JP2002286491A - Portable navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make performable route serch and route guidance according to various requests of pedestrians. SOLUTION: This portable navigation system for detecting a present location and providing guidance on a travel route of pedestrians is provided with data 24 with information including at least road and walk environment conditions, a location input means 14 for inputting a location, a receiving means 11 for receiving radio signals, a present location detecting means 12 for detecting the present location on the basis of the radio signals received by the receiving means, a searching means 22 for searching for the travel route to the location of a destination on the basis of the data, and guiding means 15, 16, and 23 for providing guidance on the travel route from the present location detected by the present location detecting means to the location of the destination inputted by the location input means. The searching means 22 has a plurality of search conditions and searches for the travel route under specified search conditions, and the guiding means 15 and 16 has a plurality of guidance modes and provide guidance on the travel route in a specified guidance mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a portable navigation system for detecting a current position to search for and guide a moving route by walking.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A navigation device searches for a route by inputting a point of departure or present location and a destination, and searches for an optimal route in consideration of road conditions to a destination. As guidance for providing guidance along the searched route, it has become quite popular for vehicles. In recent years, along with the spread of such a vehicle navigation device, a portable terminal has been proposed as a result of the spread and enhancement of functions of mobile terminals. In addition to speeding up the processing, the navigation device uses GPS (global positioning) as a means for detecting the current position.
Improvements in the accuracy and cost reduction of the System satellite positioning system) have spurred widespread use.

[0003] Conventional navigation devices have been developed for vehicles, reflecting the function of vehicles as moving means, searching for a route to a destination in the shortest time and the shortest distance as an optimal route. Further, even when a passing point and a stopover are designated, a route from the current location to the passing point, the stopover, and the destination is searched for guidance. Therefore, a navigation device carried by a pedestrian has a similar concept, and attention has been paid to how to guide the pedestrian to the pedestrian.

[0004] However, in the case of a pedestrian, there is a different demand from a vehicle as a mere means of transportation, and in the case of a walk, a different route, guidance environment,
There are various requirements for being a pedestrian not found in vehicles,
Conventional navigation devices have not been proposed from such a viewpoint.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to search and guide a route in response to various pedestrian requests.

Therefore, the present invention is directed to a portable navigation system for detecting a current position and guiding a pedestrian's moving route, comprising: data having at least information including road and walking environment conditions; and position input means for inputting a position. Receiving means for receiving a wireless signal; current position detecting means for detecting a current position based on the wireless signal received by the receiving means; and searching means for searching a movement route to a destination position based on the data. And guidance means for guiding a moving route from a current position detected by the current position detection means to a destination position input by the position input means, wherein the search means has a plurality of search conditions. Searching for a moving route under specified search conditions, the guiding means includes:
It is characterized by having a plurality of guidance modes and guiding a moving route in a designated guidance mode.

The data includes information including the same floor in a building and a moving route between floors, and information including a traffic route. The walking environment condition includes at least stairs,
Slope, steps, pedestrian crossing signal with sound, escalator, wheelchair lifter, elevator, congestion degree, has one or more installation information about the streetlight, the receiving means, at least a satellite signal or from the ground or from a specific point in the building A search signal, wherein the search means has at least a condition for a visually impaired person and a condition for a wheelchair as the plurality of search conditions, and selects the walking environment condition according to designation of the condition. A search is made for a moving route, and the guidance unit has a display guidance and a voice guidance as a plurality of guidance modes, and at least when the search condition of the search unit is for a visually impaired person, the traveling route is a voice guidance. Wherein the search means includes at least a shortest route, a designated time route, a preferred walking route condition, a walking priority, and various transportation means as the plurality of search conditions. Priority conditions have safety priority condition, is characterized in that searching for a travel route according to the designation of the condition.

In addition, the portable terminal includes a center for distributing guide information of a travel route to the portable terminal, and the portable terminal includes the position input unit, the reception unit, the current position detection unit, and the guidance unit. The data in the center,
And a search means, wherein the mobile terminal communicates with the center to acquire guidance information on a moving route, and the mobile terminal is a mobile phone.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a portable navigation device according to the present invention, wherein 1 is a portable terminal, 2 is an information center, 3 is an artificial satellite, 4 is a transmitter,
11 is a communication unit, 12 is a position detection unit, 13 is a processing unit, 14
Is an operation input unit, 15 is a display output unit, 16 is an audio output unit,
21 is a communication unit, 22 is a route search unit, 23 is a guidance control unit,
Reference numeral 24 denotes a data storage unit.

