JP2002277267A - Navigation apparatus and method and record medium having recorded software for navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation technique for quickly displaying a path even if the path according to a search result does not exist in a layer to be displayed when the result of path search is to be displayed. SOLUTION: Various sections are set to the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4. The sections include a current position calculating section 40, a destination designating section 41, a path calculating section 42, a guide section 43, a display level designating section 44 for designating the layer of map data displayed at a display section 10a, a display data search section 45 for searching the map data of the designated layer, a judgment section 46 for judging whether a block including the ID of the path that is calculated by the path calculating section 42 exists or not, a path data acquisition section 47 for acquiring the path data from database for path display when the judgment section 46 judges that the block including the ID of the path does not exist in a current hierarchy, and a drawing section 48.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation technology for a vehicle, and more particularly to a navigation device and method having a function of realizing a high-speed route display by improving a database, and a navigation software. It relates to a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Along with recent advances in digital technology, a navigation technology for guiding a mobile body such as an automobile has become widespread. For example, a vehicular navigation system uses a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM,
Searches for the optimal route to a given destination based on data such as roads recorded in advance, and displays a map near the vehicle position, which is calculated in real time by GPS navigation, etc. It provides guidance such as turning left or right by voice or the like.

In such a navigation system, after the route search is completed, the route displayed together with the map is displayed on the display device in an easily recognizable color. In this screen display, a display map database for displaying a road map and road information around the own vehicle position is usually used.

The display map database has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. This hierarchy is composed of a plurality of layers from an upper layer to a lower layer. In the lower layer,
Detailed map data for displaying a narrow range in detail is placed, and enlarged map data for roughly displaying a wide range is placed in the upper layer. That is, the lower the layer, the more information is included, and in the upper layer, some detailed roads that existed in the lower layer are partially omitted.

Each layer is finely divided into meshes (the smallest divided unit is referred to as a block) so that it can be easily read from an external device onto a memory. Since the layers are in a parent-child relationship with each other, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a lower layer block (block a in FIG. 5) which is a child is an upper layer block (block A in FIG. 5) which is a parent. ), And the road (route r in FIG. 5) in the upper-layer block A as the parent always exists in the lower-layer block a as the child.

The information contained in each block in the display map database specifically includes information on road shapes, names, areas, and building positions. The information related to the road shape includes all information necessary for displaying the route, such as a road to be calculated and a road not to be calculated.

On the other hand, a route search is performed as a premise for displaying a route from a departure place to a destination on a display device based on the display map database as described above. A search database is used. The route search database is formed by hierarchically configuring network information in the same manner as the above-described display map database. That is, the lower layer is configured by a network including detailed roads, and the upper layer is configured by a network of main arterial roads such as an expressway and a toll road. In the upper layer, detailed networks existing in the lower layer are omitted. The parent-child relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer is the same as in the display map database.

The display map database and the route search database as described above are stored in the above-mentioned recording medium, but are associated with each other for road information. This association will be described with reference to FIG. That is, among the road information in the display map database and the route search database, the roads to be searched for include, for example, the intersection A and the intersection D in FIG.
An arbitrary number sequence (hereinafter, referred to as ID) is provided in advance for each intersection so that the road between the two is “ID1001”. Such an ID is stored in the display map database together with coordinates representing a point on the map, as shown in FIG. 6B.

On the other hand, in the route search database, for example, in the form of "A → D 1001 order, reverse", IDs are stored together with "order" and "reverse" indicating the link direction. I have. Here, “order” means the direction stored in the display map database, and “reverse”
Means the direction opposite to “order”. Further, the route search database also stores information as to which block in which layer of the display map database each ID belongs to.

With this association, when the user inputs a destination via the external input device, first, an optimum route to the destination is calculated based on the route search database. Of the results of this route search,
The display map database is searched based on only the ID, the direction, and the information of the designated block, and the route of the search result is displayed on the display device in a color different from that of the other roads along with the map display.

However, for example, in some cases, a detailed road included in a map of a layer lower than a map of a layer to be displayed exists in a route of a search result. In such a case, when the enlarged map of the upper layer is displayed on the display device, detailed roads of the lower layer that should be included in the route search result are omitted from the displayed enlarged map, and the necessary road It is assumed that a situation where the shape is unknown is generated.

