JP2002333829A - Electronic map data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a map display that appropriately reflects the conditions of the boundary regions of roads. SOLUTION: In the electronic map data, road data are defined by polygons POLY and edge lines L1 and L2. Attribute, related to all roads such as the kinds of roads is set as attribute data for the polygons. Attribute related to boundary regions, such as the boundaries of the roads, regions Ao lying outside the roads and regions Ai inside along the roads, is set as attribute data for the edge lines. During displaying, the boundary regions are displayed, in the manner which correspond to the edge line attribute data. By so doing, the conditions of the boundary regions are reflected appropriately, and a map display that is intuitively comprehensible is realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to electronic map data including attribute information for specifying a state of a road boundary area, and a map display using the electronic map data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computerized map data that can be used by computers (hereinafter referred to as "electronic map data").
The use of is spreading. The electronic map data is used for displaying a map on a so-called personal computer, a navigation system mounted on a vehicle, providing a map via the Internet, and creating a map copy as a printed matter.

[0003] Electronic map data tends to include more information to help intuitive understanding of the map. For example,
Background information of a building or the like is prepared as three-dimensional data, and a three-dimensional map is displayed by computer graphics. In the two-dimensional display, types such as national roads and prefectural roads are prepared as attribute information, and a display is performed in which the color of the road is changed based on the attribute information.

[0004]

However, with respect to the boundary area of the road, that is, the edge of the road and the area along the edge,
The actual situation was hardly reflected. For example,
The road edge may be actually provided with guardrails, sound insulation walls, and the like, but such information was not included in the map data. In addition, there are various types of sidewalks, such as sidewalks with steps of several tens of centimeters from the road, and sidewalks that simply draw a line on the shoulder,
Such information was not included in the map data. As described above, the state of the road boundary area has a great effect on the intuitive grasp of the map, but the map display appropriately reflecting these has not been made.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a technique for realizing a map display that appropriately reflects the situation of a road boundary area.

[0006]

In order to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides electronic map data which can be used by a computer, including closed figure data, edge data, A data structure including edge line attribute data and group data was used. The closed figure data is data that defines the shape of the road as a closed figure. Usually, a polygon can be used. The edge data is data that defines an edge of a road. As the edge line data, both a polygonal line and a curve can be used. The edge line attribute data is information for specifying at least a part of the state of the road boundary area. The boundary area means an edge line and an area along the edge line. Areas of a predetermined width inside and outside the road are included. Group data is data that associates these data. The unit of association can be set arbitrarily. For example, the association can be performed in units of road sections separated by intersections.

[0007] According to the data structure of the present invention, the attribute information of the boundary area can be included in the map data by the edge line attribute data. By using the edge line attribute data, it is possible to perform a map display that appropriately reflects the situation of the road boundary area.

The edge line attribute data can be, for example, data specifying the type of the edge line. That is, information representing the types of guardrails, sound insulation walls, steps, median strips, and the like can be used for a boundary portion corresponding to the edge of a road. More detailed information may be included depending on the type of guardrail or the like.

The attribute "central divider" is effective when a road is defined in a complex manner. According to the present invention, a road can be defined by a closed figure in units of lanes. In such a case, a plurality of closed figures are defined adjacent to each other in the width direction (hereinafter, referred to as “complexing”). In a compound road, edge line data may be defined only at both ends of the road, or may be defined for each closed figure. If edge data is defined for each closed figure, at least one edge is
It is the boundary with the adjacent lane. Therefore, there is a possibility that the attribute “central separation zone” may be given to the edge line as edge line attribute data. In addition, the edge line attribute data in the case of compounding may have information such as “normal lane”, “overtaking prohibited”, and “protruding prohibited”.

[0010] The edge line attribute data may be data specifying the type of an area along the edge line outside the closed figure.
For example, information such as the type of sidewalk on the side of the road, that is, a sidewalk having a step of several tens of centimeters from the road, or a sidewalk simply having a line drawn on the shoulder of the road can be provided. Also, information such as the presence of fields, fields, rivers, and buildings may be stored. A compound road may have information such as "another lane" and information such as a "lane in the same direction" and an "oncoming lane".

The edge line attribute data may be data for specifying the type of a region along the edge line inside the closed figure. For example, it is possible to have information such as regulation information such as parking prohibition, presence or absence of construction, presence / absence of a side road, and presence / absence of a parking meter installation. On a compound road, information such as an uphill lane and the presence or absence of a bus lane may be provided.

