JP2007139553A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device capable of facilitating comparison between guide routes via each of a plurality of passing spots, and selection of the guide route. <P>SOLUTION: A system control part 18 operates a guide route via a designated spot reaching a destination via a passing spot relative to each of the plurality of passing spots, and displays collectively an image corresponding to information of the guide route via the designated spot relative to each of the plurality of passing spots on a display device 80. Furthermore, the control part 18 selects some of the information of the guide route via the designated spot as information for a guide route for guidance corresponding to a prescribed operation instruction by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that guides a mounted vehicle by searching for a guidance route to a destination.

  Conventionally, navigation devices include CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk drive and other map data recording media that record a large amount of map data, display devices, vehicle movement detection devices that detect the position and direction of a vehicle using GPS, etc. Have. Then, map data corresponding to the position of the vehicle is read from the map data recording medium, and based on this map data, a map image around the vehicle position is displayed on the display device, and the vehicle position mark is displayed superimposed. Furthermore, the map image is scrolled and displayed according to the movement of the vehicle, so that the user can grasp the position of the vehicle.

  Conventionally, a navigation device has a route guidance function that allows a user to easily travel to a destination without making a mistake on a road. In this route guidance function, the route with the lowest link cost from the starting point to the destination is automatically searched using map data by simulation calculation such as the horizontal search method or Dijkstra method, and the searched route is the guide route. Is remembered as While the vehicle is running, the guidance route is drawn thickly on the map image with a different color from other roads, or the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the intersection where the route on the guidance route should be changed. Sometimes, the user is guided to the destination by displaying an arrow indicating a course at an intersection where the route on the map image should be changed.

  In recent years, a guide route is searched for each of a plurality of predetermined search conditions, and a user guides from a plurality of guide routes by selecting a guide route including the vehicle position as a guide route for guidance. There is also provided a navigation device that reduces an operation burden when selecting a guidance route for use (for example, Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, a navigation device having a function of setting a place where the user wants to stop on the way to the destination as a waypoint, and searching for a guide route (designated route guide route) via the waypoint to the destination Is also provided.
JP 2001-59730 A

  However, in the above-described conventional navigation device, every time a user performs an operation for setting a waypoint, a designated place route guidance route that goes through the one waypoint is searched and displayed on the display device. Therefore, it was difficult for the user to compare the route through each designated location. In addition, since it is difficult to compare the designated route guidance routes as described above, the following inconvenience occurs when the designated designated route guidance route is selected from among the designated route guidance routes. That is, the user generally looks at the guide route that passes through the transit point displayed on the display device, and if the guide route is not desired, the user performs an operation to set another transit point again. In some cases, however, a guidance route that passes through another waypoint may not be more desirable than a guidance route that passes through the original waypoint. In such a case, in order to select the guidance route that passes through the original waypoint for guidance, the user again displays a map image including the original waypoint, and further sets the original waypoint It was necessary to perform complicated operations such as.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a navigation device that facilitates comparison of guidance routes and selection of guidance routes for each of a plurality of waypoints.

  The present invention is a navigation device for guiding a mounted vehicle by searching for a guidance route to a destination, and a waypoint setting means for setting a plurality of waypoints according to a predetermined operation instruction by a user, For each waypoint set by the place setting means, a designated place route guidance route calculation means for computing a designated place route guidance route to the destination via the route place, and a calculation by the designated place route guidance route calculation means Information presenting means for collectively presenting information on designated route passing routes for each of a plurality of route points, and information on designated route passing routes for each of the plurality of route points according to a predetermined operation instruction by the user And guiding route selection means for selecting any of the above as guidance route information for guidance.

  With this configuration, information on designated route-by-route guidance routes for each of a plurality of route points is presented in a lump, so that the user can easily compare the designated route-by-route guidance routes. It is possible to easily select the guide route.

  From the same point of view, the navigation device of the present invention has storage means for storing information about designated route guidance routes for each of a plurality of waypoints calculated by the designated place route guidance route calculation means, and the information presentation means Presents collectively information on designated route-by-route guidance routes for each of a plurality of route points stored in the storage unit, and the guidance route selection means for each of the plurality of route points stored in the storage unit. May be selected as the guidance route information for guidance.