In FIG. 1, a portable terminal 1 is a portable telephone, PHS or other portable information terminal carried by a pedestrian, and includes a communication unit 11, an input / output processing unit 12, and a display output unit 1.
4. An audio output unit 15 and an operation input unit 13 are provided. In addition to a communication function, for example, a radio wave of an artificial satellite (GPS) 3 or a radio signal from a transmitter 4 at a specific point on the ground is received to detect a current position. Has functions. The transmitter 4 is a mobile phone or PHS
, A transmitter mounted on a traffic light, a transmitter mounted on a part of a building or a pole, a beacon transmitting device, and the like. The information center 2 includes a communication unit 21, a guidance control unit 22, a route search unit 23, and a data storage unit 24, communicates with the mobile terminal 1, and transmits a current position, a departure place, and a destination sent from the mobile terminal 1. Such as points, search conditions,
A search is made for a movement route by walking to the destination based on the guidance form, and the guidance information is sent to the portable terminal 1.

The communication unit 11 of the portable terminal 1 communicates with the information center 2 for information for point input, information for travel route search, information for guidance output, and the like.
Or to receive radio signals from a plurality of artificial satellites 3 and transmitters 4. The position detection unit 12 detects a current position, a distance from the current position to a specific point, and the like based on radio signals from the artificial satellite 3 and the transmitter 4 received by the communication unit 11, and receives a plurality of signals. The current position is determined by three-point survey based on the intensity and phase, or the distance to the transmission source is determined based on the reception intensity and phase of one signal. Processing unit 1
Numeral 3 performs input processing such as a point, a search condition, and a guidance form, communication processing with the information center 2 through the communication unit 11, output processing of guidance information, and the like. The operation input unit 14
The display output unit 15 is used for inputting points, search conditions, guidance forms, and the like, outputting guidance information, and performing various operation inputs for communication with the information center 2. The display output unit 15 displays menus and guidance information for operation inputs. Is displayed, and the sound output unit 16 converts the display into a display and performs the display by voice.

The communication unit 21 of the information center 2 communicates with the portable terminal 1 such as information for inputting a point, information for searching for a moving route, information for outputting guidance, and the like. The route search unit 22 searches for a moving route by walking based on a point, a search condition, a guidance mode, and the like input from the mobile terminal 1 through the communication unit 21. Mobile terminal 1 according to the route
To control the guidance information provided to the user. The data storage unit 24 stores various data necessary for the route search unit 22 to search for a moving route and the guidance control unit 23 to control guidance information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of data used in the portable navigation device according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an outline of processing of the portable navigation device according to the present invention.

Data used in the portable navigation device according to the present invention includes, for example, road map data, route data of transportation such as trains and buses, and plan views of floors of buildings and other facilities as shown in FIG. And linked travel route data (facility data) such as stairs, escalators, and elevators, among which stairs,
It has information on the walking environment, such as slopes, steps, pedestrian crossings with sound, pedestrian bridges, escalators, wheelchair lifters, elevators, congestion levels, and installation information on streetlights.

[0015] In addition, for example, network data (data composed of link nodes), landmark data (data serving as targets such as public facilities, convenience stores, gas stations, large buildings, conspicuous signs, etc.), note data (place names, (Intersection names, road names, etc.), address data, building map data, sightseeing information / walking course data, character databases for character guidance, roads through which wheelchairs can pass, and map data of premises.

The characteristics of the data used in the present invention are as follows. For example, data (hub network structure) is created for each base, and the relationship between hubs is managed at a representative point. Because of the hub structure, replacement of data at each site can be simplified, and updating can be performed in a short time. Instead of two-dimensional node links to represent the building structure,
3D node / link data is used, and the node data has connection information with the surface. Furthermore, a four-dimensional network structure is provided by giving each node an opening time of an entrance, an escalator, and an operating time of an elevator. In order to represent the floor in the building, the data of the planes of each floor are linked because the lines of the link nodes are insufficiently represented. Attributes such as escalators, elevators, and slopes are added to the link data that goes up and down the floor, including the future prospects of search and the antenna position such as PHS, etc., and voice guidance for the visually impaired is provided. It can be so. Emphasis is placed on information such as the operation and release times of toilets, escalators, elevators, slopes, etc.

