JP2003344078A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus which can reduce a labor hour required for retrieving a facility. <P>SOLUTION: A specific facility retrieving unit 30 included in a navigation controller 1 retrieves one specific facility according to retrieving conditions designated by a user. A peripheral facility retrieving unit 32 retrieves a peripheral facility existing in a predetermined range of the periphery of this specific facility. A facility information drawing unit 34 draws a facility information image regarding the retrieved peripheral facility. When the specific facility is retrieved, the peripheral facility existing its periphery is simultaneously retrieved, and can be used as a destination or the like of processing a route retrieval. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device that performs a map image display process around a vehicle position and a route search process to a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle-mounted navigation device has a facility search function for searching a specific facility based on a search condition designated by a user, and traveling to a destination or waypoint designated by the user. It has a route search function for searching a route, a route guidance function for guiding a vehicle along the travel route obtained by the route search, and the like.

By using the facility search function described above, the user can search for a desired facility, for example, a tourist facility that he / she wants to visit. In addition, by using the route search function described above, a specific tourist facility obtained by the search is set as the destination, the travel route until reaching this tourist facility is searched, and it is superimposed on the map image on the screen. Can be displayed.

As described above, by using the facility search function, the route search function and the like provided in the conventional navigation device, the burden on the user required for selecting the facility and the traveling road until reaching the facility is greatly increased. Can be reduced to.

[0005]

By the way, when actually visiting a facility searched using the above-mentioned conventional navigation device, the use of the facility may end earlier than planned. For example, when searching for a tourist facility such as an amusement park and actually using it, the number of users was unexpectedly small,
If you can get on all the vehicles in a shorter time than expected, the remaining time will be over. In such a case, go back to the vehicle and operate the navigation device,
Since other tourist facilities existing around this tourist facility are searched, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and effort to search for the facility.

When the facility desired to go first is searched, the facilities existing in the vicinity of the facility are also searched at the same time, which can reduce the trouble of returning to the vehicle and operating the navigation device. However, when you search for a facility for the first time, you may think that it is sufficient to search only that facility, so some operation to search for a facility that you probably would not go to at that time If it is necessary to carry out the above, the psychological burden on the user becomes heavy, and it is difficult to actually expect such a usage form.

The present invention was created in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation device capable of reducing the labor required for facility search.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the navigation device of the present invention has a specific facility extracting means for extracting one specific facility according to a specific operation, and a specific facility extracting means for extracting the specific facility. By the peripheral facility search means for searching the peripheral facilities existing in the predetermined range around the specified facility, the facility information drawing means for drawing the facility information on the peripheral facilities searched by the peripheral facility search means, and the facility information drawing means Display processing means for displaying the drawn facility information on a display device. When one specific facility is searched, peripheral facilities existing in the vicinity of this specific facility are searched, and the facility information is displayed. Therefore, when the user searches for a desired specific facility, It is possible to acquire the facility information about the surrounding facilities without performing a special operation, and it is possible to reduce the time and effort required to search for these facilities.

Further, a map image drawing means for drawing a map image around the specific facility extracted by the above-mentioned specific facility extracting means is further provided, and the display processing means includes the facility on the map image drawn by the map image drawing means. It is desirable to superimpose and display the facility information drawn by the information drawing means. By displaying the facility information overlaid on the map image around the specific facility, it is possible to know the geographical characteristics around the specific facility together with the facility information of the surrounding facility, so it can be used as a reference when planning in advance. Will be able to.

Further, a route search process in which the specific facility extracted by the above-mentioned specific facility extraction means is set as a destination and an optimum traveling route between a predetermined departure place and this destination is obtained by the route search process. It is desirable to further include means. This makes it possible to obtain facility information of surrounding facilities at the same time when operating the navigation device by combining search of specific facilities and route search, and return to the vehicle again when actually using the specific facilities. The operation to search for peripheral facilities becomes unnecessary.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned route search processing means obtains a travel route including both the specific facility and the peripheral facility by the route search process. As a result, not only the labor required for searching these facilities but also the labor required for route search with these facilities as destinations or transit points can be reduced.

