JP3308044B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly, to a navigation device for searching for a route and guiding a route to an input destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation device for guiding a driver who is unfamiliar with geography to a destination has been actively developed. In this navigation device, when a destination or a departure point is input, a search is made for a traveling route of the vehicle between the two points, and an arrow or the like indicating the traveling route or the traveling direction of the vehicle is displayed on a display together with a road map while displaying the map. Route guidance is provided.

In a conventional navigation system, a driver inputs a final destination at a departure point at a time, searches for a guidance route, and confirms the driver's route before departure.
In this case, it is difficult to input the destination when the name of the destination is only ambiguous. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
The -149200 publication has a prefecture name list, a city name list, and a town name list as regional data, and data of representative intersections or representative features corresponding to each prefecture, city, and town as information data relating to the region. Even if you enter an ambiguous destination such as a prefecture, city, or town that is not limited to a specific place, call a specific destination such as a representative intersection or a representative feature from the ambiguous destination There is disclosed a technology that enables guidance to a destination. With this technology, when entering a destination, the entered prefecture name, city name,
A specific destination is obtained by sequentially searching data of a hierarchical structure of a prefecture name list, a city name list, and a town name list from a town name.

[0004]

However, in the conventional navigation device, the final destination is input at a time before departure, so that even when the user inputs an exact destination after checking it, or when inputting. As shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-149200, even when a destination is searched and selected using data having a hierarchical structure, it takes time and effort to set the destination. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device capable of reducing a destination input operation.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Includes a storage means for the range indicated by the area data in the upper layer for storing geographic data of a hierarchical structure including a range indicated by the area data in the lower layer, the region of an arbitrary hierarchy of the region data stored by the storage means Destination input means for inputting a destination corresponding to data, a route search means for searching for a travel route to the destination input by the destination input means, and a travel route searched by the route search means and route guidance means for performing route guidance according to the destination that is input by the destination input means
Destination input permission that enables input of a new destination corresponding to regional data that is lower than regional data corresponding to the destination among the regional data stored by the storage unit before the vehicle reaches the destination. Means are provided in a navigation device to achieve the above object. Claim 2
In the invention, the range indicated by the regional data in the upper hierarchy is lower.
Hierarchical structure that includes the range indicated by regional data
Storage means for storing regional data; and
Input means for inputting the name of an area stored and stored
Corresponding to the area name input by this input means.
Route search means for searching for a travel route to an area;
Route invitation according to the travel route searched by the route search means
Route guidance means for performing guidance, wherein the destination input means
Therefore, before the vehicle reaches the input area,
Of the regional data stored in the column,
Within the range, use a more specific area name or
Entry permission method for inquiring to enter a new location name
Achieving the above object by equipping the navigation device with steps
I do. According to the third aspect of the invention, the navigation according to the first aspect is provided.
In the gating apparatus , the destination input means
When entering a destination, select a location on any level specified by the user.
When entering from area data and further specifying a destination,
Enter the regional data of the upper or lower hierarchy of the above hierarchy.
It is characterized by force. In the invention according to claim 4,
The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2
The destination input means may include a voice recognition device for recognizing voice.
Equipped with identification means, the recognized voice in the voice recognition means of this
Is input.

[0006]

In the navigation device according to the present invention, the storage means stores the area data having a hierarchical structure, and the destination input means stores the destination corresponding to the area data of an arbitrary hierarchy among the area data stored by the storage means. Is entered. Then, the travel route from the departure place to the destination is searched for by the route search means, and the route guidance is performed by the route guidance means according to the travel route. And eyes
Before the vehicle reaches the destination , for example, when the vehicle reaches the vicinity of the destination, the destination input permitting unit lowers the regional data corresponding to the destination among the regional data stored by the storage unit. A new destination corresponding to the regional data can be input. Therefore, according to the present invention, when a rough first destination is inputted and departure is made, and when the first destination is approached, a finer second destination is set within the range indicated by the first destination. As in the case of inputting a destination, it is possible to input a detailed destination in order while driving the vehicle, and head toward the final destination.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the navigation device includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 functioning as a route search unit, a route guidance unit, and a destination input permission unit. The storage device 12, the input device 13, the audio processor 14, the display 15, and the current position recognition device 16 are connected to the CPU 11. A speaker 17 is connected to the audio processor 14. The input device 13 includes, for example, the keyboard 21 and the touch panel 2.
2, a microphone 23, and a voice recognition device 24 connected to the microphone 23.

