JP2000193463A - Navigation system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a load on a user by recognizing an operation state and input manipulation state before reading a character data corresponding to the recognized operation or manipulation state, for displaying character image. SOLUTION: An input device comprises functions such as inputting a destination and instructing a central processing device to perform navigation process on the intention of a driver. As a means for realizing the functions, a remote controller, etc., such as a touch switch and jog-dial for inputting the telephone number of a destination and the coordinate on a map or requesting a course guide are used. When the device starts operation causing change (step S1), the type of change content is discriminated (S2). The type of change content means device's operation state or remote controller's action, the type is discriminated, and the character's representing content (behavior, looks, etc.), is read to an information storage device for each type (S3). Then the image of character is displayed on a map (S4).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device and a storage medium for providing guidance through a personified character.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a conventional navigation device which displays that a system state is being searched by an hourglass, a progress bar, a message, or the like. In a navigation device having a voice recognition function, the character interacts with the character, and the character changes its expression during answering, confirming, recognizing, and waiting. Appearing things have been proposed.

[0003]

A device that displays the status of the system with an hourglass, a progress bar, a message, and the like can grasp the unified operation state, but can grasp the operation state in multiple ways. could not. In addition, the characters used in the conventional navigation screen mainly represent a system state such as “listen”, “speak”, and “stand by”, and an operation (during calculation). Absent. The expression of the guidance is limited to a route line on the screen, a voice, a route information screen in a menu, and the like. Also, in the conventional guidance display screen (on the map), it is difficult to distinguish between “right” and “left” of the road, and in the route information screen, the distinction between “right” and “left” can be made. Not easy to understand. For example, when guiding to the nearest point, guidance conditions are that the distance is far and near with respect to the route, but there is no concept of the "easy to approach" side in running. Therefore, when guiding the nearest point, at present, it is selected and displayed on the screen based on the number of cases and the condition of the search range. In addition, since there is no linkage with auditory guidance by voice etc., the driver always reads, selects, decides and runs the information displayed on the screen,
The load of reading guidance information is high for the driver.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to reduce a load when a driver takes in guidance information and screen information.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus for displaying various kinds of guidance information on navigation on a display device, an operation state recognizing means for recognizing an operation state of the navigation apparatus, and an operation state recognizing means. Control means for outputting an image of the character corresponding to the operating state to the display means. Further, the present invention further comprises information storage means for storing data of a character corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device, wherein the control means stores the character data corresponding to the operation state recognized by the operation state recognition means. Character images are read from the information storage means and displayed on the display means. Further, according to the present invention, the operation state of the navigation device recognized by the operation state recognition unit is:
It is characterized by an input waiting state, a search state, and a guidance state. Further, the present invention further includes a voice output unit for outputting information necessary for guidance by voice, wherein the control unit presents the information by a character image and a voice. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the character image presents information by size, orientation, pose, movement, or expression.

Further, the present invention relates to a navigation device for displaying various kinds of guidance information on navigation on a display device, an input operation means, an operation state recognition means for recognizing an operation state of the input operation means, and an operation state recognition means. Control means for outputting an image of a character corresponding to the operation state recognized by the means to the display means. Further, the present invention further comprises information storage means for storing data of a character corresponding to the input operation state, wherein the control means stores the data of the character corresponding to the operation state recognized by the operation state recognition means in the information storage. The character image is read out from the means and displayed on the display means. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the operation states of the input operation means recognized by the operation state recognition means are a selection state and a setting state. Further, the present invention further provides:
Equipped with voice output means for voice output of information necessary for guidance,
The control means presents information by a character image and sound. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the character image presents information by size, orientation, pose, movement, or expression.

