JP2003156345A - Map display and navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the relation between an icon figure and a road, regarding facilities represented by the icon figure so that the relation can be grasped easily. SOLUTION: Identification and azimuth of a link, where facilities that are shown by an icon are registered to each icon figure displayed on a map, in advance. In a map display, while a figure is added to the side of a link direction where the facilities shown by the icon figure face, each icon figure is displayed, so that the upper direction of the icon figure coincides with the upper direction of the map at that time (a). In this case, the direction of the link to the icon figure is obtained, according to a registered icon azimuth and the direction of the display of the map at that time. Additionally, a figure is added in the direction of each link to the icon figure for indicating the facilities which face a plurality of links.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a map display technique in a navigation device or the like for providing route guidance to a user.

[0003]

[Prior art]

As a technique for displaying a map in a navigation device or the like for providing route guidance to a user, conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the existence of a facility such as a gas station or a post office is shown on the map. There is known a technique of displaying an icon graphic represented by a graphic symbol provided for each type.

Displaying various facilities on a map with such an icon graphic is an extremely excellent map display technique capable of notifying the user of the existence of the facility at a glance.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in order not to impair the visibility of the user's icon graphic and the map, the icon graphic is displayed at a certain size or more regardless of the scale of the map, or the icon graphic is displayed regardless of the orientation of the map display. Must be displayed upright or the icon shape must be displayed at a position that does not overlap with other map elements such as roads.

[0008] Therefore, when there is a large discrepancy between the display position or range of the icon graphic and the position or range on the map corresponding to the facility represented by the icon graphic, or when many icon graphics are displayed in a narrow range. It may not be necessary.

In such a case, it is difficult for the user to perform a map display so that the user can understand the road facing the facility or the road connected to the entrance of the facility from the map display. For this reason, the user can only know the approximate location of the facility from the map display regarding the facility indicated by the icon graphic, and which road should be taken to reach the facility from the map display. You cannot know or select a facility facing the road from the map display and use it as a landmark for driving.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to display a map so that a user can easily understand the relationship between an icon graphic and a road related to a facility represented by the icon graphic.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic which is a graphic symbol representing a facility, and a storage means for storing the map information representing the map, and the map information. A map drawing means for drawing a map by drawing the object based on the above, and a map display means for outputting a map screen displaying the drawn map, and in the map information, an icon figure represented on the map. , A road section or a road in which the relationship between the icon graphic and a road section or a point on the road is defined, and the relationship between each icon graphic and the icon graphic is defined by the map information by the map drawing means. The map is drawn so that the relationship with the above points can be visually recognized.

According to such a map display device, since the road section or the point on the road related to the icon graphic on the map can be visually recognized from the displayed map, the user can recognize the icon graphic and the icon graphic. The relationship with the road related to the represented facility can be easily understood.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic which is a graphic symbol representing a facility, a storage means for storing the map information representing the map and the map information. A map drawing means for drawing a map based on the above, and a map display means for outputting a map screen displaying the drawn map, and in the map information, an icon figure represented on the map and the icon figure And a road section are defined, and in the map drawing means, with respect to the icon figure, the direction of the road section in which the relationship with the icon figure is defined by the map information is defined as the direction of the icon figure. The image represented on the map is drawn.

As described above, the road section related to the facility represented by the icon graphic is represented by the direction of the road pattern with respect to the icon graphic, and this direction is indicated by the image drawn on the icon graphic. ,
It is possible to display the relationship between the icon graphic and the road related to the facility represented by the icon graphic in a form that is easy to visually recognize without complicating the map.

The image is displayed on the map as
The image may be arranged in the vicinity of the icon graphic on the direction side in which the road section in which the association with the icon graphic is defined by the map information is present. By using such an image, the user can recognize the road section that is well associated with the icon graphic. However, as the image, the icon graphic itself oriented according to the shape or display color may be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
Further, a map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol representing a facility, a storage means for storing map information, a map drawing means for drawing a map based on the map information, and a drawn map And a map display means for outputting a map screen displaying, and an icon designation receiving means for accepting designation of an icon graphic on the map screen. In the map information, the icon graphic shown on the map and the icon Define the relationship between the figure and the road section,
In the map drawing means, a road section whose association with each icon graphic whose designation is received by the icon designation receiving means is defined by the map information is displayed in a form distinguishable from other road sections on the map. It is designed to be drawn as described above.

According to such a map display device, the user simply specifies an icon figure on the map screen, and immediately, the road section related to the facility represented by the icon figure is displayed in a form other than that displayed. It will be possible to distinguish from the road section. Therefore, for example, the association between the icon figure and the road section is connected between the icon figure and the road section facing the facility represented by the icon figure or at the entrance of the facility represented by the icon figure and the icon figure. If you define it between the road section and the
It becomes possible to easily understand which road section should be headed for.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
On a map display device that displays a map including an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol representing a facility, a storage means that stores map information, a map drawing means that draws a map based on the map information, and a drawn map are displayed. A map display means for outputting a map screen and a road designation accepting means for accepting designation of a road section on the map screen from a user are provided, and in the map information, an icon figure shown on the map, the icon figure and the road. The relation with the section is defined, and the map drawing means defines the relation with the road section whose designation is received by the road designation receiving means or each road section belonging to a road including the road section is defined by the map information. Each icon figure is drawn so as to be displayed on the map in a form distinguishable from other icon figures.

