JP5808932B2 - Navigation system, navigation method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, navigation system, navigation method, and a program.

  Conventionally, a technique for displaying an enlarged map has been disclosed.

  For example, in the vehicle navigation device described in Patent Document 1, a technique for displaying with map data having a smaller reduction rate than the other regions in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle is disclosed.

  Further, in the navigation device described in Patent Document 2, when there is an intersection that should go straight ahead when approaching the next intersection to bend at the time of route guidance on the guidance route, an enlarged view of the intersection to be bent And a technique for displaying an enlarged view of an intersection to go straight on.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-120584 JP 2000-205880 A

  However, the conventional navigation devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a problem that it is impossible to simultaneously display detailed maps of all the locations considered necessary by the user. In other words, the conventional navigation device can display only a detailed map of a part designated by the user such as a point designated by the user by scroll operation or a guide point such as an intersection or a destination approached by the user. It had the problem that.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. A detailed map of an area that a user wants to confirm, such as a guide point and a destination point, does not require a specific zoom operation or the like for the area, and is based on a scroll operation or the like. An object is to provide a navigation device, a navigation system, a navigation server, a navigation method, and a program that can be confirmed only by changing the display range.

  In order to achieve such an object, the navigation device of the present invention is a navigation device including at least a display unit, a control unit, and a storage unit, and the storage unit includes map information on a plurality of scale maps, or Storing map information storage means for storing the map information that can correspond to the maps of the plurality of scales, predetermined area information on a predetermined area on the map, and a scale threshold that is a scale set in the predetermined area Scale threshold value storage means, and the control unit acquires display point information related to a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit, and a display scale of the map Display scale acquisition means, the display point information acquired by the display scale acquisition means and the display range of the map based on the display scale A predetermined area detecting means for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storing means, and a scale threshold storing means set in the predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detecting means. A scale threshold acquisition unit that acquires the stored scale threshold, and a scale determination that determines whether the display scale acquired by the display scale acquisition unit is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition unit And when the display scale is determined to be smaller than the scale threshold by the scale determination means, the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition means of the predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detection means Scale scale map information acquisition means for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means regarding the map, and the scale threshold value The map information acquired by the FIG information acquisition means, characterized in that and a map information display means for displaying on the display unit.

  Further, the navigation device of the present invention is the above-described navigation device, wherein the map information display means has the scale threshold map on the map information related to the map that is the display range stored in the map information storage means. The map information acquired by the information acquisition means is superimposed and displayed on the display unit.

  The navigation device of the present invention is the navigation device described above, wherein the storage unit further includes network information storage means for storing network information defining a traffic network, and the control unit includes at least a departure place and a purpose. Guidance route search means for searching for a guidance route from the starting point to the destination satisfying the route search condition including the ground using the network information stored in the network information storage means, and The map information display means displays the map information acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition means regarding the map including the guidance route searched by the guidance route search means on the display unit.

  In the navigation device of the present invention, in the navigation device described above, the guide route search means further generates route information related to the guide route, and the map information display means further acquires the scale threshold map information. The route information generated by the guide route search means is displayed on the map information acquired by means and / or on the map information related to the map that is the display range stored in the map information storage means. It is characterized by being superimposed and displayed on the display unit.

  The navigation device of the present invention is the navigation device described above, wherein the control unit further includes current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information of a user of the navigation device, and the map information display means is The guide route closest to the current position of the user of the navigation device based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition means and in front of the guide route searched by the guide route search means. The map information acquired by the scale-threshold map information acquisition means relating to the map including the image is highlighted on the display unit.

  The navigation device according to the present invention is the navigation device described above, wherein the navigation device further includes an input unit, and the display scale acquisition unit is configured to input the display point information and the input information input via the input unit. A display scale is acquired.

  Further, the navigation system of the present invention includes map information relating to a plurality of scale maps, or map information storage means for storing the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps, and a predetermined area relating to the predetermined area on the map. Scale information storing means for storing area information and a scale threshold value that is a scale set in the predetermined area, and display point information relating to a display spot that is a spot on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit; And a display scale acquisition means for acquiring the display scale of the map, and the scale threshold value storage means existing in the display range of the map based on the display point information acquired by the display scale acquisition means and the display scale. Predetermined area detection means for detecting the predetermined area based on the stored predetermined area information, and detection by the predetermined area detection means The scale threshold acquisition means for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area and the display scale acquired by the display scale acquisition means are the scale threshold acquisition means. Scale determining means for determining whether or not the scale is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale scale, and when the scale determining means determines that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold, the scale acquired by the scale threshold acquiring means Scale threshold map information acquisition means for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means relating to the map of the predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detection means, and the scale threshold map information acquisition means Map information display means for displaying the map information acquired by the above-mentioned display unit on the display unit.

  Further, the navigation system of the present invention is a navigation system in which a navigation server including at least a control unit and a storage unit and a terminal device including at least a display unit and a control unit are connected to be communicable, The storage unit of the navigation server includes map information relating to a plurality of scale maps, or map information storage means for storing the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps, and a predetermined area relating to a predetermined area on the map Scale threshold value storage means for storing information and a scale threshold value that is a scale set in the predetermined area, and the control unit of the navigation server transmits the display of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device Display point information about a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed in the section, And display scale receiving means for receiving the display scale of the map, and the scale threshold storage means existing in the display range of the map based on the display point information and the display scale received by the display scale receiving means. A predetermined area detecting means for detecting the predetermined area based on the stored predetermined area information; and the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detecting means. A scale threshold acquisition means for acquiring the scale, a scale determination means for determining whether or not the display scale received by the display scale reception means is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition means, and the scale determination If the display scale is determined to be smaller than the scale threshold by means, the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition means, The scale threshold map information acquisition means for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means for the map of the predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detection means, and acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition means. Map information transmitting means for transmitting the map information to the terminal device, wherein the control unit of the terminal device receives the map information transmitted from the navigation server, and the map Map information display means for displaying the map information received by the information receiving means on the display section.

  Further, the navigation server of the present invention is a navigation server including at least a control unit and a storage unit that are communicably connected to a terminal device including at least a display unit, and the storage unit includes a plurality of scales. Map information storage means for storing the map information relating to the map or the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps, the predetermined area information regarding the predetermined area on the map, and the scale set in the predetermined area Scale threshold value storage means for storing a scale threshold value, and the control unit is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device. Display point information relating to the display point, and display scale receiving means for receiving the display scale of the map, and received by the display scale receiving means Predetermined area detecting means for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storage means and present in the display range of the map based on display point information and the display scale; and the predetermined area detecting means The scale threshold acquisition means for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means, which is set in the predetermined area detected by the above, and the display scale received by the display scale reception means are the scale threshold. Scale determining means for determining whether or not it is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the acquiring means, and when the display scale is determined to be smaller than the scale threshold by the scale determining means, acquired by the scale threshold acquiring means The scale threshold value is stored in the map information storage unit relating to the map of the predetermined region detected by the predetermined region detection unit. Scale threshold map information acquisition means for acquiring the map information, display information generation means for generating display information including the map information acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition means, and output control including the display information Output control means for displaying the output control information on the display unit of the terminal device by transmitting the information to the terminal device.

  The navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation device including at least a display unit, a control unit, and a storage unit, wherein the storage unit is map information relating to a plurality of scale maps, or Stores map information storage means for storing the map information that can correspond to the maps of the plurality of scales, predetermined area information regarding a predetermined area on the map, and a scale threshold that is a scale set in the predetermined area. Scale threshold storage means, and display point information relating to a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit, which is executed in the control unit, and a display scale of the map The display scale acquisition step to be acquired, the display point information acquired in the display scale acquisition step, and the display scale A predetermined area detecting step for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold value storage means existing in the display range of the map, and the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detecting step. The scale threshold acquisition step for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means and the display scale acquired in the display scale acquisition step are acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step. A scale determination step for determining whether or not the scale is smaller than the scale threshold, and the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step when the display scale is determined to be smaller than the scale threshold in the scale determination step. The predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detecting step is stored in the map information storage means related to the map. A scale threshold map information acquisition step of acquiring Figure information, characterized in that it comprises a map information display step of displaying on the display unit is acquired the map information at the scale threshold map information acquisition step.

  The navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation system, and the navigation system is map information related to a plurality of scale maps, or the map information that can correspond to the plurality of scale maps. Map information storage means for storing, predetermined area information relating to the predetermined area on the map, a scale threshold storage means for storing a scale threshold that is a scale set in the predetermined area, a display scale acquisition means, and a predetermined scale An area detection unit, a scale threshold acquisition unit, a scale determination unit, a scale threshold map information acquisition unit, and a map information display unit are provided, and the display scale acquisition unit is based on the map information displayed on the display unit. Display point information related to a display point that is a point on the map and a display scale for obtaining the display scale of the map The acquisition step and the predetermined area detection means are stored in the scale threshold storage means that exists in the display range of the map based on the display point information acquired in the display scale acquisition step and the display scale. The predetermined area detecting step for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information and the scale threshold acquisition means are stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detecting step. The scale threshold acquisition step for acquiring the scale threshold, and whether the scale determination means has the display scale acquired in the display scale acquisition step smaller than the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step. A scale determination step for determining whether or not, and the scale threshold map information acquisition means is configured such that the display scale is the scale in the scale determination step. When it is determined that the value is smaller than the value, the scale information acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step is stored in the map information storage unit related to the map in the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detection step. A scale threshold map information acquisition step for acquiring the map information, a map information display step for causing the map information display means to display the map information acquired in the scale threshold map information acquisition step on the display unit, It is characterized by including.

  Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation executed in a navigation system in which a navigation server including at least a control unit and a storage unit and a terminal device including at least a display unit and a control unit are connected to be able to communicate with each other. In the method, the storage unit of the navigation server includes: map information storage means for storing map information relating to a plurality of scale maps or the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps; A scale threshold storage means for storing predetermined area information relating to the predetermined area and a scale threshold that is a scale set in the predetermined area, and executed by the control unit of the navigation server, from the terminal device Based on the map information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device to be transmitted Received at the display scale receiving step, which is executed in the control unit of the navigation server, and the display scale receiving step for receiving the display spot information regarding the display spot which is the spot on the figure and the display scale of the map. A predetermined area detecting step for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storage means and existing in the display range of the map based on the display point information and the display scale; and the navigation server A scale threshold acquisition step for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detection step, which is executed in the control unit, and the navigation Received at the display scale receiving step executed in the control unit of the server. The display in the scale determination step for determining whether or not the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step, and the scale determination step executed in the control unit of the navigation server. When it is determined that the scale is smaller than the scale threshold, the map information storage related to the map of the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detection step of the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step A scale threshold map information acquisition step for acquiring the map information stored in the means, and the map information acquired in the scale threshold map information acquisition step executed in the control unit of the navigation server. The map information transmitting step to be transmitted to the terminal device, and The map information receiving step for receiving the map information transmitted from the vignetting server, and the map information received in the map information receiving step executed in the control unit of the terminal device are displayed on the display unit. A map information display step.

  Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation server having at least a control unit and a storage unit, which is communicably connected to a terminal device having at least a display unit. Is a map information storage means for storing map information relating to a plurality of scale maps or the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps, predetermined area information relating to a predetermined area on the map, and the predetermined information Scale map storage means for storing a scale threshold value that is a scale set in the area, and the map information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device, executed by the control unit The display scale information for receiving the display point information related to the display point that is a point on the map based on the map, and the display scale of the map And the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storage means existing in the display range of the map based on the display point information and the display scale received in the display scale receiving step. A predetermined area detecting step for detecting an area; a scale threshold acquiring step for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detecting step; A scale determining step for determining whether or not the display scale received in the display scale receiving step is smaller than the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquiring step, and the display scale in the scale determining step is When it is determined that it is smaller than the scale threshold, the predetermined area detection of the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step The scale threshold map information acquisition step for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means related to the map of the predetermined area detected in step, and the scale threshold map information acquisition step acquired above Display information generation step for generating display information including map information, and output control for displaying the output control information on the display unit of the terminal device by transmitting output control information including the display information to the terminal device. And a step.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a navigation device including at least a display unit, a control unit, and a storage unit to execute the map, wherein the storage unit is map information regarding a plurality of scale maps, or A map information storage means for storing the map information that can correspond to a plurality of scale maps, a predetermined area information regarding a predetermined area on the map, and a scale threshold that is a scale set for the predetermined area Display scale information, and display scale information for acquiring a display scale information of the map and a display scale of the map based on the map information displayed on the display section, and a display scale of the map In the display range of the map based on the display step information acquired in the acquisition step and the display scale acquisition step and the display scale A predetermined area detecting step for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storage means, and the scale set in the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detecting step. Whether the scale threshold acquisition step for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the threshold storage means and the display scale acquired in the display scale acquisition step are smaller than the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step A scale determination step for determining whether or not, and when the display scale is determined to be smaller than the scale threshold in the scale determination step, the predetermined area detection step of the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step A scale threshold value for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means related to the map in the predetermined area detected at And Figure information acquisition step, characterized in that to execute a map information display step of displaying on the display unit is acquired the map information at the scale threshold map information acquisition step.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a navigation server that is connected to a terminal device to be communicable and includes at least a control unit and a storage unit. The storage unit includes a plurality of scale maps. Map information storage means for storing the map information relating to the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps, the predetermined area information regarding the predetermined area on the map, and the scale set for the predetermined area Scale threshold storage means for storing a scale threshold, and the control unit displays a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device Received at the display scale receiving step for receiving the display point information regarding the point and the display scale of the map, and at the display scale receiving step. A predetermined area detecting step for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storage means and existing in the display range of the map based on the display point information and the display scale; and the predetermined area The scale threshold acquisition step for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area detected in the detection step and the display scale received in the display scale reception step are The scale determination step for determining whether or not the scale threshold is smaller than the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step, and the scale threshold when the display scale is determined to be smaller than the scale threshold in the scale determination step. In relation to the map of the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detection step, the scale threshold acquired in the acquisition step. A scale threshold map information acquisition step for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means, and a map information transmission step for transmitting the map information acquired in the scale threshold map information acquisition step to the terminal device. Are executed.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a navigation server including at least a control unit and a storage unit, connected to a terminal device including at least a display unit to be communicable, the storage unit including: Map information relating to a plurality of scale maps, or map information storage means for storing the map information corresponding to the plurality of scale maps, predetermined area information relating to a predetermined area on the map, and the predetermined area Scale threshold value storage means for storing a scale threshold value that is a scale set to the map, and the control unit is configured to display the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device. A display scale receiving step for receiving the display spot information on the display spot which is the upper spot and the display scale of the map, and the display scale Predetermined area detection for detecting the predetermined area based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold storage means that exists in the display range of the map based on the display point information received in the receiving step and the display scale. A scale threshold acquisition step for acquiring the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold storage means set in the predetermined area detected in the predetermined area detection step, and a display scale reception step. A scale determination step for determining whether or not the displayed display scale is smaller than the scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step; and the scale determination step determines that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold. The scale threshold acquired in the scale threshold acquisition step is detected in the predetermined area detection step. A scale threshold map information acquisition step for acquiring the map information stored in the map information storage means related to the map in a fixed area, and display information including the map information acquired in the scale threshold map information acquisition step. A display information generation step to be generated, and an output control step for transmitting the output control information including the display information to the terminal device, thereby causing the display unit of the terminal device to display the output control information. It is characterized by.

  According to this invention, the display point information regarding the display point which is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit, and the display scale of the map are acquired, and based on the acquired display point information and the display scale. A predetermined area existing in the display range of the map is detected, a scale threshold set in the detected predetermined area is acquired, it is determined whether or not the acquired display scale is smaller than the scale threshold, and the display scale is the scale threshold. If it is determined to be smaller, the map information related to the map of the detected predetermined area of the acquired scale threshold value is acquired, and the acquired map information is displayed on the display unit. There is an effect that a detailed map of an area that the user wants to confirm can be confirmed with fewer scroll operations without requiring a zoom operation.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the acquired map information is superimposed on the map information related to the map that is the display range and displayed on the display unit, there are a plurality of places such as guide points where the user wants to check the detailed map In this case, there is an effect that it can be confirmed as a wide area map. Thereby, according to this invention, there exists an effect that zoom operation and scroll operation can also be reduced significantly.

  The present invention also relates to a map including a searched guidance route by searching for a guidance route from a departure point to a destination satisfying a route search condition including at least a departure point and a destination using network information. Since the map information is displayed on the display unit, there is an effect that a detailed map such as a guide point on the guide route can be confirmed without a zoom operation.

  In addition, according to the present invention, route information related to the guide route is further generated, and the generated route information is superimposed on the acquired map information and / or the map information related to the map as the display range. As a result, the entire guide route and the guide route at the point where the user needs detailed guidance can be confirmed at the same time.

  Further, according to the present invention, the current position information of the user of the navigation device is acquired, and the guide route in front of the searched guide route and nearest to the current position of the user of the navigation device based on the current position information. Since the map information related to the map including is highlighted on the display unit, it is possible to make the user aware of the point on the guide route to be moved next.

  Moreover, according to this invention, since the display point information and display scale which were input via the input part are acquired, the map information regarding the display range and scale of the map which a user desires can be displayed. Play.

  In the above description, the navigation device of the present invention has been described as an example. However, the same effect can be achieved in the terminal device, the navigation system, the navigation server, the navigation method, and the program.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a navigation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the navigation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation server in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the navigation server in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the navigation device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the navigation device according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a navigation system, a terminal device, a navigation server, a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  Hereinafter, with regard to the configuration and processing of the present invention, the first embodiment (navigation system), the second embodiment (navigation server (server-driven type)), and the third embodiment (navigation device (stand-alone type)) Details will be described in order.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment (navigation system) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, the following first embodiment exemplifies a navigation system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to specify the present invention in this navigation system. It is equally applicable to the navigation systems of other embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims. For example, the form of function distribution on the server side and the terminal side in the navigation system exemplified in the first embodiment is not limited to the following, and functionally or physically in arbitrary units as long as similar effects and functions can be achieved. It can be configured to be distributed and integrated.

[Navigation system configuration]
First, an example of the configuration of the navigation system in the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation system according to the first embodiment, and conceptually shows only the portion related to the present invention in the configuration. In the present embodiment, a navigation system that provides communication-type navigation will be described as a specific example. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to a stand-alone navigation system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system of the first embodiment schematically includes a navigation server 200 that can provide map information and route search, and one or more route guidance applications and transfer guidance applications. Etc. are connected to be communicable with each other. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication includes, for example, remote communication such as wired / wireless communication via the network 300. Each part of these navigation systems is communicably connected via an arbitrary communication path.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the navigation system of the first embodiment, the navigation server 200 schematically includes at least a control unit 202 and a storage unit 206, and the terminal device 100 includes a position acquisition unit 112 and At least an output unit (display unit 114 and audio output unit 116), an input unit 118, a control unit 102, and a storage unit 106 are provided.

[Configuration of Navigation Server 200]
Here, in FIG. 1, the navigation server 200 displays display point information related to a display point that is a point on a map based on map information displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100, and the map The display scale is received, the predetermined area existing in the display range of the map based on the received display point information and the display scale is detected, the scale threshold set in the detected predetermined area is acquired, and the received display It is determined whether or not the scale is smaller than the acquired scale threshold, and if it is determined that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold, map information related to the map of the detected predetermined area of the acquired scale threshold is acquired. A function of transmitting the acquired map information to the terminal device 100. The navigation server 200 is connected to the terminal device 100 through the communication control interface unit 204 via the network 300 so as to be able to communicate with each other, and includes a control unit 202 and a storage unit 206. The control unit 202 is a control unit that performs various processes. The communication control interface unit 204 is an interface connected to a communication device (not shown) such as an antenna or a router connected to a communication line, a telephone line, etc., and performs communication control between the navigation server 200 and the network 300. Has the function to perform. That is, the communication control interface unit 204 has a function of communicating data with the terminal device 100 or the like via a communication line. The storage unit 206 is a fixed disk device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and storage means such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), and includes various databases and tables (a map information database 206a, a scale threshold database 206b, a network information database 206c). Traffic information database 206d, guidance information database 206e, etc.).

  Among these constituent elements of the storage unit 206, the map information database 206a is map information storage means for storing map information relating to a plurality of scale maps or map information corresponding to a plurality of scale maps. That is, the map information may include a plurality of scale-raster-format map drawing images or vector-format map drawing images. Here, the map information may be, for example, outdoor map information such as map information meshed according to a scale (for example, JIS standard first to third regional division mesh data, 100 m mesh data, etc.). . The map information may include outdoor map information such as road maps and route maps in the whole country and each region. In addition, the map information may include indoor map information such as a floor guide map regarding a building having height information (for example, a multilevel parking lot, a station, a department store, and a school). Further, the map information database 206a may store map information and a map ID (for example, mesh number) that uniquely identifies the map information in association with each other.

