JP2011090618A - Information retrieval device and navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve desired information quickly and precisely, and to set a destination quickly and precisely by retrieval of the destination. <P>SOLUTION: An information retrieval device 1 includes: a selection candidate retrieval unit 24 for forming a character string corresponding to a signal output from an input device 11, retrieving a map data memory device 14 based on the character string, and extracting a selection candidate from a retrieval result; and a display control unit 25 for controlling display of the selection candidate extracted by the selection candidate retrieval unit 24. When retrieving the map data memory device 14 based on the character string, the selection candidate retrieval unit 24, first of all, performs retrieval relative to morphemic or word data stored in the map data memory device 14, and then performs retrieval relative to data of each name stored in the map data memory device 14, when the number of data acquired by the retrieval is below a prescribed number. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information search device and a navigation device.

  Conventionally, for example, when setting a destination according to an operator's input in a vehicle navigation device or the like, any one of a plurality of preset search genres (for example, address, facility name, etc.) is selected. Selection candidates starting with the operator's input character string in the search genre selected by the operator (for example, facility names starting with the input character string in the facility name search genre) There is known an information retrieval apparatus that retrieves from the database and displays the selection candidates obtained by the search in a selectable manner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-148559 A

By the way, in the information search apparatus according to the above-described prior art, if menu items are hierarchized for each of a plurality of search genres, there is a possibility that it may take a complicated time to determine a destination. For example, if a menu item is set for each of a plurality of hierarchical divisions (for example, prefectures, cities, towns, streets, etc.) in an address search genre, there is a problem that selecting these menu items is troublesome. .
Further, when only the complete names of the selection candidates are stored in the selection candidate database, only the complete name selection candidates are displayed according to the input character string of the operator. For this reason, for example, even if a large number of selection candidates are searched for the input character string of the operator, the number of selection candidates that can be displayed at a time on the display screen of a predetermined size depends on the length of the names of the selection candidates. There is a risk that it will be restricted and complicated work such as scrolling the screen multiple times will be required before the selection candidate is confirmed. For example, in the facility name search genre, there are a large number of facility names including a specific first character string, and the length of each facility name may be long. The number of facility names that can be displayed at once on the display screen As a result, the problem that it takes a lot of trouble and excessive time until a desired facility name is selected arises.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An information search apparatus capable of quickly and accurately searching for desired information, and setting a destination by searching for a destination by the information search apparatus can be performed quickly and accurately. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that can be performed in a simple manner.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, an information search device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes name data, which is name data composed of morphemes or words, and at least the morphemes or the words. Storage means for storing morpheme word data that is data (for example, the map data storage device 14 in the embodiment) and input means for outputting a signal corresponding to the input operation by the operator (for example, in the embodiment) A search unit that forms a character string according to the signal output from the input unit 11) and the input unit, searches the storage unit based on the character string, and extracts selection candidates from the search result (for example, The selection candidate search unit 24) in the embodiment and the control unit (for example, the display control unit 25 in the embodiment) that controls the display of the selection candidate extracted by the search unit. When the search means searches the storage means based on the character string, the search means first searches the morpheme word data stored in the storage means, and obtains the data obtained by the search. If the number is less than the predetermined number, next, the name data stored in the storage means is searched.

  Furthermore, in the information search device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the name is a name of a facility.

  Furthermore, in the information search device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the search means includes at least one of the name, the morpheme and the word starting from the character string, or after the character string. When at least one of the name, the morpheme, and the word that follows is extracted and the name is extracted as the selection candidate from the search result, all the character strings constituting the name, or Only a part of all the character strings constituting the name is extracted as the selection candidate.

  A navigation device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a destination based on the information search device according to any one of the first to third aspects and the selection candidate extracted by the search means. Destination setting means for setting (for example, the destination setting unit 22 in the embodiment).