In the present invention, the edge line is set in a fixed range continuous along the closed figure. The number of edge lines varies depending on the method of defining a closed figure. In addition, a single edge line may be defined for a continuous certain range, or an edge line may be defined by dividing into a plurality of sections.

The division into a plurality of sections has the advantage that the attributes of the boundary area can be flexibly defined regardless of the method of defining the closed figure. As an example, consider a case where a section delimited by an intersection is defined by one closed figure. In this case, the situation of the boundary area may change in the middle of the section. For example, this corresponds to a case where a sound insulation wall is provided halfway through a section. In such a case, by defining the edge line separately for a portion where the sound insulation wall is present and a portion where it is not, it is possible to appropriately reflect the above situation as attribute information.

In the present invention, the edge line attribute data is desirably provided separately from the attributes of the entire road. That is, it is desirable to include road attribute data relating to attributes of the entire road as data that is separated from the edge line attribute data. In this case, as a matter of course, the group data is associated with the road attribute data.

By dividing road attribute data and edge line attribute data, there is an advantage that data management and update become easy. The attributes of the road include, for example, information on the type of road such as a national road and a prefectural road, information on the shape of the road such as the number of lanes and road width, and information on traffic regulation such as one-way traffic. These pieces of attribute information have relatively little change compared to the state of the boundary area. Therefore, by dividing the road attribute data and the edge line attribute data, both can be individually updated and the like, and management of information on the boundary area can be facilitated.

The division between the road attribute data and the edge line attribute data is advantageous in setting each attribute data. As an example,
Let us consider a case where closed figure data is defined by compounding. Since each closed figure differs only in the lane, the type of road is common. On the other hand, the border lines are not always common. This is because there is a case where a sound insulation wall is provided only on one shoulder of the road. If the road attribute data and the edge line attribute data are set without being divided, it is necessary to prepare attribute data individually for each closed figure. On the other hand, when the road attribute data and the edge line attribute data are divided, it is sufficient to set only the edge line attribute data individually, and the road attribute data is shared or copied by each closed figure. It can be simplified. Here, the case where the road attribute data is simplified is illustrated, but similarly, the case where the edge line attribute data can be simplified may be considered.

According to the present invention, in addition to the electronic map data described above,
It can be configured in various modes. For example, the present invention may be configured as a generation device and a generation method for generating electronic map data according to the present invention.

Also, the present invention may be configured as a display control device that generates display data for displaying a map on a predetermined display unit using the electronic map data, that is, a mode corresponding to the sub-combination of the electronic map data of the present invention. it can. You may comprise as a map display apparatus combined with the display part. As the display unit, a display such as a navigation system or a computer, or a projection device such as a liquid crystal projector can be used.

For the display, the above-described electronic map data of the present invention is used. The display control device includes a closed graphic display control unit,
An edge line display control unit may be provided. The closed figure display control unit generates data for displaying a road map based on the closed figure data. The edge line display control unit includes:
Data for displaying a map of the boundary area is generated in a display mode set in advance according to the edge line attribute data.

By doing so, it is possible to display a map appropriately reflecting the edge line attribute data. Various settings can be made for the display mode of the boundary area. For example, when the edge line attribute data is data indicating the type of the edge line, the color, line width, line type, and the like of the edge line can be changed according to the type. If the edge line attribute data is data indicating the type of the area inside or outside the closed figure, the display color, symbol, etc. can be changed according to the type.

When reflecting the edge line attribute data, it is desirable to display the map three-dimensionally. By using the edge line attribute data, a three-dimensional display that appropriately reflects the state of the boundary region can be performed, and intuitive grasp can be easily performed. 3
Since the three-dimensional display is performed to help intuitively grasp the map, the edge line attribute data can greatly improve the convenience of the three-dimensional display.

The present invention may be configured as a program for realizing the functions of the above-described electronic map data generation device, display device, and display control device. Moreover, you may comprise as a recording medium which recorded these programs and electronic map data. In addition, as a recording medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card,
Various computer-readable media such as a ROM cartridge, a punched card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device (memory such as RAM and ROM) and an external storage device of the computer can be used.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following sections. A. Configuration of map data generation device:

A. Configuration of Map Data Generating Device: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the system configuration of the map data generating device.
The map data generation device 20 is a device that generates the map database 14 used for displaying a map on a computer. In the present embodiment, the map data generation device 20 is constructed by installing map data generation software in a personal computer. The map database 14 is configured in a server connected to the map data generation device 20 via a network. The map database 14 may be configured integrally with the map data generation device 20.

