JP2001118180A - Device and method for guiding route, and storage medium storing route guide program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate and print a route guide chart comprising route information from a start to a destination, which are previously inputted, and necessary additional information instead of carrying a nagivation device. SOLUTION: This device is composed of a storage part for storing a road map, the line chart of a public travel facility, the time table of getting on/off stations and area information around the stations, an input part for inputting instruction information on the generation of a route guide chart and start/ destination, a display part for displaying instruction information and the route guide chart, a route search part for searching a route from the start inputted by the input part to the nearest getting on station of the public travel facility and the route from the getting off stations of the destination by referring to the storage part, a route guide chart generation part for generating the route guide part comprising the route chart formed of the route and the line, the time table of the getting on/off stations and additional information formed of area information around the getting on/off stations and laying it out so that it is settled within a paper size which is previously set, and a printing part for printing the route guide chart in one recording paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a personal computer or an information processing terminal connectable to a printing apparatus such as a thermal printer or an ink jet printer, and stores display information such as road map information and guidance information displayed on a display. And a storage medium storing a route guidance program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of road maps are stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and a moving position of an automobile is obtained by receiving a radio wave emitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. A navigation device that displays a road map including a position on a display and guides the user along a traveling route to a destination has been put to practical use.

[0003] However, a driver of an automobile not equipped with a navigation device prepares a road map book in which a destination is described, for example, and checks the traveling route by handwriting with a colored pencil. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-21
According to the description of Japanese Patent Publication No. 498, a route guidance function for guiding a traveling route to a destination, and a printer for printing a road map and guidance information displayed on a display by the route guidance function in a color image on a recording paper are provided. Navigation devices have been proposed. According to this publication, when driving with a plurality of automobiles, map information on a traveling route can be handed to a driver of an automobile not equipped with a navigation device by color printing.

On the other hand, as a prior art of a navigation device which can be carried not only as a car navigation but also as a navigation including various transportation means, for example, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-115086, it is possible to quickly start from a departure place. A portable optimal route search device that searches for the shortest route to the destination, and does not perform route search in sections where the means of transportation is public transportation such as trains and buses, but only in sections such as cars and on foot. Has been proposed.

[0005]

However, the navigation apparatus with a printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-21498 is mounted on an automobile and prints and uses route information displayed in color on a display. In addition, when a driver of an automobile not equipped with a navigation device travels alone, a road map book must be separately prepared.

In the optimum route searching device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-115086, various types of information including route information can be individually displayed and carried as a navigation including various modes of transportation. It does not describe the configuration for printing, and does not include a configuration in which various necessary information in addition to the route search result is printed collectively and used by a person who does not have a navigation device.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. For example, instead of carrying a navigation device, a route from a designated departure place to a nearest public transportation platform, and a landing from a destination to a destination are provided. A route guide apparatus and method capable of carrying a route guide map including a route to the route and various necessary additional information on a single sheet of recording paper of a preset paper size, and a storage medium storing a route guide program. provide.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage unit for storing a road map, a route map of public transportation, a timetable of stations for getting on and off the station, and regional information around the stations for getting on and off, and instruction information for creating a route guide map. And an input unit for inputting a starting point / destination,
Referring to the display unit for displaying the instruction information and the route guide map, and the storage unit, a route from the departure point input by the input unit to the nearest public transportation platform, and a route from the exit to the destination are searched. A route search unit and a route map including the route and the route, a route guide map including a timetable of the getting on and off stations and additional information including area information around the getting on and off stations are created and laid out so as to fit within a preset paper size. A route guidance apparatus, comprising: a route guidance map creating unit; and a printing unit that prints the route guidance map on one sheet of recording paper.

According to the present invention, instead of carrying the navigation device, a pre-input route from the departure point to the nearest public transportation platform, a route from the landing to the destination, and various necessary additional information are stored. The included route guide map can be printed on one sheet of recording paper of a preset paper size and carried. Also, by providing the route guide map of the present invention at a convenience store or the like, even a person who does not own a navigation device can obtain a route guide map to which a route from a designated departure place to a destination and necessary information are added. be able to.