According to the information search device of the first aspect of the present invention, a name is displayed as a selection candidate by preferentially searching for morpheme word data composed of a smaller number of characters than the name data and setting it as a selection candidate. More selection candidates can be displayed for each display on one screen as compared to the case of doing so. As a result, the operator can select a desired selection candidate quickly and accurately.
Further, if the number of morpheme word data obtained by the search is less than a predetermined number, the name data is searched and the search result is added to the morpheme word data obtained by the previous search and selected. By setting the candidates, the operator can select a desired selection candidate more quickly.

  Furthermore, according to the information search device according to the second aspect of the present invention, as name data, in particular, for the name data of a facility that is composed of various morphemes or words and whose formal name is long, The operator can promptly and accurately select a desired selection candidate.

  Furthermore, according to the information search device according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent troublesome time and labor for character input by the operator and improve convenience.

  Further, according to the navigation device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operator can set a desired destination quickly and accurately.

It is a lineblock diagram of a navigation device provided with an information search device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the map data storage device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of each data stored in the map data storage device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of the monitor of a navigation apparatus provided with the information search device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an output of the selection candidate of a navigation apparatus provided with the information search device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a navigation apparatus provided with the information search device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information search device and a navigation device including the information search device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The information search device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided in a navigation device 10 mounted on a vehicle, for example. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 10 is controlled by an input device 11, a positioning signal receiver 12, a vehicle state sensor 13, a map data storage device 14, a processing device 15, and a processing device 15. The speaker 17 and the monitor 18 are configured.

The processing device 15 includes, for example, a current position calculation unit 21, a destination setting unit 22, a navigation processing unit 23, a selection candidate search unit 24, and a display control unit 25.
The information search device 1 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an input device 11, a selection candidate search unit 24 and a display control unit 25 of the processing device 15, a map data storage device 14, and a monitor 18. Has been.

  The input device 11 is capable of various operations such as a rotation operation, a slide operation, and a pressing operation by an operator, and includes an operation member (not shown) that outputs a signal corresponding to each operation to the processing device 15. Characters can be input on the screen of the monitor 18 in accordance with the input operation of the operator.

  The positioning signal receiver 12 receives a positioning signal such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal for measuring the position of the positioning signal receiver 12 using an artificial satellite, for example.

  The vehicle state sensor 13 detects, for example, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle, a gyro sensor that detects the posture and traveling direction of the vehicle body, and a yaw rate (rotational angular velocity about the vertical axis of the center of gravity of the vehicle). It includes a yaw rate sensor and the like, and outputs signals of detection results of various types of vehicle information (that is, vehicle speed, posture, yaw rate, etc.) to the processing device 15.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the map data storage device 14 includes a map data storage unit 14a, a road data storage unit 14b, a region name data storage unit 31a, a region name morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, and genre name data. The storage unit 32a and the genre name morpheme / word data storage unit 32b, and the POI name data storage unit 33a and the POI name morpheme / word data storage unit 33b are configured.

The map data storage unit 14 a stores map data for displaying a map image on the screen of the monitor 18.
The map data includes, for example, topographic map data, polygon data corresponding to various facilities and city blocks, lakes, and the like, character data such as facility names and place names associated with each polygon, and various symbols, for example. And a predetermined instruction image (for example, a mouse pointer) that can be moved on a map image on the screen of the monitor 18 in accordance with an input operation of the operator to the input device 11 and the like.

The road data storage unit 14b stores road data including information such as road connection state and shape.
The road data includes, for example, nodes (that is, coordinate points for grasping the road shape), links that are lines connecting the nodes, distances of the links, road types, widths, intersection angles, and shapes. It is configured with.

As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, the area name data storage unit 31a stores area name data including an address, an area name, and an abbreviation.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the regional name morpheme / word data storage unit 31b is configured to divide the address and regional name and abbreviation stored in the regional name data storage unit 31a into morphemes or words. -Word data is classified and stored, for example, for each head character and each region.
A morpheme is a kind of word and is the smallest phoneme that has meaning.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, the genre name data storage unit 32a stores genre name data including names and abbreviations such as a destination genre (search genre) and a chain store.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3D, the genre name morpheme / word data storage unit 32b converts the name and abbreviation of the destination genre and chain store stored in the genre name data storage unit 32a into morphemes or words. The divided genre name morphemes and word data are classified and stored, for example, for each head character.

