WO2009119945A1

WO2009119945A1 - Method and apparatus for path displaying of 3d vector enlargement drawing

Info

Publication number: WO2009119945A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003804
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dae Myung Kim
Original assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
Priority date: 2008-03-25
Filing date: 2008-06-30
Publication date: 2009-10-01
Also published as: KR100896136B1

Abstract

A route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a three- dimensional (3D) vector. The route display apparatus including: a route generation unit to calculate a vector based on a portion of points of a route line on a route to straighten the route line, and display the straightened route line on a 3D map.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PATH DISPLAYING OF 3D VECTOR

ENLARGEMENT DRAWING

Technical Field The present invention relates to a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector, and more particularly, to a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a 3D vector which calculates a vector based on a portion of points of a route line on a route to straighten the route line, and displays the straightened route line on a 3D map.

Background Art

Along with the development of location tracking technologies, a route display terminal generating and displaying a route from a current location to a destination is commercialized. In general, a route display terminal may determine a location of the route display terminal using a Global Positioning System (GPS), retrieve map information of a location of the route display terminal to a destination, and generate and display an optimal route.

In this instance, a route display terminal is generally installed in a vehicle to retrieve a location and driving direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, map information generated based on roads where a vehicle may drive may be used in a route display terminal. Accordingly, even though a road is straight, a route may be differently displayed depending on whether a center line where a vehicle may drive exists or an obstruction where the vehicle may not drive exists.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a road area different from an actual road in a route display terminal in a conventional art.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an obstruction 113 exists between a northbound route 111 and a southbound route 112. In the two-dimensional (2D) route display terminal in the conventional art. the road area different from the actual road 110 may be generated when a route generated in the 2 D route display terminal is on the actual road 110 where a center line 114 is represented without the obstruction 113. In this instance, the 2D route display terminal may differentiate an area where a vehicle may drive from an area where the vehicle may not drive, and generate a 2D image map. Accordingly, when map data of the actual road 110 is received, an obstruction 123 may be displayed between a northbound route 121 and a southbound route 122, and thus a 2D image map where the two roads 121 and 122 are parallel may be generated. In this instance, since the 2D route display terminal determines the center line 114 as the area where the vehicle may drive, when an area where the center line 114 is represented exists, an image map of a combined road 124 may be generated. The combination road 124 may indicate a road where two roads are combined. In this case, although a route 125 is on the actual road 110 which is straight, the route 125 on the northbound route 121 and the combination road 124 may be bent. Also, when an intersecting point does not exist even though a road is significantly bent towards another road, such information may not be provided in the conventional art.

Also, when a U-turn point exists, the 2D route display terminal in the conventional art may not provide accurate information about the U-turn point since a route ahead of the U-turn point and a route behind the U-turn point may be overlapped and extremely close.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a U-turn point 201 displayed in a route display terminal in a conventional art.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a route 202 ahead of the U-turn point 201 and a route 203 behind the U-turn point 201 may be represented in a same straight line in the 2D route display terminal in the conventional art. Also, a location 204 of the 2D route display terminal is displayed on the same straight line. Accordingly, a user may not be provided with an accurate location of the U-turn point 201.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals

The present invention provides a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector which generates a direction vector based on points of a route line on a route, and thus the route may be displayed based on intersecting points of roads, and an area without an intersection may be prevented from being recognized as an intersection.

The present invention also provides a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a 3D vector which displays a route to a heading direction of the route, and thereby may continuously provide a user with information about a change of a turn to make.

The present invention also provides a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a 3D vector which differently represents a U-turn point, and thereby may accurately provide a user with information about the U-turn point.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route display apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector, the route display apparatus including: a route generation unit to calculate a vector based on a portion of points of a route line on a route to straighten the route line, and display the straightened route line on a 3D map.

When a road between a first point and a last point is a one-lane or a two-lane road, the route generation unit may calculate the vector based on the first point and the last point and straighten the route line. In this instance, the first point may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point may be different from the first point.

