JP2002202134A - Apparatus and method for map display as well as storage medium with stored program for map display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously display a plurality of maps at different reduction scales on a divided screen when a destination used to search a route is designated directly by using a map. SOLUTION: The reduction scale of a detailed map designated by the office number of an input telephone number is used as a main scale MS (Step SG2). When the main scale MS is smaller that 800 m, the subscale SS of a wide-area map displayed on a subscreen is set at 800 m (Step SG6). When the main scale MS is not smaller than 800 m, the subscale SS is set at a scale which is by one rank higher than the main scale MS (Step SG8). The detailed map at the main scale MS is displayed on one side of the divided screen, and the wide-area map at the subscale SS in which the map at the main scale MS is in the center is displayed on the other side of the screen (Step SG10).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a map display device for displaying a map based on information specified by a user.
The present invention relates to a map display method and a storage medium storing a map display program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device has a function of specifying a current position of a mobile object based on radio waves emitted from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth mounted on the mobile object. The navigation device is extremely effective for supporting the movement from the current position to the designated destination by using the function for specifying the current position of the moving object. For example, various information such as a map is displayed on an attached display device, and a desired destination is designated by a user based on the various information.

[0003] When a destination is designated, a plurality of routes representing a route from the current position of the moving object to the destination are searched according to different conditions. The different conditions are
For example, there are conditions under which a route travels the shortest, conditions under which an expressway is used, and the like. Then, when one route is selected from a plurality of routes according to the user's preference, guidance based on the selected route is started.

[0004] Further, various information displayed by the navigation device includes detailed information such as features of each facility on the map, telephone numbers, addresses, and the like. Therefore, when a destination is specified, the destination may be specified using such detailed information. Further, between an external center (road information notification station) such as VICS (road traffic information communication system) or ATIS (traffic information service) and the navigation device, various information such as traffic information or parking information on each road is transmitted. It is possible to give and receive.

That is, geographical information on roads and parking lots is collected by an information collection center such as the National Police Agency, the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, or the parking lot management center.
This collected information includes optical beacons, radio beacons, F
It is transmitted to the navigation device by a communication means such as an M multiplex (frequency modulation multiplexing) radio broadcast or a radio telephone. Such information may be used in a navigation device for searching for a route, specifying a destination, and the like.

[0006]

By the way, when searching for a route, a destination must always be input to the navigation device. The destination is specified by a mouse cursor on the map displayed on the display screen. It is done by specifying the point with. Pointing to a point while this map is displayed can sometimes be confused even for a person who is familiar with operating the navigation device. For example, when the information on the destination is only the address and the address is ambiguous, it is easy to display the map of the desired geographic range on the screen and to specify the target point on the map. Not really.

Conventionally, when a user designates a point by a telephone number or a facility name, a map centering on the designated point is displayed in a detailed view. When the user specifies an area by using a telephone number such as a station number or a municipal name, a map with the most detailed scale among the scales including the area is displayed. In such a case, since the map of the designated point or area is displayed only at a detailed scale, it may be difficult to understand the location of the point or area.

Therefore, if the screen of the navigation device is divided into a plurality of screens, a wide area map is displayed on one screen, and an enlarged map is displayed on the remaining screens, it is possible to easily check the destination, point, and the like. it can.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for specifying a point or an area when a desired point or area is specified by a telephone number, a facility name, a municipal name, or the like. The map that fits that point or region is displayed as a fully enlarged detailed map. Further, a wide-area map including the area of the detailed map and having a scale higher than a predetermined rank is displayed in parallel. With this, the area indicated by the detailed map can recognize the relative positional relationship on the wide area map well, and when the desired destination is not included in the detailed map, the destination is displayed on the wide area map. It is possible to easily identify the direction and the distance from the detailed map, and to quickly display the desired destination in the detailed map.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A map display device disclosed by the present invention includes a designation unit for designating a point or an area by a telephone number, a zip code, an address, and the like, and a map scale to be displayed at the point or area designated by the designation unit. Map scale determining means (step SG2) for determining;
Map display means (Step S) for displaying a map having a reduced scale at least one rank higher than the map scale determined by the map scale determination means simultaneously with the determined map;
G4, SG5, SG6, SG8, SG10).

The map display means displays the display area of the map scale determined by the map scale determination means on a map having a scale at least one rank higher.

2. Overall Circuit FIG. 1 shows the overall block configuration of a navigation device 10 that executes a computer program for navigation processing according to the present invention. The central processing unit 4 controls the entire operation of the navigation device 10.
The central processing unit 4 includes a CPU (MPU or DSP).
(A digital signal processor), a flash memory, a ROM, a RAM, a timing unit, and various interfaces for exchanging information with peripheral devices connected to the central processing unit 4.

The central processing unit 4 is electrically connected to an input device 1, a current position detecting device 2, an information storage device 3, an information transmitting / receiving device 5, and an output device 6. Various information data is exchanged between the two. The input device 1 includes a plurality of command keys, touch switches or remote control keys, a voice input device, and the like provided on the surface of the navigation device 10. The voice input device includes a microphone, a voice recognition controller, and the like.

