JPH11184374A - Device and method for geographic coordinate representation, geometric information storage medium, device and method for geometric coordinate transformation, and storage medium storing program for geometric coordinate transformation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To specify geometric coordinates with a numeral consisting of a small number of digits by representing a specific point of geography with a combination of area information showing an area by neither longitude nor latitude and subdivided point information in the area information. SOLUTION: A list of the names of administrative areas is displayed by operating a touch switch 34, one of the displayed names is selected, and its administrative area information is inputted and stored in a RAM 5. With the touch switch 34, the minute and second numerals of the point are inputted and stored in the RAM 5. Then the east longitude and north latitude corresponding to the administrative area information are read out of an administsrative area data file and stored in the RAM 5. Further, the point information of minutes and seconds is contrasted with correction reference data in an administrative area data file. When the point information of the minutes and seconds is in the area shown by the correction reference data, the east longitude value and/or north latitude value corresponding to the read administrative area information is corrected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a geographic coordinate representation device, a geographic coordinate representation method, a geographic information storage medium, a geographic coordinate conversion device, a geographic coordinate conversion method, and a program for geographic coordinate conversion. Regarding the stored storage medium, the present invention is applied to a geographic information display (processing) device, a map display (processing) device, a route guidance device, a navigation device, and the like, with respect to an improvement in expression and conversion of geographic coordinates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a navigation device, an address, a postal code, or a telephone number has been input to specify a destination or a drop-in place. In this navigation device, longitude and latitude corresponding to a number of respective addresses are stored, longitude and latitude corresponding to a number of postal codes are stored, and longitude and latitude corresponding to a number of telephone numbers are stored. Is stored, and the longitude and latitude corresponding to the input address, postal code and telephone number are read out. Then, the map information around the read longitude and latitude is read from the map information storage means and displayed, and a mark is displayed in the displayed map at a point corresponding to the address, postal or telephone number. Is done.

[0003]

However, in a navigation device, longitude and latitude are used to specify geographical coordinates, and it is better to specify and input a specific point using the latitude and longitude. This is convenient in reducing the amount of data processing. For this reason, some devices directly input the longitude and latitude around a desired destination or stopover.

[0004] However, in order to specify a certain point by latitude and longitude, it is not possible to specify the longitude and latitude unless the longitude and latitude are specified at least down to the second. The distance per second is about 22 meters in longitude and about 33 meters in latitude. Of course, it may be specified up to seconds or less.

When the longitude and latitude are expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, for example, at a point in Aichi Prefecture, it is 137 degrees 04 minutes 34 seconds east longitude and 34 degrees 53 minutes 54 seconds north latitude. In this case, the longitude is 7 digits, the latitude is 6 digits, and a total of 13 digits is required. With this, the number of digits is too large to get familiar with,
Errors such as miswriting, reading, listening, and remembering are likely to occur.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided area information indicating a large number of areas within a wide geographical area and indicating the large number of areas regardless of longitude and latitude. A specific geographical point is represented by a combination of the above and point information indicating a subdivided point which further subdivides the area. As a result, the geographical coordinates can be specified by numerical values with few digits.

Further, according to the present invention, area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and a point indicating at least minutes and seconds excluding the longitude and latitude degrees of a specific point in this area. A specific geographical point is now represented by a combination with information. As a result, the geographical coordinates can be specified by numerical values with few digits.

For example, Tokyo is less than one degree east-west and north-south. To represent a certain point in Tokyo, the area "Tokyo" and the four-digit numerical value of the minute and second of longitude and the minute and second of latitude are described. Can be represented by a four-digit number. This longitude 4 digits latitude 4
If the total number is 8 digits, it is almost the same as the telephone number, and will not cause much error.

[0009] This is not limited to Tokyo, but also applies to administrative areas such as Nagoya, Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Osaka and Kyoto. Wide prefectures such as Iwate, Niigata, and Nagano are divided into two parts: northern and southern parts, eastern and western parts, and northeastern, northwestern, southeastern, and southwestern parts. It is divided into.

According to the present invention, a plurality of pieces of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored in association with each other. , The longitude and latitude corresponding to the generated local information are read out from the stored longitude and latitude information corresponding to the local information, and the longitude and latitude of a specific point in the area are read out. The point information indicating at least the minutes and seconds excluding, and the generated point information is output together with the longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to the read area. As a result, the information input with the regional information and the minute and second of the longitude and latitude,
By converting into longitude and latitude information such as degrees, minutes, and seconds, information that is convenient for humans can be converted into a style that is compatible with the processing of the device, making the device easy for humans to use.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of pieces of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored in association with each other. Of the generated degrees, minutes, and seconds, the local information corresponding to the degrees is read from the stored local information corresponding to the longitude and latitude degrees information. The information is output together with the minute and second of the longitude, latitude and longitude of the degree, minute and second when the information is generated. Thus, of the information generated in degrees, minutes, and seconds of longitude and latitude, the degrees can be converted into regions, and the information suitable for the processing of the device can be converted into a style convenient for humans. For the user.

[0012] This administrative area information includes the name of a metropolitan (branch) prefecture,
Numerical values other than the degrees of longitude and latitude may be used. The administrative area information does not need to correspond to the actual administrative section, and may be any information indicating an area that is arbitrarily divided.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Navigation Code NC FIG. 1 shows the navigation code NC. “Aichi” at the top is administrative area (division) information, and indicates an administrative area whose longitude and latitude are within 1 degree. This administrative area information contains 1 to 3 Chinese characters, 2 to 4 Hiragana characters, 2 to 4 Katakana characters.
It may be a letter, two to four letters of the alphabet, a two-digit number assigned to each prefecture or branch, a numerical value other than the degrees of longitude and latitude, and the like. The administrative area information does not need to correspond to the actual administrative section, but may be any information indicating the upper digits of the postal code, the upper digits of the telephone number, and other information indicating an arbitrarily divided area.

The next four digits indicate the two digits of the longitude (East longitude) and the two digits of the second. The next four digits indicate the two digits of the latitude (north latitude) and the second digit of the second. These eight digits are point information. Note that this point information may include a numerical value of seconds or less. The longitude and latitude of a specific point in the administrative area are excluded from the point information, and are substituted with the administrative area information.

A specific geographical point is represented by a combination of the administrative area information and the point information. When the administrative area information is input to the navigation device, the east longitude 1
It is converted into longitude and latitude information of 37 degrees (136 degrees) north latitude 35 degrees (34 degrees). The minute and second point information is directly input. The longitude and latitude information and the minute and second point information are also inversely converted into the administrative area information and the point information.

2. Overall Circuit FIG. 2 shows the overall circuit of the navigation device. The navigation device has functions of a geographic information display (processing) device, a map display (processing) device, and a route guidance device, and includes a geographic coordinate expression device, a geographic coordinate expression method, a geographic coordinate conversion device, and a geographic coordinate conversion device. A storage medium storing a method and a program for geographic coordinate conversion is provided. Processing unit 1
Controls the operation of the entire navigation device. The processing unit 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a flash memory 3, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 4,
RAM (Random Access Memory)
5, a sensor input interface 7, a communication interface 8, an image processor 9, an image memory 10, an audio processor 11, and a clock 14. Each of these CPs
The U2 to the clock 14 are mutually connected by the CPU local bus 15. Under the control of the CPU 2, transmission and reception of various information data are performed between devices such as the flash memory 3.

The flash memory 3 is composed of an electrically erasable and writable memory (EEPROM) or the like. The flash memory 3 (internal storage medium / means) includes an information storage unit 3 such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.
7 (external storage medium / means) is transcribed and stored (installed / transferred). In addition, the flash memory 3 has a data transmitting / receiving device 27 from an external main information processing device or the like.
Is also stored. The storage medium of the program includes a communication medium. The flash memory 3 also stores various parameters used in the navigation operation.

