Map display device and map display method

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position of the mobile object and a plurality of travel routes from the current position to respective destinations;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial-display unit operable to display a first partial map on a first partial display area of said display screen and a second partial map on a second partial display area of said display screen, the first partial map being a map that is related to a part of a first travel route of the plurality of travel routes of the mobile object, and the second partial map being a map that is related to a part of a second travel route of the plurality of travel routes of the mobile object,
• wherein the first partial display area occupies a first part of said display screen, and the second partial display area occupies a second part of said display screen,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display the first partial map and the second partial map in the first partial display area and the second partial display area, respectively, by superimposing the first partial map and the second partial map on the map displayed by said whole-display unit while causing the first partial map to be scrolled along the first travel route and the second partial map to be scrolled along the second travel route and causing the first partial display area to move along the first travel route and the second partial display area to move along the second travel route, and
• wherein the first partial map and the second partial map are different from one another.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position of the mobile object and a plurality of travel routes from the current position to respective destinations;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial-display unit operable to display a first partial map on a first partial display area of said display screen and a second partial map on a second partial display area of said display screen, the first partial map being a map that is related to a part of a first travel route of the plurality of travel routes of the mobile object, and the second partial map being a map that is related to a part of a second travel route of the plurality of travel routes of the mobile object, wherein the first partial display area occupies a first part of said display screen, and the second partial display area occupies a second part of said display screen,
• wherein the first partial map and the second partial map are different from one another, and
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to:
• display the first partial map and the second partial map in the first partial display area and the second partial display area, respectively, by superimposing the first partial map and the second partial map on the map displayed by said whole-display unit while causing the first partial map to be scrolled along the first travel route and the second partial map to be scrolled along the second travel route;
• and
• by adjusting the number of base points which serve as bases for the scroll or a speed of the scroll, simultaneously display the first and second partial maps in such a manner that a time from the start of scroll until the end of scroll for the first partial map is identical to a time from the start of scroll until the end of scroll for the second partial map, while causing each of the first and second partial maps to be scrolled.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position of the mobile object and a plurality of travel routes from the current position to respective destinations;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial-display unit operable to display a first partial map on a first partial display area of said display screen and a second partial map on a second partial display area of said display screen, the first partial map being a map that is related to a part of a first travel route of the plurality of travel routes of the mobile object, and the second partial map being a map that is related to a part of a second travel route of the plurality of travel routes of the mobile object, wherein the first partial display area occupies a first part of said display screen, and the second partial display area occupies a second part of said display screen,
• wherein the first partial map and the second partial map are different from one another, and
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to:
• display the first partial map and the second partial map in the first partial display area and the second partial display area, respectively, by superimposing the first partial map and the second partial map on the map displayed by said whole-display unit while causing the first partial map to be scrolled along the first travel route and the second partial map to be scrolled along the second travel route;
• and
• simultaneously display the first and second partial maps in such a manner that the first and second partial maps are of a same predicted time of the mobile object while traveling, while causing each of the first and second partial maps to be scrolled.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial-display unit operable to display a partial map on a partial display area of said display screen, the partial map being a map that is related to a part of the travel route of the mobile object;
• and
• wherein the partial display area occupies only a part of said display screen,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display the partial map on the partial display area by superimposing the partial map on the map displayed by said whole-display unit while causing the partial map to be scrolled along the travel route of the mobile object,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and to display the partial map while causing the partial map to be scrolled, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance,
• wherein the map display device further includes a partial map area calculation unit operable to calculate plural base points on the travel route from the current position to a destination, and to calculate a form or a reduction scale of the partial map based on a positional relationship of the calculated base points,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display the partial map in the form or at the reduction scale calculated by said partial map area calculation unit, and
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit is operable to calculate the form of the partial map based on the positional relationship of backward and forward base points on the travel route.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• a partial-display unit operable to display, on a partial display area that is a part of said display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the travel route of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial map area calculation unit operable to calculate plural base points on the travel route from the current position to the destination, and to calculate a form or a reduction scale of the partial map based on a positional relationship of the calculated base points,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display, on the partial display area, a partial map that is a map related to a part of the travel route while causing the map to be scrolled along the travel route, the partial map being superimposed on the map displayed by said whole-display unit,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and to display the partial map while causing the partial map to be scrolled, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display the partial map in the form or at the reduction scale calculated by said partial map area calculation unit, and
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit includes:
• a base point coordinates obtainment unit operable to obtain coordinate values of two base points located backward and forward with respect to each other on the travel route, and
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit is operable to calculate the form of the partial map by multiplying a ratio with a predetermined constant, the ratio being a ratio of the obtained coordinate values between a difference in a vertical axis and a difference in a horizontal axis.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• a partial-display unit operable to display, on a partial display area that is a part of said display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the travel route of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial map area calculation unit operable to calculate plural base points on the travel route from the current position to the destination, and to calculate a form or a reduction scale of the partial map based on a positional relationship of the calculated base points,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display, on the partial display area, a partial map that is a map related to a part of the travel route while causing the map to be scrolled along the travel route, the partial map being superimposed on the map displayed by said whole-display unit,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and to display the partial map while causing the partial map to be scrolled, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display the partial map in the form or at the reduction scale calculated by said partial map area calculation unit,
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit is operable to calculate the form of the partial map based on the positional relationship of backward and forward base points on the travel route, and
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit is operable to calculate the reduction scale of the partial map to be displayed in the partial display area, based on the positional relationship of the base points located forward and backward with respect to each other on the travel route.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• a partial-display unit operable to display, on a partial display area that is a part of said display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the travel route of the mobile object;
• and
• a partial map area calculation unit operable to calculate plural base points on the travel route from the current position to the destination, and to calculate a form or a reduction scale of the partial map based on a positional relationship of the calculated base points,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display, on the partial display area, a partial map that is a map related to a part of the travel route while causing the map to be scrolled along the travel route, the partial map being superimposed on the map displayed by said whole-display unit,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and to display the partial map while causing the partial map to be scrolled, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display the partial map in the form or at the reduction scale calculated by said partial map area calculation unit,
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit is operable to calculate the form of the partial map based on the positional relationship of backward and forward base points on the travel route, and
• wherein said partial map area calculation unit is operable to specify, with respect to two axes which are orthogonal to each other, a set of two points from among the base points, as reference base points, and calculate the reduction scale of the partial map to be displayed in the partial display area, using the reference base points.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position of the mobile object and a travel route from the current position to a destination;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• a partial-display unit operable to display, on a partial display area that is a part of said display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the travel route of the mobile object;
• a second mobile object detection unit operable to detect a location of a second mobile object that is different from the mobile object;
• and
• an intersection information obtainment unit operable to obtain information concerning intersections on the route to the destination, in the case where the location detected by said second mobile object detection unit is set as the destination,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and display a partial map that is a map regarding a part of the travel route while causing the partial map to be scrolled along the travel route, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance, and the partial map being superimposed on the map displayed by said whole-display unit, and
• said partial-display unit is further operable to judge whether or not the number of intersections between the current position and the destination exceeds a predetermined number, based on the information concerning the intersections, and start causing the partial map to be scrolled when the number of intersections exceeds the predetermined number.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• a partial-display unit operable to display, on a partial display area that is a part of said display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the travel route of the mobile object;
• an input unit operable to receive a user's operational input;
• and
• an input valid range control unit operable to control a valid range of the user's operation inputted by said input unit,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display, on the partial display area, a partial map that is a map related to a part of the travel route while causing the map to be scrolled along the travel route, the partial map being superimposed on the map displayed by said whole-display unit,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and to display the partial map while causing the partial map to be scrolled, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance,
• wherein said input valid range control unit is operable to determine, as the valid range, an area which includes the base point and is associated with the base point by a predetermined distance, and
• wherein said partial display unit is operable to start causing the partial map to be scrolled in the case where said input unit receives the user's operational input within the valid range.

