JP2002181583A - Navigation method and apparatus therefor, etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation method which utilizes both the advantage of pictorial maps and a conventional navigation function, an apparatus therefor, and a portable phone and a PHS with the apparatus loaded. SOLUTION: There are set a display device 17, a GPS tuner 12 for obtaining the present position, a CF card 22 where map information is stored, and a CPU 13 for converting a reduced map obtained from the map information to the pictorial map, displaying the pictorial map to the display device 17 and displaying the present position to a corresponding position on the pictorial map. Since the present position is displayed on the pictorial map, both the advantage of the pictorial map (displaying a target/mark) and the conventional navigation function (displaying the present position) are made use of.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation method, an apparatus therefor, a mobile phone, and a PHS.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional on-vehicle navigation device is equipped with a large-capacity storage device such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, and maps information stored in these storage devices to, for example, position information of the navigation device. It is used for the purpose of performing navigation (direction guidance) by displaying the information on a display device and displaying sightseeing information and the like.

[0003]

The conventional in-vehicle navigation device is used for displaying route guidance, sightseeing information, and the like as described above, and displays information previously incorporated in relation to position information. An accurate scaled map is used for the route guidance.

In general, when moving toward a destination, a final destination is determined by tracing a target object or landmark rather than using an accurately drawn map. Are more likely to reach the human sensibility. In such a case, it is more likely that a person who instructs a clear target or landmark will not lose his way. For this reason, a deformed picture map is attached to a guidebook, for example,
The picture map is used. However, this pictorial map is only an outline of the map, and when a user goes to a destination using the pictorial map, it is necessary to know where he or she is on the pictorial map. I couldn't do that, which was inconvenient.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and a navigation method, an apparatus, and a mobile phone equipped with the apparatus utilizing both the advantages of a picture map and a conventional navigation function. And PHS.

[0006]

(1) In a navigation method according to one aspect of the present invention, a step of converting a reduced-scale map into a pictorial map and displaying the pictorial map on a display device, and acquiring a current position. Displaying the current position at a corresponding position on the pictorial map displayed on the display device. In the present invention, the pictorial map is displayed on the display device and the current position is displayed on the pictorial map. Therefore, the advantages of the pictorial map (display of target objects and landmarks) and the conventional navigation function (currently Position display) is utilized to enable navigation suited to human sensitivity. Further, a wide area can be displayed in a specific small space (a small screen such as a mobile phone can also be displayed).

(2) A navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention is the navigation method according to the above (1), wherein:
The reduced scale map and the pictorial map having the continuous contents are simultaneously displayed on the display device. In the present invention, since a partial area of the reduced scale map is displayed as a pictorial map, for example, when the current position shifts from the reduced scale map to the pictorial map, there is no user discomfort and the usability is good. .

(3) In the navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to the above (1) or (2), an optimum route is obtained from a departure point and a destination, and a straight route on the optimum route is shortened. Generate a pictorial map. In the present invention, even if the straight route in the optimum route is shortened, there is no inconvenience in navigation, so that a pictorial map in which the straight route is shortened is generated and displayed.

(4) In the navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method of (3), a landmark of a route change point on the optimum route is extracted from the reduced scale map, and a landmark is further added. Generate a pictorial map. In the present invention, landmarks are displayed at a route change point on the optimum route, for example, at an intersection, a three-way intersection, or the like.

(5) A navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention is the navigation method according to any one of the above (1) to (4), wherein a road having a predetermined width or more around the destination and a predetermined area or more are provided. A picture map to which the building and its name are further added is generated. In the present invention, details of the periphery of the destination are displayed by displaying a road having a predetermined width or more around the destination, a building having a predetermined area or more, and the name of the building. I try not to.

(6) The navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention is the navigation method according to any one of the above (1) to (4), wherein a road having a predetermined width or more around the current position and a predetermined area or more are provided. A picture map to which the building and its name are further added is generated. In the present invention, details of the periphery of the current position are displayed by displaying a road having a predetermined width or more around the current position, a building having a predetermined area or more, and the name of the building. I try not to.

(7) In the navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to the above (5) or (6), a picture map to which a preset building and its name are further added is generated. In the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned building, a preset building and its name are further added and displayed, so that information about an arbitrary building can also be displayed.

