JP2005227340A - Annotation name display apparatus, annotation name display method, annotation name display program, and computer readable recoding medium with the annotation name display program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an annotation name display apparatus, an annotation name display method, etc. which enable display amount of an annotation name to be selected under the same reduction scale. <P>SOLUTION: The annotation name display apparatus is provided with: a location related information acquisition means 50; a map picture generation information storage means 206 storing map picture generation information for generating a map picture based on location related information; an annotation name display generation information storage means 214 storing annotation name display generation information for generating, based on the location related information, annotation name display showing the name of an object; a composite picture generation information storage means 224 storing composite picture generation information for generating a composite picture by composing a map picture, a road picture, and annotation name display; and a display section 54. The annotation name display generation information 215 includes display level information 215a in which a plurality of display levels having different display amount of the annotation name display, and display level selection information 215b for selecting a specific display level from the display level information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a note name display device, note name display method, note name display program, and note name display program in an electronic map.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a car navigation device that is an electronic map has basic functions of searching for a destination, searching for a route to the destination, and guiding to the destination. Then, for example, by displaying a note name such as a road map, a place name, or a building name on a display unit which is a liquid crystal screen, the user can use the above basic functions.

  However, note names displayed on an electronic map of a certain scale may not be displayed on an electronic map of another scale. For example, a note name displayed on an electronic map of 1/1500 covering a narrow area may not be displayed on an electronic map of 1/3000 covering a wide area.

  For example, when an average of 20 note names are displayed on an electronic map of 1/1500, if all of the note names are also displayed on an electronic map of 1/3000, This is because the area of the display screen itself is constant, so that the number of note names displayed on the display screen is larger than that of an electronic map of 1/1500, making it difficult to see the electronic map.

Therefore, for example, note names displayed at a scale on an electronic map mounted on a car may not be displayed at other scales or may be omitted, and the purpose is to rely on the note names. When reaching the ground, it can be inconvenient.
For example, when trying to reach the Hotel A displayed on the electronic map of 1/1500, the self-location is not displayed on the electronic map. If switched, the note name of Hotel A may not be displayed and the directions to Hotel A may not be known.

Regarding the display method of note names, navigation devices that change the display mode for each note name or add or delete the character data individually have been proposed for the note name character data displayed at a certain scale. (For example, Patent Document 1, FIG. 1, etc.).
JP 2002-98542 A

However, in the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, if the target note name is not displayed in the first place, the display mode of each note name cannot be changed.
That is, in the prior art, there is a problem that the display amount of the note name cannot be selected at the same scale.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a note name display device, a note name display method, a note name display program, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a note name display program is recorded, which enables selection of the display amount of the note name at the same scale. The purpose is to do.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the object is a map image for storing location related information acquisition means for acquiring location related information and map image creation information for creating a map image based on the location related information. Creation information storage means, note name display creation information storage means for storing note name display creation information for creating a note name display that is a display of the name of the object based on the position related information, and the map image A note name display device comprising: composite image creation information storage means for storing composite image creation information for creating a composite image by synthesizing with the note name display, and a display unit, wherein the note name display creation The information includes display level information that is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display, and display level selection information for selecting a specific display level from the display level information. It is achieved by note name display device which comprises a.

According to the configuration of the first invention, the note name display creation information includes display level information that is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display.
This is because, for example, the display amount of the note name display is larger than the level 1 and the level 2 where the display amount of the note name display is higher than the level 1 and level 2 where the display amount of the note name display is the minimum level. It means having a plurality of display level information of level 3.

The note name display creation information includes display level selection information for selecting a specific display level from the display level information.
For this reason, the said note name display apparatus can select a specific display level among each note name display level of the said level 1 thru | or level 3, for example.
Here, since the display level selection information is information different from the scale of the map image, a specific display level can be selected even at the same scale.

  Thereby, according to this invention, the note name display apparatus which enabled selection of the display amount of the note name in the same reduced scale can be provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the note name display device stores position information-added content storage means for storing content with position information, and the note name included in the content with position information. Content information with position information conversion storage means for storing content conversion information with position information for converting the position information included in the content with position information into coordinates on the display unit and converting the information into a note name display. It is characterized by that.

According to the configuration of the second invention, the note name display device includes, for example, content information-added storage means for storing content with location information that is data of a telephone book.
The note name display device converts a name included in the content with position information into the note name display, and a position for converting position information included in the content with position information into coordinates on the display unit. Content conversion information-added information storage means for storing information-added content conversion information is provided.

For this reason, the note name display device extracts the name of the company name and the like from each piece of partial information such as an address, a telephone number, and a name of the company name constituting the phone book data which is an example of the content with position information. It can be converted into a note name display, and an address that is position information can be extracted from each piece of partial information and converted into coordinate information on the display unit.
Thereby, the information included in the content with position information can be displayed on the display unit as a note name display.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the note name display creation information includes note item information for classifying the note name display into a plurality of item groups, and the note item. Display level content change information for changing the content of the display level based on the information.

The note item information is information for classifying the note name display into a plurality of item groups such as place names, natural names, administrative institutions, public institutions, and the like.
The display level content change information indicates the note name display, for example, when the note name belonging to the note item of place name and natural name is displayed in level 1 where the display amount of the note name display is the minimum. Further, information for adding and displaying the note name belonging to the administrative body which is one of the note items, or deleting the note item called the natural name so that the note name belonging to the natural name is not displayed. It is.

  Thereby, the note name display belonging to the note item required by the user of the note name display device can be displayed at the same display level of the same scale.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, the composite image creation information includes note coordinates that are coordinates on the display unit of the note name display, and the note name display. Overlap determination information for determining whether or not the note name displays overlap each other in the display unit based on the note area that is an area in the display unit, and the arrangement and / or characters of the note name display in the display unit And duplication prevention information for preventing overlap in the display section of the note name display by changing the size of the annotation name.

For this reason, when it is determined that the note name display is duplicated based on the duplication determination information, the note name display device, for example, determines the size of the characters of the note name display based on the duplication prevention information. By overlapping, changing the direction of the characters of the note name display, reducing the number of characters of the note name display, etc., it is possible to prevent overlapping of the note name display in the display unit.
Thereby, even when the display amount of the note name display is large, the note name display can be displayed on the display unit without overlapping.

  According to a fifth invention, in the configuration of any one of the first to fourth inventions, the note name display creation information is based on a distance from a designated object specified by a user of the note name display device. Automatic display level change information for changing the plurality of display levels is included.

  According to the configuration of the fifth invention, the annotation name display device displays the display when the distance from the designated object is long, for example, based on the distance from the designated object designated by the user. The level is set to level 1 where the display amount of the note name display is the minimum, and when the distance from the designated object is close, the setting can be automatically changed to level 3 where the display amount of the note name display is large. .