The installation (transfer / copy) is automatically executed when the information storage unit 37 is set in the navigation apparatus or when the power of the navigation apparatus is turned on, or the installation is performed by an operation by an operator. Is done. The program is executed by the CPU 2
Are programs according to flowcharts described below for performing various processes.

The information storage unit 37 stores disk management information 38a including a label, a file identifier, and the like, and the updated version of the program in the information storage unit 37 is determined based on the disk management information 38a. . Further, the information storage unit 37 is provided with another information storage unit 3.
7 can be replaced. Therefore, whether the new information storage unit 37 is set or not is determined by the disc management information 38.
It is determined based on the information content of a.

For example, since a program and management information relating to the program are stored in the flash memory 3, when a new information storage unit 37 is set, the management information of the flash memory 3 and the disk management information 38
a is compared. When it is determined that the information storage unit 37 including the new program has been set, the program of the information storage unit 37 is installed in the flash memory 3. Thus, the latest programs and data are always stored in the flash memory 3. As a result, the latest navigation device is realized by replacing the information storage unit 37.

Note that another operating system, a system program (OS), and other programs are stored in the apparatus in advance, and the above-described program may be executed together with the OS and other programs. This program only needs to be able to execute the processes and functions described in the claims together with another program or alone when installed and executed in the present apparatus (computer body).

Further, part or all of the program is stored and executed in one or more other devices other than the present device, and data to be processed is communicated between the present device and the other device via communication means. The present invention may be executed by transmitting / receiving already processed data / programs and as a whole of this apparatus and another apparatus.

The ROM 4 stores display graphic data and various general-purpose data. The display graphic data is data necessary for route guidance and map display displayed on the display 33. What is general-purpose data?
These are various data used at the time of navigation, such as voice waveform data obtained by synthesizing a guidance voice or recording a real voice.

The RAM 5 stores data input from the outside, various parameters used for calculation, calculation results, a navigation program, and the like.
That is, the RAM 5 is also used as a cache memory and a working memory. The clock 14 includes a counter and a battery backup RAM or an EEPROM. The clock 14 outputs time information.

The sensor input interface 7 has an A / D
It is composed of a conversion circuit or a buffer circuit. Each sensor of the current position detecting device 20 is connected to the sensor input interface 7. Current position detection device 2
From each of the sensors 0, sensor data of an analog signal or a digital signal is input to the sensor input interface 7. The sensors of the current position detecting device 20 include an absolute direction sensor 21, a relative direction sensor 22, a distance sensor 23, a vehicle speed sensor 24, and the like.

The absolute direction sensor 21 is, for example, a terrestrial magnetism sensor, and detects terrestrial magnetism. Then, the absolute direction sensor 21 outputs data indicating the north-south direction as the absolute direction. The relative direction sensor 22 is, for example, a steering angle sensor using a gyro device such as an optical fiber gyro or a piezoelectric vibrating gyro. With this steering angle sensor,
The steering angle of the wheel is detected. And the absolute direction sensor 2
The relative azimuth sensor 22 outputs the relative angle of the traveling direction of the host vehicle with respect to the absolute azimuth detected in step 1.

The distance sensor 23 is composed of, for example, a counter linked to a traveling distance meter. From the distance sensor 23, data indicating the traveling distance of the host vehicle is output. The speed sensor 24 is constituted by a counter or the like connected to a speed meter. The speed sensor 24 outputs data proportional to the traveling speed of the host vehicle.

The communication interface 8 of the processing section 1 includes:
An I / O data bus 28 is connected. The I / O data bus 28 is connected to the GPS receiving device 25, the beacon receiving device 26, the data transmitting / receiving device 27, and the like of the current position detecting device 20. Further, the I / O data bus 28 is connected to a touch switch 34 of the input / output device 30, a printer 35, and a data transmission / reception unit 39 for reading data from the information storage unit 37. That is, the communication interface 8 exchanges various data between each attached device and the CPU local bus 15.

As described above, the current position detecting device 20 outputs data for detecting the current position of the host vehicle. That is, the absolute azimuth sensor 21 detects the absolute azimuth. The relative azimuth sensor 22 detects a relative azimuth with respect to the absolute azimuth. Further, the traveling distance is detected by the distance sensor 23. The traveling speed of the host vehicle is detected by the speed sensor 24. On the other hand, the GPS receiver 25
PS (Global Positioning System)
em) (microwaves from a plurality of orbiting satellites), and geographical position data such as the latitude and longitude of the vehicle is detected.

Also, the beacon receiving device 26 provides the VI
A beacon wave transmitted by a road information station such as a CS (road traffic information communication system) is received. Then, from the beacon receiving device 26, information on nearby roads (VICS data) or GPS correction data,
It is output to the / O data bus 28. The beacon wave includes a radio beacon, an optical beacon, and the like, but a beacon wave used in VICS can be received only in a relatively narrow range. Therefore, reception of VICS data is not performed unless the own vehicle on which the navigation device of the present invention is mounted passes near an information transmitting device (such as a transmitting antenna) that transmits a beacon wave.

The information transmitting apparatus is installed near a road facility such as an intersection at a predetermined distance on a main road (above the road or on the road surface). The VICS data transmitted as a beacon wave from each information transmission device indicates the traffic state of each road in the vicinity of the information transmission device transmitting this beacon wave, for example, within a radius of 10 km around the information transmission device. Contains data. The data indicating the traffic state includes comprehensive information such as traffic congestion, congestion, impassable traffic, and the degree of congestion due to the size of traffic, and traffic regulation information such as suspension of construction work. The road having this traffic regulation information is a road that is not suitable for traveling. In addition, each information transmission device is VI
It is controlled by a road information station such as CS.

As the data transmitting / receiving device 27, an FM multiplex radio wave receiver, a cellular phone, a telephone line, or the like is used. ATIS (traffic information service) performs two-way communication such as a telephone line. Further, when information is received from the VICS center by the FM multiplex radio receiver, it is only reception. Further, when bidirectional communication such as a telephone line is performed with the ATIS or VICS center, an area for which information on road traffic information or information on a parking lot or the like can be selected. For example, it is possible to receive traffic information such as only the road conditions near the destination or the congestion status of each road over a wide range from the departure point to the destination. These pieces of information are used as operation assistance information. The beacon receiving device 26 and the data transmitting / receiving device 27 may include only one of them, or may include both of them. The data transmitting / receiving device 27 may be a radio receiver, a television receiver, a mobile phone, a pager, or another wireless communication device.

The input / output device 30 includes a display 33, a touch switch 34, a printer 35, and the speaker 13. The display 33 displays route guidance information during the navigation operation. Touch switch 3
4 is attached on the screen of the display 33, and a plurality of transparent touch switches are arranged in a planar matrix. The transparent touch switch is configured by, for example, a contact switch configured by a transparent electrode, a piezoelectric switch, or the like. From the touch switch 34, information necessary for setting a destination, such as a departure point, a destination, and a passing point, is selected and input to the navigation device.

The printer 35 prints various information such as maps and facility guides output via the communication interface 8. Each information is transmitted from the speaker 13 to the user by voice. Note that the printer 35 may not be provided.

As the display 33, CR
A device that can display image information such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is used. However, a liquid crystal display with low power consumption, high visibility, and light weight is preferable as the display 33. As the display 33, a wide liquid crystal display having a wider screen may be used, or two or more separable liquid crystal displays may be arranged in parallel.
Then, independent information may be displayed on each liquid crystal display, or continuous map information over a plurality of liquid crystal displays may be displayed.

The image processor 9 connected to the display 33 is connected to an image memory 10 such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or a dual-port DRAM. Then, the image processor 9 controls writing of image data to the image memory 10. Further, under the control of the image processor 9, the image memory 1
Data is read from 0, and an image is displayed on the display 33.