[0012] Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned facility information includes information regarding the available time range of the peripheral facilities. With this, it is possible to know whether or not the peripheral facility is actually available without looking at the facility information and performing a special operation. Also, in the above-mentioned facility information, the specific facility and the peripheral facility can be identified. It is desirable to include information indicating the positional relationship between them.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned peripheral facility search means sets the classification type to be searched based on the classification type to which the specific facility belongs and searches the peripheral facilities. As a result, it is possible to set peripheral facilities that belong to the same classification type as the specific facility or that are related to the specific classification, and search for peripheral facilities that the user actually wants to visit. .

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned peripheral facility search means selects only available peripheral facilities from the peripheral facilities existing around the specific facility. This makes it possible to exclude unnecessary facility information and provide only facility information useful to the user. Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned peripheral facility search means selects a predetermined number of peripheral facilities according to a predetermined priority when the number of peripheral facilities obtained by the search by the peripheral facility search means is larger than the predetermined number. As a result, it is possible to select only the facility information about the peripheral facility having a high priority, and it is possible to provide the facility information having a high degree of usefulness to the user.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned priorities are in the order of being closer to the specific facility. With this, it is possible to provide facility information of the peripheral facility that is easy for the user to use.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A vehicle-mounted navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment. The navigation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation controller 1, a DVD 2,
The disk reader 3, a remote control (remote control) unit 4, a vehicle position detector 5, a display device 6, and an audio unit 7 are included.

The navigation controller 1 controls the overall operation of the navigation device. The navigation controller 1 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
The function is realized by executing a predetermined operation program using M or the like. The detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described later.

The DVD 2 is an information recording medium in which map data required for map display, facility search, route search, etc. is stored. The DVD 2 stores map data in units of rectangular-shaped map leaves divided into appropriate sizes by longitude and latitude. The map data of each leaf can be specified and read by designating the leaf number.

The disc reading device 3 can be loaded with one or a plurality of DVDs 2 and reads map data from any of the DVDs 2 under the control of the navigation controller 1. The loaded disc does not necessarily have to be a DVD, but may be a CD. Also, D
Both VD and CD may be selectively loadable.

The remote control unit 4 is provided with a joystick for designating directions such as up, down, left and right, and various operation keys such as a numeric keypad for inputting numbers and a "decision key" for confirming various settings. To the navigation controller 1.

The vehicle position detecting section 5 is equipped with, for example, a GPS receiver, an azimuth sensor, a distance sensor, etc., detects the vehicle position (longitude, latitude) at a predetermined timing, and outputs the detection result. The display device 6 displays various images such as a map image around the position of the own vehicle and a search result of peripheral facilities based on the drawing data output from the navigation controller 1. The audio unit 7 outputs a guidance voice or the like generated based on the voice signal input from the navigation controller 1 into the vehicle interior.

Next, the detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described. The navigation controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a map buffer 10 and a map reading control unit 1.
2, map drawing unit 14, vehicle position calculation unit 20, route search processing unit 22, guide route drawing unit 24, voice guidance unit 26, specific facility search unit 30, peripheral facility search unit 32, facility information drawing unit 34, input processing It is configured to include a unit 40 and a display processing unit 50.

The map buffer 10 is a disk reader 3
The map data read from the DVD 2 is temporarily stored by the. The map reading control unit 12 includes the vehicle position calculation unit 2
According to the vehicle position calculated by 0 and an instruction from the input processing unit 40, a read request for map data in a predetermined range is output to the disk reading device 3. The map drawing unit 14 performs drawing processing necessary for displaying a map image based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10 to create map image drawing data.

