Navigation device with touch screen
AssigneeTomTom International B.V.
InventorsAyal Pinkus, Edwin Neef, Sven-Erik Jurgens, Mark Gretton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned between two user-defined places. The device may be further programmed to be able to display on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen showing a map and to allow a user to input destination address information using a virtual keyboard whose keys are sized to allow reliable finger activation. The device is especially advantageous for an in-car navigation device since it allows the user to easily and reliably input address information, even whilst the device is mounted in a vehicle.
Claims27
A navigation device, comprising:
- a map database and software programmed in the navigation device, the software being configured to enable a route to be planned to a user input destination using map data stored in the navigation device, wherein the device is further programmed to
- display on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen that shows, when in use, a map and a current location of the navigation device:
- change the display to show a plurality of icons, belonging to a core set of functions including a function of selecting a virtual keyboard, with a respective non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger of a user;
- and
- to allow a user to input destination address information using a reconfigurable virtual keyboard whose key layout is reconfigurable to a plurality of different keyboard formats by selecting an icon representing a desired keyboard format, wherein the navigation device is a portable navigation device and the touch sensitive display is approximately the same size as a 3.5″ display in a Pocket PC computer.
A method of enabling a user to interact with a navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination, the method comprising:
- displaying on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen showing a map using map data stored in the navigation device;
- defining at least one core set of functions, including a function of selecting a virtual keyboard, performable by said navigation device;
- associating each of the core set of functions with a respective non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger of a user;
- and
- allowing a user to input destination address information using a reconfigurable virtual keyboard whose key layout is reconfigurable to a plurality of different keyboard formats;
- and
- selecting a desired keyboard format by selecting an icon representing the desired keyboard format.
A navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination, the device comprising:
- a touch sensitive display to display a main navigation mode screen showing a map, the touch sensitive display further being useable to change the display to show a plurality of icons on the touch sensitive display representing a set of core functions including at least a virtual keyboard having a plurality of selectable keyboard formats;
- and
- a processor to, in conjunction with the map database and software stored locally on the navigation device, recalculate the route in response to an input from the user using the virtual keyboard represented by one of the plurality of icons displayed on the touch sensitive display.
A method of enabling a user to interact with a navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned to a destination, the method comprising:
- displaying, on a touch sensitive display, a main navigation mode screen showing a map using map data stored in the navigation device;
- changing the main navigation mode screen to a menu of plurality selectable icons;
- displaying the plurality of icons on the touch sensitive display, at least one icon representing a virtual keyboard having a plurality of selectable keyboard formats, the icons being sized to allow reliable finger activation, in response to a user touching the icons;
- displaying a virtual keyboard and inputting destination address text using the virtual keyboard and
- recalculating the route in response to the input user using the virtual keyboard represented by one of the plurality of icons displayed on the touch sensitive display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.