To cope with this, if the ID indicated by the result of the route search does not exist in the layer of the map data displayed on the display device, but exists only in a lower layer having a parent-child relationship with that layer, A technique has been proposed in which information of a block corresponding to an ID in the lower layer is read and displayed on a display device.

An example of such a display processing procedure is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the variable le
The vel is initialized with the number of the layer used for the current display (step 701). Then, it is determined whether or not the ID of the route search result exists in the block of the layer corresponding to the value of the variable level (step 702). Such I
If there is a block including D, the information of the block is read, and the path corresponding to the ID is changed in color and displayed on the display device (step 706).

Next, if there is no block including the ID, the specified hierarchy of the ID is stored in the variable “level”.
It is determined whether or not the value is equal to or larger than 1 (step 703). If the value is equal to or greater than the value of the variable level, error processing is performed (step 707). The layer in which the block including the ID exists,
If it is less than the value of the variable level, the value of the variable level is decremented (step 704), and then the variable le
The block of the layer corresponding to the child is read from the layer corresponding to the value of vel + 1 (step 705). Then, by performing the processing of step 702 and subsequent steps, when the layer reaches the layer where the ID exists, the path is displayed (step 706).

A specific example of the display processing according to the above procedure will be described with reference to FIG. That is, when the highest layer of the display map database is layer 5 and the lowest layer is layer 1 (omitted in the figure), the ID 100 of the route search result
It is assumed that the number 1 exists in the hierarchy 3 and the designated block A. In this case, when the layer used for the display of the display device is the layer 5, first, it is searched whether or not the ID 1001 exists in the layer 5 without being omitted. ID 100 on layer 5
If 1 does not exist, the parent-child block of the next lower layer 4 is read, and the ID 1001 is searched. If the ID 1001 does not exist in the layer 4 as well, the block of the next lower layer 3 is read, and the route is displayed using the road shape information of the ID 1001 which should exist.

[0016]

As described above, in the conventional navigation technology based on a database,
If the layer displayed on the display device is the upper layer and the layer in which the block specified by the route search result is the lower layer, the search must be performed up to the layer specified by the route search result. Then, if the map of the highest layer is displayed and the route search result is a road only in the lowest layer, the work of reading the display map database for at least (the total number of layers -1) times occurs. I do.

That is, if the display map database is composed of six layers and a map of the highest layer is displayed, a road that exists only in the block of the lowest layer is indicated by the route search result. In such a case, in order to display the road, it is necessary to access the external device five times and read the display map database, which takes time.

In particular, as described above, in the display map database, each block divided in each layer includes various information on areas, buildings, names, etc. in addition to the road shape information necessary for displaying the route. Have been.
Therefore, when the lower layer is read and the route search result is displayed, extra information other than the road shape information is read, which is extremely wasteful.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and the objects thereof are as follows.
When displaying a route search result based on display data having a hierarchical structure, a navigation device and method capable of displaying a route at high speed even if a route of the search result does not exist in a layer to be displayed, and An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which navigation software is recorded.

[0020]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route search means for searching for a route from a current position to a destination based on route search data. A display map data storage unit that stores map data having a hierarchical structure including route data, and map data of any of the layers stored in the display map data storage unit, the route searched by the route search unit. And a display means for displaying together with the map data, the map data includes a layer in which a part of the route data to be searched by the route searching means is omitted, and the route data omitted in each layer of the map data. Has route display data storage means storing route display data including, in the map data of the layer displayed by the display means, Determining means for determining whether or not the route data corresponding to the search result of the route searching means is omitted; and if the determining means determines that the route data is omitted, the route data is A route data acquisition unit for acquiring the route data from the route display data storage unit so as to be included in the display content of the display unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in which a route for reaching a destination from a current position is searched based on route search data. In a navigation method for storing map data having a hierarchical structure including route data and displaying map data of any layer together with a searched route, a part of the search target route data is omitted from the map data. Route display data including the route data omitted in each layer of the map data, and determines whether or not the route data corresponding to the search result is omitted in the map data of the displayed layer. If it is determined that the route data is omitted, the route data is obtained from the route display data, and the omitted route is displayed together with the map data. And wherein the door.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first and fourth aspects of the present invention are viewed from the viewpoint of a recording medium readable by a computer. Navigation software that allows the user to search for a route from the current position to the destination based on the current position, store the hierarchically structured map data including the route data, and display the map data of any layer together with the searched route. In the recorded recording medium, the map data includes a layer in which part of route data to be searched is omitted, and the software causes the computer to display a route including the omitted route data in each layer of the map data. Route data corresponding to the search result is omitted from the map data of the displayed layer. To determine whether, in the case where the route data is determined to have been omitted, to obtain the route data from the route display data, the abbreviated path, characterized in that to display together with the map data.

