Method and device for assisting navigation

A device for assisting navigation on board of a vehicle comprising:

• a processor connected to other items of electronic equipment embarked on board the vehicle,
• at least one man/machine communication terminal connected to the processor and comprising a display screen and control and entry keys for introducing a destination position of the vehicle, and
• a data base accessible by the processor where are stored a succession of pixel data each representing an image point of a digitized image representing a geopolitical map of the region able to be traversed by the vehicle and data relating to a multiplicity of objects of different natures localized in said region, these data comprising for each object graphical symbols representative of the nature of the object, a geographical position of the object and a set of detailed information relating to the object, these objects being divided according to the respective natures of said objects into sets of objects respectively associated with specific exploitation means for exploiting the sets of detailed information,
• the processor including:
• first means for exploiting data of the data base;
• sensors for acquiring in real time a current situation of the vehicle including a current position;
• means for determining from said current position and said destination position a trajectory to be traversed by the vehicle;
• means to periodically determine a portion of the digitized image representing a geographical zone which includes both the current position of the vehicle and a greatest possible portion of the trajectory to be traversed by the vehicle;
• means to display on the displaying surface the determined image portion thus determined and superimposed on said image portion, graphical symbols representing said greatest possible portion of trajectory while observing its geographical position and orientation with respect to said geographical zone;
• means to display on the displaying surface, superimposed on said image portion, a graphical symbol representing the vehicle while observing its geographical position with respect to said geographical zone;
• means for selecting, among the items of information relating to a set of objects selected by the operator, the information relating to the objects located in said geographical zone;
• means to display superimposed on said determined image portion the graphical symbols representative of the objects thus selected while observing their geographical position with respect to said geographical zone;
• and
• each of said specific exploitation means defining for the set of objects associated thereto a way items of said information related to said set of objects are chained with one another, a mode for displaying said items of information, active keys of said terminal and functions activated by said active keys.

Man/machine communication terminal able to be used in a device for assisting navigation on board a vehicle and using a documentary management system comprising:

• a processor connected to other items of electronic equipment embarked on board the vehicle,
• a data base accessible by the processor where are stored in particular a digitalized image representing a geopolitical map of the region able to be traversed by the vehicle and data relating to a multiplicity of objects of different natures localized in said region, these data including for each object symbols representative of the nature of the object, a geographical position of the object and a set of detailed information relating to the object, these objects being divided according to the respective natures of said objects into sets of objects respectively associated with distinct means for exploiting the sets of detailed information, each of said exploitation means being accessible through menus which are chained so as to form a tree structure;
• the processor comprising:
• first means for exploiting the information of the data base;
• sensors for acquiring in real time current situation of the vehicle;
• means for periodically determining a portion of the digitalized image representing a geographical zone which includes both the current position of the vehicle and a significant portion of the trajectory to be traversed by the vehicle;
• and
• specific means for exploiting each set of objects;
• said terminal comprising a display screen and control and entry keys for entering information and a destination position of the vehicle, and for carrying out commands, said keys being divided at the periphery of the screen into four sets of successive keys, a first set allocated to activation of the exploitation means, a second set allocated to selection when a menu is displayed on the screen, a third set allocated to control functions of the terminal, and a fourth set allocated to displaying and reactivating final selections of said exploitation means made by the operator, said keys being reconfigurable according to the page displayed on the screen and each being associated with an adjacent zone of the screen where a label of the function allocated thereto is displayed, a key being allocated to displaying successively previously selected menus related to a previously selected exploitation means;
• said processor further comprising:
• means for displaying on the display screen the portion of said digitized image thus determined and symbols representing said trajectory portion;
• means for displaying overprinted on the display screen a symbol representing the vehicle while observing its geographical position with respect to said geographical zone;
• means for selecting, among the items of information relating to a set of objects selected by the operator, the information relating to the objects located in said geographical zone;
• means for displaying overprinted on said determined image portion the symbols representative of the objects thus selected while observing their geographical position with respect to said geographical zone,
• wherein the keys allocated to displaying and reactivating the final selections of exploitation means are respectively associated with a zone of the screen where respective labels of these final selections appear, the key associated with the last final selection being non activatable and the keys associated with the other final selections being able to be activatable and allowing for display of a last page displayed concerning the associated selection.