The map data generator 20 is provided with functional blocks as shown in FIG. Illustration of basic functions such as command input from an operator and display control on a personal computer is omitted. Each functional block is provided in the map database 14 respectively.
It has a function of generating map data to be stored in.

The road data generator 21 generates road data. Road data contains information on position and shape,
It has a data structure including attribute information. The former includes a closed shape (hereinafter, referred to as a polygon) and an edge line corresponding to a boundary line between a road and other areas. The polygon data is generated by the polygon generation unit 21a, and the edge data is generated by the edge generation unit 21b. Attribute information is generated individually for polygons and edges. The attribute information for the polygon is generated by the road attribute generation unit 21c, and the attribute information for the edge line is generated by the edge line attribute generation unit 21d. As described above, by generating attribute data by dividing the two, there is an advantage that data management and update become easy. These data corresponding to one road are related by group data. The group data is generated by the group data generation unit 21e.
The structure of the road data will be described later in detail.

The background other than the road, that is, data such as railways, buildings, and rivers, is generated by the background data generator 22.
The destination data generation unit 23 generates a destination database including buildings and the like that can be selected as destinations in a route search using map data. The destination data generation unit 23 and the background data generation unit 22 cooperate with each other and associate them with each other so that the background data can be specified from the name of the destination. The character data generator 24 generates character data such as place names, and the symbol data generator 25 generates symbol data for displaying one-way traffic and other traffic regulation information. The character data and the symbol data are set in such a manner that the content of the title is divided into multiple stages according to the display scale of the map.

The integrating unit 30 has a function of integrating the data generated by the above-described functional blocks as one map data and outputting the data to the map database 14. The map data may be recorded on a DVD-ROM or other recording medium ME.

B. Structure of road data: FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of road data. In the present embodiment, the road data is configured in units of sections separated by intersections. The road is schematically shown in the center of the figure. In this example, two intersections CS1 and CS2 are included. Therefore, for example, a section Rd1 separated by both intersections is treated as one road. By doing so, it is possible to avoid an intersection from being included in the road data, and to simplify the data structure. Of course, the road data may be defined including the intersection.

In the figure, the structure of road data is illustrated for a road located on the left side of the intersection CS1.
As described above, the road data includes the polygon POLY and the edge lines L1 and L2. Edge lines L1 and L2 are
In order to facilitate the distinction from the polygon POLY, it is shown at a position shifted intentionally.

Data related to the polygon POLY (hereinafter referred to as "polygon data") is shown in the lower part of the figure. The data includes shape data and attribute data. The shape data is data that sequentially defines the coordinates of the vertices of the polygon POLY. In the example of the figure, the polygon POL
Since the vertex of Y is defined by points a, c, f, and d, the coordinates (Xa, Ya) of point a, the coordinates (Xc, Yc) of point c, and the like are sequentially defined in the shape data. In the present embodiment, the coordinates are defined in two dimensions, but may be defined in three dimensions.
Further, in the example of the figure, the polygon POLY is defined by four vertices. However, the polygon POLY may be defined by more points such as a curved road.

The attribute data includes the type of road, the traffic regulation, the number of lanes, and the like. The type of road means a classification such as a national road or a prefectural road, and the example of the figure shows that this road is a “national road”. The traffic regulation includes information such as the maximum speed and one-way traffic.
km. In the example of the figure, the lane information indicates that this road has four lanes. The road attribute data is information that defines attributes related to the entire road as described above, and can include various information such as information related to the height relationship of the road in addition to the above-described contents.

Data relating to the edge line L1 (hereinafter referred to as "edge line data") is shown in the upper part of the figure. Although the data structure is illustrated only for the edge line L1 in the drawing, data having the same structure is prepared for the edge line L2. Data relating to the edge line L1 also includes shape data and attribute data. The shape data is data that sequentially defines the coordinates of the vertices of the edge line L1. In the example shown in the figure, since the vertex of the edge line L1 is defined by points a and b, the coordinates (Xa, Y
a), the coordinates (Xb, Yb) of the point b, etc. are sequentially defined. These points are not always included in the polygon POLY. As shown, at the intersection CS1, the polygon POL
This is because there is a possibility that the vertex of Y is shifted from the end point of the edge line L1. Of course, the setting may be such that each point defining the edge line L1 is included in each point defining the polygon POLY.

