screen. A menu button 640 causes the display of a menu screen such as a main menu, for example when in a driving view of the navigation device. It will be realised that the input unit 600 shown in Figure 6 may include other controls, such as additional controls for the navigation device 200 and that embodiments of the invention are not limited to the controls shown in Figure 6.

Embodiments of the invention include a driving view toggle means 650, the operation of which will now be explained in more detail.

As will be appreciated, user interaction with a navigation device 200 sometimes involves complex sequences of inputs. The inputs may be required to navigate through one or more menus and/or to provide a data input for a desired operation of the navigation device 200. For example, Figure 7 shows a data input screen of a navigation device which is used to search for a Point of Interest (POI). Some navigation devices accept a textual input for such a data input screen e.g. through a touch-sensitive display screen. Alternatively, with the input unit 600 shown in Figure 6, a user utilises the direction control 610 to navigate a highlighted cursor around the keys shown in Figure 7 and to select desired alphanumeric keys in sequence. In other embodiments, the input may be provided verbally. However, as will be appreciated, a time to complete such a task may be relatively long. Although not always advisable, some users of navigation devices 200 may wish to interact with the navigation device 200 whilst either receiving route guidance from the navigation device 200 or viewing surround roads on the navigation device in the "free-driving" mode referred to earlier. Embodiments of the present invention allow a user to quickly return to the driving view of the navigation device 200 and then to return to complete a previously-started interaction with the navigation device 200.

Embodiments of the invention include a toggle means, such as a driving view toggle key (DVTK) 650 which may either be a hardware control, such as a physical button, a graphically displayed control i.e. displayed on the display screen 240, or a verbal command. When the toggle means 650 is activated by the user the navigation device 200 is arranged to toggle between an incomplete task and the driving view. The driving view is understood to be a mode in which one or more geographical features corresponding to the location of the navigation device are displayed on the display screen 240. When the navigation device 200 has displayed on the display screen 240 a screen, such as a menu or data input screen, other than the driving view, activation of the DVTK 650 causes the TDM 490 to save a current state of the navigation device 200 and return the display screen 240 to the driving view mode. When in the driving view mode, activation of the DVTK 650 causes the TDM 490 to display on the display device 240 a previously displayed screen, as will be explained.

Figure 8 illustrates a method 800 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 800 is performed by embodiments of the TDM 490 i.e. the method 800 is operatively performed by the processor 210 of the navigation device 200. The method 800 may be performed at any time whilst the navigation device 200 is operational. However, it is intended that the method will generally be performed either whilst the navigation device 200 is operative in the driving view mode (providing route guidance or free driving) or whilst the navigation device 200 is displaying a menu or data input screen

The method 800 starts and, in step 810, it is determined whether the toggle means has been activated by the user. In some embodiments, where the toggle means is a key or graphically displayed icon, the toggle means is activated by contact from the user, although other forms of toggle activation are also possible. For example, the toggle means may correspond to a voice command spoken by the user, such as "Toggle", "Toggle to driving view" or simply "Driving view". Embodiments will be further explained where the toggle means is the DVTK 650, although it will be realised that the invention is not limited in this respect. If the DVTK 650 has not been operated, then the method returns to step 810 i.e. the method continually loops within step 810 until the DVTK 490 is activated by the user. Once the DVTK 650 has been activated by the user the method moves to step 820. In step 820 it is determined whether the navigation device 200 is currently operative in the driving view, for example either providing route guidance or "free driving". If the navigation device 200 is currently operative in the driving view, then the method moves to step 850. In step 850 it is determined whether menu information exists in the memory 230 of the navigation device 200. The menu information indicates a state of the navigation device when the DVTK 490 was previously activated. The menu information may indicate the menu or screen displayed on the display device 240 when the DVTK 650 was operated. The menu may be a menu within a sequence of menus i.e. the displayed menu may not normally be accessible directly from the driving view because it is a sub-menu. Furthermore, the menu information may store any user inputs entered into the navigation device but which had not been accepted by the navigation device 200 when the DVTK 650 was operated. For example, referring again to Figure 7, in the case that the user had partially entered a POI name into the data input screen shown in Figure 7, but had not yet caused the navigation device 200 to accept the data input i.e. by pressing the "Done" icon shown in Figure 7, activation of the DVTK 650 causes the data input to be saved as part of the menu information stored in the memory 230. The menu information saved by the TDM 490 may alternatively be indicative of a verbal input provided to the navigation device 200. For example, a user may have selected an option of the navigation device 200 to verbally input a destination. A first part of the verbal input may correspond to a state or city of the destination and a second part of the verbal input may correspond to a street of the destination. The TDM 490 may save menu information indicative of the first part of the verbal destination entry when the DVTK 650 is activated before the second part of the destination is verbally entered.

In step 850, if menu information exists in the memory 230 then the method moves to step 860. However, if no menu information exists in the memory 230, the method moves to step 880. Menu information may not exist in the memory because the DVTK 650 has not previously been operated by the user to cause the TDM 490 to store the menu information in the memory 230. Alternatively, the TDM 490 may be arranged to delete previously stored menu information from the memory 230 after a predetermined period of time, for example one hour, although other time periods may be used. In step 880, if no menu information exists in the memory 230 then an error is output by the navigation device 200. The error may be displayed on the display screen 240 as a message informing the user that no menu information exists in the memory 230.

In step 860, if the menu information exists in the memory 230, the menu information is retrieved by the TDM 490. The menu information allows a screen previously displayed when the DVTK 490 was last activated to be displayed again on the display screen 240. As mentioned above, if the previously displayed screen included a partially entered user input, then the screen may include that user input allowing the user to complete the incomplete task without re-entering the user input. The method then ends.

