JP2012154754A - Navigation apparatus, navigation method and navigation program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus, a navigation method and a navigation program that can perform route guidance to an indefinite place such as a merging point to a road and a crossing point of a boundary object.SOLUTION: According to a navigation apparatus, a navigation method and a navigation program, first, a road R that a user wishes to merge or a boundary object B that the user wishes to cross is selected. Then, after searching candidates of merging points to the road R or crossing points of the boundary object B, a destination point is selected from the candidates based on a first line input or a second line input. By this, the route guidance to an indefinite place such as the merging point to the road R and the crossing point of the boundary object B, which are not specific points, can be performed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus, a navigation method, and a navigation program that perform route guidance to a destination input by a user.

  The navigation device is mainly mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and grasps the vehicle position using GPS (Global Positioning System) and provides route guidance to the destination input by the user. is there. These navigation devices provide more accurate and easier-to-understand route guidance to users by improving vehicle position detection accuracy in recent years, enhancing route search functions that respond to user requests, improving route guidance display, etc. Is possible.

  When making a general navigation apparatus perform route guidance, first, a user inputs destination information such as an address, a name, and a telephone number via an input unit of the navigation apparatus. The navigation device receives the input destination information and searches for and specifies a destination point on the map data corresponding to the destination information. Next, a guide route from the current position to the destination point is calculated, and route guidance is performed along the guide route.

  However, the user often drives the vehicle without having a specific destination or drives to the destination while viewing the map display without performing route guidance. In this case, it is not a specific point such as “I want to go beyond the track”, “I want to cross the river”, “I want to go to this road on the map”, etc. There is often a need for route guidance to vague points. Here, the following [Patent Document 1] discloses an invention in which, when a predetermined line is input on a map display during route guidance, the locus of the line input is set as a passing route.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-200978

  However, the invention disclosed in [Patent Document 1] designates a passage route to a destination point by line input, and a junction point to a road or a crossing point for crossing a boundary such as a river or a railway It does not provide route guidance to vague points.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a navigation device, a navigation method, and a navigation program capable of performing route guidance to a vague point such as a junction point on a road or a crossing point of a boundary object. The purpose is to do.

The present invention
(1) A display unit 36 that displays a map based on the map data 30, an input unit 34 that can perform an input operation by touching the map display, and a second that traces a road on the map display against the input unit 34. The shape recognition unit 38 that identifies the road R selected by the first line input from the map data 30 when the first line input is performed, and the search for a candidate for a junction point to the road R A place search unit 40, a vector recognition unit 42 for recognizing the direction of the first line input, and a destination setting unit for setting a destination point from among the candidates for the joining point based on the direction of the first line input The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a navigation device 50 characterized by having 44.
(2) A display unit 36 that displays a map based on the map data 30, an input unit 34 that can perform an input operation by touching the map display, and traces the boundary on the map display with respect to the input unit 34. When the first line input is performed, the shape recognition unit 38 that identifies the boundary object B selected by the first line input from the map data 30 and the candidate for the crossing point for the boundary B are searched. The destination search unit 40, the vector recognition unit 42 for recognizing the direction of the second line input performed on the input unit 34 and indicating the transverse direction of the boundary B, and the direction of the second line input And a destination setting unit 44 for setting a destination point from among the candidates for the crossing point based on the above, the above problem is solved.
(3) When the step of displaying a map based on the map data 30 and the first line input tracing the road on the map display, the road R selected by the first line input is The step of identifying from the map data 30; the step of searching for candidates for a junction point to the road R; the step of recognizing the direction of the first line input; and the direction of the first line input. The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a navigation method characterized by comprising a step of setting a destination point from among candidate junction points.
(4) The step of performing map display based on the map data 30 and the boundary B selected by the first line input when the first line input tracing the boundary on the map display is performed. Identifying from the map data 30; searching for candidate crossing points for the boundary B; recognizing a direction of a second line input indicating a crossing direction of the boundary B; The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a navigation method comprising: setting a destination point from among the candidates for the crossing point based on the direction of line input of 2.
(5) When the procedure for performing map display based on the map data 30 and the first line input for tracing the road on the map display, the road R selected by the first line input is Based on the procedure of identifying from the map data 30, the procedure of searching for candidates for the junction point to the road R, the procedure of recognizing the direction of the first line input, and the direction of the first line input The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a navigation program characterized by causing a computer to execute a procedure for setting a destination point from among candidate junction points.
(6) When the procedure for displaying a map based on the map data 30 and the first line input for tracing the boundary on the map display are performed, the boundary B selected by the first line input , A procedure for identifying a candidate for a crossing point for the boundary B, a procedure for recognizing the direction of the second line input indicating the crossing direction of the boundary B, The above problem is solved by providing a navigation program that causes a computer to execute a procedure for setting a destination point from among the candidates for crossing points based on the direction of line input of No. 2.

