JP2005010469A - Map information delivery method, map display method, information delivery center, and information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information delivery technique capable of easily displaying the detail map of points apart from currently displayed points in an information terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: Wide-area display data is attached with coordinate information (called as reference point coordinates) (x1, y1), (x1+α, y1), (x1, y1+β), (x1+α, y1+β) of the points corresponding to the four corners 126 of a display range to a display monitor 106. If the dot number of the display monitor 106 is (a dot x b dot) and an instructed position 133 is (a1 dot and b1 dot), the instructed position 133 is expressed by (x1+α×a1/a, y1+β×b1/b) when converted to the position coordinates of the map data. The map data can be displayed on the display monitor 106 around the instructed position 133 by specifying the position of the instructed position 133 in the map data from the position coordinates of the converted instructed position 133 and the coordinate values of the respective nodes included in the delivered map data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map information distribution technique used in a navigation system that distributes map data by communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is an information communication navigation system mainly composed of a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and an information distribution center that performs route search to a destination and distribution of map data according to a request from the navigation device (see Non-Patent Document 1). ).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JPO Standard Technology Collection “Car Navigation Device User Interface” Main Category 6-A-3
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the prior art, an arbitrary point in the vicinity of the recommended route can be displayed by scrolling the map screen displayed on the display monitor of the in-vehicle device. However, even if a map near the recommended route at a point away from the vehicle position is displayed, it cannot be displayed unless the screen is sequentially scrolled from the vehicle position, and there is a problem that the operation is troublesome.
[0005]
The present invention provides a map information distribution technique capable of easily displaying a detailed map of a point distant from a point currently displayed on an information terminal device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) The map information distribution method according to the first aspect of the present invention provides map information when route guidance is performed by exchanging map information regarding a recommended route from the departure point to the destination between the information terminal device and the information distribution center. In the method of distributing the information, the information distribution center (1) receives the departure point and the destination from the information terminal device, (2) searches for the guidance route information from the departure point to the destination, and (3) the search calculation. The guide route information, detailed map information around the recommended route, and display information obtained by adding coordinate information to the image data for displaying the entire recommended route are transmitted to the information terminal device.
(2) The map display method according to the invention of claim 2 is a map display method for performing route guidance by exchanging map information on a recommended route from the departure point to the destination between the information terminal device and the information distribution center. In (1), the information terminal device (1) transmits the starting point and the destination to the information distribution center, and (2) a display in which coordinate information is added to the image data for displaying the entire recommended route transmitted from the information distribution center. (3) When an arbitrary point of the displayed information is indicated, a detailed map around the indicated point is displayed based on the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. Features.
(3) A map display method according to claim 3 is a map display method for performing route guidance by exchanging map information on a recommended route from a departure place to a destination between an information terminal device and an information distribution center. The information terminal device transmits the starting point and the destination to the information distribution center, the information distribution center searches for guidance route information from the starting point to the destination, and the information distribution center determines the result of the search calculation. A guide route information, detailed map information around the recommended route, and display information obtained by adding coordinate information to image data for displaying the entire recommended route are transmitted to the information terminal device. Display information transmitted from the information terminal device, and when an arbitrary point of the displayed display information is instructed, the information terminal device is instructed based on the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. A detailed map around the selected point is displayed.
(4) According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the map information distribution method according to the first aspect, the coordinate information added to the display information is two or more reference points of an image displaying the entire recommended route. Features.
(5) In the map display method according to claim 2 or claim 3, the coordinate information added to the display information is two or more reference points of an image displaying the entire recommended route. It is characterized by that.
(6) In the map display method according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 5, when the information terminal device is directed to an arbitrary point of the displayed display information, From the designated position on the display screen and the coordinate information added to the display information, the designated position coordinate information corresponding to the designated position is calculated, and the detailed map information around the designated point is displayed based on the designated position coordinate information. It is characterized by that.
(7) According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the map information distribution method according to the first or fourth aspect, the image data for displaying the entire recommended route has a range in which the detailed map information is transmitted to the information terminal device. The image data is specified.
(8) In the map display method according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5 and 6, the display information to be displayed includes detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. It is characterized in that the range of is specified.