The image processor 9 converts map data and character data into display image data according to a drawing command from the CPU 2 and writes the converted data into the image memory 10. At this time, an image around the screen, which is displayed on the display 33 for scrolling the screen, is also formed.
The data is written to the image memory 10 at the same time.

The audio processor 11 is connected to the speaker 13. The audio processor 11 is connected to the CPU 2 and the ROM 4 via the CPU local bus 15. Then, the voice waveform data for the guidance voice read from the ROM 4 is input to the voice processor 11 by the CPU 2. The audio waveform data is converted into an analog signal by the audio processor 11 and output from the speaker 13. The audio processor 11 and the image processor 9 may be configured by a general-purpose DSP (digital signal processor) or the like.

An information storage unit 37 is connected to the I / O data bus 28 via a data transmission / reception unit 39. The information storage unit 37 stores disk management information 38a and a program 3 for controlling the above-described navigation operations.
8b and data 38c such as map information are stored. The disk management information 38a includes the information storage unit 37.
The information about the data and the programs stored therein is stored. For example, it is version information of the program 38b. Data necessary for the navigation operation, such as road map data, is recorded in the data 38c in a nonvolatile manner. The information storage unit 37 is connected to a data transmission / reception unit 39 that performs data read control with the I / O data bus 28.

Further, as the information storage unit 37 of the present invention,
In addition to an optical memory such as a CD-ROM, the following devices may be used. For example, a recording medium such as an IC memory, a semiconductor memory such as an IC memory card, or a magnetic memory such as a magneto-optical disk, a hard disk, or a floppy disk may be used. When the recording medium of the information recording unit 37 is changed, the data transmitting / receiving unit 39 is provided with a data pickup adapted to the changed recording medium. For example, if the recording medium is a hard disk, the data transmission / reception unit 39 includes a magnetic signal writing / reading device such as a core head.

The data 38c of the information storage unit 37 includes administrative area data, map data, intersection data, node data, road data, photograph data, destination point data, guide point data, detailed destination data necessary for the navigation operation. , Destination reading data, house shape data, and other data. Further, the navigation operation is executed by the program 38b stored in the information storage unit 37 using the road map data of the data 38c. The navigation program is read from the information storage unit 37 by the data transmission / reception unit 39 and written in the flash memory 3. Other data include display guidance data, voice guidance data, simplified guidance route image data, and the like.

Further, as the data of the data 38c, there is also included a link data file F17 representing the correspondence of the road numbers of the roads on the map, corresponding to the link numbers sent from the road information station.

The data 38c of the information storage unit 37 stores map data of different scales or map data of one scale. That is, data 3
Either a map of the same area and different scales are recorded in 8c, or only map data of one scale is recorded in the data 38c.
When map data of one scale is recorded, the scale is determined so that detailed information can be displayed when the map is enlarged and displayed on the display 33.

It should be noted that only one map data is the data 38
In the case where a small-scale map, that is, a map representing a wide geographical area (wide-area map) is displayed on the display 33 in the case where the information is recorded in the data 38c, the information is thinned out from the map data recorded in the data 38c and displayed. Is done. In the thinning-out display of the map data of the data 38c, not only the geographical distance of each road and the like is reduced, but also the thinning-out of display symbol information of facilities and the like. In other words, to focus on large or major facilities,
Information thinning is performed.

3. FIG. 3 shows the contents of each data file stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37. Map data file F
1 stores map data such as a nationwide road map, a local road map or a house map. The road map is composed of major roads, highways, narrow streets, and other roads and ground targets (facilities, etc.). The house map is a city map on which a figure representing an outer shape of a ground building or the like and road names are displayed. A narrow street is a road that is not used in a route search process described later. For example, narrow streets having a width equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and city roads and private roads other than national roads or prefectural roads are narrow streets. In other words, a road where it is relatively difficult for general vehicles to face each other corresponds to a narrow street.

The intersection data file F2 stores data on the intersection, such as the geographical position coordinates and names of the intersection. The node data file F3 stores, for example, geographic coordinate data of each node used for a route search on a map. The road data file F4 stores data on roads, such as the position and type of road, the number of lanes, and the connection relationship between roads. The photograph data file F5 stores image data of photographs of places where visual display is required, such as various facilities, sightseeing spots, and major intersections.

The name-position data file F6 includes data and positions (longitude and latitude) of a number of places such as a facility, a company, a business place, a recreational area, a sightseeing spot, and a business place selected as a destination. ) Data are stored in association with each other, and are composed of a data group in which the position of the destination is searched from the input name, and a data group in which the name of the destination is searched from the input position. In the former data group, the name data is arranged in alphabetical order or alphabetical order, and in the latter data group, the position data is arranged in the order of larger longitude value or larger latitude value.

In the address-position data file F7, a large number of address data and position (longitude and latitude) data corresponding to the address data are stored in association with each other, and the position of the destination is determined from the input address. It consists of a data group to be searched and a data group in which the address of the destination is searched from the input position. In the former data group, the address data is arranged in alphabetical order, in alphabetical order, in the direction from east, west, north or south, and in the latter data group, the position data is arranged in descending order of longitude value or descending latitude value. Have been.

The telephone number-position data file F8 includes:
A large number of telephone numbers and position (longitude and latitude) data of locations corresponding to the telephone numbers are stored in association with each other, and a data group in which the position of the destination is searched from the input telephone number, The telephone number of the destination is searched from the position which has been set, and the data is composed of a data group. In the former data group, telephone number data is arranged in ascending order of numerical values of telephone numbers, and in the latter data group, position data is arranged in ascending order of longitude values or ascending latitude values.

The guidance point data file F9 stores guidance data of points requiring guidance such as the contents of a guidance display board installed on a road and guidance of a junction.
The detailed destination data file F10 stores detailed data relating to the destination stored in the name-position data file F6. The road name data file F11 stores name data of main roads among the roads stored in the road data file F4. The branch point name data file F12 stores name data of main branch points.

The registered telephone number data file F13 contains
Stores telephone number data such as business partners registered by manual operation of the user that the user wants to remember. The landmark data file F14 stores data such as the position of a landmark on the way of travel and the position and name of a place to be remembered, which are input by the user through a manual operation. The point data file F15 stores detailed data of the landmark points stored in the landmark data file F14. In the facility data file F16, data such as the position and description of a target such as a place to visit other than the destination such as a gas station, a convenience store, or a parking lot is stored.

The link data file F17 stores data indicating which road in the road data file F4 corresponds to the link number included in the VICS information sent from the road information station or the like.

The administrative area data file F18 includes a plurality of pieces of administrative area information indicating administrative areas whose longitude width and latitude width are within 1 degree, and information on longitude and latitude degrees corresponding to each of these administrative area information. Are stored correspondingly.

In Japan, this administrative area is divided into prefectures. Hokkaido is divided into Ishikari and Kushiro branches. Large prefectures and large branches such as Iwate, Niigata, and Nagano are divided into two parts, the northern part and the southern part, the eastern part and the western part, the northeastern part, the northwestern part, the southeastern part, and the southwestern part. It is divided into four. In some cases, government-designated cities such as Nagoya, Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Chiba, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Kitakyushu are also stored individually.

This administrative area may be divided for each municipal or municipal. Few cities, counties, towns, and villages have a longitude width and latitude width exceeding 1 degree. Once crossed, it is divided into two parts, northern and southern parts, eastern and western parts, and four parts: northeastern, northwestern, southeastern, and southwestern parts.

It should be noted that the method of dividing the administrative area having a width exceeding one degree may be another method. For example, Owari and Mikawa in Aichi Prefecture, Mino and Hida in Gifu Prefecture, and Tomi, Suruga and Izu in Shizuoka Prefecture. This is also included in this administrative area.

The location-area name data file F19 includes:
The name of each administrative area and the longitude and latitude information of the boundary of the administrative area are stored in association with each other. The longitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds) and the latitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds) of the input point are converted in the point-area name data file F19, and the name of the administrative area to which the point belongs is searched.