When the road between a first point and a second point different from the first point is one-lane or two-lane road, the route generation unit may calculate the vector based on the first point and the second point and straighten the route line. In this instance, the first point may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the second point may be subsequent to the first point.

Also, the route generation unit may move a location of the route line from a center of a road to a route direction, according to a heading direction of the straightened route line based on the intersection.

Also, when a U-turn point exists on the route, the route generation unit may generate the route based on the U-turn point using a U-turn texture mapping scheme.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route display method of an enlarged view of a 3D vector, the route display method including: generating a route from a current location of a vehicle to a destination on the enlarged view of the 3D vector; calculating a vector based on a portion of points of a route line on the route and straightening the route line; and displaying the straightened route line on a 3D map.

Advantageous effects According to an embodiment of the present invention, a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector may generate a direction vector based on points of a route line on a route, and thus the route may be displayed based on intersecting points of roads, and an area without an intersection may be prevented from being recognized as an intersection. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a 3D vector may display a route with a heading direction of the route, and thereby may continuously provide a user with information about a change of a turn to make.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a route display method and apparatus of an enlarged view of a 3D vector may differently represent a U-turn point, and thereby may accurately provide a user with information about the U-turn point.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a road area different from an actual road in a route display terminal in a conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a U-turn point displayed in a route display terminal in a conventional art;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a route display apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route including an intersecting point displayed in a route display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route including a U-turn point displayed in a route display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a route display method of an enlarged view of a 3D vector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example straightening a route line by calculating a vector based on a first point and a last point; FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of straightening a route line by calculating a vector based on a first point and a second point;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of straightening a route line behind an intersecting point;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of moving a location of a route line; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of change displayed on an image map when displaying a route based on a U-turn point according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail by referring to the figures.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a route display apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A location determination unit 301 may determine a location of the route display apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector 300, hereinafter, the route display apparatus 300, and transmit the location to a map database 302. The map database 302 may transmit, to a route generation unit 303, map data concerning a route between the received location of the route display apparatus 300 and a destination. The route generation unit 303 may texture-map the received map data, generate a 3D map, and generate a route from the location of the route display apparatus 300 to the destination on the 3D map using a general route generation algorithm. In this instance, the route generated by the route generation unit 303 may include a route line which is linear data. The route line may include at least one point list generated at predetermined intervals on the route. In this instance, a point of the point list may be generated in an intersection where at least two roads meet, and the point list may indicate a list of points generated between an intersection and another intersection.

The route generation unit 303 may retrieve a point generated on the intersection from among points of the route line, and determine the retrieved point generated on the intersection as an intersecting point. Also, the route generation unit 303 may receive a point list included in the route line, and straighten the route line depending on characteristics of a road. In this instance, two methods for straightening the route line may be used. The route generation unit 303 may calculate a vector based on a first point and a last point to straighten the route line. Here, the first point may indicate an intersecting point generated on the intersection, and the last point may indicate a current location of the route display apparatus 300 or another intersecting point. Also, the route generation unit 303 may calculate the vector based on the first point and a second point to straighten the route line. Here, the second point may be subsequent to the first point. Specifically, when a road is a one-lane or a two-lane road, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the route line based on the first point and the last point. When the road is a road with at least three lanes, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the route line based on the first point and the second point.

Also, the route generation unit 303 may straighten route lines at every intersecting point based on a heading direction of the route. Specifically, the route generation unit 303 may move a location of the route line from a center of the road to the route direction, according to the heading direction of the straightened route line based on the intersection. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may move the location of the route line using a vertical vector of the straightened route line. Also, the route generation unit 303 may generate the straightened route line on the 3D map using polygon.