Method for assisting navigation on board a vehicle using a documentary management system based on processors comprising at least one communication terminal including a display surface and memories storing in particular a digitized image representing a geopolitical map of the region likely to be traversed by the vehicle, and data relating to a multiplicity of objects of various natures localized in said region, these data comprising for each object symbols representative of the nature of the object, a geographical position and a set of detailed information relating to the object, said objects being divided according to the respective natures of said objects into sets of objects respectively associated with distinct means for exploiting the sets of detailed information, said method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring in real time the geographical position of the vehicle;
• introducing the trajectory to be covered from a departure position of the vehicle to a destination position;
• determining periodically a portion of the digitized image representing a geographical zone including the present position of the vehicle and a significant portion of the trajectory to be covered by the vehicle;
• displaying on the display surface said portion of the digitized image thus determined and said significant portion of said trajectory which is indicated by a set of straight parallel segments crossing perpendicularly at their respective middles an axis joining the departure aid destination positions, said segments being spaced by a distance corresponding to the distance covered by the vehicle during a constant period at an average speed;
• displaying overprinted in real time on said display surface a symbol representing the vehicle while observing its geographical position with respect to said geographical zone;
• selecting by the operator at least one set of objects;
• selecting by the system from amongst the sets of detailed information relating to the set of selected objects, detailed information relating to the objects localized in said geographical zone;
• displaying by overprinting on said determined image portion the symbols representing the objects thus selected while observing their geographical position with respect to said geographical zone;
• and
• selecting by the operator a set of objects presently displayed on the display surface, and activating the exploitation means associated with this set of objects.

Man/machine communication terminal able to be used in a device for assisting navigation on board a vehicle and using a documentary management system comprising:

• a processor connected to other items of electronic equipment embarked on board the vehicle,
• a data base accessible by the processor where are stored a succession of pixel data each representing an image point of a digitalized image representing a geopolitical map of the region able to be traversed by the vehicle and data relating to a multiplicity of objects of different natures localized in said region, these data including for each object symbols representative of the nature of the object, a geographical position of the object and a set of detailed information relating to the object, these objects being divided according to the respective natures of said objects into sets of objects respectively associated with distinct means for exploiting the sets of detailed information, each of said exploitation means being accessible through menus which are chained so as to form a tree structure;
• the processor comprising:
• first means for exploiting the information of the data base;
• sensors for acquiring in real time current situation of the vehicle;
• means for periodically determining a portion of the digitalized image representing a geographical zone which includes both the current position of the vehicle and a significant portion of the trajectory to be traversed by the vehicle;
• and
• specific means for exploiting each set of objects;
• said terminal comprising a display screen and control and entry keys for entering information and a destination position of the vehicle, and for carrying out commands, said keys being divided at the periphery of the screen into four sets of successive keys, a first set allocated to activation of the exploitation means, a second set allocated to selection when a menu is displayed on the screen, a third set allocated to control functions of the terminal, and a fourth set allocated to displaying and reactivating final selections of said exploitation means made by the operator, said keys being reconfigurable according to the page displayed on the screen and each being associated with an adjacent zone of the screen where a label of the function allocated thereto is displayed, a key being allocated to displaying successively previously selected menus related to a previously selected exploitation means;
• said processor further comprising:
• means for displaying on the display screen the portion of said digitized image thus determined and symbols representing said trajectory portion;
• means for displaying overprinted on the display screen a symbol representing the vehicle while observing its geographical position with respect to said geographical zone;
• means for selecting, among the items of information relating to a set of objects selected by the operator, the information relating to the objects located in said geographical zone;
• means for displaying overprinted on said determined image portion the symbols representative of the objects thus selected while observing their geographical position with respect to said geographical zone.