DE102005058145B4 - Method for optically outputting a plurality of selectable target terms - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for the optical output of a plurality of selectable destination terms when entering a destination into a navigation system, in which
at least one preferred target term is determined according to preference criteria, a set of both preferred and selectable target terms is determined, and at least one both preferred and selectable target term is optically highlighted during output compared to non-preferred target terms from the plurality of selectable target terms,
wherein the output of the plurality of selectable target terms is in the form of several lists and the highlighting of the at least one both preferred and selectable target term consists in the fact that it is output in a first list which is output separately from a second list which contains all selectable search terms,
where
the plurality of selectable target terms is limited in a preselection according to at least partially alphanumeric preselection criteria compared to a further, even larger plurality of fundamentally selectable target terms, thereby reducing both the number of selectable target terms in the second list and the number of target terms to be highlighted in the first list, the preference criteria at least partially relate to the use of the target terms in the past, taking a forgetting factor into account, and settings and historical data of several different users are retained and processed separately in order to create an opportunity for individualising or personalising the navigation system.

Description

The invention relates to a method for optically outputting a plurality of selectable destination terms when entering a destination into a navigation system.

The state of the art for entering a destination into a navigation system involves entering the destination terms in a substantially two-stage process. Destination terms can include, in particular, street names, city names, and the names of special destinations (e.g., sights, restaurants, hotels, airports, etc.). In a first stage, referred to as the preselection stage, a preselection is typically made from a large number of destination terms stored in the system according to certain preselection criteria. For example, one or more initial letters can be entered as preselection criteria. The preselection limits the set of available destination terms, for example, to a specific common initial letter. The result of the preselection is usually still a large number of selectable destination terms. In a second stage of the input process for a desired destination term, the desired destination term must then be selected from the destination terms found through the preselection. This is often done, among other things, by scrolling or browsing through a list of the destination terms still available for selection after the preselection.

Especially when a relatively large number of target terms remain to be selected even after pre-selection, selecting the desired target term can be very difficult for the user of a navigation system. For example, it may be necessary to scroll through a very long list to find the desired target term. Furthermore, the user may make errors if they have trouble navigating a list that is so complex due to the sheer number of target terms it contains.

In some cases, entering additional pre-selection criteria can provide a solution, as this can reduce the number of target terms remaining for selection after the pre-selection. However, entering additional pre-selection criteria is often cumbersome and time-consuming. This is especially true if the desired target term is similar to a large number of other target terms stored in the system, because then a large number of pre-selection criteria are required to obtain a manageable number of target terms as a result of the pre-selection.

The document DE 697 14 625 T2 discloses a method for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system, the system comprising a display and a selection controller, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first destination from a primary list of destinations in response to a selection signal generated by the selection controller; storing the first destination in a secondary list of destinations in response to the selection step without user intervention. The secondary list contains previously selected destinations from the primary list. For subsequent destination selections, the primary list and the secondary list are presented on the display, thereby facilitating the selection of destinations from both the primary and secondary lists.

The document DE 100 12 441 A1 discloses a method for entering a destination on a navigation device, wherein characters of a destination name are entered, and depending on the entered character(s), a list of destination names is generated that begin with the entered character(s). Only those destination names whose associated destinations are within a specified radius of the current location are included in the destination name list.

The document DE 197 42 054 A1 discloses an input system at least for place and/or street names, comprising an input arrangement, a data source arrangement containing at least one place and/or street list, and a control arrangement provided for searching place or street names entered via the input arrangement in a place or street list of the data source arrangement. In addition to a first place and/or street list with alphabetically sorted place and/or street names, the data source arrangement contains a second place and/or street list with place and/or street names sorted according to a frequency criterion. The second place and/or street list contains at least some of the place and/or street names of the first place and/or street list, and the input arrangement contains a voice input system provided for forwarding voice inputs to the control arrangement.

The document DE 100 42 983 A1 discloses a method for determining a desired destination in a computer-assisted navigation system, in particular a motor vehicle navigation system. The possible destinations are stored alphanumerically in a memory of the navigation system, comprising the steps of: reading in at least one alphanumeric character of the desired destination, determining a subset of possible desired destinations in Depending on the alphanumeric character read, display at least one suggested destination, whereby the suggested destination is selected from the subset based on a defined criterion. These steps may be repeated iteratively. The defined criterion includes a probability-dependent relevance of all possible desired destinations.