According to such a map display device, the user can specify the road section on the map screen, and immediately
The icon figure of the facility related to the road section or the road to which the road section belongs can be discriminated from other icon figures based on the display form and can be grasped.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
A storage unit that stores map information that represents a map that includes an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol that represents a facility, a route search unit that searches for a route to a destination based on the map information, and a map that is drawn based on the map information. The map information has a map drawing means and a map display means for outputting a map screen displaying the drawn map, and the map information includes a definition of an icon graphic represented on the map and a relation between the icon graphic and a road section. The map drawing means, including the definition, each icon figure whose relation to each road section through which the route searched by the route searching means passes is defined by the map information, and other icon figures on the map. There is also provided a navigation device characterized by being drawn so as to be displayed in a distinguishable form.

According to such a navigation device,
Since the user can recognize the icon graphic representing the facility related to the route presented by the navigation device by discriminating it from other icon graphic depending on the display form, for example, the icon graphic and the road section If the relation is defined between the icon figure and the road section facing the facility represented by the icon figure, or between the icon figure and the road section connected to the entrance of the facility represented by the icon figure. The facility represented by these icon figures can be used as a mark for traveling.

The storage means in the above navigation device or map display device may be, for example, a device for temporarily storing road network information and map information received via a communication path.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to an example of application to a vehicle-mounted navigation device mounted and used in an automobile.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the navigation device according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the present navigation device comprises a control device 1, a DVD-ROM or a C storing data of a road map.
Storage media drive 2 for accessing removable storage medium 21 such as D-ROM, GPS (Global Positioni
ng System) Receiver 3, angular acceleration sensor 4 such as a gyro device, vehicle speed sensor 5 such as a rotary pulse generator, VICS receiver 7 that receives traffic information broadcast such as traffic jam, remote controller (remote controller) that receives input from the user 8 and a display device 9.

The control device 1 also includes a map data buffer 101, a map data read processing unit 102, a temporary current position / azimuth calculation unit 103, a map matching processing unit 104, a route search unit 105, a route drawing unit 106, and a map drawing unit. 10
7, VICS interface 108, remote control interface 109, main controller 110, parameter memory 111,
Navigate screen generation unit 112, window control unit 113
Is equipped with. Here, a dotted line 121 in the control device 1 in FIG. 1 indicates an access route of each unit to the map data stored in the map data buffer 101, and a thick line 122 indicates a route of control information between the main control unit 110 and each unit. , A blank line 123 indicates an access route of each unit to various data stored in the parameter memory 111, and a thin line connected to the window control unit 113 or the navigation screen generation unit 112 indicates a route of display information to the display device 9. Shows.

However, the control device 1 described above is, in terms of hardware, a CPU circuit having a general configuration having a microprocessor, a memory, and other peripheral devices such as a graphic processor and a geometric processor. In this case, each unit of the control device 1 described above may be realized as a process realized by the microprocessor executing a program prepared in advance. Further, in this case, such a program may be provided to the control device 1 via a storage medium or a communication path.

Next, the structure of the map data stored in the storage medium is shown.

Here, the map data is managed in units called map leaves for each predetermined geographical area, and each map leaf is composed of a plurality of levels according to the degree of detail of the map. The map of each level of each leaf consists of one or more units, and each unit corresponds to the geographical area of the leaf to which it belongs or the divided area thereof. It is expressed at the level to which belongs.

As shown in FIG. 2a, the map data stores management information describing the relationship between each unit and the map leaf, the corresponding area, and the level, and the data of various icon graphics to be displayed on the map. Additional service such as icon graphic data, additional graphic data storing additional graphic data to be added to the icon graphic to represent roads related to the icon graphic in the present embodiment, location search from facility name or telephone number. It is composed of information service data for performing, basic map data representing a map, and route data managing each road and correspondence between each road and the map represented by the basic map data.

The basic map data includes the unit data for each unit described above, each unit data and map leaf,
It includes unit management information that describes the relationship between corresponding areas and levels, and each unit data includes a road unit that represents a road network and a drawing unit that represents a map.

Further, the route data has a route data record for each route, and each route data record has a route number of the route and a route type indicating a type of the route such as a highway, a national highway or a prefectural road, and a route. The road character string representing the road name of is described.

The icon graphic data has an icon graphic record provided for each type of icon graphic, and each icon graphic record defines an icon code representing the type of the icon graphic and the icon graphic itself of the type. Has icon image data.

Here, the icon image data defines a symbol image indicating the type of facility, such as the icon graphic for the facility of type "Post Office" shown in FIG. 4a.

Further, the additional graphic data has additional graphic records provided for each predetermined direction, and each additional graphic record has a direction code indicating the direction and additional graphic image data defining the additional graphic itself.

Here, the additional figure is, for example, a figure added to the icon figure as shown in FIG. 4a, and in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Corresponding additional graphics are defined for eight directions of diagonally lower right, lower, diagonally lower left, left, and diagonally upper left. That is, for the directions of up, down, left, and right, an image having a rectangular non-transparent area added to the direction side of the icon graphic is defined as the additional graphic, and diagonally right up, diagonally right down, diagonally left down, left Regarding the diagonally upward direction, an image having a non-transparent region in a V shape added to the outside of the direction angle of the icon graphic is determined as the additional graphic. The regions other than the rectangular non-transparent region and the V-shaped non-transparent region in each additional figure are defined as transparent regions. Also, the "Post Office" icon figure shown by the broken line in FIG. 4b is shown to show the arrangement relationship between the icon figure and the additional figure, and the dashed icon figure itself is not included in the additional image. .

Next, as shown in FIG. 2b, the road unit is designated by the VICS broadcast, the node list, the link table, the connection data describing the connection of nodes and links with other units, and the corresponding relationship. It has a VICS conversion table that describes the relationship between links and links on road units.

