JP2001272244A - Navigation device and method, and recording medium in which software for navigation is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device and method, capable of reliably retrieving the name of an object, even in the case that a user does not correctly grasp information on the object and a recording medium in which software for navigation is recorded. SOLUTION: The navigation device is provided with an absolute location/ direction detecting part 1, relative direction detecting part 2, motor vehicle speed detecting part 3, main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4, group of memory M, user interface part 9, display part 10, input part 11, CD-ROM control part 12, FM multiple receiving/processing part 13, and optical/radio beacon receiving/ processing part 14. A present location computing part 40, scroll display control part 41, destination specifying part 42, route-computing part 43, guidance part 44, identification number control part 45, item display control part 46, item- selecting part 47, selected information control part 48, and plotting part 49 are set in the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in navigation technology, and more particularly, to a navigation apparatus and method having an improved function of searching for an object such as a facility, and a recording medium on which navigation software is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advance of digital technology, a navigation technology for guiding a mobile body such as an automobile has become widespread. For example, an in-vehicle navigation system calculates an optimal route to a given destination based on data such as roads recorded in advance on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, and uses GPS navigation or the like. While displaying a map near the position of the vehicle to be calculated in real time on the screen, guidance such as turning right or left is provided by a display screen or synthesized voice.

[0003] The use of such a navigation system starts with setting a destination where an object such as a facility is present. However, a normal system is designed in advance so that this destination can be set quickly. A name search function for finding a desired object by incorporating a database of the names of many objects is provided.

[0004] In the search by such a search system, for example, first, when one item such as "Saitama prefecture" is selected from a plurality of prefecture-related items displayed on the screen, the selected "Saitama prefecture" is selected. Are displayed. Then, for example, by selecting one item such as “Omiya City”, the search target can be narrowed down.

Similarly, for example, items such as “sports” for a plurality of fields displayed on the screen are referred to as “sports”.
When one of the items is selected, the items of the field of the subordinate concept belonging to the designated “sports” are displayed. Then, for example, by selecting one item such as “swimming”, the search target can be narrowed down. Further, it is also possible to select and combine items of the above-mentioned administrative divisions (hereinafter, referred to as area items) and items relating to the field (hereinafter, referred to as genre items) to perform a refined search.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional search, when selecting and narrowing down area items and genre items, only one item can be selected on each display screen. If the user does not know exactly in which prefecture or city the target facility is located, or in which genre it is classified, the target facility is searched in the process of narrowing down. There was a possibility that it was excluded from the target and the refined search failed.

In a search based on an area item or a genre item, for example, when only a part of the name of a target facility is known, it is not possible to narrow down the search using that as a clue. could not.

Further, for example, if many facility names are listed after a narrowed search is performed, the order of the displayed facility names remains the same as the order displayed before the search. There was a possibility that it would not be possible to reach the facility name.

[0009] The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to solve the problem even when the user does not accurately grasp information on the object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation technology, that is, a navigation device and method, and a recording medium on which navigation software is recorded, which can reliably search for the name of the target object based on a slight clue.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a current position calculating means for calculating a current position, and a destination specifying means for specifying a destination where an object exists. A navigation device having route calculation means for setting a route from the current position to the destination, and display means for displaying the route calculated by the route calculation means, Object storage means for storing in association with the object, an identification number assigning means for assigning an identification number to each of the names of the objects, and a part of the attributes are sequentially displayed on the display means for each attribute hierarchy Attribute display control means, attribute selection means for narrowing down the search target by selecting a plurality or a single attribute from the attributes sequentially displayed on the display means, Every time a selection is made by the gender selection means, a selection information giving means for giving selection information indicating that the object is selected to the name of the object corresponding to the selected attribute is selected, and a selection is made by the attribute selection means. Each time the identification information is stored, the identification number storage means for storing the identification number corresponding to the name of the object to which the selection information is continuously given, and the name of the object corresponding to the identification number stored in the identification number storage means,
And a search result display control means for displaying on the display means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the invention of the first aspect is grasped from the viewpoint of a method, and calculates a route for reaching a destination where a specified target exists from a current position. A navigation method of displaying the route on a display means for guiding, wherein a step of assigning an identification number to each of the names of a plurality of objects associated with the attribute; Sequentially displaying on the display means, selecting a plurality or a single attribute from the attributes sequentially displayed on the display means to narrow down a search target, and selecting the attribute. In each case, a step of adding selection information indicating that the object is selected to the name of the object corresponding to the selected attribute, and each time the attribute is selected, the selection information And storing the identification number corresponding to the name of the object which continues to be given, the name of the object that corresponds to the stored identification number, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: displaying on the display means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the first and fourth aspects of the present invention are viewed from the viewpoint of a computer-readable recording medium. A navigation medium for calculating a route to reach the destination where the object exists, and recording the navigation software for displaying the route on a display means. An identification number is assigned to the name of the object, a part of the attribute is sequentially displayed on the display unit for each layer of the attribute, and a plurality of attributes are sequentially displayed from the attributes sequentially displayed on the display unit. By selecting a single attribute, the search target can be narrowed down, and each time the attribute is selected, the corresponding attribute is selected. To the name of the object, to give the selection information meaning that it has been selected, every time the attribute is selected, to store an identification number corresponding to the name of the object to which the selection information is continuously provided, The name of the object corresponding to the stored identification number is displayed on the display means.