  According to the navigation device, the navigation method, and the navigation program according to the present invention, when a road or a boundary is selected by line input, first, a candidate for a junction for the selected road or a crossing point for the selected boundary is selected. Search for. Then, based on the line input direction, the destination point is set from among the candidates for the merge point or the crossing point. Therefore, it is possible to respond to a route guidance request to a vague point such as a junction point on a road or a crossing point of a boundary object.

1 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the navigation method and navigation program which concern on this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the navigation method and navigation program which concern on this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the navigation method and navigation program which concern on this invention.

  A navigation device, a navigation method, and a navigation program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A navigation device 50 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 displays a recording unit 32 in which map data 30 is recorded, a map generation unit 14 that generates map image data based on the map data 30, and map image data. Thus, a display unit 36 that displays a map based on the map data 30, an input unit 34 that is provided on the display screen of the display unit 36 and can be operated by touching the map display, and radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites GPS unit 10 that receives position information of a vehicle or the like on which navigation device 50 is mounted, travel information acquisition unit 12 that acquires vehicle travel information, and position information and travel information acquisition unit from GPS unit 10 The vehicle position calculation unit 16 that calculates the position of the vehicle from the travel information from the map 12 and the map data 30, and the route calculation unit 22 that calculates the guide route to the set destination point , And a voice output unit 26 for performing voice guidance such as route guidance and operation guide, a control unit 18 for controlling each unit of the navigation device 50, the. Further, as a characteristic configuration of the navigation device 50 according to the present invention, when a first line input is performed on the input unit 34, the road or boundary selected by the first line input is displayed. A shape recognizing unit 38 specified from the map data 30, a destination searching unit 40 for searching for a candidate for a junction point to the road specified by the shape recognizing unit 38 or a candidate for a crossing point with respect to the boundary, A vector recognizing unit 42 for recognizing the direction of the first line input or the second line input, and a destination point from among candidates for a crossing point or a junction point based on the direction of the line input recognized by the vector recognizing unit 42 And a destination setting unit 44 for setting.

  As the recording unit 32, a known recording device using an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory, or the like can be used. As the display unit 36, a known display device using a color liquid crystal, an organic EL display, or the like can be used. In addition, the input unit 34 includes a plurality of transparent electrodes provided in a matrix on the display screen of the display unit 36, and a touch panel, for example, that allows a line input of the locus by tracing the map display of the display unit 36 is provided. Used.

  First, the outline of the basic operation of the navigation device 50 will be described. When the navigation device 50 is activated, the GPS unit 10 receives radio waves from a plurality of (usually three or four) GPS satellites and acquires the position and distance of each GPS satellite. Then, the current position of the vehicle or the like on which the navigation device 50 is mounted is specified from the positions and distances of the plurality of GPS satellites, and this is output to the control unit 18 as position information of the own vehicle. The control unit 18 outputs this position information to the vehicle position calculation unit 16. The own vehicle position calculation unit 16 performs a map matching process from the position information and the map data 30 stored in the recording unit 32 and specifies the own vehicle position on the map data 30. When the vehicle position on the map data 30 is specified, the map generation unit 14 creates map screen data in which the vehicle icon is drawn at the vehicle position. And the display part 36 displays the created map screen data, and performs the map display by which the own vehicle icon was drawn.

  Next, when the vehicle travels, the travel information acquisition unit 12 acquires information related to a change in the vehicle direction due to a curve or a left / right turn, the speed of the vehicle, and a travel distance. And these are output to the control part 18 as driving | running | working information. In parallel with this, the GPS unit 10 outputs position information to the control unit 18 as needed. Note that a known angular velocity sensor such as a gyro sensor is used to acquire information relating to a change in the direction of the vehicle. In addition, a known vehicle speed sensor or the like is used for acquiring information related to the vehicle speed and travel distance.