(9) An information distribution center according to the ninth aspect of the present invention distributes map information when performing route guidance by exchanging map information related to a recommended route from a departure place to a destination with an information terminal device. In the center, receiving means for receiving a route search request from the departure point to the destination transmitted from the information terminal device, search calculation means for calculating the guidance route information from the departure point to the destination based on the request, Extraction means for extracting detailed map information around the recommended route from the search calculation result calculated by the search calculation means, and information creation for creating display information in which coordinate information is added to image data for displaying the entire recommended route Transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal device means, guidance route information as a result of the search operation, detailed map information extracted by the extracting means, and display information created by the information creating means It is characterized by providing.
(10) An information terminal device according to a tenth aspect of the invention is an information terminal device that performs route guidance by exchanging map information regarding a recommended route from a departure location to a destination with an information distribution center. A transmission / reception means for transmitting the ground to the information distribution center and receiving various information transmitted from the information distribution center, and a display in which coordinate information is added to the image data for displaying the entire recommended route transmitted from the information distribution center When a display means for displaying information and an arbitrary point of the display information displayed on the display means are instructed, a detailed map around the instructed point is displayed based on the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. Display control means for controlling to be displayed on the means.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
---overall structure---
An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a map distribution system including an information distribution center and a car navigation device that receives map information from the information distribution center will be described with reference to FIG. A car navigation device (hereinafter referred to as an in-vehicle device) 100 mounted on the vehicle 1 is connected to a communication terminal 200 via a communication cable. Communication terminal 200 is connected to information distribution center 400 via mobile communication network 300 by radio waves. The information distribution center 400 receives various requests from the in-vehicle device 100 transmitted from the communication terminal 200 and supplies various information such as map data to the in-vehicle device 100 according to the request content. For example, a mobile phone is used as the communication terminal 200.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the in-vehicle device 100. The current position detection device 101 that detects the current position of the vehicle includes, for example, a gyro 101a that detects a traveling direction of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 101b that detects a vehicle speed, a GPS sensor 101c that detects a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, and the like. The control circuit 102 includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and performs various controls by executing a control program stored in the ROM 103 using the RAM 104 as a work area.
[0009]
The image memory 105 stores image data to be displayed on the display monitor 106. The image data includes road map drawing data and various graphic data, and displays map information on the display monitor 106 based on map data transmitted from the information distribution center 400 shown in FIG. The input device 107 has various switches for inputting the destination of the vehicle. The input device 107 includes a touch panel provided on the display monitor 106. The communication terminal 200 exchanges various communication data with the control circuit 102 and is connected to the information distribution center 400 via the mobile communication network 300 by radio waves.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the information distribution center 400. The information distribution center 400 is connected to the mobile communication network 300 via the external interface 401. The request reception server 402 receives a request for route search or the like sent through the external interface 401, and requests each server described later to execute processing such as a route search request and a map request. In addition, the processing result output from each server is output to the external interface 401.
[0011]
The map distribution server 403 stores nationwide map data in a storage medium such as a hard disk. In accordance with the map request from the request reception server 402, the corresponding map data is searched from the stored map data and output to the request reception server 402. The route search server 404 searches for the corresponding route according to the route search request from the request reception server 402 based on the location information from the location information search server 405 and the traffic information data from the traffic information server 406, and outputs the result. To do. The location information search server 405 searches for facility information and the like near the current location. The traffic information server 406 holds current traffic information data. The customer DB server 407 holds personal data of customers who own the vehicle-mounted device 100 and updates the personal data according to the usage status of the information distribution center 400. The personal data includes, for example, billing information.
[0012]
――― Flow of information ―――
FIG. 4 shows a data flow when a route search request is made in the present embodiment. When the destination is input from the input device 107, the in-vehicle device 100 issues a route search request. A route search request issued from the in-vehicle device 100 is transmitted to the information distribution center 400 via the communication terminal 200 and the mobile communication network 300. The route search request received at the information distribution center 400 passes through the external interface 401 and then is input to the request reception server 402, where the content is recognized. The request reception server 402 first makes a route search request to the route search server 404. The route search server 404 performs a route search based on the location information from the location information search server 405 and the traffic information from the traffic information server 406, and returns the guidance route information to the request reception server 402. The request reception server 402 that has received the guide route information from the route search server 404 then outputs a map request for the route to the map distribution server 403. The map distribution server 403 extracts detailed map information (map data) obtained by cutting out a certain range along the route by a method to be described later, from the stored map data, and creates wide area display data, and sends these to the request reception server. Reply to 402. The wide area display data will be described later.
