VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM APPARATUS AND METHOD PROVIDING ENHANCED INFORMATION REGARDING GEOGRAPHIC ENTITIES

A vehicle navigation apparatus displays a map on a display screen by using detailed map information. The apparatus displays map information at a plurality of scale, or zoom, levels. The apparatus selectively displays or does not display any given road based on both display scale and the importance, or priority, of the road. The apparatus displays names of municipalities, counties, states, and the like, depending on display scale. The apparatus displays adjacent municipalities, counties, states, and the like in different colors, depending on display scale. The apparatus displays municipalities using generic icons, icons of varying sizes, and icons of varying shapes, depending on municipality size, regional geography, and display scale. The apparatus may display point-of-interest icons in rural areas, depending on regional geography and display scale, and may shift their display locations to accommodate displaying more important information. The apparatus displays roads of relatively lower priority in rural areas, depending on regional geography and display scale, and may display them in a different visual style to distinguish them. The apparatus accepts user input that can affect whether to display names, various icons, and/or roads of various priorities. A method governs the operation of the apparatus.