Here, in the road unit, the road is expressed as a set of links that are straight lines, and the end points of each link are nodes. Such a node is always provided at a road connection point such as an intersection, and also at a boundary between adjacent units. Also, each link has a direction, and between the node a and the node b, if the road is one-way, only one link in the traffic direction is provided, but if the road is bidirectional, Is provided with two links opposite to each other.

Now, the node list includes a node record for each node, and each node record includes a node number,
The coordinates of the node, traffic regulations, node attributes indicating whether the node is a node corresponding to an intersection, etc., and connection link numbers indicating the link numbers of links connecting to the nodes are described.

The link table includes a link record for each link, and each link record includes a link attribute indicating the link number, the number of lanes, etc., a node number 1 of the node that is the start point of the link, and an end point of the link. The node number 2 of the node, the distance of the link, the route search cost given to the link, and the route number of the route to which the link belongs are described.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the drawing unit has a background unit, a background road unit, a character string unit, and an icon unit. In addition, the background unit has a background unit record that is provided for each drawing object of a graphic corresponding to the terrain, facility, etc. and that stores information of the drawing object. Also, the background road unit
It has a background road unit record in which information of a drawing object of a road figure representing a road shape, which is provided for each part of the road, is stored. Further, the character string unit has a character string unit record which is provided for each drawing object of a character string corresponding to a place name, a road name, or a facility name and which stores information of the drawing object. Also, the icon unit is
It has an icon unit record which is provided for each drawing object of an icon figure such as a gas station, a restaurant, a post office, and the like, in which information of the drawing object is stored.

The background unit record includes a graphic type indicating the type of a drawing object such as a line drawing and a polygon, a drawing parameter for specifying the drawing parameter of the graphic, and an element representing the graphic shape by the coordinates of a plurality of element points on the contour. It has a list of point coordinates.

The background road unit record includes a line drawing of a drawing object, a graphic type indicating a type such as a polygon, a road attribute indicating a road type such as a highway and a national road, and coordinates of a plurality of element points on a contour of a road shape. And a corresponding link number which is the link number of the link in which the road figure represents the shape.

The character string unit record represents a character attribute indicating the vertical writing / horizontal writing inclination of the character string, a drawing parameter for specifying drawing parameters such as a drawing color of the character string, a character string, and a display reference position of the character string. Has display coordinates.

Next, in the icon unit record, an icon ID that is an identifier of a drawing object that is an icon figure, an icon code that specifies the type of the icon figure, display coordinates of the center of the icon figure, and the facility indicated by the icon figure. Has one or a plurality of face-to-face link information provided for each link facing. Then, each face-to-face link information is the orientation of the face-to-face link as viewed from the display coordinates of the center of the icon graphic of the face-to-face link ID indicating the face-to-face link that is the link facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic (the center of the icon graphic The direction of the perpendicular drawn from the display coordinates to the face-to-face link), and the face-to-face coordinate indicating the position on the face-to-face link facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4c, the actual post office faces the road portion corresponding to the link L as shown by a broken line 350, and an icon graphic 35 representing this post office is shown.
When the display coordinate of the center of 1 is set as X0, the link ID of the link L is described in the face-to-face link ID of the face-to-face link information, and the direction is the perpendicular line X0-X1 dropped from the display coordinate X0 to the link L. The angle θ from the true north of is described, and the coordinate X2 of the center of the portion of the post office 350 facing the link L is described as the facing position coordinate.

The map data stored in the storage medium has been described above.

Next, the parameters stored in the parameter memory 111 of the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the parameter memory 11
1 indicates the current position data 401 and the current traveling direction data 40.
2, destination data 403, route data 404, display range data 405, display direction data 406, display mode data 407, in-guidance flag 408, user-specified icon ID 409 that stores the icon ID of the icon graphic specified by the user on the map A user-specified route number 410 that stores the route number of the route to which the link of the link designated by the user on the map belongs is stored as a parameter.

The current position data 401 is a parameter indicating the current position coordinates of the vehicle, and the current traveling direction data 40
2 is a parameter indicating the current traveling direction of the vehicle,
The destination data 403 is a parameter that represents destination coordinates. Further, each route data represents a route, and a route link list 4041 in which the link numbers of the links through which the route passes are described in the transit order, and a route node list 404 in which the node numbers of the nodes through which the route passes are described in the transit order.
2 and. The display range data 405 is data for designating the range of the map to be displayed on the navigation screen, and the display orientation data 406 is data for designating which orientation is the upper side of the map display. Reference numeral 407 is data indicating the display mode of the navigation screen. The guiding flag 408 is a flag indicating whether or not the route is being guided. Here, in the present embodiment, three display modes are provided: a face-to-face link display mode, a route icon display mode, and a user confirmation mode.

Now, returning to FIG. 1, in such a configuration, the map data read processing unit 102 reads the required range of map data from the storage medium via the storage medium drive 2 under the control of the main control unit 110. It is stored in the map data buffer 101.

Further, the temporary present position / azimuth calculation unit 103 is
The process of calculating the current position and the current traveling direction obtained from the history of each information of the angular acceleration sensor 4 and the vehicle speed sensor 5 and supplying them to the map matching processing unit 104 is repeated. The map matching processing unit 104 includes a temporary current position / azimuth calculation unit 103.
The current position, the current direction supplied from the GPS receiver 3, and the travel history obtained from these are taken into consideration, and the current position supplied from the GPS receiver 3, the current traveling direction, the travel history obtained from these, and the map data buffer 101. The matching process is performed with the link represented by the road unit whose corresponding area is the periphery of the previously determined current position that was read out, and the position on the link most likely as the current position and the most likely link direction as the current traveling direction are The current position coordinates and the current traveling direction are determined, and the current position data 4 of the parameter memory 111 is determined based on the determined current position coordinates and the current traveling direction.
01 and the process of updating the current traveling direction data 402 are repeated.