Returning to step 820 of the method, if in this step the navigation device 200 is not currently in the driving view when the DVTK 650 is activated, the method 800 moves to step 830. If the navigation device 200 is not displaying the driving view then it is assumed that a screen such as a menu or data input screen is displayed on the display screen 240. In step 830, menu information is stored in the memory 230 by the TDM 490 indicating the display state of the navigation device 200. The menu information may indicate the currently displayed screen identifying the menu or data input screen displayed at the time of DVTK 650 activation and information indicating any incomplete data input provided to the navigation device 200 but not accepted by the navigation device 200 when the DVTK 650 is activated.

In step 840 the display screen is caused to return to the driving view. In the driving view the user is provided with a visual display of their surroundings i.e. geographic features in the vicinity such as roads etc and may also be provided with visual and/or audible route guidance. Thus the DVTK 650 and TDM 490 enable the user to quickly return to the driving view whilst preserving the current state of the navigation device for later direct return via a further operation of the DVTK 650.

Operation of the DVTK 650 and TDM 490 according to embodiments of the invention is summarised in Figure 9. In step 910 a user activates a main menu of the navigation device, for example by activation of the menu key 640 shown in Figure 6. In step 920 a user selects a first sub menu from the main menu and then from that submenu activates a data input screen, such as that shown in Figure 7. Although Figure 9 describes operation of the invention with reference to a sub menu and data input screen, it will be realised that this is merely exemplary. The data input screen may receive the user's input to complete one or more data fields with alphanumeric data. In step 940 the user enters data into the displayed data input screen. However, before completing the data input the user activates the DVTK 650 which causes the TDM 490 to save menu information in the memory 230 of the navigation device 200 and return the display screen 240 to outputting the driving view, as shown in Figure 9 in step 970. The menu information may indicate the screen displayed at the time of DVTK 650 activation, such as by storing an ID of the input screen and information indicating the data input received by the screen which has not yet been accepted by the navigation device 200. As shown in Figure 9 the driving view shows geographic features, particularly roads in the vicinity of the navigation device 200 and other associated information, such as an upcoming turn which should be taken by the user. After a period of time, the user wishing to complete the data entry, activates the DVTK 650 a second time to cause the TDM 490 to load the stored menu information and return the output of the display screen 240 directly to the screen displayed at the time of the first activation of the DVTK 650. The TDM 490 loads the data input screen in the example of Figure 9 without requiring the user to return to the main and first sub-menu, as in steps 90 and 920. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the data input screen contains the previously received user input, thereby allowing the user to more quickly complete the task in progress at the time of DVTK 650 activation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the teachings of the present invention provide an arrangement whereby a user may quickly toggle between a driving view of the navigation device in which geographic features such as roads are indicated to the user, and a menu or data input screen of the navigation device.

It will also be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, whilst embodiments described in the foregoing detailed description refer to GPS, it should be noted that the navigation device may utilise any kind of position sensing technology as an alternative to (or indeed in addition to) GPS. For example the navigation device may utilise using other global navigation satellite systems such as the European Galileo system. Equally, it is not limited to satellite based but could readily function using ground based beacons or any other kind of system that enables the device to determine its geographic location.

It will also be well understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that whilst the preferred embodiment implements certain functionality by means of software, that functionality could equally be implemented solely in hardware (for example by means of one or more ASICs (application specific integrated circuit)) or indeed by a mix of hardware and software. As such, the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to being implemented in software.

Lastly, it should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features or embodiments herein disclosed irrespective of whether or not that particular combination has been specifically enumerated in the accompanying claims at this time.

Claims

1 . A navigation device (200), comprising: a memory (230); and a display device (240); characterised by: a toggle display module (490) arranged to receive a toggle input from a user and, in response, to store information in the memory (230) indicative of a display state of the navigation device (200) and to output on the display device (240) a driving view (970) representing one or more geographic features proximal to a current location of the navigation device (200).

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the information indicative of the display state identifies a graphical user interface screen output by the display device (240).

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the toggle display module (490) is arranged to store information in the memory (230) indicative of user data received by the graphical user interface.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the user data is one of an alphanumeric input received in one or more fields of a data input screen (930) of the graphical user interface, or a verbal input provided to the navigation device (200).

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the toggle display module (490) is arranged to, in response to receiving the toggle input, determine whether the driving view (970) is displayed on the display device (240) and, if so, to restore the display state of the navigation device (200) based on the information stored in the memory (230).

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the toggle display module (490) is arranged to restore a screen of the graphical user interface previously displayed on the display device (240).

7. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the input is received by a driving view toggle key (640) associated with the navigation device (200).

8. A method of operating a graphical user interface for a navigation device (200), comprising: outputting a screen (930) of a graphical user interface on a display device (240); characterised by: receiving a first toggle input (950) from a user and, in response, storing information indicative of a display state of the navigation device (200) and outputting on the display device (240) a driving view (970) representing one or more geographic features proximal to a current location of the navigation device (200).

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the information identifies a screen of the graphical user interface output on the display device (240).

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the information identifies user data input to the graphical user interface.

11 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the user data input is alphanumeric data entered by the user into one or more fields of the graphic user interface, but not yet accepted by the navigation device (200).

12. The method of any of claims 8 to 11 , comprising: receiving a second toggle input from the user and, in response, restoring the display state of the navigation device (200).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein restoring the display state of the navigation device (200) comprises restoring a previously displayed screen of the graphical user interface.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein restoring the display state comprises retrieving the stored information indicative of the display state of the navigation device.

15. The method of any of claims 12 to 14, comprising determining whether stored information indicative of the display state exists and, if not, outputting an error message.