  The control unit 18 outputs the position information from the GPS unit 10 and the travel information from the travel information acquisition unit 12 to the own vehicle position calculation unit 16. The own vehicle position calculation unit 16 performs map matching processing from the position information from the control unit 18, the travel information, and the map data 30 as needed to specify the own vehicle position on the map data 30. The map generation unit 14 creates map screen data according to the vehicle position on the map data 30 acquired by the vehicle position calculation unit 16. Thereby, the map display of the display part 36 changes so that the progress of the own vehicle may be followed. These processes are continuously performed while the navigation device 50 is in operation.

  When causing the navigation device 50 to perform normal route guidance to the destination, the user inputs destination information via the input unit 34. The destination information here is the address, name, telephone number, etc. of the point where the user wants route guidance. When the destination information is input, the destination search unit 40 performs a normal destination search operation and extracts destination point candidates. If there is one destination candidate extracted by the destination search unit 40, the destination setting unit 44 sets this as the destination. When there are a plurality of destination point candidates, for example, the user is presented with a destination point candidate and selected, and the selected destination point candidate is set as the destination point. When the destination point is set, the route calculation unit 22 calculates a guide route from the current vehicle position to the destination point according to a predetermined algorithm. When the guidance route is calculated, the control unit 18 performs route guidance to the destination point by the map display of the display unit 36 and the voice guidance by the voice output unit 26 so as to follow the calculated guidance route.

  Next, characteristic operations of the navigation device 50, the navigation method, and the navigation program according to the present invention will be described. The navigation program according to the present invention performs the following processes when the first line input described below is performed: the control unit 18, the shape recognition unit 38, the destination search unit 40, the vector recognition unit 42, the purpose The main feature is that it is executed by the ground setting unit 44 or the like.

  First, an example of selecting a road by the first line input will be described. First, when the navigation device 50 is in operation, it is in a standby state for the first line input as shown in step S102 of the flowchart of FIG.

  Here, it is assumed that a map screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit 36 of the navigation device 50. In FIG. 3A, the solid line indicates the road, and the “▲” mark indicates the vehicle position P. Here, when the user joins the road R and wants to move rightward in FIG. 3, the user moves the road R displayed on the map on the display unit 36 to the left as shown by the white arrow in FIG. Trace with your fingers from the direction to the right. As a result, the first line input is performed on the input unit 34 on the display unit 36. The input unit 34 converts the first line input into an electric signal and outputs it to the control unit 18. Upon receiving the first line input signal from the input unit 34, the control unit 18 starts a destination setting flow by line input after step S102.

  Next, the shape recognition unit 34 compares the position of the locus on the screen of the first line input with the terrain information of the map data 30 displayed on the map at that position. Then, the line-shaped object that most closely matches the locus of the first line input, that is, the road R is specified (step S104). At this time, the color of the identified object may be changed or blinked so that the user can confirm whether or not the object selected by the first line input is intended by the user. . In addition, the line-shaped target object in this application points out a road or a boundary object. Moreover, the boundary in this application refers to the road for exclusive use of the automobile etc. which cannot enter from a general road through an interchange other than the river and track which a vehicle cannot pass.

  Next, the shape recognition unit 34 determines whether the identified object is a road or a boundary (step S106). In the above example, since the user is tracing the road R with the first line input, it is determined that the object is a road (step S106: Yes).

  When the object is a road, the destination search unit 40 searches for a junction that can join the specified road R, that is, an intersection (node point) with the road R. Then, the retrieved node point is set as a candidate for a merging point (step S108). Thereby, for example, the node points Nd1 to Nd3 shown in FIG. 3B are set as candidates for the junction point to the road R.

  Here, an example of a method for searching for a junction point on the road R will be described. First, in the first search example, a predetermined number of node points on the road R are extracted in order from the closest to the vehicle position P. In the second search example, all node points on the road R existing within a predetermined distance from the vehicle position P are extracted. In the third search example, first, a node point on the road R closest to the vehicle position P is extracted, and then a predetermined number of node points on the road R located in both directions along the road R are extracted. To do. In addition, since these search methods are examples, you may search for a confluence | merging point according to methods other than this.