The details of the operation of such a navigation device will be described below.

FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure performed by the main controller 110.

First, when the processing is started, the main controller 110
Is the display mode data 407 of the parameter memory 111.
In the face-to-face link display mode, the guidance flag is set to non-guidance (step 600), and a predetermined range around the current position read from the current position data 401 in the parameter memory 111 is set as the display range in the display range data 405,
An azimuth corresponding to the traveling azimuth indicated by the traveling azimuth data 401 is set in the display azimuth data 406 (step 602), a map image is generated in the map drawing unit 107, and a navigation screen is generated in the navigation screen generating unit 112. Instruct (step 604).

The map drawing unit 107, which has received an instruction to generate a map image from the main control unit 110, has a parameter memory 111.
Of the display range data 405, the map data of an appropriate level corresponding to the display range corresponding to the geographical range is read, the map is drawn in a form according to the display mode at that time, and a map image is generated. . Here, the display mode is indicated in each part by the display mode data 407 of the parameter memory 111.

Details of the generation of the map image by the map drawing unit 107 will be described later.

On the other hand, the navigation screen generation unit 112, which has received the navigation screen generation instruction from the main control unit 110,
When the display mode is the standard mode, the map drawing unit 1
Parameter memory 11 on the map image generated in 07
The current position mark pointing in the direction corresponding to the direction indicated by the current traveling direction data 402 is drawn at a position corresponding to the current position indicated by the current position data 401 of 1 to generate a navigation screen and sent to the window control unit 113. The window control unit 113 displays the received navigation screen on the display device 6 in a predetermined navigation screen window.

Now, the main control unit 110 performs the processing from step 602 above while changing the display range data 405 in response to a change in the current position data 401 in the parameter memory 111 or a user instruction to change the map scale. Until the user makes a route search request (step 620), the process is periodically repeated. During this period, the input of the display mode switching instruction from the user is monitored (step 606). The display mode data 407 of the parameter memory 111 is updated to the display mode instructed by the user (step 608), and when the updated display mode is the user confirmation mode (step 610), the target object setting process is started. (Step 612). If the display mode before the update is the user confirmation mode (step 614), the activated target object setting process is ended (step 616), and the user-specified icon ID 409 and the user-specified route in the parameter memory 111. The number 410 is cleared (step 618).

As described above, in the target object setting process started in step 612 when the display mode is switched to the user confirmation mode, as shown in FIG. 7, the coordinates input on the map image displayed by the user is performed by the remote controller. 8. Accept via remote control interface 109 (step 7
02), if the received coordinates are coordinates on the icon graphic (step 704), the icon graphic ID of the icon graphic is set to the user-specified icon ID of the parameter memory 111.
It is set to 409 (step 706). If the received coordinates are the coordinates on the road figure (step 71
2) The route number described in the link record of the link indicated by the corresponding link ID of the background road unit record of the road figure is obtained, and this is set as the user-specified route number 410 (step 714).

When the user gives an instruction to end the confirmation through the remote controller 8 and the remote controller interface 109 (step 708), the user-specified icon ID data and the user-specified route number data are cleared (step 71).
0) and returns to step 702 to wait for input of new coordinates.

Returning to FIG. 6, when the user requests a route search from the user via the remote controller 8 and the remote controller interface 109 (step 620), the main controller 110 receives a remote controller 8 from the user via the remote controller interface 109. Accepts destination setting using (step 62
2). When the setting of the destination is accepted, the coordinates of the accepted destination are stored in the destination data 403 of the parameter memory 111, and the route search unit 105 is instructed to calculate the recommended route (step 624).

Upon receiving the instruction to calculate the recommended route, the route search unit 105 reads out road data in the required geographical range from the map data buffer 101, and the parameter memory 111.
Based on a predetermined cost model, a recommended route from the current position coordinates indicated by the current position data 401 to the destination coordinates indicated by the destination data 403 in the parameter memory 111 is
It is calculated by referring to the traffic congestion information obtained from the VICS receiver 7 and the link cost and link distance of each link described in the link table. Then, the list of nodes and links through which the calculated recommended route passes is stored in the parameter memory 111.
The route data 404 is stored in the route node list 4042 and the route link list 4041, and the main control unit 110 is notified of the completion of the recommended route calculation.

Main controller 1 notified of completion of recommended route calculation
10 is a guiding flag 408 of the parameter memory 111.
Is set to display, the display range data 405 of the parameter memory 111 is set to an appropriate display range, the traveling direction indicated by the traveling direction data is set as the display direction data, and the route drawing unit 106 is instructed to draw the route. The map drawing unit 10
7 is instructed to draw a map, and the navigation screen generation unit 112 is instructed to generate a navigation screen.

The map drawing unit 107, which has received an instruction to generate a map image from the main control unit 110, reads out map data of an appropriate level corresponding to the display range corresponding to the geographical range indicated by the display range. A map image is generated by drawing a map in a form according to the display mode of. Details of the generation of the map image by the map drawing unit 107 will be described later.

On the other hand, the route drawing unit 106 instructed to draw the route draws the display range data 40 of the parameter table.
The route from the current position indicated by the current position data 401 in the parameter table to the destination indicated by the destination data 403 in the display range indicated by 5 is defined as the route link list 4041 and the route node list 40 in the parameter table.
42, the drawn route image is generated.

Then, the navigation screen generator 112
The route drawing unit 10 is added to the map image received from the map drawing unit 107 on the map image generated by the map drawing unit 107.
6 generates a navigation screen by drawing the current position mark at the position corresponding to the current position indicated by the current position data 401 in the parameter memory 111 and the route image generated by the parameter memory 111, and sends the navigation screen to the window control unit 113.
Displays on the display device 6 a navigation screen window for displaying the received navigation screen.