  When the distance from the designated object is far, the amount of display of the note name display is small, and it may be more convenient for the user of the note name display device to display the note name around the own position. As the specified object is closer, the display amount of the note name display increases, and it may be more convenient for the user of the note name display device to have more note name display around its own position. Therefore, it is possible to provide a note name display device that is highly convenient for the user of the note name display device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the note name display creation information includes a designated note item designated by a user of the note name display device, other than the designated note item. It includes distinction display information for distinguishing and displaying non-designated note items.

For this reason, the note name display device displays the note name display belonging to the designated note item in, for example, bold letters so that it can be easily seen, or visually recognizes the note name display belonging to the designated item. For the sake of simplicity, the designated item and the non-designated item can be distinguished and displayed, for example, by making the non-designated item information semi-transparent so as not to stand out.
Thereby, the note name display which belongs to the said note item which the user of the said note name display apparatus requires can be displayed in an aspect with easy visual recognition.

  In a seventh aspect based on any one of the first to sixth aspects, the composite image creation information indicates whether or not a note area ratio, which is a ratio of the note area to the note display portion, is greater than an allowable limit. It includes allowable limit determination information for determination and layer generation information for generating a number of layers necessary for the annotation area to be less than the allowable limit.

  For this reason, when the note name display device determines that the area occupied by the note name display in the display unit is greater than or equal to the allowable limit based on the allowable limit determination information, based on the layer generation information, It is possible to generate as many layers as are necessary for the annotation area to be less than the allowable limit.

  Thus, in a single layer, for example, when the note name display cannot be displayed without duplication, or when it is difficult to view, the note name display is displayed. Is distributed over a plurality of layers, and the display amount of the note name display of each layer is less than the allowable limit, the note name display can be displayed on the display unit in an easily viewable manner.

  The eighth invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the seventh invention, the permissible limit information is changeable.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the composite image creation information gives priority to the note name display, and the note with higher priority is displayed in an upper layer that is displayed earlier and / or longer in time among the layers. It includes priority assignment information for assigning a name display.

According to the configuration of the ninth invention, the priority of the note name display belonging to the government organization is given first priority to the note name display, for example, so that it is earlier in time among the layers. It is possible to assign a note name display belonging to the administrative institution to the upper layer that is displayed for a long time.
Thereby, the note name display required by the user of the note name display can be preferentially displayed.

  According to the configuration of the tenth invention, the object is a position information acquisition step in which the position related information acquisition means of the note name display device acquires position related information, and the note name display device is a map based on the position related information. A map image creating step for creating an image, a note name display creating step for creating a note name display in which the note name display device is a display of the name of the object based on the position related information, and the note name display device is the map A note name display method comprising: a composite image creation step of creating a composite image by combining an image and the note name display; and a display step in which the note name display device displays the composite image. In the display creation step, the note name display device selects a specific display level from display level information which is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display. Is achieved by note name display method characterized by comprising the display level selecting step that.

  In an eleventh aspect based on the tenth aspect, in the note name display creating step, the note name display device converts the note name included in the content information with position information into the note name display, and A position-added content converting step of converting position information included in the information-added content information into coordinates on the display unit.

  In a twelfth aspect based on the configuration of any one of the tenth and eleventh aspects, the note name display creating step includes note item information for the note name display device to classify the note name display into a plurality of item groups. A display level content changing step for changing the content of the display level based on the annotation item information is included.

  In a thirteenth aspect based on any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, in the composite image creation step, the note name display device includes note coordinates on the display section of the note name display, and the note. Based on a note area that is an area of the display unit for name display, an overlap determination step for determining whether or not the note name displays overlap each other in the display unit, and the note name display device And a duplication preventing step of preventing overlapping of the note name display in the display unit by changing the arrangement and / or the size of characters in the display unit.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, in the configuration of any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, the composite information creating step includes a note area ratio in which the note name display device occupies the note display area. A tolerance limit determining step for determining whether or not the threshold is greater than or equal to a tolerance limit, and a layer generation step in which the note name display device generates a number of layers necessary for the annotation area to be less than the tolerance limit. It is characterized by that.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fifteenth aspect of the invention, a position information acquisition step in which the position related information acquisition unit of the note name display device acquires position related information, and the note name display device is based on the position related information. A map image creating step for creating a map image, a note name display creating step for creating a note name display in which the note name display device displays the name of the object based on the position related information, and the note name display device A note name display program for executing a composite image creating step for creating a composite image by combining a map image and the note name display, and a display step for the note name display device to display the composite image. In the note name display creating step, the note name display device displays a plurality of display level information with different display amounts of the note name display. It is achieved by note name display program, characterized in that it comprises a display level selecting step of selecting a specific display level from.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the computer according to the sixteenth aspect, wherein a position information acquisition step in which the position related information acquisition means of the note name display device acquires the position related information, and the note name display device is based on the position related information. A map image creating step for creating a map image, a note name display creating step for creating a note name display in which the note name display device displays the name of the object based on the position related information, and the note name display device Recorded is a note name display program for executing a composite image creation step of creating a composite image by combining a map image and the note name display, and a display step of displaying the composite image by the note name display device. In the note name display creation step, the note name display device displays a table of note name displays. The amount is achieved by a computer readable recording medium recording the note name display program, characterized in that it comprises a display level selecting step of selecting a specific display level from display level information is a plurality of different display levels.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a car navigation device 12 or the like which is an example of a note name display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the note name display device in the present embodiment is, for example, a car navigation device 12 mounted on a car 10 traveling on a road E (hereinafter referred to as a car navigation system 12).
The car navigation system 12 includes an antenna unit 12c that receives position information satellites such as GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites 14a to 14d.

The GPS satellites 14a to 14d transmit, for example, signals S1 to S4, which are position related information, and the antenna unit 12c receives them. Signals S1 to S4 received by the antenna unit 12c are acquired by the main body unit 12a of the car navigation system 12 via the cable unit 12b.
The car navigation 12 is a device that generates a current position of the car navigation 12 from the signal S1 and the like based on the signal S1 and the like thus obtained, and creates a map with the current position as a reference. Specifically, the car navigation system 12 generates a composite image of a note name that is the name of an object such as a building, a road, a building, and the like, and displays it together with the current position of the car navigation system 12 that moves over time. It is a device for.

Note that, unlike the actual embodiment, the note name display device is not limited to the car navigation system 12 but may be a mobile phone, a PHS, a PDA, or the like.
Further, the number of GPS satellites may be four or more.

(Main hardware configuration of car navigation system 12)
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the car navigation system 12.
As shown in FIG. 2, the car navigation system 12 includes, for example, a computer, and the computer includes a bus 42, which includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 44, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 46, and a ROM. (Read Only Memory) 48 and the like are arranged.
In other words, the bus 42 has a function of connecting all devices and is an internal path having an address and a data path.

The CPU 44 is a control means for controlling a ROM 48, which is a storage means connected to the bus 42, in addition to processing a predetermined program. The ROM 48 stores various programs and various information.
The RAM 46 has a function as an area for comparing the contents of the memory during the program processing and for executing the program.