According to the above-described inventions of claims 1, 4 and 7, a plurality of attributes to be selected when narrowing down the search target can be designated, so that the user does not know exactly the attribute of the object. Even if there is, it is possible to prevent the target from being easily removed from the search target and to prevent the search from failing. In addition, since the selection information is given to the attribute selected for each layer, it is possible to return to the previous layer to check the selected attribute, or to cancel the selection made at a specific layer, Can be performed easily and in a short time when the user makes an error. Further, the final search result can be displayed at any time by referring to the identification number stored in the identification number storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, there is provided a character string input means for inputting a character string, wherein the attribute includes a pretend name of the object. It is characterized by having a character extracting means for selecting a target object in which the character string input by the character string input means includes a phonetic character.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the invention of the second aspect is grasped from the viewpoint of a method. In the navigation method of the fourth aspect, a step of inputting a character string, and a step of inputting the character string And selecting a name of the object in which the phonetic spelling is included.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the invention of the second and fifth aspects is viewed from the viewpoint of a computer-readable recording medium. In the medium, the software causes the computer to select a name of an object in which the input character string is included in a phonetic alphabet.

According to the above-described inventions of claims 2, 5 and 8, even if the user knows only a part of the name of the object, the user can input the name by inputting it.
Can be searched.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first or second aspect, the attributes include elements that can be arranged in ascending or descending order, and are displayed by the search result display control means. Name the object
It is characterized by having a sorting means for sorting in ascending order or descending order according to the attribute element which can be arranged in ascending order or descending order.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the invention of the third aspect is grasped from the viewpoint of a method. In the navigation method of the fourth or fifth aspect, an object displayed on the display means is provided. Are sorted in ascending or descending order according to the elements of the attribute that can be arranged in ascending or descending order.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the invention according to the third and sixth aspects is viewed from the viewpoint of a computer-readable recording medium, and the navigation software according to the seventh or eighth aspect is provided. In the recording medium on which is recorded, the software causes the computer to sort the names of the objects displayed on the display means in ascending or descending order according to the elements of the attribute that can be arranged in ascending or descending order. Features.

According to the third, sixth and ninth aspects of the present invention, even if there are many facility names displayed as a result of the search, the order of the displayed facility names is rearranged in ascending or descending order. Therefore, it is possible to easily reach the target facility name.

[0022]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that a portion related to information processing in this embodiment is typically realized by controlling a computer with software.
The software in this case realizes the operation and effect of the present invention by physically utilizing the hardware of the computer, and the conventional technology is applied to the common parts with the conventional technology. However, in this case, since the types and configurations of hardware and software, the range of processing by software, and the like can be variously changed, in the following description, a virtual circuit block that realizes each function of the present invention and the embodiment will be described. Used.

[1. First Embodiment] [1-1. Configuration] First, an embodiment corresponding to the first, fourth and seventh aspects of the invention will be described. The present embodiment shows a navigation device (referred to as the present device) mounted on an automobile as a moving body for guiding a route, and a navigation method executed on the present device. It can be understood as a recording medium on which the navigation software is recorded.

[1-1-1. Overall configuration]
As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, an absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1, a relative azimuth detecting unit 2, a vehicle speed detecting unit 3,
PU and its peripheral circuit 4, memory group M, user interface unit 9, display unit 10, input unit 11, CD
-ROM control unit 12, FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13
And an optical / radio wave beacon receiving and processing unit 14.

The absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and azimuth on the ground surface of the current position of the vehicle (referred to as own vehicle) on which the present apparatus is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position. For this reason, for example, it is a part for receiving a GPS radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite with an antenna or a receiver. The relative azimuth detecting unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative azimuth of the own vehicle using a gyro or the like. The vehicle speed detector 3 is a part that calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing a vehicle speed pulse obtained from the vehicle.

The main CPU and its peripheral circuits 4
Is a part that functions as a control circuit that controls the entire apparatus. The memory group M includes various memories necessary for the operation of the present apparatus. For example, a ROM 5 for storing programs,
DRAM 6 for providing a work area, etc., SRAM 7 for backing up information such as settings, VRAM 8 for display
Including. Note that the memory group M functions as an identification number storage unit described in the claims.

The display unit 10 includes a map, operation menu buttons, facility name items, area items, genre items,
This is a section for outputting various information such as a Japanese syllabary panel on a liquid crystal display screen (not shown) or voice synthesis. Input unit 11
Is a part for a user to input information such as a command from a switch or a joystick on a front panel or a remote controller. For example, a desired operation menu button, an area item, a genre item, a selection operation input of a Japanese syllabary panel, etc. It can be performed. Further, the input unit 11
Includes a microphone that allows the user to perform the input operation by voice. The display unit 10
Just like directly touching a finger on an arbitrary point on the map displayed on the screen, a menu button, an area item, a genre item, a syllabary panel, etc., it can function as an input unit in the same manner as the input unit 11 It also has a function as a touch panel that can be used. The user interface unit 9
Is a display unit 1 using an I / O control circuit and a driver.
0, input unit 11, main CPU and its peripheral circuits 4
Is a user interface that connects

The CD-ROM control unit 12 controls the CD-ROM
This is a means for reading the database recorded in the ROM. The contents of the database are centered on map data,
For example, it includes route search data representing a road network structure, display data representing a landmark such as a gas station, a Japanese syllabary panel for inputting a character string, and a destination search such as facility names and attributes. Includes data for The destination search data is of a record type having a facility name as a record name. The data items include area information on administrative divisions having hierarchical relations such as prefectures and municipalities which are attributes of facilities, and sports information. It stores genre information relating to fields having a hierarchical relationship such as swimming and swimming, a phonetic name of the facility name, coordinate values indicating the location of the facility, and the like. In addition, as a recording medium,
It is not limited to a CD-ROM. For example, DVD-RO
It may be a DVD-ROM read by the M control unit. The recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM and a control unit thereof have a function as an object storage means described in the claims, but store all or a part of the database in the memory group M in advance. , It is possible to have a function as an object storage means.

Further, the FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13
M broadcast wave and VICS (registered trademark) included in this broadcast wave
This is the part that receives traffic information. Further, the optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14 is a part that receives VICS traffic information when passing under transmission facilities installed on expressways and general roads. The traffic information includes information such as traffic congestion, accidents, regulations, construction, travel time to the destination, and the like.

[1-1-2. Role of Main CPU and its Peripheral Circuits]
By the operation of the software as described above, the current position calculation unit 40, the scroll display control unit 41, the destination designation unit 42, the route calculation unit 43, the guide unit 44, the identification number control unit 45, An item display control unit 46, an item selection unit 47, a selection information control unit 48, and a drawing unit 49 are configured to function.

The current position calculating section 40 is means for calculating the current position of the own vehicle, that is, the own vehicle position.
Specifically, the vehicle position is calculated by combining GPS navigation positioning and autonomous navigation positioning. Here, the GPS navigation positioning is to calculate the current position using information obtained from the absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 based on radio waves from artificial satellites. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative azimuth detecting unit 2 and the vehicle speed detecting unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the own vehicle.

The route calculation unit 43 is a means for calculating an optimum route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination designated by the destination designation unit 42 based on the route search data. In addition, the guidance unit 44 includes a route calculation unit 43
Current position calculation unit 40 for the route calculated by
Is a means for guiding the vehicle by a synthesized voice or screen display based on the current position or the like which is sequentially calculated by the user. The scroll display control unit 41 is means for performing control for displaying a place to be viewed by moving the screen display on the display unit 10 up, down, left, and right.