Hereinafter, the main control unit 110 changes the display range data 405 according to the change of the current position data 401 in the parameter memory 111 or the user's instruction to change the map scale while performing the processing from step 630. , Is repeated until the current position reaches the destination or the current route is canceled. During this time, the input of the instruction to switch the display mode from the user is monitored (step 634), and if there is the input, When the display mode data 407 in the parameter memory 111 is updated to the display mode instructed by the user (step 636) and the updated display mode is the user confirmation mode (step 638), the above-described target object setting process is performed. (Step 64)
0). If the display mode before update is the user confirmation mode (step 642), the activated target object setting process is ended (step 644),
User-specified icon ID 409 of the parameter memory 111
And the user-specified route number 410 is cleared.

If the current position reaches the destination or the current route is canceled (step 64)
8) After resetting the guiding flag 408 to the non-guiding state (step 650), the process returns to step 602.

The process of map image generation by the map drawing unit 107 described above will be described below.

The map drawing unit instructed to generate the map image by the main control unit 110 performs the map image generation process shown in FIG. 8a.

That is, first, the unit record of each drawing object whose display position is included in the display range is extracted (step 802), and the drawing object of the graphic described in the extracted background unit record is displayed as the display range. Drawing is performed at a position that is relatively determined by the element point coordinates with respect to the azimuth (step 804), and then the road figure drawing process shown in FIG. 8b is called to extract the road figure described in the extracted background road unit record. The drawing object is drawn at a position relatively determined by the element point coordinates with respect to the display range and display direction (step 806). When the drawing completion report is received from the road figure drawing process (step 808), the icon drawing process shown in FIG. 9 is called, and the drawing object of the icon figure described in the extracted icon unit record is set as the display range. The image is drawn at a position determined by the display coordinates relative to the display orientation (step 810). Then, if a drawing completion report is received from the icon drawing process (step 81).
2) Finally, the drawing object of the character string described in the extracted character string unit record is drawn at a position that is relatively determined by the display coordinates with respect to the display range and the display direction (step 814), and the map image is displayed. The generation process ends.
However, the map image is stored in the parameter memory 11 at that time.
In order to generate the display azimuth indicated by the display azimuth data 402 of No. 1, the drawing directions of the above drawing objects are appropriately operated. For example, a drawing object of a character string or an icon figure is drawn so that the upward direction of the drawing object matches the upward direction of the map image.

Here, in the road figure drawing process started in step 806, the process shown in FIG. 8b is performed.

The drawing objects of the road figure to be drawn are sequentially selected (step 852). If the display mode is not the user confirmation mode (step 854), the road figure is as it is according to the description of the background road unit record.
Drawing is performed at a position that is relatively determined by the element point coordinates with respect to the display range and display direction (step 858).

On the other hand, if the display mode is the user confirmation mode (step 852), the user-specified icon ID4
09 is set in the parameter memory 111 (step 856). If it is not set, or if it is set, the face-to-face link ID of the icon unit record indicated by the user-specified icon ID 409 in the parameter memory 111 and the road concerned. If the corresponding link IDs of the background road unit records of the figure do not match (step 86)
(4, step 866), again, the road figure is drawn as it is according to the description of the background road unit record at a position relatively determined by the element point coordinates with respect to the display range and the display direction (step 858).

On the other hand, the user-specified icon ID 409 is set in the parameter memory 111 (step 85).
6) And when the face-to-face link ID of the icon unit record indicated by the user-specified icon ID 409 and the corresponding link ID of the background road unit record of the road figure match (step 864, step 866), the background road unit record is A road figure showing the shape is emphasized and drawn by using a predetermined drawing parameter for emphasis.

When the drawing of all the road figure drawing objects is completed (step 860), a drawing completion report is sent to the map image generation process of FIG. 8a (step 8).
63), and the process ends.

Through the above drawing process, while the display mode is set to the user confirmation mode by the user, the icon graphic of the user-specified icon ID 409 set by the target object setting process of FIG. Only the road figure corresponding to the link related by the link information is emphasized and displayed. That is, while the display mode is set to the user confirmation mode by the user, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the user moves the cursor 100 on the map screen.
The road portion 1003 corresponding to the link facing the facility represented by the icon graphic 1002 pointed by 1 is shown in FIG.
The navigation screen displayed with emphasis as shown in 1 is output from the display device.

Therefore, the user can immediately recognize the road facing the facility corresponding to the designated icon figure from this screen.

Next, the icon graphic drawing processing called from step 810 of the map drawing processing of FIG. 8a will be described with reference to FIG. 9a.

As shown in FIG. 9a, in the icon graphic drawing process, drawing objects of the icon graphic to be drawn are sequentially selected (step 902).

Then, when the display mode is the face-to-face link display mode (step 904), the display range is changed based on the icon image data of the icon image record indicated by the icon code of the icon unit record of the target icon figure. At a position relatively determined by the display coordinates with respect to the display orientation, the upper direction of the icon graphic is drawn in conformity with the upper direction of the map image (step 926). Then, the additional figure drawing process is called (step 92
8) Draw an additional image for this icon graphic.

In the additional graphic drawing process called at step 928, as shown in FIG. 9B, first, one face-to-face link information of the icon unit record of the target icon graphic is fetched (step 950) and stored in the parameter memory 111. The azimuth difference between the display azimuth data 402 and the face-to-face link azimuth of the retrieved face-to-face link information is obtained (step 952). Then, the azimuth difference is classified into any of the eight directions of upward, diagonally right upward, right, diagonally right downward, downward, diagonally left downward, left, and diagonally upward left (step 954).