(8) The navigation method according to another aspect of the present invention is the navigation method according to any one of the above (4) to (7), wherein the current position and a landmark, a predetermined building or a destination are located between the current position and the landmark. A picture map to which information indicating a distance or information indicating a distance of a shortened straight road is further added is generated. Although a pictorial map does not accurately display the distance, in the present invention, information indicating the distance (for example, OO
m, 5 traffic lights), it is possible to accurately grasp the distance between the current position and the landmark, and the distance of the shortened straight road.

(9) A navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a display device, position information detecting means for acquiring a current position, storage means for storing map information, and a scale obtained from the map information. It has a calculating means for converting the map into a pictorial map, displaying the pictorial map on a display device, and displaying the current position at a corresponding position on the pictorial map. In the present invention, the pictorial map is displayed on the display device and the current position is displayed on the pictorial map. Therefore, the advantages of the pictorial map (display of target objects and landmarks) and the conventional navigation function (currently Position display) is utilized to enable navigation suited to human sensitivity.

(10) In the navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention, in the device according to (9) above, the calculating means simultaneously displays the reduced map and the pictorial map having the contents continuous with the reduced map on the display device. Let it. In the present invention, since a corresponding area in the reduced scale map is displayed as a pictorial map, for example, when the current position shifts from the reduced scale map to the pictorial map, there is no uncomfortable feeling of the user and the usability is improved. Is good.

(11) In the navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the above (9) or (10), the arithmetic means finds an optimum route from the starting point and the destination, and calculates a straight line in the optimum route. Generate a pictorial map that shortens the distance of the road. In the present invention, even if the straight route in the optimum route is shortened, there is no inconvenience in navigation, so that a pictorial map in which the straight route is shortened is generated and displayed.

(12) In the navigation apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation apparatus according to the above (9), the calculating means extracts a landmark of a route change point on the optimum route from the reduced scale map, and To generate a picture map to which is further added. In the present invention, landmarks are displayed at a route change point on the optimum route, for example, at an intersection, a three-way intersection, or the like.

(13) The navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention is the navigation device according to any one of the above (9) to (12), wherein the calculating means includes: a road having a predetermined width or more around the destination; A pictorial map is further generated to which a building having a predetermined area or more and its name are further added. In the present invention, details of the periphery of the destination are displayed by displaying a road having a predetermined width or more around the destination, a building having a predetermined area or more, and the name of the building. I try not to.

(14) A navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention is the navigation device according to any one of (9) to (12), wherein the calculating means includes: a road having a predetermined width around the current position; A pictorial map is further generated to which a building having a predetermined area or more and its name are further added. In the present invention, details of the periphery of the current position are displayed by displaying a road having a predetermined width or more around the current position, a building having a predetermined area or more, and the name of the building. I try not to.

(15) In the navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the above (13) or (14), the arithmetic means includes a predetermined map and a picture map to which the name of the building is further added. Generate. In the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned building, a preset building and its name are further added and displayed, so that information about an arbitrary building can also be displayed.

(16) In the navigation device according to another aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the above (12) to (15), the arithmetic means includes a current position and a landmark, a predetermined building or a destination. , Or a picture map to which information indicating a shortened straight road distance is further added. Although the distance is not accurately displayed on the pictorial map, in the present invention, information indicating the distance (for example, OOm, five traffic lights) is displayed to reduce the distance between the current position and the landmark or the like. It is possible to accurately grasp the distance of the straight line that has been performed.

(17) A mobile phone according to another aspect of the present invention is equipped with the navigation device according to any one of the above (9) to (16). In the present invention, by mounting the above navigation device in a mobile phone,
It is expanding the functions of mobile phones.

(18) PHS according to another embodiment of the present invention
Is equipped with the navigation device according to any one of the above (9) to (16). In the present invention, by mounting the navigation device on a PHS,
HS functions are being expanded.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 10 includes a GPS antenna 11, a GPS tuner (receiver) 12, a CPU 13,
Main storage device (RAM) 14, drawing storage device 15, drawing processing device 16, display device (LCD panel or the like) 17, program storage device (ROM) 18, operation button interface 19, operation buttons 20, and card adapter 21
It is composed of In the present embodiment, the CF card 22 is mounted on the card adapter 21, and the CF card 22 is mounted on the card adapter 21.
The card 22 has, for example, a CD-RO storing map information.
A part of map information of a desired area extracted from M is stored.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when performing navigation in the navigation apparatus of FIG. (S1) When the user operates the operation buttons 20 to input a stop point and a destination, the CPU 13 takes in the information via the operation button interface 19.