The identification number control unit 45 is means for assigning an identification number to each facility name record. The item display control unit 46 is a unit that causes the display unit 10 to display a facility name item, an area item, a genre item, an operation menu button, a Japanese syllabary panel, and the like. It includes a function as control means.
The item selection unit 47 is a unit that selects an item displayed on the display unit 10 according to a user's input operation from the input unit 11 or the display unit 10, and includes a function as an attribute selection unit described in the claims. I have. Although not shown,
This embodiment has a voice recognition unit that performs voice recognition in response to a voice input from the input unit 11 by the user, and the item selection unit 47 responds to the input voice based on the recognition result of the voice recognition unit. It is set to select the item to be performed. The selection information control unit 48 is a unit that sets a flag for the attribute selected by the item selection unit 47 as information indicating that the attribute has been selected. The drawing unit 49 is a unit that draws display contents displayed on the display unit 10 based on information passed from other units.

[1-2. Operation] The present embodiment configured as described above operates as follows. First, in the present embodiment, an absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1, a relative azimuth detecting unit 2,
Based on the information from the vehicle speed detector 3, the current position calculator 4
The route calculation unit 43 calculates an optimal route from the own vehicle position calculated by the calculation unit 0 to the destination specified by the destination specification unit 42 based on the route search data.
4 has a function as an ordinary navigation device that guides the way by synthetic voice or screen display.

Further, this embodiment has the following destination search function. The processing procedure of this destination search will be described below with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 2 to 4 and the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, a black square or a black circle is used to indicate that an item has been selected and that a flag has been set. That is, first, in accordance with a user's input operation from the input unit 11 or the display unit 10, a record of destination search data is loaded on the memory (step 901), and the identification number control unit 45
Thus, an identification number is assigned to each record (step 902). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the drawing unit 49 is controlled in accordance with the instruction of the item display control unit 46, and the facility name and the operation menu button of each record to which the identification number is assigned are displayed on the display unit 10 as items. (Step 90
3).

Next, when the user selects an area button in the operation menu (step 904), as shown in FIG. 2, the prefecture name corresponding to the displayed facility name is displayed as an item (step 905). ). The user selects an item of the name of the prefecture where the target facility is assumed to exist (step 906), and selects a city button in the operation menu (step 907). At this time, a plurality of prefectural items may be selected. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the selection information control unit 48 sets a prefectural flag in the record corresponding to the prefectural name selected in this way, and sets the identification number of the record in the number holding area on the memory. (Step 9
08).

Next, by selecting the municipal button, only the municipal name corresponding to the flagged record is displayed as shown in FIG. 2 (step 9).
09). The user selects an item of the name of a city, town, and village where the target facility is assumed to exist (step 910), and selects an enter button in the operation menu (step 91).
1). The municipalities selected at this time may be plural. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the selection information control unit 48 sets the municipal flag on the record corresponding to the municipal name selected in this way, and the record on which the prefecture flag is already set. At the same time, the identification number of the record is overwritten and stored in the number holding area on the memory (step 912).

Further, by selecting the above-mentioned determination button, as shown in FIG. 2, the facility name of the record in which the prefectural flag and the municipal flag are both set is displayed (step 913). The user can specify a destination for navigation by selecting a target facility from the displayed items. In addition, when the operation menu button of “Return” is selected on each item selection screen shown in FIG. 2, the screen returns to the previous item selection screen, and the item display control unit 46 refers to the flag of the record to display the previous item selection screen. Since the item selected on the item selection screen can be specified and further selected again, the number of selected items can be increased or decreased during the search.

In step 904, when the user selects a genre button in the operation menu, the genre is displayed as an item. Therefore, in the same manner as described above, a plurality or singular items of the genre in which the target facility is considered to exist are selected. By doing so, it is possible to perform a refined search by genre. After performing the refinement search by area, the refinement search by genre may be performed, or the refinement search may be performed in the reverse order.

[1-3. Effect] As described above, in the present embodiment, since there are a plurality of items that can be selected when performing a refined search, for example, the user finds in which prefecture or city the target facility is located. It is possible to narrow down from a wide range, even if it is not known exactly which field is further classified. Therefore, even if the search is based on a slight clue, the target facility is not easily excluded from the search target, and the search is less likely to fail.

Returning to the previous item selection screen from each item selection screen, the previously selected item can be confirmed and the selection can be redone from that stage. It does not take much time compared to starting a search again. Further, the final search result can be conveniently displayed at any time by referring to the identification number stored in the memory.