[0013]
In this way, the request reception server 402 that has obtained the guide route information, the map data, and the wide area display data outputs the result to the external interface 401. The output data is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 via the mobile communication network 300 and the communication terminal 200. The in-vehicle device 100 displays an image of the transmitted information and provides it to the user. In this way, a series of processing for route search is completed.
[0014]
――― Cut out map and create wide area display data ―――
FIG. 5 shows a method of cutting out a map in a cutout region within a predetermined distance from a set range along the set route, that is, a recommended route. When the destination is set in the in-vehicle device 100, the route search server 404 sets the current location 52 and the destination 53, and a recommended route 54 connecting between the current location 52 and the destination 53 is set by a known route search calculation process. The cutout range 55 in this route is set as a portion within a certain range from the route 54, for example, a range indicated by shading in the drawing. In addition, a wider range is set around the current location 52 and the destination 53 than on other routes. Map data in the area of the cut-out range 55 is extracted for each mesh of the mesh 51 obtained by dividing the map into predetermined ranges, and distributed from the information distribution center 400 to the in-vehicle device 100 as map data.
[0015]
FIG. 6 shows a control flow of processing for cutting out a map in a cutout area within a predetermined distance from the recommended route in the information distribution center 400. This control flow is a processing flow based on a program executed by the map distribution server 403 and is always executed. In step S <b> 1, it is determined whether a map request from the request reception server 402 has been received. If a map request is received, the process proceeds to the next step S2, and if not received, step S1 is repeated again.
[0016]
In step S2, a map mesh is selected. Here, the map mesh represents a group of map data divided into a certain range (each section) for each map layer. A map layer represents a hierarchical structure of map data defined for different scales. In step S3, a cutout range in the selected mesh is set. In step S4, map data within the cutout range is extracted. Steps S2 to S4 will be described in detail below.
[0017]
In step S2, all meshes through which the recommended route from the current location to the destination passes are extracted, and any one mesh is selected. When step S2 is executed for the first time in the processing of the control flow shown in FIG. 6, the mesh where the current location is located is selected as the first mesh. Next, the mesh that is adjacent to the mesh where the current location is located and the recommended route passes or the mesh near the recommended route is selected as the second mesh, and the mesh that is adjacent to this mesh and that passes the recommended route is the first mesh. Selected as the third mesh. Finally, the mesh where the destination is located is selected as the nth mesh.
[0018]
In step S3, a cutout range for extracting map data is set according to the selected mesh. When the first mesh in which the current location is located is selected, a square-shaped current location peripheral region having, for example, a side of 1 km with the current location as the center is specified, and this is set as a cutout range. When this current location peripheral region overlaps with an adjacent mesh, the overlapping region of the adjacent mesh is also set as the current location peripheral region cutout range.
[0019]
Further, the recommended route outside the current area is identified in the mesh where the current position is located. For example, an area along the recommended route having a width of 500 m, for example, centered on the recommended route is specified, and this is set as a cutout range. When there is no recommended route in a region outside the current location peripheral region in the mesh, such a route peripheral region cut-out range is not set.
[0020]
In Step S2, when the second mesh that is adjacent to the mesh where the current location is located and the recommended route passes is selected, in Step S3, for example, the route that passes through the second mesh is used as the center. An area along a route having a width of 500 m is specified and set as a cutout range.
[0021]
In step S2, when the nth mesh where the destination is located is selected, in step S3, for example, a square-shaped destination peripheral region having a side of 1 km is specified as a center and cut out. Set as a range. When this destination peripheral region overlaps with the adjacent mesh, the overlapping region of the adjacent mesh is also set as the destination peripheral region cutout range. Further, a recommended route outside the destination peripheral area is specified in the mesh where the destination is located. Then, an area along the recommended route having a width of 500 m, for example, centered on the recommended route is specified, and this is set as a cutout range. When there is no recommended route in a region outside the destination peripheral region in the mesh, such a route peripheral region cut-out range is not set.
[0022]
In step S4, map data within the cutout range set in step S3 is extracted. The road data is represented as link string data connecting a start point node and an end point node with a plurality of nodes. Each node has a coordinate value. Therefore, map data including all node information having coordinate values within the region set as the cutout range is extracted.