The document EP 0 790 593 A1 discloses a method for selecting a destination in a vehicle navigation system. The system comprises a display and a selection controller, and the method comprises the following steps: selecting a first destination from a primary list of destinations in response to a selection signal generated by the selection controller; placing the first destination on a secondary destination list in response to the selecting step, the secondary list comprising previously selected destinations from the primary list; and for subsequent destination selections, simultaneously presenting the primary list and the secondary list on the display, thereby facilitating the selection of destinations from both the primary and secondary lists.

The document DE 103 50 715 A1 discloses a method for setting user-dependent parameter values on or in at least one vehicle device of a motor vehicle and for storing the settings in at least one vehicle-internal and/or vehicle-external data storage device. In a first step, a query is made as to whether the currently set user-dependent parameter values should be stored as temporary or as quasi-permanent parameter values in the at least one vehicle-internal and/or vehicle-external data storage device. In a second step, the currently set user-dependent parameter values are stored according to the response to the query, and in a third step, the quasi-permanent parameter values are always set, regardless of the result of the query.

The object of the invention is to improve user comfort when entering a destination into a navigation system.

This problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea that not all target terms stored in the system are of equal relevance in the current situation and/or for the respective user. Therefore, special consideration of preferred target terms is proposed. Accordingly, at least one preferred target term should first be determined based on preference criteria. Such preferred target terms, provided they are also among the selectable target terms, should then be visually highlighted during output compared to other (i.e., non-preferred) selectable target terms. This refers in particular to the output of target terms that are offered to the user for direct selection of a target term (e.g., as a scrollable list) - for example, in the second stage of the input process described in the introduction.

According to the invention, at least one preferred target term is determined based on preference criteria. Furthermore, a set of both preferred and selectable target terms is determined, for example, by forming an intersection of the set of selectable target terms and a set of preferred target terms. During output, at least one both preferred and selectable target term is visually highlighted compared to non-preferred target terms from the plurality of selectable target terms. Due to the optical highlighting, such a (both preferred and selectable) target term is significantly easier for a user to recognize and/or locate. The selection of such a target term is thus simplified for the user.

Preference criteria can be of various types, some of which will be described in more detail later. Typically, preference criteria are intended to determine the target terms that the user is most likely to select. Such target terms are then treated as preferred target terms.

Visual highlighting can also be achieved in a variety of ways. For textual representation, for example, the use of different font sizes, fonts, font colors, and/or font styles is conceivable. Framing and/or underlining and/or a prominent placement are also conceivable. It is essential that the user can easily recognize the highlighted target terms and thus easily select them. The invention thus provides the user with crucial support when entering the desired target term.

According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the output of the plurality of selectable target terms is list-based.

According to a first particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the output of the plurality of selectable target terms is in the form of a list and the highlighting of the at least one target term that is both preferred and selectable consists in that it is output within a sub-list arranged in a marginal position of the list.

For example, preferred target terms can be displayed as the top list items in a list of selectable target terms. They then represent a sublist of the overall list. Visually distinguishing such a sublist from the rest of the list can be achieved, for example, by using different backgrounds and/or dividing lines. Such a visual distinction can assist the user in orienting themselves during operation, but is not mandatory.

According to the present invention, the plurality of selectable target terms are output in the form of several lists, and the highlighting of the at least one target term that is both preferred and selectable consists in outputting it in a separate list.

The visual impression of a separate list can be created, for example, by a spatial distance from one or more lists of the other selectable target terms or by different background and/or dividing lines.

The optical output of the selectable target terms thus comprises a first list or sublist which contains exclusively target terms that are both preferred and selectable, and a second list or sublist which does not exclusively contain such target terms.

A display type in which the both preferred and selectable target terms for highlighting are displayed separately from other selectable, but non-preferred, target terms essentially offers two variants: Firstly, the target terms to be highlighted can be displayed exclusively in the manner that serves to highlight them. Secondly, the target terms to be highlighted can be displayed in this manner in addition to a regular, i.e., unhighlighted, display. So, for example, if a target term to be highlighted for highlighting appears at the top of an otherwise alphanumerically ordered list, this target term can also appear in the position it would occupy based on purely alphanumeric sorting. Alternatively, it can appear only, i.e., exclusively, at the top of the list.

Highlighting within the meaning of the invention, in particular highlighting a single preferred target term, can also consist in a cursor or a selection frame or a similar selection indicator initially being directed (as a default setting, so to speak) at the preferred target term or terms. Even if a target term highlighted in this way is not separated from the other selectable target terms by a special arrangement, it can thus be selected particularly easily and/or quickly. The highlighted target term can then be selected by a simple confirmation action, for example, pressing a push/turn knob.