[2. Second Embodiment] [2-1. Configuration] An embodiment corresponding to the inventions described in claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 will be described. This embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. However, when the user inputs a character string using the Japanese syllabary panel, the item selecting unit 47 reads the character string. And a function as a character extracting means for selecting a facility name included in the information. In addition, the item display control unit 46 sorts the item display of the facility name in the order from the current position by referring to the position coordinates of the record, or sorts the item display of the facility name in the order of the Japanese syllabary by referring to the phonetic record of the record. A function as a sorting means for sorting is included. Hereinafter, explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 5 to 8,
The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The description of the same procedure as in the first embodiment will be simplified.

[2-2. Operation] First, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the user selects the character extraction button from the stage where the facility name as the search result is displayed (step 913 in FIG. 9) (see FIG. 5). Step 10
01). Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a Japanese syllabary panel is displayed (step 1002). The user thinks the character string included in the target facility name (may be one character)
Is input using the Japanese syllabary panel (step 100).
3) Select a decision button on the operation menu (step 1004).

Then, the item selecting section 47 searches for the phonetic in each record and selects a record whose name includes the input character string (step 1005). Then, for the selected record, the selection information control unit 48
Sets the character extraction flag and, as shown in FIG. 6, retains the identification number of the record in which all of the "prefecture flag", "city / city / town / village flag" and "character extraction flag" are set, in the memory. And overwrites the area (step 1006).

Next, by selecting the above determination button,
As shown in FIG. 5, the facility names corresponding to the records with all the flags set are displayed as items (step 100).
7). In order to cancel the narrowing down based on the area information performed in the first embodiment, by selecting an area button shown in FIG. 5, an item display screen of the prefecture shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, A release button is selected (step 1008). Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the "prefecture flag" and the "municipal flag" are masked, and the identification number in which only the character extraction flag is set is overwritten and held in the number holding area of the memory (step 1009). ), The facility name shown in FIG. 5 is displayed as an item (step 1010).

Further, when the user selects the close order button in the operation menu button shown in FIG. 5 (step 1011), as shown in FIG.
6, the records are rearranged using the coordinate values as clues (step 1012), and accordingly, the identification number control unit 45 reassigns the identification numbers, and at the same time, overwrites and holds the records in the number holding area of the memory (step 1012). 10
13). Then, the corresponding facility names are displayed in the rearranged order as shown in FIG. 5 (step 10).
14). This allows you to keep the refined status
Sorting is possible.

When the records can be rearranged in the order of the Japanese syllabary, the setting is made so that the alphabetical order button is displayed on the operation menu button on the screen shown in FIG. Then, when the syllabary order button is selected in step 1011 described above, the item display control unit 16 rearranges the phonetics of the record with reference to the syllabary table, and the subsequent processing is performed in the same manner as described above.

[2-3. Effect] As described above, in the present embodiment, even when only a part of the name of the target facility is known at the time of searching based on the area item and the genre item, the Based on such clues, the refined search can be performed reliably.

Further, even when a search combining a plurality of cues such as an area item, a genre item, and character extraction is performed, the search performed by a specific cue can be canceled. There is no need to start over, and the operation can be simplified.

Further, since the order of the displayed facility names can be rearranged in the order of the closest to the current position or in the order of the Japanese syllabary.
Even if many facility names are listed, the target facility name can be easily found without long scrolling. Further, even if the rearrangement is performed, since the storage related to the narrowing-down state is held by the flag or the identification number, it is possible to easily and quickly perform the search confirmation and the redoing in the same manner as in the first embodiment. it can.

[3. Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example,
The settings such as the color, shape, and size of the operation menu button, item display, and the like can be freely changed. Further, the content of each item for search is not limited to the example shown in the above embodiment. In addition, the object is not limited to artificial facilities,
Anything, such as a natural thing or a customary place name, may be used. In addition, the criteria at the time of rearrangement are as follows:
The order of the zero notes is not limited, and may be any order such as a distant order or a large order. In addition to displaying the target on the screen, the user can be notified by voice. Further, the present invention can be applied to a navigation device other than a vehicle-mounted navigation device.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the user does not accurately grasp the information on the object, a navigation technique, that is, a navigation apparatus and method, and a navigation device capable of reliably searching for the name of the object based on a slight clue A recording medium on which software is recorded can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example of a refined search based on an area item according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing processing when a prefecture is selected according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing processing at the time of selecting a city, town, town, and village in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example of character extraction and rearrangement processing according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing processing at the time of character extraction according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing processing when canceling an area search according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a process at the time of rearrangement according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a search procedure based on an area item according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of character extraction and rearrangement processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position / azimuth detecting part 2 ... Relative azimuth detecting part 3 ... Vehicle speed detecting part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit M ... Memory group 5 ... ROM 6 ... Dynamic RAM (DRAM) 7 ... Static RAM (SRAM) 8 ... VideoRAM (VRAM) 9 ... User interface unit 10 ... Display unit 11 ... Input unit 12 ... CD-ROM control unit 13 ... FM multiplex reception and processing unit 14 ... Optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 40 ... Current position calculation unit 41 ... Scroll display control unit 42 ... Destination designation unit 43 ... Route search unit 44 ... Guide unit 45 ... Identification number control unit 46 ... Item display control unit 47 ... Item selection unit 48 ... Selection information control unit 49 ... Drawing unit 901 and later ... Procedure Each step