  Next, the vector recognition unit 42 recognizes the direction of the first line input (step S110). The direction recognition of the line input is derived from, for example, the start point of the line input (a position where the finger or the like is in contact with the input unit 34) and the end point (a position where the finger or the like is separated from the input unit 34). Next, the destination setting unit 44 sets a destination point from the junction point candidates extracted by the destination search unit 40 on the basis of the direction of the first line input recognized by the vector recognition unit 42 (step) S112).

  The destination point is set as follows, for example. First, the position coordinates and the traveling direction of the host vehicle position P are acquired, and among the candidates for the merging point extracted by the destination search unit 40, the direction of the first line input is closer to the traveling direction of the host vehicle position P. A certain meeting point is set as the destination point. For example, when the first line input as shown in FIG. 3A tracing the road R from the left direction to the right direction is performed, the destination setting unit 44 selects the node points Nd1 to Nd3 among the extracted node points Nd1 to Nd3. A node point Nd3 located on the right side in FIG. 3B with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle position P is set as a destination point. When the user performs the first line input for tracing the road R from the right direction to the left direction as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 3C, the destination setting unit 44 extracts the extracted node point Nd1. To Nd3, the node points Nd1 and Nd2 located on the left side in FIG. 3B from the traveling direction of the vehicle position P are first selected, and the node point Nd2 closer to the node point Nd1 and Nd2 is selected, for example. Set as destination point.

  The destination point selection method is not limited to the above example. For example, a candidate for a junction point in the direction of line input with respect to the coordinates of the vehicle position P may be set as the destination point. After calculating the route for each candidate and setting the first priority not to take a route opposite to the line input, the destination point may be set according to priority conditions such as arrival time priority and distance priority. good. The same applies to setting a destination point from candidates for crossing points described later.

  When the destination setting unit 44 sets a destination point, the destination setting flow based on line input ends (step S120). The route calculation unit 22 calculates a guide route to the destination set by the destination setting unit 44 according to a known algorithm. Thus, when the node point Nd3 is set as the destination point, for example, a guide route as shown by a broken line in FIG. 3D is calculated. When the node point Nd2 is set as the destination point, for example, a guide route as shown by a broken line in FIG.

  When the guidance route is calculated by the route calculation unit 22, the control unit 18 performs route guidance to the destination point along the guidance route by the map display of the display unit 36 and the voice guidance of the voice output unit 26.

  Next, an example of selecting a boundary object by the first line input will be described. First, it is assumed that a map screen as shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the display unit 36 of the navigation device 50. In FIG. 4A, the solid line indicates the road, and the “▲” mark indicates the vehicle position P. Moreover, the dotted line in Fig.4 (a) shows the boundary objects B, such as a river, a track, and an automobile exclusive road. Here, when the user wishes to cross the boundary B, the user performs the first line input by tracing the boundary B on the map display as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 4A or 4B. Step S102). Thereby, the destination setting flow starts.

  Next, the shape recognizing unit 34 specifies that the object selected by the first line input is the boundary object B (step S104). Next, the shape recognition part 34 discriminate | determines that the specified target object is a boundary object (step S106: No). Next, the destination search unit 40 searches for candidates for crossing points that can cross the specified boundary (step S109). A crossing point here is a bridge when the boundary is a river, a crossover, a tunnel (underpass), or a railroad crossing when the boundary is a railroad, and when the boundary is an automobile-only road. Overpass and tunnel (underpass). As a crossing point search method, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C, link data L1 and L2 intersecting with the boundary B are searched, and node points Nd4 to Nd6 at both ends thereof are set as crossing point candidates.

  Next, the control unit 18 requests the user for a second line input. Here, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 4D, the user indicates the direction crossing the boundary B by the second line input (step S200). Next, the vector recognition unit 42 recognizes the direction of the second line input (step S110). Next, the destination setting unit 44 is located on the direction side indicated by the second line input among the node points Nd4 to Nd6 at both ends of the link data L1 and L2, that is, on the other side of the boundary B as viewed from the own vehicle position. Node points Nd5 and Nd6 are selected. Next, of the node points Nd5 and Nd6, for example, the node point Nd5 closer to the vehicle position is set as the destination point (step S112). The final destination point setting from the node points Nd5 and Nd6 is not limited to this example, and may be performed according to the destination point selection method when the object is a road. For example, when the traveling direction of the host vehicle is the direction shown in FIG. 4E, the node point Nd6 of the node points Nd5 and Nd6 is set as the destination point in consideration of the traveling direction of the host vehicle. May be.