  The map information database 206a may further store map object information related to map objects displayed on the map. Here, the map object information includes features displayed on the map (for example, buildings, houses, stations and other structures, roads, railroads, bridges, tunnels, contour lines, coast lines, lake shore lines, etc. Lifeline, sea, river, lake, pond, swamp, park, and places such as outdoor facilities, administrative boundaries, administrative districts, and city blocks, etc.) Shape information (polygon or polyline, etc.), on map Notes (for example, place names, addresses, telephone numbers, names of facilities such as stores, parks, buildings, and stations, names including landmarks, historic sites, rivers, lakes, bays, mountains, and forests) , Names of roads, bridges, and tunnels, route names, point information, and word-of-mouth information, facility business hours, store handling products, URL, photo data, coupon information, etc.) Displayed on the map Symbols (e.g. mountains, historic sites, temples, government offices, police stations, police boxes, fire stations, stations, medical institutions, museums, museums, schools, factories, and graveyards, restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores, Tobacco stores, department stores, shopping centers, supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations, financial institutions, and post office signs, road signals, toll road entrances, toll gates, service areas, parking areas, and interchanges Data such as symbol information such as a symbol such as a parking lot, a station, a hotel, a museum, a facility symbol such as a museum, and a review point symbol). Here, the shape information may include an image for drawing a map object (for example, a polygon and a polyline).

  Further, the map information database 206a may further store POI information including POI (point of interest) position information and the like. Here, POI position (coordinates) information includes POI latitude and longitude altitude, POI telephone number, POI address, and location of the POI location (urban area, suburb, port area, station area, etc.) ) And application restrictions may be included. The POI information includes POI name, type (category), URL, business hours, products handled, average price (for example, average usage fee), reputation, ranking, ease of visiting, recommendation score, photo data, coupon information. , Word-of-mouth (for example, word-of-mouth evaluation and user comments), usage conditions, availability, facility scale, POI ID, reference rate such as the number of times or frequency of access to the POI information, and the date and time when the POI information was updated May be included. Here, POI is a specific point and facility that a person perceives as a convenient place or a place of interest, such as a store, company, office, public facility, entertainment facility, outdoor facility, etc. There may be. Here, the stores include, for example, restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores, tobacco stores, department stores, shopping centers, supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations, financial institutions, post offices, multi-storey parking lots, hotels and inns, etc. It may be an accommodation facility. The public facility may be, for example, a government office, a police station, a police box, a fire station, a station, a medical institution, a museum, a museum, a school, and the like. The entertainment facility may be, for example, a movie theater, a theater, an amusement park, a pachinko parlor, a casino, and a racetrack. The outdoor facility may be a bus terminal, a park, an amusement park, a campsite, a communication passage, an outdoor parking lot, a zoo, or the like. The POI may also be a venue for temporarily held events (eg, festivals, exhibitions, expositions, matches, concerts, flea markets, etc.).

  Moreover, the indoor map information included in the map information may include local route data regarding the indoor route within the facility. Here, the campus route data may be data based at least on the travel route data on the premises such as a station and the map information of a map (facility guide map) including the travel route. For example, the campus route data may be an image in which a moving route is drawn on the facility guide map. In addition, for example, the campus route data may further include message data explaining the travel route. Here, the travel route based on the travel route data may be an optimal route (for example, a shortest route or a barrier-free route) that connects ticket gates or the like when transferring a plurality of transportation facilities within a facility.

  These map information and the like are stored in advance in the map information database 206a, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 periodically and / or according to processing by the control unit 202 (for example, the control unit 202). The map information stored in the map information database 206a after downloading the latest data from an external device (for example, a map providing server that provides map information, etc.) via the network 300, etc. You may update.

  The scale threshold database 206b is a scale threshold storage unit that stores predetermined area information regarding a predetermined area on the map and a scale threshold that is a scale set in the predetermined area. Here, the predetermined area may be a guidance area such as an intersection, a destination, or a peripheral area where a user of the terminal device 100 such as a POI desires to check a detailed map. The predetermined area information may include position information of the predetermined area.

  The network information database 206c is network information storage means for storing network information that defines a traffic network. Here, the network information may include operation route information related to an operation route in which a route of transportation is set, and stop point information related to a stop point of the transportation facility on the route. The network information may be information related to a network expressed by a combination of a node that is a node in traffic network expression and a link connecting the nodes. The network information may include road network information, route network information, and in-facility network information. The network information is stored in advance in the network information database 206c, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 periodically and / or in response to processing by the control unit 202 (for example, data is stored in the control unit 202). Necessary opportunity, etc.) Even when network information stored in the network information database 206c is updated by downloading the latest data from an external device (for example, a map providing server that provides map information) via the network 300, etc. Good.

  Here, the road network information included in the network information is network information that defines a road network, for example, node data of nodes that are nodes on the road network expression such as intersections, and road sections between nodes. This is network information expressed by a combination of link data and link data. Here, the node data includes a node number (for example, a node ID), a node name, position information such as a position coordinate such as latitude and longitude altitude, a node type, the number of links to be connected, a connection node number, and an intersection name. Such information may be included. The link data includes a link number (for example, a link ID), a start node ID, an end node ID, a road type, a route number such as a national road, a prefectural road, and a city road, heavily used route information, and a government in which a link exists. Area attribute information, link length (eg distance, etc.), road service status, abnormal weather traffic restriction section, vehicle weight restriction, vehicle height restriction, width, road width classification, lane information (eg number of lanes, route bus (Dedicated lanes, motorcycle lanes, dedicated lanes for motorcycles and light vehicles, preferential lanes such as route buses, vehicle lanes, and vehicle lanes for each direction of travel, etc.) In addition, information such as speed limit, lane change regulation, elevated attributes, in-link attributes such as tunnels and bridges, and names may be included. The road network information may include usage fee data and the like. Here, the usage fee data may be information indicating fuel charges consumed when traveling by automobiles, motorcycles, etc., and tolls for toll roads such as highway automobile national roads and automobile exclusive roads. Further, the road network information may store position information such as latitude and longitude information of a facility or the like existing on a route when moving by car, motorcycle, bicycle, or on foot.

  The route network information included in the network information is network information that defines the route network of each transportation facility (for example, public transportation facility) such as a railway, an airplane, a bus, and a ship. Node data (for example, stop point information) related to nodes (for example, stations, stops, stops, stops, airports, ports, terminals, etc., which are stops of transportation) Is network information expressed by a combination with link data (for example, route information, operation route information, etc.) relating to links (for example, railway routes, air routes, navigation routes, bus routes, etc.). Here, the route may be a line connecting a starting point and a destination through which a transportation facility passes. In addition, the operation route information is information related to the operation route on which the transportation set with the route of the transportation is actually moved, and may include position information of the operation route. A railroad is a transportation system that travels by being guided by fixed guideways (rails, guide rails, etc.) installed on the route, and transports passengers, cargo, etc. A ropeway, a monorail, a cable car, a linear motor car, or the like may be used. The node data includes a node number (for example, a node ID), a node name (for example, a station name, a stop name, a stop name, a stop name, an airport name, a port name, And a terminal name, etc.) and position information such as latitude and longitude altitude may be included. The link data includes a link number (for example, link ID, etc.), a start node ID, an end node ID, a type, a link length (for example, a distance, etc.), an in-link attribute such as an overpass, a tunnel and a bridge, and a link name. Information (such as a route name) and position information such as latitude and longitude altitude may be included. In addition, the route network information further includes the type of transportation (for example, limited express, express, semi-express, express, rapid express, commuter express, commuter express, commuter express, section express, section semi-express, section rapid, each station stop, and Node data corresponding to nodes (for example, express stop stations, semi-stop stations, and rapid stop stations), and link data of links such as railway lines and bus routes connecting the nodes. Network information expressed by a combination of and may be included in association with the type.

  In addition, route network information includes location information (for example, latitude and longitude altitude), shape information, and location information (for example, island platform and relative platform, etc.) , And entry / exit location information including attribute information (for example, the name and identification number of an entry / exit location such as a platform number) may be included. In addition, the route network information may include transportation fare charge data. Here, the use fare fee data may be, for example, information representing a use fee or the like generated when each transportation means such as a railway, an airplane, a bus, and a ship is used. The route network information may include boarding position data. Here, the boarding position data is, for example, a transportation boarding position where a plurality of vehicles such as trains, streetcars, monorails, cable cars, and linear motor cars are connected (for example, vehicles close to the ticket gates, convenient for transfer) Vehicle position information, low congestion rate vehicles, women-only vehicles, and the like).

  The in-facility network information included in the network information is network information that defines a route network in the facility. Here, in-facility network information includes, for example, entrances and exits of stores, companies, offices, and toilets in buildings, entrances and exits of elevators and escalators, entrances and exits of stairs, entrances and exits of airplanes, and station platforms. Node data of nodes that are nodes that connect passages, such as train locations and ticket gates of stations, and passages that connect nodes, stairs, moving walkways, escalators, and elevators This is network information expressed by a combination of link data and link data. Here, the node data includes node information (for example, node ID), node name (entrance / exit name, entrance / exit name, etc.), position information such as position coordinates such as latitude / longitude, node type (for example, entrance / exit, Information such as the entrance / exit, the turning corner of the passage, and the branching point of the passage), the number of links to be connected, and the connection node number may be included. The link data includes a link number (for example, link ID, etc.), a start node ID, an end node ID, a link length, a width, a link type (for example, a passage connecting steps between nodes, a stairs, a slope, an escalator, an elevator, And a moving walkway), and information on barrier-free. Here, the facility may be an indoor building such as a station, an office building, a hotel, a department store, a supermarket, a museum, a museum, a school, an aquarium, an underground passage, a multistory parking lot, an underground parking lot, and an underground mall. . The facility may be a bus terminal, a park, an amusement park, a campsite, a communication path, an outdoor parking lot, and an outdoor structure such as a zoo.

