JP2005127854A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform simply processing to a place where POI's intended by a user exist concentratedly. <P>SOLUTION: Map information for showing a map, POI data for showing the kind and the position coordinate on a spot included in the map information, and POI group data having as components the same kind of POI data which are close position coordinates are stored in a storage part 5. When setting the destination or a passing spot, in the case where operation input information for setting the POI group data in the destination or the passing spot is generated by an input part 2, a POI information management part 11 sets the position coordinate shown by the POI group data in the destination or the passing spot, if the distance between the present position of a vehicle and the position coordinate shown by the POI group data is a long distance, and sets the position coordinate shown by some POI data of the component included in the POI group data in the destination or the passing spot, if the distance between the present position of the vehicle and the position coordinate shown by the POI group data is a short distance, and presents the result by an output part 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus that performs setting of a destination of a vehicle, route search, and the like using a plurality of POI (Point of Interest) information related to various facilities and scenic spots.

  Conventionally, a technique is known in which POI information, which is point information representing various facilities or scenic spots, is prepared in a database and search processing is performed on a database including POI information when setting a destination or the like. It has been.

  On the other hand, in the past, depending on the user's situation, the destination in the form of a point is not necessarily intended. For example, as a tentative goal, a vague “Karuizawa” area is intended to be set as the destination. For the purpose of performing destination setting processing and route search processing, techniques described in Patent Document 1 below have been proposed.

  In the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, an area input in the form of an area indicating a range wider than a point is set as a destination (destination area), and a route to the destination area is calculated. In such a navigation device, one or a plurality of points entering the set destination area are selected as the destination area entry points, and then all or some of the POIs existing in the destination area are selected as the target candidate points. . Next, in this navigation apparatus, route costs (travel distance and travel time) from each destination area entry point to each target candidate point are obtained in each combination, and the target candidates are determined based on the plurality of route costs. The destination entry point that is the easiest to reach among the points is determined as the guidance target point. In this navigation apparatus, route information from the departure place is created and presented using the determined guidance target point as a representative point of the destination area.

According to such a navigation device, for example, provisional route guidance information can be presented to the user simply by specifying the area name “Karuizawa”, and further, a destination candidate point in the destination area can be selected. For example, even if a visit purpose “sports” is input, for example, it is possible to select only an exercise facility as a target candidate point from the POI information included in the area range of Karuizawa.
JP 2002-243477 A

  However, the navigation device described in Patent Document 1 described above is based on the premise that the user intends to reach a certain area, and when the destination area is input, the rational area included in the destination area is included. Since the representative point was sought, in order to select the destination entry point necessary to determine the representative point (guidance target point), the area representing the input destination area is not clearly defined by the boundary line. In some cases, it was not possible to set the destination according to the user's intention.

  That is, in this navigation device, when the user clearly specifies an area, the route guidance information can be effectively provided, but a search condition such as “Yokohama Loop No. 2 Ramen Battle Zone” is provided. When entered, the detection condition is a condition where POI information indicating a plurality of ramen shops is concentrated, but the region (region) is not clearly defined and does not correspond to one region managed as a database become.

  Also, in this navigation device, when the intended POI information is concentrated in an area where the user does not know the place name, the user searches the POI information to make the user's intention. The route search can be performed only when the POI information corresponding to is selected, and the route to the area where the POI information is concentrated temporarily cannot be obtained.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a navigation device that can easily perform processing for a place where POIs intended by the user are concentrated. With the goal.

  In the navigation device according to the present invention, the map information indicating the map, the point information indicating the type and the position coordinate regarding the point included in the map information, and the adjacent type of point information of the same type are used as the constituent elements. The point group information registered in association with one position coordinate is stored in the storage unit, and when it is determined that the processing target is the point information based on the operation input information generated by the input unit, the storage unit When the navigation processing is performed by the arithmetic processing means using the point information stored in the information processing unit, and the operation input information generated by the input means determines that the processing target is the point group information, the point stored in the storage means Using the group information, the above-described problem is solved by performing navigation processing by the arithmetic processing means.