[0023]
This kind of data extraction processing is performed from the current position (vehicle position) to the mesh where the destination is located, and all the map data in the route peripheral area within a predetermined range along the route from the vehicle position to the destination Is extracted.
[0024]
In step S5, it is determined whether or not the processing in steps S2 to S4 has been completed for all the map meshes in the route that received the map request. If completed, the process proceeds to the next step S6. If not completed, the process returns to step S2 to perform the process again.
[0025]
In step S6, wide area display data including the entire range of the map data extracted in the processes up to step S5 is created, and the process proceeds to step S7. The wide area display data will be described later. In step S7, the map data extracted in the process up to step S5 and the wide area display data created in step S6 are returned to the request reception server 402, and the process is terminated.
[0026]
――― Wide area display data ―――
FIG. 7 shows a map display screen displayed on the display monitor 106 of the in-vehicle device 100 using the wide area display data. The wide-area display data created in step S6 described above is map image data displayed on the display monitor 106 of the in-vehicle device 100, and displays the entire recommended route and clearly indicates the range for distributing the detailed map. Is. That is, the wide area display data is image data that displays the vehicle position 121, the destination 122, and the recommended route 123 on one screen. The range in which the detailed map is distributed as map data from the information distribution center 400 to the vehicle-mounted device 100 for each map layer, that is, the range 124 where the map data extracted in the processing up to step S5 described above exists is the map data. It is color-coded so that it can be distinguished from the non-existing range 125 at a glance.
[0027]
Further, coordinate information (reference point coordinates) of points corresponding to the four corners 126 that are the end portions of the display range on the display monitor 106 is attached to the wide area display data. The vehicle-mounted device 100 that has received the wide area display data with the reference point coordinates can calculate the position coordinates of an arbitrary point in the display range of the wide area display data based on the reference point coordinates, as will be described later. In this embodiment, the number of pixels of the wide area display data (horizontal a pixel × vertical b pixel) and the number of pixels of the display monitor 106 (horizontal a pixel × vertical b pixel) will be described. The reference point coordinates and the position coordinates are coordinate information for specifying a latitude and longitude, or a similar point on the map.
[0028]
――― Control flow of in-vehicle device 100 ―――
FIG. 8 shows a control flow of processing for transmitting the vehicle position and the destination to the information distribution center 400 and receiving the recommended route and the detailed map in the in-vehicle device 100. When the accessory key is turned on by the ignition key (ACC ON), the vehicle-mounted device 100 is turned on, and a program for performing the processing shown in FIG. 8 is started and executed by the control circuit 102. In step S21, an initial screen is displayed. In step S23, the current position of the vehicle is measured. If it is determined in step S25 that the vehicle position has been measured, the process proceeds to step S27 and waits until the destination is input. If an affirmative determination is made in step S27, the process proceeds to step S29, the route search from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is requested to the information distribution center 400, and the process proceeds to step S31. In step S31, the process waits until the information requested in step S29 is received.
[0029]
In the information distribution center 400, the process shown in FIG. 4 is performed as described above. Then, the guidance route information, map data, and wide area display data are transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 via the mobile communication network 300 and the communication terminal 200.
[0030]
If it is determined in step S31 that the in-vehicle device 100 has received the guide route information, the map data, and the wide area display data from the information distribution center 400, the in-vehicle device 100 proceeds to step S33 and executes a guide process. When the guidance process ends, the process ends.
[0031]
In the on-vehicle device 100 described above, the route can be guided from the vehicle position to the destination as follows. When the user sets a destination and requests the information distribution center 400 to search for a route from the vehicle position to the destination (step S29), the information distribution center 400 obtains guide route information, map data, and wide area display data. Calculated. The calculated information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 via the mobile communication network 300 and the communication terminal 200. When the in-vehicle device 100 receives the guide route information, the map data, and the wide area display data from the information distribution center 400 (step S31), the in-vehicle device 100 starts the guide process (step S33).