  When the destination point is set as described above, the destination point setting flow based on line input ends (step S120). The route calculation unit 22 calculates a guide route to the destination point set by the destination setting unit 44. Thereby, for example, when the node point Nd5 is set as the destination point, a guide route as shown by a broken line in FIG. 4F is calculated. When the node point Nd6 is set as the destination point, a guide route as shown by a broken line in FIG. 4G is calculated. Then, the control unit 18 performs route guidance to the destination point along the calculated guidance route.

  Note that a POI (Point of Interest) or node point associated with the boundary B at the position of a crossing point (bridge, overpass, railroad crossing, underpass, etc.) on the map data 30 is represented by a point Q1, FIG. It may be set in advance as shown in Q2, and the destination search unit 40 may search for points Q1 and Q2 in the vicinity of the vehicle position P and make them candidates for crossing points.

  As described above, according to the navigation device 50, the navigation method, and the navigation program according to the present invention, the road R to be joined and the boundary B to be crossed are selected based on the first line input. Then, after searching for a candidate for a meeting point on the road R or a candidate for a crossing point of the boundary B, a destination point is set from these candidates based on the direction of the first line input or the second line input. To do. Thereby, it is possible to respond to a route guidance request to a vague point that is not a specific point such as a junction point to the road R or a crossing point of the boundary B.

  The present invention includes a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the navigation device 50. These programs may be read from other recording media and loaded into the computer, or may be loaded into the computer by transmission via a communication network.

  In addition, the operation, configuration, procedure, and method for searching for a junction or crossing point, a method for setting a destination point, and the like are merely examples, and the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. The present invention can be modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

30 Map data
34 Input section
36 Display
38 Shape recognition unit
40 Destination Search Department
42 Vector recognition unit
44 Destination setting section
50 Navigation device
B Boundary
R road

Claims (6)

A display unit for displaying a map based on map data;
An input unit capable of input operation by touching the map display;
A shape recognition unit for identifying the road selected by the first line input from the map data when a first line input for tracing the road on the map display is performed on the input unit;
A destination search unit for searching for candidates for junctions to the road;
A vector recognition unit for recognizing the direction of the first line input;
A destination setting unit for setting a destination point from among the candidates for the junction point based on the direction of the first line input;
A navigation device comprising: A display unit for displaying a map based on map data;
An input unit capable of input operation by touching the map display;
A shape recognition unit for identifying a boundary selected by the first line input from the map data when a first line input for tracing the boundary on the map display is performed on the input unit;
A destination search unit for searching candidates for crossing points with respect to the boundary;
A vector recognition unit for recognizing a direction of a second line input performed on the input unit and indicating a transverse direction of the boundary;
A destination setting unit for setting a destination point from among the candidates for the crossing point based on the direction of the second line input;
A navigation device comprising: Performing map display based on map data;
Identifying the road selected by the first line input from the map data when the first line input for tracing the road on the map display is performed;
Searching for candidate junctions to the road;
Recognizing the direction of the first line input;
Setting a destination point from among the candidates for the merging point based on the direction of the first line input;
A navigation method characterized by comprising: Performing map display based on map data;
Identifying a boundary selected by the first line input from the map data when a first line input tracing the boundary on the map display is performed;
Searching for candidate crossing points for the boundary;
Recognizing a direction of a second line input indicating a transverse direction of the boundary;
Setting a destination point from among the candidates for the crossing point based on the direction of the second line input;
A navigation method characterized by comprising: The procedure to display the map based on the map data,
A procedure for identifying the road selected by the first line input from the map data when the first line input for tracing the road on the map display is performed;
A procedure for searching for candidates for junctions to the road;
Recognizing the direction of the first line input;
A procedure for setting a destination point from among the candidates for the merging point based on the direction of the first line input;
A navigation program characterized by causing a computer to execute. The procedure to display the map based on the map data,
A procedure for identifying the boundary selected by the first line input from the map data when the first line input for tracing the boundary on the map display is performed;
Searching for candidate crossing points for the boundary;
Recognizing the direction of the second line input indicating the transverse direction of the boundary;
A procedure for setting a destination point from among the candidates for the crossing point based on the direction of the second line input;
A navigation program characterized by causing a computer to execute.

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