In the simplest case, the invention only assumes that target terms are either preferred or non-preferred. This can be represented by a binary measure of preference. However, assuming a non-binary, in particular value-continuous, measure of the preference of target terms, further variants for the visual output of the selectable target terms arise. Preference criteria are again used to determine a non-binary, in particular value-continuous, measure or degree of preference of a target term. In a list-based output, for example, according to a potentially advantageous embodiment of the invention, one of the lists or sublists already defined above can be sorted according to the degree of preference of the target terms contained in the list. This automatically results in a prominent and thus highlighted placement of the target terms to be highlighted within the meaning of the invention. In the described case, these are the target terms that are both selectable and therefore also exhibit a high degree of preference. Due to list sorting, the degree of emphasis given to a target term automatically depends to some extent on the degree of preference.

With regard to the visual output, in cases such as the one described in the previous section, an actual binary distinction between preferred and non-preferred target terms may be dispensed with entirely. The inventive concept of determining a set of preferred target terms can nevertheless be retained even then—for example, by defining all target terms with a degree of preference different from zero or above some other threshold as preferred target terms.

With a list-based visual output of the plurality of selectable target terms, as already explained above, the output can comprise a list or sublist that does not exclusively contain preferred target terms. Such a list can be sorted according to criteria that differ from the preference criteria. For example, this list or sublist can be sorted alphanumerically, as usual. The user can then, for example, find preferred target terms particularly quickly in a first, very short, list. Non-preferred or less preferred target terms can nevertheless be reliably found by alphanumerically searching a second, typically longer, list.

The method according to the invention is particularly advantageous if the plurality of selectable target terms is already limited in a preselection according to preselection criteria compared to a further, even larger plurality of generally selectable target terms. This makes it possible to reduce both the number of selectable target terms and the number of target terms to be highlighted. The even larger plurality of generally selectable target terms can, for example, be understood to mean the set of all target terms stored in a system, provided they can be selectable in a current operating step. For example, the even larger plurality can be all German place names stored in the system if the current operating phase concerns the entry of the name of a place in Germany.

By definition, a complete set of both preferred and selectable target terms results from the intersection of a pre-selection list narrowed down according to pre-selection criteria and the list of all preferred target terms. Accordingly, the target terms to be highlighted according to the invention can be determined in at least two ways, depending on the embodiment. Firstly, a set of both preferred and selectable target terms can be determined by applying the preference criteria only to the target terms that are actually selectable. This has the advantage that only a few target terms need to be checked for preference, which can, for example, save computing power. Secondly, a set of all preferred target terms can also be formed first by another method, for example by applying the preference criteria to all stored target terms or to the contents of a special memory area (e.g., target history memory), and only then can the desired intersection be determined.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the set of both preferred and selectable target terms determined according to the invention includes all both preferred and selectable target terms. The determination of both preferred and selectable target terms can, for example, also be aborted when a predetermined number of target terms to be highlighted is reached that can be highlighted for technical reasons. The set determined according to the invention then does not contain all both preferred and selectable target terms.

Preferably, but not necessarily, all elements of the set determined according to the invention are highlighted. Indeed, depending on the embodiment of the invention, all target terms, some target terms, or even just a single target term from the set of both preferred and selectable target terms can be highlighted. The determination of the target terms to be highlighted can be based, for example, on a degree of preference.

Preferably, the preselection criteria are at least partially alphanumeric criteria. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable in connection with the alphanumeric input of a desired target term. In particular, initial letters entered can then serve as alphanumeric preselection criteria. However, the invention is not limited to alphanumeric input. For example, the principle of the invention can also be applied in connection with an input by selecting a location or region on a map.

As already described, the preference criteria are intended to determine target terms that the user is most likely to enter or select. Such target terms are then treated as preferred target terms.

According to the invention, the preference criteria relate at least partially to the use of the destination terms in the past. This is based on the assumption that certain destinations are repeatedly approached or passed. For example, the preferred destination terms can be determined from a list of past destinations and/or waypoints maintained in the navigation system. This creates a further advantage of the invention in the possibility of individualizing or personalizing the navigation system, which is desired and appreciated by many users. For example, by using separate memory areas, the settings and historical data can be stored even in a single navigation system. held by several different operators and processed separately.