As described above, in the portable navigation system according to the present invention, in particular, the portable navigation system has data for judging a walking environment condition, and uses a plurality of search conditions and a plurality of guidance modes to search and guide a moving route by walking. Can be selected,
The building and other facilities can be guided. Therefore, first, as the search condition, select the optimal route to the usual destination, the route corresponding to the wheelchair, the route corresponding to the visually impaired, etc., or the shortest route, the designated time route, the favorite walking route, etc. To be able to select the search.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a menu is first displayed (step S1).
1) A search condition is selected according to the display menu (step S12), and then a guidance mode is selected (step S13). Next, points such as a departure place and a destination are input (step S14). The input of the departure place and the destination from the portable terminal can use a name, an address, a telephone number, a place name, a facility, coordinate values of latitude and longitude, and the like. A travel route is searched based on the search condition, guidance mode, and point input as described above (step S15). Furthermore, at the same time as this route search, a landmark near a turning point in the middle of the route is extracted,
If no landmark exists, the number of roads from the preceding corner is extracted. Then, guidance is provided by display or voice according to the searched route while detecting the current position (step S16). As the current position, coordinate values of latitude and longitude that can be obtained by GPS or a mobile phone are used. In the guidance, if the corner between turns is long, for example, 1
In the case of 00 m or more, the user is guided by a target on the way and notified by voice when the vehicle arrives at a corner, thereby giving a sense of security to the user.

For example, when a route corresponding to a wheelchair is used as a search condition, there is a slope, an escalator, a wheelchair lifter, and an elevator, and a search is basically performed on a route without a stair or a step (barrier-free route). . Even if you include vehicles such as trains and buses in the travel route,
A route to be prioritized is designated, and like a route with a lift bus, a route is searched for on a route or a platform of a train according to the respective search conditions, according to priority of getting on / off of a wheelchair and guidance. When a route corresponding to a visually impaired person is used as a search condition, a pedestrian crossing with a pedestrian crossing signal with sound, a sidewalk with a point block, etc. are preferentially searched. In this case, guidance is provided by voice output. In addition to the sound, the beacon is notified, for example. More specifically, the wavelength becomes shorter as the distance from the destination increases, and a dangerous object (stairs, obstacle) is notified by voice. In addition, if the traveling direction is different, the direction of the traveling direction and the correct direction are notified.In the station yard, beacons and location information distribution facilities are also provided on escalators and stairs that are in the process of changing trains. By installing the, data is managed for each layer of the premises. In the search condition of safety priority, for example, a route that is as less congested as possible and a route with a streetlight may be prioritized by using the congestion degree and the installation information regarding the streetlight.

Further, search conditions such as a designated time route and a favorite walking route are also search conditions that are not included in the conventional navigation system, which are unique to a moving route by walking. These search conditions are selected when it is desired to take a walk through temples, shrines and temples at tourist spots, historic sites, buildings designated as cultural properties, etc., or to walk around an area where limited free time is available.

Further, since the portable navigation system according to the present invention has a plan view of each floor of a building or other facility and connected movement route data of stairs, escalators, elevators, etc., a route in a large-scale building is provided. We can respond to guidance.

In the route guidance, the current position is detected,
Performs a map matching process between the time trajectory of the current position, the searched route, and the map data, and displays a straight line, turns left or right, and features (facilities, landmarks) along the route, etc. from the current position by display or voice. Do. For example, in the guidance by display, a map display image for displaying the current position and the route on a map and a character guidance image for providing guidance in which order and where to turn by text may be appropriately switched. Also, in the route guidance, if the current position deviates from the route by performing a map matching process, it is notified that the route has deviated from the route, and a process for correcting a deviation from the route may be inserted. Good.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, communication is performed between the mobile terminal and the information center, the information center searches for a moving route by walking according to each selection condition based on map data and the like, and the guide information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. By sending back, the mobile terminal performs display and voice guidance.However, the route search function and map data provided in the information center are all equipped in the mobile terminal, and it is configured as a standalone portable navigation system. It goes without saying that this may be done. In addition, mobile terminals are not limited to mobile phones,
It may be a combination of various devices, such as a combination with a portable television, and a modified one.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a portable navigation system for detecting a current position and guiding a pedestrian's moving route, information including at least road and walking environment conditions is obtained. Having data,
Position input means for inputting a position, receiving means for receiving a wireless signal, current position detecting means for detecting a current position based on the wireless signal received by the receiving means, and a movement route to a destination position based on the data Search means for searching for a search position, and guidance means for guiding a moving route from the current position detected by the current position detection means to the destination position input by the position input means, wherein the search means determines a plurality of search conditions. The search means searches for the moving route according to the specified search conditions, and the guidance means guides the moving route according to the specified guiding mode having a plurality of guiding modes. , Guidance can be provided.