[0007] The storage medium of the present invention is characterized by storing a program including a step of recognizing an operation state of a navigation device and a step of displaying an image of a character corresponding to the recognized operation state. Further, the storage medium of the present invention is characterized by storing a program including a step of recognizing an operation state of the input operation means and a step of displaying an image of a character corresponding to the recognized operation state. Further, the storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that as a data structure for displaying an image of a character corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device, image data of the character corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device is stored as a table. I do. Further, the storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that as a data structure for displaying an image of a character corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device, image data of the character corresponding to the operation state is stored as a table.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a navigation device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a navigation device that presents information by a character image. An input device 1 for inputting information relating to route guidance; a current position detecting device 2 for detecting information relating to the current position of the vehicle; navigation data required for calculating a route; display / voice guidance data required for route guidance; An information storage device 3 in which data and a program (application and / or OS) for presenting information by images are recorded, display / voice guidance processing necessary for route search processing and route guidance, and presentation of information by character images Central processing unit 4 for performing processing for controlling the entire system, transmitting and receiving, for example, road information and traffic information which are information relating to the running of the vehicle, detecting information relating to the current position of the vehicle, and further relating to the current position. An information transmitting / receiving device 5 for transmitting / receiving information and an output device 6 for outputting information related to route guidance It has been.

The input device 1 has a function of inputting a destination and instructing the central processing unit 4 to perform a navigation process according to a driver's intention. As a means for realizing the function, a remote controller such as a touch switch or a jog dial for inputting a destination as a telephone number or coordinates on a map or requesting route guidance can be used. Further, the present invention includes a device for performing a dialogue by voice input, and functions as a voice input device. Further, a recording card reader for reading data recorded on an IC card or a magnetic card can be added. In addition, an information center that stores data necessary for navigation and provides information through a communication line at the request of the driver, and a portable type that has data such as map data, destination data, simple maps, and building shape maps A data communication device for exchanging data with an information source such as an electronic device can also be added.

The current position detecting device 2 obtains the current position information of the vehicle using a satellite navigation system (GPS), and detects the traveling direction of the vehicle in an absolute direction by using, for example, geomagnetism. Sensor, a traveling direction of the vehicle, for example, a steering sensor, a relative direction sensor that detects the relative direction by using a gyro sensor,
For example, it comprises a distance sensor for detecting the traveling distance of the vehicle from the number of rotations of the wheels.

The information storage device 3 is an external storage device that stores navigation programs and data, and is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM. The program includes a program for performing a process such as a route search, a processing program shown in a flowchart described in the present embodiment, a display output control required for the route guidance, a program for performing an interactive guidance by voice input, and a program for performing the guidance. Data, a program for performing voice output control necessary for voice guidance and data necessary for the same, and a program for performing search and notification of information through an anthropomorphic character and data necessary for the program are stored. I have. The stored data includes files such as map data, search data, guidance data, map matching data, destination data, registered point data, road data, genre data, landmark data, character data, and the like. All necessary data is stored. The present invention is also applicable to a type in which only data is stored in a CD-ROM and a program is stored in a central processing unit.

The central processing unit 4 includes a CPU 40 for executing various arithmetic processing, a flash memory 41 for reading and storing programs from a CD-ROM of the information storage device 3,
ROM 42 storing a program (program reading means) for performing program check and update processing of flash memory 41, set point coordinates of destination, road name code No. The RAM 43 temporarily stores the route guidance information searched and the data being processed.
In addition, although not shown in the drawings, interactive processing by voice input from the input device 1 is performed, and a voice, a phrase read from the information storage device 3 based on a voice output control signal from the CPU, A voice processor that synthesizes a set of sentences, sounds, and the like, converts it into an analog signal, and outputs the analog signal to a speaker, a communication interface that exchanges input / output data by communication, and a sensor input interface that captures a sensor signal of the current position detection device 2 And a clock for writing date and time in the internal diagnostic information. Note that a program for performing the above-described update processing may be stored in an external storage device. The program according to the present invention and other programs for executing navigation may all be stored in a CD-ROM as an external storage medium, or some or all of these programs may be stored in the ROM 42 of the main unit. Good.

Various navigation functions are realized by inputting data and programs stored in the external storage medium as external signals to the central processing unit of the navigation apparatus main body and performing arithmetic processing.

The navigation apparatus of the present invention has a relatively large capacity flash memory 41 for reading a program from the CD-ROM of the external storage device, and a CD.
A small-capacity ROM 42 in which a program (program reading means) for performing the start-up process of the program is stored. The flash memory 41 is a non-volatile storage unit that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. And C
As the start-up processing of D, the program in the ROM 42 as the program reading means is started, the program stored in the flash memory 41 is checked, and the disk management information and the like in the CD-ROM of the information storage device 3 are read.
The program loading process (update process) is performed based on this information and the state of the flash memory 41.