  The bus 42 is connected to, for example, a GPS device 50 that is a position-related information acquisition unit for acquiring signals from the GPS satellites 14a to 14d, and is configured to be able to measure the position of the car navigation system 12. ing.

Also connected to the bus 42 are a recording device 52 for recording various information, a display device 54 as a display unit for displaying various information, and an operation unit 56 for a user to operate the car navigation system 12. ing.
The display device 54 has a display screen 54a.
The recording device 52 is a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a hard disk drive (HDD).

  Unlike the present embodiment, various types of information may be acquired as communication data as required from an information recording server (not shown) installed at a position different from the car navigation system 12.

(About main software configuration of car navigation system 12)
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a main software configuration and the like of the car navigation 12.
As shown in FIG. 3, the car navigation system 12 includes a control unit 200 for controlling each unit, a display control unit 202 for displaying various information on the display device 54 in FIG. 2, and a self-positioning unit corresponding to the GPS device 50 in FIG. 204.

  In addition, the car navigation system 12 includes, for example, a map image creation information storage database 206 that is map image creation information storage means for storing map image creation information for creating a map image based on the signal S1 and the like.

In addition, the car navigation system 12 includes a map image storage database 208 that stores the created map image.
This map image is an image of landforms such as mountains and rivers, objects such as buildings, and roads.
As a result, the car navigation system 12 can create and store a map image based on the self-position generated based on the signal S1 and the like.

The car navigation 12 is note name display creation information storage means for storing note name display creation information for creating a note name display that is a display of the name of the object based on the signal S1 or the like. It has a creation information storage database 214. Further, the car navigation system 12 has a note name display storage database 216 for storing the created note name display.
Thereby, the car navigation system 12 can create and store a note name display based on the self-position generated based on the signal S1 and the like. Specifically, the car navigation system 12 extracts a note name display around its own position and stores it as data.

Here, the contents of the note name display creation information 215 stored in the note name display creation information storage database 214 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the note name display creation information 215 stored in the note name display creation information storage database 214.
As shown in FIG. 4, the note name display creation information 215 includes display level information 215a that is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display.

  Display levels include, for example, level 1 and level 1 for displaying note names belonging to the minimum note items such as place names and natural names (mountains, rivers, etc.), as well as notes from government agencies, public institutions, traffic-related organizations, etc. In addition to level 2 and level 2 that display the note name display belonging to the item, in addition to level 3 and level 3 that display the note name display that belongs to the note item such as company name and store name, etc. There are a plurality of display levels having different display amounts of the note name display up to level 4 for displaying the note name display.

Further, the note name display creation information 215 includes display level selection information 215b for selecting a specific display level from the display level information 215a.
Here, the display level selection information 215b and the like will be described with reference to FIG.
FIGS. 5A to 5D are diagrams showing examples of images displayed on the display screen 54a.
The image examples shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D are displayed based on the display level selection information 215b.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the note name display setting icon 300 is displayed on the display screen 54a while the car navigation system 12 is operating.
When the note name display setting icon 300 is selected (hereinafter referred to as “click”) by the user of the car navigation system 12, the display level change icon 301 and the display are displayed on the display screen 54 a as shown in FIG. A level content editing icon 302 is displayed.
When the display level changing icon 301 is clicked, as shown in FIG. 5C, an icon 55a corresponding to level 1, an icon 55b corresponding to level 2, an icon 55c corresponding to level 3, and level 4 are displayed. An icon 55d corresponding to is displayed. The icons 55a and the like are icons that allow the car navigation system 12 to specify a display level for the user (hereinafter simply referred to as a user).

  Thus, the car navigation system 12 is configured to allow the user to specify any one of the level 1 to level 4 and create a note name display based on the specified display level.

When the user clicks one of the icons 55a to 55d, the content information selection screen with position information shown in FIG. 5D is displayed on the display screen 54a.
When the icon 552 “not used” is selected from the icons 551 or 552, a note name display is created at the display level specified in FIG.

Here, since the display level selection information 215b is information different from the scale of the map image described above, the car navigation system 12 designates an arbitrary display level from among levels 1 to 4 to the user at the same scale. Can be made.
When the user of the car navigation system 12 does not specify the display level, the note name display is displayed as a standard display level, for example, at level 3.

Specifically, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 6, the car navigation system 12 allows the user to designate an arbitrary display level from among levels 1 to 4 at the same scale.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing examples of images displayed on the display screen 54a of the display device 54 of FIG.

For example, suppose that the former who heard a rumor from a friend goes out to a restaurant X with a car with a car navigation system 12. The location of the restaurant X is very vague and there is only information that it seems to be behind the CD electric machine in the AB ward.
The AB zone is not so far from the point S in FIG. 6A, and the former knows the location of the AB zone itself, but does not know what kind of buildings are.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), when the car enters the AB zone and comes to the point S, the car navigation system 12 displays the famous buildings EF hotel, GH bookstore, and IJ bank as a note name display, and a display screen 54a. To display. However, since CD Electric is a small store, it is not displayed at the current display level.
Since it can be predicted that the restaurant X seems to be around the S point, the display level is changed to a display level with a large display amount of the note display.
Then, the car navigation 12 displays the CD electric machine, which is not displayed at the display level in FIG. 6A, as shown in FIG. 6B.
Since we discovered the CD electric machine visually, we were able to reach the target restaurant X as we entered the narrow road E2 next to the CD electric machine.

  As described above, the note name display creation information 215 can provide a note name display device that enables selection of the display amount of the note name at the same scale.

  Further, the car navigation system 12 is a composite image creation information storage unit that stores composite image creation information for creating a composite image by combining the map image and the annotation name display as shown in FIG. It has a database 224 for storing image creation information. In addition, the car navigation system 12 includes a composite image storage database 226 that stores the generated composite image.

  As a result, the car navigation system 12 can create and store a composite image of the map image and the note name display created based on the self-position generated based on the signal S1 and the like.

  In addition, the car navigation system 12 includes, for example, a position information-added content storage database 218 that is position information-added content storage means for storing position information-added content.

  Further, the car navigation system 12 converts the note name included in the content with position information into a note name display, and further converts the position information included in the content with position information into coordinates on the display screen 54a in FIG. For example, a content conversion information with content information storage database 220 for storing content conversion information with location information for storing content conversion information with information is stored.

  For this reason, the car navigation system 12 extracts a name such as a company name from each piece of partial information and converts it into a note name display. Further, the car navigation system 12 extracts an address that is position information from each piece of partial information and coordinates on the display screen 54a. Can be converted into information.

Hereinafter, the content conversion information with position information will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an image example of the display screen 54a.
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example of phone book data.

  When the icon 551 for use is clicked among the icons for selecting use of contents with position information shown in FIG. 5D displayed on the display screen 54a, as shown in FIG. Items and icons 553a and 553b are displayed on the display screen 54a.

  The icon 553a is an item display icon, and is an icon for displaying the data of the note name belonging to the note item, for example, bank among the phone book data shown by being clicked by the user.