  Further, in the navigation device of the present invention, the information presenting unit is configured to display an image indicating a plurality of waypoints and a plurality of points based on the information on the designated route passing guidance route for each of the plurality of waypoints stored in the storage unit. You may make it display the image which shows a designated place route guidance route in a lump on a map image collectively.

  With this configuration, the user can visually recognize each designated route route, and can more easily compare the respective guide routes.

  Further, in the navigation device of the present invention, the guidance route selection means for guidance is a designated-route-based guidance route indicated by a user among images indicating a plurality of designated-route route guidance routes displayed by the information presentation unit. Information on the designated-route route guidance route corresponding to the image indicating “” may be selected as guidance route information for guidance.

  With this configuration, the user can select a guidance route for guidance from among a plurality of designated route guidance routes with a simple operation.

  According to the present invention, since information on designated route-by-route guidance routes for each of a plurality of route points is presented in a lump, the user can easily compare and select each designated-location route guidance route. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device. A navigation device 100 shown in the figure is mounted on a vehicle and searches for a guidance route to a destination to guide the vehicle. The navigation device 100 includes a navigation main body 10 that controls the entire navigation device 100, a DVD drive 30 loaded with a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) 31, an operation unit 40 that receives user operation instructions, the navigation device 100, and the like. A communication device 50 for communicating with the device, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 60 and a sensor unit 70 for deriving the position and orientation of the vehicle, a display device 80 for displaying an image, and a speaker for outputting sound. 90.

  The navigation body 10 includes a reading control unit 11, a buffer memory 12, a map drawing unit 13, interface units (I / F) 14, 15, 16, 17, a control unit 18, a guidance route storage unit 19, a guidance route drawing unit 20, An operation screen / mark generation unit 21, a facility list drawing unit 22, an image synthesis unit 23, and an audio output unit 24 are included.

  The DVD 31 records various map data necessary for displaying a map image and searching for a guidance route. The DVD drive 30 loaded with the DVD 31 is driven under the control of the control unit 18. The operation unit 40 includes various operation keys such as a search key for giving a route search instruction, a destination input key, and the like, and a signal corresponding to the operation state of these keys by the user is transmitted via the I / F 14 to the control unit 18. Is output toward. The communication device 50 communicates with other devices, and inputs data from the control unit 18 via the I / F 15 to transmit to other devices, or receives data received from other devices, The data is output to the control unit 18 via the I / F 15.

  The GPS receiver 60 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites, performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process, calculates the absolute position and direction of the vehicle, and controls via the I / F 16 To the unit 18. The sensor unit 70 includes an angle sensor 71 such as a vibration gyroscope and a distance sensor 14, detects the relative position and direction of the vehicle, and outputs the detected position to the control unit 18 via the I / F 17.

  The display device 80 displays various images based on the image data output from the navigation body 10. For example, the display device 80 superimposes and displays an image indicating the vehicle position, an image indicating the destination, an image indicating the waypoint, an image indicating the guidance route, and the like on the map image around the vehicle position. Further, the display device 80 detects a position where the user's finger or the like touches on the screen, and outputs it to the control unit 18 as an operation signal. The speaker 90 outputs various sounds based on the sound data output from the navigation main body 10. For example, the speaker 90 outputs a guidance voice such as a traveling direction at an intersection during guidance of the guidance route.

  The reading control unit 11 in the navigation main body 10 calculates the screen center position under the control of the control unit 18, and reads a predetermined range of map data including the screen center position from the DVD 31 loaded in the DVD drive 30. The read map data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 12. The map drawing unit 13 reads the map data stored in the buffer memory 12 under the control of the control unit 18, generates map image data based on the map data, and outputs the map image data to the image composition unit 23.