The information transmitting / receiving device 5 is a GPS receiving device that obtains information using a satellite navigation system (GPS);
Using a VICS information receiving device, a mobile phone, a personal computer, etc. to obtain information using FM multiplex broadcasting, radio wave beacon, optical beacon, etc., enables bidirectional information exchange with an information center (for example, ATIS) and other vehicles. It is composed of a data transmitting / receiving device for communicating with the device.

The output device 6 has a function of outputting guidance information by voice and / or a screen when the driver needs it, and a function of printing out data or the like subjected to navigation processing by the central processing unit 4. As means for this, a display for displaying input data on a screen and a route guidance screen, a printer for printing out data processed by the central processing unit 4 and data stored in the information storage device 3, and voice guidance for route guidance are provided. It has a speaker to output.

The display is composed of a simple liquid crystal display or the like, and is an enlarged view of an intersection based on map data and guidance data processed by the central processing unit 4, a destination name, a time, a distance, a traveling direction arrow, an anthropomorphic person. The image and the like of the converted character are displayed. Since the image data sent to the display is binary image data (bitmap data), a communication line used for serial communication or the like is used instead of a dedicated image signal line. A communication line can also be used. The display is provided with a memory for temporarily storing bitmap data.

This display is provided in the instrument panel near the driver's seat, and the driver can check the current position of the vehicle by looking at the display and obtain information on the route from now on. . Also,
Although illustration is omitted, using a tablet including a touch panel, a touch screen, etc. on the display screen of the display,
By touching or tracing the screen, a point input, a road input, or the like may be performed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the navigation device according to the present invention. When the CPU 40 of the central processing unit 4 reads the program from the information storage device 3 and starts the route guidance program, the current position detecting device 2 detects the current position and displays a map around the current position with the current position as the center. At the same time, the name of the current position and the like are displayed (step S1). Next, a destination is set using a target name such as a place name or a facility name, a telephone number, an address, a registered point, a road name, and the like (step S2), and a route search from the current position to the destination is performed (step S3). ). When the route is determined, the route guidance / display is repeated until the vehicle arrives at the destination while tracking the current position by the current position detecting device 2 (step S4). If a detour setting is input before arriving at the destination, a search area is set, a re-search is performed in the search area, and route guidance is repeated until the vehicle arrives at the destination.

Next, a description will be given of an example of reducing the load when the user takes in the state of guidance and screen information by using a character image. FIG. 3 shows an example of the correspondence between the operation state of the navigation device and the expression of the character. The operation status of the navigation device is waiting for input, it is divided into search and guidance, and in the state of waiting for input, the character size is set to normal, prompting input with a pose facing the front and listening pose. This represents a state in which an input such as a voice input is being received. For example, the information input by voice is recognized on the navigation device side, and the user confirms whether or not the recognition is correct. If the user replies that the answer is correct, the character faces the front and takes a guts pose.

At the time of searching, the character size is changed, for example, smaller than the normal size. When performing a search in the forward direction of the route, a pose of moving in the direction of the route or a position of moving forward along the route is taken. In the case of a peripheral search, a movement pose in the direction of the search point is taken. When the search is completed, a pose of returning from the front along the route in the case of a route forward search, and a pose of returning from the search point direction in the case of a peripheral search.

At the time of guidance, the character size is returned to the normal size, and the character poses while speaking facing the front, and at the same time, the content of the guidance is displayed on the screen or guided by voice. Also, if the guide point is on the right side of the route, take a pose of walking on the right side, and if it is on the left side of the route, take a pose of facing on the left side. Guide.