The POI name data storage unit 33a stores POI name data including POI (Point Of Interest) names, abbreviations and class names, and facility locations and telephone numbers associated with the names, abbreviations and class names. I remember it.
The POI name morpheme / word data storage unit 33b is an appropriate information providing system such as the POI name and abbreviation and class name or a predetermined name (for example, the Internet World Wide Web) stored in the POI name data storage unit 33a. Data obtained by dividing a name frequently input by an unspecified number of operators) into morphemes or words, and data of morphemes with general names that may be used as POI names, abbreviations, and class names POI name morpheme / word data consisting of, for example, is classified and stored for each head character and in a predetermined order. The predetermined order is, for example, the order of use frequency obtained by statistical surveys by a plurality of survey targets, the order according to the degree of popularity or popularity, the order of input frequency updated sequentially by the input history by the operator, or the formal order. For example, a rank corresponding to the abbreviation for the name and the matching degree of the class name, or a composite rank calculated by any combination of these ranks.

  The POI name data stored in the POI name data storage unit 33a is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (F), a POI name consisting of the POI name, abbreviation and similar name associated with each polygon of the map data ( Navigation) data.

The POI name morpheme / word data stored in the POI name morpheme / word data storage unit 33b includes, for example, POI general name morpheme data, POI name (navigation) morpheme / word data, and POI name (in order of input frequency). It consists of morpheme and word data.
The general name morpheme data for POI is classified into morphemes of general names that may be used as POI names, abbreviations, and class names, for example, as shown in FIG. 3E. Has been formed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3G, the POI name (navigation) morpheme / word data includes the POI name, abbreviation and similar name stored in the POI name data storage unit 33a divided into morphemes or words. The morphemes or words obtained by the above are ranked in the order of the input frequency that is sequentially updated according to the input history by the operator.
POI name (in order of input frequency) The morpheme / word data is a POI name that is frequently input by an unspecified number of operators in an appropriate information providing system such as the Internet World Wide Web as shown in FIG. POI name (input frequency order) data obtained by ranking in the order of input frequency is divided into morphemes or words as shown in FIG. 3 (I), for example, and the morphemes or words obtained by the division are in the order of input frequencies. They are ranked and formed, for example, classified by the first character.

  The POI name morpheme / word data storage unit 33b is set so that stored data does not overlap.

  For example, the processing device 15 performs map matching processing on the road data acquired from the map data storage device 14 based on the current position of the vehicle, and performs route search and route guidance for the destination set by the operator. Processing is performed, and the operations of the speaker 17 and the monitor 18 are further controlled.

  The current position calculation unit 21 calculates the current position of the vehicle based on the positioning signal received by the positioning signal receiver 12 or the calculation processing of the autonomous navigation based on the detection signal such as the vehicle speed and the yaw rate detected by the vehicle state sensor 13. Is calculated.

  The destination setting unit 22 sets a destination based on, for example, an operator's input operation on the input device 11 and a selection candidate output from the selection candidate search unit 24 described later.

  The navigation processing unit 23 is based on the current position of the vehicle output from the current position calculation unit 21, the destination output from the destination setting unit 22, and the map data and road data acquired from the map data storage device 14. For example, in accordance with an input operation of the operator to the input device 11, for example, map matching processing, route search, route guidance, and the like are performed. And the result of various processes is output.

  The selection candidate search unit 24 searches for selection candidates from the map data storage device 14 in accordance with the operator's input operation to the input device 11, extracts selection candidates to be presented to the operator based on the search results, and the extraction results Is output. Details of the operation of the selection candidate search unit 24 will be described later.

  The display control unit 25 controls various displays on the screen of the monitor 18, for example, the current position of the vehicle on the map data and road data according to the results of various processes output from the navigation processing unit 23. It controls the display of the destination, route, facility location, etc., the display of the character input according to the signal output from the input device 11, the display of the selection candidate output from the selection candidate search unit 24, and the like.