The attribute data includes attribute information on a road boundary area. In the drawing, a case is illustrated in which the type of the edge line itself, the type of the area A0 outside the road, and the type of the area Ai on the road are included. The type of the edge line itself includes, for example, a classification such as a sound insulation wall and a guardrail. The type of the area A0 includes a classification such as a field, a river, a sidewalk, or a side road. The type of the area Ai includes a classification of a road near an edge line, for example, information on a lane near the edge line. Such information includes climbing lanes,
Information such as the presence or absence of a parking meter is included.

The ranges of the areas A0 and Ai can be set arbitrarily. Since these attribute data are used to realize a map display that helps intuitive understanding, the area Ao,
The range of Ai can be set from such a viewpoint. Area A
If the target of o and Ai is made extremely narrow, it is not possible to include enough information to help intuitive grasping. The ranges of the regions Ao and Ai can be set in consideration of, for example, a human viewing angle.

The polygon data and the edge line data are respectively provided with group data. Group data is
This is data that associates polygon data with edge line data. The data illustrated in the figure are both group data “1”. This value means that these data are data corresponding to a common road and the identification number is 1. In addition, the attribute information of the edge line data also includes
The group data may be configured to include the information on the type of the road and to include the type information in the above-described identification number.

C. Generation of road data: FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a road polygon generation process. The processing corresponds to the function of the road data generation unit 21 and is executed by the CPU of the map data generation device 20 in terms of hardware.

In this process, the CPU first generates road position data (step S10). That is, the center line of the road is set as line data. This setting may be obtained from an existing database, or may be set by an operator inputting data. Road location data is, for example, 2
It can be set based on a 1/5000 topographic map or the like.

The outline of the road data is also illustrated in the figure. In the present embodiment, an intersection is defined as one node, and road data is set in units of intersections. “●” shown in the figure corresponds to an intersection, that is, a node. In the region in the figure, 8 units of R1 to R8,
The book contains road data. At this point, attribute information including level data is attached to each road. The level data is data representing the height of a road quantized. For example, road R4 is "LEVEL = 0"
Is set, which means that the road is on the ground surface. The road R5 is set to “LEVEL = 20”, which means that the road R5 is an elevated road. Therefore, R4 and R
The intersection of 5 is not a node.

Next, the CPU converts each of the road data thus obtained into polygons (step S12).
That is, a figure in which each road has a predetermined width is generated.
The width may be a predetermined constant value or may be set according to the lane information of the road. At this point, a plurality of polygons are generated overlapping at the intersection.

When the polygon generation is completed, the CPU generates an edge line (step S14). The edge line is a portion indicated by a thick line in the figure, and corresponds to two sides along the width of each road in the outer periphery of each polygon. Here, overlapping of polygons is not considered. As will be described later, since unnecessary edge lines are removed in the post-processing, at this point, the entire circumference of the polygon including the direction in which the road is divided may be used as the edge lines.

In this embodiment, as described above, polygons and edges are generated as separate objects. By generating polygons and edges with different objects in this way, each can have unique attribute information, and a wide range of information can be managed efficiently, and display flexibility is increased. Can be improved. For example,
Regardless of the polygon, the line type, thickness, color, etc. of the edge line can be flexibly changed and displayed, and when performing three-dimensional display, the edge line may be displayed as a sound insulation wall of a certain height. it can.

In the figure, the way of generating an edge line is shown using the road R2 as an example. As shown, polygon p1 of road R2
Separately, edge lines e1 and e2 are generated. However, since all of them are data representing the road R2, they are associated by group data. In the present embodiment, the group data includes a code indicating the type of road and a group number for identifying the road. Each polygon and edge has its own attribute information, and the group data is included in this attribute information. By referring to the group number included in the attribute information of the polygon and the group number included in the attribute information of the edge line, it is possible to easily specify the polygon and the edge line corresponding to one road.