According to the inventions described in the first, fourth, and fifth aspects, even when the route data of the search result does not exist in the layer of the map data to be displayed, the map data of another layer is sequentially read. Since the route display can be performed by reading the route display data without searching, the speed of the route display can be increased.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the route data stored in the route display data storage means corresponds to each map data layer from which the route data is omitted. , Respectively. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the map data of each layer, the corresponding route display data is set according to the amount of the omitted route data. A search route can be read from the minimum route data, and high-speed search can be performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the route data stored in the route display data storage means corresponds to a plurality of layers of map data from which the route data is omitted. , One is set. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since one piece of route display data is collectively set for map data of a plurality of layers, a storage area can be saved.

[0026]

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

[1. Configuration of Embodiment] The present embodiment shows a navigation device (referred to as the present device) mounted on an automobile as a moving body for guiding a route, and a navigation method executed on the present device. Also, it can be understood as a recording medium on which navigation software is recorded.

[1-1. Overall Configuration] As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG.
, Relative azimuth detecting unit 2, vehicle speed detecting unit 3, main CP
U and its peripheral circuits 4, a memory group M, a user interface unit 9, a display unit 10a, and an audio output unit 10b
, An input unit 11, a CD-ROM control unit 12, an FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13, and an optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14.

The absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and azimuth on the ground surface of the current position of the vehicle (called the own vehicle) on which the apparatus is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position. For example, GPS sent from a GPS satellite
This part is for receiving radio waves with an antenna or a receiver. The relative azimuth detecting unit 2 is a part for detecting a relative azimuth of the own vehicle using a gyro or the like. The vehicle speed detection unit 3 is a part that calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing a vehicle speed pulse obtained from the vehicle.

The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus.
The memory group M includes various memories necessary for the operation of the device.
For example, the program is stored and the main CP
A ROM 5 accessed from the U, a DRAM (dynamic RAM) 6 loaded with a main program and providing a work area and the like, and an SRAM (static RA) for backing up information such as settings even when the main power is turned off.
M) 7, VRAM (Video RA) for the display unit 10a
M) 8 and the like.

The display unit 10a and the audio output unit 10b include a guide map (including a three-dimensional display and a landmark display), a menu display (including a confirmation screen for the user), a destination list, a syllabary table for searching, This is a section for outputting various information such as a usage fee and a warning display on a liquid crystal display screen (not shown) or voice synthesis. The input unit 11 is a part for a user to input information such as a command and a numerical value from a switch or a joystick on a front panel or a remote controller. For example, a desired point on a map, a landmark, a menu button, a facility name It is possible to input a selection operation such as a list or a syllabary for search.

The display unit 10a functions as an input unit, just like the input unit 11, by directly touching an arbitrary point on the map, an item such as a menu button, or the like displayed on the screen with a finger. It also has a function as a touch panel that can be used. The user interface unit 9 is a user interface that connects the display unit 10a, the audio output unit 10b and the input unit 11, and the main CPU and its peripheral circuits 4 using an I / O control circuit and a driver.

The CD-ROM control unit 12 controls the CD-ROM
This is a means for reading the database recorded in the ROM, and the contents of the database are basically the same as the above-mentioned conventional technology, and the display map database and the route search database are each configured in a hierarchical structure. However, the present embodiment includes a route display database that stores only road shapes to be searched for later, which will be described later.

The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part for receiving FM broadcast waves and VICS traffic information contained in the broadcast waves. Further, the optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14 is a part that receives VICS traffic information when passing under transmission facilities installed on expressways and general roads.

[1-2. Role of Main CPU and its Peripheral Circuit] Furthermore, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4
By the operation of the software as described above, the current position calculation unit 40, the destination specification unit 41, the route calculation unit 42, the guidance unit 43, the display level specification unit 44, the display data search unit 45,
It is configured to serve as a determination unit 46, a route data acquisition unit 47, and a drawing unit 48.