  The traffic information database 206d is traffic information storage means for storing traffic information. Here, the traffic information may include transportation operation information (for example, delay information). For example, the operation information includes railway operation information, air operation information, ship operation information, and bus operation information. May be included. The operation information may include timetable information (operation time information) for transportation. In addition, the operation information may be timetable information in units of transportation (for example, timetable information that defines a transit time of a stop point through which each transportation passes), or timetable information in units of stops (for example, It may be timetable information that defines the arrival time of a transportation facility that passes through each stop point). In addition, the operation information may include information on a stop point through which the route or the service is operated and a scheduled time through the route. Here, the timetable information may be information representing a timetable of each transportation facility such as a railway, an airplane, a bus, and a ship. In addition, the timetable information further includes destination information (for example, final destination information) of transportation, and type of transportation (for example, limited express, express, semi-express, rapid, rapid express, commuter express, commuter express, commute Information including express, section express, section semi-express, section rapid, each station stop, and normal). In addition, the timetable information further includes transportation arrival / departure times (for example, scheduled departure, transit, and arrival times) at nodes on the route (that is, transportation stop points), transportation route names, Information including attribute information such as the name of a node on a route of transportation (that is, a stop point of transportation) may be used. The timetable information includes transportation attribute information (for example, type and destination information) associated with each section (for example, one or a plurality of links) connecting nodes on the transportation route. You may go out. In addition, the timetable information may include attribute information on boarding / exiting locations such as names and identification numbers (for example, platform numbers) used for boarding / exiting each transportation facility.

  The traffic information may include road traffic information. Here, the road traffic information may include traffic jam information such as a traffic jam occurrence point, a traffic jam distance, and a transit time between two locations on the road (that is, travel time, etc.). Further, the road traffic information may include traffic obstacle information, traffic regulation information, and the like. Here, the traffic regulation information is data defining various traffic regulations.For example, traffic regulation during abnormal weather such as precipitation regulation, snow cover / freezing regulation, ultrasonic regulation, wind speed regulation, visibility regulation, etc., height Vehicle traffic regulations such as regulations and weight regulations, road construction and work, regulations during construction around roads, traffic zones that regulate traffic zones that can pass by time zone and vehicle type, and vehicle traffic due to road damage, etc. It may also include information such as a general vehicle entry prohibition by a community zone or the like installed to ensure traffic safety, and a general vehicle entry prohibition due to a connection path to private land. Further, the traffic regulation information may be traffic regulation information that makes it impossible or impossible for the vehicle lane to travel due to construction, an accident, or a vehicle failure. The traffic information is stored in advance in the traffic information database 206d, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 periodically (for example, every 5 minutes) and / or according to processing by the control unit 202. (For example, when the control unit 202 needs data) The latest data is transferred to the external system (for example, the National Police Agency, VICS (registered trademark) (Vehicle Information and Communication System)), and the ATIS ( Registered trademark (Advanced Traffic Information Service), Japan Road Traffic Information Center (registered trademark) (JARTIC (registered trademark)), railway company, traffic information distribution server (service), etc. The traffic information stored in the traffic information database 206d to load may be updated.

  The guidance information database 206e is guidance information storage means for storing guidance information (such as voice guidance information and display guidance information). Here, the display guidance information included in the guidance information includes turn-by-turn (TBT), which is arrow navigation that displays guidance such as right and left turns on the screen, which is associated with the direction of travel at a branch point, and the like. For example, it may be character data informing that the position has approached the target, and may be used when the control unit 102 of the terminal device 100 executes display guidance. The display guide information may include map information (for example, an enlarged view of an intersection) about a low-scale map around an intersection, a road sign image of a road sign, a road display image of a road sign, and the like. In addition, the voice guidance information included in the guidance information may be voice information notifying that there is a traffic jam area around the current position, and “the traffic jam is ahead” associated with the guidance of the traffic jam location. Voices such as “Turn left at the next intersection” associated with the direction of travel at the junction, etc., and “Nearly around the destination” associated with the current position approaching the destination For example, the information may be used when the control unit 102 of the terminal device 100 executes voice guidance.

  The control unit 202 has an internal memory for storing a control program such as an OS (Operating System), a program that defines various processing procedures, and necessary data. And the control part 202 performs the information processing for performing various processes with these programs. The control unit 202 functionally conceptually includes a route search request reception unit 202a, a guidance route search unit 202b, a route guidance information generation unit 202c, a display scale reception unit 202d, a predetermined area detection unit 202e, a scale threshold acquisition unit 202f, and a scale determination. 202g, a scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h, and a map information transmission unit 202i.

  Among these, the route search request receiving unit 202 a is a route search request receiving unit that receives a route search request transmitted from the terminal device 100. Here, the route search request may include a route search condition. Here, the route search condition may include a departure place, a destination, a waypoint, a moving means, a departure time, a passage time, an arrival time, and / or a date. Here, the departure place may be the current position of the user of the terminal device 100. The departure time may be the current time. Further, the route search request may include the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100. The route search request may include a position information signal received from the position transmission device 500 by the position acquisition unit 112 of the terminal device 100. Further, the route search condition may be input via the input unit 118 of the terminal device 100.

  In addition, the guide route search unit 202b searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination satisfying the route search condition using the network information stored in the network information database 206c, and generates route information related to the guide route. Guide route search means. Here, the guide route searching unit 202b may further search for the guide route based on the traffic information stored in the traffic information database 206d. For example, the guide route search unit 202b may search for a guide route that satisfies the route search condition using the network information stored in the network information database 206c based on the traffic information stored in the traffic information database 206d. . Here, when a route point is included in the route search condition, the guide route search unit 202b may search for a guide route that passes through the route point.

  The route guidance information generation unit 202c is route guidance information generation means for generating route guidance information. Here, the route guidance information may include route information regarding the guidance route generated by the guidance route search unit 202b. Further, the route guidance information further includes map information related to the map including the guidance route stored in the map information database 206a and / or guidance information output on the guidance route (stored in the guidance information database 206e) ( Display guidance information, voice guidance information, etc.).

  In addition, the display scale receiving unit 202d displays display point information related to a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100, and the display scale of the map. Display scale receiving means for receiving. Here, the display point information and the display scale may be input via the input unit 118 of the terminal device 100. The display point information may be predetermined position information (for example, center position information) regarding a predetermined position (for example, center position) on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100. . Further, the display scale receiving unit 202d may further receive specification information (for example, specification information such as screen size and screen resolution) of the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100.

  Further, the predetermined area detection unit 202e is a predetermined area related to a predetermined area on the map stored in the scale threshold value database 206b, which is present in the display range of the map based on the display spot information and the display scale received by the display scale receiving unit 202d. It is a predetermined area detecting means for detecting a predetermined area based on information. Here, the predetermined area detection unit 202e is a map based on the display point information and the display scale received by the display scale receiving unit 202d based on the position information of the predetermined area included in the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold database 206b. A predetermined area existing in the display range may be detected. Here, the display range of the map may be further based on the specification information of the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100.

  The scale threshold acquisition unit 202f is a scale threshold acquisition unit that acquires a scale threshold stored in the scale threshold database 206b set in a predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detection unit 202e.

  The scale determination unit 202g is a scale determination unit that determines whether the display scale received by the display scale reception unit 202d is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition unit 202f.

  The scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h is detected by the predetermined area detection unit 202e of the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition unit 202f when the scale determination unit 202g determines that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold. It is a scale threshold map information acquisition means for acquiring the map information stored in the map information database 206a regarding the map in the predetermined area. Here, the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h may acquire the map information stored in the map information database 206a regarding the display point information received by the display scale receiving unit 202d and the display range map based on the display scale. .

  The map information transmission unit 202 i is a map information transmission unit that transmits map information regarding a map of a predetermined area of the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202 h to the terminal device 100. Here, the map information transmission unit 202i further transmits to the terminal device 100 the map information stored in the map information database 206a regarding the display point information received by the display scale receiving unit 202d and the display range map based on the display scale. May be. Further, the map information transmission unit 202i may further transmit the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 202c to the terminal device 100.

[Configuration of Terminal Device 100]
In FIG. 1, the terminal device 100 has a function of receiving map information transmitted from the navigation server 200 and displaying the received map information on the display unit 114. The terminal device 100 is, for example, a commercially available information processing device such as a desktop or notebook personal computer, a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PHS, and a PDA, and a navigation terminal that performs travel route guidance and the like. (For example, a car navigation device). Here, the terminal device 100 may be equipped with an Internet browser or the like, or may be equipped with a route guidance application, a transfer guidance application, an information search application, or the like. Further, the terminal device 100 may include a position acquisition unit 112 having a GPS function, an IMES function, or the like so that the current position can be measured in real time. Further, the terminal device 100 may include an output unit including at least the display unit 114 and the audio output unit 116. The terminal device 100 may include an input unit 118 that performs data input and the like.

  Here, the display unit 114 may be display means for displaying a display screen of an application or the like (for example, a display and a monitor configured with liquid crystal or organic EL). The audio output unit 116 may be an audio output unit (for example, a speaker) that outputs audio information as audio. The input unit 118 may be, for example, a key input unit, a touch panel, a keyboard, and a microphone. The input / output control interface unit 108 controls the position acquisition unit 112, the display unit 114, the audio output unit 116, the input unit 118, and the like.

  Here, the position acquisition unit 112 may be, for example, a signal receiving unit that receives a position information signal transmitted from the position transmitting device 500. Here, the position transmitting device 500 may be a GPS device (for example, a GPS satellite) that transmits a position information signal (GPS signal). Here, the GPS signal may include a time from an atomic clock or the like mounted on the GPS device, and an ephemeris (for example, orbit information) of the GPS device. Further, the position transmission device 500 may be a base station (for example, a mobile phone, a car phone, a PHS base station, or the like) that is a device for performing wireless communication with the terminal device 100. Further, the position transmission device 500 may be an IMES device that realizes an IMES (Indoor Message System) technology that enables indoor positioning using a position information signal having characteristics similar to those of a GPS signal.

  Further, the position transmission device 500 may be a GPS repeater that transmits a GPS signal received outdoors indoors. In addition, the position transmission device 500 is arbitrarily installed on each floor of a building (for example, a multilevel parking lot) or an underground structure (for example, a subway station, an underground shopping area, an underground communication passage, and an underground parking lot). A small transmitter may be used. In addition, self-position information (position ID etc.) according to an installation place is allocated to this small transmitter. When the terminal device 100 enters the communicable range, the terminal device 100 receives the self-position information transmitted from the small transmitter as a position information signal. The communication method at this time may be, for example, various short-range wireless methods such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag system and Bluetooth (registered trademark), an infrared communication method, and the like. Further, the position transmission device 500 may be a wireless LAN access point. In the present embodiment, the location acquisition unit 112 may receive wireless LAN signals and acquire access point identification information. Then, the control unit 102 may acquire the position information by specifying the position of the access point from the identification information unique to the access point acquired by the position acquisition unit 112. In the present embodiment, the control unit 102 may calculate position information including latitude, longitude, and height information from the position information signal acquired by the position acquisition unit 112. Here, the position information may indicate a relative position from a reference position in addition to the absolute position specified by the latitude and longitude.