  When the control unit 18 inputs a signal according to the user's destination setting operation from the operation unit 40, the control unit 18 sets a destination corresponding to the signal. Further, the system control unit 1 acquires information on the vehicle position from the GPS receiver 60 and the sensor unit 70, acquires map data stored in the buffer memory 12, and provides a guidance route from the vehicle position to the destination. Calculate. Guide routes include the route that takes the shortest time to the destination, the route that uses only a general road, the route that has the shortest travel distance to the destination, the route that preferentially uses a wide road, etc. Various things are calculated according to the request.

  In addition, when a signal corresponding to a user's waypoint setting operation is input from the operation unit 40 or the display device 80, the control unit 18 sets a waypoint corresponding to the signal and is stored in the buffer memory 12. The map data is acquired, and calculation is performed to search for a guidance route (designated route guidance route) from the vehicle position to the destination via the transit point.

  The guidance route information obtained as a result of the calculation by the control unit 18 includes location information of destinations and waypoints, location information of bent places such as intersections on the guidance route, and the like. This guidance route information is stored in the guidance route storage unit 19. The guide route drawing unit 20 reads the guide route information stored in the guide route storage unit 19 under the control of the control unit 18, and based on the guide route information, image data indicating the guide route and image data indicating the destination. Then, image data indicating the waypoint is generated and output to the image composition unit 23.

  The operation screen / mark generation unit 21 generates image data indicating a predetermined operation screen and vehicle position under the control of the control unit 18, and outputs the image data to the image composition unit 18. The facility list drawing unit 22 acquires map data from the control unit 18, generates image data such as a facility name, and outputs the image data to the image composition unit 23.

  The image composition unit 23 is controlled by the control unit 18 to display map image data from the map drawing unit 13, image data indicating a guide route from the guide route drawing unit 20, image data indicating a destination, and image data indicating a waypoint. Then, the image data of the operation screen from the operation screen / mark generating unit 21, the image data indicating the vehicle position, and the image data such as the facility name from the facility list drawing unit 22 are appropriately combined to generate combined image data. The composite image data is output to the display device 80, and an image corresponding to the composite image data is displayed on the display device 80.

  The voice output unit 24 causes the speaker 90 to output a guidance voice such as a traveling direction at an intersection during guidance of the guidance route under the control of the control unit 18.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device 100 when a waypoint is set. In the following, it is assumed that the destination is set in advance.

  The control unit 18 in the navigation main body 10 determines whether or not the user has performed a waypoint setting operation (S101). Specifically, when a signal corresponding to the user's waypoint setting operation from the operation unit 40 or the display device 80 is input, the control unit 18 determines that the waypoint setting operation has been performed. When the waypoint setting operation is not performed within a predetermined time from the destination setting, the control unit 18 performs an operation of searching for a guidance route (normal guidance route) from the vehicle position to the destination (S114). Information on the normal guidance route is stored in the guidance route storage unit 19 (S115).

  On the other hand, when the waypoint setting operation is performed within a predetermined time from the destination setting operation, the control unit 18 sets the corresponding waypoint (S102). Next, the control unit 18 performs a calculation for searching for a guidance route (designated location route guidance route) from the vehicle position to the destination via the waypoint (S103).

  Next, the control unit 18 stores information on the guidance route in a storage area of the guidance route storage unit 19 specified by an address indicated by a value set in a built-in address counter (not shown). Remember me. The guide route information includes location information of destinations and waypoints, location information of bent places such as intersections on the guide route, and the like. Further, the control unit 18 instructs the guide route drawing unit 20 to specify the address of the storage area of the guide route storage unit 19 in which the information about the guide route is stored and to draw the guide route. In accordance with this instruction, the guide route drawing unit 20 reads the guide route information stored in the guide route storage unit 19 and, based on the guide route information, outputs image data indicating the guide route and image data indicating the waypoint. Generate and output to the image composition unit 23. The image composition unit 23 synthesizes each image data from the guide drawing unit 20 and each image data from the operation screen / mark generation unit 21 and the facility list drawing unit 22 to correspond to the composite image data in the display device 80. The image to be displayed is displayed (S104). FIG. 3 is an example of a display screen that includes an image of a designated route route. In FIG. 3, an image 201 of the waypoint A and an image 211 of the guidance route passing through the waypoint A are displayed.