The route guide map creating unit may be configured to create a route map connecting the routes searched by the route searching unit when there is a route for public transportation between the departure place and the destination. . According to this configuration, if there is a route using public transportation between the departure point and the destination, the route is shown in the route map, so that the route guide map is easy to see, and it is not necessary to search for a route, so that the search time is reduced. You.

[0011] When there is a connecting station of public transportation between the departure point and the destination, the route guide map creating unit may be configured to create a route guide map including a route from the connecting station to the station. . According to this configuration, public transportation can be used while referring to the route of the connecting station.

[0012] The route guide map creating unit may be configured to create a route guide map including a timetable of a time zone necessary for a route station using public transportation. According to this configuration, the timetable of the station to be used can be known in advance.

[0013] The route guide map creating unit may be configured to create a route guide map indicating a fare of a route section using public transportation. According to this configuration, the fare of the route section to be used can be known in advance.

[0014] The route guidance creating section may be configured to create a route guide map including route and area information of a pre-selected public transportation system. According to this configuration, a route guide map can be created by selecting the necessary public transportation route and area information in advance.

A communication unit connected to a communication line for data communication with an external database; and a storage update unit for updating the storage unit, wherein the storage update unit is configured to start from a departure point input from the input unit. If the road map to the ground, information related to public transportation, and regional information are not stored in the storage unit, a request for storage update is received from the route search unit or the route guide map creation unit, and the communication unit is A configuration may be adopted in which a road map, information related to public transportation and local information are acquired from the external database via the external database, and are updated and stored in the storage unit. According to this configuration, when the input road map from the departure point to the destination, information related to public transportation, and area information are not stored in the storage unit,
A road map, information related to public transportation, and area information can be acquired from an external database via the communication unit, and can be updated and stored in the storage unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a storage unit is used to store a road map, a route map of public transportation, a timetable of the getting on and off stations, and regional information around the getting on and off stations, and using the input unit. Inputting the instruction information and the departure / destination relating to the creation of the route guide map, displaying the instruction information and the route guide map using the display unit, referring to the storage unit, and using the route search unit to enter the input unit. Search for a route from the departure point input to the nearest public transportation platform, and a route from the landing to the destination using the route guide map creation unit, and a route map composed of the route and the route, the boarding station A route guide map including additional information including a timetable and area information around the getting on / off station is created, laid out so as to fit in a preset paper size, and the route guide map is printed using a printing unit. Features printing on recording paper Route guidance how to is provided.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited by this. In the present invention, the information processing device may be a device having a built-in printing device such as a printer in advance, such as a word processor, or a device capable of connecting a printing device, such as a personal computer.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the route guidance device of the present embodiment. The route guidance device includes a control unit 1,
Route search unit 1a, route guide map creation unit 1b, storage update unit 1
c, an input unit 2, a display unit 3, a printing unit 4, a storage unit 5, a paper size buffer 5a, a print buffer 5b, a communication unit 6, an external database 6a, a storage medium reading unit 7, a storage medium 7a, and the like. .

The control unit 1 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM,
It comprises a computer having an I / O port and a control program, and controls the route guidance device by the control program. Further, the control unit 1 functions as a route search unit 1a, a route guide map creation unit 1b, and a storage update unit 1c.

The input unit 2 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like, and inputs instruction information relating to route guide map creation, a departure place / destination, and the like. The display unit 3 includes, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) and a PD (plasma display).
Display), ELD (Electro Luminance Display), and the like, and displays instruction information and a route guide map.

The printing unit 4 includes, for example, a thermal printer,
It is composed of an ink jet printer, a laser printer, etc., and prints a route guide map on one sheet of recording paper. If the route guidance device does not include the printing unit 4, a printing interface that can be connected to the printing device may be provided.

The storage unit 5 includes, for example, a RAM, an EEPROM,
M, consisting of semiconductor memory such as flash memory, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.
The route map of public transportation, the timetable of the getting on / off station and the area information around the getting on / off station are stored. The storage unit 5 includes a paper size buffer 5a and a print buffer 5b.
Under the control of the control unit 1, the paper size to be printed is set in the paper size buffer 5a, the route guide map including various information is developed in the print buffer 5b, and it is checked whether the paper size fits in the set paper size. It is configured to output.