  Further, in another navigation device according to the present invention, map information indicating a map, point information indicating a type and a position coordinate regarding a point included in the map information, and adjacent position coordinates of the same type of point information. The point cloud information registered in association with a single position coordinate as a component is stored in the storage means. In this navigation device, when setting the destination or waypoint, the arithmetic processing means, when the operation input information for setting the point group information to the destination or waypoint is generated by the input means, If the distance between the current position and the position coordinates indicated by the point group information is a long distance, the position coordinates indicated by the point group information are set as the destination or via, and the current position of the vehicle and the point group information When the distance to the indicated position coordinate is a short distance, the position coordinate indicated by any point information of the constituent elements included in the point group information is set as the destination or waypoint, thereby To solve.

  According to the navigation device of the present invention, a point group including the same type of points whose position coordinates are close as components is stored, and when it is determined that a processing target is a point by a user's operation, the point When navigation processing using information is performed and it is determined that the processing target is a point group, navigation processing using point group information is performed, and therefore navigation processing for an area where the same type of points are concentrated is simply performed. The navigation process can be performed in the same manner as the navigation process for one point, and the navigation process for a place where the points intended by the user are concentrated can be easily performed.

  Furthermore, according to this navigation device, when the operation input information for setting the point group as the destination or waypoint is input, the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the point group is a long distance. If the point group is set as a destination or waypoint, and the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the point group is a short distance, one of the components included in the point group Since a point is set as a destination or waypoint, a temporary route can be easily set without causing troublesome operations such as setting each point as a destination when the vehicle is away from the destination. In a state of approaching the destination, it is possible to set a detailed route after considering a point actually visited.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The present invention is applied to, for example, a navigation device configured as shown in FIG.

[Configuration of navigation device]
This navigation device is mounted on a vehicle, and various types of processing such as destination and waypoint setting processing, guidance route setting processing for setting a guidance route, route guidance processing for presenting a guidance route to a vehicle occupant (user), etc. Navigation processing is performed. This navigation device includes, for example, an arithmetic processing unit 1 provided in an instrument panel, an input unit 2 and an output unit 3 provided at positions visible to the user, and a current position acquisition unit connected by wiring in the vehicle. 4 and a storage unit 5 are connected.

  The input unit 2 includes an operation mechanism such as a push switch and a jog dial, for example. When the operation mechanism is operated by the user, operation input information is generated and output to the arithmetic processing unit 1. The operation performed on the input unit 2 is an operation for designating a process performed by the navigation device, and the input unit 2 generates operation input information indicating the operation content. The input unit 2 may be, for example, a unit that receives a radio signal from an operation remote controller and generates operation input information, and further includes a touch panel integrated with the output unit 3. The operation input information may be generated according to the contact position with respect to 3, or the operation input information may be generated by performing voice recognition processing on the voice uttered by the user.

  The output unit 3 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (cathode ray tube) device, and uses the display data from the arithmetic processing unit 1 to display the vehicle current position display, map display, various setting screen displays, processing result display, and the like. Do. Thereby, in the output part 3, various information which is a process result of the navigation process of the arithmetic process part 1 is shown to a user. The output unit 3 includes a voice output device, performs voice synthesis processing using the voice data and presentation information from the arithmetic processing unit 1, emits sound, and presents various information to the user. May be.

  In the following description of the navigation apparatus, a case will be described in which a voice according to the display content displayed on the output unit 3 is input by the input unit 2 and output to the arithmetic processing unit 1 as operation input information.

  The current position acquisition unit 4 includes, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a gyro sensor. The current position acquisition unit 4 acquires current position information of the host vehicle and outputs the current position information to the arithmetic processing unit 1. This current position information is information representing the current position of the host vehicle in the form of latitude and longitude, for example.

  The storage unit 5 dynamically performs playback processing on a nonvolatile storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Video Disc / Digital Versatile Disc), or POI (Point of Interest) information dynamically. In the case of creating or storing, a hard disk device that performs recording / reproduction processing on a rewritable medium.

