JP2004177316A - Navigation system and navigation method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system and a method therefor, which can improve the display of route guidance at a diverging point such as an intersection point so that a user can easily judge the route to be taken at the diverging point. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system includes a storage means for storing data on a map necessary for the navigation, a vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, a display means for displaying information necessary for the navigation, and a control means for reading out, from the storage means, the data corresponding to the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detection means and for making the display means display the guidance of the route, on the basis of the read out data. When the diverging point such as the intersection point 200 exists on the route, the control means makes the display means display diverging point guidance display 230 reflecting the direction of the route to be shown at the diverging point and the width of the route. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device having a function of guiding a route to a destination and the like, and more particularly, to a navigation device and a method thereof in which a guidance display of a traveling direction at a junction of a road such as an intersection is easily understood.
[0002]
[Prior art]
By detecting the current position of the vehicle, the navigation device reads map data around the vehicle position from a map storage medium such as a DVD or HDD, draws a map on a display screen, and superimposes a vehicle mark on the map. draw. When the current position changes due to the movement of the vehicle, the map is quickly roasted or the vehicle mark on the map is moved in accordance with the change to present the map information around the vehicle position to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.
[0003]
The navigation device has a function of searching for a route to a destination set by a user and guiding the route. The route guidance function uses the map data to search for a low-cost route from the current vehicle position to the destination using the Dijkstra method or the like, and stores the searched route in the memory as guidance route data. While driving, the route is displayed on the display. If a junction such as an intersection exists on the guidance route, guidance on which route (road) should be taken at the junction is displayed before reaching the junction.
[0004]
FIG. 9 shows a display example of route guidance at an intersection. For example, when making a right turn at the next intersection 900, an arrow 910 indicating that the route to be advanced is a right turn is displayed on the display. The arrow 910 is displayed before reaching the intersection, so that the user or the driver can recognize in advance that he will turn right at the next intersection and prepare for a right turn.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the guidance display of a route at a branch point such as an intersection described above merely indicates the direction of the route to be advanced, and does not reflect the width of the route (or road), and is intuitively understood by the user. It may be difficult. For example, if the route requires the user to enter a narrow alley at the next branch point, the driver may lose track of a turn due to the narrowness of the road. Alternatively, when a plurality of roads are adjacent to each other in a turning direction, it may not be possible to instantaneously determine which road to proceed from the guidance display.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, provides a navigation display for improving the route guidance display at a junction such as an intersection, and provides a navigation device and a method thereof that allow a user to easily determine a route to be advanced at the junction. The purpose is to do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A navigation device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores data related to a map required for navigation, a vehicle position detection unit that detects a current position of a vehicle, a display unit that can display information required for navigation, Control means for reading data corresponding to the vehicle position detected by the position detection means from the storage means, and displaying route guidance on the display means based on the read data, wherein the control means comprises: When there is a branch point above, a branch point guidance display reflecting the direction of the route to be guided at the branch point and the width of the route is displayed on the display means. As a result, the user or the operator can easily determine the road to be traveled at the branch point such as the next intersection.
[0008]
Preferably, the branch point guidance display is an arrow representing a relative road width difference between the current route and a route to be guided at the branch point. Preferably, the junction guidance display includes a display indicating a type of the junction. For example, it can be displayed that the junction is an intersection with a traffic light or a T-junction.
[0009]
Preferably, the junction guidance display includes a display indicating the type of route to be guided at the junction. For example, the display includes a line number of a road to be guided, the number of lanes, regulation of the line, and the like. Further, the junction guidance display may include a display indicating the type of the current route. For example, it is a display such as a route number of a road, the number of lanes, and regulation of the route.
[0010]
According to the navigation method of the present invention, when there is a branch point on a route to be guided, a branch point guidance reflecting the direction of the route to be guided at the branch point and the width of the route is displayed. Preferably, the content of the junction guidance display is output in voice in synchronization with the junction guidance display.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation apparatus 1 includes a GPS receiver 11, a self-contained navigation sensor 12, an operation panel 13, an audio input unit 14, a remote control operation unit 15, an input interface 16, a storage unit 17 for storing map data, an audio output unit 18, a speaker. 19, a display control unit 20, a display 21, a program memory 22, a data memory 23, and a control unit 24 for controlling each unit.