For example, when an operator (a navigation device user) operates a remote control key, the operated key information is transmitted from the remote control to the navigation device 10 by remote communication means such as an optical or radio wave type. Similarly, in the voice input device, the voice command of the operator is
After being converted into an electric signal by the microphone, a corresponding command is given to the navigation device 10 by the voice recognition processing.

The touch switches have a plurality of transparent touch switches arranged in a plane matrix and are directly attached on the screen of the display of the output device 6. The transparent touch switch is configured by, for example, a contact switch configured by a transparent electrode, a piezoelectric switch, or the like. Note that this touch switch may be omitted.

3. Current Position Detecting Device 2 The current position detecting device 2 is equipped with one or more of an absolute direction sensor, a relative direction sensor, a distance sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like. Further, the current position detecting device 2 is also provided with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device. With this GPS receiver,
GPS signals (microwaves from a plurality of orbiting satellites) are received, and the geographical position of the mobile object such as latitude and longitude is detected. The moving body is a vehicle or the like on which the navigation device 10 is mounted.

The absolute azimuth sensor is, for example, a terrestrial magnetism sensor and detects the direction of terrestrial magnetism. That is, the north-south direction which is the absolute azimuth is detected. The relative orientation sensor is, for example, a steering angle sensor using a gyro device such as an optical fiber gyro or a piezoelectric vibrating gyro. The steering angle of the wheel is detected by the steering angle sensor. The relative azimuth sensor detects the relative angle of the moving body traveling direction with respect to the absolute azimuth.

The distance sensor is composed of, for example, a counter linked to a mileage meter, and outputs mileage data of the moving body. The speed sensor is connected to a speed meter of the moving body, and detects a traveling speed of the moving body.
Thus, the current position and the moving direction of the moving object are obtained by the calculation by the central processing unit 4 based on the data detected by each sensor.

4. Information storage device 3 The information storage device 3 includes a CD-ROM, a DVD-RAM,
A highly versatile information storage medium 7 such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk such as a VD-ROM or an MO, or a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a removable disk, and a pickup device for reading and recording information from the information storage medium 7 It is composed of That is, the information storage device 3 is a device that reads, stores, and saves information from and to the information storage medium 7 that can or cannot be rewritten of stored information.

The information storage medium 7 is a CD-R
Not only an optical memory such as an OM, but also a semiconductor memory such as an IC memory and an IC memory card, and a magnetic recording information storage medium 7 such as a magneto-optical disk, a hard disk, a magnetic drum, or a floppy disk can be used. When the information storage medium 7 to be used is changed, the information storage device 3 is provided with a data pickup adapted to the changed storage medium. For example, if the storage medium is a hard disk, the information storage device 3 includes a magnetic signal writing / reading device such as a core head.

5. Information Transmitting / Receiving Device 5 The information transmitting / receiving device 5 includes a wireless transmitting / receiving device or a communication device for exchanging information with an external center. The external center is, for example, a company / organization / organization that manages and distributes information on roads such as ATIS (traffic information service) or VICS (road traffic information communication system) and other various information. Communication devices for transmitting and receiving information to and from these external centers include, for example, beacon transmission and reception devices using radio beacons or optical beacons.

As the wireless transmission / reception device, a mobile phone mainly equipped with a modem (modulation / demodulation device) is used. Other, F
It may be an M multiplex radio receiver, cellular phone, radio receiver, television receiver, transceiver, pager, or other wireless communicator.

[0023] Also, the VIC
A beacon wave transmitted from each transmitting antenna controlled by the external center of S is received, and VICS data is acquired. The VICS data includes information on nearby roads, GPS correction data, and the like. The beacon wave used in VICS can be received only in a relatively small area. Therefore, the reception of VICS data is performed in the vicinity of a transmitting antenna or the like (information transmitting device) for transmitting a beacon wave.
Not performed unless the navigation device 10 passes.

The transmitting antenna is installed near a road facility (above the road or on the ground surface of the road) at every fixed distance on the main road. The VICS data transmitted from each transmission antenna includes data representing the traffic state of each road near the transmission antenna, for example, within a radius of 10 km. The data indicating the traffic state includes comprehensive information such as traffic congestion, congestion, impassable traffic, and the degree of congestion due to the size of traffic, and traffic regulation information such as suspension of construction work. This information is
It is used as operation assistance information for route search and the like. For example,
Based on this traffic regulation information, it is determined that the corresponding guide road is not suitable for traveling.

It is technically possible to receive information from an external center by a radio multiplex radio receiver such as FM, AM, VHF or UHF, but in this case, only reception is performed. Therefore, information transmission from the information transmitting / receiving device 5 uses a telephone line or other wireless communication means.
ATIS or VICS center, telephone line,
When two-way communication is performed by wireless communication or the like, an area for which information about road traffic information or information about a parking lot or the like can be selected. For example, it is possible to receive traffic information such as only the road conditions near the destination or the congestion status of each road over a wide range from the departure point to the destination.