The communication unit 6 includes, for example, a communication signal conversion circuit,
It is configured by a modem or the like, and is connected to a communication line to perform data communication with the external database 6a, and acquires a road map, information related to public transport, regional information, and the like from the external database 6a.

Here, the functions of the route search section 1a, the route guide map creation section 1b, and the storage update section 1c of the control section 1 will be described. The route search unit 1a is configured by, for example, a route search program, and refers to the storage unit 5 under the control of the control unit 1 to refer to the route from the departure point input from the input unit 2 to the nearest public transportation platform, Search the route from the landing to the destination. The route search unit 1a may search for the shortest route between two points by using an algorithm used in car navigation or the like and taking public transportation on a map into consideration.

The route guide map creator 1b is composed of, for example, a route guide map creator program. The control section 1 controls the route guide map creator 1b from a route map composed of routes and routes, a timetable of getting on and off stations, and regional information around the getting on and off stations. A route guide map including the additional information is created and laid out so as to fit within a preset paper size.

The route guide map creator 1b has a function of creating a route map connecting the routes searched by the route searcher when there is a route using public transportation between the departure place and the destination. If there is a transit station between the destination and the destination, there is a function to create a route guide map including the route from the transit station to the station, It also has a function of creating a route guide map including a timetable, a function of creating a route guide map indicating a fare of a route section using public transportation, and the like.

The storage updating unit 1c includes a route search unit when the road map from the departure point to the destination input from the input unit 2 is not stored in the storage unit. In response to a request for storage update from the route map creation unit 1a or the route guide map creation unit 1b, a road map, information related to public transportation and local information are acquired from the external database 6a via the communication unit 6, and updated and stored in the storage unit 5. It consists of a memory update program.

The storage medium reading device 7 is constituted by a mechanism corresponding to the type of the storage medium 7a. The storage medium reading device 7
The route guidance program of the present invention stored in a storage medium 7a such as a semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, or a flash memory, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a CD-ROM is read and installed in the RAM of the control unit 1. The route search program and the storage update program may be stored in the storage medium 7a.

The route guidance program stored in the storage medium 7a is executed by the control unit 1 and uses the storage unit 5 to store a road map, a route map of public transportation, a timetable of the getting on / off station and the vicinity of the getting on / off station. A storage function for storing the regional information of the user, an input function for inputting instruction information relating to route guide map creation and a departure place / destination using the input unit 2, and an instruction function and a route guide map using the display unit. A display function for displaying, a route search function for referring to the storage unit 5 and searching for a route from the departure point input by the input unit 2 to the nearest public transportation platform, and a route from the exit to the destination;
A route guide map creation function that creates a route guide map including the route and the route, a timetable of getting on and off stations, and additional information including local information around the getting on and off stations and lays out the information so as to fit within a preset paper size. And a printing function for printing the route guide map on one sheet of recording paper using the printing unit 4.

As a result, the road map, the route map of public transportation, the timetable of the getting on / off station and the regional information around the getting on / off station,
By installing a route guidance program from a storage medium storing a route guidance program into a program memory in a personal computer connected to a printing apparatus, a route search device according to the present invention that creates a route guidance map based on the program and prints the route guide map at a time is realized. Can be.

The route guidance program including various data such as maps and timetables may be obtained from the external database 6a connected to the Internet or the like via the communication unit 6. Alternatively, only various data such as a map and a timetable may be obtained from the external database 6a via the communication unit 6.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of creating a route guide map by the route guide device of this embodiment. In FIG. 2, a route guide map 8 includes a route map 9 including a route from the departure point obtained by the route search unit 1a to the nearest public transportation station based on the departure point and the destination input from the input unit. , And a route diagram 10 including a route from a public transportation station near the destination to the destination. When the map from the starting point to the destination can be represented by one map, the route diagrams 9 and 10 may be represented by one.

The route search section 1a also determines public transportation from the departure point to the destination. Timetable 1 for public transportation at the nearest station to the departure point and the station near the destination
1 and 12, in addition, the route map 13 of public transportation and the fare when the public transportation is used for the route may be acquired from the external database 6a using the communication line.

When using a public transportation system from a station nearest to the departure point to a station near the destination, if multiple transit times occur, the transit guidance information, the timetable 15 of the transit point, Various types of local information 16 such as restaurant information and event information near the ground may be acquired from the external database 6a using a communication line.