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

The route calculation section 42 is means for calculating an optimum route from the current position of the vehicle to the facility designated by the destination designation section 41 based on a route search database. The guidance unit 43 is means for guiding the route calculated by the route calculation unit 42 based on the current position and the like sequentially calculated by the current position calculation unit 40 by using synthesized speech or screen display.

The display level specifying section 44 is a means for specifying a layer to be displayed on the display section 10a among a plurality of layers in the display map database. The designation by the display level designation unit 44 is performed based on a user input or a default setting. The display data search unit 45
This is a means for searching the display map database for a map of the layer specified by the display level specifying unit 44. The determination unit 46 is a unit that determines whether or not a block including the route ID calculated by the route calculation unit 42 exists in the map searched by the display data search unit 45.
The route data acquisition unit 47 determines the I
When it is determined that the block including D does not exist in the current hierarchy, the unit obtains route data from a route display database described later. The drawing unit 48 is a unit that draws display contents displayed on the display unit 10a based on information passed from other units.

[1-3. Configuration of Route Display Database] The route display database is configured by, for example, extracting only the roads to be searched for from the display map database. That is, as described in the above-described related art, the display map database includes road shapes, area information, name information, and the like. Here, the road shape information includes a road to be searched for and a road not to be searched. Then, the route display database is used only when there is no block including the ID of the route search result in the layer displayed in the display map database. For this reason, the route display database does not need to include all the data in the display map database, but rather it is desirable to create only the necessary data to save the data amount. That is, it is effective that the route display database is created based only on the road for which the route is to be searched.

For example, the display map database shown in FIG. 2A includes not only roads to be searched for routes indicated by thick lines but also peripheral information such as roads not to be searched, convenience stores and Pond A. Have been. From there,
Roads, convenience stores and A not covered by the route search
By removing the surrounding information such as the pond, only the target road for the route search is used as the route display database as shown in FIG.

The process of creating such a route display database will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the hierarchical display map databases (a), (b), and (c), in the layers (a) and (b), a part of the route search target road (the dotted line ) Are omitted. So, for such a layer,
Only the route search target roads omitted in the respective layers are extracted as shown in (1), and a plurality of layers of route display databases corresponding to the extracted layers are created. By this association, it is determined that the block including the ID of the route search result does not exist in the currently displayed layer.
6, the route data acquisition unit 47 is set to acquire the route display data of the layer corresponding to the layer.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the hierarchical display map databases (a), (b) and (c),
(C) is a layer (the lowest layer in the present embodiment) that includes all the roads to be searched. In such a layer (c), when displaying the result of the route search on the display device, the display map database for the display area is always read, so that only the route is changed in color and displayed. Good. Therefore,
It is not necessary to create route display data corresponding to the layer (c).

[2. Operation of Embodiment] The route display method according to the present embodiment as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, as a premise of route display,
A route search process is performed by the route calculation unit 42. That is, when the user inputs a destination designation and a route search request instruction through the input unit 11, the CD-ROM control unit 12
The route calculation unit 42 performs a route calculation based on the route search data read by the process.

After the completion of the route calculation, the variable level is initialized by the number of the layer specified by the display level specifying unit 44 and used for the current display (step 401). Then, the variable le is determined by the determination unit 46.
It is determined whether or not the ID of the route search result exists in the block of the hierarchy corresponding to the value of vel (step 40).
2). If there is a block containing such ID,
The display data retrieval unit 45 retrieves the display data of the layer, and displays the route corresponding to the corresponding ID on the display unit 10a together with the map in a different color (step 40).
5).

Next, when the determining unit 46 determines that the block including the ID does not exist, the route data acquiring unit 47 acquires the route data corresponding to the current display layer number. (Step 403). Then, on the display unit 10a, the route of the search result is displayed in a different color from the other roads together with the map of the current display hierarchy (step 404).

[3. Effect of Embodiment] According to the above-described embodiment, even if the ID of the route search result does not exist in the block of the current display hierarchy, the route display database is read once. Thus, a route can be displayed. Therefore, as compared with the case where a plurality of readings are performed to the display map database as in the related art, unnecessary processing required for route display can be omitted, and the display time can be drastically reduced.

Further, the route display database has a simple configuration that does not include extra data other than the road shape information to be searched for the route. The display can be further speeded up. In particular, as the number of hierarchies in the display map database increases, and as the data becomes more complicated including a lot of detailed data, the speed-up by applying the present embodiment becomes more effective.