[0012]
The GPS receiver 11 receives radio waves from artificial satellites (GPS satellites) and measures the current position and current direction of the vehicle. The self-contained navigation sensor 12 includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a moving distance of the vehicle and an angle for detecting a rotation angle of the vehicle. Output signals of the GPS receiver 11 and the self-contained navigation sensor 12 are supplied to the control unit 24, and the control unit 24 calculates the current position and the heading of the vehicle based on these output signals.
[0013]
The operation panel 13, the voice input unit 14, and the remote control operation unit 15 constitute an input of the navigation device. Through these inputs, the user gives the navigation device various instructions and settings such as searching for a route to the destination and changing settings on the display screen. The operation panel 13 can use, for example, a plurality of operation keys 21 a provided below the display 21. The voice input unit 14 transmits a user's voice input from a voice input microphone (not shown) to the input interface 16, and converts a voice analog signal into a digital signal. The remote control operation unit 15 includes a plurality of input keys, and when the user operates the input keys, transmits the input operation to the input interface 16 via wireless. The input interface 16 is connected to the operation panel 13, the voice input unit 14, and the remote control operation unit 15, and transmits input information input by a user to the control unit 24.
[0014]
The storage unit 17 is a recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a hard disk, and stores data such as a map, a road, an intersection, a pattern for guidance display, an address, a telephone, and a facility required for the navigation device. Preferably, by using a hard disk, large-capacity storage can be realized, and high-speed access and data rewriting can be performed.
[0015]
The audio output unit 18 is connected to the speaker 19 and outputs sound from the speaker 19 under the control of the control unit 24. For example, as information until the destination is reached, a voice prompting attention to the course direction is output before the intersection, or when the user performs an interactive input to the navigation device, To give an instruction about the operation input by voice.
[0016]
The display control unit 20 is connected to the display 21 and displays a map on the display 21 under the control of the control unit 24, or displays a vehicle mark indicating the current position of the vehicle, a route to the destination, a branch such as an intersection on the map. The guidance display at the point, the moving locus of the vehicle, and the like are combined. Further, information on an instruction or operation input by the user from the operation panel 13 or the like is displayed on a map or on another screen. The display control unit 20 preferably includes a VRAM such as a FIFO, and stores data relating to maps, roads, and guidance displays read from the storage unit 17 in the VRAM.
[0017]
The program memory 22 stores various programs executed in the navigation device. For example, a program 22a for searching for a route to a destination, a program 22b for setting, changing, and editing a map or a building drawn on the display 21, or a matching program 22c for correcting a vehicle position on a map, etc. Is stored. The program memory 22 is configured using a memory such as a ROM or a RAM.
[0018]
The data memory 23 stores calculation results processed by the control unit 24 and data 23a relating to the map read from the storage unit 17. For example, when a route search process to a destination is performed by the control unit 24, the guide route data 23b as a search result is stored, or when there is an intersection on the guide route, read from the storage unit 17. The obtained intersection data 23c and the intersection guidance display data 23d at the intersection are stored. As the data memory 23, a DRAM or an SRAM can be used, and a nonvolatile flash memory may be used.
[0019]
The map data stored in the storage unit 17 is in units of figures and leaves separated by predetermined latitude and longitude, and the map data of each figure is assigned a figure number, and a specific figure number is designated by specifying the figure number. The map data of the figure can be read. The map data of each figure includes drawing data necessary for map display, road data necessary for processing such as road marking, map matching, and route searching, and intersection data related to intersections.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows details of the road data. An intersection on a road or a point where a plurality of roads intersect is called a node, and a road connecting the nodes is called a link. The road data 50 includes a node table 60 and a link table 70. The node table 60 stores node records corresponding to all nodes included in the selected figure. As shown in FIG. 2B, node numbers # 1, # 2,... Are assigned to the node records, and each node record includes the following data.