6. Output Device 6 The output device 6 includes a display device including a liquid crystal display, a graphic controller (a dedicated / general-purpose DSP (digital signal processor)) for controlling the liquid crystal display, a video memory, and the like, and a speaker that outputs sound in an audible range. And a voice controller for producing a synthesized voice to be generated from the speaker. And
The image data sent from the central processing unit 4 is displayed on the liquid crystal display, and a voice for guiding the user is emitted. The output device 6 may be provided with a printer or the like in some cases. The printer is used for printing various information such as maps and facility guides.

As the display, other than a liquid crystal display, a display capable of displaying a visual image such as a CRT or a plasma display may be used. But,
It is preferable that the power consumption is low, the visibility is high and the weight is low. As the display, a wide liquid crystal display having a wide screen in the horizontal direction may be used, or two or more separable liquid crystal displays may be arranged adjacent to each other. In this case, independent information may be displayed on each liquid crystal display, or continuous map information over a plurality of liquid crystal displays may be displayed.

7. Information storage medium 7 In the information storage medium 7, map data, intersection data, node data, road data,
Photo data, destination point data, guide point data, detailed destination data, destination reading data, house shape data, and other data are recorded. That is, information on roads and various information on buildings are recorded and stored. In addition, there are display guidance data, voice guidance data, simplified guidance route image data, and the like. The information storage medium 7
In some cases, a computer program for navigation processing may be stored.

The information storage medium 7 stores map data of different scales or map data of one scale. That is, even in a map of the same area, a map with a different scale may be recorded, or only one map data (a detailed map) with a lower scale may be recorded.

When only one piece of map data is stored in the information storage medium 7, a small scale map, that is, a map of a larger area (wide area map) is displayed on the display. The information is thinned out and displayed from the map data recorded in. In the thinned display of the map data, not only is the geographical distance of each road and the like reduced, but also the thinned display symbol information of facilities and the like is performed. That is, only large facilities or major facilities are displayed, and display of small facilities that are equal to or smaller than a predetermined value is omitted.

8. Configuration of Central Processing Unit 4 The flash memory of the central processing unit 4 is composed of an electrically erasable and writable memory (EEPROM) or the like. This flash memory (internal storage medium / means)
A computer program recorded on the information storage medium 7 is installed. A general RAM may be used instead of the flash memory. That is, each time the power is turned on, the program may be read from the information storage medium 7 to the RAM and executed. Note that the installation means copying (transferring or storing) the program so that the CPU of the central processing unit 4 can execute the program.

Alternatively, a program sent from an external device outside the navigation device 10 may be installed. The external device may be, for example, an external center such as a VICS or an external device such as a personal computer connected to the navigation device 10 via a bidirectional communication unit such as a LAN, the Internet (general public line), or a USB.

By changing the program of the flash memory, the latest navigation program can always be executed. The change of the program is performed by the new information storage medium 7.
May be automatically performed when is set for the first time, or may be performed by transmitting a program from an external center in response to a user request.

The apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a so-called personal computer having various interfaces such as a hard disk, a CD-ROM drive, a keyboard, and a USB, and a display centered on a CPU; And other peripheral devices. In this case, the computer program for navigation processing according to the present invention is executed via basic software such as an operating system (OS) or a system program, or is a dedicated program that can be executed independently.

Further, part or all of the computer program for navigation processing of the present invention may be stored and executed in one or more other devices other than the present device. And
Data to be processed and / or already processed data and / or programs are transmitted and received between the devices via communication means interposed between the device 10 and each device,
The processing of the present invention may be executed by the present apparatus and each of the other apparatuses as a whole (so-called distributed processing). As the communication means, a mobile phone, a CB radio or the like provided in the information transmitting / receiving device 5 is used.

The ROM of the central processing unit 4 stores display graphic data and various general-purpose data. The display graphic data is various data such as symbols, signs, and characters used for route guidance and map display displayed on the display of the output device 6. The various types of general-purpose data include various data used during navigation, such as voice waveform data obtained by synthesizing a guidance voice or recording a real voice.

Note that, instead of the ROM, a memory such as a flash memory which can rewrite information and retains information even when power supply is stopped may be used. Thus, when a new information storage medium 7 is set, the general-purpose data can be rewritten.

The RAM of the central processing unit 4 stores data input from the outside, various parameters used for calculation, calculation results, a navigation program, and the like. That is, the RAM is used for a cache memory, a working memory, and the like. The time keeping means is a counter and a battery backup RAM or EEPROM.
M, etc., and are used for absolute time of geographical position measurement by GPS.

9. FIG. 2 shows the contents of each data file stored in the information storage medium 7 or stored in the flash memory of the central processing unit 4. The map data file F1 stores map data such as a nationwide road map, a road map of each region or a house map. The road map is composed of major roads, highways, narrow streets, and other roads and ground targets (facilities, etc.). The house map is a city map on which a figure representing an outer shape of a ground building or the like and road names are displayed. The narrow street is, for example, a relatively narrow road having a width equal to or less than a predetermined value below a national road or a prefectural road, and is a road to which traffic control information such as “one-way” is not added. In other words, a road where it is relatively difficult for general vehicles to face each other corresponds to a narrow street.