  Here, the position acquisition unit 112 may include a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, an orientation sensor, a distance sensor, and the like that detect a change amount (for example, a vector amount) of the terminal device 100. Here, the position acquisition unit 112 may detect the speed with a speed sensor. The position acquisition unit 112 may detect acceleration with an acceleration sensor. Further, the position acquisition unit 112 may detect the azimuth (for example, east, west, south, north, heaven, ground, etc.) and inclination with an azimuth sensor. Further, the position acquisition unit 112 may detect the movement distance (displacement) with a distance sensor. Here, the speed sensor may be a laser Doppler vibrometer or the like, and may detect the speed of the terminal device 100 from a difference in frequency caused by the detected Doppler effect. The acceleration sensor may be a mechanical acceleration sensor, an optical acceleration sensor such as an FBG optical fiber type, or a semiconductor acceleration sensor such as a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) acceleration sensor. Further, as the direction sensor, a geomagnetic sensor that detects an absolute traveling direction, an optical gyro that detects a relative traveling direction, or the like may be used. In addition, the orientation sensor may be an electronic compass or the like that can acquire information related to orientation and inclination by combining a geomagnetic sensor and an acceleration sensor. Further, when the terminal device 100 is an information processing terminal for a vehicle, the distance sensor may generate a pulse signal in proportion to the number of rotations of the axle and detect a movement distance in proportion to the number of pulse signals.

  In addition, the position acquisition unit 112 may further include a communication device. When the terminal device 100 is an information processing terminal for a vehicle, the position of the vehicle is determined from the inter-vehicle communication of the communication device mounted on each vehicle. You may acquire the positional information which shows. Further, the position acquisition unit 112 may acquire position information indicating the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 based on the map information.

  The communication control interface unit 104 is an interface connected to a communication device (not shown) such as an antenna or a router connected to a communication line, a telephone line, etc., and communicates between the terminal device 100 and the network 300. It has a function to perform control. That is, the communication control interface unit 104 has a function of communicating data with the navigation server 200 or the like via a communication line. The network 300 has a function of interconnecting the terminal device 100 and the navigation server 200 with an external device such as an external map providing server or an external system, and includes, for example, the Internet, a telephone line network (portable terminal line network) And a general telephone line network), an intranet, or power line communication (PLC).

  The storage unit 106 is a storage unit such as a large-capacity storage unit such as an HDD or an SSD and / or a small-capacity high-speed memory (for example, a cache memory) configured using an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like. Various databases, files, and tables (such as the map information file 106a) may be stored. Here, the storage unit 106 may temporarily store various files and the like.

  The map information file 106a is map information storage means for storing map information. Here, the map information file 106a may further store route guidance information.

  The control unit 102 includes an internal memory for storing a control program such as an OS, a program defining various processing procedures, and necessary data. And the control part 102 performs the information processing for performing various processes by these programs. The control unit 102 is functionally conceptually provided with a current position information acquisition unit 102a, a route search request transmission unit 102b, a display scale transmission unit 102c, a map information reception unit 102d, and a map information display unit 102e.

  Here, the current position information acquisition unit 102a is a current position information acquisition unit that acquires the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100. Here, the current position information acquisition unit 102a may acquire the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100 every predetermined time (for example, every 1 second or every 3 minutes), that is, at a predetermined cycle. Good. In addition, the current position information acquisition unit 102a may acquire the position information calculated from the position information signal received from the position transmission device 500 by the position acquisition unit 112 as the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100. Further, the current position information acquisition unit 102a may further transmit the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100 to the navigation server 200.

  Further, the current position information acquisition unit 102a may acquire position information such as position coordinates about the current position input by the user via the input unit 118 as the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100. Here, the current position based on the current position information input by the user via the input unit 118 may be a position where the user actually exists, or a virtual current position arbitrarily selected by the user. (As an example, it may be an arbitrary point such as an Osaka station or airport selected by a user in Tokyo). For example, the current position information acquisition unit 102a is designated on the display screen based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114 by the user via the input unit 118 (for example, designation operation on the touch panel type display unit 114). The coordinates obtained may be acquired as the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100.

  The route search request transmission unit 102b is a route search request transmission unit that transmits a route search request to the navigation server 200.

  The display scale transmission unit 102c also displays display point information regarding a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114, and a display scale transmission unit that transmits the display scale of the map to the navigation server 200. It is. Here, the display scale transmission unit 102c may further transmit the specification information of the display unit 114 to the navigation server 200.

  The map information receiving unit 102d is a map information receiving unit that receives map information transmitted from the navigation server 200. Here, the map information receiving unit 102d may further store the received map information in the map information file 106a. Here, when the existing map information is stored in the map information file 106a, the map information receiving unit 102d may store the newly set map information by overwriting the existing map information. The map information receiving unit 102d may further receive route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server 200. Here, the map information receiving unit 102d may further store the received route guidance information in the map information file 106a. Here, if the existing route guidance information is stored in the map information file 106a, the map information receiving unit 102d may store the newly set route guidance information by overwriting the existing route guidance information. Good.

  The map information display unit 102 e is a map information display unit that displays map information on the display unit 114. Here, the map information display unit 102e may superimpose the map information related to the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold value on the map information related to the map in the display range, and display the map information on the display unit 114. Further, the map information display unit 102e may cause the display unit 114 to display map information related to a map of a predetermined area with a scale threshold value including a guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information. Further, the map information display unit 102e further superimposes and displays the route information included in the route guidance information on the map information related to the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold and / or the map information related to the map in the display range. You may display on the part 114. FIG. Further, the map information display unit 102e is a predetermined area of a scale threshold that includes the guide route in front of the guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information and the closest to the current position of the user of the terminal device 100. Map information regarding the map may be highlighted on the display unit 114.

  Further, the map information display unit 102e may further cause the display unit 114 to display route information, map information, and / or display guidance information included in the route guidance information. Further, the map information display unit 102e may further display the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100 on the display unit 114. For example, the map information display unit 102e includes the route information included in the route guidance information and / or the terminal device on the map information related to the map in the predetermined area of the scale threshold and / or the map information related to the map in the display range. The current position information of 100 users may be superimposed and displayed on the display unit 114. Further, the map information display unit 102e may execute route guidance by causing the display unit 114 to display route guidance information. Here, the map information display unit 102e may execute route guidance when a route guidance start request is input via the input unit 118 by the user. Further, the map information display unit 102e may output voice information corresponding to the display (voice guidance information included in the route guidance information) via the voice output unit 116.

  Above, description of an example of a structure of the navigation system in 1st Embodiment is finished.

[Navigation system processing]
Next, an example of the processing of the navigation system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the navigation system according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, first, the display scale transmission unit 102 c of the terminal device 100 displays a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114 via the input unit 118 by the user. When the point information and the display scale of the map are specified, the display point information and the display scale are transmitted to the navigation server 200 (step SA-1). Here, the display point information may be predetermined position information (for example, center position information) regarding a predetermined position (for example, the center position) on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114. The display scale transmission unit 102c may further transmit the specification information of the display unit 114 to the navigation server 200.

  Then, the display scale receiving unit 202d of the navigation server 200 displays the display point information related to the display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100, and A map display scale is received (step SA-2). Here, the display scale receiving unit 202d may further receive the specification information of the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100.

  Then, the predetermined area detection unit 202e of the navigation server 200 is based on the position information of the peripheral area of the guide point included in the predetermined area information regarding the peripheral area of the guide point that is the predetermined area on the map stored in the scale threshold database 206b. The peripheral area of the guide point based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold value database 206b existing in the display range of the map based on the display spot information and the display scale received by the display scale receiving unit 202d is detected (Step S1). SA-3). Here, the display range of the map may be further based on the specification information of the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 received by the display scale receiving unit 202d.

  Then, the scale threshold acquisition unit 202f of the navigation server 200 acquires the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold database 206b set in the peripheral area of the guidance point detected by the predetermined area detection unit 202e (step SA-4). ).

  The scale determining unit 202g of the navigation server 200 determines whether or not the display scale received by the display scale receiving unit 202d is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquiring unit 202f (step SA-5).

  Then, the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h of the navigation server 200, when the scale determination unit 202g determines in step SA-5 that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold (step SA-5: Yes), the scale threshold value. Based on the map information stored in the map information database 206a relating to the map, the display point information received by the display scale receiving unit 202d, and the display scale of the peripheral area of the guide point detected by the predetermined area detection unit 202e Map information stored in the map information database 206a relating to the map in the display range is acquired (step SA-6), and the process proceeds to step SA-8. That is, the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h acquires map information (map image) regarding a map of a predetermined area (predetermined range) of the scale threshold set in the peripheral area of the guide point (guide target point) as a guide point image ( Creating.

  On the other hand, the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h of the navigation server 200 determines that the display scale is not smaller (larger) than the scale threshold by the scale judgment unit 202g in Step SA-5 (Step SA-5: No). Then, the map information stored in the map information database 206a relating to the map of the display range based on the display spot information and the display scale received by the display scale receiving unit 202d is acquired (step SA-7).

  And the map information transmission part 202i of the navigation server 200 transmits the map information acquired by the reduced scale threshold map information acquisition part 202h to the terminal device 100 (step SA-8). Here, when the route search request is received by the route search request receiving unit 202a, the map information transmitting unit 202i further relates to a guide route from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition included in the route search request. On the guide route stored in the guide information database 206e, the route information generated by the guide route search unit 202b, the map information stored in the map information database 206a, and / or the map information relating to the map including the guide route The route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 202c including the guidance information to be output (display guidance information, voice guidance information, etc.) may be transmitted to the terminal device 100.

  And the map information receiving part 102d of the terminal device 100 receives the map information transmitted from the navigation server 200, and stores the received map information in the map information file 106a (step SA-9). Here, when the route guidance information is transmitted from the navigation server 200, the map information receiving unit 102d may receive the route guidance information and store the received route guidance information in the map information file 106a.