Preferred destination terms can also be determined statistically. For example, the frequency of entry, approaching, passing, and/or other relevance of destinations containing a specific destination term can be evaluated. (Example 1: The frequent entry of various destinations within the city of Munich leads to a preference for the destination term "Munich." Example 2: Frequent trips through Hamburg lead to a preference for the destination term "Hamburg," even if destinations outside of Hamburg are always entered. This preference then results from a large number of waypoints containing the destination term "Hamburg.")

The operator can also enter preferred destination terms. Likewise, the user can enter preferred destinations, from which preferred destination terms are derived. This also provides an opportunity for individualizing or personalizing the navigation system.

In order not to permanently prefer target terms that were only frequently used in the distant past, a forgetting factor is also taken into account in a statistical evaluation.

A statistical analysis, such as historical data and/or frequency of relevance of target terms to determine preferred target terms, can also be performed based on data from a central database not located at the navigation system. Thus, through data exchange, historical data and/or frequency of relevance of target terms can also be used for analysis in an entire network of navigation systems. Data exchange with such a database can be offered, for example, by a service provider.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the preference criteria are at least partially geographical criteria. This is particularly advantageous when the navigation system is installed in a motor vehicle. For example, when prioritizing destination terms, the current location in a city or street or the current geographical proximity to a city or street can be taken into account. Such an embodiment of the invention significantly increases the convenience of the operator, since the majority of necessary inputs of destination terms into a navigation system generally relate to destinations in the immediate geographical vicinity. Thus, for example, an operator who is geographically close to their destination does not have to laboriously search through a list - in unfavorable cases, a very long one - of places that have the same or a similar name to their destination. Instead, the invention enables the operator to quickly and easily select the desired destination term.

Additionally or alternatively, geography-related criteria can also be used as preference criteria. For example, since a typical user frequently wants to enter target terms located in large or densely populated cities, the city's size or population can be taken into account when prioritizing target terms, particularly city names. Likewise, the length or population of a street can be considered. A street's proximity to the respective city center can also be assessed. For landmarks, for example, their touristic significance can be considered, for hotels, their number of beds, and for restaurants, their category.

If the determination of preferred target terms is based on multiple preference criteria, an appropriate weighting can be provided. This weighting can be individually configured for the user.

• 1a Eine erste Bildschirmansicht bei der Eingabe eines Fahrtziels in ein Navigationssystem gemäß dem Stand der Technik.
• 1b Eine zweite Bildschirmansicht bei der Eingabe eines Fahrtziels in ein Navigationssystem gemäß dem Stand der Technik.
• 2a Eine schematische Darstellung des Signalflusses bei einem Verfahren gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• 2b Eine Bildschirmansicht bei der Eingabe eines Fahrtziels in ein Navigationssystem unter Nutzung der Erfindung.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show in detail:

• 1a A first screen view when entering a destination into a navigation system according to the state of the art.
• 1b A second screen view when entering a destination into a navigation system according to the state of the art.
• 2a A schematic representation of the signal flow in a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
• 2b A screen view when entering a destination into a navigation system using the invention.

The drawings 1a and 1b Each shows a screen view when entering a destination into a navigation system according to the state of the art. This is the screen view of a navigation system installed in a motor vehicle. The screen view includes a left window and a right window.

In this example, the destination is the city of Berlin. Therefore, the place name "Berlin" should be entered. The entry process is essentially two-step.

In the first step, an operator enters one or more initial letters of the desired place name. 1a In the situation shown, the three initial letters "BER" have already been entered in the top left window under "City/Zip Code." Additional letters can be entered in the bottom left window. 1a shows a frame around the letter "S." The specification of the initial letters represents a preselection within the meaning of the invention.

In the right window of the screen in 1a A list of place names that are still available for selection after the preselection is displayed. In this example, the list is so long that it cannot be displayed in its entirety.

In the second step of the input process, the operator switches to the right window and selects a place name from the list. 1b displays a selection frame (currently around the target term "Beratzhausen") that can be moved through the list. Since the list in the right window is sorted purely alphanumerically, the desired place name "Berlin" is difficult for the user to find among the multitude of other place names.

This disadvantage existing in the prior art is remedied by the invention. 2a shows schematically the signal flow in a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The procedure is intended to select a predetermined desired target term.

A set 1 ("total name list") contains all destination terms that can generally be selected in the respective operating phase of the navigation system (for example, all German place names stored in the system if the current operating phase involves entering the name of a place in Germany). In this example, set 1 is therefore the set of all stored German place names.