[0032]
――― Display control in in-vehicle device 100 ―――
Display control of the in-vehicle device 100 that has received the wide area display data will be described. When the in-vehicle device 100 receives the wide area display data in step S31 of FIG. 8, the in-vehicle device 100 displays the wide area display data on the display monitor 106 as shown in FIG. Next, when the in-vehicle device 100 receives the guide route information and the map data, the in-vehicle device 100 displays a detailed map centered on the vehicle position as shown in FIG. Here, when displaying the periphery of the recommended route other than the vicinity of the vehicle position, the user displays the scroll instruction display 132 shown in FIG. 10 by indicating an arbitrary place on the map displayed on the display monitor 106. It is displayed on the monitor 106. Then, by instructing the scroll instruction display 132, the map display screen is scrolled from the vehicle position 121 toward the instruction direction. Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to the scroll operation by the scroll instruction display 132, a detailed map near the instructed point can be displayed by instructing an arbitrary point on the display monitor 106 displaying the wide area display data. Details will be described below.
[0033]
When the whole display button 131 displayed on the display monitor 106 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is pressed, wide area display data is displayed on the display monitor 106 as shown in FIG. As described above, coordinate information (reference point coordinates) of points corresponding to the four corners 126 of the display range on the display monitor 106 is attached to the wide area display data. Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the reference point coordinates at the lower left of the display screen among the four corners 126 are (x1, y1). Similarly, the reference point coordinates at the lower right, upper left, and upper right of the display screen are (x1 + α, y1), (x1, y1 + β), and (x1 + α, y1 + β), respectively. When the number of pixels (the number of dots) of the display monitor 106 is a dot × b dot and the position (instructed position) 133 instructed on the screen is (a1 dot, b1 dot), the designated position 133 is converted into map data. (X1 + α × a1 / a, y1 + β × b1 / b). In addition, although description is abbreviate | omitted here, since the map image of wide display data expresses each point located on the substantially spherical surface called the earth with the plane map, normally, the designated position 133 is the position coordinate of map data. After conversion to, correction by latitude and longitude is performed.
[0034]
In this way, the designated position 133 can be converted into the position coordinates of the map data from the designated position 133 of the display monitor 106 and the reference point coordinates of the wide area display data. The position of the designated position 133 in the map data is specified from the converted position coordinates of the designated position 133 and the coordinate value of each node included in the distributed map data. Thereby, the map data can be displayed on the display monitor 106 with the designated position 133 as the center.
[0035]
FIG. 12 shows a part of the display control flow of the in-vehicle device 100 using the wide area display data. When guide route information, map data, and wide area display data are received from the information distribution center 400, a program for performing the processing shown in FIG. 12 is started and executed by the control circuit 102. In step S41, the scale displaying the detailed map is read, and the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, the process waits until the entire display button 131 shown in FIGS. If an affirmative determination is made in step S43, the process proceeds to step S45, where the wide area display data is displayed on the display monitor 106, and the process proceeds to step S47.
[0036]
In step S47, the process waits until the designated position 133 is input. If an affirmative determination is made in step S47, the process proceeds to step S49, where the designated position 133 is converted into the position coordinates of the map data from the designated position 133 of the display monitor 106 and the reference point coordinates of the wide area display data, and the process proceeds to step S51. In step S51, the position of the designated position 133 in the map data is specified from the position coordinates of the designated position 133 converted in step S51 and the coordinate value of each node included in the distributed map data, and the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, it is determined whether or not the designated position 133 specified in step S51 is within the range 124 in which the distributed map data exists. If an affirmative determination is made in step S53, the process proceeds to step S55, a detailed map centered on the designated position 133 is displayed at the scale read in step S41, and the process returns. If a negative determination is made in step S53, the process proceeds to step S57, and the display monitor 106 displays that the place instructed to display the detailed map is a place where there is no detailed map (not received), and the process returns.
[0037]
In the vehicle-mounted device 100 described above, when the whole display button 131 on the display screen shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is pressed, the wide area display data is displayed on the display monitor 106 as shown in FIG. When an arbitrary point in the range 124 where the map data exists displayed on the display monitor 106 is designated, a detailed map is displayed on the display monitor 106 with the designated position 133 as the center, as shown in FIG. .
[0038]
The car navigation device 100 and the information distribution center 400 described above have the following effects.
(1) The wide area display data is distributed from the information distribution center 400 to the in-vehicle device 100 together with the guide route information and the map data. Thereby, in the vehicle equipment 100, the position coordinates of an arbitrary point on the screen can be calculated based on the reference point coordinates. Therefore, the user can easily display a detailed map of a point distant from the currently displayed point only by indicating an arbitrary point of the wide area display data displayed on the display monitor 106.
