Method for planning a route in a system with a display and an input device

A method for planning a route in a system having a display and an input device, comprising the steps of using a map database that stores data associated with an area selected by the user in which he/she wishes to draw a required route, said data include existing roadway routes and coordinate data of the area;

• displaying the map or a portion thereof on the display, in said displaying step selecting the scale and position of the displayed map;
• using said input device by the user to draw a requested drawn route on the displayed map, and storing the requested drawn route in the device;
• then determining and displaying a suggested route based on the required drawn route, characterized by further comprising the steps of prior to said determining step of the suggested route storing conditions or preferences selectable by the user as parameters to be taken into account in said determining step, said preferences comprise the type of the road and type of planning including optimization to duration, distance or height difference, and allowing the user to set his/her preferences before the determining step is carried out, storing the coordinate data of the required drawn route;
• wherein in said determining step using the disjkstra iteration algorithm to determine from successive points (v) of the required route respective costs of graphs starting at said points (v) and ending at different points (s) on said existing roadway routes, wherein said cost is defined by said previously set preferences, determining overall costs to said roadway routes and selecting the suggested route that has minimum overall cost, and storing and displaying said suggested route.