JP2003254759A - Information processing device, information distribution device, navigation device, map information display method, map information distribution method, electronic map data, map information display program and map information distribution program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display an electronic map of current position while restraining increase in storage capacity even when an information terminal has entered the outside of communicable regions. <P>SOLUTION: A central processing unit 3 compares the current position of the information terminal with a communicable regions map 2a. When it is forecasted that the information terminal will pass through incommunicable regions C3, a detailed map 2c of the incommunicable regions C3 is beforehand received from a base station and the detailed map 2c received is stored to an auxiliary storage device 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information distribution device, a navigation device, a map information display method,
The present invention relates to a map information distribution method, electronic map data, a map information display program, and a map information distribution program, and is particularly suitable for application to a position information service using wireless communication such as a mobile communication telephone network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation system has been installed in an automobile or the like to display guidance information to a destination while the automobile is driving. In this navigation system, a position information measuring device such as a GPS or an inertial navigation device and a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive are mounted on an automobile.

Then, the current location is measured by using GPS or an inertial navigation system, and the current location is displayed on the electronic map stored in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM to present the guide information to the driver. On the other hand, in mobile phones and personal digital assistants, CD-ROM drives and DVD-ROMs
Since it is difficult to mount a drive, electronic map data is collected via a communication network such as a mobile phone network.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-230770, an outline of a map is recorded in a CD-ROM, and it is described that a road such as a new road or a narrow road is not recorded in the CD-ROM. Upon detection, a method of requesting the base station to transmit map data using a communication device is disclosed. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-204062, when a mobile phone performs a wide-range navigation via a plurality of base stations beyond the range in which it can communicate with a specific base station, these base stations are managed. Set up a center station,
When the center station manages the navigation information and the mobile phone leaves the current base station and enters another base station, not only the communication system control but also the navigation information is taken over, so that the navigation information can be sequentially transferred to the mobile phone. A method of transmitting is disclosed.

In addition, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-505420, the fixed station is based on the information sent to the mobile unit so far.
A method is disclosed in which guidance information is created by estimating the future position of the mobile unit, and information about an area where the mobile unit is predicted to pass in the future is transmitted. In addition, JP-A-4-28
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6430 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-93497, the current location is measured by GPS or the like, and collated with a radio field strength map of an automobile phone or an obstacle map.
Predict where you will be unable to call and the time to reach it,
A method of notifying a user by voice is disclosed.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-186955, a mobile communication terminal is equipped with a GPS and a service area map showing an area that can be used by the mobile communication terminal, and whether the present location of the mobile communication terminal is within the service area. If the current location of the mobile communication terminal is within the service area, communication is performed.If the current location of the mobile communication terminal is outside the service area, communication is suspended, and communication is resumed when the mobile communication terminal enters the service area again. Accordingly, a method for performing power control is disclosed.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-254559 discloses a method of automatically preparing a map of a radio wave propagation state by preparing a position measuring device and a radio wave propagation measuring device and moving these measuring devices. It is disclosed.

[0008]

However, in the conventional navigation system using the mobile phone network, when the mobile phone goes out of the communicable area, the electronic map data cannot be received, and the electronic map outside the communicable area cannot be received. Since it cannot be displayed, there is a problem that navigation is hindered.

That is, according to the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-230770, when the communication device moves out of the communicable area, the communication device cannot acquire the map data, and the map outside the communicable area is lost. There is a problem that data cannot be displayed on the terminal side. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001
Even in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 204062, when the mobile phone moves out of the communicable area, the mobile phone cannot acquire the map data, and the map data outside the communicable area can be displayed on the mobile phone side. There is a problem of disappearing.

Further, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-505420 does not consider whether or not the area where the mobile unit is expected to pass in the future is communicable, and the mobile unit is out of the communicable area. Since there is no guarantee that the map data outside the communicable area can be acquired before moving, there is a problem that the electronic map outside the communicable area cannot always be displayed.

Further, in the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-286430 and 10-93497, the user can only know the place and time when the voice call cannot be performed, and the car telephone can be used. If you move out of the communication area, data communication will not be possible,
There is a problem that map data outside the communicable area cannot be displayed.

Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-186955, communication is suspended if the current location of the mobile communication terminal is outside the service area, so the mobile communication terminal can acquire map data outside the service area. There is a problem that the map data outside the service area cannot be displayed on the mobile communication terminal side. In addition, JP-A-8-
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 254559, only a map of a radio wave propagation state is automatically created, and the electronic map data is not used while updating the acquisition range of the electronic map data by itself.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, an information distribution device, which is capable of displaying an electronic map of the current location while suppressing an increase in storage capacity even when the device goes out of the communicable area. A navigation device, a map information display method, a map information distribution method, electronic map data, a map information display program, and a map information distribution program.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the information processing apparatus of claim 1, the wireless communication means for performing wireless communication and the incommunicable area of the wireless communication means are determined. An incommunicable area determining unit, a position-dependent information acquiring unit that acquires position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area, and a position-dependent information storage unit that stores position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area. It is characterized by including.