  Next, the control unit 18 increments the value of the address counter by 1, and uses the value of the address counter as the address of the storage area of the guidance route storage unit 19 in which the information about the next designated route guidance route is to be stored (S105). ).

  Next, the control unit 18 further determines whether or not the user has performed a waypoint setting operation (S106). When the waypoint setting operation is performed within a predetermined time from the display of the designated place route guidance route in S104, the operation after the waypoint setting (S102) is repeated again.

  In addition, when the waypoint setting operation is not performed within a predetermined time from the display of the designated place route guidance route in S104, the control unit 18 has performed calculation to search for a plurality of designated place route guidance routes so far. Is determined (S107). When the calculation for searching for the designated-route route guidance route is performed only once, the control unit 18 selects the designated-route route guidance route as a guidance route for guidance (S108).

  On the other hand, when the calculation for searching a plurality of designated ground route guidance routes has been performed so far, the control unit 18 collectively displays the images of the plurality of designated ground route guidance routes to the operation screen / mark generation unit 21. Instructs the generation of an image of a batch display button for display. In accordance with this instruction, the operation screen / mark generation unit 21 generates an image of a batch display button and outputs it to the image composition unit 23. The image synthesizing unit 23 synthesizes the image of the collective display button and the image data from the guide drawing unit 20 and the facility list drawing unit 22, and causes the display device 80 to display an image corresponding to the combined image data. (S109).

  FIGS. 4 and 5 are first and second examples of display screens including an image of a designated route via guidance route and a batch display button image. In FIG. 4, a second route B image 202 and a guide route image 212 passing through the route B are displayed, and a batch display button image 221 is displayed. Further, in FIG. 5, an image 203 of the third waypoint C and an image 213 of the guide route passing through the waypoint C are displayed, and an image 221 of a collective display button is displayed.

  Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not a batch display of the designated place route guidance route has been instructed (S110). Specifically, the control unit 18 inputs an operation signal corresponding to the position touched by the user's finger or the like from the display device 80, and when the contact position is the display position of the batch display button, It is determined that the collective display of the designated route route is instructed.

  If the batch display of the designated route is not instructed, the batch display button display (S109) is continued. On the other hand, when the collective display of the designated route passing route is instructed, the control unit 18 instructs the guide route drawing unit 20 to store the route information on all the designated route guided routes 19. The address of the storage area is designated, and an instruction to draw the designated-route route is issued. In accordance with this instruction, the guidance route drawing unit 20 reads out information on all designated ground route guidance routes stored in the guidance route storage unit 19, and based on these designated ground route guidance routes information, designates the designated ground route guidance routes. The image data to be displayed and the image data to indicate the waypoint are generated and output to the image composition unit 23. The image composition unit 23 synthesizes each image data from the guide drawing unit 20 and each image data from the operation screen / mark generation unit 21 and the facility list drawing unit 22 to correspond to the composite image data in the display device 80. Display the image to be displayed. Thereby, all the images of the designated route route are displayed on the display device 80 (S111).

  FIG. 6 is an example of a display screen including images of all designated ground route guidance routes. In FIG. 6, the image 201 of the first waypoint A and the image 211 of the guide route passing through the route point A, the image 202 of the second route point B and the guide route passing through the route point B are shown. An image 212, an image 203 of a third waypoint C, and an image 213 of a guide route that passes through the place C are displayed.

  Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the selection of the designated place route guidance route has been instructed (S112). Specifically, the control unit 18 inputs an operation signal corresponding to a position touched by a user's finger or the like from the display device 80, and the contact position is a display position of any designated ground route guidance route. If there is, it is determined that the selection of the route through the designated place is instructed.