Also, the route generation unit 303 may generate the route based on a U-turn point using a U-turn texture mapping scheme, and generate a polygon in a shape of U- turn. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the route display apparatus 300 may generate a direction vector based on points on the route to generate the route, and thus the route may be displayed based on intersecting points, and an area without an intersection may be prevented from being recognized as an intersection.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route including an intersecting point displayed in a route display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in 410 of FIG. 4, when a route is generated to turn left in an intersection on a 3D map where a road 401 with at least one lane and direction signs 402 and 403 for each lane are displayed, a route generation unit 303 may display the left turn signs 402 and the right turn sign 403 in different colors. Also, the route generation unit 303 may display a route 404 represented as a polygon to the left of a center line 405 on the 3D map. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may display the route 404 to enable at least one of the left turn signs 402 to be seen.

As illustrated in 420 of FIG. 4, when a route is generated to turn right in an intersection on a 3D map where a road 401 with at least one lane and direction signs 402 and 403 for each lane are displayed, the route generation unit 303 may display the left turn signs 402 and the right turn sign 403 in different colors. Also, the route generation unit 303 may display a route 404 represented as a polygon to the right of a center line 405 on the 3D map. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may display the route 404 to enable at least one of the left turn signs 402 to be seen. Also, when a road on the 3D map is formed to turn left or right only and a route is generated to turn right, the route generation unit 303 may omit a road 406 for left turn. Accordingly, the route generation unit 303 may reduce the texture mapping.

As described above, a route may be displayed to the left or right of a center line of a plurality of lanes of a road based on a heading direction of the route, and thus a user may recognize, in advance, a direction of a turn to make. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route including a U-turn point displayed in a route display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When a U-turn is set in an intersecting point on a route on a 3D map, a route generation unit 303 may display a U-turn sign 503 and other direction signs 502 in different colors. A road 501 with at least one lane and the U-turn sign 503 and other direction signs 502 are displayed on the 3D map. The route generation unit 303 may display a route 504 based on the U-turn point between a center of a road 501 and the U- turn sign 503. The route 504 may be represented as a polygon.

As described above, when displaying the route based on the U-turn point, the route display apparatus may enable a user to easily recognize the U-turn point and provide information about a lane for U-turn. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a route display method of an enlarged view of a

3D vector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In operation S601, a route generation unit 303 may determine whether a route based on a U-turn point is being provided.

In operation S602, the route generation unit 303 may generate the route based on the U-turn in the U-turn point determined in operation S601 using a U-turn texture mapping scheme. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may generate a polygon in a shape of a U-turn.

In operation S603, the route generation unit 303 may generate a route between a destination and a current location of a route display apparatus 300. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may generate the route using a general route algorithm. Also, the route generated by the route generation unit 303 may include a route line which is linear data. The route line may include at least one point list generated at predetermined intervals on the route. In this instance, a point of the point list may be generated in an intersection where at least two roads meet, and the point list may indicate a list of points generated between an intersection and another intersection.

In operation S604, the route generation unit 303 may determine an intersecting point in the route line generated in operation S603. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may retrieve a point generated on the intersection from among points of the route line, and determine the retrieved point generated on the intersection as the intersecting point.

In operation S605, the route generation unit 303 may straighten a route line between the location of the route display apparatus 300 and an intersecting point which is most adjacent to the location of the route display apparatus 300 from among the intersecting points determined in operation S604. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may receive a point list included in the route line, and straighten the route line based on characteristics of a road. In this instance, two methods for straightening the route line may be used. The route generation unit 303 may calculate a vector based on a first point and a last point to straighten the route line. Here, the first point may indicate an intersecting point generated on the intersection, and the last point may indicate the current location of the route display apparatus 300 or another intersecting point. Also, the route generation unit 303 may calculate the vector based on the first point and a second point to straighten the route line. Here, the second point may be subsequent to the first point. Specifically, when a road is one-lane or two-lane road, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the route line based on the first point and the last point. When the road is a road with at least three lanes, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the route line based on the first point and the second point. In operation S606, the route generation unit 303 may straighten route lines behind the intersecting point of the route line straightened in operation S605. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the route lines according to a heading direction of the route generated in operation S603. Also, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the route lines included in the route at every intersecting point. Here, the method for straightening the route line, used in operation S605, may be used.