Set 1 of all selectable target terms contains a subset 2 (“common targets list”). Subset 2 contains only preferred target terms. In this example, all target terms contained in a list of past targets (“Last Targets”) (not specifically shown here) are considered preferred. Set 2 is a true subset of set 1, thus also containing only target terms that are generally selectable in the respective operating phase of the navigation system (here: German place names).

Field 3 in 2a represents a preselection by an operator. In the situation illustrated in this example, the preselection consists of specifying a single preselection criterion, namely the initial letter of the desired place name (here, "B"). The operator can enter additional preselection criteria in a similar way.

The preselection criteria of field 3 are now applied to sets 1 and 2 respectively.

Result of the application to the set 1 (operator 5 in 2a) is a set of all German place names beginning with the letter "B". In this example, the set is displayed as an alphanumerically ordered list in the lower part of the right window of a screen ( 2a shows a screen view 6) visually displayed to the operator.

The alphanumerically ordered list in the lower part of the right-hand window of screen view 6 corresponds to the list that would also be used in a method according to the state of the art (cf. 1a , 1b) is output to the operator in a corresponding operating step.

Result of applying the preselection criteria to set 2 (operator 4 in 2a) is a set of all preferred German place names beginning with the letter "B." This result set of operator 4 is significantly smaller than that of operator 5. In the present example, the result set of operator 4 contains only three place names. These are displayed in list form in the upper part of the right-hand window of the screen (see screen view 6). This list, like the list in the lower part of the right-hand window, is also sorted alphanumerically.

After the preselection (which is carried out as in the state of the art with regard to the input of preselection criteria), the operator can switch to the right window of the screen view (cf. 2b) . Thanks to the invention, the user now has a list of place names composed of two sublists for selecting the desired place name. The upper part of the right-hand window contains a sublist of preferred place names and those corresponding to the preselection. The lower part of the right-hand window contains a sublist of all place names corresponding to the preselection. Using a selection frame, the user can scroll through the entire list, ie both sublists, and select a desired place name. The two sublists in the upper and lower parts of the right-hand window are only visually separated from each other by a dividing line.

The place name "Berlin," which is intended in the current example, is moved to the very top of the selection list in the right-hand window after entering just one initial letter, which serves as a pre-selection criterion. This allows the user to select it very easily and quickly.

Other preferred place names (here: "Bonn" and "Bremen") (based on the "Last Targets" list) are also very easy for the operator to select. Place names for which no preference is shown in the "Last Targets" list can still be found - as is known from the prior art - by an alphanumeric search in the lower part of the right-hand window. The upper part of the right-hand window created according to the invention does not hinder the selection of such destinations. If necessary, additional selection criteria can also be entered to further narrow down the search - as is known from the prior art.

In the present example, the sublist in the lower part of the right-hand window comprises more elements than can be displayed in the lower part of the right-hand window. In order to reach the remaining elements, depending on the embodiment of the invention, the entire selection list or only the sublist in the lower part can be scrollable. If the entire selection list is scrollable, the upper part of the right-hand window will disappear from the screen when scrolled sufficiently far. If only the sublist in the lower part of the right-hand window is scrollable, the sublist of preferred place names in the upper part of the right-hand window always remains visible. The sublist in the upper part of the right-hand window can also be scrollable, particularly if preselection and preference still result in a large number of both preferred and selectable target terms.

Claims (3)

A method for optically outputting a plurality of selectable destination terms when entering a destination into a navigation system, in which: at least one preferred destination term is determined according to preference criteria, a set of both preferred and selectable destination terms is determined, and at least one both preferred and selectable destination term is optically highlighted during output compared to non-preferred destination terms from the plurality of selectable destination terms. wherein the plurality of selectable destination terms is output in the form of several lists, and the highlighting of the at least one both preferred and selectable destination term consists in outputting it in a first list that is output separately from a second list containing all selectable search terms. wherein: the plurality of selectable destination terms is narrowed down in a preselection according to at least partially alphanumeric preselection criteria compared to a further, even larger plurality of generally selectable destination terms, thereby reducing both the number of selectable destination terms in the second list and the number of destination terms to be highlighted in the first list. Preference criteria relate at least in part to the use of the target terms in the past, taking into account a forgetting factor, and settings and past data of several different users are retained and processed separately in order to create an opportunity for individualisation or personalisation of the navigation system. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the preference criteria are at least partly geographical and/or geographically related criteria. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 2 , characterized in that the navigation system is assigned to a motor vehicle.