Then, the selection candidate search operation by the selection candidate search unit 24 is executed as part of the destination search operation by the navigation processing unit 23, for example.
The navigation processing unit 23 instructs to display predetermined menu items for setting a destination and a route on the screen of the monitor 18 as in a screen display A shown in FIG. 4A, for example. When the destination search menu item is selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11, the destination search operation is started.

  When the destination search operation is started by the navigation processing unit 23, the display control unit 25 performs an input operation of the operator on the input device 11 as shown in a screen display B shown in FIG. 4B, for example. A character string composed of selectable characters and characters sequentially selected by the operator (for example, in FIG. 4B, a character string based on a single character “yo” that is all characters selected up to this point). Is displayed on the screen of the monitor 18. Further, together with these, selection candidates searched and extracted by the selection candidate search unit 24 in accordance with the input character string input by the operator (for example, selection candidates “Yoichi River”, “Yorou” in FIG. 4B) Camera ”,.

  When any one of a plurality of selection candidates displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 is selected by an input operation of the operator with respect to the input device 11, the display control unit 25 displays, for example, the screen illustrated in FIG. As shown in the display C, the characters 18 that can be selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11 and the selection candidate selected by the operator (for example, the selection candidate “Yokohama” in FIG. 4C) are monitored 18. On the screen. Further, together with these, the selection candidates searched and extracted by the selection candidate search unit 24 in accordance with the selection candidates selected by the operator (for example, the selection candidates following the selection candidate selected by the operator, 4 (C), the selection candidates “city”, “town”,...) Are displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable by the operator's input operation on the input device 11.

  The selection candidate search unit 24 selects each one of a plurality of characters displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable by an operator's input operation on the input device 11 and the monitor. Each time a selection candidate is selected from among a plurality of selection candidates displayed so as to be selectable on the 18 screens by an input operation of the operator with respect to the input device 11, a series of steps sequentially executed up to each time point A character string (input character string) is formed in accordance with selection (that is, selection of characters and selection of selection candidates). And according to this input character string (that is, a character string in which all characters selected up to this point and all selection candidates are sequentially combined in the order of selection), for example, a selection candidate having the input character string at the head, or, for example, The map data storage device 14 is searched for selection candidates and the like following the input character string in response to an instruction to confirm the input character string by the operator. And the selection candidate shown to an operator is extracted from this search result. When extracting each selection candidate based on the search result, all character strings constituting the selection candidate (that is, the selection candidate itself obtained by the search) may be extracted, or the selection candidate obtained by the search Only a part (for example, a part obtained by excluding the input character string determined by the operator from the selection candidate obtained by the search) may be newly extracted as a selection candidate.

When searching for a selection candidate according to the input character string, the selection candidate search unit 24 first searches for a selection candidate from each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b. The number of morpheme and word data (number of morpheme / word data) obtained by the search as the search result is displayed at a predetermined number (for example, the size of the display area on the monitor 18 screen or the monitor 18 screen at a time). It is determined whether it is less than a predetermined number according to the total number of possible selection candidates.
If the number of morpheme / word data is greater than or equal to a predetermined number in the determination result, only each morpheme / word data obtained by the search is output as a selection candidate.
On the other hand, if the number of morpheme / word data is less than the predetermined number in this determination result, selection candidates are searched from the data storage units 31a, 32a, and 33a. Then, the name data obtained by the search as the search result is output as a selection candidate together with the morpheme / word data obtained by the search in each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b.

  In addition, when displaying the selection candidate output from the selection candidate search part 24 on the screen of the monitor 18, the display control part 25 is based on predetermined order | ranks, such as a composite order | rank calculated by an input frequency order etc. to a selection candidate. When the ranking is set, the display may be performed in the display order corresponding to the ranking.