In operation S607, the route generation unit 303 may move a location of the route line based on a location of the route line straightened in operation S606. Specifically, when a left route line of the intersecting point is straightened in operation

5606, the route generation unit 303 may move the route line to the left, and when a right route line of the intersecting point is straightened in operation S606, the route generation unit 303 may move the route line to the right. Also, when a straightforward route line is straightened in operation S606, the route generation unit 303 may prevent the route line from moving. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may move the location of the route line using a vertical vector of the straightened route line. In operation S608, the route generation unit 303 may generate a polygon to represent the route generated in operation S603.

In operation S609, the route generation unit 303 may display the polygon generated in operation S 608 on the 3D map based on the route line moved in operation

5607. Specifically, the route generation unit 303 may also display the route based on the U-turn point and the polygon generated in operation S602.

The route display method of an enlarged view of a 3D vector is described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of straightening a route line by calculating a vector based on a first point and a last point.

When determining a right curved route line 703 including a first point 701 and a last point 702, a route generation unit 303 may straighten the right curved route line 703 to a vertical route 704 connecting the first point 701 and the last point 702. The first point 701 may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point 702 may indicate a current location of a route display apparatus 300 or another intersecting point.

When determining a slightly left curved route line 707 including a first point 705 and a last point 706, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the slightly left curved route line 707 to an oblique route 708 connecting the first point 705 and the last point 706. The first point 705 may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point 706 may indicate the current location of the route display apparatus 300 or another intersecting point. When determining a right curved route line 711 including a first point 709 and a last point 710, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the right curved route line 711 to an oblique route 712 connecting the first point 709 and the last point 710. The first point 709 may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point 710 may indicate the current location of the route display apparatus 300 or another intersecting point.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of straightening a route line by calculating a vector based on a first point and a second point.

When determining a right curved route line 803 including a first point 801 and a second point 802, a route generation unit 303 may straighten the right curved route line 803 to an oblique route 804 connecting the first point 801 and the second point 802.

The first point 801 may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the second point 802 may be most adjacent to the first point 801.

When determining a slightly left curved route line 807 including a first point

805 and a second point 806, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the slightly left curved route line 807 to a vertical route 808 connecting the first point 805 and the second point 806. The first point 805 may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the second point 806 may be most adjacent to the first point 805. When determining a right curved route line 811 including a first point 809 and a second point 810, the route generation unit 303 may straighten the right curved route line 811 to an oblique route 812 connecting the first point 809 and the second point 810.

The first point 809 may indicate an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the second point 810 may be most adjacent to the first point 809.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of when straightening a route line behind an intersecting point.

A route generation unit 303 may determine roads 903 and 904 connected to an intersecting point 902 which is a first point of an area 901. The area 901 may correspond to a route line straightened in operation S605. The route generation unit 303 may determine which of the roads 903 and 904 is a route generated in operation S603. Also, the route generation unit 303 may straighten a route line 905 according to a heading direction of the route. In this instance, the route generation unit 303 may display a route 906 as a polygon along the area 901 and the route line 905. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of when moving a location of a route line.

A route generation unit 303 may determine which direction a route line 1010 behind an intersecting point is located based on a route line 1001. In this instance, the route line 1010 behind the intersecting point is straightened in operation S606, and the route line 1001 is straightened in operation S605. When the straightened route line 1010 behind the intersecting point corresponds to a route line 1011 located to the right of the straightened route line 1001, the route generation unit 303 may move the straightened route line 1001 to the right of a center of road 1021, that is, a route line 1022. Also, when the straightened route line 1010 behind the intersecting point corresponds to a route line 1012 located to the left of the straightened route line 1001, the route generation unit 303 may move the straightened route line 1001 to the left of the center of road 1021, that is, a route line 1031. When the straightened route line 1010 behind the intersecting point corresponds to a route line 1013 located directly ahead on the straightened route line 1001, the route generation unit 303 may not move the straightened route line 1001.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a route may be displayed to the left or right of a center line of a plurality of lanes of a road based on a heading direction of the route, and thus a user may recognize a direction of a turn to make in advance.