  And the map information display part 102e of the terminal device 100 displays the map information memorize | stored in the map information file 106a on the display part 114 (step SA-10), and complete | finishes a process. Here, the map information display unit 102e has a scale on the map information stored in the map information file 106a related to the map of the display range based on the display point information and the display scale input by the user via the input unit 118. The map information stored in the map information file 106a regarding the map of the peripheral area of the threshold guide point may be superimposed on the display unit 114 and displayed. Further, the map information display unit 102e is stored in the map information file 106a related to the map of the area around the guide point of the scale threshold including the guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information stored in the map information file 106a. The map information may be displayed on the display unit 114. Further, the map information display unit 102e is further input on the map information stored in the map information file 106a and / or by the user via the input unit 118 regarding the map of the area around the scale threshold guide point. The display unit superimposes the route information included in the route guidance information stored in the map information file 106a on the map information stored in the map information file 106a regarding the display range map based on the displayed display point information and the display scale. 114 may be displayed. The map information display unit 102e is a terminal device based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 102a in front of the guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information stored in the map information file 106a. The map information stored in the map information file 106a regarding the map of the area around the scale threshold guide point including the guide route that is closest to the current location of the 100 users may be highlighted on the display unit 114.

  In addition, for example, the map information display unit 102e is input via the input unit 118 on the map information stored in the map information file 106a and / or by the user regarding the map of the area around the scale threshold guidance point. Route information included in the route guidance information stored in the map information file 106a and / or the current information on the map information stored in the map information file 106a regarding the map of the display range based on the displayed display point information and the display scale. The current position information of the user of the terminal device 100 acquired by the position information acquisition unit 102a may be superimposed and displayed on the display unit 114. Further, the map information display unit 102e may execute route guidance by causing the display unit 114 to display the route guidance information stored in the map information file 106a. Here, the map information display unit 102e may execute route guidance when a route guidance start request is input via the input unit 118 by the user. The map information display unit 102e may output voice information corresponding to the display (voice guidance information included in the route guidance information stored in the map information file 106a) via the voice output unit 116.

  Here, an example of the display screen in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing examples of display screens in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the map information display unit 102e is configured such that the map display scale input by the user via the input unit 118 is smaller than the scale threshold set in the peripheral area of the guide point on the guide route. On the map information (map screen) related to the display range map based on the display point information and the display scale input by the user via the input unit 118 on which the route information related to the guide route is superimposed, Map information (guidance point image) relating to a map of a predetermined area of the scale threshold on which the route information is superimposed is superimposed and displayed on the display unit 114. Here, the map information display unit 102e may superimpose the center position information on the center position of the predetermined area on the guidance point image and display it on the display unit 114. Further, the map information display unit 102e highlights the guidance point image that is a guidance target based on the current location of the user of the terminal device 100 based on the current location information acquired by the current location information acquisition unit 102a. May be. Further, the map information display unit 102e highlights route information (guidance line) related to the guide route where the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 exists based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 102a. Also good.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, when the map screen (background image) shown in FIG. 3 is selected (for example, a tap) by the user via the input unit 118, the map information display unit 102e The superimposed display of the image is canceled, and the route information related to the guidance route is superimposed on the background image and displayed on the display unit 114. In this way, when zooming out from a detailed map to a wide area map in the map display, if the user wants to zoom out from the scale specified as the threshold to a wide area map, the user confirms on the map such as guide points. I try not to zoom out any further from the point I need.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the map information display unit 102e is configured such that the display scale of the map input by the user via the input unit 118 is smaller than the scale threshold set in the peripheral area of the guide point on the guide route. If it is large (for example, when zoomed in, etc.), the route information related to the guidance route is displayed superimposed on the map information regarding the display point information and the map of the display range based on the display scale inputted by the user via the input unit 118 Displayed on the unit 114.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the map information display unit 102e has a scale threshold in which the display scale of the map input by the user via the input unit 118 is set in the peripheral area of the guide point on the guide route. If it is smaller (for example, when zoomed out from the display shown in FIG. 5, etc.), it is based on the display point information and the display scale input by the user via the input unit 118 on which the route information related to the guide route is superimposed. Map information (guidance point image) related to a map of a predetermined area of a scale threshold value, in which route information related to the guidance route is superimposed, is displayed on the display unit 114 on map information related to the map in the display range. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the map information display unit 102 e displays the guidance point image along the guidance route, the guidance point image is superimposed and displayed on the display unit 114 according to the position of the guidance point. When the guidance point image with the earlier guidance order of the guidance route is displayed, the guidance point image is displayed on the top, and when the guidance for the guidance point image is completed, the guidance point image is superimposed and displayed at the bottom. May be. In addition, when the guide point image is superimposed and displayed on the display unit 114, the map information display unit 102e displays the guide point image related to the guide point in the order of the guide points closer to the current position of the user of the terminal device 100. It may be displayed. Thus, a scale threshold is set for a place where the user wants to confirm a more detailed map, and zoom-out is not performed further in a certain area. In addition, the dotted line in FIG. 6 has shown the display range of FIG. 5 before zooming out.

  Above, description of an example of the process of the navigation system in 1st Embodiment is finished.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment (navigation server 200 (server-driven type)) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation server 200 in the second embodiment, and conceptually shows only the portion related to the present invention in the configuration.

  In the second embodiment, the navigation server 200 generates data to be displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100, and transmits these data to the terminal device 100, whereby the display unit of the terminal device 100 is displayed. 114 is functioning. As described above, the second embodiment is different from the other embodiments in that the navigation server 200 performs server-driven processing.

[Configuration of the navigation server 200 (server-driven type)]
First, an example of the configuration of the navigation server 200 (server-driven type) in the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes at least a position acquisition unit 112, an output unit (display unit 114 and audio output unit 116), an input unit 118, and a control unit 102. The terminal device 100 is communicably connected, and includes at least a control unit 202 and a storage unit 206. As an example, the communication includes remote communication such as wired / wireless communication via the network 300. The navigation server 200 and the terminal device 100 are communicably connected via an arbitrary communication path.

  In FIG. 7, the navigation server 200 displays display point information related to display points that are points on a map based on map information displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100, and the display scale of the map. Is detected, a predetermined area existing in the display range of the map based on the received display point information and display scale is detected, a scale threshold set in the detected predetermined area is acquired, and the received display scale is It is determined whether or not it is smaller than the acquired scale threshold value, and when it is determined that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold value, map information related to the map of the detected predetermined area of the acquired scale threshold value is acquired and acquired. Display information including the generated map information and transmitting the output control information including the display information to the terminal device 100, thereby converting the output control information into the terminal information. The display unit 114 of the device 100 has the function of such display.

  The functions of the communication control interface unit 204 and the storage unit 206 (the map information database 206a, the scale threshold database 206b, the network information database 206c, the traffic information database 206d, the guidance information database 206e, etc.) in the navigation server 200, and the terminal Since the functions of the position acquisition unit 112, the display unit 114, the audio output unit 116, and the input unit 118 in the apparatus 100 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 7, the control unit 202 includes an internal memory for storing a control program such as an OS, a program defining various processing procedures, and necessary data. And the control part 202 performs the information processing for performing various processes with these programs. The control unit 202 functionally conceptually includes a route search request reception unit 202a, a guidance route search unit 202b, a route guidance information generation unit 202c, a display scale reception unit 202d, a predetermined area detection unit 202e, a scale threshold acquisition unit 202f, and a scale determination. 202g, a scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h, a current position information acquisition unit 202j, a display information generation unit 202k, and an output control unit 202m. The route search request receiving unit 202a, the guide route searching unit 202b, the route guidance information generating unit 202c, the display scale receiving unit 202d, the predetermined area detecting unit 202e, the scale threshold acquiring unit 202f, the scale determining unit 202g, and the scale threshold map Since the function of the information acquisition unit 202h is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Among these, the current position information acquisition unit 202j is current position information acquisition means for acquiring the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100. Here, the current position information acquisition unit 202j may acquire the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100 every predetermined time (for example, every 1 second or every 3 minutes), that is, at a predetermined cycle. Good. Further, the current position information acquisition unit 202j receives the position information signal received from the position transmission device 500 by the position acquisition unit 112 of the terminal device 100 from the terminal device 100, and the position information calculated from the position information signal is the terminal device. It may be acquired as current position information of 100 users. The current position information acquisition unit 202j receives position information such as position coordinates about the current position input by the user via the input unit 118 of the terminal device 100, and uses the position information as a user of the terminal device 100. May be acquired as current position information.

  The display information generation unit 202k is display information generation means for generating display information. Here, the display information generation unit 202k may generate display information in which the map information related to the map in the predetermined area of the scale threshold is superimposed on the map information related to the map in the display range. In addition, the display information generation unit 202k may generate display information including map information related to a map of a predetermined area with a scale threshold including a guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information. Further, the display information generation unit 202k further displays the display information in which the route information included in the route guidance information is superimposed on the map information related to the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold and / or the map information related to the map of the display range. May be generated.

  Further, the display information generation unit 202k may further generate display information including route information, map information, and / or display guidance information included in the route guidance information. The display information generation unit 202k may further generate display information including the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100. For example, the display information generation unit 202k may include route information included in the route guidance information and / or terminal device on the map information related to the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold and / or the map information related to the map of the display range. Display information in which the current position information of 100 users is superimposed may be generated. Further, the display information generation unit 202k may generate display information including display guidance information included in the route guidance information. Here, the display information may be information (for example, an image, character information, or a display screen) displayed on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100.

  The output control unit 202m is output control means for outputting the output control information via the output unit of the terminal device 100 by transmitting output control information including display information to the terminal device 100. Here, the output control unit 202m may display the output control information on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 by transmitting the output control information including the display information to the terminal device 100. In addition, the output control unit 202m transmits output control information including display information to the terminal device 100, so that the front of the guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information included in the display information and the display information. The display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 is highlighted on the map information regarding the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold value including the guide route that is closest to the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 based on the current position information included May be. Further, the output control unit 202m transmits the output control information including the display information to the terminal device 100, such as when a route guidance start request is input by the user via the input unit 118 of the terminal device 100. Route guidance may be executed by displaying the output control information on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100. Further, the output control unit 202m further transmits output control information including voice information corresponding to the display information (for example, voice guidance information stored in the guidance information database 206e) to the terminal device 100, so that the output is performed. Voice guidance may be executed by outputting the control information via the voice output unit 116 of the terminal device 100.

  Above, description of an example of a structure of the navigation server 200 in 2nd Embodiment is finished.

[Processing of navigation server 200 (server-driven type)]
Next, an example of processing of the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, first, the control unit 102 of the terminal device 100 displays display point information regarding a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 114 by the user via the input unit 118. When the display scale of the map is designated, the display point information and the display scale are transmitted to the navigation server 200 (step SB-1). Further, the control unit 102 may further transmit the specification information of the display unit 114 to the navigation server 200.

  Here, the processing of step SB-2 to step SB-7 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is the same as the processing of step SA-2 to step SA-7 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Since there is, explanation is omitted.