Thus, by providing the mobile terminal with a storage capacity corresponding to the position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area, even when the mobile terminal enters the incommunicable area, the electronic map of the incommunicable area is obtained. It becomes possible to retain data. Therefore, even when the mobile terminal goes out of the communicable area, it becomes possible to display the electronic map of the current location while suppressing the increase in the storage capacity, and the mobile terminal can be accurately displayed without impairing the portability of the mobile terminal. It becomes possible to constantly display the electronic map.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position measuring means for measuring the current position of the user and a moving route predicting means for predicting the moving route based on the measurement result of the current position of the user. The position-dependent information acquisition means is
It is characterized in that position-dependent information corresponding to an incommunicable area on the moving route is acquired. As a result, it is possible to select an electronic map that needs to be displayed and load it into the mobile terminal, and it is possible to reduce the amount of data of the electronic map that is previously loaded into the mobile terminal.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity required to store the electronic map data of the incommunicable area in advance, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the storage capacity installed in the mobile terminal. According to another aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further includes a communicable area map storage unit that stores a communicable area map in which the communicable area is recorded, and the incommunicable area determination unit is the movement route. It is characterized in that the moving route predicted by the predicting means is compared on the communication possible area map to determine the incommunicable area on the moving route.

This makes it possible to determine whether or not the mobile terminal goes out of the communicable area by simply comparing the predicted movement route of the mobile terminal on the communicable area map, and it is possible to take it into the mobile terminal in advance. It is possible to easily determine the necessary electronic map data. In addition, claim 4
The described information processing apparatus is characterized by further including a communicable area map updating means for updating the communicable area map based on the measurement result of the communication state of the current location of the user.

As a result, it becomes possible to reflect the communication status of the position actually passed by the user on the communicable area map, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of the communicable area map. According to the information processing device of claim 5,
It is characterized by further comprising a moving route selecting means for selecting a moving route, wherein the moving route predicting means predicts the moving route based on the selection result.

As a result, even when there are a plurality of moving route candidates, it is possible to accurately predict the moving route and improve the display accuracy of the electronic map. Further, according to the information processing apparatus of claim 6, the position-dependent information acquisition unit acquires the position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area before the wireless communication unit reaches the incommunicable area. It is characterized by

As a result, the electronic map that needs to be displayed can be loaded into the mobile terminal in advance, and the electronic map of the current location can be displayed even when the mobile terminal goes out of the communicable area. Further, according to the information processing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a border area setting unit that sets a communicable border area that is in contact with the incommunicable area, wherein the position-dependent information acquisition unit is the wireless communication unit. The position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area is acquired when the boundary area is entered.

Thus, it is possible to easily determine the time when the mobile terminal captures the electronic map outside the communicable area before the mobile terminal enters the outside of the communicable area, and to prevent unnecessary capture of the electronic map. , It becomes possible to improve the accuracy of importing a necessary electronic map. According to another aspect of the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the boundary area setting means sets the width of the boundary area based on the moving speed and the data amount of the incommunicable area.

This makes it possible to prevent the mobile terminal from entering the outside of the communicable area before the required electronic map is captured, and even when the time required to capture the electronic map changes. It is possible to improve the accuracy of importing a necessary electronic map while preventing the acquisition of an unnecessary electronic map. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 further comprises a destination input means for inputting a destination, and the position-dependent information acquisition means is incapable of communication on a route from the boundary area to the destination. It is characterized in that the position-dependent information of the area is acquired.

As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy of predicting the moving route of the mobile terminal, prevent unnecessary electronic map capture, and capture only the electronic map required in the future. Even when it is necessary to store the map in the mobile terminal in advance, it is possible to suppress an increase in the storage capacity of the mobile terminal and suppress communication costs.

According to another aspect of the information distribution apparatus of the present invention, wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with a mobile terminal, incommunicable area determining means for determining an incommunicable area of the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal. It is characterized by comprising position-dependent information distribution means for distributing the position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area of the terminal to the mobile terminal. As a result, the electronic map data of the incommunicable area can be distributed to the mobile terminal, and even when the mobile terminal enters the incommunicable area, the map data corresponding to the incommunicable area is previously stored in the mobile terminal. By storing it, it becomes possible for the mobile terminal side to retrieve the electronic map data of the incommunicable area.

Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the incommunicable area on the mobile terminal side in order to store the map data corresponding to the incommunicable area in advance in the mobile terminal. Since it is not necessary to store the communicable area map on the mobile terminal side, an accurate electronic map can be constantly displayed on the mobile terminal side while further suppressing an increase in storage capacity on the mobile terminal side.

According to another aspect of the information distribution apparatus of the present invention, the current position information acquiring means for acquiring the current position information of the mobile terminal and the movement route of the mobile terminal are predicted based on the current position information of the mobile terminal. The location-dependent information delivery means delivers location-dependent information corresponding to an incommunicable area on the travel route to the mobile terminal.