In this classification, the azimuth difference measured clockwise is d
If θ is -π / 8 <dθ ≦ π / 8, then π / 8 <
When dθ ≦ 3π / 8, diagonally upward to the right, 3π / 8 <dθ ≦ 5π
/ 8 is right, 5π / 8 <dθ ≦ 7π / 8, diagonally right downward, and 7π / 8 <dθ ≦ 9π / 8 is downward, 9π /
When 8 <dθ ≦ 11π / 8, diagonally to the lower left, 11π / 8 <d
Left when θ ≦ 13π / 8, 13π / 8 <dθ ≦ 15π
In the case of / 8, it is performed by diagonally moving to the left.

Then, the additional graphic represented by the additional graphic image data is drawn from the additional graphic record having the direction code corresponding to the classified direction, with the center and direction of the target icon graphic being aligned (step 956). It should be noted that since the area other than the rectangle of the additional figure and the non-transparent region of the “<” shape in FIG. 4b is transparent, the drawing of the additional figure does not hide the icon figure below it.

Now, the above steps 952 to 9
When the process of 56 is performed for each face-to-face link information of the icon unit record of the target icon graphic (step 958), the additional graphic drawing process is ended.

In the above processing, when a plurality of face-to-face link information is registered in the icon unit record of the icon figure, the sum of the non-transparent areas of the plurality of additional figures drawn for the respective face-to-face link information. Finally, a graphic consisting of the icon graphic is generated by the additional graphic processing for the icon graphic.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4d-1, the icon graphic 361 having face-to-face link information for the link L1 whose direction is the right direction and the link L2 whose direction is the right direction corresponds to the right direction and the downward direction. Two additional figures 362, 36
As the sum of the three non-transparent areas, a figure visually recognized as two figures, a rectangular figure on the right side of the icon figure and a rectangular figure on the lower side, is drawn on the map image. Also, Fig. 4d-2
For the icon graphic 355 having face-to-face link information for the link L3 in which the direction in which the azimuth difference is classified is right and the link L4 in the diagonally lower right, two additional graphics corresponding to the right and diagonally downward right directions are given. As the sum of the non-transparent areas of the above, an additional figure 366 is obtained in which the figures in the shape of the "C" opened in the left diagonally upward direction facing the right side and the lower right half of the icon figure are united.

Even if the display coordinates of the center of the link and the icon graphic have a relationship as shown in FIG. 4d-1, the direction of the icon graphic to be drawn and the graphic generated by the additional graphic drawing process may change from time to time. Of the map image, that is, the orientation of the generated map image. For example, if the dir direction in Fig. 4d-1 changes to the upper direction of the map image, even if the relative relationship between the link and the display coordinates of the center of the icon graphic does not change, the direction of the icon graphic and the addition Graphic 367 generated by the graphic generation processing
Is different from FIG. 4d-1 as shown in FIG. 4d-3.

Through the drawing process described above, while the display mode is set to the face-to-face link display mode by the user, each icon graphic is added with the direction of the link associated with the icon graphic as the face-to-face link information. A figure or a figure as a sum thereof is drawn. That is, during a period in which the display mode is set to the face-to-face link display mode by the user, as shown in FIG. 11a, a graphic representing the road direction facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic is added to each icon graphic. Will be displayed. Therefore, the user can immediately recognize the road facing the facility represented by each icon graphic from the icon graphic to which this graphic is added. The broken line in FIG. 11a shows the correspondence between the icon graphic and the link facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic, and is not included in the map image.

Now, returning to FIG. 9a, in the icon graphic drawing processing, as described above, the drawing objects of the icon graphic to be drawn are sequentially selected (step 902). When the display mode is the route icon display mode (step 906) and the guidance flag 408 of the parameter memory 111 is guiding (step 90).
6), the face-to-face link ID of the icon unit record of the target icon graphic is the parameter table 111
Is checked to see if it is included in the root link list 4041 (step 916).
Based on the icon image data of the icon image record indicated by the icon code of the unit icon icon of the target icon figure, map the upward direction of the icon figure to a position that is determined relative to the display range and display direction by the display coordinates. The image is drawn in conformity with the upper direction (step 910). On the other hand, when the face-to-face link ID is included in the route link list, the icon graphic is emphasized and drawn using the predetermined emphasis drawing parameter at the same coordinates and orientation (step 924).

When the above processing is performed for all the target icon graphics (step 912), a drawing completion report is sent to the map image generation processing of FIG. 6a (step 914), and the processing is completed.

As a result of the above drawing processing, the display mode is the route icon display mode and the guiding flag 4
When 08 is being guided, only the icon graphic 1202 representing the facility facing the recommended route 1201 is highlighted and displayed on the navigation screen as shown in FIG. 11b. Therefore, when traveling along the recommended route, the user can immediately grasp the facility facing the recommended route from the navigation screen and use it as a mark for traveling.

Next, in the icon figure drawing process of FIG. 9A, when the display mode is the user confirmation mode (step 908), the drawing objects of the icon figure to be drawn are sequentially selected (step 902), and then the parameters are set. It is checked whether or not the user-specified route number 410 is set in the memory 111 (step 918), and if not set, the icon image data of the icon image record indicated by the icon code of the icon unit record of the target icon figure. Based on the above, the upper direction of the icon graphic is drawn at the position relatively determined by the display coordinates with respect to the display range and the display azimuth (step 910). Even when the user-designated route number 410 is set in the parameter memory 111, the link record corresponding to one of the face-to-face link IDs acquired from the face-to-face link information of the icon unit record of the target icon figure is set. When the described route number and the user-specified route number 410 do not match (step 920, step 922), the icon graphic is similarly drawn (step 910).