  An icon 553b is an item deletion icon. When the user clicks the icon 553b, for example, note name data belonging to the note item of the personal name in the phone book data is displayed on the display screen 54a as the note name display. This is an icon for processing to hide this.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the phone book data is composed of partial information such as name, address, and telephone number.
For example, when the item display icon 553a1 for displaying a bank is clicked, the car navigation system 12 displays "AB Bank, 1-1-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 03-0000-" in FIG. 2 is extracted from the telephone directory data “9999” and converted into a note name display, and the positional information “1 address, 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo” is extracted to display the display device 54 in FIG. Are converted into coordinates (pixel coordinates) on the display screen 54a.
Thereby, the information included in the content with position information can be displayed on the display screen 54a as a note name display.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the note name display creation information 215 includes note item information 215c for classifying the note name display into a plurality of item groups.
The note name display creation information 215 includes display level content change information 215d for changing the display level based on the note item information 215c. The note item information 214c and the display level content change information 215d will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the annotation item information 215c is a place name, a natural name, and the like, and is information for classifying the note name display into a plurality of item groups such as a place name, a natural name, an administrative organization, and a public institution. is there.

  For example, note names such as Sumida River, Tone River, Kanda River, and Mt. Fuji are classified in the note item of natural name, and note name indications of the Diet, the Supreme Court, the Patent Office, etc. are classified in the note item of the administrative body. It is.

  The display level content change information 215d further displays the note name when, for example, the note name belonging to the note item of place name and natural name is displayed in level 1 where the display amount of the note name display is the minimum. Information to prevent the note name belonging to the natural name from being displayed by deleting the note name of the natural name and displaying the note name belonging to the administrative organization that is one of the note items. is there.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are examples of images displayed on the display screen 54a of the display device 54 of FIG.
When the note name display setting icon 300 in FIG. 8A is clicked by the user and the display level content editing icon 302 in FIG. 8B is clicked, the display screen 54a in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8C, selection target level designation icons 65a to 65d for allowing the user to select a display level whose contents are to be edited are displayed.

  When the user clicks the selection target level designating icon 65a, as shown in FIG. 8D, the display screen 54a displays gasoline, in addition to the originally set place name and natural name of level 1, as well as gasoline. Annotation items such as a stand name, a store name, and an individual name are displayed, and icons 67a for deleting each annotation item to be hidden and icons 67b for additionally displaying each annotation item are displayed. The icon 67a and the icon 67b are annotation item changing icons.

  By causing the user to select each of these icons, the car navigation system 12 acquires additional display information for adding necessary note items and non-display information for deleting unnecessary note items from the user. be able to.

  Thereby, the display of the note name belonging to the note item required by the user of the car navigation 12 can be displayed at the same display level of the same scale.

  Further, the composite image creation information 225 stored in the composite image creation information storage database 224 in FIG. 3 includes note coordinates that are coordinates on the note name display screen 54a and an area on the note name display screen 54a. Based on the note area, the overlap information 225a for determining whether the note name displays overlap each other on the display screen 54a is included.

  The composite image creation information 225 includes duplication prevention information 225b for preventing overlap on the note name display screen 54a by changing the arrangement and / or the size of the characters on the note name display screen 54a. Include

Hereinafter, the car navigation 12 will explain the duplication determination information 225a and the duplication prevention information 225b.
FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an overlapping state of the note name display.
FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a state in which an overlapping state is prevented.

  When the car navigation system 12 determines that the note name display is duplicated based on the duplication determination information 225a in FIG. 3, for example, the note name is displayed based on the duplication prevention information 225b. As will be described below, overlapping of the display screen 54a for displaying the note name is prevented by changing the direction of the displayed characters, reducing the number of characters for displaying the note name, and the like.

The overlap determination information 225a is information for determining whether or not the note name display overlaps on the display screen 54a, for example, by performing the following simulation.
That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the note coordinates on the display screen 54a of the note name display P are P1, the note area is P2, and the note coordinates of the note name display Q are Q1. If the note area is Q2, it can be seen that the note name display P and the note name display Q cause an overlapping portion R.

The duplication prevention information 225b is information for preventing the duplication state when the car navigation system 12 judges that the note name display is duplicated on the display screen 54a by the duplication judgment information 225a.
That is, the car navigation system 12 changes the character direction of the note name display P in the arrow X1 direction and the note name display Q in the arrow X2 direction based on the duplication prevention information 225b in the example of FIG. By doing so, the duplication of the note name displays P and Q is prevented as shown in FIG.

  Thereby, even when the display amount of the note name display is large, the note name display can be displayed on the display screen 54a without overlapping.

(About operation example of the car navigation system 12 of the first embodiment)
Although the car navigation 12 is configured as described above, an example of its operation will be described below.
10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are schematic flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the car navigation system 12.

Step ST1 is an operation start step in which the car navigation system 12 starts operating.
Step ST2 is an example of a position information acquisition step in which the positioning unit 204 acquires position related information.
Specifically, the self-positioning unit 204 of FIG. 3 acquires signals S1 to S4 from the GPS satellites 14a to 14d of FIG. 1, and generates self-position information that is self-position information.

Step ST3 is an example of a map image creation step in which the car navigation system 12 creates a map image based on the position related information.
Specifically, the control unit 200 generates a map image based on the self-position of the self-position information generated in step ST2 based on the map image creation information stored in the map image creation information storage database 206 of FIG. create. Then, the control unit 200 stores the created map image in the map image storage database 208.

  Step ST4 and step ST5 are an example of a note name display creation step in which the car navigation system 12 creates a note name display that is a display of the name of the object based on the signals S1 to S4.

  Step ST4 is an example of a note name display setting designation information acquisition confirmation step for determining whether or not the car navigation system 12 has acquired note name display setting designation information about whether or not to change the setting of note name display. . When the note name display setting icon 300 in FIG. 8A is clicked by the user, the car navigation system 12 acquires the note name display setting designation information.

If the note name display designation information is acquired here, the process proceeds to step ST401 described later.
On the other hand, if the note name display designation information is not acquired, the process proceeds to step ST5, where the control unit 200 determines its own position based on the note name display creation information stored in the note name display creation information storage database 214 of FIG. A note name display is created with reference to. The display level at this time is a standard display level, for example, level 3 in the display level information 215a in FIG. The control unit 200 stores the created note name display in the note name display storage database 216.

Step ST6 is an example of a composite image creating step in which the car navigation system 12 creates a composite image by compositing the map image and the note name display.
That is, the control unit 200 combines the map image stored in the map image storage database 208 and the note name display stored in the note name display storage database 216.

  Specifically, the control unit 200 creates a composite image by combining the map image and the note name display based on the composite image creation information stored in the composite image creation information storage database 224 of FIG. The control unit 200 stores the created composite image in the composite image storage database 226.

Step ST7 is an example of a display step in which the car navigation 12 displays a composite image.
Specifically, the control unit 200 displays the composite image stored in the composite image storage database 226 on the display screen 54a of the display device 54 in FIG.