The vehicle position calculation unit 20 includes a vehicle position detection unit 5
The own vehicle position is calculated based on the detection data output from the vehicle, and if the calculated own vehicle position is not on the road in the map data, map matching processing for correcting the own vehicle position is performed. The route search processing unit 22 searches for a travel route (guidance route) that connects a departure place and a destination (or a waypoint) according to a predetermined search condition. Guide route drawing unit 2
4 generates guide route drawing data for displaying the guide route obtained by the search processing by the route search processing unit 22 on the map in an overlapping manner. The voice guidance unit 26 generates a voice signal such as intersection guidance necessary for guiding the vehicle along the guidance route obtained by the search processing by the route search processing unit 22.

The specific facility search unit 30 searches for facilities that satisfy the search conditions specified by the user. This search is performed until one specific facility is finally extracted.
When the specific facility search unit 30 searches for one specific facility, the peripheral facility search unit 32 searches for one or a plurality of peripheral facilities existing in a predetermined range around the specific facility. The facility information drawing unit 34 performs the drawing process necessary to display the facility information regarding the peripheral facilities searched by the peripheral facility searching unit 32 to generate the facility information drawing data.

The input processing section 40 outputs a command for performing an operation corresponding to various operation instructions input from the remote control unit 4, to each section in the navigation controller 1. The map image drawing data generated by the map drawing unit 14 is input to the display processing unit 50, and a map image in a predetermined range is displayed on the screen of the display device 6 based on the drawing data. In addition, the facility information drawing unit 3
When the facility information drawing data generated by No. 4 and the guide route drawing data generated by the guide route drawing unit 24 are input, the display processing unit 50 superimposes these drawing data on the map image and displays the map data on the display device 6. Display on screen.

The above-mentioned specific facility search unit 30 serves as the specific facility search means, and the peripheral facility search unit 32 serves as the peripheral facility search means.
The facility information drawing unit 34 corresponds to the facility information drawing unit, the display processing unit 50 corresponds to the display processing unit, the map drawing unit 14 corresponds to the map image drawing unit, and the route search processing unit 32 corresponds to the route search processing unit.

The navigation device of this embodiment has such a structure, and its operation will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device that performs a route search process using a search result after performing a facility search.

When the user inputs the search condition (step 100), the specific facility search section 30 searches for one specific facility satisfying the search condition (step 10).
1). There are many concrete examples of the search operation for extracting one specific facility. For example, if the user selects the desired classification from the displayed classification types (category of each facility classified in advance, etc.), a list of multiple facilities included in this classification type will be displayed and used from that list. Selects one facility as a specific facility. Also, when there are separate classification types that include leisure facilities, famous places, historic sites, etc. and classification types that include prefecture names, specify multiple classification types at the same time, as in the case of specifying them at the same time. After displaying the list of facilities by narrowing down the applicable facilities, the user selects one facility from the list as a specific facility.
If the name or telephone number of the specific facility to be extracted by the search is known in advance, these input screens are displayed and directly input, and one specific facility corresponding to these name or telephone number is extracted. You may do it.

When one specific facility is extracted, the position of this specific facility is sent to the map reading control unit 12, and the disk reading device 3 outputs the map data necessary for drawing the map image of this specific facility and its surroundings. It is read from the DVD 2 and stored in the map buffer 10. The map drawing unit 14 draws a map image around the specific facility based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10 (step 102).

When one specific facility is extracted, next, the peripheral facility search unit 32 searches for peripheral facilities existing in a predetermined range around the specific facility (step 103). Specifically, the facilities included in a predetermined longitude range and latitude range centering on the specific facility are set as the search target facilities, and peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type as the specific facility are searched. For example, when the specific facility belongs to the classification type “leisure facility”, peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type are searched.

It should be noted that with respect to the search for the peripheral facilities, various modified examples can be considered. For example, in the specific example described above, the regional range of the search target facility is set to a predetermined longitude range and latitude range centered on the specific facility, but it may be set within a certain distance range centered on the specific facility or It is conceivable that the range within which the vehicle can travel within a predetermined time is set, or the peripheral facilities close to the specific facility are sequentially selected and the region where the number of peripheral facilities reaches the predetermined number is set as the regional search range.