In addition, the display control unit 25 selects a plurality of types (that is, at least two or more types among the three types based on the region name, the genre name, and the POI name) as the selection candidates output from the selection candidate search unit 24. When there are candidates, a plurality of types of selection candidates may be mixed for each display on one screen of the monitor 18. In addition, when duplication occurs in the mixed selection candidates of a plurality of types, the duplication is eliminated, and for example, the selection candidates that overlap in any type are excluded and displayed.
In addition, when a plurality of types of selection candidates are mixed, the number of selection candidates for each type may be the same, for example, or a predetermined frequency such as a composite frequency calculated from each type of input history or the like. The number may be allocated according to the frequency.
Further, the display order of a plurality of mixed types may be designated according to a predetermined frequency such as a composite frequency calculated from various types of input histories.

  The display control unit 25 selects each time one of the selection candidates displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable is selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. The input frequency of data corresponding to the selected candidate (that is, each name data and each morpheme / word data stored in the map data storage device 14), each name data corresponding to the selected selection candidate, and each morpheme / The input history including the input frequency of the word data type is updated.

  In addition, the selection candidate search unit 24 repeats an operation in which any one of a plurality of characters displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable is sequentially selected by an operator's input operation on the input device 11. Thus, when an appropriate character string (input character string) is formed by all the characters selected up to this point, whether or not error correction of this input character string is necessary, and an abbreviation or It may be determined whether or not a synonym exists. When at least one of these determination results is “YES”, the input character string actually input is obtained by correcting the input character string actually input by a predetermined correction process, for example. Add a corrected character string and, for example, a predicted character string obtained by predicting the input character string actually input by a predetermined prediction process, and set all of these character strings as new input character strings. May be.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the navigation processing unit 23 starts a destination search operation. First, an appropriate character (for example, FIG. 5 (A)) is input by the operator's input operation to the input device 11. When the character “to” is selected, the selection candidate search unit 24 searches the morpheme / word data storage units 31b, 32b, and 33b of the map data storage device 14 for selection candidates starting with this character. As a result of the search, if the number of searched morphemes / word data is a predetermined number or more and there are multiple types of morpheme / word data, the selection candidate search unit 24 selects each morpheme for each of the multiple types. -From the word data, select a number of selection candidates according to a predetermined distribution (for example, the same number for each of multiple types) in an order according to a predetermined order such as a composite order calculated based on an input frequency order, etc. Are extracted so that the total number is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number. Then, a plurality of types of selection candidates are mixed and output. Accordingly, for example, as the selection candidates beginning with the characters “to”, the same number of two selection candidates for each of the three types of the region name, genre name, and POI name (for example, the region name data “ “Tokyo”, “Tochigi” and genre name data “library”, “tonkatsu” and POI name data “Tosashi”, “Toka”) can be selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. Displayed on the screen.

  Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, any one of the plurality of characters displayed in a selectable manner on the screen of the monitor 18 is sequentially selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. When the operation is repeated to form an appropriate character string (for example, the character string “TOKYO Yue” in FIG. 5B) by all the characters selected up to this point, the selection candidate search unit 24 First, selection candidates starting from this character string are searched from the morpheme / word data storage units 31b, 32b, and 33b of the map data storage device 14. If the number of morpheme / word data retrieved as a retrieval result is less than a predetermined number (for example, zero), the selection candidate retrieval unit 24 retrieves a selection candidate from each data storage unit 31a, 32a, 33a. Then, the sum of the total number of name data obtained by the search as the search result and the number of morpheme / word data obtained by the search in each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number. If so, all the data obtained by each search (for example, POI name data “Tokyo Amusement Park”, “Tokyo Amusement Park Resort” in FIG. 5B) are extracted as selection candidates. The extracted selection candidates are output, for example, while designating the display order of each selection candidate on the screen of the monitor 18 according to a predetermined order such as a composite order calculated by the order of the input frequency.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5C, any one of the plurality of characters displayed in a selectable manner on the screen of the monitor 18 is sequentially selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. When an appropriate character string (for example, the character string “Pengi” in FIG. 5C) is formed by all the characters selected up to this point by repeating the operation, the selection candidate search unit 24 First, selection candidates starting from this character string are searched from the morpheme / word data storage units 31b, 32b, and 33b of the map data storage device. If the number of morpheme / word data retrieved as a retrieval result is less than a predetermined number (for example, 1), the selection candidate retrieval unit 24 retrieves a selection candidate from each of the data storage units 31a, 32a, and 33a. Then, the sum of the total number of name data obtained by the search as the search result and the number of morpheme / word data obtained by the search in each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number. If so, all the data obtained by each search (for example, POI name data “Penguin Amusement Park” and “Penguin Zoo” in FIG. 5C) are extracted as selection candidates. The extracted selection candidates are output, for example, while designating the display order of each selection candidate on the screen of the monitor 18 according to a predetermined order such as a composite order calculated by the order of the input frequency.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5D, the navigation processing unit 23 starts a destination search operation. First, an appropriate character (for example, FIG. 5D) is input by the operator's input operation to the input device 11. When the character “B”) is selected, the selection candidate search unit 24 searches the morpheme / word data storage units 31b, 32b, and 33b of the map data storage device 14 for selection candidates starting with this character. . As a result of the search, if the number of searched morphemes / word data is a predetermined number or more and there are multiple types of morpheme / word data, the selection candidate search unit 24 selects each morpheme for each of the multiple types.・ From word data, extract a number of selection candidates according to a predetermined distribution in a predetermined order such as a composite order calculated by the order of input frequency, etc., so that the total number of selection candidates is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number To do. Then, a plurality of types of selection candidates are mixed and output. As a result, for example, as a selection candidate beginning with the letter “B”, selection candidates of two types by genre name and POI name (for example, POI name data “Best”, “Bed” in FIG. 5D) Genre name data “Bank”) is displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable by the operator's input operation on the input device 11.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5E, any one of the plurality of characters displayed in a selectable manner on the screen of the monitor 18 is sequentially selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. When the operation is repeated to form an appropriate character string (for example, the character string “BEST S” in FIG. 5E) by all the characters selected up to this point, the selection candidate search unit 24 First, selection candidates starting from this character string are searched from the morpheme / word data storage units 31b, 32b, and 33b of the map data storage device. If the number of morpheme / word data retrieved as a retrieval result is less than a predetermined number (for example, zero), the selection candidate retrieval unit 24 retrieves a selection candidate from each data storage unit 31a, 32a, 33a. Then, the sum of the total number of name data obtained by the search as the search result and the number of morpheme / word data obtained by the search in each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number. If so, all the data obtained by each search (for example, POI name data “Best Shop” by a combination of a plurality of words in FIG. 5E) are extracted as selection candidates. The extracted selection candidates are output, for example, while designating the display order of each selection candidate on the screen of the monitor 18 according to a predetermined order such as a composite order calculated by the order of the input frequency.

The information search device 1 and the navigation device 10 including the information search device 1 according to this embodiment have the above-described configuration. Next, the operation of the navigation device 10, particularly the operation of outputting the selection candidates of the information search device 1. Will be described.
Note that, in the processing of steps S01 to S09 shown below, for example, any one of a plurality of characters displayed in a selectable manner on the screen of the monitor 18 is sequentially selected by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. And every time a selection candidate is selected from among a plurality of selection candidates displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable by the operator's input operation on the input device 11. .

First, for example, in step S01 shown in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not error correction of an input character string formed by a series of selections (character selection and selection candidate selection) executed up to this point is necessary. At the same time, it is determined whether an abbreviation or a synonym exists in the input character string.
When these determination results are “NO”, the process proceeds to Step S03 described below.
On the other hand, if at least one of these determination results is “YES”, the process proceeds to step S02.

  In step S02, the input character string actually input is corrected to a corrected character string obtained by, for example, correcting the input character string actually input by a predetermined correction process, and the input character actually input, for example. A predicted character string obtained by predicting from a column by a predetermined prediction process is added, and all of these character strings are newly set as input character strings.

  In step S03, selection candidates from the area name morpheme / word data storage unit 31b are selected from the area name morpheme / word data storage unit 31b. The area name morpheme / word data obtained by this search is ranked and stored in the order of the distance from the current position, for example.