When determining a U-turn area 1110 where a U-turn point 1112 is displayed ahead of a route line 1111, a route generation unit 303 may display a route 1121 based on the U-turn point 1112 using a U-turn texture mapping scheme. In this instance, a current location 1113 of a route display apparatus 300 is displayed on the route line 1111 in the U-turn area 1110.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when displaying a route based on a U-turn point, contents associated with the U-turn point may be displayed in greater detail. Thus, a user may easily recognize a point to make U-turn.

The above-described embodiment of the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The media and program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention. Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A route display apparatus of an enlarged view of a three-dimensional (3D) vector, the route display apparatus comprising: a route generation unit to calculate a vector based on a portion of points of a route line on a route to straighten the route line, and display the straightened route line on a 3D map.

2. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a single point of the route line is generated at each intersection, and at least one point of the route line is generated between an intersection and another intersection, the intersection indicating a place where at least two roads meet.

3. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route generation unit calculates the vector based on a first point and a last point and straightens the route line, the first point indicating an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point indicating a current location of a vehicle.

4. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route generation unit calculates the vector based on a first point and a last point and straightens the route line, the first point indicating an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point indicating another intersecting point different from the intersecting point.

5. The route display apparatus according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein, when a road between the first point and the last point is a one-lane or a two-lane road, the route generation unit calculates the vector based on the first point and the last point and straightens the route line.

6. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route generation unit calculates the vector based on a first point and a second point and straightens the route line, the first point indicating an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the second point being subsequent to the first point.

7. The route display apparatus of claim 6, wherein, when a road between the first point and the second point is a road with at least three lanes, the route generation unit calculates the vector based on the first point and the second point and straightens the route line.

8. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route generation unit moves a location of the route line from a center of a road to a route direction, according to a heading direction of the straightened route line based on an intersection.

9. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route generation unit displays the straightened route line as a polygon on the 3D map.

10. The route display apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when a U-turn point exists on the route, the route generation unit generates the route based on the U-turn point using a U-turn texture mapping scheme.

11. The route display apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a location determination unit to determine a current location of a vehicle; and a map database to store map data, wherein the route generation unit receives map data between a destination and the current location determined by the location determination unit from the map database, and texture-maps the received map data to generate the 3D map.

12. A route display method of an enlarged view of a 3D vector, the route display method comprising: generating a route from a current location of a vehicle to a destination on the enlarged view of the 3D vector; calculating a vector based on a portion of points of a route line on the route and straightening the route line; and displaying the straightened route line on a 3D map.

13. The route display method of claim 12, wherein a single point of the route line is generated at each intersection, and at least one point of the route line is generated between an intersection and another intersection, the intersection indicating a place where at least two roads meet.

14. The route display method of claim 12, wherein the straightening calculates the vector based on a first point and a last point and straightens the route line, the first point indicating an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point indicating the current location of the vehicle.

15. The route display method of claim 12, wherein the straightening calculates the vector based on a first point and a last point and straightens the route line, the first point indicating an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the last point indicating another intersecting point different from the intersecting point.

16. The route display method according to any one of claims 14 and 15, wherein, when a road between the first point and the last point is a one-lane or a two-lane road, the straightening calculates the vector based on the first point and the last point and straightens the route line.

17. The route display method of claim 12, wherein the straightening calculates the vector based on a first point and a second point and straightens the route line, the first point indicating an intersecting point generated on an intersection, and the second point being subsequent to the first point.

18. The route display method of claim 17, wherein, when a road between the first point and the second point is a road with at least three lanes, the straightening calculates the vector based on the first point and the second point and straightens the route line.

19. The route display method of claim 12, further comprising: moving a location of the route line from a center of a road to a route direction, according to a heading direction of the straightened route line based on an intersection.

20. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing the method according to any one of claims 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 19.