JP2002062144A - Mobile communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an excellent mobile communication unit in which storage capacity can be utilized effectively while suppressing communication cost by storing map data having a high use frequency and deleting map data having a low use frequency. SOLUTION: A control unit 11 mounted in a navigation system 10 displays rough map data in a database 16 on the screen of an output unit 12 and also displays detailed map data on the screen of the output unit 12 by requesting a base station 100 to transfer required detailed map data through a communication unit 15 according to input operation from an input unit 13. Furthermore, the control unit 11 stores corresponding use frequency in a hard disc 17 such that it can be reused and secures the storage capacity of the hard disc 17 by deleting detailed map data having a low use frequency when the residual capacity thereof reaches a set value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile communication device, and more particularly to a mobile communication device which is mounted on a mobile body for displaying map data and guidance routes, and which can efficiently store and hold transmitted map data. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device has been frequently used as a mobile device for displaying map data of a user's location. Can be displayed on the display, and route guidance to the destination can be provided.

[0003] This type of navigation device is equipped with a storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing map data,
Generally, necessary map data is read out from the storage medium and displayed.

[0004] However, such a navigation device prepares a storage medium for storing a wide range of detailed map data, because it keeps a map that is not usually used and a large-capacity storage medium. And the storage medium cannot be used efficiently,
The problem described above occurs.

[0005] In order to solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which detailed map data is obtained from the outside when it becomes necessary, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-262493.

[0006] The navigation device described in this publication is
It is equipped with a communication device that stores rough map data of the whole country including the main road in a storage medium and can perform data communication by wirelessly connecting to the base station that owns the detailed map data. When the communication device is instructed by the user to obtain detailed map data of a desired area, the communication device obtains detailed map data of the specified area by connecting to a base station and making a transfer request. This eliminates the need to prepare unnecessary detailed map data for storage. For example, when the navigation device provides route guidance, when a user at the starting point inputs a destination, detailed map data from the base station connected to the communication device to the vicinity of the destination at that time is received and stored. The route information is stored in a medium, and route guidance using the outline map data and the detailed map data is performed at the start of traveling.

[0007]

However, in such a mobile communication device (hereinafter referred to as a navigation device) described in the above publication, detailed map data is obtained from a base station every time it is used. Only the communication cost increases. For example, if the same home or company is set as the destination for commuting (round trip), connecting to a base station to receive detailed map data each time would only waste communication costs. is there.

In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable that the acquired detailed map data is stored in a storage device such as a magnetic disk, and is called up and used when necessary.

However, storing all of the acquired detailed map data in a storage device wastes its storage capacity. For example, detailed map data of a vacation spot (destination) performed on a weekend is often not used again, and storing all such detailed map data requires effective use of the storage capacity of the storage device. There is a waste that it has to be huge because it cannot be done.

In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to delete the detailed map data acquired at the oldest date and time. Is used repeatedly, it becomes necessary immediately, and the terminal is connected to the base station again to receive the transmission of the detailed map data. In this case, by storing the necessary detailed map data in the storage device, the advantage that the storage capacity can be effectively utilized and that the communication device can be used without increasing the communication cost is impaired.

It is needless to say that the problem described here is not limited to the on-vehicle navigation device but also occurs in other mobile communication devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and stores and holds frequently used map data while deleting infrequently used map data to reduce communication costs and store. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent mobile communication device that makes effective use of capacity.

[0013]

A mobile communication device according to the present invention comprises: storage means for storing map data displayed by a mobile object; communication means for communicatively connecting to a base station having the map data; Map requesting means for requesting the base station connected by the communication means to transmit map data of a predetermined area; map obtaining means for receiving the map data transmitted from the base station and storing the map data in the storage means; A frequency determining means for storing a record of use of the map data stored in the storage means and determining a frequency of use of the map data; and a storage capacity of the storage means being confirmed and preset. A map deletion method for deleting from the storage means the map data determined to be less frequently used by the frequency determination means when the storage capacity is less than the storage capacity. It has a structure to be mounted on.

According to this configuration, it is possible to connect to the base station and make a request for transmission of map data in accordance with a user's instruction input or a moving position of the moving body, and map data of a necessary area is stored in the storage means. It can be stored and displayed on a moving object. This map data can be repeatedly used by reading it out of the storage means as needed, and its use results are stored. When the storage capacity of the storage unit is reduced, the map data having a low use frequency is deleted from the storage unit based on the determination of the use frequency in accordance with the use result of the map data, and the necessary map data is acquired. The storage capacity is ensured so that it can continue. Therefore, frequently used map data can be stored and used repeatedly without increasing communication cost, and the infrequently used map data can be deleted to effectively use the storage capacity of the storage means.

Here, in the case where there is provided position detecting means for detecting the current position of the moving body, the apparatus is configured to automatically request a map of a corresponding area based on the position detection result of the position detecting means. Is preferred.