  When selection of the designated route guidance route is instructed, the control unit 18 sets the selected designated route guidance route as a guidance route for guidance (S113). Specifically, the control unit 18 deletes the information on the guide route that has not been selected from the guide route storage unit 19, and stores the information on the selected designated place route guide route in the guide route drawing unit 20. The address of the storage area of the guidance route storage unit 19 thus designated is designated, and an instruction to draw a designated route via guidance route is issued. In accordance with this instruction, the guide route drawing unit 20 reads the information on the selected designated route passing route stored in the guide route storage unit 19 and, based on the information on the designated route guided route, guides the designated route. Image data indicating the route is generated and output to the image composition unit 23. The image composition unit 23 synthesizes each image data from the guide drawing unit 20 and each image data from the operation screen / mark generation unit 21 and the facility list drawing unit 22 to correspond to the composite image data in the display device 80. Display the image to be displayed. As a result, only the image of the selected designated route route is displayed on the display device 80.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen including an image of the selected designated route route guide route. In the display screen shown in FIG. 6, when the user touches the display position of the image 211 of the guide route that passes through the waypoint A with a finger or the like, the image 211 of the guide route that passes this waypoint A as shown in FIG. 7. Is displayed as an image of a guidance route for guidance.

  In this way, the navigation device 100 calculates a guidance route to reach the destination via the waypoint for each of a plurality of waypoints according to a predetermined operation instruction by the user, and for each of the plurality of waypoints. The images corresponding to the guide route information are collectively displayed, and one of the guide route information is selected as the guide route information for guidance according to a predetermined operation instruction by the user. Therefore, the user can easily compare the guide routes and can easily select a desired guide route.

  As described above, the navigation device according to the present invention can facilitate comparison of a plurality of guidance routes and selection of guidance routes for each waypoint, and is useful as a navigation device.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a navigation apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus in case a stopover is set. It is an example of the display screen containing the image of a guidance route. It is a 1st example of the display screen containing the image of a guidance route, and the image of a batch display button. It is the 2nd example of the display screen containing the image of a guidance route, and the image of a batch display button. It is an example of the display screen containing the image of all the guidance paths. It is an example of the display screen containing the image of the selected guidance route.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Navigation main body 11 Reading control part 12 Buffer memory 13 Map drawing part 14, 15, 16, 17 Interface part (I / F)
18 Control unit 19 Guide route storage unit 20 Guide route drawing unit 21 Operation screen / mark generation unit 22 Facility list drawing unit 23 Image composition unit 24 Audio output unit 30 DVD drive 31 DVD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Operation part 50 Communication apparatus 60 GPS receiver 70 Sensor part 71 Angle sensor 72 Distance sensor 80 Display apparatus 90 Speaker 100 Navigation apparatus

Claims (4)

A navigation device for guiding a mounted vehicle by searching for a guidance route to a destination,
A waypoint setting means for setting a plurality of waypoints according to a predetermined operation instruction by the user;
For each waypoint set by the waypoint setting means, a designated place route guidance route computing means for computing a designated place route guidance route to the destination via the waypoint;
Information presenting means for collectively presenting information on designated route passing guidance routes for each of a plurality of waypoints calculated by the designated location route guidance route computing means;
Guidance route selection means for selecting one of the information on the designated route-by-route guidance route for each of the plurality of route points as guidance route information according to a predetermined operation instruction by the user. A featured navigation device. Storage means for storing information on designated route route guidance routes for each of a plurality of route points calculated by the designated location route guidance route calculation unit;
The information presenting means collectively presents information on designated route passing guidance routes for each of a plurality of waypoints stored in the storage means,
The guide route selection means for selecting selects any one of the information on the designated route via route stored for each of a plurality of route points stored in the storage unit as information on the guide route for guidance. Item 4. The navigation device according to Item 1. The information presenting means includes an image showing a plurality of waypoints and an image showing a plurality of designated place route guidance routes based on the information of the designated place route guidance routes for each of the plurality of waypoints stored in the storage means. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation apparatus collectively displays the map image on the map image. The guidance route selection means for guidance uses a designated route corresponding to an image showing a designated route guidance route indicated by the user among images indicating a plurality of designated route guidance routes displayed by the information presentation unit. 4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information on the guide route is selected as guide route information for guidance.

Images