The data includes information including the same floor in the building and the movement route between the floors, and information including the traffic route. The walking environment conditions include at least stairs, slopes, steps, pedestrian crossing signals with sound, escalators, and the like. , Wheelchair lifter, elevator, congestion degree, has one or more installation information about the streetlight, the receiving means is to receive at least a satellite signal or a transmission signal from the ground or a specific point in the building, the search means , As a plurality of search conditions, at least a condition for a visually impaired person and a wheelchair, a walking environment condition is selected according to the designation of the condition to search for a moving route, and the guidance means includes a plurality of guidance modes. Has a form of display guidance and voice guidance, and guides the moving route in the form of voice guidance at least when the search condition of the search means is for a visually impaired person. The search conditions include at least the shortest route, designated time route, favorite walking route condition, walking priority, various transportation-specific priority conditions, and safety priority condition, and the travel route is searched according to the specification of the conditions. By specifying a search condition and a guidance mode, it is possible to request a search and guidance for a moving route according to the walking speed and ability of the user.

Further, the portable terminal comprises a portable terminal and a center for distributing guidance information for guiding a moving route to the portable terminal. The portable terminal such as a portable telephone is provided with position input means, receiving means, current position detecting means, and guidance. Means, data and search means in the center, mobile terminal communicates with the center and obtains guidance information of the moving route, so the center always manages the latest map data and depends on each mobile terminal It is possible to provide the same route guidance to each portable terminal in the same manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a portable navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of data used in the portable navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a processing outline of the portable navigation device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Mobile terminal, 2. Information center, 3. Satellite, 4.
Transmitter, 11 communication unit, 12 position detection unit, 13 processing unit, 14 operation input unit, 15 display output unit, 16 audio output unit, 21 communication unit, 22 route search unit, 23 ... Guidance control unit, 24 ... data storage unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroki Noguchi 2nd Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C032 HB25 HC11 HC31 HD07 2F029 AA07 AB07 AC02 AC18 AD01 5H180 AA21 BB04 BB05 FF05 FF07 FF25 FF27 5K067 AA21 BB36 BB45 DD51 EE02 EE12 FF03 FF23 HH21 JJ52

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A portable navigation system that detects a current position to search and guide a moving route by walking, a data having at least information including a road and a walking environment condition, a position input unit for inputting a position, and a wireless communication device. Receiving means for receiving a signal, current position detecting means for detecting a current position based on a wireless signal received by the receiving means,
Searching means for searching for a movement route to a destination position based on the data; and guidance for guiding a movement route from the current position detected by the current position detection means to the destination position input by the position input means. Means, wherein the search means has a plurality of search conditions and searches for a moving route with a specified search condition, and the guide means has a plurality of guidance forms and determines a moving route with the specified guide form. A portable navigation system characterized by providing guidance. 2. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the data includes information including a same floor in a building and a connecting movement path between the floors. 3. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the data includes information including a traffic route. 4. The data is characterized in that the walking environment conditions include at least installation information on stairs, slopes, steps, pedestrian crossings with sound, pedestrian bridges, escalators, wheelchair lifters, elevators, congestion degrees, and street lights. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein 5. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means receives at least a satellite signal or a signal transmitted from a specific point on the ground or in a building. 6. The search means has at least a condition for a visually impaired person and a condition for a wheelchair as the plurality of search conditions, and selects a walking environment condition in accordance with designation of the condition to search for a moving route. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The guidance means has a plurality of guidance forms of a display guidance and a voice guidance, and when at least a search condition of the search means is for a visually impaired person, a moving route is provided in a voice guidance form. The portable navigation system according to claim 6, wherein guidance is provided. 8. The search means has at least conditions of a shortest route, a designated time route, and a favorite walking route as the plurality of search conditions, and searches for a moving route according to designation of the conditions. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search means has, as the plurality of search conditions, a condition of priority on walking and a priority on various transportation means, and searches for a moving route according to designation of the conditions. 2. The portable navigation system according to claim 1. 10. The portable navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said search means has a safety priority condition as said plurality of search conditions, and searches for a moving route according to designation of said condition. system. 11. A portable terminal and a center for distributing guidance information for guiding a moving route to the portable terminal, wherein the portable terminal includes the position input unit, the receiving unit, the current position detecting unit, and the guiding unit. 2. The portable navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the data center and the search means are provided in the center, and the mobile terminal communicates with the center to acquire guidance information on a moving route. 12. The portable navigation system according to claim 11, wherein said portable terminal is a portable telephone.