Method for Displaying Points of Interest on a Digital Map

Abstract

A method for displaying points of interest on a digital map on a display, each point of interest being assigned at least one category and the space in front of the display being segmented into spatial regions where each spatial region is assigned a category. The method includes detecting the position of a hand of a user or part of the hand of the user by sensors, more particularly by cameras, identifying the spatial region in which the position of the hand or the part of the hand lies, identifying the category assigned to the identified spatial region, and displaying or highlighting the points of interest that have been assigned to the identified category.

Claims

1. A method for displaying points of interest on a digital map on a display, wherein each point of interest is assigned at least one category, wherein a space in front of the display is segmented into spatial regions, and wherein each spatial region is assigned a category, comprising the acts of: detecting a position of a hand of a user or a part of the hand of the user by a sensor; identifying the spatial region in which the position of the hand or the part of the hand lies; identifying the category assigned to the identified spatial region; and displaying or highlighting the points of interest assigned to the identified category.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spatial regions are separated by planes lying parallel to a plane of the display or perpendicular to the plane of the display.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the acts of: detecting a fixation gesture of the hand of the user or the part of the hand of the user; and in response to the detecting of the fixation gesture, permanently displaying or permanently highlighting each point of interest that was displayed at a time of the detecting of the fixation gesture.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, in response to the detecting of the fixation gesture, points of interest of categories other than a category of the permanently displayed points of interest are displayed according to a further position of the hand or the part of the hand, or wherein, in response to the detecting of the fixation gesture, no points of interest of categories other than the category of the permanently displayed points of interest are displayed.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the fixation gesture comprises: a minimum dwell time of a position of the hand of the user or the part of the hand of the user in a spatial region; and/or a change in a direction of movement of the hand of the user or the part of the hand of the user.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the spatial regions are separated by planes lying parallel to a plane of the display or perpendicular to the plane of the display and wherein the fixation gesture is a movement of the hand of the user or the part of the hand of the user parallel to the planes that separate the spatial regions.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the act of outputting an auditory signal, a haptic signal or a visual signal when the identified category changes.

9. A method for displaying points of interest on a digital map on a display, wherein each point of interest is assigned a location and a description, wherein the description is segmented into detail levels, wherein a space in front of the display is segmented into spatial regions, and wherein each spatial region is assigned a detail level, comprising the acts of: displaying the points of interest on the display; detecting a position of a hand of a user or a part of the hand of the user by a sensor; identifying a spatial region of the spatial regions in which the position of the hand of the user or the part of the hand of the user lies; identifying the respective detail level assigned to the identified spatial region; and displaying the respective descriptions of the points of interest in the identified detail level.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sensor is a camera.

11. An apparatus, comprising: a display; a computation unit; and a sensor for detecting a hand of a user or a part of the hand of the user; wherein the apparatus is configured to execute the method according to claim 1 and/or claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the display of a typical digital map with points of interest; and

[0022] FIGS. 2 to 4 schematically show exemplary embodiments of the method of the present invention during execution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Identical reference signs relate to the same elements across the Figures.

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the display of a typical digital map 4 with points of interest. A digital map 4 is displayed on the display of a vehicle (of an on-board computer). The position of the vehicle in the map 4 is indicated by an arrow symbol. Points of interest (POIs), which are also displayed in the map, are located in the surroundings of the vehicle. The letter T denotes the category of filling stations, the letter P denotes parking areas and the reference WC denotes toilets.

[0025] During operation, the user moves their hand 3 with outstretched finger in the space in front of the display 1 as shown in FIG. 2. The space in front of the display 1 is subdivided into spatial regions 2a to 2c, which are separated by planes and which are parallel to the display 1. FIG. 2 shows in this respect a schematic view from above onto the display and the hand 3 located in front of it. The user has brought their finger into the spatial region 2c, which is detected by a camera (not shown in FIG. 2) arranged in the roof lining of the vehicle. The spatial region is assigned the category of parking areas in a table of the on-board computer. According to the assignment, the points of interest for parking areas are highlighted on the display. In FIG. 2, the highlighting is carried out by way of an additional circle 5 around the points of interest. The highlighting can also be carried out by graying out or fading out the points of interest that are not selected.

[0026] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the situation where the user brings their finger into the spatial region 2b and 2a and therefore highlights the assigned categories filling stations and WC, respectively, which is again indicated by way of a circle around the point of interest.

[0027] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.