The various area information 16 is not limited to restaurant information and event information, but includes all information on the area such as sightseeing information. Note that these various types of information can be obtained through a communication line, and are stored in the storage unit 3 of the route guidance device of the present embodiment.
Various databases corresponding to the external database 6a may be held in advance.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of route guidance data stored in the storage unit of the route guidance device of this embodiment. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. For example, after acquiring various data, the route guidance map and the route data are stored in the storage unit 3 in the form of image data, and the timetable and the fare table are stored in the form of text data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of batch printing of route guide maps by the route guide device of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, as a print format, it is easy to understand by connecting the map of the starting point and the map of the vicinity of the destination with a mark as a mark or a route map of a railway line as in this print example. Also,
If the amount of route guidance information is large and cannot be printed on one sheet of paper, for example, printing may be performed by dividing at the line break shown in FIG.

By selecting and printing only the necessary information for the area information and the timetable, it becomes easy to understand and the printing space is reduced. In one printed route guide map,
It contains various information such as timetables, fares, etc. from a route map on foot to public transportation, and when going out, it is only necessary to carry this single route guide map.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the route guide map batch printing process by the route guide device of this embodiment. In FIG. 5, step S101: input a departure point and a destination, press a route guidance batch print key, and activate a route guide map batch printing process. Step S102: If additional information, such as a route map and various regional information, is required at the time of batch printing within the route business, the input unit selects and designates it.

Step S103: The route guide map is created and the paper size for batch printing is set in the paper size buffer. Step S104: The basic route guidance information is searched by a route search algorithm or the like, a necessary public transportation is determined, a map including the route guidance from the starting point to the nearest public transportation station, and a public near the destination are provided. A map including route guidance from a transportation station to a destination is acquired from the storage unit 5 or the external database 6a.

Step S105: Timetable of the nearest station,
And the timetable of the station near the destination is acquired from the storage unit 5 or the external database 6a. Step S106: The fare required for public transportation from the nearest station to a station near the destination is acquired from the storage unit 5 or the external database 6a.

Step S107: It is checked whether transit is necessary when using public transportation. If not necessary, the process proceeds to step S109. Step S108: If necessary, obtain information on the transit, for example, a map necessary for the transfer between transit stations, a timetable for round-trip to the transit station, and the like.

Step S109: A route map and various area information are obtained based on the selection information in step S102. Step S110: Step S104, Step S10
5, Step S106, Step S108, Step S
The various information acquired in step 109 is developed in the print buffer 5b in the basic format.

Step S111: It is checked whether the data of the print buffer 5b developed in the basic format in step S110 fits in the sheet size. If not, the process proceeds to step S113. Step S112: The contents of the print buffer 5b are printed on one sheet as batch printing.

Step S113: It is checked whether reduced printing is performed so that the print data of the print buffer 5b developed in the basic format in step S110 fits on one sheet. If not, the process proceeds to step S115. Step S114: The contents of the print buffer 5b are reduced and printed on one sheet of paper. Step S115: If the amount of information is too large to print on one sheet, the data is divided at data breaks and printed on a plurality of sheets.

According to the route guidance print processing apparatus of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since route guidance information including a route guidance map, a timetable, and the like for each screen can be collectively printed on one sheet and confirmed as a list, visibility is good. (2) Even without a portable navigation device, route guidance maps, timetables, and the like can be printed on a single sheet of paper using a personal computer or word processor at home, and the sheet can be carried around, which is very convenient. (3) Even a person who does not understand the operation of the route guidance device can carry the route guidance map that has been collectively printed. (4) Even without a route guidance device, a service of batch printing route guidance diagrams including routes, timetables, and the like on a single sheet of paper at a convenience store or the like can be provided. (5) If the route guidance device is provided with a printing interface that can be connected to the printing device without the printing unit 4 and a GPS, it can be used as a portable navigation device.