On the other hand, the user-specified route number 410 is set in the parameter memory 111 (step 91).
8) When the route number described in the link record corresponding to any of the face-to-face link IDs acquired from the face-to-face link information of the icon unit record of the target icon figure and the user-specified route number 410 match ( (Steps 920 and 922) At the same coordinates and orientation, the icon graphic is drawn with emphasis using a predetermined emphasis drawing parameter (step 924).

When the above processing is performed for all the target icon graphics (step 912), the drawing completion report is sent to the map image generation processing of FIG. 6a (step 914), and the processing is terminated.

As a result of the above drawing processing, during the period when the display mode is set to the user confirmation mode by the user, the link included in the route of the user-specified route number 410 set by the target object setting process of FIG. 7 is met. Only the icon figure related by the link information is highlighted. That is, during the period in which the display mode is set to the user confirmation mode by the user, as shown in FIG. 10b-1, the icon graphic 1012 facing the route 1011 including the link 1010 pointed by the user on the map screen is displayed. Only Figure 1
The navigation screen displayed with emphasis as shown in 0b-2 is output from the display device.

Therefore, the user can immediately recognize the facility corresponding to the designated road from this screen.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.

By the way, in the above embodiment, in the face-to-face link display mode, by adding the additional figure shown in FIG. 4b to the icon figure and drawing it, the links facing the facility indicated by each icon figure are displayed in the map image. As shown in
The link that faces the facility indicated by each icon graphic may be shown in the map image in another form.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12a, each icon graphic and an arrow connecting a link facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic may be displayed. In this case, the coordinates of the endpoints of the arrow on the link side are:
The face-to-face position coordinates in the face-to-face link information of the icon unit record can be used.

For example, when a bird's-eye view map image is generated and displayed, a fence surrounding an icon figure and a three-dimensional additional figure imitating an entrance as shown in FIG. 12b-1 are used. As shown in -2, a link facing the facility indicated by each icon graphic may be indicated. In addition, in this map image, the additional figure indicates that the direction of the entrance of the fence that the additional figure imitates is the direction of the link facing the facility indicated by the icon figure surrounded by the fence. In this case, the additional figure added to the icon figure representing the facility facing the plurality of links may be a figure simulating a fence having a plurality of entrances in each facing link direction.

As shown in FIG. 12c, the facility-facing link indicated by each icon graphic may be displayed by adding an additional graphic to the road graphic side. FIG. 12c shows an additional figure 131 imitating a curb provided on the side of the road.
A break of 0 indicates that the facility 1311 indicated by the icon graphic placed immediately after the additional graphic with respect to the viewpoint faces the link 1312 to which the additional graphic is added.

When each line is drawn in a different color, each line is displayed in the same color as the line to which the link facing the facility indicated by each icon figure belongs, by displaying the frame of each icon figure. A link facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic may be represented in the map image.

Further, instead of using the additional figure, the icon figure itself is deformed, and the direction is represented by the deformed shape so that the icon figure itself indicates the direction of the link facing the facility indicated by the icon figure. But it doesn't matter.

In the above embodiment, the link facing the facility indicated by the icon graphic is displayed by adding an additional graphic, but this is changed to display the link connecting to the entrance of the facility indicated by the icon graphic. It doesn't matter. In this case, in the face-to-face link information of the icon unit record, only the link connecting to the entrance of the facility indicated by the icon graphic may be described.

Further, in the above, in the route icon display mode and the user confirmation mode, the icon graphic and the road graphic are emphasized and drawn so as to be emphasized and displayed on the map image. The form may be arbitrary as long as the highlighted icon graphic and road graphic are displayed so as to be visually recognized by distinguishing the elements on other map images. That is, for example,
Increase the displayed brightness of the icon shape or road figure to be emphasized, conversely lower the displayed brightness of other icon shapes or road figures, or draw the outline of the icon or road figure to be emphasized with a thick line. Alternatively, the display color of the highlighted icon figure or road figure itself or its frame may be different from the others, or the highlighted icon figure or road figure may be operated so as to blink on the display. Absent.

In the above, the face-to-face link display mode, the on-route link mode, and the user confirmation mode are switched according to the user's designation. However, this is automatically performed according to whether or not the route is being guided. You can For example, according to the value of the guiding flag 408, the face-to-face link display mode or the user confirmation mode is automatically set as the display mode during the non-guidance, and the on-route link display mode is automatically set during the guidance. You can Alternatively, according to the value of the guiding flag 408, the user confirmation mode may be automatically set as the display mode during the non-guidance, and the face-to-face link display mode may be automatically set during the guiding.

Further, the above-mentioned display mode with additional graphics in the face-to-face link display mode and the highlighted display of the icon graphic in the route link display mode and the user confirmation mode may be used together. That is, even in the route link display mode and the user confirmation mode, the icon graphic to be emphasized may be emphasized while the icon graphic is attached with the additional graphic.