The intersection data file F2 stores data relating to the intersection such as the geographical position coordinates and names of the intersection. The node data file F3 stores geographic coordinate data and the like of each node used for a route search on a map. The road data file F4 stores data on roads, such as the position and type of road, the number of lanes, and the connection relationship between roads. The photograph data file F5 stores image data of photographs of places where visual display is required, such as various facilities, sightseeing spots, and major intersections.

In the destination data file F6, data such as locations and names of places and facilities which are likely to be destinations such as corporations and offices described in main sightseeing spots, buildings, and telephone directories are stored. It is remembered.

The guidance point data file F7 stores guidance data of points requiring guidance, such as the contents of guidance display boards installed on roads and guidance of junctions.
The detailed destination data file F8 stores detailed data relating to the destination stored in the destination data file F6. The road name data file F9 stores name data of main roads among the roads stored in the road data file F4.

The branch point name data file F10 stores name data of main branch points. The address data file F11 stores list data for searching a destination stored in the destination data file F6 from an address. In the area / city code list file F12, list data of only the city / city code of the destination stored in the destination data file F6 is stored. The link data file F13 contains V
Data indicating which road in the road data file F4 corresponds to the link number included in the VICS information sent from an external center such as ICS is stored.

The files F1 to F13 may be directly read from the information storage medium 7 and used for processing such as a route search. However, the following files F14 to F17
Means flash memory, IC memory card, EPROM
For example, the information is stored in a storage medium capable of holding information even when the power of the navigation device 10 is turned off.

The registered telephone number data file F14 stores telephone number data to be remembered, such as business partners registered by manual operation of the user. In the landmark data file F15, data such as the position and name of a landmark, a place to be remembered, and the like, which are input by the user through a manual operation, are stored.
The landmark data file F is included in the spot data file F16.
15 stores the detailed data on the landmark point. In the facility data file F17, data such as the position and description of a target such as a place to visit other than a destination such as a gas station, a convenience store, or a parking lot is stored.

10. FIG. 3 shows a part of a data group stored in the RAM of the central processing unit 4. As the current position data MP, data representing the current position of the moving object detected by the current position detection device 2 is stored. The absolute azimuth data ZD is data indicating the north-south direction, and is obtained based on information from the absolute azimuth sensor. The relative azimuth angle data Dθ is angle data that the traveling direction of the moving object makes with the absolute azimuth data ZD. The relative azimuth data Dθ is obtained based on information from the relative azimuth sensor.

The traveling distance data ML is the traveling distance of the moving body and is obtained based on data from the distance sensor. Note that the current position data MP is calculated using the data of the relative azimuth sensor and the distance sensor when satellite radio waves cannot be received, such as when the mobile is traveling in a tunnel (dead-reckoning navigation). The moving direction and the moving distance of the moving body are detected by the relative azimuth sensor and the distance sensor. Therefore, the current position of the moving object is detected based on the relative moving direction and the moving distance with respect to the past position of the moving object.

VICS data VD and ATIS data AD
Is data input from the information transmitting / receiving device 5. VI
Based on the CS data VD or the ATIS data AD, local traffic regulation, traffic congestion, or facility congestion such as a parking lot is determined. In addition, using the VICS data VD, there may be a case where error correction of the position of the moving object detected by the GPS receiver 25 is executed.

The registered destination data TP is data on the destination registered by the user, such as the coordinate position and name of the destination. In the guidance start point data SP, map coordinate data of a point where the navigation operation is started is stored. Similarly, the final guide point data ED stores the map coordinate data of the point where the navigation operation ends.

The guidance start point data SP stores node coordinates on the guide road closest to the current position or the departure point of the moving object. This guidance start point data SP
Is stored, for example, the current position of the moving object corresponding to the current position data MP is, for example, on a site such as a golf course or a parking lot, and is not necessarily on a guideable road. Also in this case, it is used for determining whether or not the moving body has moved on the guide road so that the guide can be correctly performed. Similarly, the guidance final point data ED also stores the node coordinates on the guidance road closest to the registered destination data TP. The reason why the guidance end point data ED is stored also takes into consideration the case where the coordinates of the registered destination data TP are not on the guidance road.

Guide route data MW stored in RAM
Is data indicating an optimal route or a recommended route to the destination, and is obtained by a route search process or a re-search process of a computer program for navigation processing described later. Each road in the road map stored in the information storage medium 7 has a unique road number. The guide route data MW includes a row of road numbers from the guide start point data SP to the final guide point data ED.

The mode set data MD is data used in the destination setting processing. The mode content displayed on the display is specified by the mode set data MD. The drop-in place DP is information on facilities and the like that drop in during the guidance route.

The screen state GJ is data indicating the display state of the display. For example, when the display screen of the display is divided and different information is displayed at the same time, it is determined from the data of the screen state GJ whether the display is in the divided display state or the single screen display state.

The time stamp TSP1 indicates the issue time of the latest received VICS data VD. That is, the VICS data VD includes information on each road monitored by the external center. However, road conditions change from moment to moment. Therefore, VI announced from external center
The CS data includes time information indicating the time of the road condition in the absolute time. This time information is stored in the RAM as the time stamp TSP1.