4. Administrative Area Data File F18 FIG. 4 shows the administrative area data file F18. Each administrative area information and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each administrative area information are stored in association with each other. The longitude and latitude information corresponding to each of the administrative area information is, for example, 139 degrees east longitude 35 degrees north latitude in Tokyo, 135 degrees east longitude 34 degrees north latitude in Osaka, and 136 degrees east longitude in Nagoya city. The value is 35 degrees north latitude.

FIG. 5 shows a case where one administrative area (prefecture) extends over two longitude and two latitude ranges, that is, a case where it extends over four longitude and latitude areas. These two longitudes are 136 degrees and 137 degrees east longitude, and the two latitudes are 34 degrees and 35 degrees north latitude. In this case, the longitude of the meridian passing through this administrative area and the latitude of the latitude are represented. In the example of FIG. 5, it is 137 degrees east longitude and 35 degrees north latitude.

In this case, the minute and second of the portion "A" in FIG. 5 are within 136 degrees east longitude and 35 degrees north latitude, and the minute and second portion of "B" are within 136 degrees east longitude and 34 degrees north latitude. , "D"
The minute and second part are within 137 degrees east longitude and 34 degrees north latitude, and the minute and second part of "C" are within 137 degrees east longitude and 35 degrees north latitude. When this administrative area is represented by 137 degrees east longitude and 35 degrees north latitude as described above, the minutes and seconds other than the part “C” are “A1,” “B1,” “D,” as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.
1 ".

The correction reference data Ae-u, An-d, Be
-U, Bnu-u, De-d, Dnu-u
This is for correcting the positional deviation of the portions 1, B 1, and D 1. "A" in these correction reference data
"e" and "An" are the east longitude and north latitude values surrounding the portion "A1", "Be" and "Bn" are the east longitude and north latitude values surrounding the portion "B1", "De" and "Dn" are An east longitude value and a north latitude value surrounding the portion "D1" are shown. "-U (binary" 1 ")"
Indicates an area having a longitude or latitude larger than these east longitude values or north latitude values, and "-d (binary" 0 ")" indicates an area having a longitude or latitude smaller than these east longitude values or north latitude values.

The minutes and seconds in the above administrative area are the corrected reference data Ae-u, An-d, Be-u, Bn-
u, De-d, and Dnu, if they are in the area indicated by the representative longitude and latitude of the administrative area,
The longitude and / or the latitude are set to “−1”. For example, if "-u (binary" 1 ")" is appended to the east longitude value or north latitude value of the correction reference data to which it belongs, the representative east longitude value or north latitude value of the administrative area is corrected by "-1". , "-D
(A binary "0") ", the representative east longitude or north latitude of the administrative area is not corrected.

Thus, even if one administrative area extends over two, three or four longitude and latitude areas, this administrative area is represented by one longitude and latitude. In the case where any one of the parts “C”, “A1”, “B1”, and “D1” in FIG. 5 overlaps, this administrative area is divided into two or more. This is because it cannot be determined to which part the point of the overlapped part belongs. For example, large prefectures such as Iwate, Niigata, and Nagano are divided into two parts: northern and southern parts, two parts in the eastern and western parts, and three parts in the central, northern, and southern parts.
Divided into three parts: central, eastern, and west; divided into four parts: northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest; and five parts: central, east, west, south, and north Or the central, northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. If one administrative area falls within one longitude width and one latitude width, this administrative area is naturally represented by the longitude and latitude of this longitude width and latitude width.

5. FIG. 6 shows the above-mentioned point-area name data file F19.
A place name in Japan generally has a configuration as shown in FIG. In other words, the administrative area divided by "prefecture" is divided by "city, ward, or county", and the administrative area is further divided by "ward, town, village". The inside is further divided by "town, oaza, chome, street address". Here, for convenience, each part of the place name is hierarchized into a 0th layer, a 1st layer, a 2nd layer, and a 3rd layer shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the administrative area is identifiable for the 0th, 1st and 2nd layers of the place name.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of only a part of the first and second layers in the above hierarchy. Actually, there is a database of the 0th layer, which covers the whole of Japan. FIG. 7 shows an example of an administrative area of the first layer whose boundary is indicated by a solid line and an administrative area of the second layer whose boundary is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line. Each administrative area has its boundary indicated by a closed curve. In this embodiment, the closed curve is represented by a set of a plurality of curves (referred to as links in this example) indicating boundaries between mutually adjacent areas. For example, point P1,
The boundary line of the area A indicated by one closed curve passing through P2, P3 and P4 is a link between the points P1 and P2, the point P2 in this example.
Link between P3, link between points P3 and P4, and point P
Represented by the link between 1-P4.

The database includes a link table and an area table for each layer as shown in FIG. A link is a curve that is approximately represented by a broken line, and the link table pre-registers the number of coordinates of points forming the broken line and the coordinates (latitude, longitude) of each point in the link table. Have been. In the area table, each administrative area (for example, area A in FIG. 7)
Are registered in advance with the numbers of the respective link groups constituting the group, the area name of the area, and the lower pointer.

The lower pointer of the first layer area table indicates the head memory address of the position where the second layer table included in the area exists. In other words, when the administrative area of the first layer is specified, the memory address of the information of the second layer within the range of the area is specified by the lower pointer, so that the data amount of the second layer to be processed is greatly increased. Can be reduced to Similarly, although not shown, when the area of the 0th layer is specified, the memory address of the database of the 1st layer in the area included in the area can be obtained by the lower pointer included in the area.

Since the shape indicating the boundary of an administrative area may be very complicated, it is relatively difficult to accurately identify which administrative area an arbitrary point belongs to. In this embodiment, it is identified by the "vertical line algorithm". That is, according to the "vertical line algorithm" based on Jordan's curve theorem, it is determined whether an arbitrary point P belongs to the inside or outside of a given closed curve.
The number of points where the straight line extending in a predetermined direction starting from the point P intersects with the closed curve is counted. If the number of intersections is odd, it is possible to judge that the intersection is inside the closed curve, and if the number of intersections is even, it is outside the closed curve. ), The number of intersections between a straight line extending in a predetermined direction and a curve indicating the outline of each administrative area,
It is accurately identified to which administrative region the point of the input coordinates belongs.

6. Data Contents of RAM 5 FIG. 8 shows a part of a data group stored in the RAM 5.
The current position data MP is data representing the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 20. The absolute azimuth data ZD is data indicating the north-south direction, and is obtained based on information from the absolute azimuth sensor 21. The relative azimuth data Dθ is angle data that the traveling direction of the host vehicle makes with respect to the absolute azimuth data ZD. The relative azimuth data Dθ is obtained based on information from the relative azimuth sensor 22.

The traveling distance data ML is the traveling distance of the own vehicle, and is obtained based on the data from the distance sensor 23. The current position information PI is data related to the current position, and is input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27. The VICS data VD and the ATIS data AD are data input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27. Based on the VICS data VD or the ATIS data AD, a local traffic regulation, a traffic congestion state, a facility congestion state such as a parking lot, and the like are determined, and a predetermined process described later is executed. In addition, the GPS receiver 25
There is also a case where the error correction of the own vehicle position detected by the above is executed.

The registered destination data TP is data on the destination registered by the user, such as the coordinate position and name of the destination. In the guidance start point data SP, map coordinate data of a point where the navigation operation is started is stored. Similarly, the final guide point data ED stores the map coordinate data of the point where the navigation operation ends.

The guidance start point data SP uses the node coordinates on the guide road closest to the current position or the departure point of the vehicle. This guidance start point data SP
Is stored because the current position of the vehicle according to the current position data MP is, for example, in a site such as a golf course or a parking lot, and is not necessarily on the guide road. Similarly, the guidance final point data ED also stores the node coordinates on the guidance road closest to the registered destination data TP. The reason why the guidance final point data ED is stored is that the coordinates of the registered destination data TP may not be on the guidance road.