As a result, the electronic map that needs to be displayed on the mobile terminal side can be selected and delivered to the mobile terminal, and the amount of data of the electronic map that is preloaded in the mobile terminal can be reduced. Further, according to the navigation device of claim 12, a wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, a destination input means for inputting a destination, a position measuring means for measuring one's current location, and a communicable area are recorded. Communication area map storage means for storing a communication area map, a travel route prediction means for predicting a travel route based on the measurement result of the current location of the user and the destination, and a travel route prediction means An uncommunicable area determining unit that determines an incommunicable area on the moving route based on a comparison result of the movable path and the communicable area map stored in the communicable area map storage unit, Map information acquisition means for acquiring map information corresponding to an incommunicable area on the moving route before the wireless communication means reaches the incommunicable area; Map information storage means for storing corresponding map information, display means for displaying navigation information based on a communication result by the wireless communication means in the previous term, and the map when the wireless communication means enters the incommunicable area Display control means for displaying the map information stored in the information storage means on the display means.

As a result, even when the mobile terminal enters the incommunicable area, the increase in the storage capacity is suppressed,
It is possible to display the electronic map data of the incommunicable area, and it is possible to always present accurate navigation information without impairing the portability of the navigation device. Further, according to the map information display method of claim 13, a movement route is determined based on the step of inputting a destination, the step of measuring one's current location, the measurement result of the one's current location and the destination. Predicting step, determining a wireless communication impossible area on the moving route, and obtaining map information corresponding to the wireless communication impossible area on the moving route before reaching the wireless communication impossible area And a step of storing map information corresponding to the wireless communication impossible area, and a step of displaying the stored map information when the wireless communication impossible area is entered. To do.

As a result, before the mobile terminal goes out of the communicable area, the necessary electronic map can be surely taken in while preventing the unnecessary electronic map from being taken in, and the mobile terminal enters the incommunicable area. Even in such a case, it is possible to accurately display the electronic map data of the impossible area while suppressing an increase in storage capacity and suppressing communication cost. Further, according to the map information distribution method of claim 14, a step of wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal, a step of acquiring current location information of the mobile terminal based on the wireless communication result, and a current location of the mobile terminal. A step of predicting a movement route of the mobile terminal based on information; a step of determining an incommunicable area on the movement route of the mobile terminal; and map information corresponding to the incommunicable area of the mobile terminal, Delivering to a mobile terminal.

As a result, the electronic map data of the incommunicable area can be distributed to the mobile terminal, and the communicable area map is stored in the mobile terminal in order to store the map data corresponding to the incommunicable area in the mobile terminal in advance. Since it is not necessary to store the data on the mobile terminal side, an accurate electronic map can be constantly displayed on the mobile terminal side while further suppressing an increase in the storage capacity on the mobile terminal side.

According to the electronic map data of the fifteenth aspect, the road list to which the communicable identification information is added corresponding to each node position on the road and the latitude and longitude corresponding to the node position are registered. And a node table. This makes it possible to easily create a coverage map by adding the coverage identification information to the road list, and it is possible to easily determine whether or not the mobile terminal is outside the coverage area. Become.

According to the electronic map data of claim 16, the communicable identification information includes information indicating a communicable area, information indicating an incommunicable area, and a communicable area in contact with the incommunicable area. It is characterized by comprising the information shown. Thus, by comparing the current location of the mobile terminal with the electronic map data, it is possible to easily determine the start point of importing the electronic map data, and even when the destination of the mobile terminal is not set, unnecessary electronic It is possible to prevent the capture of map data, to effectively use the storage capacity of the mobile terminal, and to reduce the communication cost.

According to the map information display program of claim 17, the step of acquiring the destination of the mobile terminal, the step of acquiring the current location of the mobile terminal, and the acquisition result of the current location and the destination are included. A step of predicting a movement route of the mobile terminal, a step of determining a wireless communication impossible region on the movement route, and a wireless communication on the movement route before reaching the wireless communication impossible region. Causing a computer to execute a step of acquiring map information corresponding to an impossible area, and a step of displaying the acquired map information before reaching the wireless communication impossible area when the area enters the wireless communication impossible area Is characterized by.

Thus, by installing the map information display program in the mobile terminal, even when the mobile terminal enters the incommunicable area, the electronic map data in the incommunicable area is suppressed while suppressing an increase in storage capacity. Can be displayed, and an accurate electronic map can be always displayed without changing the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal.

Further, according to the map information distribution program of claim 18, a step of acquiring the current location information of the mobile terminal, and a step of predicting a travel route of the mobile terminal based on the current location information of the mobile terminal. A step of determining an incommunicable area on a moving route of the mobile terminal,
Distributing map information corresponding to the incommunicable area of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal, and causing the computer to execute.

Accordingly, by installing the map information distribution program on the base station side, the base station side determines the incommunicable area on the moving route of the mobile terminal and moves the electronic map data in the incommunicable area. Since it is possible to deliver to the terminal and it is not necessary to store the coverage map on the mobile terminal side, an accurate electronic map can be constantly maintained on the mobile terminal side while further suppressing the increase in storage capacity on the mobile terminal side. It becomes possible to display.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a base station according to an embodiment of the present invention. is there.

In FIG. 1A, the information terminal includes an auxiliary storage device 1, a central processing unit 3, a main storage device 4, a wireless communication device 5, a position measuring device 6, a display device 7 and an input device 8.
The central processing unit 3 controls the auxiliary storage device 1, the main storage device 4, the wireless communication device 5, the position measuring device 6, the display device 7, and the input device 8. Here, the electronic map 2 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, and in the auxiliary storage device 1,
For example, a rewritable storage medium such as a flash memory or a magnetic disk can be used.