  The storage unit 5 stores POI information for point search. This POI information is configured by creating a database of POI data, which is point information indicating single various facilities and position coordinates, and POI group data, which is point group information having the POI data as a constituent element. In addition, the storage unit 5 stores map information including map roads and background data, map information that is road network data for route search, and setting screen data for performing operations on the navigation device. Has been.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an internal ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and stores programs for performing various navigation processes such as a destination setting process and a route guidance process in the internal ROM. Each function unit as shown in FIG. 1 is realized by executing the program by the CPU. That is, the arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a POI information management unit 11 connected to the input unit 2, a display position determination unit 12 connected to the current position acquisition unit 4, an output information creation unit 13 connected to the output unit 3, A data search unit 14 and a route search unit 15 connected to the storage unit 5 are provided.

  The output information creation unit 13 is supplied with the screen data to be output by the output unit 3, the display position of map information and current position information, and POI information from the data search unit 14 according to the control of the POI information management unit 11. A search result is supplied from the route search unit 15. The output information creation unit 13 creates display data to be displayed on the output unit 3 using the supplied information.

  The display position determination unit 12 inputs the current position information from the current position acquisition unit 4 and determines the display position of the host vehicle in the display screen of the output unit 3. In addition, the display position determination unit 12 inputs operation input information from the input unit 2 and changes the display position of the host vehicle in the display screen. Thus, the display position information of the host vehicle within the display screen determined by the display position determination unit 12 is sent to the data search unit 14 and output to the output information creation unit 13 together with the map information. Thereby, the output part 3 presents a map, the own vehicle position, etc. to a user by inputting the display data created by the output information creation part 13.

  The route search unit 15 uses the map information sent from the data search unit 14 to perform route search processing that indicates the optimal route on which the host vehicle travels based on the current location, destination, and waypoint of the host vehicle. The route search result obtained by this route search process is sent to the output information creation unit 13.

  The data search unit 14 searches the information stored in the storage unit 5 and updates the POI information stored in the storage unit 5 under the control of the POI information management unit 11. The data search unit 14 searches for map information when the output unit 3 displays a map and outputs the map information together with the display position information to the output information creation unit 13, and when a setting operation is performed on the navigation device. The setting screen data is searched and output to the output information creation unit 13. Further, when the route search unit 15 performs the route search process, the data search unit 14 searches for map information necessary for the route search process and outputs the map information to the route search unit 15. Furthermore, when displaying the POI superimposed on the map, the data search unit 14 reads out the POI data corresponding to the map and outputs it to the output information creation unit 13. Furthermore, when information for updating the POI information is output from the POI information management unit 11, the data search unit 14 performs a process of rewriting the POI information in the storage unit 5.

  The POI information management unit 11 inputs operation input information from the input unit 2 and also inputs current position information from the current position acquisition unit 4. The POI information management unit 11 recognizes whether the operation instruction target indicated by the operation input information is individual POI data or POI group data. Further, the POI information management unit 11 recognizes the POI information close to the vehicle position from the current position information, and controls the output information creation unit 13 and the data search unit 14 so that the output unit 3 outputs the POI information. Or the data search unit 14 is controlled to update the POI information stored in the storage unit 5. The detailed contents of POI information creation processing, display control processing, destination setting processing, and route guidance processing performed under the control of the POI information management unit 11 will be described later.

  In the navigation device configured as described above, the storage unit 5 stores, for example, POI information as shown in FIG. Such POI information is an object of point search and destination setting, which will be described later.

  This POI information includes ID information 21 indicating an ID for distinguishing each data, name information 22 indicating a unique name, and position coordinate information indicating position coordinates corresponding to latitude and longitude detected by the current position acquisition unit 4. 23, type information 24 for distinguishing POIs by type, display level information 25 indicating a scale index when displaying POI on a map, redisplay scale information 26 indicating scale when redisplaying a map, POI group data Is stored in association with component list information 27 indicating the ID of POI data, which is a component of the POI group, and group number information 28 indicating the ID of POI group data when it is a component of the POI group data. . Although not shown, each POI data may be associated with detailed information indicating detailed information on the POI. The detailed information is read by the data search unit 14 by the user's operation and presented on the output unit 3.