Guide route data MW stored in RAM 5
Is data indicating an optimal route to the destination or a recommended route, and is obtained by a route search process or a re-search process of step SA4 described later. Each road in the road map stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37 has a unique road number. The guide route data MW includes a row of road numbers from the guide start point data SP to the final guide point data ED.

The mode set data MD is data used in a destination setting process described later. The mode set data MD is set by a touch switch 34 laminated on the display 33. The mode content displayed on the display 33 is specified by the mode set data MD. The stopover DP is
This is information on facilities and the like that drop in during the guidance route.

7. Overall Processing FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of overall processing executed by the CPU 2. This process starts when the power is turned on, is repeatedly executed, and ends when the power is turned off.
The turning on and off of the power is executed when the power of the navigation device itself is turned on and off, or when the engine start key (ignition switch) of the vehicle is turned on and off.

The initialization process in step SA1 in FIG. 9 is as follows. First, a navigation program is read from the information storage unit 37. The read navigation program is copied (installed) in the flash memory 3. Thereafter, the program of the flash memory 3 is executed. Further, the CPU 2 clears a general-purpose data storage area in each RAM such as the work memory of the RAM 5 and the image memory 10.

The copying of the program to the flash memory 3 is executed when a new program 38b is set in the navigation device by replacing the information storage unit 37. That is, the copying of the program to the flash memory 3 is performed only when the new information storage unit 37 is set in the navigation device for the first time. Therefore, if it is determined based on the disk management information 38a that the information storage unit 37 has not been replaced, the copying of the program to the flash memory 3 is omitted.

As described above, when the initialization processing is completed, the current position processing (step SA2), the destination setting processing (step SA3), and the route search processing (step SA3)
4) The guidance / display processing (step SA5) and other processing (step SA6) are cyclically executed. Note that the destination setting process (step SA3) and the route search process (step SA4) are not performed repeatedly when the destination is not changed, or the vehicle does not depart from the route.

In the current position processing (step SA2), the geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the own vehicle, which is the ground moving body on which the navigation device is loaded, are detected. That is, the GPS receiver 25 receives radio waves from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth. From the radio waves from each satellite, the coordinate position of each satellite, the radio wave transmission time at the satellite, and the radio wave reception time at the GPS receiver 25 are detected. From these information, the distance to each satellite is obtained by calculation. From the distance from each satellite, the coordinate position of the vehicle on the earth surface is obtained.
The obtained coordinate position of the vehicle is represented by the current position data M
It is stored in the RAM 5 as P. The current position data MP may be corrected by information input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data receiving device 27.

In the current position processing (step SA2), the absolute azimuth data ZD and the relative azimuth data Dθ
And the travel distance data ML are obtained using the absolute direction sensor 21, the relative direction sensor 22, and the distance sensor 23. Calculation processing for specifying the position of the own vehicle is performed from the absolute azimuth data ZD, the relative azimuth data Dθ, and the traveling distance data ML. The position of the host vehicle obtained by this calculation process is compared with the map data stored in the data 38c of the information storage unit 37, and correction is performed so that the current position on the map screen is accurately displayed. By this correction processing, even when a GPS signal cannot be received in a tunnel or the like, the current position of the own vehicle can be accurately obtained.

In the destination setting process (step SA3),
The geographical coordinates of the destination desired by the user are set as the registered destination data TP. For example, the coordinates of the destination are specified by the user using a road map or a house map displayed on the display 33. Or, from the itemized list of destinations displayed on the display 33,
The destination is specified by the user. When the user performs a destination designation operation, information data such as geographic coordinates of the destination is stored in the RAM 5 as registered destination data TP.

In the route search process (step SA4), an optimum route from the guidance start point data SP to the final guide point data ED is searched. Note that the optimal route here is as follows. For example, a route that can reach the destination in the shortest time or the shortest distance, or a route when a wider road is preferentially used. Furthermore, when a highway is used, a route or the like that can reach the destination in the shortest time or the shortest distance using the highway is used.

The same data as the current position data MP is set in the guidance start point data SP, or
Node data on the guidance target road near the current position data MP is set. Note that there is an auto reroute mode in which, when the current traveling position of the host vehicle deviates from the guide route, an optimal route from the deviated current position to the final guide point is automatically re-searched. If the auto reroute mode is not set, the route is not searched again. When a stopover point is set as the guide route, a route via the stopover point may be searched.

In the guidance / display processing (step SA5),
The guidance route obtained in the route search processing (step SA4) or the route re-search processing is displayed on the display 33 with the current position of the own vehicle as the center. The guidance route displayed on the display 33 is displayed on the display map so as to be identifiable. For example, on the map displayed on the display 33, the guide route is displayed in a different color, for example. Further, according to this guide route, road guidance information is output from the speaker 13 so that the vehicle can travel favorably. Accordingly, various types of guidance information are displayed on the display 33 as needed. The image data for displaying the guidance route is
The road map data around the current position of the data 38c in the information storage unit 37 or the house map data around the current position is used.

The switching between the road map data and the house map data is performed under the following conditions. For example, a guide point (destination, drop-in place, intersection, etc.)
Distance, the speed of the host vehicle, the size of the displayable area, the switch operation of the operator, or the like. In addition, guidance points (destinations, stopovers, intersections, etc.)
In the vicinity, an enlarged map near the guide point is displayed on the display 33. Note that a simplified guidance route image may be displayed on the display 33 instead of the road map.
In the simplified guide route image, for example, display of geographical information is omitted, and only necessary minimum information such as a guide route, a direction of a destination or a stopover place, and a current position is displayed.

After the guidance / display processing in step SA5,
"Other processing" (step SA6) is executed. In this “other processing”, the nearest facility processing may be executed. The nearest facility process is a process of searching for and specifying a stopover place (facility, etc.) other than the registered destination data TP. The data about this stopover is
It is determined using a map displayed on the display 33 or information on each item. The nearest facility processing is performed in the same manner as the destination setting processing in step SA3.

In the “other processing”, for example, it is determined whether or not the traveling position of the own vehicle is along the calculated guide route. That is, when it is detected that the own vehicle has deviated from the guide route, the state flag for starting each processing is set so that the route re-search is performed. Further, it is also determined whether or not a destination change command has been input by an operator's switch operation.

When the processing in step SA7 is completed, the processing is repeated from the current position processing (step SA2). In addition, even when the own vehicle has arrived at the destination, the route guidance / display process is terminated, and the process returns to step SA2 again. Thus, Step SA2 to Step SA
The processing up to 7 is sequentially repeated.

8. Geographical coordinate conversion processing FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the geographical coordinate conversion processing executed in step SA3. In this process, the inputted administrative area information and the minute and second point information are converted into pure latitude and longitude geographic coordinates.

A list of names of administrative areas is displayed by operating the touch switch 34, and one of the displayed names is selected by operating the touch switch 34, and this administrative area information is input and stored in the RAM 5 ( Steps SB1 and SB2). Furthermore, if the numerical values of the minute and second points are input by operating the touch switch 34, R
It is stored in AM5 (steps SB3, SB4).

Next, the east longitude value and the north latitude value corresponding to the inputted administrative area information are stored in the administrative area data file F18.
And stored in the RAM 5 (step SB
5). Further, the inputted minute and second point information and the correction reference data Ae-
u, An-d, Be-u, Bnu-u, De-d, Dn-
u is compared (step SB6).

If the minute and second point information is in the area indicated by the correction reference data (step SB7), the east longitude value and / or the east longitude value corresponding to the administrative area information read in step SB5 is obtained. The north latitude value is corrected by "-1" (step SB8). Thereby, the minute and second point information of the portions “A”, “B”, and “D” in FIG. 5 is not mistakenly set to “A1”, “B1”, and “D1”.