The electronic map 2 is provided with a communicable area map 2a, a main map 2b and a detailed map 2c,
In the communicable area map 2a, for example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the wireless communication device 5 around the current location of the information terminal is displayed.
2A, the trunk map 2b records trunk information such as national roads and major prefectural roads around the current location of the information terminal, and the detailed map 2c, for example, as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in Fig. 2 (c), in addition to main road information such as national roads and major prefectural roads around the current location of the information terminal, buildings, parks, rivers, names of these, map symbols, etc. Detailed information is recorded.

Here, the electronic map 2 is 1/12500,
It is divided into longitude widths and latitude widths according to the scale level such as 1/25000, 1/50000, 1/100000, etc., and roads, buildings, parks, rivers, etc. are the coordinates of nodes expressed in longitude and latitude. It is stored as a set.
A road is composed of two or more nodes connected to each other.
The part that connects two nodes is called a link.

The electronic map 2 includes (1) road list,
Road layer consisting of node table, intersection node list, etc., (2) Background layer that displays roads, buildings, facilities, parks, rivers, etc. on the map surface, (3) Administrative division name such as municipality name, road name , Character names such as intersection names and building names, and a character / symbol layer that displays map symbols.

Further, the communicable area map 2a is divided into a communicable area C1, a boundary area C2 and an incommunicable area C3. The communicable area C1 is an area in which the information terminal can communicate, and the boundary area C2 is in a communication area. The communicable area, which is in contact with the impossible area C3, and the incommunicable area C3 are areas in which the information terminal cannot communicate. Here, the boundary area C2 is an area for receiving the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 before the information terminal enters the incommunicable area C3.

Therefore, the boundary area C2 is a detailed map 2c of the current moving speed of the information terminal and the incommunicable area C3.
A sufficient width for receiving the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 is set for the data amount of. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a road layer of electronic map data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, in the road list RL, the road type, the total number of nodes forming the road, the positions of the nodes forming the road on the node table NT, the width to the next node, and the like are included in each road. It is recorded for each. Further, in the road list RL, communicable identification information for identifying the communicable area C1, the boundary area C2, and the incommunicable area C3 is recorded as additional information for each node of each road. Further, as additional information, communication status data in which the quality of the communication status is numerically indicated can be recorded for each node.

Here, the communication state data can be a large value as the communication state is better, and can be a negative value when communication is not possible. Further, in the intersection node list NL,
A set of positions on the node table NT of the other end node of the link connected to each intersection is recorded for each intersection on the map. A list of all nodes on the map is recorded in the node table NT, and longitude / latitude information, an intersection identification flag indicating whether each node is an intersection, and which road on the road list RL a node that is not an intersection belongs to. It is composed of a pointer and the like.

Here, the auxiliary storage device 1 always stores the communicable area map 2a and the main road map 2b, and in order to suppress the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1, the detailed map 2c having a large amount of data is necessary. Stored accordingly. Further, in FIG. 1, the main storage device 4 stores programs and data for operating the central processing unit 3, and as the main storage device 4, for example, a RAM can be used.

The wireless communication device 5 performs wireless communication with the base station, and for example, a mobile phone network, a PHS network, a satellite communication network or the like can be used. Further, the position measuring device 6 measures the current position of the information terminal, and as the position measuring device 6, for example, in addition to GPS, an autonomous navigation sensor such as an angle sensor or a distance sensor can be used.

The display device 7 displays the electronic map 2 or the like. As the display device 7, for example, a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device can be used. The input device 8 operates the information terminal, and as the input device 8, for example, a touch panel or a button can be used.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1B, the base station is
Auxiliary storage device 11, central processing unit 13, main storage device 14
And the wireless communication device 15 is provided, and the central processing unit 13
Controls the auxiliary storage device 11, the main storage device 14, and the wireless communication device 15. Here, in the auxiliary storage device 11,
The electronic map 12 is stored, and in the auxiliary storage device 11, for example, a rewritable storage medium such as a flash memory or a magnetic disk, and the base station does not require portability of the auxiliary storage device 11. And DVD-R
A mass storage medium such as OM can also be used.

The electronic map 12 is provided with a communicable area map 12a, a main line map 12b and a detailed map 12c, and the communicable area map 12a records the communicable area of the wireless communication device 15 around the base station. The main map 12b records main road information such as national roads and major prefectural roads around the base station, and the detailed map 12c includes
In addition to the main road information such as national roads and major prefectural roads around the base station, more detailed information such as buildings, parks, rivers, their names, and map symbols are recorded.

Further, the main memory 14 is the central processing unit 1.
The main storage device 14 may be, for example, a RAM, which stores a program or data for operating the storage device 3. The wireless communication device 15 performs wireless communication with the information terminal, and includes, for example, a mobile phone network and a PHS.
A network, a satellite communication network or the like can be used.

Here, the central processing unit 3 provided in the information terminal acquires the current location of the information terminal via the position measuring device 6. Then, when the current location of the information terminal is compared with the communicable area map 2a and it is predicted that the information terminal will pass through the incommunicable area C3 in the future, before the information terminal approaches the incommunicable area C3, The detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 is received in advance from the base station, and the received detailed map 2c is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1.