Further, since the route display data exists for each layer of the display map database, the route of the search result can be read from the minimum necessary route data corresponding to each layer. Access becomes possible.

[4. Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
The following embodiments are also included. In other words, the route display database is not prepared for each layer of the display map database as described above, but as shown in FIG. It is also conceivable to extract only the nonexistent route search target roads and collectively store them in one layer. In such a case, compared to a case where route search data corresponding to each layer is provided,
The data amount can be reduced, and the storage area can be saved.

Instead of specifying each route by ID and associating each route, the route is specified and associated by using the common start point and end node numbers in the route search database and the display map database.
It is also possible to save the amount of data.

The recording medium on which the database is recorded is not limited to a CD-ROM, but may be a DVD-ROM or any other recording medium realized at present or in the future. The configuration of the memory used for various processes and the setting of the storage area are also free. In addition, any route search method may be used as a premise of the route display process. Further, the present invention is not limited to a navigation device for a vehicle, and may be mounted on another transportation means or may be used by being carried by a human.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When displaying the result of the route search, a navigation device and method capable of performing a route display at high speed even if the route of the search result does not exist in the layer to be displayed, and a recording medium recording the navigation software are provided. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram relating to a route display database in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of creating a route display database in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a route display method according to the related art.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram relating to a display map database and a route search database in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a display map database in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a hierarchical structure in the database in the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position / azimuth detection part 2 ... Relative azimuth detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit M ... Memory group 5 ... ROM 6 ... Dynamic RAM (DRAM) 7 ... Static RAM (SRAM) 8 ... VideoRAM (VRAM) 9 ... User interface unit 10a ... Display unit 10b ... Audio output unit 11 ... Input unit 12 ... CD-ROM control unit 13 ... FM multiplex reception and processing unit 14 ... Optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 40 ... Current Position calculation unit 41 ... Destination designation unit 42 ... Route calculation unit 43 ... Guide unit 44 ... Display level designation unit 45 ... Display data search unit 46 ... Judgment unit 47 ... Route data acquisition unit 48 ... Drawing unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G08G 1/0969 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/00 G09B 29/00 A 29/10 29/10 A F term ( reference) 2C032 HB22 HC08 HC32 HD03 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AC01 AC02 AC04 AC13 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK37 ND03 ND06 ND20 ND22 ND35 PQ02 PQ13 UU14 UU16 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB13 EE18 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF27 FF32

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A route search means for searching for a route from a current position to a destination based on route search data, and a display map data storage means storing hierarchical map data including the route data. And a display unit for displaying map data of any layer stored in the display map data storage unit together with the route searched by the route search unit, wherein the map data is the route A path display data storage unit that stores a path display data that includes a layer in which a part of the path data to be searched by the search unit is omitted, and that includes the omitted path data in each layer of the map data; In the map data of the layer displayed by the display means, route data corresponding to the search result of the route search means is omitted. Determining means for determining whether or not the route data is omitted, and when the determining means determines that the route data has been omitted, the route data is included in the display content by the display means. A navigation device, comprising: route data acquisition means for acquiring from the route display data storage means. 2. The route data stored in the route display data storage means is set corresponding to each map data layer from which the route data is omitted. Navigation device. 3. The route data stored in the route display data storage means is set to one corresponding to a plurality of layers of map data from which the route data is omitted. A navigation device as described. 4. Searching for a route from a current position to a destination based on the route search data, storing hierarchically structured map data including the route data, and searching for map data of any layer. In the navigation method for displaying along with the route, the map data includes a layer in which a part of the route data to be searched is omitted, and route display data including the route data omitted in each layer of the map data. In the map data of the layer to be stored and displayed, it is determined whether or not the route data corresponding to the search result is omitted. If it is determined that the route data is omitted, the route data is used for the route display. A navigation method characterized by displaying an abbreviated route together with map data obtained from data. 5. A computer is used to search for a route from the current position to the destination based on the route search data, to store map data having a hierarchical structure including the route data, In a recording medium recording navigation software for displaying map data together with a searched route, the map data includes a layer in which a part of route data to be searched is omitted, and the software includes a computer Storing route display data including the omitted route data in each layer of the map data; determining whether or not the route data corresponding to the search result is omitted in the map data of the displayed layer; Is determined to be omitted, the route data is acquired from the route display data, and the A recording medium recording navigation software, wherein a route is displayed together with map data.