As another method of expressing the left and right search states with respect to the route using poses or the like, when guiding the route in the left direction, the character is set to the left position with the fixed position (lower right) as the base point on the screen. It may be moved, jumped leftward, or suddenly appear from the left side of the screen. Further, when moving to the left side, it is possible to walk to the left side while sounding the guidance sound, stop when reaching a predetermined position, and turn to the front.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the movement of a remote controller as an input operation device is associated with the expression of a character. Here, a jog dial is used as a remote controller,
An example will be described in which an item is selected by turning left, the jog dial is stopped at a predetermined position, and input / setting is performed by pressing an enter key provided at the center of the dial. For example, a calendar is displayed vertically in the lower right corner to display an image in which the character is on the calendar. At this time, if the jog dial is rotated to the right, the character walks upward and kicks with his foot to scroll the calendar downward. When the jog dial is rotated to the left, the character walks downward and kicks with his foot to scroll the calendar upward. When the jog dial is stopped, the character stops facing the front. When the enter key is pressed once at this position, the character jumps at the stop position, and when pressed twice, the character lands and takes a guts pose, and the date and time of the calendar are set. Other selection items are displayed instead of the calendar, and the items are set in a similar expression.

Further, if the enter key is pressed once at the position where the character has stopped, the character jumps at the stop position, the display of the selection item lights up when the character lands, and the date and time of the calendar are set. Good.

The correspondence between the operating state of the navigation device and the operation state of the input operation device and the character as shown in FIGS.
The central processing unit 4 recognizes the operation state of the navigation device and the operation state of the input operation device, refers to the table based on the recognition result, and reads the image data of the corresponding character from the information storage device 3. On the map to present the required information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of presenting information in the form of a character image according to the present invention. When the navigation device starts operating and the change starts (step 1), the type of the change content is determined (step 2). The type of the change content indicates the operation state of the device as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or the motion of the remote controller, which is discriminated, and the character expression content (motion,
Expressions, poses, etc.) are read from the information storage device (step 3). Then, display the image of the character on the map,
Alternatively, the information is presented by voice at the same time (step 4).

Next, an example of character expression corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device will be described. FIG. 6 shows a pose in which the character is “speaking”, and the hair above the character displayed in the lower right corner of the screen (chommage) moves left and right to display “speaking”. The expression of the character prompts the input or guides the distance to the destination as shown in the figure. FIG. 7 shows a pause state of “while uttering” on the user side, which indicates that the character has disappeared and is listening.

FIG. 8 shows a pose of listening on the navigation device side in response to a voice input by the user, and shows a guts pose of the character when a response that the recognition content is correct is received from the user side.

FIG. 9 shows a screen for examining the route or the surroundings. The size of the character changes and is smaller than the normal size. 10 to 12 show an example of a case where the investigation is performed in the forward direction of the route, FIG. 10 is a pose for starting the movement in the direction of the route, FIG. Numeral 12 indicates a pose that returns from the traveling direction after the end of the survey on the route.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a guide pose when facilities are located to the left or right of the route. FIG. 13 shows a pose where facilities are located to the left and the body is turned to the left to walk.
FIG. 14 shows a pose in which facilities are located to the right and the body is turned to the right to walk.

Next, an example in which the character expression is changed in accordance with the movement of the jog dial will be described. In this example, an example is shown in which the date and time of a calendar displayed on the right side of the screen are set by characters. FIG. 15 shows a state in which when the jog dial is turned clockwise, the character is in a pose of walking upward, kicking the calendar with the walking foot, scrolling down, and selecting a date. FIG. 16 shows a state in which the jog dial is stopped, in which the character faces forward and is in a stopped pose. FIG. 17 shows a state in which when the jog dial is rotated to the left, the character takes a pose of walking downward, kicks a calendar with a walking foot, scrolls upward, and selects a date.
18 to 20 show how to set the date. As shown in FIG. 18, a desired date, here, October 26 is set.
When the jog dial is stopped at the position of the day to stop the character at that position, and then the enter key of the jog dial is pressed once, as shown in FIG. 19, the character jumps at that position, and when the enter key is further pressed, As shown in FIG. 20, the date and time when the character lands is set.