[0016] The map requesting means requests a transmission for displaying on the moving body so that the map data of the surrounding area adjacent to the destination or the guide route (passing destination point) of the moving body can be immediately displayed. It is preferable that the base station is also configured to request the base station to transmit map data of a peripheral area adjacent to the map data area.

The frequency judging means stores the map data of an area which is likely to be displayed next time on the moving body, and stores the map data of the destination of the moving body inputted from the operating means. In addition to storing the data usage record, other than (such as the area around the destination or the area outside the guidance route)
It is preferable that the use result of the map data is stored such that a use result lower than the map data of the destination is stored.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a mobile communication device according to the present invention, and are diagrams showing an example when applied to a navigation device.

In FIG. 1, a navigation device 10
Is a navigation control unit 11 and an output device 12
, Input device 13, GPS device (position detecting means) 14
, A communication device (communication means) 15, a database (storage means) 16, and a hard disk device (storage means) 17 to constitute a mobile body that moves by being mounted on a vehicle. By integrally controlling the respective units 12 to 17, the search and setting of the optimal route to the input destination are mainly performed in accordance with the selected condition, and the guidance of the route is displayed and output, and the voice is output.

The output device 12 and the input device 13 are constituted by display devices having various input / output means. The output device 12 is constituted by an operation input screen or a liquid crystal screen for displaying and outputting a map. Is provided with various switches such as a touch panel and a joystick on a liquid crystal screen, and has a well-known voice recognition device. The control unit 11 performs various operations such as input setting of a destination and a memory point from the input device 13,
With the output device 12, for example, the current location mark is displayed on the map while being superimposed, and a road that is distinguished from other roads to the destination is displayed on the map to provide route guidance.

The GPS device 14 detects the current position by using radio waves transmitted from artificial satellites. The control unit 11 transmits the current position of the vehicle along with the detection information from the GPS device 14. The current position is displayed as a current location mark on the output device 12 based on the detection result of the travel information such as the travel speed and the travel speed, and the acquisition of map data described later is executed. The means for detecting the current position is GP
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the S device.

The communication device 15 can be wirelessly connected to the base station 100 that provides various types of information such as traffic congestion information and map data so as to be able to communicate with each other. By doing with respect to 100, for example, detailed map data required for route guidance to the destination is acquired.

The database 16 is constituted by a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and outputs rough large-scale map data including information on major roads such as major national roads and expressways throughout Japan to the output device 12 on a screen. It is stored in advance so that it can be displayed, and is prepared in association with link data for each intersection for searching for the shortest route and the like. The hard disk device 17 writes and stores detailed map data necessary for route guidance to the destination and the like.
It is supposed to.

The control unit 11 constitutes a map requesting unit and a map obtaining unit. For example, when displaying the map data in the database 16 on the output unit 12 on the screen, the input unit 13 outputs a detailed map. When there is a reference instruction (display instruction), if there is no corresponding detailed map data by searching the hard disk device 17, a request to transfer detailed map data including the designated destination point and map data in the vicinity thereof is transmitted to the base station. The detailed map data transmitted to 100 is displayed on the screen of the output device 12 and written into the hard disk device 17 to be stored (acquired).

When displaying the map data in the database 16 on the screen of the output device 12, the control unit 11 receives an instruction for route guidance from the input device 13 to the set destination. A rough route from the current position to the destination is searched and determined based on the map data and the link data, and displayed on the output device 12 on a screen, and detailed map data of the destination and the surrounding area and the searched location are displayed. By searching for and confirming whether or not detailed map data of the area including the route is already stored in the hard disk device 17, by transmitting a transfer request of detailed map data not stored to the base station 100, The map data sent from the base station 100 is written and stored in the hard disk drive 17 and input from the input device 13. The map data corresponding to the shown or running position with reading the route guidance to the destination from the hard disk device within 17 so as to assist also traveling around the destination.

At this time, by acquiring link data corresponding to the road included in the map data together with the detailed map data from the base station 100, and instructing the guide route to be searched again, An accurate and detailed route guidance to the destination may be provided. When a destination is designated (temporarily set) from the map data in the database 16, detailed map data including the destination and By transmitting a transfer request for map data in the vicinity to the base station 100 and displaying the sent map data on the screen of the output device 12, the destination is set from the detailed map data, and the destination is newly set. A request for transfer of detailed map data including a guidance route to the destination may be made to provide route guidance to the destination. Further, by requesting the transfer of detailed map data of the surrounding area adjacent to the area including the searched guide route, the detailed map data is transmitted from the base station 100 when the vehicle deviates from the guide route. The user may be able to quickly display detailed map data without waiting for.