The current location road GD stores the geographical coordinates indicated by the current position data MP or the number of the road conforming to the current position of the moving object by a map matching technique using the geographical coordinates. That is, the road number of the road where the moving object is currently located is always stored.

11. Road Data FIG. 4 shows a part of the road data file F4 stored in the information storage medium 7. The road data file F4 includes information on roads having a certain width or more that exist in the area stored in the map data file. Assuming that the number of roads included in the road data file F4 is n, there is road data on n roads. Each road data includes road number data, guidance target flag, road attribute data, shape data, guidance data, length data, and time data.

The data structure will be outlined below. Each road or the like included in the map data of the information storage medium 7 is divided into minimum units. The identification number given to each of the divided roads is road number data. In the guidance target flag of the road data file F4, "1" is stored for a guidance target road, and "0" is stored for a non-guidance target road. The guide target road is a road having a width equal to or greater than a predetermined width, such as a main arterial road or a general road equal to or greater than a prefectural road, for example, a width of 5.5 meters or more, and is a road to be searched. The non-guidance target road is a narrow narrow street having a width equal to or smaller than a predetermined road width, such as a sloping road or an alley, for example, a width of less than 5.5 meters, and is a road that is not targeted for route search. Further, the guide target road may be set as a trunk road equal to or higher than a prefectural road, and the non-guide target road may be set as a trunk road equal to or lower than a prefectural road.

The road attribute data is data indicating attributes of an elevated road, an underpass, an expressway, a toll road, and the like. The shape data is data indicating the shape of the road. For example, shape data is composed of the coordinate data of the starting point and the ending point of the road and the coordinate data of each node between the starting point and the ending point.

The guidance data is composed of intersection name data, caution point data, road name data, road name voice data, and destination data. The intersection name data is data representing the name of the intersection when the end point of the road is an intersection. The caution data is data relating to caution points on the road, such as railroad crossings, tunnel entrances, tunnel exits, and width reduction points. The road name voice data is voice data representing a road name used for voice guidance.

The destination data is data on a road connected to the end point of the road (this is defined as a destination), and is composed of the number of destinations k and data for each destination. The data relating to the destination includes destination road number data, destination name data, destination name voice data, destination direction data, and travel guidance data.

The destination road number data indicates the destination road number. The name of the destination road is indicated by the destination name data. The destination name voice data stores voice data for voice guidance of the destination name. The direction of the destination road is indicated by the destination direction data.

The traveling guidance data is guidance data for guiding the user to approach the right lane, the left lane, or the center of the road to enter the destination road. The length data is data on the length from the start point to the end point of the road, the length from the start point to each node, and the length between each node. The time data is an average time required for passing when the moving body travels between the nodes at a legal speed or less.

12. Overall Processing FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of overall processing executed by the navigation device according to the present invention. This process is started when the power is turned on and is ended when the power is turned off. The power-on and power-off are executed when the power of the navigation device itself is turned on / off, or when the engine start key (ignition switch) of the vehicle is turned on / off.

In the initialization processing of step SA 1, first, a navigation program is read from the information storage medium 7. The read navigation program is copied (installed) in the flash memory and executed. Subsequently, the general-purpose data storage area in each RAM such as the work memory and the image memory of the RAM is cleared. The copying of the program to the flash memory is executed only when a new information storage medium 7 is set in the information storage device 3 for the first time. Therefore,
Unless the information storage medium 7 is replaced, the program is not copied to the flash memory.

When the initialization processing is completed,
Subsequently, a destination setting process (step SA2), a route search process (step SA3), and a display switching process (step SA2)
4) The guidance / display processing (step SA5) and other processing (step SA6) are cyclically executed. Note that the destination setting process (step SA2) and the route search process (step SA3) are not executed repeatedly unless a destination is changed or a moving body leaves the route.

When the moving object deviates from the route during the guidance / display process, whether or not the route search process is executed again depends on whether or not the auto reroute function is turned on. If the auto reroute function is on, the optimum route from the current position of the moving object to the final guide point is searched again. If the auto reroute function is off, the route is not searched again. In addition, when a stop place is set as the guide route, a route that passes through the stop place may be searched.

In the destination setting process (step SA2),
The geographical coordinates of the destination desired by the user are set as the registered destination data TP by various methods. For example,
Using the road map or the house map displayed on the display, the user indicates the coordinates of the destination with a cursor or the like. Alternatively, the destination is selected by the user from the list of destinations displayed on the display. In the present invention, in this destination setting, the geographical coordinates and the like of the destination are set indirectly by inputting a telephone number described later.

In the route search processing (step SA3), a route from the guidance start point data SP to the final guide point data ED is searched. In the guidance start point data SP, the same data as the current position data MP is set, or node data on a guidance target road close to the current position data MP is set. Similarly, the geographical coordinates of the registered destination data TP or the node coordinates on the road closest to the registered destination data TP are set in the final guide point data ED.