Steps ST2 to ST7 are continuously performed while the car navigation system 12 is operating.
According to the present embodiment, the following steps can be further performed as required by the user.

  First, when note name display setting designation information is acquired in step ST4, the process proceeds to step ST401. Step ST401 in FIG. 10, step ST402 and step ST403 in FIG. 11 are the note name display level at which the car navigation system 12 selects a specific display level from the note name display level information which is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display. It is an example of a selection step.

Specifically, the control unit 200 in FIG. 3 causes the user to specify a necessary display level based on the display level selection information 215b included in the note name display creation information 215 in FIG. Select a level.
Hereinafter, step ST4 to step ST403 will be described mainly with reference to FIG.

  In step ST4, the display control unit 202 in FIG. 3 displays a note name display setting designation icon 300 on the display screen 54a in FIG. 2, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A. The note name display setting is a process for changing the current setting of the note name display.

  When the user of the car navigation 12 clicks the note name display setting designation icon 300, the car navigation 12 acquires the note name display setting designation information (step ST401). Then, the display control unit 202 of the car navigation 12 displays a display level changing icon 301 and the like on the display screen 54a as shown in FIG. 5B.

  The display level changing icon 301 is an icon for allowing the user to select to change the level 1 to another display level, for example, level 2, if the current note name display level is level 1, for example. It is.

When the user of the car navigation 12 clicks the display level change icon 301, the car navigation 12 acquires note name display level change designation information (step ST402). The note name display level change designation information is information for the car navigation system 12 to change the current display level.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the display control unit 202 of the car navigation 12 displays an icon 55a and the like corresponding to level 1 on the display screen 54a in order to allow the user to specify the display level.

The car navigation system 12 acquires the designation target note name display level information when the user clicks any of the icons 55a to 55d (step ST403).
That is, the car navigation system 12 is configured to allow the user to specify a display level of level 1 to level 4 and to create a note name display based on the specified display level. .

  Then, in FIG. 5D, when the “do not use” icon 552 is selected from the position information-added content use selection icons 551 or 552 (step ST404), the display level specified in FIG. 5C. The note name display is created.

  Here, since the display level selection information 215b is information different from the scale of the map image described above, the car navigation system 12 selects the user from the levels 1 to 4 at the same scale. Can be made.

  Thereby, according to this Embodiment, the setting method of the note name display apparatus which enabled selection of the display amount of a note name in the same scale can be provided.

Furthermore, the following steps can be performed according to the needs of the user of the car navigation system 12.
That is, in step ST4, the car navigation system 12 converts the note name included in the content information with position information into a note name display, and converts the position information included in the content information with position information into coordinates on the display screen 54a of the display device 54. A content conversion step with position information to be converted is included.
Steps ST404 to ST408 in FIG. 11 are an example of the content conversion step with position information.

Specifically, the control unit 200 in FIG. 3 stores, for example, phone book data stored in the content storage database with position information 218 and stored in the content conversion information storage database 220 with position information. Conversion is performed based on the content conversion information with information, and the converted content with content information is stored in the converted content information with content storage database 222.
Hereinafter, steps ST404 to ST408 will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG.

In step ST404, contents use selection icons 551 and 552 with position information shown in FIG. 5D are displayed on the display screen 54a in FIG. 2, and the user clicks the “use” icon 551. The car navigation system 12 acquires content use designation information with position information (step ST404).
Then, the car navigation system 12 displays phone book data item selection icons 553a and 553b shown in FIG. 7A on the display screen 54a.

  When the user clicks one of the phone book data item selection icons 553a and 553b, the car navigation system 12 acquires designated item information (step ST405).

  Based on the designated item information, the car navigation system 12 extracts the designated item from, for example, the phone book data shown in FIG. 7B (step ST406). For example, when the icon 553a1 for displaying the bank name in FIG. 7A is clicked in step ST405, “AB Bank 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 1-chome, included in the phone book data in FIG. 7B. The data “No. 1 03-0000-9999” is extracted.

Then, from the extracted data, the name “AB” bank and the location information “1-1, 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo” are acquired (step ST407).
Further, the name “AB” bank is converted into a note name display, and the position information “1 address, 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo” is converted into coordinates (pixel coordinates) on the display screen 54a (step ST408).
After execution of step ST408, the process proceeds to steps ST6 and ST7 in FIG.

  As a result, information included in the content with position information can be displayed on the display screen 54a as a note name display.

Furthermore, the following steps can be performed according to the needs of the user of the car navigation system 12.
In the note name display creation step ST4, the control unit 200 in FIG. 3 causes the user of the car navigation system 12 to specify a display level that needs to be changed based on the display level content change information 215d in FIG. 11 includes step ST411 in FIG. 11, step ST412 in FIG. 12, and step ST413, which are examples of the display level content changing step for changing the content of the displayed level.

Hereinafter, steps ST412 and ST413 will be described mainly using FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG.
When the note name display setting icon 300 shown in FIG. 8A is clicked by the user and the display level content editing icon 302 shown in FIG. 8B is further clicked, the car navigation 12 displays the note name. Display level content editing designation information is acquired (step ST411).

  Here, if the display level content editing icon 302 indicates to the user that, for example, the current note name display level is level 1, the note items currently displayed at level 1 are only the place name and natural name, for example. Is an icon for causing the user to select to add a note item “administrative organization”.

  Then, the display control unit 202 in FIG. 3 displays the edit target level designation icons 65a to 65d shown in FIG. 8C on the display screen 54a in FIG. This allows the user to specify the display level to be edited.

For example, when the editing target level specifying icon 65a is clicked, the car navigation system 12 acquires editing target note name display level specifying information for specifying level 1 (step ST412).
The display control unit 202 displays note item change icons 67a and 67b shown in FIG. 8D on the display screen 54a.

The car navigation system 12 allows the user to designate these icons 67a and 67b, thereby obtaining additional display information for additionally displaying necessary note items from the user, and deleting unnecessary note items. Non-display information is acquired (step ST413).
And the control part 200 preserve | saves the content of the display level 1 after a change.

  Thereby, the display of the note name belonging to the note item required by the user of the car navigation 12 can be displayed at the same display level of the same scale.

  Note that following the step ST413, an arbitrary note name display can be created from, for example, telephone directory data, which is content with position information, in each note item (steps ST414 to ST418). Since the operation of the car navigation system 12 in steps ST414 to ST418 is the same as that in steps ST404 to ST408 described above, description thereof is omitted.

The car navigation system 12 according to the present embodiment can further perform the following steps.
That is, in the composite image creation step ST6 of FIG. 10, the car navigation system 12 displays the note name based on the note coordinates on the note name display screen 54a and the note area which is the area on the note name display screen 54a. 13 includes step ST601 to step ST606 of FIG. 13 which is an example of the overlap determination information step for determining whether or not the display screen 54a overlaps each other.