When the information terminal approaches the incommunicable area C3 and communication between the information terminal and the base station becomes impossible, the information terminal is incommunicable area C3 stored in the auxiliary storage device 1. The detailed map 2c of is displayed on the display device 7. As a result, even when the information terminal enters the incommunicable area C3, it is possible to display the detailed map 2c of the current location of the information terminal while suppressing an increase in the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1. It is possible to display a detailed electronic map at all times without sacrificing portability.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the map display operation of the information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4
In, the central processing unit 3 acquires the current position measured by the position measuring device 6 (step S1). And
The detailed map 2c around the current location of the information terminal is the auxiliary storage device 1
If it is stored in (step S2), the detailed map 2c is displayed on the display device 7 (step S3).

On the other hand, a detailed map 2 around the current location of the information terminal
When c is not stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the central processing unit 3 determines whether communication with the base station is possible (step S4). When the information terminal can communicate with the base station, the detailed map 2c is received from the base station (step S
5) The detailed map 2c received from the base station is displayed on the display device 7 (step S3).

On the other hand, when the information terminal cannot communicate with the base station, the central processing unit 3 determines whether or not the main map 2b around the current location of the information terminal is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 (step S6). If the main map 2b around the current location of the information terminal is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the main map 2b is displayed on the display device 7 (step S7), and the main map 2b around the current location of the information terminal is supplemented. If it is not stored in the storage device 1, an error is displayed on the display device 7 (step S8).

Here, the central processing unit 3 reads the communicable area map 2a from the auxiliary storage device 1 when judging whether or not the information terminal can communicate with the base station, and the current location of the information terminal is the boundary area C2. It can be determined whether it exists. Then, when the current location of the information terminal is in the boundary area C2, the information terminal previously receives the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 from the base station and stores the received detailed map 2c in the auxiliary storage device 1. be able to.

FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram showing a display example of a communicable area map according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (b) is
It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the detailed map acquisition screen which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 5A, when the information terminal approaches from the point A to the point C, the central processing unit 3
Can determine that the information terminal has entered the boundary area C2. Therefore, detailed map 2 from point D to point E
c is previously received from the base station, and the received detailed map 2c
Can be stored in the auxiliary storage device 1.

Here, the detailed map 2 of the incommunicable area C3
When c is received from the base station in advance, if the destination of the information terminal is set to point B, for example, when the information terminal approaches point C from point A, the information terminal Therefore, it can be predicted that the point E will be passed in the future. Therefore, the central processing unit 3 can automatically receive the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E from the base station in advance when the information terminal approaches from the point A to the point C.

Here, it is desirable that the width of the boundary area C2 be set as narrow as possible within the limit that the reception of the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E can be completed before the information terminal approaches the point D. . By setting the width of the boundary area C2 as narrow as possible, it becomes possible to delay the point in time of capturing the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3, and change the moving route of the information terminal before approaching the boundary area C2. In that case, it becomes possible to cancel the reception of the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the unnecessary detailed map 2c from being automatically taken in, improve the accuracy of taking in the detailed map 2c which will be needed in the future, and effectively utilize the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1. And communication costs can be suppressed. Here, by varying the width of the boundary area C2 based on the amount of data of the detailed map 2c and the moving speed of the information terminal, it is possible to obtain the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 without any trouble. The width of the region C2 can be set as narrow as possible.

On the other hand, when it is difficult to predict the future travel route of the information terminal, such as when the destination or the relay point of the information terminal is not set, the central processing unit 3 causes the information terminal to move from the point A to the point C. 5B, a dialog box B1 as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display screen G of the display device 7.
To display. Then, when the user approves the acquisition of the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E, the central processing unit 3 previously receives the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E from the base station, and the received details The map 2c may be stored in the auxiliary storage device 1.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the detailed map 2c determined by the user from being unnecessary, and prevent the detailed map 2c that does not need to be displayed in the future from being stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 and the auxiliary storage. It is possible to effectively use the storage capacity of the device 1 and suppress the communication cost. On the other hand, when the destination or the relay point of the information terminal is set for the purpose of navigation, all the incommunicable areas C3 on the guidance system road presented to the user by the information terminal
The detailed map 2c may be received in advance in a batch and stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 within the range of the allowable storage capacity.

FIG. 6 (a) is a diagram showing a display example of a communicable area map according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (b) is
It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the route selection screen which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 6, when the destination of the information terminal is set to the point B, for example, when the information terminal approaches from the point A to the point C, the information terminal predicts that the information terminal will pass from the point D to the point E in the future. Then, the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E can be automatically received in advance from the base station.

Here, when the information terminal displays the detailed map 2c from the F point to the G point and the detailed map 2c from the F point to the H point, the information terminal displays the detailed map from the F point to the G point in response to the user's request. The detailed map 2c and the detailed map 2c from the point F to the point H can be received in advance from the base station. On the other hand, when the destination of the information terminal is not set, when the information terminal approaches the point F, it becomes difficult to determine whether to proceed to the point G, the point E, or the point H.

