Route guidance apparatus and method

A pedestrian route guidance method, comprising:

• storing map data including road network data and landmark data in a database;
• searching for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in the database;
• analyzing a route pattern of the route by referring to the road network data;
• obtaining road pattern data as the analysis result;
• determining a landmark selection area for route guidance along the route based on the road network data and the road pattern data;
• selecting landmark data included in the landmark selection area from the database;
• generating route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the selected landmark data;
• and
• presenting the route guidance information.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer readable program code embodied in said product for causing a computer to execute pedestrian route guidance, said computer readable program code having:
• a first program code to store map data including road network data and landmark data in a database;
• a second program code to search for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in the database;
• a third program code to analyze a route pattern of the route by referring to the road network data;
• a fourth program code to obtain road pattern data as the analysis result;
• a fifth program code to determine a landmark selection area for route guidance along the route based on the road network data and the road pattern data;
• a sixth program code to select landmark data included in the landmark selection area from the database;
• a seventh program code to generate route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the selected landmark data;
• and
• a eighth program code to present the route guidance information.