  In steps ST601 to ST606, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the note name displays overlap each other on the display screen 54a based on the overlap determination information 225a stored in the composite image creation information storage database 224. .

  Further, the composite information creation step ST6 is a duplication prevention step in which the car navigation system 12 prevents overlapping in the display screen 54a of the note name display by changing the arrangement and / or character size on the display screen 54a of the note name display. Step ST607 which is an example is included.

  In step ST607, the control unit 200 prevents the note name displays from overlapping each other on the display screen 54a based on the duplication prevention information 224b stored in the composite information creation information storage database 224.

Hereinafter, steps ST601 to ST607 will be described with reference to FIG.
The control unit 200 acquires information on all the note names displayed on the display screen 54a (step ST601 in FIG. 13), and starts calculating the arrangement of the note name display (step ST602).

  In the calculation of the annotation name display layout, first, the annotation name position information is converted into coordinates to be displayed on the display screen 54a (step ST603). For example, in order to convert the coordinates of the phone book information “AB Bank, 1-1-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 03-0000-9999” in FIG. 7B, “1-1-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo” Position information “No. 1” is extracted and converted into coordinates (pixel coordinates) on the display screen 54a.

  Next, area information occupied by the note name display at the standard character size is acquired from the number of characters of each note name (step ST604). In the above example, since the number of characters of the note name “AB Bank” is four characters, the area of the note name display when it is arranged in, for example, one column can be obtained based on the area occupied by each character. . The area occupied by the note name display “AB Bank” is 256 pixels if one character is 16 pixels vertically and horizontally.

  Subsequently, based on the area information, whether or not each note name display overlaps when each note name display is arranged based on the coordinates displayed on the display screen 54a of each note name display (step) ST605).

  That is, based on the overlap determination information 225a, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the note name display overlaps on the display screen 54a, for example, by performing a simulation as described above.

  When it is determined that all the note name displays are not duplicated in the determination of all the note name display overlaps (step ST606), the process proceeds to the composite image display step ST7 in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the note name display is duplicated, the process proceeds to the duplication prevention step ST607.
In the duplication prevention step ST607, the control unit 200 in FIG. 3 displays the note name display by changing the arrangement and / or the character size on the note name display display screen 54a based on the duplication prevention information 225b. Overlap in the screen 54a is prevented.

That is, if the car navigation system 12 determines that the note name display is duplicated based on the duplication determination information 225a, for example, the note name display reduces the size of the character of the note name display based on the duplication prevention information 225b. The overlapping of the note name display on the display screen 54a is prevented by changing the direction of the characters and reducing the number of characters in the note name display.
After execution of step ST607, the process proceeds to step ST7 in FIG.

  Thereby, even when the display amount of the note name display is large, the note name display can be displayed on the display screen 54a without overlapping.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the car navigation system 22 in the second embodiment is similar to that of the car navigation system 12 in the first embodiment, the common parts are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and the differences are mainly described below. Explained.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the note name display creation information 225 stored in the note name display creation information storage database 214 of the car navigation system 22 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is an image example of the display screen 54 a of the car navigation system 22.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the car navigation system 22 is different from the first embodiment in its software configuration.

As shown in FIG. 14, the note name display creation information 225 includes automatic display level change information 215e.
The automatic display level change information 215e indicates that the car navigation system 22 displays the display level based on the distance from the designated object specified by the user, for example, when the distance from the designated object is long. This is information for automatically changing the setting to level 3 where the display amount of the note name display is large when the display amount is set to level 1 where the display amount is minimum and the distance from the designated object approaches.

  When the distance from the designated object is long, it may be more convenient for the user of the note name display device that the display amount of the note name display is small and the note name display around the own position is small. For example, when going far away from the user's home, the area around the home is an area familiar to the user, so it is sufficient to display the note name around the self-location. Conversely, if there are many note name displays around the self-position, the display screen 54a in FIG. 2 becomes complicated and difficult to see.

  On the other hand, as the distance from the designated object becomes closer, the amount of display of the note name display increases, and it may be more convenient for the user of the note name display device to have more note name display around its own position. is there. For example, when going out for a designated object far away from the user's home, the designated object may be in an area that is not familiar to the user, so the amount of display of the note name display is larger. Easy to understand the path to the designated object.

  Thereby, the car navigation system 22 that is highly convenient for the user can be provided.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the note name display creation information 225 includes distinction display information 215f.
The distinction display information 215f is information for displaying the designated note item designated by the user of the car navigation system 22 in distinction from the non-designated note items other than the designated note item.

For this reason, the car navigation system 22 displays the note name display belonging to the designated note item in, for example, bold letters so that it can be easily viewed, or displays the note name belonging to the designated item. For the sake of simplicity, the designated item and the non-designated item can be distinguished and displayed, for example, by making the non-designated item information semi-transparent so as not to stand out.
Thereby, the note name display which belongs to the note item which the user of the car navigation 22 needs can be displayed in an easily visible form.

(Regarding the operation example of the car navigation system 22 of the second embodiment)
As described above, the car navigation system 22 of the second embodiment is configured, and the operation example will be described below.

3 is displayed on the display screen 54a of FIG. 2 while the car navigation system 22 is operating.
When the note name display setting icon 301 is clicked by the user, as shown in FIG. 15B, the display control unit 202 is displayed. Displays an automatic display level changing icon 320, a distinction display setting icon 322, and the like on the display screen 54a.

  When the automatic display level change icon 320 is clicked by the user, based on the automatic display level change information 215e in FIG. 14, for example, based on the distance from the designated object specified by the user, for example, When the distance from the specified object is far, the display level is set to level 1 where the display amount of the note name display is the minimum, and the display amount of the note name display increases as the distance from the specified object approaches. The setting is automatically changed to 3.

  When the distinction display icon 322 is clicked by the user, the control unit 200 displays the distinction display addition table icon 557a and the distinction display release icon 557b shown in FIG.

  The distinction display addition icon 557a is an icon for adding a distinction display target item. For example, when the addition icon 557a located on the right side of the store name is clicked, the control unit 200 selects a note belonging to the store name. Differentiate the name display.

  The distinction display cancellation icon 557b is an icon for deleting the distinction display target item. For example, when the deletion icon 557b located on the right side of the store name is clicked, the control unit 200 displays the distinction display until now. The distinction display is canceled for the note name display belonging to the store name.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The configuration of the car navigation system 32 in the third embodiment is the same as that of the car navigation system 12 of the first embodiment and the car navigation system 22 of the second embodiment, and therefore common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following, the description will focus on the differences.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main software configuration of the car navigation system 32 according to the third embodiment.
FIGS. 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating examples of images displayed on the display screen 54a of the car navigation system 32 according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the car navigation system 32 according to the third embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the software configuration of the car navigation system 32 is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 16, the composite image creation information 225 stored in the composite image creation information storage database 224 includes allowable limit determination information 225c.
The allowable limit determination information 225c is information for determining whether or not the note area ratio, which is the ratio of the note area indicating the note name display area to the note display portion, is greater than or equal to the allowable limit.