(2) The reference point coordinates attached to the wide area display data distributed from the information distribution center 400 are coordinate information of points corresponding to the four corners 126 of the display range on the display monitor 106. As a result, the position coordinates of any point of the wide area display data displayed on the display monitor 106 can be easily calculated by the in-vehicle device 100, so that a detailed map of a point away from the currently displayed point can be easily displayed. Can be configured at low cost.
(3) The position coordinates for displaying the detailed map can be easily calculated simply by designating an arbitrary point of the wide area display data displayed on the display monitor 106. Thereby, the detailed map of the point away from the point currently displayed can be displayed easily, without raising the manufacturing cost of the vehicle equipment 100.
(4) The wide area display data displayed on the display monitor 106 is color-coded into a range 124 where map data exists and a range 125 where map data does not exist. Thereby, the user can distinguish at a glance the range 124 where the map data exists and the range 125 where the map data does not exist, and the operability for displaying the detailed map is high.
[0039]
――― Modifications ――――
(1) In the above description, the distributed information is received by a communication terminal connected by a communication cable, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a communication terminal that is wirelessly connected to the in-vehicle device 100 may be used such that a Bluetooth communication device is provided in the in-vehicle device 100 to perform Bluetooth communication with the communication terminal. Moreover, the vehicle equipment 100 which mounts the function of a communication terminal may be sufficient.
(2) In the above description, it has been described that the number of pixels of the wide area display data (horizontal a pixel × vertical b pixel) and the number of pixels of the display monitor 106 (horizontal a pixel × vertical b pixel) match. The present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied even when the number of pixels of the wide area display data and the number of pixels of the display monitor 106 are different. For example, information on the number of pixels and information indicating the position of a pixel with reference point coordinates are added to the wide area display data, and the relationship between the image data area of the wide area display data and the display area can be compared on the in-vehicle device side. For example, the position coordinates of an arbitrary point on the screen can be calculated based on the reference point coordinates. Further, according to this method, the positions of the pixels to which the reference point coordinates are attached may not be the four corners. That is, if at least two reference point position coordinates are known, an arbitrary point on the screen can be determined from the relationship between the difference between the coordinate values of the two reference point position coordinates and the number of pixels between the two pixels with the reference point coordinates. Position coordinates can be calculated.
[0040]
(3) In the above description, when setting the extraction range for map data extraction, the shape of the current location peripheral region and the destination peripheral region is a square shape centered on the current location and the destination and having a side of 1 km. The present invention is not limited to this shape and distance. For example, a circle having a radius of 400 m may be used as long as the current area and the destination area are set in a wider range than on other routes.
(4) In the above description, the navigation system for in-vehicle use has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a system that distributes a map to a portable information terminal or a mobile phone. Furthermore, you may combine embodiment and the modification which were mentioned above, respectively.
[0041]
In the above embodiment and its modifications, the information terminal device corresponds to the in-vehicle device 100. The reception means and transmission means of the information distribution center are realized by the external interface 401 and the request reception server 402. The search calculation means corresponds to the route search server 404, and the extraction means and information creation means correspond to the map distribution server 403, respectively. The transmission / reception means corresponds to the communication terminal 200, and the display means corresponds to the display monitor 106. The display control means is realized by the control circuit 102 and a control program executed by the control circuit 102. Furthermore, as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired, the present invention is not limited to the device configuration in the above-described embodiment.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, display information in which coordinate information is added to image data for displaying the entire recommended route is delivered to the information terminal device together with the guide route information and the detailed map information from the information distribution center. it can. In the information terminal device, the position coordinates of an arbitrary point on the screen can be calculated based on the received display information. Thereby, the detailed map of the point away from the point currently displayed with the information terminal device can be displayed easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a map information distribution system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the in-vehicle device 100 of FIG.
3 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the information distribution center 400 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when a route search request is made.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of cutting out a map in a cutout area within a predetermined range along a set route, that is, within a predetermined distance from a recommended route.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of cutting out a map in a cutout area within a predetermined distance from a recommended route in the information distribution center 400.
7 is a diagram showing a map display screen displayed on the display monitor 106 of the in-vehicle device 100 using the wide area display data. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process in the in-vehicle device 100 for transmitting a vehicle position and a destination to the information distribution center 400 and receiving a recommended route and a detailed map.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where a detailed map centered on the vehicle position is displayed on the display monitor 106;
10 is a diagram showing a state in which a scroll instruction display 132 is displayed on the display monitor 106. FIG.