The storage device 12 stores a destination file 31, a prefecture name list 32, a city name list 33, a town name list 34, a ward name list 35, a village name list 36, an intersection list 37, a feature list 38, and genre name data 39. , Destination common name data 40, large name data 41, map data 42, and the like. When the destination is input by the input device 13, the CPU 11 performs a route search using the information stored in the storage device 12, and maps a driving route, an arrow indicating a traveling direction of the vehicle, and the like on the display 15 together with the road map. Is displayed while displaying the route guidance. At the time of this route guidance, the current position of the vehicle is recognized by the current position recognition device 16 and is input to the CPU 11. The current position recognition device 16 obtains the relative position of the vehicle using, for example, a steering angle sensor, a direction sensor, a distance sensor, and the like, and detects the absolute position of the vehicle using a GPS (Global Position System) or the like. . The user may input the current position without detecting the absolute position of the vehicle.

The CPU 11 has a voice processor 14
And using the speaker 17 to inquire about the selection of a route when there are a plurality of routes. Further, the user inputs an input of a destination or the like using the keyboard 2.
1 and the touch panel 22, as well as voice input from the microphone 23. The voice information input from the microphone 23 is recognized by the voice recognition device 24 and input to the CPU 11.

Next, an outline of destination input and route guidance in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the destination can be input not only by its official name but also by the area name. The region name is defined as layers 1 to
It is divided into three. The layers may be divided into regions. In this case, for example, layer 1 is a prefecture unit, layer 2
Is the municipal level unit, Layer 3 is the Oaza unit or the museum,
Features such as museums. The layers may be divided by roads. In this case, for example, layer 1 is a highway or the like, layer 2 is a dedicated road or the like, a road of 5.5 m or more, and layer 3 is a road of 5.5 m or less. I do.

The destination file 31 shown in FIG. 1 stores a formal destination name, and also stores, for each formal destination name, information on the area name of each layer to which the destination belongs. The prefecture name list 32 or the feature list 38 stores the name of each region of the prefecture or the feature, and for each region name, information on which region name in the upper layer the region name belongs to is also stored. ing. The genre name data 39 stores genre names such as hotels, golf courses, ski resorts, museums, and museums. For each genre name, the capital letters and telephone numbers of all facilities included in the genre are also combined. Stored. The destination common name data 40 stores the common name of the destination together with its capital letter name and telephone number. In addition, in the capital letter name data 41, the capital letter name is stored together with information on the area name to which the capital letter name belongs.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of destination input and route guidance in this embodiment. In FIG. 2, at a departure point (indicated by reference numeral 51), a first destination corresponding to layer 1 is input, a route search and route guidance to the first destination are performed, and the vehicle approaches the first destination. At a point (indicated by reference numeral 52), a second destination corresponding to layer 2 is input, a route search and route guidance to the second destination are performed, and when the vehicle approaches the second destination (reference numeral 53). Show)
Then, a third destination is input, a route search and route guidance to the third destination are performed, and when approaching the third destination (indicated by reference numeral 54), a final destination is input. A state is shown in which a route search and route guidance to a destination are performed to reach a final destination.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how a user specifies a destination. As shown in FIG. 3, when the user inputs a first destination corresponding to layer 1,
At the time of inputting the destination, an area name included in the range of the first destination among the area names corresponding to the layer 2 is designated as the second destination. For example, if the first destination is "Kanagawa prefecture", the second destination is "Yokohama city", "Kawasaki city",
Specify from "Yamato City", "Fujisawa City", etc. Similarly,
At the time of inputting the third destination, an area name included in the range of the second destination among the area names corresponding to layer 3 is designated as the third destination. Note that it is not always necessary to input destinations in the order of layers 1, 2, and 3, a destination can be input from any layer, and a destination of layer 3 is input next to a destination of layer 1. For example, an intermediate layer may be omitted.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of destination input and route guidance in this embodiment. In FIG. 4, “Kanagawa Prefecture” is the first destination, “Yokohama” is the second destination, “Midori Ward” is the third destination, and “Ikebe-cho” is the final destination.
Are sequentially input by voice, and a route search and a route guidance are performed. Here, when approaching each destination,
The inquiry and confirmation by voice are performed by the navigation device of the present embodiment. The inquiry, for example,
"Please enter the next destination." Confirmation refers to confirming the destination by voice.
At this time, the search of the context of the destination is performed, that is, the destination is specified from the context of the sequentially input destination.