Therefore, the information terminal is within the allowable limit of the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1, and the detailed map 2c from the point D to the point E and the detailed maps 2c and F from the point F to the point G.
The maps in all directions of the detailed map 2c from the point to the point H may be received in advance from the base station and stored in the auxiliary storage device 1. On the other hand, when the auxiliary storage device 1 does not have the storage capacity for storing the maps of all directions, the central processing unit 3 displays the information terminal as shown in FIG. The dialog box B2 as shown is displayed on the display screen G of the display device 7.

When the dialog box B2 is displayed on the display screen G of the display device 7, the central processing unit 3
It is possible to receive in advance from the detailed map 2c base station of one or a plurality of routes selected on the dialog box B2 and store the received detailed map 2c in the auxiliary storage device 1. Thus, even when it is difficult to predict the route of the information terminal, the detailed map 2c that does not need to be displayed in the future is prevented from being stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 and the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1 is effectively used. And communication costs can be suppressed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the route prediction operation of the information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7
In, the central processing unit 3 acquires the current position measured by the position measuring device 6 (step S11). next,
The central processing unit 3 reads the communicable area map 2a stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 and compares the current location of the information terminal with the communicable area map 2a (step S12), so that the information terminal can communicate with the communicable area C1. To boundary area C
It is determined whether to enter 2 (step S13).

When the information terminal enters the border area C2 from the communicable area C1, the current moving speed of the information terminal is compared with the set value (step S14). Then, when the current moving speed of the information terminal is significantly slower than the set value, the boundary area C2 is temporarily reduced and reset (step S1).
5) Then, it is determined again whether the information terminal enters the boundary area C2 from the communicable area C1 (step S13).

For example, the maximum moving speed of the information terminal is 100
When the width of the boundary area C2 is set on the assumption that the information terminal is the km / h, the maximum moving speed of the information terminal in the past 10 minutes is assumed to be 10 km / h. In this case, the information terminal is predicted to continue moving at a maximum moving speed of 10 km / h, and the time from when the information terminal enters the boundary area C2 to when it reaches the uncommunicable area C3 is delayed.

As a result, the maximum moving speed of the information terminal is 10
In the case of km / h, the detailed map 2 of the incommunicable area C3
Incommunicable area C even if the start time of capturing c is delayed
It is possible to make the time when the acquisition of the detailed map 2c of No. 3 is completed sufficiently in time for the information terminal to reach the incommunicable area C3. Therefore, when the current moving speed of the information terminal is significantly slower than the set value, the incommunicable area C3 is reset by resetting the width of the boundary area C2 on the assumption of the current maximum moving speed of the information terminal. It is possible to delay the start point of time when the detailed map 2c of FIG.

Therefore, when predicting the route of the information terminal and fetching the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3, the accuracy of forecasting the route of the information terminal can be improved, and the unnecessary detailed map 2c can be fetched. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1 and to suppress the communication cost. On the other hand, if the current moving speed of the information terminal is not significantly slower than the set value, it is determined whether or not the destination of the information terminal is set (step S16).

When the destination of the information terminal is set, it is judged whether or not the detailed map 2c is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 (step S17), and the detailed map 2c is determined.
If is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the detailed map 2c stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 is displayed on the display device 7 (step S18). On the other hand, when the detailed map 2c is not stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the detailed map 2c is received from the base station (step S19), and the detailed map 2c received from the base station is displayed on the display device 7 (step S1).
8).

Further, when the destination of the information terminal is not set in step S16, it is determined whether or not there is a branch between the current location of the information terminal and the next communicable area C1 (step S20), If there is no branch between the current location of the terminal and the next communicable area C1, it is determined that the information terminal follows the current path as it is, and step S1
7, the process determines whether the detailed map 2c corresponding to the route is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 (step S17). When the detailed map 2c corresponding to the route is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the auxiliary storage device 1
The detailed map 2c stored in is displayed on the display device 7 (step S18).

On the other hand, the detailed map 2c corresponding to the current course
Is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the detailed map 2c is received from the base station (step S19), and the detailed map 2c received from the base station is displayed on the display device 7 (step S18). On the other hand, in step S20,
When there is a branch between the current location of the information terminal and the next communicable area C1, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, options corresponding to the branch are displayed on the display device 7 (step S21). .

Then, when the user selects the route displayed on the display device 7 (step S22), step S17
Then, it is determined whether the detailed map 2c corresponding to the route selected by the user is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 (step S17). If the detailed map 2c is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1, the auxiliary The detailed map 2c stored in the storage device 1 is displayed on the display device 7 (step S18).

On the other hand, when the detailed map 2c corresponding to the route selected by the user is not stored in the auxiliary storage device 11, the detailed map 2c is received from the base station (step S19), and the details received from the base station. The map 2c is displayed on the display device 7 (step S18). FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method of updating a communicable area map of an information terminal according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 8, the central processing unit 3 determines whether or not to learn the current position of the information terminal (step S31). The measured current location is acquired (step S32). Next, the central processing unit 3
Acquires the communication state data measured by the wireless communication device 5 (step S33), and updates the communication state data corresponding to the current location of the information terminal in the communicable area map 2a stored in the auxiliary storage device 1. Yes (step S3
4).