Further, although the above description has been given by taking the application to a vehicle-mounted navigation device as an example, the present embodiment is also applicable to a portable navigation device, a personal computer, and a route search system operating on a Web server. Is applicable to. The same applies to a navigation device of a type that does not have a storage medium that stores map data locally and that receives the necessary map data from the map data server device at any time via a communication path such as the Internet. Can be

[0114]

【The invention's effect】

As described above, according to the present invention, the map can be displayed so that the user can easily understand the relationship between the icon graphic and the road related to the facility represented by the icon graphic.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of map data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of map data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an additional graphic used in the embodiment of the present invention and an application example of the additional graphic to an icon graphic.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a navigation device parameter memory according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a main control unit of the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a main control unit of the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of a map drawing unit of the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map drawing unit of the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a navigation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a navigation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a navigation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional map display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Control device, 2: Storage media drive, 3: GPS receiver, 4: Angular acceleration sensor, 5: Vehicle speed sensor, 6: Display device, 7: VICS receiver, 8: Remote controller (remote controller), 21: Memory Medium, 101: Map data buffer, 102: Map data read processing unit, 103: Temporary current position / azimuth calculation unit, 104: Map matching processing unit, 1
05: route search unit, 106: route drawing unit, 107:
Map drawing unit, 108: VICS interface, 109: Remote control interface, 110: Main control unit, 111: Parameter memory, 112: Navigate screen generation unit, 11
3: Window control unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol representing a facility, wherein the map is drawn based on the storage means for storing map information representing the map and the map information. And a map display unit for outputting a map screen displaying the drawn map, wherein the map information is a definition of an icon graphic represented on the map,
The map drawing means includes a definition of the relation between the icon figure and a road section or a point on the road, and the map drawing means defines a relation between the icon figure and the icon figure by the map information. In a form where the relationship with points can be visually confirmed,
A map display device for drawing the map. 2. A map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic which is a graphic symbol representing a facility, wherein a map is drawn based on the storage means for storing map information representing the map and the map information. It has a map drawing means and a map display means for outputting a map screen displaying a drawn map, wherein the map information is a definition of an icon figure shown on the map,
The map drawing means includes a definition of a relation between the icon figure and a road section, and the map drawing means indicates a direction of the road section whose relation to the icon figure is defined by the map information. The map display device is characterized in that an image representing the above is drawn. 3. The map display device according to claim 2, wherein the image is a road section in the vicinity of the icon graphic on the map, in which a relationship with the icon graphic is defined by the map information. A map display device characterized in that the image is arranged on the side in which it exists. 4. A map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic which is a graphic symbol representing a facility, and a storage unit for storing map information representing the map and a map for drawing a map based on the map information. Draw means, map display means for outputting a map screen displaying the drawn map, and icon designation accepting means for accepting designation of an icon figure on the map screen, wherein the map information is displayed on the map. Definition of icon shape,
The map drawing means includes a definition of a relationship between the icon graphic and a road section, and the map drawing means defines a road section in which a relationship with each icon graphic whose designation is received by the icon designation receiving means is defined by the map information. A map display device, which is drawn so as to be displayed in a form distinguishable from other road sections on a map. 5. A map display device for displaying a map including an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol representing a facility, wherein the map stores a map information representing the map and a map drawing the map based on the map information. The map information includes a drawing unit, a map display unit that outputs a map screen displaying the drawn map, and a road designation receiving unit that receives a road section designation from the user on the map screen. The definition of the icon shape shown above,
The map drawing means includes a definition of a relationship between the icon graphic and a road section, and the map drawing means has a relationship with the road section whose designation is received by the road designation receiving means or each road section belonging to a road including the road section. A map display device, wherein each icon figure defined by information is drawn so as to be displayed on the map in a form distinguishable from other icon figures. 6. The map display device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein in the map information, the relation between the icon graphic and the road section is represented by the icon graphic and the icon graphic. A map display device characterized in that it is defined between a road section facing the facility or between the icon figure and a road section connected to the entrance of the facility represented by the icon figure. 7. A navigation device having the map display device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein a current position calculating means for obtaining a current position and a traveling direction calculation for obtaining a current traveling direction. The map drawing means has an azimuth defined by the traveling azimuth calculated by the traveling azimuth calculation means as an upward direction, and the map within a range defined by the current position calculated by the current position calculation means. While drawing with a mark representing the current position, the upward direction of the graphic symbol represented by the icon graphic,
A navigation device, wherein each icon graphic is drawn so as to match the upward direction of the map screen. 8. A navigation device for displaying a route to a destination on a map, based on the map information and a storage means for storing map information representing a map including an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol representing a facility. A route search means for searching a route to a destination, a map drawing means for drawing a map based on the map information, and a map display means for outputting a map screen displaying the drawn map, Information is the definition of the icon figure shown on the map,
The map drawing means includes the definition of the relation between the icon figure and the road section, and the map drawing means displays each icon figure in which the relation with each road section that the route searched by the route searching means passes is defined by the map information. The navigation device is characterized in that it is drawn so as to be displayed in a form distinguishable from other icon figures on the map. 9. A map display method for displaying a map including an icon graphic which is a graphic symbol representing a facility in a map display device, and a map drawing step of drawing a map based on map information representing the map, And a map display step of outputting a map screen displaying a drawn map, wherein in the map drawing step, a road facing the facility represented by the icon graphic or a road connected to the entrance of the facility represented by the icon graphic is displayed. A map display method, wherein an image showing a direction on the map is drawn on the icon graphic. 10. A computer program read and executed by a computer, the computer program displaying a map on the computer, the map drawing step of drawing a map based on map information representing a map, and the drawn map. A computer program for executing a map display step of outputting a map screen shown in FIG. A computer program that draws an image representing the above on the map with respect to the icon figure. 11. A map display method for displaying a map including an icon graphic that is a graphic symbol representing a facility in a map display device, the map drawing step of drawing a map based on map information, and the drawn map. And a map display step of outputting a map screen displaying, wherein in the map drawing step, the road on the map faces the facility represented by the icon graphic or is connected to the entrance of the facility represented by the icon graphic. A map display method characterized by drawing a three-dimensional representation of a figure imitating the entrance to the facility represented by the icon figure on the side of the road.