For example, in the example of FIG. 3, it is assumed that "green area" in layer 3 is input as the third destination. This place name "Midori Ward" is found in both Aichi and Kanagawa prefectures, and cannot be identified by itself. Therefore, “Midori Ward” is specified based on the relationship with the previously input destination. That is,
If "Yokohama City" is input as the second destination, "Midori Ward" in Kanagawa Prefecture is set. In this case, a voice inquiry such as "Is green in Kanagawa prefecture sufficient?" In addition, if "Midori-ku" in Layer 3 is input as the destination from the beginning without inputting the destination in Layers 1 and 2, an inquiry such as "Which Midori-ku?" Then, it prompts the user to input information, supplements the information, and specifies the destination “Midori Ward”.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of route search and route guidance in this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a route that is searched for when a layer 1 to a first destination in prefectures, a layer 2 to a second destination in municipalities, and a layer 3 to a third destination in Oji are sequentially input. Is shown. Here, when there are a plurality of routes to the destination, the plurality of routes are shown on the display 15, and the user is given a right to select a route. For example, if there are two routes to the first destination, Route A and Route B, please proceed in front of the junction of the two routes: "If Route A, go left; Route B, go right. And prompt the user to select a route. Thereby, the initial input by the user is reduced.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment. In the navigation device of the present embodiment, when a destination is input by the user (step 101), it is determined whether or not the input is based on the area name (step 102). In the case of (Step 102; N),
A normal search that is a route search to the final destination is performed (step 103). In the case of input by region name (Step 10
2; Y), it is determined whether or not the area name belongs to layer 1 (step 104). If it belongs to layer 1 (step 104; Y), a first destination search is performed (step 105). ).

If the area name does not belong to layer 1 (step 104; N), it is determined whether the area name belongs to layer 2 (step 106), and if it does belong to layer 2 (step 106; Y). ), A second destination search is performed (step 107). If the area name does not belong to layer 2 (step 106; N), it is determined whether or not the area name belongs to layer 3 (step 108). If the area name belongs to layer 3 (step 108; Y), Then, a third destination search is performed (step 109). If it does not belong to layer 3 (step 108; N), a voice inquiry such as "Please input the destination again" is made (step 110), and the process ends.

The navigation device performs a normal search (step 103), a first destination search (step 105), and a second search.
When the destination search (Step 107) or the third destination search (Step 109) is completed, route guidance is performed according to the searched route (Step 111). Next, it is determined whether the vehicle is approaching the destination (step 112). If the vehicle is not approaching (step 112; N), the route guidance (step 111) is continued. When you approach your destination (Step 1
12; Y), in the case other than the time of the normal search, make an inquiry by voice prompting the input of the next destination (step 11).
3), end.

The destinations that can be input by the user include words for starting the search as they are and words for which destination information needs to be supplemented. This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, ◎ indicates an item to be input by the user, デ ー タ indicates an item of data already possessed by the item input by the user, and * indicates the user according to the item input by the user. Indicates items that need to be supplemented with data.

As shown in FIG. 7, there are three types of words for which the search starts without inputting the supplementary information: the official name of the destination, the name of the prefecture, and the name of the municipality. If the formal destination name is specified, the formal destination name has information indicated by a circle in the destination file 31.
You do not need to enter this information. Then, in this case, the CPU 11 supplements necessary information from the destination file 31 and starts a normal search (step 10 in FIG. 6).
3). If a prefecture name is specified, this is a region name corresponding to layer 1, so that a first destination search is first started (step 105). Thereafter, the user sequentially inputs the second destination, the third destination, and the final destination, so that the second destination search (step 107), the third destination search (step 109), and the normal search (step 109) 103) is performed sequentially. Note that the second destination search and the third destination search may be omitted on the way depending on how the user inputs the destination. If a city name is specified, it is not necessary to input the name of the prefecture because the name information of the city has the name of the prefecture. In this case, the second
Start with a destination search, then a third destination search,
Normal search is performed sequentially.

On the other hand, there are three types of words for which destination information needs to be supplemented, such as a genre name, a destination popular name, and the like, in capital letters. The genre name data includes, for each genre name such as a hotel, a golf course, a ski resort, a museum, a museum, etc., information on the capital letters and telephone numbers of all facilities included in the genre. Therefore, when the genre name is input, and when the user specifies the capital letter name and the telephone number, the facility is specified, so that the normal search is started. If the user does not specify an uppercase name and a telephone number, the user is asked to enter a formal name or the name of a prefecture or a municipal name of a location. If the formal name is entered, a normal search is started.
When a prefecture name is input, the process starts with a search (first destination search) in an area including the facility of the input genre within the area of the prefecture name. Similarly, when the name of a city, town, or village is input, the process starts from a search (a second destination search) within an area of the name of the city, town, or village and including a facility of the input genre.