As described above, the rough large-scale map data is stored in the database 16, and the detailed small-scale map data is transmitted from the base station 100 as needed to the hard disk drive. Since the data is stored in the database 17, the data prepared in the database 16 is the minimum required data, the storage capacity can be reduced, and the guidance route can be searched at high speed. In addition, when repeatedly providing a route to a destination, detailed connection including a guide route (passing destination point) can be performed quickly without connecting to the base station 100 each time (without taking a charge or time). The map data can be read out from the hard disk drive 17 and displayed on the output device 12 on the screen. The map data of the area around the destination can be quickly read out from the hard disk drive according to the input operation from the input device 13 and according to the traveling position. The data can be read from the device 17 and displayed on the screen of the output device 12.

The control unit 11 includes an output device 12
In order to display on the screen, the use results such as the number of times of access to detailed map data such as destinations read from the hard disk device 17 or transmitted from the base station 100 are associated with the detailed map data. For example,
The data is stored and stored in a non-volatile RAM (not shown) (not shown), and detailed map data around the destination may be used or may be used. The use results whose weight (priority) is lower than that of the detailed map data of the ground or the passing point are stored and held in association with each other.

Then, when the hard disk drive 17 has a remaining storage capacity smaller than a preset capacity (the storage capacity may be insufficient for continued comfortable use). When the set value is reached)
Estimating the frequency of use of detailed map data to be stored based on the associated use results, and erasing the detailed map data that is determined to be inferior in frequency and unlikely to be used again Thus, the storage capacity in the hard disk drive 17 is ensured to be equal to or larger than a preset capacity (a storage capacity equal to or larger than a set value sufficient to continue comfortable use). That is, the control unit 11 constitutes a frequency determination unit and a map deletion unit.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG.
ID by transfer request for screen display on output device 12
= 2_2 is transmitted from the base station 100 together with detailed map data of the surrounding area, and ID = 1_
When nine pieces of detailed map data 1 to 3_3 are stored and held in the hard disk device 17, the input device 13 is operated to input a destination for route guidance or a reference for map confirmation. As a point, again I
When the detailed map data of D = 2_2 is displayed on the screen of the output device 12, the hard disk device 17 is accessed to check whether the detailed map data of ID = 2_2 is stored and read and reused.

At this time, when the detailed map data of ID = 2_2 transferred from the base station 100 is stored in the hard disk device 17, “1” is set as the number of accesses A and the use frequency F is also set. In addition to setting a constant value α in association with it, detailed map data around other than
The number of accesses A is set to a constant value β (α> β) in association with the use frequency F with “0”, and when read from the hard disk device 17 and reused, the flowchart of FIG. As shown in (1), first, it is checked whether or not the hard disk device 17 for reading the detailed map data to be stored is accessed (step P11). If not, the process is terminated as it is. Has been performed, the number of accesses A of the detailed map data of the accessed ID = 2_2 is increased by "1", the frequency of use F is increased by a constant value α (step P13), and the adjacent neighboring areas are increased. I
Similarly, for the detailed map data of D = 1_1 to 3_3 (excluding ID = 2_2), the frequency of use F is increased by the constant value β while the number of accesses A is unchanged (step P15).
In the present embodiment, the use frequency F is added by using the constant values α and β properly, but it goes without saying that the use frequency F may be only the constant value α.

By repeating such a process, the detailed map data stored in the hard disk device 17 can be stored in association with the number of accesses A and the frequencies of use α and β as the use results, and the direct access was made. Although it is lighter than when directly accessing not only the detailed map data but also the detailed map data in the vicinity thereof, it can be weighted to be superior to the detailed map data in other regions.

Thereafter, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4, when the storage capacity in the hard disk drive 17 is checked, if it does not exceed the set value, the processing is terminated as it is. When it is confirmed that the map is full (step P21), the hard disk device 17 is searched for detailed map data that is used least frequently, and, for example, as shown in FIG. ID displayed on the screen of the output device 12
= 2_5, 5_2, 5_3 along with the detailed map data of the surrounding area.
(In the figure, the hatched one indicates that the transfer request has not been made to the base station 100), the detailed map data associated with the minimum use frequency F is searched. (Step P22), when there are a plurality of corresponding detailed map data (in FIG. 5, detailed map data with the minimum use frequency F = β), the detailed map data with the lowest access frequency A is selected (Step P23, P24), in this case, ID = 1_4 to 1_6, 2_4, 2_6, 3
_4-3_6, 4_1-4_4, 5_1, 5_4, 6_
The detailed map data 1-6_4 is selected and deleted from the hard disk device 17 (step P25). It should be noted that, at this time, it is needless to say that a plurality of detailed map data may not be deleted at one time only with the use frequency F and the number of accesses A, but further narrowing conditions may be added. Older ones may be deleted from older ones.