In addition, the route search processing and step SA
During the guidance / display processing of No. 5, a route change or other processing may be performed based on road / traffic / other information obtained from the VICS data VD or the ATIS data AD received as needed. For example, based on the received VICS data VD, the presence or absence of a traffic obstruction factor such as traffic congestion or regulation is detected in front of the route being guided. When a traffic obstacle is detected, it is determined whether or not to change the route based on whether or not there is enough time to change the route and perform a series of processes associated therewith. Then, when the route change is performed, a process such as displaying the route after the change and the route before the change in parallel is performed in the guidance / display process of step SA5.

In the display switching process (step SA4), the guidance map displayed on the display is switched according to the position of the moving object. For example, when the moving body approaches a turning point such as an intersection, processing such as displaying the traffic direction and method at the intersection in a simplified picture is performed.

In the guidance / display processing (step SA5),
The guide route obtained in the route search process (step SA3) is displayed on the display with the current position of the moving object as a fulcrum. The guidance route displayed on the display is displayed on the display map so as to be identifiable. For example, on a map displayed on the display, the guide route is displayed in a different color, is displayed in a thicker manner, and so on. Further, according to the guide route, a guidance voice is output from the speaker so that the mobile body can travel favorably. Along with this, various kinds of guidance information are also displayed on the display at any time. As the image data for displaying the guide route, road map data around the current position in the information storage medium 7 or house map data around the current position is used.

Subsequently, "other processing" of step SA6 is executed. In this “other processing”, the nearest facility processing may be executed. The nearest facility process is a process of searching for and specifying a stopover place (facility, etc.) other than the registered destination data TP. The data relating to the drop-in place is determined by using a map displayed on the display or each item information. And
This nearest facility processing is performed in the same manner as the destination setting processing in step SA2.

In the "other processing", for example, it is determined whether or not the traveling position of the moving body is along the calculated guide route. That is, when it is detected that the moving object has deviated from the guide route, the state flag for starting each process is set so that the route is searched again. Further, it is determined whether or not a destination change command has been input by a user's switch operation.

When the processing in step SA6 is completed, the processing is repeated from the destination setting processing (step SA2). If there is no deviation from the route during the route guidance, the processing of steps SA2 and SA3 is naturally passed. In this manner, the processing from step SA2 to step SA6 is sequentially repeated.

13. Destination setting processing (step SA2)
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a first embodiment of a map display process when setting a destination according to the present invention. First, when the display screen is divided, one of the divided screens is used as the main screen 132, and the scale (scale) of the map displayed on the main screen 132 is determined. The scale of the main screen 132 is forcibly determined by a displayable minimum scale (more detailed map) of the map desired by the user (step SG2).

For example, when a destination or a registered place is designated, if a point is designated by a telephone number, an address, a facility name, or the like,
Alternatively, when an area to be displayed is roughly specified by a telephone number or a municipal name, the minimum scale that can be displayed in the map data relating to the area is the main scale MS.
It is said. That is, the user designates an arbitrary point or area using a telephone number or the like as a guide. If the most detailed map that can be displayed with the map data (data stored in the information storage medium 7) of the point or area corresponding to the telephone number is a house map, the scale of the house map is the main scale MS and Is done. If the smallest scale of the map data that can be displayed is the 800 m (meter) scale, the main scale MS is set to 800 m.

Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the main scale MS of the map that can be displayed on the main screen 132 is smaller than the 800 m scale (step SG4). 800
The scale smaller than m means that the map is smaller than the 800 m scale because only the house map or the map smaller by one or two scales is stored in the information storage medium 7 (step S).
If the judgment of G4 is Yes), the reduced scale of the map displayed on the sub screen 140, that is, the sub scale SS is fixed to the 800 m scale (step SG6). A map on a scale smaller than the 800 m scale is mainly a house map or the like, and thus a map on a wider area is preferably a map on an 800 m scale.

However, when the main scale MS is equal to or larger than the 800 m scale (the determination in step SG4 is N
o), the sub-scale SS is set to a scale one rank larger than the main scale MS (step SG8).
For example, when the main scale MS = 1600 m scale, the sub scale SS = 3200 m scale.
In accordance with the main scale MS and the sub scale SS determined in this way, maps having different scales are displayed on each divided screen.

That is, the display main screen of the output device 6 is divided into right and left parts by the center vertical line, and the entire map of the main scale MS is displayed on the main screen 132. Further, a map of the sub-scale SS is displayed on the sub-screen 140 (step SG10). In addition, the map of the sub-scale SS is displayed such that the area of the map displayed on the main screen 132 is substantially at the center of the sub-screen 140.

FIG. 8 shows this state. further,
On the sub-screen 140, a square cursor 134 indicating which region of the small-scale map (relatively detailed map) displayed on the main screen 132 corresponds to which region of the sub-screen 140 can be identified. Will be displayed. FIG. 8 shows a main screen 132 on which a map is displayed on different scales, a sub-screen 140, and a square cursor 134, respectively. The symbol 130 in FIG. 8 indicates the current position of the moving body on which the device 10 of the present invention is loaded.