The destination common name is a name different from the official name, and since the official name is not clear, it is necessary to clarify the place. Therefore, when the destination's popular name is entered, the user is required to enter the official name, genre name, or the name of the prefecture or city,
When a formal name is entered, a normal search is started. When the genre name is input, it is the same as the case of the genre name input described above. When the name of the prefecture is input, the process starts from the first destination search, and when the name of the city, town, and village is input, the process starts from the second destination search. Incidentally, since the data such as the destination common name has information of the capital letter name and the telephone number, when the user specifies them, the normal search is started.

The capital letter name is unclear because there may be many similar names in the whole country by itself.
Therefore, when the capital letter name is entered, the user is asked to enter the name of the prefecture or the name of the municipality in order to clarify the location. Then, when these are input and the location is specified, the normal search is started.

As described above, in this embodiment, instead of inputting the destination by one operation, the destination can be sequentially input from a rough range of destinations to a fine range of destinations as necessary. it can. Therefore, at the departure point, a rough destination can be input and departed, so that the operation of inputting the destination is reduced and the time for inputting the destination is shortened. In addition, since the time for the route search is also reduced, it is possible to start quickly. In addition, even when the final destination is unclear, the user can enter a rough destination and start.

Also, although the route to the destination desired by the user is not limited to one, conventionally only one route could be searched because the final destination was input at one time. According to the embodiment, it is possible to search for a route according to the user by sequentially inputting destinations while running the vehicle. Further, in the conventional navigation device, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine the guidance when the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, but according to the present embodiment,
Since the guide route is formed by the user, the user can easily grasp the traveling direction and position of the own vehicle, and can easily correct the vehicle even if it deviates from the guide route. Further, in the present embodiment, since the destination input and the like can be performed by voice input, the operation during driving becomes easy.

In addition, a procedure for inputting when the destination is changed halfway is provided. For example, when the driver wants to change the destination while guiding the route to the destination, the driver can cancel by voice input or operation from the touch panel. At the time of cancellation,
Make an inquiry for confirmation, but instead of simply canceling, you can choose to re-enter a different destination (regardless of the first, second, third, or final level) and continue guidance can do.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a rough destination is input and a departure is made, and then, while the vehicle is running, a fine destination is input in order and the vehicle goes to the final destination. It is possible to reduce the operation of the destination input.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of destination input and route guidance in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how a user designates a destination according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of destination input and route guidance in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of route search and route guidance according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing search contents for each type of destination input in one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 CPU 12 Storage device 13 Input device 14 Audio processor 15 Display 16 Current position recognition device 17 Speaker

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means for storing area data having a hierarchical structure in which the range indicated by the area data in the upper hierarchy includes the range indicated by the area data in the lower hierarchy, and an arbitrary one of the area data stored by the storage means. Destination input means for inputting a destination corresponding to hierarchical area data, route search means for searching for a traveling route to the destination input by the destination input means, Route guidance means for performing route guidance according to the traveled route, and a vehicle at a destination input by the destination input means.
Before reaching , a destination input permitting unit that enables input of a new destination corresponding to regional data lower than the regional data corresponding to the destination among the regional data stored by the storage unit; A navigation device comprising: 2. A range indicated by regional data in an upper hierarchy
Is the hierarchical structure that includes the range indicated by the regional data in the lower hierarchy.
Storage means for storing regional data of the structure, and for inputting the area name stored by the storage means
Destination input means and the area corresponding to the area name input by this input means
And route searching means for searching for a travel route to, according to the travel route searched by the route searching means
Route guidance means for performing route guidance, wherein the vehicle reaches the area input by the destination input means.
Before performing the operation, the regional data stored in the storage means is read out.
That is, within the range of the input area,
Enter a new area name or a more detailed point name.
Input permitting means for making an inquiry.
A navigation device characterized by the following. 3. A destination input means by said destination input means.
When you enter the data, it is
To enter the destination and further specify the destination,
To enter the regional data of the upper layer or the lower layer
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The destination input means recognizes a voice.
A voice recognition unit, and a sound recognized by the voice recognition unit.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input is made by voice.
The navigation device according to claim 2.