  Then, the display information generation unit 202k of the navigation server 200 generates display information including the map information acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h (step SB-8). Here, the display information generation unit 202k includes the area around the guide point of the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h on the map information regarding the map of the display range acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h. Display information may be generated by superimposing the map information on the map. In addition, when the route search request is received by the route search request receiving unit 202a, the display information generating unit 202k includes a guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information generated by the route guide information generating unit 202c. Display information including the map information acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h regarding the map of the peripheral area of the threshold guide point may be generated. In addition, when the route search request is received by the route search request receiving unit 202a, the display information generating unit 202k displays the map information on the map of the surrounding area of the scale threshold guide point acquired by the scale threshold map information acquiring unit 202h. And / or the route information included in the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 202c on the map information regarding the map in the display range acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 202h, and / or the current Display information in which the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100 acquired by the position information acquisition unit 202j is superimposed may be generated. Further, the display information generation unit 202k may generate display information including display guidance information included in the route guidance information.

  Then, the output control unit 202m of the navigation server 200 transmits the output control information including the display information generated by the display information generation unit 202k to the terminal device 100, so that the output control information is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 100. 114 is displayed (step SB-9), and the process is terminated. Here, the output control unit 202m transmits the output control information including the display information generated by the display information generation unit 202k to the terminal device 100, so that the route information included in the route guidance information included in the display information is displayed. Map information related to the map of the area around the guide point of the scale threshold that includes the guide route and is closest to the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 based on the current position information included in the display information. May be highlighted on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100. The output control unit 202m displays the output control information including the display information generated by the display information generation unit 202k, such as when a route guidance start request is input by the user via the input unit 118 of the terminal device 100. The route guidance may be executed by displaying the output control information on the display unit 114 of the terminal device 100 by transmitting the information to the device 100. Further, the output control unit 202m further outputs output control information including voice information (for example, voice guidance information stored in the guidance information database 206e) corresponding to the display information generated by the display information generation unit 202k. By transmitting to 100, the output control information may be output via the voice output unit 116 of the terminal device 100, so that voice guidance may be executed.

  Above, description of an example of the process of the navigation server 200 in 2nd Embodiment is finished.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment (navigation device 400 (stand-alone type)) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Here, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation apparatus 400 according to the third embodiment, and conceptually shows only the portion related to the present invention in the configuration.

  In the third embodiment, all the functions are integrated into the navigation device 400, and the display point information regarding the display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 414, and the display of the map The scale is acquired, the predetermined area existing in the display range of the map based on the acquired display point information and the display scale is detected, the scale threshold set in the detected predetermined area is acquired, and the acquired display scale is If it is determined whether or not the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold, the map information about the map of the detected predetermined area of the acquired scale threshold is acquired, and the acquired map A function of displaying information on the display portion 414 is provided. Thus, the third embodiment is different from the other embodiments in that the navigation device 400 is configured as a stand-alone type and performs processing alone.

[Configuration of the navigation device 400 (stand-alone type)]
First, an example of the configuration of the navigation device 400 (stand-alone type) in the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a position acquisition unit 412, an output unit (display unit 414 and audio output unit 416), an input unit 418, a control unit 402, and a storage unit 406. And at least. Each unit of the navigation device 400 may be connected to be communicable via an arbitrary communication path. The navigation device 400 may be, for example, various navigation terminals such as a PND (Portable Navigation Device), various information processing devices such as a notebook personal computer, or a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, PHS, or PDA. . Further, the navigation device 400 may be connected to an external device so as to be able to communicate with each other via the network 300 via a communication control interface unit (not shown).

  In FIG. 9, the functions of the input / output control interface unit 408, the position acquisition unit 412, the display unit 414, the audio output unit 416, and the input unit 418 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. In addition, each unit of the storage unit 406 (the map information database 406a, the scale threshold database 406b, the network information database 406c, the traffic information database 406d, the guidance information database 406e, and the like) is provided in the navigation device 400 instead of the navigation server 200. Except for this point, each function is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As for each part of the control unit 402, each function is basically the same as that of the first embodiment except that the navigation device 400 of the present embodiment is a stand-alone type and the control unit 402 does not include each transmission unit. The same as above.

  In FIG. 9, the control unit 402 includes an internal memory for storing a control program such as an OS, a program that defines various processing procedures, and necessary data. And the control part 402 performs the information processing for performing various processes with these programs. The control unit 402 has a functional concept in terms of a current position information acquisition unit 402a, a route search request acquisition unit 402b, a guidance route search unit 402c, a route guidance information generation unit 402d, a display scale acquisition unit 402e, a predetermined area detection unit 402f, a scale. A threshold acquisition unit 402g, a scale determination unit 402h, a scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i, and a map information display unit 402j are provided.

  Among these, the current position information acquisition unit 402a is current position information acquisition means for acquiring the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400. Here, the current position information acquisition unit 402a may acquire the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 1 second, every 3 minutes, or the like). Further, the current position information acquisition unit 402a may acquire the position information calculated from the position information signal received from the position transmission device 500 by the position acquisition unit 412 as the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400.

  In addition, the current position information acquisition unit 402a may acquire position information such as position coordinates about the current position input by the user via the input unit 418 as the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400. Here, the current position based on the current position information input by the user via the input unit 418 may be a position where the user actually exists, or a virtual current position arbitrarily selected by the user. (As an example, it may be an arbitrary point such as an Osaka station or airport selected by a user in Tokyo). For example, the current position information acquisition unit 402a is designated on the display screen based on the map information displayed on the display unit 414 by the user via the input unit 418 (for example, designation operation on the touch panel type display unit 414). The coordinate obtained may be acquired as the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400.

  The route search request acquisition unit 402b is route search request acquisition means for acquiring a route search request. Here, the route search request may include a route search condition. Here, the route search condition may include a departure place, a destination, a waypoint, a moving means, a departure time, a passage time, an arrival time, and / or a date. Here, the departure place may be the current position of the user of the navigation device 400. The departure time may be the current time. The route search condition may be input by the user via the input unit 418.

  In addition, the guide route search unit 402c searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition using the network information stored in the network information database 406c, and generates route information related to the guide route. Guide route search means. Here, the guide route searching unit 402c may further search for the guide route based on the traffic information stored in the traffic information database 406d. For example, the guide route search unit 402c may search for a guide route satisfying the route search condition using the network information stored in the network information database 406c based on the traffic information stored in the traffic information database 406d. . Here, when a route point is included in the route search condition, the guide route search unit 402c may search for a guide route that passes through the route point.

  The route guidance information generation unit 402d is route guidance information generation means for generating route guidance information. Here, the route guidance information may include route information related to the guidance route generated by the guidance route search unit 402c. Further, the route guidance information further includes map information relating to a map including the guidance route stored in the map information database 406a and / or guidance information output on the guidance route (stored in the guidance information database 406e). Display guidance information, voice guidance information, etc.).

  The display scale acquisition unit 402e is a display scale acquisition unit that acquires display point information regarding a display point that is a point on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 414, and the display scale of the map. Here, the display point information and the display scale may be input via the input unit 418. The display point information may be predetermined position information (for example, center position information) regarding a predetermined position (for example, the center position) on the map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 414.

  Further, the predetermined area detection unit 402f is a predetermined area relating to a predetermined area on the map stored in the scale threshold value database 406b, which is present in the display range of the map based on the display point information acquired by the display scale acquisition unit 402e and the display scale. It is a predetermined area detecting means for detecting a predetermined area based on information. Here, the predetermined area detecting unit 402f is a map based on the display point information and the display scale acquired by the display scale acquiring unit 402e based on the position information of the predetermined area included in the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold database 406b. A predetermined area existing in the display range may be detected. Here, the display range of the map may be further based on the specification information of the display unit 414.

  The scale threshold acquisition unit 402g is a scale threshold acquisition unit that acquires a scale threshold stored in the scale threshold database 406b set in a predetermined area detected by the predetermined area detection unit 402f.

  The scale determination unit 402h is a scale determination unit that determines whether the display scale received by the display scale acquisition unit 402e is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition unit 402g.

  The scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i is detected by the predetermined area detection unit 402f of the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition unit 402g when the scale determination unit 402h determines that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold. Scale scale map information acquisition means for acquiring map information stored in the map information database 406a regarding the map in the predetermined area. Here, the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i may acquire the map information stored in the map information database 406a regarding the display point information acquired by the display scale acquisition unit 402e and the map of the display range based on the display scale. .

  The map information display unit 402j is map information display means for displaying map information on the display unit 414. Here, the map information display unit 402j may cause the display unit 414 to display the map information related to the map in the predetermined area of the scale threshold value on the map information related to the map in the display range. Further, the map information display unit 402j may cause the display unit 414 to display map information related to a map of a predetermined area of the scale threshold value including a guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information. Further, the map information display unit 402j further superimposes and displays the route information included in the route guidance information on the map information related to the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold and / or the map information related to the map in the display range. You may display on the part 414. Further, the map information display unit 402j is a predetermined area of a scale threshold that includes the guide route in front of the guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information and the closest to the current position of the user of the navigation device 400. Map information regarding the map may be highlighted on the display unit 414.

  Further, the map information display unit 402j may further cause the display unit 414 to display route information, map information, and / or display guide information included in the route guide information. Further, the map information display unit 402j may further display the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 on the display unit 414. For example, the map information display unit 402j includes the route information included in the route guidance information and / or the navigation device on the map information related to the map of the predetermined area of the scale threshold and / or the map information related to the map in the display range. The current position information of 400 users may be superimposed and displayed on the display unit 414. The map information display unit 402j may execute route guidance by causing the display unit 414 to display route guidance information. Here, the map information display unit 402j may execute route guidance when a route guidance start request is input via the input unit 418 by the user. Further, the map information display unit 402j may output voice information corresponding to the display (such as voice guidance information included in the route guidance information) via the voice output unit 416.

  Above, description of an example of a structure of the navigation apparatus 400 in 3rd Embodiment is finished.

[Processing of navigation device 400 (stand-alone type)]
Next, an example of the process of the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, first, the display scale acquisition unit 402e displays display point information related to a display point that is a point on a map based on the map information displayed on the display unit 414 by the user via the input unit 418, and When the display scale of the map is designated, the display point information and the display scale are acquired (step SC-1).

  Then, the predetermined area detection unit 402f acquires the display scale based on the position information of the peripheral area of the guidance point included in the predetermined area information regarding the peripheral area of the guidance point that is the predetermined area on the map stored in the scale threshold database 406b. The peripheral area of the guide point based on the predetermined area information stored in the scale threshold database 406b existing in the display range of the map based on the display spot information and the display scale acquired by the unit 402e is detected (step SC-2). . Here, the display range of the map may be further based on the specification information of the display unit 414.