[0021]
Nodes such as normalized longitude / latitude data 61 of the node, an intersection node flag indicating whether or not the node is an intersection node, and an adjacent node flag indicating whether or not the node is at a boundary with another figure leaf Attribute flag 62, if there is a traffic restriction such as right turn prohibition or U-turn prohibition on the link connected to the node, the traffic restriction data 63, and if the node is an intersection node, the corresponding intersection data Data 64 indicating the storage position is included.
[0022]
The link table 70 stores link records corresponding to all links included in the selected figure. As shown in FIG. 2C, the link records are given node numbers # 1, # 2,..., And each link record includes the following data.
[0023]
Link identification data 71 assigned to each link for displaying a searched route, data 72 indicating the distance and width of the link, cost data 73 indicating the time required for passing the link, the actual road corresponding to the link being an expressway, A road type flag 74 indicating whether the road is a national road, a major prefectural road, or a narrow street, attribute data of a road corresponding to the link (for example, data indicating whether there is a tunnel and whether the road is a target road for route search) 75, a link The route number data 76 assigned to the road corresponding to the link, the start point or the end point of the actual road corresponding to the link, the lane data 77 indicating whether the road is a right turn or left turn dedicated lane, and guidance at a junction such as an intersection. It includes branch point guidance display data 78 for guiding and displaying the power direction by an arrow or the like.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the navigation device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and display examples (FIGS. 4 to 8). The operator sets a destination via the operation panel 13 or the remote control operation unit 15 (step S101). The control unit 24 calculates the current position of the vehicle from the output signal from the GPS receiver 11 or the self-contained navigation sensor 12 (step S102), and from the storage unit 17 in accordance with the route search program 22a stored in the program memory 22. A route to the destination is searched based on the read map data 23, and the searched guide route data 23b is stored in the data memory 23 (step S103).
[0025]
The control unit 24 reads map data (drawing data, road data, intersection data, etc.) around the vehicle position from the storage unit 17 based on the current vehicle position (step S104), and stores the read data in the data memory 22. To memorize. The display control unit 20 displays a map, a road, a sign, a route to be guided, and the like around the vehicle on the display 21 based on the data such as the map data 23a and the guide route data 23b stored in the data memory 22 (step S105). )
[0026]
The control unit 24 calculates the vehicle position based on the output signal from the GPS receiver 11 or the like (step S106), and determines whether the vehicle is running (step S107). If the vehicle is running, the control unit 24 starts route guidance from the current vehicle position to the destination based on the guidance route data 23b (step S108).
[0027]
The control unit 24 determines whether or not there is an intersection on the guide route as the vehicle advances (step S109). The determination is made, for example, by referring to the node attribute flag 62 included in the node table 60. When there is an intersection on the path of the vehicle, the corresponding intersection data is read out with reference to the data 64 indicating the storage location of the intersection record in the node table 60. At the same time, branch point guidance data 78 for displaying guidance in the traveling direction at the intersection is read (step S120). Then, when the vehicle position has reached a certain distance before the intersection, the control unit 24 displays the junction guidance (step S121).
[0028]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the display of the junction guidance. FIG. 4A is a display example when turning right at the intersection 200 to a route 220 wider than the current route 210, and FIG. 4B is a display example at a route 240 narrower than the current route 210. It is an example of a display when turning right. When the width of the route 220 to be guided is wider than the current route 210 as shown in FIG. 9A, a right-turn arrow 230 reflecting the width is displayed on the display 21. That is, the arrow 230 includes a portion 231 corresponding to the current road width of the route 210 and a portion 232 corresponding to the current road width of the route 220 to be guided at the intersection.
[0029]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the width of the route 240 to be guided is narrower than the current route 210, a right-turn arrow 250 reflecting the width is displayed on the display 21. The arrow 250 includes a portion 251 corresponding to the width of the current route 210 and a portion 252 corresponding to the width of the route 240 to be guided at the intersection.