Next, the central processing unit 3 determines whether the updated communication status data of the current location is larger than the threshold value (step S35), and the updated communication status data of the current location is larger than the threshold value. In case of communication area map 2
The current location of a is set to the communicable area C1 (step S
36). On the other hand, when the updated communication status data of the current location is equal to or less than the threshold value, the central processing unit 3 sets the current location of the communicable area map 2a as the incommunicable area C3 (step S37).

For example, when updating the communicable area map 2a, the central processing unit 3 reads the communication state data of the point corresponding to the current location of the communicable area map 2a stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 and performs wireless communication. The current communication state data measured by the device 5 is added. Then, when the added value of the communication state data is larger than the threshold value,
It is determined that communication is possible, and if the added value of the communication status data is less than or equal to the threshold value, it is determined that communication is impossible.

Then, with the movement of the information terminal, such processing is sequentially performed at each point on the communicable area map 2a, so that the communicable area C1 and the communicable area C3 of the communicable area map 2a are It can be updated for each information terminal. When the communicable area C1 and the communicable area C3 of the communicable area map 2a are updated,
The boundary area C2 of the communicable area map 2a can also be updated.

That is, when it is determined in step S31 that the current position of the information terminal is not learned, the central processing unit 3 sets the maximum moving speed of the information terminal (step S38). Here, as the maximum moving speed Vmax of the information terminal, the data received from the base station or the past maximum speed measured by the position measuring device 6 can be used.

Next, the central processing unit 3 is connected to the wireless communication unit 5
Of the map data of the incommunicable area C3 is calculated (step S4).
0). Then, the boundary area C2 is calculated based on the maximum moving speed of the information terminal and the map data amount of the incommunicable area C3, and the boundary area C2 is reflected in the communicable area map 2a (step S41).

For example, if the maximum moving speed of the information terminal is Vma
x, the data communication speed of the wireless communication device 5 is Rd, the data amount of the map data is Vd, the width of the boundary area C2 is L, and the safety factor is P, the width L of the boundary area C2 is L = P · Vmax · It can be determined by Vd / Rd.

When the number of measurements is small and the reliability of the data is low, the safety factor P is increased and the number of measurements is increased.
The higher the reliability of the data, the lower the safety factor P can be. In this way, by updating the communicable area map 2a based on the communication state of the point where the information terminal actually passed, it is possible to create the communicable area map 2a unique to the own information terminal. The accuracy of the feasible area map 2a can be improved.

Therefore, the accuracy in receiving the map data of the incommunicable area C3 can be improved, and even when the mobile terminal goes out of the communicable area, the storage capacity is suppressed from increasing, It becomes possible to display an accurate electronic map. In the embodiment described above, the information terminal wirelessly communicates with the base station to receive the electronic map data from the base station. However, the information terminal is connected to a network such as the Internet via the base station. You may make it connect and acquire electronic map data from the server etc. which were connected to the network.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the information terminal has explained the method of previously receiving the electronic map data of the incommunicable area C3. However, the position dependent information such as the advertisement or the guide information of the incommunicable area C3 is described. It may be received in advance. In the above-described embodiment, the information terminal determines whether or not the information terminal is in the incommunicable area C3. When the information terminal is in the incommunicable area C3, the information terminal itself cannot communicate. Although the method of fetching the detailed map 2c of the area C3 from the base station has been described, the current location, the moving speed, the destination, etc. of the information terminal are transmitted to the base station to determine whether the information terminal enters the incommunicable area C3. The determination may be made on the side.

When the base station determines that the information terminal enters the incommunicable area C3, the base station delivers the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 to the information terminal, and the information terminal When the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 is delivered from the base station, the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 may be stored in the auxiliary storage device 1. Accordingly, in order to store the detailed map 2c of the incommunicable area C3 in the auxiliary storage device 1, it is not necessary for the information terminal side to determine whether or not the information terminal enters the incommunicable area C3. Since it is not necessary to hold 2a on the information terminal side, the storage capacity of the auxiliary storage device 1 can be reduced.

[0090]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By capturing the electronic map data of the incommunicable area in the mobile terminal while the mobile terminal is in the communicable state, even when the mobile terminal enters the incommunicable area, the electronic map of the incommunicable area is acquired. Data can be retrieved, and an accurate electronic map can always be displayed without impairing the portability of the mobile terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) shows a schematic configuration of a base station according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram shown.

FIG. 2 (a) is a diagram showing a display example of a main road map according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a first example of the present invention.
The figure which shows the example of a display of the detailed map which concerns on embodiment, FIG.2 (c).
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a communicable area map according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a map display operation of the information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram showing a display example of a communicable area map according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (b) is a detailed map acquisition according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a screen.