After the screens are divided and different scale maps are displayed on the respective screens, it is determined whether or not the user has requested an increase in the scale of the map on the main screen 132 (step SG14). ). Increasing the scale means displaying a larger geographic area, that is, expanding the area. If the user requests widening of the area (Yes in step SG14), the main scale MS of the main screen 132 is increased and a wide area map is displayed on the main screen 132 (step SG16). However, if the widening of the main screen 132 is not requested (No in step SG14),
The process of step SG16 is passed.

Next, it is determined whether or not the cursor 150 displayed on the main screen 132 has been moved on the screen 132 (step SG18). This cursor 150
Is input using a joystick or the like of a remote controller attached to the device 10. When the cursor is moved (Yes in step SG18), the display area of the map on the main screen including the moved cursor 150 is displayed on the sub screen 140 (step SG20). That is,
By moving the cursor 150 on the main screen 132, the map displayed on the sub screen 140 is scrolled.

However, when the cursor 150 is not moved (No in step SG18), a subroutine of a destination setting process in which a destination is directly designated using each map displayed on the display screen is executed. (Step SG22). In this subroutine, when the destination is pointed using the display map, the division of the screen is terminated (step SG24), and the process returns to the entire process of FIG.

14. Second Embodiment FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a second embodiment of map display in setting a destination according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same processes as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also in the second embodiment, when the display screen is first divided, the main screen 1
The scale (scale) of the map displayed at 32 is determined. The scale of the main screen 132 is determined by the minimum displayable scale (more detailed map) of the area map requested by the user as in the first embodiment (step SG2).

For example, it is assumed that an arbitrary town name is designated by the user. If the most detailed map that can be displayed with the map data (data stored in the information storage medium 7) of the area corresponding to the town name is a house map, the scale of the house map becomes the main scale MS. Next, the reduced scale of the map displayed on the sub screen 140, that is, the sub scale SS is set to a scale two ranks higher than the main scale MS (step SG5). If main scale MS is 800m scale, sub scale SS is 3
It is defined as a 200 m scale.

Then, the display screen of the output device 6 is divided right and left by the center vertical line, and the map of the main scale MS is displayed on the main screen 132. On the sub-screen 140, a map of the sub-scale SS is displayed such that the area of the map displayed on the main screen 132 is arranged substantially at the center (step SG10). Further, on the sub-screen 140, a square cursor 134 indicating the area on the sub-screen 140 corresponding to the small-scale map (relatively detailed map) displayed on the main screen 132 is identifiably displayed. You. FIG. 8 shows a main screen 132 on which maps are displayed at different scales, and a sub-screen 14.
0 and a square cursor 134 are shown, respectively.

After the screen is divided and different scale maps are displayed on the respective screens, it is determined whether or not the user has requested an increase in the scale of the map on the main screen 132 (step SG14). ). Increasing the scale means making the displayed geographic area wider, that is, widening the area. If the user requests a wider area (the determination in step SG14 is Ye
s) The sub-scale SS of the sub-screen 140 is increased, and a map indicating a larger area is displayed on the sub-screen 140 (step SG16). However, if the sub-screen 140 is not required to have a wider area (the determination in step SG14 is N
o), the process of step SG16 is bypassed.

Next, it is determined whether the cursor 150 displayed on the main screen 132 has been moved on the screen 132 (step SG18). If the cursor has been moved (YES in step SG18), the moved cursor 1
The map of the main screen 132 including the sub screens 140
(Step SG20). That is, by moving the cursor 150 on the main screen 132,
The map displayed on the sub screen 140 is scrolled.

However, if the cursor 150 is not moved (No in step SG18), a subroutine of a destination setting process is executed, in which the destination is directly specified by using each map displayed on the display screen. (Step SG22). In this subroutine, when the destination is pointed using the display map, the division of the screen is terminated (step SG24), and the process returns to the entire process of FIG.

The method of designating a point or area in the present invention is not limited to a telephone number or municipal name, but also a facility name, a station name, a nearby government office name, an intersection name, a street name, and a common name of the area ("Akihabara's The present invention does not particularly limit the contents. The square cursor 134 in the above embodiment is
Although identified and displayed by the dotted line on the sub screen 140, various other identification means such as adding display color, luminance, saturation, shape, pattern, additional symbol, and the like may be used.

In each of the above embodiments, the main screen 13
2 is determined first, and a sub-scale SS of a scale (wide area) larger than that scale is determined and the map is displayed on the sub screen 140. Conversely, after the scale of the wide area map is determined first, The main scale MS may be set to a smaller scale than the scale of the wide area map. However, in this case, if the map of the area specified first by the telephone number of the telephone number is relatively small, the scale of the detailed map may be the same as the scale of the wide area map. Subscale S
S needs to be of a sufficiently large scale.