[0030]
The branch point guidance display data 78 stored in the storage unit 17 includes right-turn arrows 230 and 250 representing the relative magnitude of the road width as described above, and the relative magnitudes of the relative road widths. Display data such as arrows, etc., which are expressed in a typical manner. The control unit 24 compares the road width between the current route 210 and the route 220 (240) to be guided at the intersection from the link distance / road width data 72 stored in the storage unit 17 or the data memory 22, and from the comparison result. The corresponding branch point guidance display data 78 is selected, and the selected branch branch guidance display data is displayed on the display 21. The branch point guidance display, that is, the right turn arrows 230 and 250 may be displayed together with the display of the intersection, or the display screen on the display 21 may be divided and the intersection and the right turn arrow 230 may be respectively displayed on the divided screens. , 250 may be displayed.
[0031]
Further, when displaying the right-turn arrow 230 (250) on the display 21, the control unit 24 may cause the audio output unit 18 to output the content of the right-turn arrow from the speaker 19. For example, the voice output “turn right at the next intersection. The right turn road is wider (narrower) than the current road width” is performed.
[0032]
Returning to FIG. 3 again, the branch point guidance display ends, and it is determined whether or not the current vehicle has reached the destination (step S110). If the vehicle has reached the destination, the route guidance ends. If the destination has not been reached, the processing routine from step S106 is repeatedly performed.
[0033]
By performing the junction guidance display reflecting the width of the route to be guided at the intersection in this way, the operator can easily determine which direction to proceed at the intersection next.
[0034]
FIG. 5 shows another display example of the junction guidance. An arrow 310 shown in FIG. 5A displays a right-turn arrow 310 on the grid pattern 300 in addition to the relative road width display shown in FIG. By expressing the lanes by the number of grids, the thickness of the road to be turned right can be easily determined. Further, the auxiliary line 311 may be described on the arrow to make it easy to count the number of grids. Further, the distance to the intersection 312 (for example, 200 m) can also be added.
[0035]
Arrows 320 and 330 shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C represent more actual roads. FIG. 7C shows a line 331 indicating the number of lanes. When the resolution of the display 21 is low, the arrow 320 shown in FIG. An arrow 340 shown in FIG. 5D is obtained by adding a display of a lane 341 (hatched portion in the figure) to be turned right in addition to the above expression. The information about the lane of the road and the information of the lane to be turned right can be obtained from the traffic regulation data 63 and the lane data 77, and can be combined with the junction guidance display data 78 and displayed.
[0036]
FIGS. 6A and 6B show three-dimensional display examples of the branch point guidance display. A right-turn arrow 410 shown in FIG. 6A expresses a road to be turned by a three-dimensional arrow, and displays information of an intersection (branch point) on the arrow. In this example, a traffic light 411 exists at the intersection. Further, the arrow includes a type indication of the route. Here, a route number 412 indicating "R180" is displayed. The right-turn arrow 420 in FIG. 6B represents a road that turns right horizontally. Information on the presence / absence of a traffic light and the line number can be obtained from the intersection data stored in the storage unit 17 and the line number data 76 in the link table, and can be combined with the branch point guidance display data 78 and displayed. .
[0037]
FIG. 7A shows a right-turn arrow 430 when entering a narrower road than the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling. Here, the right turn 431 is drawn from the middle of the current traveling road 432, indicating that the intersection is a T-shaped road. FIG. 7B shows an arrow 440 when turning left. FIG. 7C is an example in which a left-turn arrow 450 is displayed in a perspective expression.
[0038]
FIGS. 8A and 8B are display examples when another right-turn road exists adjacent to a road to be turned right at an intersection. As shown in FIG. 8A, when there is a right turn 510 to be guided at the intersection 500 and a right turn 520 adjacent thereto, an arrow 531 reflecting the width of the right turn 510, 520 on the right turn arrow 530. 532 is displayed. Then, the arrow 532 to be guided is distinguished from the other arrows 531 so that the user can easily recognize which route is to be advanced. Here, the arrow 532 is hatched, but the color and contrast may be changed. Further, a mark 533 (“x” mark) that positively indicates that the vehicle is not traveling may be added to the arrow 531. FIG. 8B shows an example in which, on the contrary, the vehicle guides a right-turn road with a narrow road width. Thus, when there are a plurality of adjacent forks, the operator can easily intuitively determine which road to proceed from the width of the arrows.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the guide display at the intersection reflects the width of the road to be guided in addition to the direction to be guided, so that the operator can easily determine the road to be advanced. can do.