The corrected east longitude value and north latitude value are processed as geographical coordinates together with the input minute and second point information. Map data centered on or including the input and converted geographic coordinates is read from the map data file F1, sent to the image processor 9, and displayed on the display 33 (step SB9).

Further, at the center or a predetermined position of the displayed map data, that is, at the input and converted geographical coordinates, a mark such as a circle or a star is displayed as a destination or a stopover (step SB10). . The route to the destination or the stop-off place is searched in the above-mentioned step SA4, and guidance / display to this destination or the drop-out place is executed in the above-mentioned step SA5.

If the touch switch 34 issues a search instruction for a corresponding name with respect to the input and converted geographical coordinates (step SB11), the name data corresponding to the geographical coordinates is converted to the name-position data. The file F6 is searched and displayed (step SB12). Therefore, the name of the corresponding facility or place can be searched from the navigation code NC.

Further, if there is a search instruction for a corresponding address from the touched switch 34 with respect to the input and converted geographical coordinates (step SB13), the address data corresponding to the geographical coordinates is stored in the address-position data. File F7
And is displayed (step SB14). Therefore, the corresponding address or place name can be searched from the navigation code NC.

As described above, when the operator inputs the navigation code NC, the names of facilities or places, addresses or place names, telephone numbers, postal codes, etc. are displayed on the display 33.
Will be displayed.

Further, if there is a search instruction for the corresponding telephone number from the touch switch 34 with respect to the inputted and converted geographical coordinates (step SB15), the telephone number data corresponding to the geographical coordinates is stored in the telephone number. -Searched from the position data file F8 and displayed (step SB1)
2). Therefore, the corresponding telephone number can be searched from the navigation code NC.

Note that this telephone number can be replaced with a postal code. In this case, the postal code data and the longitude and latitude position data are stored in the telephone number-position data file F8 in association with each other.

In inputting the administrative area information in step SB1, the following input method is also possible. Administrative area information is entered numerically or alphabetically in the same manner as the minutes and seconds. In this case, each administrative area and numerical value (2
Digit or three digits) or an alphabetical correspondence table is prepared.

The navigation code NC shown in FIG. 1 may be described in a magazine, a book, or the like corresponding to the contents of the facility or place, and may be input while looking at the information.
In this case, a barcode may be described and input by a barcode reader.

Further, such a navigation code NC as shown in FIG. 1 can be transmitted by communication from an external facility (ATIS or the like). In this case, the operator operates the data transmitting / receiving device 2 of the mobile phone or the navigation device.
At 7, the storage device of the external facility is accessed, and the corresponding navigation code NC is read and transmitted.

9. Geographic Coordinate Inversion Process FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the geographic coordinate inversion process executed in step SA6 or SA3. By this process, the longitude (degree, minute,
The second) and the latitude (degree, minute, second) are converted in the point-area name data file F19, and the name of the administrative area to which this point belongs is searched.

In FIG. 11, the coordinates (latitude,
Longitude) is input (step 31). The coordinates are searched or obtained by various processes of the navigation device. In some cases, an operator inputs the information or the information is transmitted from an external facility (ATIS). First, "prefecture", that is, the database of the 0th layer is selected for the next processing (step 32). Then, the following area detection processing (FIG. 9) is executed (step 33). This identifies the administrative area of "state"
Using the contents of the lower pointer included in the selection result, only "city, ward, and county", that is, only those in the corresponding area in the first layer database are selected (step 3).
4).

Then, the area detection processing is executed again to identify the administrative area of the city, ward or county to which the current position belongs (step 35). For example, when "Kariya city" is detected here, the name information of "Kariya city" is input from the column of number 1 in the area table shown in FIG. 6, and the contents of the lower pointer p1 in that column are input. I do. Next, only the table of "Kariya city" of the second layer indicated by the obtained lower pointer p1 is selected from the huge second layer database (step 36). The area detection process is executed again to detect the current administrative area in the second layer (step 3).
7). Finally, the place name information obtained by processing the databases of the 0th layer, the 1st layer, and the 2nd layer, for example, information of "Aichi prefecture", "Kariya city", "Asahi town" is stored in a predetermined display memory. (Step 38). The information on the display memory is displayed as a character string on the display surface of the vehicle-mounted display unit 4 in response to a switch operation or the like.

In this way, the name, address or place name of the administrative area corresponding to the input geographical information of longitude and latitude such as degrees, minutes and seconds is retrieved. It should be noted that the search of the administrative area below the municipalities in the steps 34 to 38 can be omitted. The minute and second point information is output without being converted. The name or address or place name of the administrative area and the minute and second point information are output as the navigation code NC.

Note that the input geographic information of longitude and latitude such as degrees, minutes and seconds can be converted from the names of facilities or places, addresses or place names, telephone numbers and postal codes. . In this case, the name, address or place name, telephone number, and postal code of the input facility or place are represented by the above-described name-position data file F6, address-position data file F7, telephone number-position data file F8, and the longitude and latitude. , And this position data is converted to the navigation code NC in steps 31 to 35 described above.

In this case, the telephone number in the telephone number-position data file F8 is replaced with a postal code, and postal code data and longitude and latitude position data are stored in correspondence. Thus, the navigation code NC is retrieved from the name of the facility or place, the address or place name, the telephone number, and the postal code.

As described above, when the operator inputs the name of the facility or place, the address or place name, the telephone number, the postal code, and the like, the searched navigation code NC is displayed on the display 33. The display 33
When a point on the map displayed in is designated by a cursor or the like, the longitude and latitude position data (coordinates) of this point are calculated, and the navigation code NC corresponding to this position data (coordinates) is retrieved and displayed. .

10. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the area detection processing in steps 33, 35, and 37 described above. First, one link information is inputted with reference to a link table in a range to be processed (step 11). Next, information of one line segment constituting the link information is selected from the input link information, and the counter N is cleared (step 12). In the processes of steps 13 to 20, it is checked whether or not the information of the selected line segment intersects with the straight line extending from the current position.

In order to equalize the magnitude relationship between the coordinates x1 and x2, when x1> x2, the contents of the coordinates of x1 and x2 are exchanged, and the contents of the coordinates of y1 and y2 are exchanged (step 1).
3, 14). Thus, in the xy coordinate system shown in FIG. 13, the coordinates (x1, y1) of the first point are aligned so as to be located on the left side of the coordinates (x2, y2) of the second point.

In this example, whether the number of crossings is inside or outside the area is determined depending on whether the number is even or odd, so that the presence or absence of crossing must be strictly checked. In this example, as shown on the lower side of FIG. 13, when there is a coordinate between the two end points (x1, x2) of the line segment, it is considered that there is an intersection, and when the right end (x2) of the line segment is on the coordinate x, When the left end (x1) of the line segment is on the coordinate x, it is considered that there is no crossing. When the line segment overlaps with the straight line (x1 = x2 = x), it is considered that there is no crossing.

It is not x1 = x2 (step 15), and x>
x1 (step 16), and if x ≦ x2 (step 17), the y coordinate yc at the intersecting point is calculated (step 18). In this case, the magnitude relationship between the coordinates of x, x1, and x2 is regarded as having an intersection. Then y and y
is compared with c (step 19). In this example,
Since the straight line extends downward from the coordinates of the current position, the y-coordinate yc of the intersection at the intersection of the straight line and the line segment is located below the y-coordinate (y) of the current position. Next, if y> yc (step 19), the presence of crossover is regarded as valid, the counter N is incremented by 1 (step 20), and the number of detected crosses is counted.

In this example, the case where the straight line extends downward from the current position has been described. However, when extending the straight line upward, the content of step 19 may be changed to "y <yc". Even if the direction in which the straight line is extended is changed to the right or left, the number of crossings can be detected.