6A is a diagram showing a display example of a communicable area map according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a route selection screen according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a route prediction operation of the information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a method of updating a communicable area map of an information terminal according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11 Auxiliary storage device 2,12 Electronic map 2a, 2a ', 2a' ', 12a communication area map 2b, 12b Main line map 2c, 12c Detailed map 3, 13 Central processing unit 4,14 Main memory 5, 15 Wireless communication device 6 Position measuring device 7 Display 8 input devices C1 communicable area C2 border area C3 Incommunicable area RL road list NT node table NL intersection node list G display screen B1, B2 dialog box

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C032 HB22 HB25 HC08 HC14 HD03                 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB13 AC02                       AC04 AC08 AC13 AC14                 5H180 AA01 BB05 BB13 FF04 FF05                       FF13 FF22 FF27 FF33                 5K067 BB04 BB36 EE02 EE10 EE23                       FF03 FF17 FF23 HH22 HH23                       JJ52 JJ56

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication, an incommunicable area determination unit for determining an incommunicable area of the wireless communication unit, and a position dependency for acquiring position dependency information corresponding to the incommunicable area. An information processing apparatus, comprising: an information acquisition unit; and a position-dependent information storage unit that stores position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area. 2. A position measuring means for measuring one's current position, and a moving route predicting means for predicting a moving route based on a measurement result of the one's own current position, wherein the position-dependent information acquiring means is the moving route. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area is acquired. 3. A communicable area map storage means for storing a communicable area map in which the communicable area is recorded, wherein the incommunicable area determining means determines the travel route predicted by the travel route predicting means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the incommunicable area on the moving route is determined by comparing the areas on the communicable area map. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a communicable area map updating means for updating the communicable area map based on the measurement result of the communication state of the present location of the self. 5. The moving route selecting means for selecting a moving route is further provided, and the moving route predicting means predicts a moving route based on the selection result. The information processing device according to the item. 6. The position-dependent information acquisition means acquires position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area before the wireless communication means reaches the incommunicable area. 5. The information processing device according to any one of 5. 7. A boundary area setting means for setting a communicable boundary area in contact with the incommunicable area, wherein the position-dependent information acquisition means is configured to: when the wireless communication means enters the boundary area, The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area is acquired. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the boundary area setting means sets the width of the boundary area based on the moving speed and the data amount of the incommunicable area. 9. The apparatus further comprises destination input means for inputting a destination, wherein the position-dependent information acquisition means acquires position-dependent information of an incommunicable area on a route from the boundary area to the destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. 10. A wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal, a non-communicable area determination means for determining a non-communicable area of the mobile terminal, and position-dependent information corresponding to the non-communicable area of the mobile terminal. An information distribution device comprising: a position-dependent information distribution unit that distributes the information to the mobile terminal. 11. The present invention further comprises: current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information of the mobile terminal; and travel route prediction means for predicting a travel route of the mobile terminal based on the current position information of the mobile terminal, wherein the position dependent information is provided. The information distribution device according to claim 10, wherein the distribution means distributes the position-dependent information corresponding to the incommunicable area on the movement route to the mobile terminal. 12. A wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, a destination input means for inputting a destination, a position measuring means for measuring one's current location, and a communication area map in which communication areas are recorded are stored. Communicable area map storage means, travel route prediction means for predicting a travel route based on the measurement result of the present location of the user and the destination, the travel route predicted by the travel route prediction means, and the communication possible Based on the result of comparison with the communicable area map stored in the area map storage means, the incommunicable area determining means for determining the incommunicable area on the moving route, and the wireless communication means A map information acquisition unit that acquires map information corresponding to an incommunicable area on the travel route before reaching a possible area, and a place that stores map information corresponding to the incommunicable area. And information storage means, based on the communication result of the previous term wireless communication means, display means for displaying navigation information, when the wireless communication unit has entered the communication impossible area,
A navigation device, comprising: a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the map information stored in the map information storage unit. 13. A step of inputting a destination, a step of measuring a current location of the self, a step of predicting a travel route based on a measurement result of the current location of the self and the destination, A step of determining a wireless communication impossible area, a step of acquiring map information corresponding to the wireless communication impossible area on the moving route before reaching the wireless communication impossible area; A map information display method comprising: a step of storing map information corresponding to the step; and a step of displaying the stored map information when the wireless communication impossible area is entered. 14. A step of wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal, a step of acquiring current location information of the mobile terminal based on a result of the previous period wireless communication, and a movement of the mobile terminal based on current location information of the mobile terminal. A route prediction step; a step of determining an incommunicable area on the moving route of the mobile terminal; and a step of delivering map information corresponding to the incommunicable area of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal. A map information distribution method characterized by. 15. An electronic device comprising: a road list to which communicable identification information is added corresponding to each node position on a road; and a node table in which longitude and latitude corresponding to the node position are registered. Map data. 16. The communicable identification information comprises information indicating a communicable area, information indicating a communicable area, and information indicating a communicable area in contact with the communicable area. The described electronic map data. 17. A step of obtaining a destination of a mobile terminal, a step of obtaining a current location of the mobile terminal, and a step of predicting a movement route of the mobile terminal based on a result of obtaining the current location and the destination. A step of determining a wireless communication impossible area on the moving route; and a step of acquiring map information corresponding to the wireless communication impossible area on the moving route before reaching the wireless communication impossible area. A map information display program for causing a computer to display the map information acquired before reaching the wireless communication impossible area. 18. A step of acquiring current location information of a mobile terminal, a step of predicting a travel route of the mobile terminal based on the current location information of the mobile terminal, and an uncommunicable area on the travel route of the mobile terminal. And a step of delivering the map information corresponding to the incommunicable area of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal, the map information delivery program.