Further, the number of divided screens may be two or more, and the scale of the map displayed on each screen may be increased or decreased stepwise.
For example, when the display screen is divided into three screens,
The first screen is the most detailed map, and the second screen is a map one or two ranks higher than the detailed map.
The screen may further be a map of one or two ranks higher. That is, the present invention does not particularly limit the number of screen divisions, and may be divided into three or more.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the square cursor 1 is displayed on the sub-screen 140 on which the wide area map is displayed.
Although the detailed map displayed on the main screen 132 is scrolled by moving the 34, the main screen 132 and the sub screen 140 may be scrolled in conjunction with each other.
That is, when the position of the square cursor 134 on the sub screen 140 is fixed at the center of the screen and the wide area map on the sub screen 140 is scrolled, the detailed map displayed on the main screen 132 may be scrolled.

15. Other Description The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the command input to the device 10 may include a voice input device including an analog / digital converter. Then, each operation and selection may be executed by a voice command input by the voice input device. Further, a search or a re-search process for a route that bypasses a congested road may be performed based on VICS data VD or the like that is received at any time during or before the traveling of the moving object on the route.

Further, in the navigation apparatus according to the present invention, all or a part of the processing of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 may be executed in various external information processing centers such as VICS and ATIS. That is, the scale of the map may be determined on the device 10 side, and map data corresponding to the scale may be sent from an external center. When the destination is determined, the geographic coordinates relating to the destination are sent to the external center, and the external center executes the route search processing (step SA3) in FIG. 5 and the like at the external center. Then, the searched route data is stored in the information transmitting / receiving device 5 together with the map data.
Is sent back to the navigation device 10 via. Then, in the navigation device 10 of the present invention, a guidance process is executed based on the route data sent.

In addition, if information stored in the external center is used, it is possible to search, extract, and search for each facility based on the detailed and latest information of each facility related to the current position of the moving object or around the destination. Further, in the facility search, it is possible to perform a search in consideration of an environmental change of a surrounding road (new construction of a one-way road or the like). In this case, the information on each facility stored in the information processing center needs to be updated as needed.

Further, the map data file F1, the intersection data file F2, etc. of the present invention are stored in the external center, and only the respective processing programs of the present invention shown in FIGS. May be.
In this case, the map data and the like are received from the external center via the communication means and used for route search and guidance / display processing. Moreover, in this case, the map data received from the external center only needs to be an area required for the route search. According to this, the map data is updated as needed, so that navigation based on the latest road information is always possible.

Further, the information storage medium 7 storing the programs described in the present invention and information such as maps and display symbols may be used in a general computer. That is, the program stored in the information storage medium 7 is configured as a program that can be executed by a general computer. If this information storage medium 7 is connected to a portable computer device together with a device whose current position can be detected by a GPS receiver, navigation processing can be performed with this computer device. Further, the present invention can also be applied to a navigation device such as a moving object other than an automobile, a ship, an aircraft, a helicopter, and the like. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a small navigation device that can be carried by a person. That is, the present invention may be applied to a small-sized navigation device that can be carried by a human and used in cycling, travel, mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, and the like.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a point or an area is specified by a telephone number or the like, a detailed map that can be displayed in the area and a map one or two ranks higher than the detailed map are displayed. Are also displayed on the screen at the same time. As a result, it is possible to compare the detailed map displayed on one screen with which area of the wide area map displayed on the other screen, and to more quickly find a point on the map.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a navigation device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information storage medium 7;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data stored in a RAM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a road data file F4.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an overall process.

FIG. 6 shows a first example of the map display processing in the destination setting processing.
It is a figure showing a flow chart of an example.

FIG. 7 shows a second example of the map display processing in the destination setting processing.
It is a figure showing a flow chart of an example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where a detailed map and a wide area map are displayed on a divided display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 input device 2 current position detecting device 3 information storage device 4 central processing device 5 information transmitting / receiving device 6 output device 7 information storage medium 10 navigation device 1
32: Main screen, 134: Square cursor, 140: Sub screen.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A (72) Inventor Koichi Ushida 6-18 Okamachi Harayama, Okazaki City, Aichi Pref.・ Within AW Co., Ltd. (72) Takanori Kaji, 18-6 Okamachi Harayama, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture F-term (within Aisin AW Co., Ltd.) HC30 HC31 HD03 HD07 HD16 HD23 HD30 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC14 AC18 AC19 AC20 AD07 5B075 ND08 NK10 PP02 PP03 PP12 PP13 PQ02 PQ62 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB05 BB12 BB13 CC12 FF04 FF05 FF13 FF07 FF12FF12

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Designating means for designating a point or an area, map scale determining means for determining a map scale to be displayed at a point or an area designated by the designating means, and a map determined by the map scale determining means A map display device comprising: a map display means for displaying a map having a reduced scale at least one rank higher than the reduced scale simultaneously with the determined map. 2. The map display means displays at least one display area of the map scale determined by the map scale determination means.
2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the map is displayed on a map having a reduced scale on a rank. 3. A point or area is designated, a map scale to be displayed at the point or area designated by the designation means is determined, and a scale at least one rank higher than the map scale determined by the map scale determination means is determined. A map display method, wherein a map having a degree is displayed simultaneously with the determined map. 4. A process of designating a point or a region, a process of determining a map scale to be displayed at the point or region designated by the designation means, and at least one map scale determined by the map scale determination device. A storage medium storing a map display program, which stores a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a map having a reduced scale on a rank simultaneously with the determined map.