In the above embodiment, the image data of the character corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device or the operation state of the input operation device is stored in the information storage device 3, and the image data of the character corresponding to the recognized state is read out. It was configured to display. In addition, a program for drawing a character corresponding to the operation state of the navigation device or the operation state of the input operation device is stored in the information storage device 3 or the ROM 42 in the central processing unit 4, and corresponds to the recognized state. It is also possible to read the program to be drawn and draw the character. that time,
In order to execute the character drawing process in parallel with the operation of the navigation device, the CPU 40 in the central processing unit can smoothly execute at least two arithmetic processes by configuring a mechanism such as a multiprocessor or the like. It is possible.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation state of the navigation device and the operation state of the input operation device are recognized, and the movement, expression, pose, etc. of the character according to the recognized state are displayed and output. , The status of the navigation device can be easily grasped,
The load on the user who takes in the screen information can be remarkably reduced. In addition, since the direction of the guide point, the right side, the left side, and the like of the route can be easily represented by the character, it is possible to easily set a left-priority guide point for the route.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence between an operation state of a navigation device and an expression of a character;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the movement of a remote controller is associated with the expression of a character.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a guidance process according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a pose in which the character is “speaking”;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a pause state in which the user is “speaking”;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a pause of a correct answer on the navigation device side in response to a voice input on the user side.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen when investigating a route or surroundings.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a pose for starting movement in a route direction.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a Bose that is moved on a route in a traveling direction and is investigated.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a pose returning from the traveling direction after the end of the investigation on the route.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a pose in which a facility is located in the left direction, and the player turns his / her body to the left to perform a walking operation.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a pose in which a facility is located in the right direction and the body is turned to the right to walk.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which the calendar is scrolled by the character by rotating the jog dial to the right.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a pose of the character when the jog dial is stopped.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state in which the calendar is scrolled by the character by rotating the jog dial to the left.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the jog dial is stopped for setting the date and the character is stopped at that position.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which the character jumps by the first operation of the enter key of the jog dial.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the character has landed and the date has been set by the second operation of the enter key.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input device, 2 ... Current position detection device, 3 ... Information storage device, 4 ... Central processing device, 5 ... Information transmission / reception device, 6 ... Output device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HC27 HC31 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AB13 AC02 AC04 AC08 AC14 AC18 AC19 5H180 AA01 BB04 BB05 BB13 FF04 FF05 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF32 FF40

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device for displaying various kinds of guidance information on navigation on a display device, comprising: an operation state recognition means for recognizing an operation state of the navigation device; and a character corresponding to the operation state recognized by the operation state recognition means. Control means for outputting an image to a display means. 2. An information storage means for storing data of a character corresponding to an operation state of the navigation device, wherein the control means stores the character data corresponding to the operation state recognized by the operation state recognition means in the information. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the character image is read from the storage means and displayed on the display means. 3. An operation state of the navigation device recognized by the operation state recognition means includes an input waiting state, a search state,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is in a guidance state. 4. The navigation according to claim 1, further comprising voice output means for voice output of information necessary for guidance, wherein said control means presents information by a character image and voice. apparatus. 5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the image of the character presents information by a size, an orientation, a pose, a motion, or a facial expression. 6. A navigation device for displaying various kinds of guidance information related to navigation on a display device, comprising: input operation means; operation state recognition means for recognizing an operation state of the input operation means; Control means for outputting an image of a character corresponding to an operation state to a display means. 7. An information storage means for storing data of a character corresponding to an input operation state, wherein said control means stores data of a character corresponding to an operation state recognized by said operation state recognition means in said information storage means. 7. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the character is read from the display device and an image of the character is displayed on the display means. 8. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the operation states of the input operation means recognized by the operation state recognition means are a selection state and a setting state. 9. The navigation system according to claim 6, further comprising voice output means for voice output of information necessary for guidance, wherein said control means presents information by a character image and voice. apparatus. 10. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the image of the character presents information by a size, an orientation, a pose, a motion, or a facial expression. 11. A storage medium storing a program comprising: a step of recognizing an operation state of a navigation device; and a step of displaying an image of a character corresponding to the recognized operation state. 12. A storage medium storing a program, comprising: a step of recognizing an operation state of an input operation means; and a step of displaying an image of a character corresponding to the recognized operation state. 13. A storage medium storing, as a data structure for displaying an image of a character corresponding to an operation state of a navigation device, image data of a character corresponding to an operation state of the navigation device as a table. 14. A storage medium characterized by storing image data of a character corresponding to an operation state as a table as a data structure for displaying an image of a character corresponding to an operation state of a navigation device.