Therefore, before the storage capacity of the hard disk device 17 becomes insufficient, the estimated use frequency is determined from the use results, and the estimated use frequency is deleted from the detailed map data which is less likely to be reused. The storage capacity of the hard disk device 17 can be secured so that necessary detailed map data can be continuously obtained from the base station 100, and the storage capacity can be used effectively. In the present embodiment, the storage capacity in the hard disk device 17 is secured by one set value, but the detailed map data may be deleted so as to secure the storage capacity of a different set value or more. Needless to say.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the detailed map data that is frequently used can be stored in the hard disk device 17 without repeatedly transmitting the necessary detailed map data to the base station 100 and increasing the communication cost. And detailed map data that is infrequently used and is unlikely to be reused can be deleted from the hard disk device 17 to return the storage capacity to an effectively usable state.

Further, the base station 100 requests the base station 100 to transmit not only the detailed map data itself displayed on the screen on the output device 12 but also the detailed map data of the surrounding area and stores and stores the detailed map data in the hard disk drive 17. Is used in association with the frequency of use with a difference in weight, so that detailed map data of an adjacent area can be transferred and displayed on the screen quickly without waiting for the base station 100 to send the data. Can be.

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the mobile communication device according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing an example when applied to a navigation device. In addition, since the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the above-described embodiment, the characteristic portions will be described using the same reference numerals by using the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the control unit 11 associates detailed map data such as a destination accessed for display on the screen of the output device 12 with the usage record with different weights according to the access reason. For example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, when access to detailed map data, such as a transfer request to the base station 100 or reading from the hard disk device 17, is confirmed (step P11). If the reason for the access is the reason X for displaying the destination or the guidance route (passing destination) on the screen, as described in the above embodiment, the detailed map data accessed includes the number of accesses. A is increased by “1”, and the frequency of use F is increased by a constant value α. A constant value the use frequency F remains of β
(Steps P12, P13, P15).

On the other hand, the reason for the access is a reason Y other than displaying the destination and the guidance route on the screen. For example, when deviating from the guidance route, avoiding traffic jams or accidents, other detailed map data is displayed on the screen. If the reason Y is
Similarly, “1” is increased as the number of accesses A only to the accessed detailed map data, but the frequency of use F is increased by a certain value γ (β> γ) because the possibility of reuse is low (step P12). , P16).

Therefore, when the storage capacity of the hard disk drive 17 becomes smaller than the set value, the detailed map data which has been used due to deviation of the guide route but has not been used repeatedly is preferentially deleted. The detailed map data that is frequently used can be prepared for storage in the hard disk drive 17.

As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the functions and effects of the above-described embodiment, detailed map data that is repeatedly displayed on the output device 12 at the time of route guidance or reference is stored in the hard disk device 17. And the possibility of requesting the base station 100 to transfer the data again can be reduced, and the hard disk device 17 can be used effectively and comfortably without increasing the communication cost.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, map data can be obtained from a base station as required by a user and displayed on a mobile object, and can be read out and used repeatedly when necessary. Can be stored in the storage means so that the map can be stored, and the usage record is stored, and the map data which is not frequently used is deleted according to the storage capacity of the storage means, thereby reducing the storage capacity of the storage means. Thus, acquisition of necessary map data can be continued.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a mobile communication device having an excellent effect that the map data that is frequently used can be repeatedly used by suppressing the communication cost and effectively using the storage capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a first embodiment of a mobile communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing detailed map data of the first embodiment of the mobile communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating management of detailed map data in the first embodiment of the mobile communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating management of detailed map data according to the first embodiment of the mobile communication device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing detailed map data of the first embodiment of the mobile communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating management of detailed map data in a second embodiment of the mobile communication device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 navigation device 11 navigation control unit 12 output device 13 input device 14 GPS device 15 communication device 16 database 17 hard disk device 100 base station

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing map data displayed by a mobile unit, a communication unit communicably connected to a base station that owns the map data, and a predetermined area connected to the base station connected by the communication unit. Map requesting means for requesting transmission of the map data, map obtaining means for receiving the map data transmitted from the base station and storing the map data in the storage means, and use of the map data stored in the storage means Frequency determination means for storing a record and determining the frequency of use of the map data; and said frequency determination means when the storage capacity of the storage means is checked and becomes smaller than a preset storage capacity. And a map deletion method for deleting the map data determined to be infrequently used from the storage means. Place. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position detecting means for detecting a current position of the moving object, wherein the map is automatically requested based on a result of the position detection by the position detecting means. 2. The mobile communication device according to 1. 3. The map requesting means requests the base station to transmit map data of a peripheral area adjacent to the area of the map data requested to be transmitted for display on the mobile unit. The mobile communication device according to claim 1. 4. The frequency judging means stores the use result of the map data of the destination of the moving object inputted from the operation means, and stores the use result of the map data other than the destination as the map data. 4. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein a usage record lower than the map data of the destination is stored.