Next, the CPU cuts unnecessary edges and polygons (step S16). For example, step S
In the process of 14, since the edge line has entered the intersection, the cutting is performed so that each edge line remains at the outer periphery of the intersection. In the illustrated example, the polygon is not cut, but the polygon is also cut as needed. In this embodiment, since polygons are generated by dividing them by nodes, depending on the order in which polygons are drawn in the intersection, it is as if a relatively important road such as a national road is divided in the intersection by other roads. May be drawn.
Polygon cutting can be appropriately performed in order to avoid such unnatural drawing. In this embodiment, since the polygon and the edge are generated as different objects,
There is an advantage that the cutting process can be easily performed without affecting the other shape.

Here, the case where polygon data is generated from line segment data corresponding to the center line has been described as an example. However, it is also possible to generate road data using polygons from the beginning.

D. Configuration of Map Display Device: Next, use of the electronic map data generated by the above-described map data generation device 20 will be exemplified. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the map display device. The configuration as an in-vehicle navigation system has been exemplified.

The map display device of the embodiment includes a main body 100, a control unit 110, and a disk drive 103.
The main body 100 includes a display 101 for displaying a map, a menu, and the like, and an operation unit 102 for inputting a command. The operation unit 102 can move the cursor displayed on the map or change the display scale of the map by the operation.

A recording medium ME on which map data is recorded can be inserted into the disk drive 103. In this embodiment, a DVD-ROM is used as the recording medium ME. The map data described above is stored in the recording medium ME. In the recording medium ME, a destination database used for route search is also registered.

The control unit 110 is configured as a microcomputer having a CPU and a memory inside. The control unit 110 uses the function of each functional block shown
The map display on the display 101 is controlled based on a command input from the operation unit 102, the current position of the vehicle, and the like. The command from the operation unit 102 is the command input unit 1
16 and passed to the reference unit 114.
Commands include instructions on the scale of the map display, 3D
The instruction includes whether or not to perform display.

The current position of the vehicle is determined by GPS (Global Posit
(Ioning System) Based on analysis of radio waves received by the antenna 104, the position is specified by the position detection unit 112. As a method of specifying the current position, various well-known techniques such as a hybrid method including collation of a GPS reception result with map data can be applied, and a detailed description is omitted here.

The reference unit 114 specifies map data to be used for display based on the command and the current position, and reads necessary data around the current position from the recording medium ME. The read data is generated by the 3D processing unit 119 to generate graphics data for three-dimensional display, and is then transferred to the display control unit 118 and displayed on the display 101. When generating graphics data,
The display database 120 is referred to. The display database 120 is a database that associates road attribute information with a display mode. For example, for a road whose edge line attribute information is “sound insulation wall” (see FIG. 2), the display database 120 provides typical shape data of the sound insulation wall, whereby the sound insulation wall exists at the edge line portion. The map is displayed in the state.

Various modes can be provided for displaying the map. For example, a mode in which only one of two-dimensional display and three-dimensional display is displayed, a mode in which both are displayed together, and the like can be considered. When both are mixed, a method of providing a window 101A in the screen of the display 101 can be adopted, for example.

E. Map display processing: FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the map display processing. Here, a process for performing three-dimensional display has been illustrated. In this process, the CPU first inputs map data (step S30). Map data is
The information is input based on the current position detected by the position detection unit 112, the display scale input by the command input unit 116, and the like.

Next, the CPU executes a polygon generation process for roads based on the input map data (step S32). This process is different from the process shown in FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 3 is processing for generating polygon data as map data, while
This process is for generating a display polygon based on the polygon data included in the map data. For example,
The processing includes setting the shape of the closed figure for display based on the shape data included in the polygon data, and setting the color to fill the closed figure with reference to the attribute information.

Thereafter, the CPU performs processing for setting the display mode of the boundary area based on the edge line attribute data (step S34). As described above, the control database 110 is provided with the display database 120 and includes typical shape data for performing display according to the edge line attribute data. In the process of step S34, the CPU
Refers to this database to set the display mode. In this embodiment, the edge line attribute data also includes information on areas outside the road and on the road side (areas Ao and Ai in FIG. 2). Therefore, depending on the content of the edge line attribute data, in the process of step S34, not only the display mode of the road edge but also the display mode of the road itself and the background portion may be set.

When the preparation of the 3D data is completed,
The CPU performs 3D graphics data generation processing, and displays this on the display 101 (step S36,
38). The three-dimensional display data is generated based on the prepared 3D data. Since various existing technologies can be applied to the graphics processing in this step, detailed description will be omitted.

