Portable map display system for presenting a 3D map image and method thereof

A method for dynamically producing a map image in a portable map display device, comprising:

• determining a location of the portable map display device;
• determining a direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• generating a map data request, said map data request including the determined location of said portable map display device and the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• transmitting the map data request over a communication link to a map data server;
• generating, by the map data server, in response to the map data request, map data concerning the area in the vicinity of the determined location of said portable map display device in the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• transmitting, by the map data server, the generated map data;
• receiving, by the portable map device, the generated map data;
• and
• displaying the generated map data as a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the determined location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing.

A portable map display system comprising:

• a) a portable map display device comprising:
• i) a display unit;
• ii) a self-locator unit for detecting a location of the portable map display device;
• iii) a direction detector unit for detecting a direction the portable map display device is facing;
• iv) a receiver unit for receiving map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the detected location of the portable map display device in the detected direction of the portable map display device;
• and
• v) a data processor for processing the received map data for transmitting to the display unit and causing the display unit to present to a user a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the detected direction the portable map display device is facing, wherein the spatial perspective comprises a projected view from a viewpoint upon a map plane, said viewpoint having a distance d from the map plane and a view-angle formed by the intersection of the map plane with a plane of the viewpoint;
• b) an input unit for inputting a destination;
• c) a destination distance calculator unit for determining the destination distance between the location of the portable map display device and the location of the destination;
• and
• d) a spatial perspective component controller unit for changing at least one of distance d and the view-angle of the spatial perspective of the three dimensional image, wherein said change is proportionate to a change in the determined destination distance.

A method for dynamically producing a map image in a portable map display device, comprising:

• determining a location of the portable map display device;
• determining a direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• receiving map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the determined location of said portable map display device in the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• displaying the received map data as a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the determined location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing, wherein the spatial perspective comprises a projected view from a viewpoint upon a map plane, said viewpoint having a distance d from the map plane and a view-angle formed by the intersection of the map plane with a plane of the viewpoint;
• inputting a destination;
• determining a destination distance between the location of the portable map display device and the location of the destination;
• and
• changing at least one of the distance d and the view-angle of the spatial perspective of the three dimensional image, wherein said change is proportionate to a change in the determined destination distance.

A method for dynamically producing a map image in a portable map display device, comprising:

• determining a location of the portable map display device;
• determining a direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• receiving map data concerning an area in a vicinity of the determined location of said portable map display device in the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• displaying in the portable map display device of the received map data as a three dimensional image of the vicinity of the determined location of the portable map display device with spatial perspective from the determined direction that the portable map display device is facing;
• generating an additional information request, said additional information concerning at least one map object in the displayed three dimensional map image;
• transmitting the additional information request over a communication link to an additional information server;
• generating, by the additional information server, a response to the additional information request, said response having additional information concerning the at least one map object in the displayed three dimensional map image;
• and
• transmitting, by the additional information server to the portable map device, the created response.