(S2) The CPU 13 sends the position information (latitude, longitude) of the current position from the GPS tuner (receiver) 13.
Take in. (S3) The CPU 13 executes C via the card adapter 21.
The map information stored in the F card 22 is read out, and the display device 17 displays a reduced scale map around the current position via the drawing processing device 16.

(S4) The CPU 13 obtains the optimum route by referring to the map information of the CF card based on the drop-in points and the destination inputted as described above. Here, the search for the optimum route is defined as the map information in the CF card 22.
From the link information attached to the road (link information is a table that summarizes additional information such as the distance of the road and the degree of congestion, the link table is usually composed of intersections). This is a search method to determine whether the sum of the information is the optimal value (the normal cost is the combination that minimizes the cost is the optimal value), and determine the link combination (direction). The search method is a known method.

(S5) The CPU 13 performs data processing for generating a pictorial map by modifying the scale map displayed above based on the above optimum route. (S6) The CPU 13 displays the map modified based on the data processed as described above, that is, the pictorial map on the display device 1
7 is displayed. (S7) The CPU 13 displays the current position on the picture map. Note that the current position has latitude and longitude information as position information, and the roads and the like displayed on the pictorial map also have latitude and longitude information and position information on the screen. The position of the current position on the screen, that is, the position on the picture map is obtained.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing a normal reduced-scale map and a modified map (picture map) displayed in the above processing (S3). When the optimal route from the station to the castle is obtained in the scale map of FIG. 3, for example, the following processing is performed based on the optimal route, and the pictorial map shown in FIG. indicate. The straight line portion of the optimal route is a predetermined distance (for example, 10 m)
As described above, with respect to the straight line portion, shortened data is obtained, and a picture map corresponding to the data is displayed. In this case, a mark 105 (see FIG. 4) indicating that the vehicle has been shortened is displayed, and the distance of the shortened straight road is displayed. Further, in the case where it is meaningless to display the road as it is, such as the road from the entrance to the exit of the expressway, the description is similarly omitted.

The name and the planar shape (or three-dimensional shape) of the building located near the portion of the optimum route where the course is changed (the portion where the moving direction needs to be changed such as an intersection or a three-way intersection) are displayed. The display of other buildings is omitted. Alternatively, famous buildings and the like are displayed together with buildings near the intersection and the like. Notable buildings include public buildings (city halls, elementary schools, post offices, etc.) and CFs.
The building is registered in the card 22 in advance.

The map displayed based on the data obtained by performing the above processing is as shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the castle 101 from the station 100
A road is displayed centering on the route to the road, and a shortened straight distance (300 m) and a distance (500 m) from the current position 102 to the castle 101 are shown. Further, a building 103 located near an intersection where the moving direction needs to be changed is also displayed.
Although not shown, the optimum route is displayed in a different color from the other portions. By doing so, the moving direction is clearly displayed, and it is easy to see.

The above-mentioned processing (S7) is repeated until an end instruction is given by operating the operation buttons 20 in FIG. That is, the current position 102 is illustrated as moving on the pictorial map of FIG.

Embodiment 2 In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a map (picture map) in which the entirety of the optimum route is modified after the optimum route is obtained is displayed. However, a reduced scale map is displayed and a predetermined distance from the current position is displayed. The pictorial map may be displayed only in the area in front of it (the reduced-scale map and the pictorial map are displayed simultaneously). In that case, the process (S7) returns to the process (S5) in the flowchart of FIG. 2 (see a broken line). When the picture map and the reduced scale map are displayed at the same time, both are displayed in different colors. Such display makes it easier to see.

Embodiment 3 The criteria for modifying the reduced-scale map into the pictorial map include the following items in addition to the above and other examples. A part around the destination among the optimum routes is displayed relatively large or in detail. The area around the current position in the optimum route is displayed in a relatively large or detailed manner.

There is not much necessity for navigation until reaching the destination from the departure point to the destination, but there is a place where it is desired to know the vicinity of the destination in detail. In such a case, it is displayed according to the above criteria. For example, the scale map of FIG. 5 is converted to the scale map of FIG. FIG.
Is an example where the destination is Sapporo Station. In this example, not only buildings located on the route of the optimal rule, but also buildings having an area equal to or larger than a predetermined size and their names, buildings set in advance, etc. are displayed, and a picture map such as a guidebook is displayed. A similar display is used so that the user can take a walk around the destination to make it easy to use. Also, as for the display of the name of the building, the characters are displayed in a large size using a leader line as is generally used in a pictorial map, so that it is easy to see.