11 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the reference point coordinates and the designated position 133 of the display monitor 106. FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a part of the display control flow of the in-vehicle device 100 using the wide area display data.
13 is a diagram showing a state in which a detailed map centered on an indicated position 133 is displayed on the display monitor 106. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Vehicle 100 Navigation device (vehicle equipment)
102 control circuit 106 display monitor
126 Four corners 131 Whole display button
133 Instructed position 200 Communication terminal
300 Mobile communication network 400 Information distribution center
401 External interface 402 Request reception server
403 Map distribution server 404 Route search server
405 Location information search server 406 Traffic information server
407 Customer DB server

Claims (10)

In a method of delivering map information when performing route guidance by exchanging map information on a recommended route from the departure place to the destination between the information terminal device and the information delivery center,
The information distribution center
(1) receiving a starting point and a destination from the information terminal device;
(2) Search and calculate guidance route information from the departure point to the destination,
(3) Sending to the information terminal device the guidance route information as a result of the search calculation, detailed map information around the recommended route, and display information in which coordinate information is added to image data for displaying the entire recommended route. Map information distribution method to be. In the map display method when performing route guidance by exchanging map information on the recommended route from the departure point to the destination between the information terminal device and the information distribution center,
The information terminal device
(1) Send the origin and destination to the information distribution center,
(2) display information obtained by adding coordinate information to image data for displaying the entire recommended route transmitted from the information distribution center;
(3) When an arbitrary point of the displayed display information is instructed, a detailed map around the instructed point is displayed based on the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. Map display method. In the map display method when performing route guidance by exchanging map information on the recommended route from the departure point to the destination between the information terminal device and the information distribution center,
The information terminal device transmits a departure place and a destination to the information distribution center,
The information distribution center searches and calculates guidance route information from the departure point to the destination,
The information distribution center includes guide route information as a result of the search calculation, detailed map information around the recommended route, and display information obtained by adding coordinate information to image data for displaying the entire recommended route. To the device,
The information terminal device displays the display information transmitted from the information distribution center,
The information terminal device, when an arbitrary point of the displayed display information is instructed, displays a detailed map around the instructed point based on the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. A map display method characterized by the above. In the map information delivery method according to claim 1,
The coordinate information added to the display information is two or more reference points of an image that displays the entire recommended route. In the map display method according to claim 2 or claim 3,
The map display method, wherein the coordinate information added to the display information is two or more reference points of an image displaying the entire recommended route. In the map display method according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 5,
When an arbitrary point of the displayed display information is instructed, the information terminal device indicates the indicated position coordinates corresponding to the indicated position from the indicated position on the display screen and the coordinate information added to the display information. Calculate information,
A map display method for displaying detailed map information around the designated point based on the designated position coordinate information. In the map information delivery method according to claim 1 or 4,
The map data distribution method, wherein the image data for displaying the entire recommended route is image data in which a range in which the detailed map information is transmitted to the information terminal device is specified. In the map display method according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5, and 6,
The map display method, wherein the display information to be displayed clearly indicates a range of the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. In an information distribution center that distributes map information for route guidance by exchanging map information about recommended routes from the departure point to the destination with the information terminal device,
Receiving means for receiving a route search request from the departure place to the destination transmitted from the information terminal device;
Search calculation means for calculating guide route information from the departure point to the destination based on the request;
Extraction means for extracting detailed map information around the recommended route from the search calculation result calculated by the search calculation means;
Information creating means for creating display information in which coordinate information is added to image data for displaying the entire recommended route;
And a transmission unit that transmits the guidance route information that is a result of the search operation, the detailed map information extracted by the extraction unit, and the display information created by the information creation unit to the information terminal device. Characteristic information distribution center. In an information terminal device that performs route guidance by exchanging map information about the recommended route from the departure point to the destination with the information distribution center,
A transmission / reception means for transmitting a starting point and a destination to the information distribution center and receiving various information transmitted from the information distribution center;
Display means for displaying display information in which coordinate information is added to image data for displaying the entire recommended route transmitted from the information distribution center;
When an arbitrary point of the display information displayed on the display unit is designated, a detailed map around the designated point is displayed on the display unit based on the detailed map information transmitted from the information distribution center. An information terminal device comprising display control means for controlling the display to be performed.

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