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HB06 HB22 HB23 HB24 HC08 HC21 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AB13 AC02 AC04 AC08 AC13 AC14 AC18 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB13 EE18 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13 JJ23 FF23 FF23 FF25

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A current position calculating means for calculating a current position, a destination specifying means for specifying a destination where an object exists, and a route calculating means for setting a route from the current position to the destination. A navigation device having display means for displaying a route calculated by the route calculation means, an object storage means for storing names of a plurality of objects in association with attributes, and identifying the names of the objects respectively. Identification number assigning means for assigning a number, attribute display control means for sequentially displaying a part of the attribute on the display means for each attribute layer, and an attribute sequentially displayed on the display means. An attribute selection unit that narrows down the search target by selecting a plurality or a single attribute; and each time an attribute is selected by the attribute selection unit, the attribute corresponding to the selected attribute is selected. Selection information providing means for providing selection information to the name of a target object to indicate that the object is selected, and each time the selection by the attribute selection means is performed, the selection information corresponds to the name of the target object to which the selection information is continuously provided. Identification number storage means for storing an identification number to be executed, and search result display control means for displaying on the display means a name of an object corresponding to the identification number stored in the identification number storage means. Navigation device. 2. A character string input means for inputting a character string, wherein the attribute includes a phonetic character of the name of the object, and the character string input by the character string input means includes a character string. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising character extraction means for selecting a target object. 3. The attribute includes elements that can be arranged in ascending or descending order, and the names of the objects displayed by the search result display control means are determined according to the elements of the attribute that can be arranged in ascending or descending order. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a sorting unit that sorts in ascending order or descending order. 4. A navigation method for calculating a route from a current position to a destination where a designated target object exists, and displaying the route on a display means for guiding, the method comprising: A step of assigning an identification number to each of the names of the objects; a step of sequentially displaying a part of the attributes on the display means for each attribute hierarchy; and a step of displaying the attributes sequentially on the display means. Narrowing down the search target by selecting a plurality or a single attribute, which means that each time the attribute is selected, it is selected as the name of the object corresponding to the selected attribute A step of providing selection information, and a step of storing an identification number corresponding to the name of the object to which the selection information is continuously provided, each time the attribute is selected, Displaying the name of the object corresponding to the stored identification number on the display means. 5. The navigation method according to claim 4, further comprising: a step of inputting a character string; and a step of selecting a name of a target object in which the input character string is included. 6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of rearranging the names of the objects displayed on the display unit in ascending or descending order according to the elements of the attribute that can be arranged in ascending or descending order. The navigation method according to claim 5. 7. A record in which navigation software for causing a computer to calculate a route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination where a designated target is present and displaying the route on a display means is recorded. In the medium, the software causes the computer to assign an identification number to each of the names of a plurality of objects associated with the attribute, and causes the display unit to sequentially display a part of the attribute for each attribute hierarchy. Selecting a plurality or a single attribute from the attributes sequentially displayed on the display means to narrow down the search target; and each time the attribute is selected, an object corresponding to the selected attribute is selected. Selection information is added to the name of the object, which means that selection is made, and each time the attribute is selected by the attribute selection means, the selection information is added. A recording medium recording navigation software, wherein an identification number corresponding to the name of the continued object is stored, and the name of the object corresponding to the stored identification number is displayed on the display means. 8. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the software causes the computer to select a name of an object in which the input character string is included in a phonetic alphabet. 9. The software causes the computer to sort the names of the objects displayed on the display means in ascending or descending order according to the attribute elements that can be arranged in ascending or descending order. A recording medium on which the navigation software according to claim 7 or 8 is recorded.