The above-described crossover detection processing is executed for all the line segments constituting the link. When it ends, 1
Since the number of times the one line intersects with the straight line exists on the counter N, the content of the counter N is stored as the number of crosses of the link (step 22). These processes are performed for all necessary links (step 23). When the processing is completed, the number of crossings of all links constituting the area (administrative area) is totaled (step 24).

For example, in the area of No. 1 (Tokyo) of the first layer shown in FIG. 6, L11, L12, L13, L1
The sum of the number of crossings of each link of 4,... Is calculated, and the result is set as the number of crossings of the area. If the number of intersections of the area is even, the area is outside the current location. If the number of intersections of the area is odd, the current location is inside the area. Therefore, only an area having an odd number of intersections is detected, and that area is selected as a detection result (step 25).

(11) Second Embodiment FIG. 14 shows a mesh code of a navigation code NC according to a second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the whole of Japan is divided into rectangular sections of about 80 km square (1 / 200,000), and each section is numbered to be a first regional section mesh code. This number has four digits, but since the number of sections is only about 100 on land only, it can be two or three digits.

This section of about 80 km square (1 / 200,000) is about 1 degree in the longitude direction and about 40 minutes in the latitude direction, and when subdivided into a rectangular section of 1 second square in longitude and latitude, 3600 ( Second) (= 1 × 60 × 60) × 2400
(Seconds) (= 40 × 60)
(Seconds) is 4 digits and 2400 (seconds) is also 4 digits,
Each section of each second square is represented by a total of eight digits, and is a one-second section mesh code. This 1 second square section is 1/2 second square section, 1/4 second square section, 1/8 second square section, 1/16
A second square section, a 1/32 second square section, etc. may be used. Each one-second section mesh code and the above-mentioned first area section mesh code indicate each geographical coordinate point with 10 to 12 digits.

In addition, this 80 km square (20
When the subdivision of 1 / 10,000) is subdivided into square sections of 1 meter square, it is divided into 80000 (m) x 80000 (m) sections, and 80000 (m) has 5 digits and is 80,000
Since (m) also has 5 digits, each 1 m square unit is represented by a total of 10 digits, which is a 1 m section mesh code. This 1m square section is 5m square section, 10m square section, 20m
m square section, 25 m square section, 30 m square section ... With this 1m section mesh code and the above-mentioned first area section mesh code, each geographical coordinate point has 12 digits or more.
It is represented by 14 digits.

Further, the whole of Japan is divided into rectangular sections of about 10 km square, and each section is numbered and used as a secondary area section mesh code. This number has six digits, but since the number of sections is around 6,400 on land only, it can be four digits.

[0121] Regarding this secondary area division mesh code, the above 1 second division, 1/2 second division, 1/4 second division ...
・ 1m section, 5m section, 10m section, etc. Each one-second section mesh code and the above-mentioned secondary area section mesh code represent each geographical coordinate point with 10 to 12 digits. Each of the geographical coordinate points is represented by 12 to 14 digits using the 1m section mesh code and the secondary area section mesh code.

Further, the whole of Japan is divided into rectangular sections of about 1 km square, and each section is numbered to form a third regional section mesh code. Although this number has eight digits, the number of sections is only about 640000 on land only, so it can be six digits.

As for the tertiary area division mesh code, the 1 second division, 1/2 second division, 1/4 second division,...
・ 1m section, 5m section, 10m section, etc. Each one-second section mesh code and the tertiary area section mesh code represent each geographical coordinate point with 10 to 12 digits. Each geographical coordinate point is represented by 12 to 14 digits using the 1m section mesh code and the tertiary area section mesh code.

The primary area division mesh code may be a quadrilateral division unit having a longitude of 1 degree and a latitude of 1 degree, or may be a 1/2 degree square division or a 1/4 degree square division. Alternatively, a 250 km square, a 100 km square, a 50 km square, a 25 km square, or the like may be used.

The longitude and latitude corresponding to the primary area division mesh code, the secondary area division mesh code, and the tertiary area division mesh code are stored in the administrative area data file F18, and the above-described steps are performed. The corresponding longitude and latitude are searched and read out at SB5 and SB6. Conversely, the longitude and latitude corresponding to the primary area division mesh code, the secondary area division mesh code, and the tertiary area division mesh code are stored in the above-mentioned location-area name data file F19. From the longitude and latitude of a point,
Primary regional division mesh codes corresponding to 2 to 35,
The secondary area division mesh code and the tertiary area division mesh code are searched and read.

Further, the above 1 m section, 5 m section, 10 m section
The spot information of the section... Can be completely replaced with the spot information such as the minute and the second. In this case, instead of the minute and second point information, the point information of the distance section is stored, input, converted, inversely converted, expressed, or processed.

(11) Third Embodiment FIG. 15 shows a mesh code of a third embodiment of the navigation code NC. In this embodiment, the whole of Japan is divided into 1-square sections, and each section is numbered to be a 1-second section mesh code. Japan is 15 degrees from 120 degrees east
6 degrees, latitude 20 degrees to 46 degrees north. This one
When divided into seconds, 93600 (seconds) x 129600
Since the number of sections is (seconds), 93600 (seconds) is 5 digits and 129600 (seconds) is 6 digits, each 1-second section is represented by a total of 11 digits.

However, if the sea and islands are left on the outer edge of Japan, the sea is omitted, or the islands are combined, the main part of Japan is within the range of 123 to 150 degrees east longitude and 24 to 46 degrees north latitude. . If this is divided into 1 second sections, 79200
(Second) x 97200 (Seconds)
(Second) is 5 digits, and 97200 (Second) is also 5 digits, so each 1 second section is represented by a total of 10 digits.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be implemented in a navigation device or a portable or general computer. The functions of the circuits in the above-described drawings may be implemented by software (flowcharts), and the functions of the flowcharts in the above-described drawings may be implemented by hardware (circuits).

Further, all or a part of the processing of the above-described flowchart may be executed in an information management center such as VICS or ATIS. This processing result (processing information) is received by the data transmitting / receiving device 27. For example,
The destination setting process (step SA3) and the route search process (step SA4) in FIG. 5 are executed in the information processing center where the map information is stored. Then, the searched guidance route data is transferred to the navigation device of the present invention via the data transmitting / receiving device 27.

[0131] Further, guidance display processing is executed based on the transmitted guidance route data. That is, information such as a search condition for a destination or a drop-in facility and a route search condition is sent from the navigation device of the present invention to the information management center. In the information management center, a search for a desired facility and a search for a route to a destination are performed based on the transmitted conditions. Then, information on the search, extraction, and search results is transmitted from the information management center to the navigation device together with map information and the like.

In the navigation device, the search facility is displayed on the display 33 based on the received search / extraction / search results. In this way, it is possible to search, extract, and search for each facility based on the detailed and latest information of each facility related to the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle. Further, in the facility search, it is possible to perform a search in consideration of an environmental change of a surrounding road (new construction of a one-way road or the like). In this case, the information on each facility stored in the information management center needs to be constantly updated.

Further, each program described in the present invention,
Information storage unit 37 storing information such as maps and display symbols
May be portable or can be used on a general computer device. That is, the program stored in the information storage unit 37 is a program that can be executed by a general computer. The information storage unit 3 includes a device capable of detecting the current position by the GPS receiver 25.
If the computer 7 is connected to a portable computer, the computer can also perform navigation processing. Further, the present invention can be applied to a navigation device such as a vehicle other than an automobile, a ship, an aircraft, a helicopter and the like. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied not only to a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as an automobile, but also to a portable navigation device. That is, the present invention may be applied to a small-sized navigation device that can be carried by a human and used in cycling, travel, mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, and the like.

The present invention described in each of the above-mentioned claims includes a geographic coordinate input device / method, a geographic coordinate processing device / method,
The present invention can also be executed as a geographic coordinate display device / method, a medium storing a computer program, and a communication method / communication device of a computer program.