The composite image creation information 225 includes layer generation information 225d.
The layer generation information 225d is information for generating the number of layers necessary for the annotation area to be less than the allowable limit.

  Therefore, when the control unit 200 in FIG. 16 determines that the area occupied by the note name display on the display screen 54a is greater than or equal to the allowable limit based on the allowable limit determination information 225c, the control unit 200 based on the layer generation information 225d. The number of layers required for the annotation area to be less than the allowable limit can be generated.

As a result, in a single layer, for example, when the note name display cannot be displayed without duplication, or when the display is difficult to view, etc. By distributing the information to the layers and setting the display amount of the note name display of each layer below the allowable limit, the note name display can be displayed on the display device 54 in an easily viewable manner.
The above-described allowable limit can be changed, for example, 70%.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the composite image creation information 225 gives priority to the note name display, and the higher priority is given to the upper layer that is displayed earlier and / or longer in time among the plurality of layers. Priority assignment information 225e for assigning a note name display is included.

As the priority assignment information 225e, for example, by giving a priority that the note name display belonging to the administrative organization is first in the note name display, it is displayed earlier and / or longer in time among a plurality of layers. Annotation name display belonging to the administrative organization can be assigned to the upper layer.
Thereby, the note name display required by the user of the car navigation system 32 can be preferentially displayed.
In addition, when there is no note name display which the user of the car navigation system 32 needs to display preferentially, the above-mentioned priority order may be, for example, in the order of the Japanese syllabary (Aiueo order).

(Regarding the operation example of the car navigation system 32 of the third embodiment)
As described above, the car navigation system 32 according to the third embodiment is configured. An example of the operation will be described below.

  When it is determined in the duplication prevention step ST607 of FIG. 13 described in the first embodiment that it is impossible to display all the note name displays without duplication in a single layer, the control unit of the car navigation system 32 Reference numeral 200 denotes an allowable limit determination step for determining whether the note area ratio, which is the ratio of the note area to the display screen 542a, is greater than or equal to the allowable limit, and generation of the number of layers necessary for the note area to be less than the allowable limit. A layer generation step is executed.

  Specifically, the control unit 200 in FIG. 16 executes the following steps based on the layer generation information 224d included in the composite image creation information 225 stored in the composite image creation information storage database 224.

  That is, as a result of recalculating the note name arrangement in step ST607 of FIG. 13, the control unit 200 of FIG. 16 determines that not all note name displays can be displayed on the display screen 54a without overlapping in a single layer. If so, the process proceeds to layer addition start step ST711 in FIG.

  That is, step ST607 in FIG. 13 is also an example of an allowable limit determination step for determining whether the note area ratio, which is the ratio of the note area to the display screen 54a, is greater than or equal to the allowable limit.

The following steps ST711 to ST720 are an example of a layer generation step in which the control unit 200 of the car navigation system 32 generates the number of layers necessary for the annotation area to be less than the allowable limit.
In layer addition start step ST711, the control unit 200 of FIG. 16 displays the layer priority setting icon 340 shown in FIG. 17A on the display screen 54a.

  When the layer priority order setting icon 340 is clicked by the user of the car navigation system 32 within, for example, 5 seconds, the control unit 200 displays priority order designation item setting icons 559a to 559d shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display screen 54a.

  When the user of the car navigation system 32 clicks the priority designation item setting icon 559a, for example, the control unit 200 assigns the note name display to the above-described upper layer in the order of the Japanese syllabary (Aiueo order). Information is acquired (step ST712).

  In step ST713, the control unit 200 calculates the note area where all the note name displays are tightened on the display screen 54a in the standard character size of, for example, 4 pixels vertically and horizontally, from the number of characters of each note name (step ST713).

  For example, if the vertical and horizontal directions are 16 pixels each, the annotation area of one character is 256 pixels. If each note name is 4 characters, the note area of each note name is 1,024 pixels. The total note area, which is the sum of the note areas of 100 note names, is 102,400 pixels.

  In step ST714, the control unit 200 displays all the note name displays below the allowable limit based on an allowable limit of, for example, 70%, which is an allowable limit for the display of the note name on the display screen 54a of the display device 54 in FIG. To calculate the number of layers necessary for display on the display screen 54a.

  For example, when the area of the display screen 54a is 200 pixels long and 500 pixels wide, the area of the display screen 54a is 100,000 pixels. The allowable limit area which is 70% of the display screen 54a is 70,000 pixels.

In order to display the above-described annotation name display of the total annotation area of 102,400 pixels in the allowable limit area of 70,000 pixels, the number of layers is two.
For example, the control unit 200 performs arithmetic processing of the above contents.

  In step ST715, control unit 200 divides 100, which is the number of all note names, by the number of layers 2 calculated in step ST714, and calculates the number of displayable note names that can be displayed in one layer. In the above example, the number of note names 100 is divided by 2, and the number of note names that can be displayed is 50.

In step ST716, in order from the note names with the highest priority, the calculation is performed for placing in the upper layer for every 50 note names that can be displayed.
In step ST712, the control unit 200 has acquired the information that the priority order is determined in the order of 50 notes, and therefore arranges all the note names in the order of the hiragana 50 notes and generates 50 groups.

For example, if there are 60 note names beginning with the letters “A” and there are 40 note names beginning with the letters “I”, the note name starting with “A” appears in the highest layer. Are arranged as a note name display.
In the second layer, 10 note names starting from “A” and 40 note names starting from “I” are arranged as the note name display.

  In step ST717, the control unit 200 determines whether or not all the note name displays are duplicated on the display screen of the display device 54 in FIG. 3, and if not, the process proceeds to step ST7 in FIG. A plurality of layers are displayed on the display screen 54a.

For example, as shown in FIG. 18A, a note name display beginning with “A” is preferentially displayed on the highest layer.
Then, as shown in FIG. 18 (b), in the second layer, the note name display starting from “A” and the note name display that cannot be displayed in the highest layer, and the note name display starting from “I” Is displayed.

  In Step ST718, when the control unit 200 determines that the note name display overlaps on the display screen of the display device 54 of FIG. 3, the control unit 200 recalculates the note name arrangement in Step ST718. In step ST718, control unit 200 performs the same processing as step ST607 in FIG.

  When the process for preventing duplication of the note name is completed in step ST718, control unit 200 combines the note name and the map image (step ST719).

  When step ST717 to step ST719 are completed for all layers, the process proceeds to step ST7 in FIG. 10, and the composite information is displayed in a plurality of layers on the display screen 54a of the display device 54.

  In step ST711 described above, when the user of the car navigation system 32 does not click the layer priority setting icon 340 within 5 seconds, for example, the layer priority is a standard setting, for example, alphabetical order ( (ABC order).