  Then, the scale threshold acquisition unit 402g acquires the scale threshold stored in the scale threshold database 406b set in the peripheral area of the guidance point detected by the predetermined area detection unit 402f (step SC-3).

  Then, the scale determination unit 402h determines whether or not the display scale acquired by the display scale acquisition unit 402e is smaller than the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold acquisition unit 402g (step SC-4).

  When the scale threshold value map information acquisition unit 402i determines in step SC-4 that the display scale is smaller than the scale threshold value by the scale determination unit 402h (step SC-4: Yes), the predetermined area of the scale threshold value The map of the display range based on the map information stored in the map information database 406a regarding the map, the display point information acquired by the display scale acquisition unit 402e, and the display scale in the peripheral area of the guide point detected by the detection unit 402f The map information stored in the map information database 406a relating to is acquired (step SC-5), and the process proceeds to step SC-7.

  On the other hand, the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i acquires the display scale when the scale determination unit 402h determines in step SC-4 that the display scale is not smaller (larger) than the scale threshold (step SC-4: No). The map information stored in the map information database 406a relating to the map of the display range based on the display spot information and display scale acquired by the unit 402e is acquired (step SC-6).

  And the map information display part 402j displays the map information acquired by the reduced scale threshold map information acquisition part 402i on the display part 414 (step SC-7), and complete | finishes a process. Here, the map information display unit 402j is a region around the guide point of the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i on the map information regarding the map of the display range acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i. The map information related to the map may be superimposed and displayed on the display unit 414. In addition, when the route search request is acquired by the route search request acquisition unit 402b, the map information display unit 402j includes a guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information generated by the route guide information generation unit 402d. The map information acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i regarding the map of the peripheral area of the threshold guide point may be displayed on the display unit 414. In addition, when the route search request is acquired by the route search request acquisition unit 402b, the map information display unit 402j is further a map related to the map of the area around the guide point of the scale threshold acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i. The route information included in the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 402d is superimposed on the information and / or the map information regarding the map in the display range acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i. It may be displayed on the display unit 414. When the route search request is acquired by the route search request acquisition unit 402b, the map information display unit 402j is ahead of the guide route based on the route information included in the route guide information generated by the route guide information generation unit 402d, and The guide point of the scale threshold including the guide route acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i that is the closest to the current position of the user of the navigation device 400 based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 402a. The map information related to the map of the surrounding area may be highlighted on the display unit 414.

  In addition, for example, when the route search request is acquired by the route search request acquisition unit 402b, the map information display unit 402j is a map related to the map of the surrounding area of the scale threshold guide point acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i. Route information included in the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 402d on the information and / or the map information related to the map in the display range acquired by the scale threshold map information acquisition unit 402i, and / or The current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 402a may be displayed on the display unit 414 in a superimposed manner. Further, when the route search request is acquired by the route search request acquisition unit 402b, the map information display unit 402j displays the route guidance information generated by the route guide information generation unit 402d on the display unit 414, thereby providing the route guidance. May be executed. Here, the map information display unit 402j may execute route guidance when a route guidance start request is input via the input unit 418 by the user. Further, the map information display unit 402j may output voice information corresponding to the display (voice guidance information included in the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 402d) via the voice output unit 416. .

  Above, description of an example of the process of the navigation apparatus 400 in 3rd Embodiment is finished.

[Other embodiments]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be applied to various different embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It may be implemented.

  In addition, among the processes described in the embodiment, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be performed manually, or the processes described as being performed manually can be performed. All or a part can be automatically performed by a known method.

  In addition, unless otherwise specified, the processing procedures, control procedures, specific names, information including registration data for each processing, parameters such as search conditions, screen examples, and database configurations shown in the above documents and drawings Can be changed arbitrarily.

  Further, regarding the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, and the navigation device 400, each illustrated component is functionally conceptual and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated.

  For example, the processing functions provided in each device of the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, and the navigation device 400, in particular, the processing functions performed in the control unit 102, the control unit 202, and the control unit 402 are all or An arbitrary part may be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a program interpreted and executed by the CPU, or may be realized as hardware by wired logic. The program is recorded on a recording medium to be described later, and is mechanically read by the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, and the navigation device 400 as necessary. That is, the storage unit 106 such as ROM or HDD, the storage unit 206, the storage unit 406, and the like are recorded with a computer program for giving various instructions to the CPU in cooperation with the OS (Operating System). Has been. This computer program is executed by being loaded into the RAM, and constitutes a control unit in cooperation with the CPU.

  Further, the computer program may be stored in an application program server connected to the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, and the navigation device 400 via an arbitrary network 300, and all of them may be stored as necessary. It is also possible to download a part.

  In addition, the program according to the present invention may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, and may be configured as a program product. Here, the “recording medium” is any memory card, USB memory, SD card, flexible disk, magneto-optical disk, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, etc. Of “portable physical media”.

  The “program” is a data processing method described in an arbitrary language or description method, and may be in any format such as source code or binary code. The “program” is not necessarily limited to a single configuration, but is distributed in the form of a plurality of modules and libraries, or in cooperation with a separate program represented by an OS (Operating System). Including those that achieve the function. Note that a well-known configuration and procedure can be used for a specific configuration for reading a recording medium, a reading procedure, an installation procedure after reading, and the like in each device described in the embodiment.

  Storage unit 106, storage unit 206, and various databases stored in storage unit 406 (map information file 106a, map information database 206a, scale threshold value database 206b, network information database 206c, traffic information database 206d, guidance information database 206e, a map information database 406a, a scale threshold database 406b, a network information database 406c, a traffic information database 406d, and a guidance information database 406e), a RAM, a memory device such as a ROM, a fixed disk device such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, and , Storage means such as optical discs, for various programs, tables, databases, and web pages used for various processing and website provision To store the Airu like.

  Further, the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, and the navigation device 400 may be configured as an information processing device such as a known personal computer or workstation, and an arbitrary peripheral device is connected to the information processing device. May be configured. Further, the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, and the navigation device 400 may be realized by installing software (including programs, data, and the like) that causes the information processing device to realize the method of the present invention.

  Furthermore, the specific form of distribution / integration of the devices is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part of them may be functional or physical in arbitrary units according to various additions or according to functional loads. Can be distributed and integrated. That is, the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined and may be selectively implemented.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a detailed map of an area that a user wants to check, such as a user guide point and a destination point, is displayed by scrolling or the like without requiring a specific zoom operation or the like for the area. Since a navigation device, a navigation system, a navigation server, a navigation method, and a program that can be confirmed only by changing the range can be provided, it is extremely useful in various fields such as information equipment and information processing fields that support navigation. Useful.

100 terminal device 102 control unit
102a Current position information acquisition unit
102b Route search request transmission unit
102c Display scale transmitter
102d Map information receiver
102e Map information display unit 104 Communication control interface unit 106 Storage unit
106a Map information file 108 Input / output control interface unit 112 Position acquisition unit 114 Display unit 116 Audio output unit 118 Input unit 200 Navigation server 202 Control unit
202a Route search request receiver
202b Guide route search unit
202c Route guidance information generation unit
202d display scale receiver
202e Predetermined area detection unit
202f scale threshold acquisition unit
202g Scale determination unit
202h scale threshold map information acquisition unit
202i Map information transmitter
202j Current position information acquisition unit
202k display information generator
202m Output control unit 204 Communication control interface unit 206 Storage unit
206a Map information database
206b Scale threshold database
206c Network information database
206d Traffic Information Database
206e Guide information database 300 Network 400 Navigation device 402 Control unit
402a Current position information acquisition unit
402b Route search request acquisition unit
402c Guide route search unit
402d Route guidance information generation unit
402e Display scale acquisition unit
402f Predetermined area detection unit
402g scale threshold acquisition unit
402h Scale determination unit
402i Scale threshold map information acquisition unit
402j Map information display unit 406 Storage unit
406a Map information database
406b Scale threshold database
406c Network information database
406d Traffic Information Database
406e Guide information database 408 Input / output control interface unit 412 Position acquisition unit 414 Display unit 416 Audio output unit 418 Input unit 500 Position transmitter

Claims (4)

Map information on a map of multiple scales, or a map information storage means for storing the map information that can be supported on a map of the plurality of scales,
Scale area storage means for storing predetermined area information relating to the predetermined area on the map, and a scale threshold value that is a scale set in the predetermined area ;
Table示地point, with your good beauty, to get the table示縮scale, map information display means for displaying the map in the display location in the display scale,
A scale determining means for determining whether or not the display scale after the change is smaller than the scale threshold when the display scale changes due to zoom-in or zoom-out based on a user input;
With
The map information display means
If the scale determining means determines that the scale is smaller, the map of the predetermined area is superimposed on the map at the display point of the display scale after the change and displayed with the scale threshold, and is reduced by the scale determining means. If it is determined that there is no map , the navigation system displays the map of the predetermined area at the display scale after the change .   The navigation system according to claim 1,
  The map information display means
  If the scale determination means determines that the scale is smaller, the map of the predetermined area with the outer frame added is superimposed on the map at the display point of the display scale after the change and displayed with the scale threshold, A navigation system characterized by displaying a map of the predetermined area at the display scale after the change without adding the outer frame when it is determined by the scale determining means to be not small. A map information display step of acquiring a display point and a display scale, and displaying a map at the display point at the display scale;
When the display scale changes due to zoom-in or zoom-out based on user input, the scale determination for determining whether the display scale after the change is smaller than a scale threshold that is a scale set in a predetermined area on the map Steps,
Including
In the above map information display step,
When it is determined that the scale is smaller in the scale determination step, the map of the predetermined area is displayed on the map at the display point of the display scale after the change by superimposing the scale at the scale threshold, and the scale determination step is performed. A navigation method, wherein the map of the predetermined area is displayed at the display scale after the change when it is determined that the map is not small . Computer
Map information display means for acquiring a display point and a display scale, and displaying a map at the display point at the display scale;
When the display scale changes due to zoom-in or zoom-out based on user input, the scale determination for determining whether the display scale after the change is smaller than a scale threshold that is a scale set in a predetermined area on the map means,
To act as
The map information display means
If the scale determining means determines that the scale is smaller, the map of the predetermined area is superimposed on the map at the display point of the display scale after the change and displayed with the scale threshold, and is reduced by the scale determining means. When it is determined that there is not, a program for displaying the map of the predetermined area at the display scale after the change .

Images