[0135]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the area information indicating a large number of areas within a wide geographical area, regardless of longitude and latitude, A specific geographical point is represented by a combination with point information indicating a subdivided point which is further subdivided. Therefore, there is an effect that the geographical coordinates can be specified with a small number of digits.

Further, according to the present invention, area information indicating an area whose longitude and latitude widths are within 1 degree, and a point indicating at least minutes and seconds excluding the longitude and latitude degrees of a specific point in this area. A specific geographical point is now represented by a combination with information. Therefore, there is an effect that the geographical coordinates can be specified with a small number of digits.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of pieces of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored in association with each other. , The longitude and latitude corresponding to the generated local information are read out from the stored longitude and latitude information corresponding to the local information, and the longitude and latitude of a specific point in the area are read out. Point information indicating at least minutes and seconds excluding, the generated point information,
The information is output together with the longitude and latitude information corresponding to the read area. Therefore, the information entered as regional information and longitude and latitude minutes and seconds,
By converting to longitude and latitude information such as degrees, minutes, and seconds, information that is convenient for humans can be converted into a style that is compatible with the processing of the device, and the device can be used easily by humans. To play.

According to the present invention, a plurality of pieces of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored in association with each other. Of the generated degrees, minutes and seconds, and reads out the regional information corresponding to the degrees from the stored regional information corresponding to the longitude and latitude degrees information. Is output together with the minute and second of the longitude, latitude and longitude of the occurrence degree, minute and second. Therefore, of the information generated in degrees, minutes, and seconds of longitude and latitude, the degrees can be converted into regions, and the information suitable for the processing of the device can be converted into a style that is convenient for humans. It has effects such as being easy to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a navigation code NC.

FIG. 2 shows an entire circuit of the navigation device.

FIG. 3 shows storage contents of data 38c in an information storage unit 37.

FIG. 4 shows an administrative area data file F18.

FIG. 5 shows correction processing when one administrative area belongs to a plurality of longitude or latitude areas.

FIG. 6 shows a point-area name data file F19.

FIG. 7 shows boundaries of administrative areas.

FIG. 8 shows data stored in a RAM 5.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of overall processing.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a geographical coordinate conversion process.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a geographic coordinate inverse transformation process.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of a region detection process.

FIG. 13 shows an intersection state between a boundary of an administrative area and an extension line.

FIG. 14 shows a navigation code NC according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a navigation code NC according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Processing part, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... Flash memory, 4 ...
ROM, 5 RAM, 7 sensor input interface,
8 communication interface, 9 image processor, 10 ...
Image memory, 11: audio processor, 13: speaker,
20: current position detecting device, 21: absolute direction sensor, 22
... Relative bearing sensor, 23 ... Distance sensor, 24 ... Speed sensor, 25 ... GPS receiver, 26 ... Beacon receiver
27: data transmission / reception device, 30: input / output device, 33: display, 34: touch panel, 37: information storage unit,
38a: disk management information, 39: data transmission / reception unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A device for representing a specific geographical point, a plurality of areas in a wide geographical area, and area information indicating the plurality of areas regardless of longitude and latitude; A geographical coordinate representation device characterized in that a geographical specific point is represented by a combination with point information indicating a subdivided point in which the inside is further subdivided. 2. An apparatus for indicating a specific geographical point, a plurality of areas in a wide geographical area, and area information indicating the plurality of areas regardless of longitude and latitude; A geographical coordinate representation method characterized in that a specific geographical point is represented by a combination with point information indicating a subdivided point obtained by further subdividing the inside. 3. A device representing a geographical specific point, excluding area information indicating an area whose longitude and latitude widths are within 1 degree, and excluding a longitude and latitude degree of the specific point in this area. A geographical coordinate expressing apparatus, wherein a geographical specific point is represented by a combination with point information indicating at least minutes and seconds. 4. A method for representing a geographical specific point, excluding area information indicating an area whose longitude and latitude widths are within 1 degree, and excluding a longitude and a latitude degree of a specific point in this area. A geographical coordinate expressing method, wherein a specific geographical point is represented by a combination with point information indicating at least minutes and seconds. 5. A computer-readable storage medium on which geographical coordinates are recorded, wherein regions indicating regions where the width of longitude and the width of latitude are within 1 degree are stored in a predetermined order. The longitude and latitude information corresponding to
A geographic information storage medium characterized by being stored corresponding to the area information. 6. The longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each of the area information is stored in association with the area information, and the area information is converted into the longitude and latitude degree information. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
Or the geographic information storage medium, the geographic coordinate expression device or the geographic coordinate expression method according to 5. 7. Each of the above-mentioned area information is a lot of section information sectioned into a rectangular shape different from the longitude and the latitude, and the point information excludes the longitude and the latitude of a specific point in this section. 7. The geographic information storage medium, the geographic coordinate expression device, or the geographic coordinate expression method according to claim 1, wherein the information is information indicating at least minutes and seconds. 8. A means for storing a plurality of pieces of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and storing longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information in association with each other; Means for reading out the degrees of longitude and latitude corresponding to the generated area information from the stored information of degrees of longitude and latitude corresponding to the stored area information; and means for reading the longitude and latitude of a specific point in the area. Means for outputting the generated point information together with the longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to the read area, wherein the point information indicates at least minutes and seconds excluding the degree. Characteristic geographic coordinate conversion device. 9. A plurality of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored and generated in association with each other. The degrees of longitude and latitude corresponding to the area information are read from the information of degrees of longitude and latitude corresponding to the stored area information, and the degrees of longitude and latitude of a specific point in this area are excluded. A geographical coordinate conversion method, comprising outputting point information indicating at least minutes and seconds, and the generated point information, together with longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to the read area. 10. A plurality of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored and generated in association with each other. The longitude and latitude corresponding to the area information
A process of reading from the stored longitude and latitude information corresponding to each of the stored regional information; and location information indicating at least minutes and seconds excluding the longitude and latitude of a specific point in this area. A storage medium storing a program for geographical coordinate conversion, the program causing a computer to execute the process of outputting the obtained point information together with the information of the longitude and latitude corresponding to the read area. 11. A means for storing a plurality of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and storing the longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information in association with each other; Means for reading, from the generated longitude, latitude and longitude of minutes and seconds, regional information corresponding to degrees from the stored regional information corresponding to the information of degrees of longitude and latitude; Means for outputting information along with the minute and second of the longitude, latitude and longitude of the degree, minute and second when the information is generated. 12. A plurality of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored and generated in association with each other. Out of the longitude and the latitude in minutes, minutes and seconds, the area information corresponding to the degrees is read out from the area information corresponding to the stored degrees of longitude and latitude information. A geographical coordinate conversion method characterized by outputting together with the minute and second of the longitude and latitude of the generated degree, minute and second. 13. A plurality of area information indicating an area having a longitude width and a latitude width within 1 degree, and longitude and latitude degree information corresponding to each area information are stored and generated in association with each other. Processing of reading out the local information corresponding to the degree from the longitude and the latitude of the minute and the second from the stored regional information corresponding to the information of the degree of the longitude and the latitude. A storage medium storing a program for geographical coordinate conversion, which causes a computer to execute a process of outputting together with the minutes and seconds of the longitude and latitude of the generated degrees, minutes and seconds. 14. For each of the above-mentioned areas, information for determining the longitude and / or latitude where this area cannot exist is stored. Even if the point is within the above-mentioned area, the longitude and latitude corresponding to the above-mentioned area information are stored. If the point is out of the area when the corresponding longitude and latitude are taken as it is at a position deviated from the degree and the longitude and / or latitude where the area cannot exist is determined. The longitude and latitude of the point are corrected on the basis of the information to be processed.
A geographic information storage medium, a geographic coordinate expression device, a geographic coordinate expression method, a geographic coordinate conversion device, a geographic coordinate conversion method, or a program for geographic coordinate conversion described in 10, 11, 12, or 13 is stored. Storage medium.