In 3D display, the background of a building or the like is usually displayed three-dimensionally along with the road. The background can be subjected to 3D graphics processing 3
The D data may be prepared in advance as map data, or may be generated in a 3D processing routine like a road. In the latter case, a method of generating three-dimensional data based on a two-dimensional shape prepared as map data and height information prepared as attribute information can be applied.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the edge line attribute data and the display mode. In the attribute data of the edge line, when “stepped sidewalk” is set as an attribute of the area Ao outside the road, a sidewalk having a step with respect to the road is displayed as illustrated. The display database 120 is provided with the data of the portion indicated by the arrow in the area Ao in the figure in advance, and the illustrated display is performed using the data. Similarly, when “side road” is set as the attribute of the area Ao outside the road, the side road is displayed as illustrated. In this case, the display database 120 is provided with display data of the separation zone between the main road and the side road and the display of the side road in advance, and the displayed data is displayed using the data. Others
The attributes of the area Ao can include various types such as a sidewalk without steps, a background of a field, a river, and the like.

The display mode of the road side area Ai is illustrated below. "Parking meter" is an attribute of this area
Is set, a parking frame (hatched portion in the figure) is displayed on the road as illustrated. The display database 120 is provided with data for displaying the frame over the road. When “parking (stop) vehicle prohibition” is set as an attribute, a curb indicating that parking (stop) vehicle prohibition is displayed on the road shoulder as illustrated. The display database 120 is provided with data for displaying such curbs. In addition, various attributes can be set in the area Ai.

In FIG. 6, illustration of the attributes of the border line itself and the display mode is omitted. However, similarly to the areas Ao and Ai, the border line is also selectively used by using display data provided in the display database 120. The display according to the attribute can be performed.

According to the electronic map data of the present embodiment and the map display device using the same, the map display appropriately reflecting the situation of the road boundary area by utilizing the attribute data of the edge line. Can be performed. Therefore,
An easy-to-understand map display can be realized. In particular,
By utilizing attribute data at the time of three-dimensional display, it is easy to intuitively grasp the map, and the convenience of three-dimensional display can be greatly improved.

F. Modification: FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the edge line attribute data. Here, an example is shown in which a plurality of polygons are adjacent to each other in the width direction (hereinafter, referred to as “composite processing”) to define road data. The up lane is polygon P
OLY1 is defined by edge lines L11 and L12, and the down lane is polygon POLY2, edge lines L21, L22a, L2
2b. These data are related as one group. It is not always necessary to distinguish between upstream and downstream, and various settings are possible. For example, the main line and the side road may be compounded and defined by individual polygons.

Attribute data is prepared for each polygon and edge line. Here, the edge lines L21, L of the down lane
A modified example of the edge line attribute data will be described focusing on 22a and L22b.

For the edge line L21, the area A outside the road
o, the area Ai on the road side exists in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and in this example, the area Ao outside the road is substantially an up lane. Therefore, the attribute data of the edge line L21 includes
The type of the edge line may include “central separation zone” or the like. That is, the attribute data of the edge line is not limited to the information indicating the state of the road shoulder. The attribute data of the area Ao may include information of “oncoming lane”. That is, the attribute data of the area Ao outside the road is not necessarily limited to the type other than the road, such as the sidewalk and the background. In addition, the attribute data of the edge line L21 may include regulation information such as “prohibition of passing”. That is, the attribute data of the edge line can include not only regulation information such as parking prohibition but also regulation information related to the traveling of the vehicle.

The edge lines L22a and L22b are examples in which a continuous section is divided into two edge lines and defined. Attribute data is prepared for each edge line. In the example in the figure, regarding the road-side area, “parking prohibited” (hatched area in the figure) for the edge line L22a, the edge line L22b
Is set with an attribute of “parking permitted”. By dividing and setting the edge line data as described above, it is possible to relatively easily set and manage data reflecting the attribute of each section when the boundary area has a different attribute for each section. Become. Although FIG. 7 is directed to a compound road, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where a road is defined by a single polygon as in the embodiment.