[0040]
As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. Deformation and modification are possible.
[0041]
For example, in the above embodiment, an intersection has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to a junction (a T-junction, a Y-junction, etc.) other than an intersection. Further, the guidance display at the branch point is not necessarily limited to the arrow display, and other marks and mark expressions may be used as long as they do not contradict the gist of the present invention.
[0042]
Further, in the above embodiment, the storage unit 17 stores various data such as maps, roads, and intersections. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these data may be stored in the storage unit via communication means. It is possible. For example, the navigation device 1 is provided with a communication function capable of communicating with a network, data such as a map is stored in a server, data is downloaded from the server as necessary, and the data is stored in the storage unit 17. You may. By doing so, even when individual image data or the like is required for each intersection, it is possible to obtain these data via the communication means, thereby reducing the storage capacity of the storage unit 17 and, consequently, the navigation device. The size can be reduced. The communication means may be integrally mounted in the navigation device, or a communication terminal having a communication function may be connected to the navigation device.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when there is a branch point such as an intersection on the route to the destination, the branch point guidance display reflecting the direction of the route to be guided at the branch point and the width of the route is performed. Thus, the user or the operator can easily determine the road to be advanced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of road data stored in a storage unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart in the navigation device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of junction guidance according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of junction guidance according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another display example of the junction guidance according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another display example of the junction guidance according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another display example of the branch point guidance according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a conventional branch point guidance.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Navigation device, 11: GPS receiver, 12: Self-contained navigation sensor,
13: operation panel, 14: audio input unit, 15: remote control, 16: input IF,
17: storage unit, 18: audio output unit, 19: speaker, 20: display control unit,
21: display, 22: program memory, 23: data memory,
24: control unit, 50: road data, 60: node table,
70: link table, 200: intersection, 210: current route,
220, 240: Guide route, 230, 250: Right turn arrow

Claims (11)

A navigation device having a function of guiding a route to a destination,
Storage means for storing data relating to a map required for navigation;
Vehicle position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Display means for displaying information necessary for navigation;
Control means for reading data corresponding to the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detection means from the storage means, and displaying route guidance on the display means based on the read data,
The navigation device, wherein when there is a branch point on the route, the control unit causes the display unit to display a branch point guidance display reflecting the direction of the route to be guided at the branch point and the width of the route. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the junction guidance display is an arrow that represents a difference in a relative road width between a current route and a route to be guided at the junction. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the junction guidance display includes a display indicating a type of the junction. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the junction guidance display includes a display indicating a type of a route to be guided at the junction. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the junction guidance display includes a display indicating a type of a current route. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the junction guidance display three-dimensionally represents a difference in width between a current route and a route to be guided at the junction. The navigation device further includes a voice output unit, and the control unit, when displaying the junction guidance display on the display unit, causes the content of the junction guidance display to be voice-output by the voice output unit. 7. The navigation device according to any one of items 6 to 6. The storage unit stores data corresponding to a plurality of branch point guidance displays, the control unit compares a current route with a route to be guided at the branch point, and stores the data in the storage unit based on the comparison result. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein data of a corresponding branch point guidance display is selected from the plurality of branch point guidance displays, and the display unit displays the branch point guidance display based on the selected data. The navigation device further includes communication means, wherein the communication means is capable of acquiring data relating to a map required for navigation by communication, and wherein the storage means stores the data acquired by the communication means. The navigation device according to any one of the above. A navigation method for providing a route to a destination,
A navigation method for displaying, when there is a branch point on a route to be guided, a branch point guidance reflecting the direction of the route to be guided at the branch point and the width of the route. The navigation method according to claim 10, wherein the content of the junction guidance display is output as audio in synchronization with the junction guidance display.

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