Further, although peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type as the specific facility are searched, facilities belonging to the same and similar classification types may be searched.
For example, when a specific facility belongs to the classification type “leisure facility”, the search range of peripheral facilities is expanded not only to the classification type “leisure facility” but also to the classification type “famous place / historic site” similar to this. Good.

Even when the peripheral facilities are searched by narrowing down the regional range, classification type, etc., a large number of peripheral facilities may be obtained by the search. In this case, further conditions may be set to reduce the number of peripheral facilities. For example, when the map data includes information on the available dates and times of each facility, only the available peripheral facilities may be extracted in consideration of the closed days and opening hours of each facility. Further, when the priority order is set in the classification type and other conditions, a predetermined number of peripheral facilities may be extracted in descending order of the priority order. Alternatively, a predetermined number of peripheral facilities may be simply extracted in ascending order of distance or time (required time for driving a vehicle) from a specific facility, that is, in ascending order.

When the search for one or a plurality of specific facilities is completed in this way, the facility information drawing unit 34 then
A facility information image regarding each peripheral facility extracted by the search is drawn (step 104). This facility information image includes “name” of the peripheral facility, “appearance image” of the peripheral facility taken by a camera, “usable time” indicating a time range in which the peripheral facility can be used, and the like.

Next, the display processing unit 50 causes the step 102.
The facility information image drawn in step 104 is superimposed and displayed on the map image around the specific facility drawn in (step 105). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific display example in which the facility information image is superimposed on the map image. For example,
When a facility in Nikko city is searched as a specific facility, four peripheral facilities existing around the facility are extracted, and facility information images regarding the respective peripheral facilities are created and displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, in each facility information image, a “name” together with “appearance image” of each peripheral facility
And "Available time" are included.

Next, the route search processing unit 22 determines whether or not the searched specific facility or peripheral facility is set as the destination of the route search (step 106). A negative decision is made if these facilities are not set as the destination. In this case, the specific facility search unit 30 determines whether or not to continue searching for another specific facility (step 107), and if the user instructs to continue, a positive determination is made. Then, the process returns to step 100 described above, and the processing after the search condition input is repeated. Further, when the user instructs not to continue the search, a negative determination is made, and the series of processing regarding the facility search ends.

If the user gives an instruction to set the searched specific facility or peripheral facility as the destination for the route search, an affirmative determination is made in step 106, and then the route search processing unit. 22 determines whether or not to set the searched specific facility or peripheral facility as a transit point (step 108). When the waypoint is not set, a negative determination is made, and the route search processing unit 22 sets the specific facility as the destination (step 109). Further, when the user gives an instruction to set the specific facility or the peripheral facility as the waypoint, an affirmative determination is made in the determination of step 108, and the route search processing unit 22 causes the specific facility and the peripheral facility to search for the route. It is set as a destination and a waypoint (step 110).

It should be noted that it is possible to arbitrarily set which of the searched specific facilities and the peripheral facilities is set as the destination and which of the other facilities is set as the transit point according to the operation of the user. Is desirable. For example, the map image displayed on the screen of the display device 6 includes the location of the specific facility (the flag in the center of the screen in the example shown in FIG. 3) and the facility information of each peripheral facility. If two or more can be selected by the user's operation, the waypoint and the destination are set in this selection order. Alternatively, a list of specific facilities and peripheral facilities may be displayed on the screen, and whether each facility is set as a destination or a waypoint may be arbitrarily designated.

When the setting of the destination or the setting of the destination and the waypoint is completed in this way, next, the route search processing unit 22 sets the vehicle position at that time as the starting point to reach this destination. A route search process for setting a different travel route as a guide route is performed (step 111). After that, the guide route drawn by the guide route drawing unit 24 is displayed on the map image in an overlapping manner, and a route guide operation for instructing a branch intersection or the like by voice is started as necessary (step 112).