In the embodiment, the case where three-dimensional display is performed is exemplified. However, in the case where two-dimensional display is performed, the attribute data of the edge line may be used. For example, the display color, line type, thickness, and the like of the edge line of the road can be switched and displayed according to the attribute data. Similarly, in the area outside the road and the area on the road side, display colors, symbols, and the like can be switched and displayed according to the attribute data.

In the embodiment, an example of utilizing electronic map data has been described by taking a car-mounted navigation system as an example.
The electronic map data generated in this embodiment can be similarly used in map display software provided as computer application software.

In the embodiment (see FIG. 5), the mode in which the map data is read from the recording medium ME and displayed is illustrated.
On the other hand, a mode in which map data is received via a network and displayed may be adopted.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, each of the above processes may be realized by software or hardware.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a system configuration of a map data generation device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of road data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a road polygon generation process.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a map display device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a map display process.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between edge line attribute data and a display mode.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of edge line attribute data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 14 ... Map database 20 ... Map data generator 21 ... Road data generator 21a ... Polygon generator 21b ... Edge generator 21c ... Road attribute generator 21d ... Edge attribute generator 21e ... Group data generator 22 ... Background data Generation unit 23 Destination data generation unit 24 Character data generation unit 25 Symbol data generation unit 30 Integration unit 100 Body 101 Display 101A Window 102 Operation unit 103 Disk drive 110 Control unit 112 Position detection Unit 114: Reference unit 116: Command input unit 118: Display control unit 120: Display database

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Masano 1-1-10 Shimotsu, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture F-term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB03 HB05 HB22 HC22 HC23 HC24 HC25 HD03 HD16 2F029 AA02 AB07 AC02 AC14 AC16 5B050 AA10 BA07 BA09 BA17 CA07 EA19 EA28 FA02 5H180 AA01 BB12 BB13 FF05 FF22 FF27 FF33

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electronic map data generating device, comprising: a closed figure data generating unit for generating closed figure data defining a road; and an edge line data generating unit generating edge line data for defining an edge of a road. An edge attribute data generating unit that generates edge attribute data including information for specifying at least a part of the state of the edge and a boundary area along the edge; An electronic map data generation device, comprising: a group data generation unit that generates group data that associates data and edge line attribute data. 2. Electronic map data that can be used by a computer, comprising: closed graphic data defining a road; edge data defining an edge of a road; and an edge line and a boundary area along the edge line. Electronic map data having a data structure including: edge line attribute data including information specifying at least a part of the state of the area; and group data that associates the closed figure data, edge line data, and edge line attribute data. 3. The electronic map data according to claim 2, wherein the edge line attribute data is data specifying a type of the edge line. 4. The electronic map data according to claim 2, wherein the edge line attribute data is data for specifying a type of an area along the edge line outside the closed graphic. 5. The electronic map data according to claim 2, wherein the edge line attribute data is data for specifying a type of an area along the edge line within the closed figure. 6. The electronic map data according to claim 2, wherein the edge line is set by being divided into a plurality of continuous sections along the closed figure. 7. The electronic map data according to claim 2, wherein the edge line attribute data includes road attribute data relating to an attribute of the entire road as data segmented, and the group data includes the road attribute data. Electronic map data to be associated including 8. A display control device for generating display data for displaying a map on a predetermined display unit using electronic map data, the electronic map data comprising: closed graphic data defining a road; Edge line data that defines the edge line, and, for a boundary region including the edge line and a boundary region along the edge line, edge line attribute data including information specifying at least a part of the state of the boundary region, Data having a data structure including the closed figure data, the edge line data, and group data for associating the edge line attribute data, wherein the display control device is a data for displaying a map of the road based on the closed figure data. A closed figure display control unit that generates data for displaying a map of the boundary area in a display mode that is set in advance according to the edge line attribute data. Map display device comprising a door. 9. The display control device according to claim 8, wherein the display control device generates data for performing a three-dimensional display of the map. 10. A computer program for causing a computer to generate display data for displaying a map on a predetermined display unit using electronic map data, wherein the electronic map data is a closed figure data defining a road. An edge attribute including information for specifying at least a part of the state of the boundary area with respect to a boundary area including the edge line and a boundary area along the edge line. And data having a data structure including group data for associating the closed figure data, the edge line data, and the edge line attribute data, wherein the computer program displays a map of the road based on the closed figure data. And a map display of the boundary area in a display mode preset according to the edge line attribute data. Computer program for implementing by a computer and a function of generating data for.