A map display device which displays a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object, said device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a map information obtainment unit operable to obtain map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• a whole-display unit operable to display, on the whole display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object;
• a partial-display unit operable to display, on a partial display area that is a part of said display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the travel route of the mobile object;
• and
• a current position information display unit operable to display, in a menu form, information concerning a current position which is not displayed on the map, in a predetermined area within the display screen,
• wherein said partial-display unit is operable to display, on the partial display area, a partial map that is a map related to a part of the travel route while causing the map to be scrolled along the travel route, the partial map being superimposed on the map displayed by said whole-display unit,
• wherein in the case where a point on the travel route included in the map displayed by said whole-display unit is defined as a base point, said partial-display unit is operable to define a display area as the partial display area, and to display the partial map while causing the partial map to be scrolled, the display area including the base point and being associated with the base point by a predetermined distance, and
• wherein in the case where the area in which the information concerning the current position is displayed in the menu form is superimposed on the partial display area, said current position information display unit is operable to move the information concerning the current position in another predetermined area which is not superimposed on the partial display area.

A map display method of displaying a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object on a screen, said method comprising:

• obtaining map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• displaying, on a display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object, the map indicated by the obtained map information being displayed on the whole display screen;
• and
• displaying, on a partial display area that is a part of the display screen, a partial map, the partial map being a map that is related to a part of the travel route of the mobile object,
• wherein the partial display area occupies only a part of the display screen, and
• wherein in said displaying of the partial maps the partial map is displayed on the partial display area by superimposing the partial map on the map displayed on the whole display screen in said displaying of the map, while the partial map is caused to be scrolled along the travel route of the mobile object and while the partial display area is caused to move along the travel route of the mobile object.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for displaying a map regarding a travel route of a mobile object on a screen, said program causing a computer to execute the steps of:

• obtaining map information concerning a current position and the travel route of the mobile object;
• displaying, on a display screen, a map indicated by the obtained map information concerning the current position of the mobile object, the map indicated by the obtained map information being displayed on the whole display screen;
• and
• displaying, on a partial display area that is a part of the display screen, a partial map, the partial map being a map that is related to a part of the travel route of the mobile object,
• wherein the partial display area occupies only a part of the display screen, and
• wherein in said displaying of the partial map, the partial map is displayed on the partial display area by superimposing the partial map on the map displayed on the whole display screen in said displaying of the map, while the partial map is caused to be scrolled along the travel route of the mobile object and while the partial display area is caused to move along the travel route of the mobile object.