Further, there is a case where it is necessary to display the current position of the optimum route as the center, because the destination is far from the departure point to the destination. In such a case, it is displayed according to the above criteria. For example, when the current position is Sapporo Station, the reduced scale map of FIG. 5 is converted to the picture map of FIG. 6 in the same manner as the above.

It should be noted that the processing for converting the reduced scale map to generate the pictorial map is performed by appropriately combining the above-described processings, and the other processing may be further combined. Further, in the above-described criterion, an example has been described in which a mark 105 (see FIG. 4) indicating that the straight road is shortened is displayed. The mark 105 may be displayed.

Embodiment 4 By the way, since mobile phones and PHSs having a function of grasping the current position are widely used, mobile phones and PHSs are provided with a navigation device (excluding the GPS antenna 11 and the GPS tuner 12) shown in FIG. ) May be provided to provide a mobile phone or PHS with an easy-to-use navigation function. In that case, CPU for mobile phone or PHS,
Since a built-in memory, a display device, and the like are mounted, the hardware can be used. Further, the navigation device according to the present invention may be mounted on a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a personal computer (particularly a mobile type).

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, a reduced scale map is converted into a pictorial map and displayed on a display device, and the current position is displayed at a corresponding position on the pictorial map displayed on the display device. As a result, both the advantages of the pictorial map and the conventional navigation function are utilized, and navigation suitable for human sensibility is possible, and easy-to-use navigation is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when performing navigation in the navigation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a normal map (scale map) displayed in the process (S3) of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a map (picture map) generated by modifying the normal map (scale map) shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a normal map (scale map).

6 is a diagram showing a map (picture map) generated by modifying the normal map (scale map) of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 navigation device 11 GPS antenna 12 GPS tuner (receiver) 13 CPU 14 main storage unit (RAM) 15 drawing memory 16 drawing processing device 17 display device 18 program storage device 19 operation button interface 20 operation buttons 21 card adapter 22 CF card

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A step of converting a reduced scale map into a pictorial map and displaying the pictorial map on a display device, acquiring a current position, and setting the current position at a corresponding position on the pictorial map displayed on the display device. Displaying a navigation message. 2. The navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the reduced-scale map and a pictorial map having contents continuous with the reduced-scale map are simultaneously displayed on the display device. 3. Calculating an optimal route from a departure place and a destination,
3. The navigation method according to claim 1, wherein a pictorial map in which a straight route on the optimal route is shortened is generated. 4. The navigation method according to claim 3, wherein a landmark of a route change point on the optimum route is extracted from the reduced scale map, and a picture map to which the landmark is further added is generated. 5. A picture map to which a road having a width equal to or more than a predetermined width around a destination, a building having a predetermined area or more and a name thereof is further added, is generated. Navigation method described. 6. A road having a predetermined width or more around the current position,
The navigation method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a picture map to which a building having a predetermined area or more and a name thereof are further added is generated. 7. The navigation method according to claim 5, wherein a picture map to which a preset building and its name are further added is generated. 8. A picture map to which information indicating a distance between a current position and the landmark, a predetermined building or a destination, or information indicating a distance of a shortened straight road is further added. The navigation device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein: 9. A display device, position information detecting means for acquiring a current position, storage means for storing map information, and a reduced scale map obtained by the map information is converted into a pictorial map, and the pictorial map is converted to a pictorial map. And a calculating means for displaying the current position on a display device and displaying the current position at a corresponding position on the pictorial map. 10. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein said calculation means causes the display device to simultaneously display the reduced-scale map and a pictorial map having contents continuous with the reduced-scale map. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the calculating means determines an optimal route from a departure point and a destination, and generates a picture map in which a straight line on the optimal route is shortened.
Or the navigation device according to 10. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the arithmetic unit extracts a landmark of a route change point on the optimum route from a reduced scale map, and generates a picture map to which the landmark is further added. Navigation device. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said calculating means generates a pictorial map further including a road having a predetermined width or more around the destination, a building having a predetermined area and a name thereof. The navigation device according to any one of claims 12 to 13. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said calculating means generates a picture map further including a road having a predetermined width or more around the current position, a building having a predetermined area and a name thereof. The navigation device according to any one of claims 12 to 13. 15. A picture map to which a preset building and its name are further added is generated.
15. The navigation device according to 3 or 14. 16. A picture map to which information indicating a distance between a current position and the landmark, a predetermined building or a destination, or information indicating a shortened distance is further added. The navigation device according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein: 17. A mobile phone equipped with the navigation device according to claim 9. 18. A PHS equipped with the navigation device according to claim 9.