  In step S04, a selection candidate starting from the input character string (or following the input character string in response to an instruction to confirm the input character string by the operator) is selected from the genre name morpheme / word data storage unit 32b. Search and hold the genre name morpheme and word data obtained by this search.

  In step S05, selection candidates from the POI name morpheme / word data storage unit 33b are selected from the POI name morpheme / word data storage unit 33b. Search and hold POI name morpheme / word data obtained by this search.

In step S06, it is determined whether or not the total number of morpheme / word data (the number of morpheme / word data) obtained by the search for each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b is less than a predetermined number. To do.
If this determination is “NO”, the flow proceeds to step S 07, and in this step S 07, only each morpheme / word data obtained by the search is output as a selection candidate, and the flow proceeds to the end.
On the other hand, if the determination is “YES”, the flow proceeds to step S08.

Then, in step S08, selection candidates having the input character string at the head (or following the input character string in accordance with an instruction to confirm the input character string by the operator) are selected as the area name data storage unit 31a and the genre name data. Search is performed from the storage unit 32a and the POI name data storage unit 33a.
In step S09, each morpheme / word data obtained by the search for each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b and each name data obtained by the search for each data storage unit 31a, 32a, 33a. Are output as selection candidates and proceed to the end.

As described above, according to the information search apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, selection is performed by preferentially searching each morpheme / word data composed of a smaller number of characters than each name data and setting it as a selection candidate. More selection candidates can be displayed for each display on one screen than when displaying each name data as candidates. As a result, the operator can select a desired selection candidate quickly and accurately.
Further, when the number of each morpheme / word data obtained by the search is less than a predetermined number, each name data is searched, and this search result is obtained as each morpheme / word data obtained by the previous search. In addition to setting the selection candidates, the operator can select a desired selection candidate more quickly.
In particular, since POI name data is composed of various morphemes or words and there is a possibility that the formal name may become long, by searching each morpheme / word data preferentially, more desired selection candidates can be obtained. It is possible to make the operator select more quickly and accurately.

  Further, every time any one of the plurality of characters displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 is selectably displayed, and among the plurality of selection candidates displayed on the screen of the monitor 18 so as to be selectable. Each time one of the selection candidates is selected, a search based on an input character string formed in accordance with a series of selections sequentially executed up to each time point is performed, so that a desired selection candidate is selected. In the meantime, it is possible to prevent troublesome labor for the input operation by the operator and improve convenience.

  In addition, according to the navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment, a desired destination can be quickly and accurately set by the operator.

  In the embodiment described above, in step S09, each morpheme / word data obtained by searching each morpheme / word data storage unit 31b, 32b, 33b and each data storage unit 31a, 32a, 33a are searched. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the name data obtained by searching the data storage units 31a, 32a, and 33a may be output.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information retrieval apparatus 10 Navigation apparatus 11 Input apparatus (input means)
14 Map data storage device (storage means)
22 Destination setting part (Destination setting means)
24 Selection candidate search part (search means)
25 Display control unit (control means)

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing name data that is name data composed of morphemes or words, and at least morpheme word data that is data of the morphemes or the words;
Input means for outputting a signal corresponding to an input operation by an operator;
A search unit that forms a character string according to the signal output from the input unit, searches the storage unit based on the character string, and extracts selection candidates from the search result;
Control means for controlling the display of the selection candidates extracted by the search means,
When searching the storage means based on the character string, the search means first searches the morpheme word data stored in the storage means, and the number of data obtained by the search is If the number is less than the predetermined number, next, the name data stored in the storage means is searched. The information search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the name is a name of a facility. The search means includes at least one of the name, the morpheme, and the word starting with the character string, or at least one of the name, the morpheme, and the word that follows the character string. Search for
When extracting the name as the selection candidate from the search result, all the character strings constituting the name or only a part of all the character strings constituting the name are selected as the selection candidates. The information search apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information search apparatus extracts the information. An information search device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A navigation apparatus comprising: destination setting means for setting a destination based on the selection candidates extracted by the search means.

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