(About programs and computer-readable recording media)
To cause a computer to execute the position information acquisition step, the map image creation step, the road image creation step, the note name display creation step, the composite image creation step, the display step for displaying the composite image, etc. Note name display program.
Moreover, it can also be set as the computer-readable recording medium etc. which recorded such an annotation name display program.
A program storage medium used for installing the note name display program and the like in a computer and making it executable by the computer is, for example, a floppy disk such as a floppy (registered trademark), a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory). ), CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), CD-RW (Compact Disc-Rewriterable), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and other semiconductor media in which programs are temporarily or permanently stored, It can be realized by a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other.
For example, the application of the present invention is not limited to a car navigation system, but can also be applied to a system for creating an electronic map of an area designated by a user.
Specifically, a computer device (server) via an Internet communication network also provides a system that provides a map of an area instructed by a user or a map of a surrounding area instructed by a user. Applicable.
Further, the present invention is applicable not only to the Internet communication network but also to a computer program that has map information and the like and provides a map of the area designated by the user, an apparatus having the computer program, and the like.

It is the schematic which shows a car navigation apparatus etc. It is the schematic which shows the main hardware constitutions etc. of a car navigation. It is the schematic which shows the main software structures etc. of a car navigation. It is a figure which shows an example of note name display creation information. It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a display screen. It is a figure which shows an example etc. of the image displayed on a display screen. It is a figure which shows the data etc. of a telephone directory. It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a display screen. It is a figure which shows the duplication state etc. of note name display. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the operation example of a car navigation. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the operation example of a car navigation. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the operation example of a car navigation. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the operation example of a car navigation. It is a figure which shows an example of note name display creation information. It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a display screen. It is the schematic which shows the main software structures of a car navigation system. It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a display screen. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the operation example of a car navigation.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Car navigation apparatus, 14a-12d ... GPS satellite, 50 ... GPS apparatus, 52 ... Recording apparatus, 54 ... Display apparatus, 54a ... Display screen, 200 ... Control , 202 ... Display control unit, 204 ... Self-positioning unit, 206 ... Map image creation information storage database, 214 ... Note name display creation information storage database, 220 ... Position information Content conversion information storage database, 224... Composite image creation information storage database

Claims (16)

Position-related information acquisition means for acquiring position-related information;
Map image creation information storage means for storing map image creation information for creating a map image based on the position related information;
Note name display creation information storage means for storing note name display creation information for creating a note name display that is a display of the name of the object based on the position related information;
Composite image creation information storage means for storing composite image creation information for creating a composite image by combining the map image and the note name display;
A note name display device having a display unit,
The note name display creation information is:
Display level information that is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display;
Display level selection information for selecting a specific display level from the display level information. Content storage means with location information for storing content with location information;
Stores content conversion information with position information for converting the note name included in the content with position information into the note name display, and converting the position information included in the content with position information into coordinates on the display unit. The annotation name display device according to claim 1, further comprising content conversion information storage means with position information. The note name display creation information is:
Note item information for classifying the note name display into a plurality of item groups;
3. The note name display device according to claim 1, further comprising display level content change information for changing the content of the display level based on the note item information. The composite image creation information is
Whether the note name display overlaps with each other in the display unit based on the note coordinate which is the coordinate on the display unit of the note name display and the note area which is the area of the display unit of the note name display. Duplicate judgment information to judge,
And duplication prevention information for preventing overlap in the display portion of the note name display by changing the arrangement of the note name display in the display portion and / or the size of characters. The note name display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The note name display creation information includes automatic display level change information for changing the plurality of display levels based on a distance from a designated object designated by a user of the note name display device. The note name display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The note name display creation information is:
The distinction display information for distinguishing and displaying the designated note item designated by the user of the note name display device from the non-designated note items other than the designated note item is provided. 5. The note name display device according to any one of 5. The composite image creation information is
Tolerance limit determination information for determining whether or not the note area ratio, which is the ratio of the note area to the note display portion, is greater than or equal to the allowable limit;
The annotation name display according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: layer generation information for generating a number of layers necessary for the annotation area to be less than the allowable limit. apparatus.   The note name display device according to claim 7, wherein the permissible limit information is changeable. The composite image creation information is
It includes priority assignment information that assigns priority to the note name display and assigns the note name display having a high priority to an upper layer that is displayed earlier and / or longer in time among the layers. The note name display device according to any one of claims 7 and 8. A position information acquisition step in which the position related information acquisition means of the note name display device acquires the position related information;
A map image creating step in which the note name display device creates a map image based on the position related information;
A note name display creating step in which the note name display device creates a note name display which is a display of the name of the object based on the position related information;
A combined image creating step in which the note name display device creates a composite image by combining the map image and the note name display;
A display step in which the note name display device displays the composite image;
A note name display method comprising:
The note name display creation step includes:
The note name display method, wherein the note name display device includes a display level selection step of selecting a specific display level from display level information which is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display. The note name display creation step includes:
Positioned content in which the note name display device converts a note name included in the content information with position information into the note name display and converts position information included in the content information with position information into coordinates on the display unit. The annotation name display method according to claim 10, further comprising a conversion step. The note name display creation step includes:
11. The display level content changing step of changing the display level based on the note item information for the note name display device to classify the note name display into a plurality of item groups. The note name display method according to any one of 11. The composite image creating step includes
The note name display device overlaps the note name display on the display unit based on the note coordinates on the display unit of the note name display and the note area which is the area of the display unit of the note name display. A duplication judgment step for judging whether or not,
The note name display device includes a duplication preventing step of preventing overlap in the display part of the note name display by changing an arrangement and / or a character size of the note name display in the display part. 13. The note name display method according to claim 10, wherein the note name is displayed. The composite information creation step includes
The note name display device determines whether or not a note area ratio, which is a ratio of the note area in the note display portion, is greater than or equal to a permissible limit; and
14. The layer generation step of generating a number of layers necessary for the annotation name display device to be less than the allowable limit, for the annotation name display device. 14. Note name display method described in 1. On the computer,
A position information acquisition step in which the position related information acquisition means of the note name display device acquires the position related information;
A map image creating step in which the note name display device creates a map image based on the position-related information;
A note name display creating step in which the note name display device creates a note name display which is a display of the name of the object based on the position related information;
A combined image creating step in which the note name display device creates a composite image by combining the map image and the note name display;
A display step in which the note name display device displays the composite image;
A note name display program for executing
In the note name display creation step,
A note name display program, comprising: a note level display step in which the note name display device selects a specific display level from display level information that is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display. On the computer,
A position information acquisition step in which the position related information acquisition means of the note name display device acquires the position related information;
A map image creating step in which the note name display device creates a map image based on the position related information;
A note name display creating step in which the note name display device creates a note name display which is a display of the name of the object based on the position related information;
A combined image creating step in which the note name display device creates a composite image by combining the map image and the note name display;
A display step in which the note name display device displays the composite image;
A computer-readable recording medium recording a note name display program for executing
In the note name display creation step,
A computer that records a note name display program, wherein the note name display device includes a display level selection step for selecting a specific display level from display level information that is a plurality of display levels with different display amounts of the note name display. A readable recording medium.

Images