As described above, in the navigation device of this embodiment, when one specific facility is searched, the peripheral facilities existing in the vicinity of this specific facility are searched and the facility information is displayed. When performing a search for a desired specific facility, the user can acquire facility information about the surrounding facility without performing a special operation, and can reduce the time and effort required for searching for these facilities. Also, by displaying the facility information by overlaying it on the map image around the specific facility, it is possible to know the geographical characteristics around the specific facility as well as the facility information of the surrounding facilities. Will be able to.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment described above,
Although the facility information image displayed on the map image includes the appearance image of the peripheral facility, the name, and the available time, which information is included can be appropriately changed. For example, when the appearance image is not prepared for all the peripheral facilities, the appearance image may be omitted for this peripheral facility. In addition, in order to easily select the facility that is easy for the user to use from the searched multiple peripheral facilities, the time required to go from the specific facility to each peripheral facility, the maximum number of people that each peripheral facility can accommodate, etc. The various types of information may be included in the facility information. In addition, information indicating the positional relationship between the specific facility and the peripheral facility, for example, an arrow whose direction is set from each peripheral facility toward the specific facility, and a linear distance between them are included in the facility information. You may do it.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the peripheral facilities are searched and the facility information is displayed before the route search processing is performed, but the facility information is stored in the memory or the hard disk device built in the navigation device. Then, when it arrives at a specific facility (or a peripheral facility) as a destination, it may be read again and displayed on the screen.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a specific facility is searched, peripheral facilities existing around the specific facility are searched and the facility information is displayed. The user can acquire the facility information about the surrounding facilities without performing a special operation when searching for a desired specific facility, and can reduce the time and effort required for searching for these facilities.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a navigation device that performs a route search process using a search result after performing a facility search.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific display example in which a facility information image is superimposed on a map image.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Navigation controller 2 DVD 3 disk reader 4 Remote control unit 5 Vehicle position detector 6 Display device 7 Audio section 10 map buffer 12 Map read control unit 14 Map drawing section 20 Vehicle position calculator 22 Route search processor 24 Guide route drawing section 30 Specific facility search section 32 Peripheral facility search section 34 Facility information drawing unit 40 Input processing unit 50 Display processing unit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G08G 1/0969 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/00 G09B 29/00 A 29/10 29/10 AF term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB15 HB22 HC08 HC15 HC23 HC26 HC31 HD07 HD16 HD30 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AC01 AC02 AC04 AC18 AD01 5B075 ND06 PP10 PP12 PP22 PQ02 PQ32 UU13 5H180 AA01 BB13 FF04 FF05 FF07 FF22 FF25 FFFF

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A specific facility extracting means for extracting one specific facility according to a specific operation, and a periphery for searching for peripheral facilities existing in a predetermined range around the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extracting means. Facility search means, facility information drawing means for drawing facility information on the peripheral facilities searched by the peripheral facility search means, and display processing means for displaying the facility information drawn by the facility information drawing means on a display device. A navigation device comprising: 2. The map image drawing unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a map image drawing unit that draws a map image of the periphery of the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extracting unit, wherein the display processing unit includes the map image drawing unit. A navigation device, wherein the facility information drawn by the facility information drawing means is displayed in an overlapping manner on the drawn map image. 3. The optimum traveling route between a predetermined departure place and this destination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extracting means is set as a destination. A navigation device further comprising a route search processing means obtained by a search process. 4. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the route search processing means obtains a travel route including both the specific facility and the peripheral facility by a route search process. 5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the facility information includes information regarding a usable time range of the peripheral facility. 6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the facility information includes information indicating a positional relationship between the specific facility and the peripheral facility. 7. The peripheral facility search means according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral facility search means sets a classification type to be searched based on a classification type to which the specific facility belongs and searches for the peripheral facility. Navigation device. 8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral facility search means selects only available peripheral facilities from the peripheral facilities existing around the specific facility. apparatus. 9. The peripheral facility search unit according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral facility search unit gives a predetermined priority when the number of the peripheral facilities obtained by the search by the peripheral facility search unit is larger than a predetermined number. Therefore, the navigation device is characterized in that a predetermined number of the peripheral facilities are selected. 10. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein the priorities are in an order closer to the specific facility.