[0047]

According to the present invention, instead of carrying a navigation device, a route from a previously entered departure point to a nearest public transportation platform, a route from a landing to a destination, and various necessary additions are provided. A route guide map including information can be printed on a single sheet of recording paper of a preset paper size and carried. Also, by providing the route guide map of the present invention at a convenience store or the like, even a person who does not own a navigation device can obtain a route guide map to which a route from a designated departure place to a destination and necessary information are added. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a route guidance device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of creating a route guide map by the route guide device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of route guidance data stored in a storage unit of the route guidance device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of batch printing of route guide maps by the route guide device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a route guide map batch printing process performed by the route guide device according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control unit 1a route search unit 1b route guide map creation unit 1c storage update unit 2 input unit 3 display unit 4 printing unit 5 storage unit 5a paper size buffer 5b print buffer 6 communication unit 6a external database 7 storage medium reading unit 7a storage medium

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) 9A001 F term (reference) 2C087 AA09 AA13 AB05 AC05 AC07 BB01 BC14 BC15 BD02 BD53 CA03 CB17 CB20 2F029 AA07 AB13 AC06 AC08 AC13 AC14 5B021 AA01A BB02 CC05 DD12 EE01 KK02 LG07 5B050 BA17 EA19 FA03 5H180 AA21 BB13 BB15 EE05 EE10 FF33 9A001 CC02 FF01 HH23 JJ01 JJ11 JJ77 JJ78 KK42

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing a road map, a route map of public transportation, a timetable of the getting on and off stations and area information around the getting on and off stations, instruction information on route guide map creation, and a departure place /
An input unit for inputting a destination, a display unit for displaying instruction information and a route guide map, and a route from the departure place input by the input unit to the nearest public transportation platform, and a landing, referring to the storage unit. A route search unit that searches for a route from a route to a destination, and a route map including the route and the route, a timetable of getting on and off stations and additional information including local information around the getting on and off station are created and preset. A route guide map creating unit that lays out the route guide map so as to fit within the paper size, and a printing unit that prints the route guide map on one sheet of recording paper. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the route guide map creating unit creates a route map connecting the routes searched by the route searching unit when there is a public transportation route between the departure point and the destination. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The route guide map creating unit creates a route guide map including a route from the connecting station to the station when there is a connecting station of public transportation between the departure point and the destination. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein 4. The route guide according to claim 1, wherein the route guide map creating unit creates a route guide map including a timetable of a necessary time zone for a route station using public transportation. apparatus. 5. The route guide device according to claim 1, wherein the route guide map creating unit creates a route guide map indicating a fare of a route section using public transportation. 6. The route guidance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the route guidance creation unit creates a route guide map including route and area information of public transportation selected in advance. 7. A communication unit connected to a communication line for data communication with an external database, and a storage update unit for updating the storage unit, wherein the storage update unit is provided with a departure point input from the input unit. If the storage unit does not store a road map from the route to the destination, information related to public transportation, and local information, the storage unit receives a request for storage update from the route search unit or the route guide map creation unit, and performs the communication. 2. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein a road map, information related to public transportation, and area information are acquired from the external database via a unit and updated and stored in the storage unit. 8. A storage unit is used to store a road map, a route map of public transportation, a timetable of getting on and off stations, and regional information around the getting on and off stations. Input information and departure / destination, display instruction information and route guide map using the display unit, refer to the storage unit, and use the route search unit to find the nearest from the departure place input by the input unit. Search the route from the public transportation platform, the route from the landing to the destination, using the route guide map creation unit, the route map consisting of the route and the route, the timetable of the boarding station and around the boarding station A route guide map including additional information including regional information is created, laid out so as to fit in a preset paper size, and the route guide map is printed on one sheet of recording paper using a printing unit. Route guidance method. 9. A storage medium storing a route guidance program controlled by a computer, wherein a storage unit is used to store a road map, a route map of public transportation, a timetable of the getting on / off stations, and regional information around the getting on / off stations. Storage function, an input function for inputting instruction information on route guide map creation and an origin / destination using an input unit, and a display function for displaying instruction information and a route guide map using a display unit A route search function for searching for a route from the departure place input by the input unit to the nearest public transportation platform, a route from the landing to the destination, and a route search function. A route guide map creation function that creates a route guide map including additional information including a route map, a timetable of getting on / off stations, and regional information around the getting on / off station, and lays out the information so as to fit within a preset paper size; Using the printing unit, the route guide map
A storage medium storing a computer program for executing a printing function for printing on a sheet of recording paper.