  In this POI information, the name information 22, the position coordinate information 23, and the type information 24 are searched by the data search unit 14 during various navigation processes described later. That is, in this navigation device, when the operation input information for specifying the POI is input from the input unit 2 to the POI information management unit 11 when setting the destination or waypoint, the data search unit 14 performs the operation. The contents of the POI indicated by the input information are compared with the information 22 to 24 of the POI information stored in the storage unit 5. Then, the data search unit 14 outputs the POI data position coordinate information 23 that matches the POI content indicated by the operation input information to the output information creation unit 13 or the route search unit 15 as POI data indicating the destination or waypoint. .

  The display level information 25 indicates eight levels of display levels whose values are “1” to “9”. This display level is information indicating stepwise the level at which the name of the POI is displayed or hidden according to the display scale of the map.

  Specifically, for example, when the value is “1”, the POI is displayed superimposed on a wide-area map display with a scale of 1 / 500,000 to 1 / 500,000. Is also set so that the POI is not superimposed and displayed in a detailed scale map display. The display level “5” is set so that the POI is superimposed and displayed only on the map display at an intermediate scale of 1 / 10,000 to 1 / 20,000, and the display level 9 is 1/5000 or more. The POI is set to be superimposed and displayed only on a detailed scale map display (for example, a city map). Therefore, when displaying the POI, the output information creation unit 13 refers to the display level information 25 to determine whether or not to display the name of the POI, and creates map display data.

  The redisplay scale information 26 indicates the entire display of the facility or the like indicated by the POI when an operation for displaying the map around the POI is performed after the map on which the POI is superimposed is displayed according to the display level information 25. Is set to a scale capable of displaying in the display screen. Specifically, in the case of a POI that occupies a certain area, such as a natural park or facility on a vast site, or a natural landscape such as a lake, the scale that can provide an overview of the facility that the POI shows when redisplaying the surrounding map By switching to, the POI is easily recognized by the user.

  Therefore, in the data search unit 14, when the operation input information for redisplaying the map from the input unit 2 is input from the POI information management unit 11, the area such as the facility indicated by the POI is referred to the redisplay scale information 26. The map with the most detailed scale out of the scale maps that can be entirely accommodated in the display screen is read out and supplied to the output information creation unit 13 to redisplay the map including the POI. The redisplay scale information 26 is not set for the redisplay scale for POI data indicating a small-scale facility such as a station or a store. Therefore, the navigation apparatus displays the POI according to the display level information 25 even when the map including the POI for which the redisplay scale information 26 is not set is displayed again.

  Further, in the storage unit 5, the POI data 31 including the various information 21 to 26 and the group number information 28 as described above and the POI group data 32 having the POI data 31 as components are stored in the data search unit 14. It is stored in a form (data structure) that can be referred to equally in the data search process. In this POI information, a POI indicating a railway station or a store existing at a single point is stored as POI data 31, and data that comprehensively shows a plurality of POI data 31 with each POI data 31 as a constituent element is a POI group. Data 32 is classified.

  The POI group data 32 indicates a POI group having the same type information 24 and a plurality of POIs whose position coordinate information 23 is close to each other, and having the plurality of POIs as constituent elements. The POI group data 32 includes component list information 27 indicating the ID information 21 of a plurality of POI data 31 including the same type information 24 and adjacent position coordinate information 23. On the other hand, the POI data 31 includes group number information 28 indicating the ID information 21 of the POI group data 32 set as a component.

  Specifically, the POI group data 32 is configured such that the name information 22 is set as the name of the POI group, “annular line 2 ramen store group”, and indicates the components of the “annular line 2 ramen store group”. As the element list information 27, “36”, “37”, “38”, and “39” that are ID information 21 of the POI data 31 are set. That is, in the POI group data 32, the POI data 31 whose ID information 21 is “36” and whose name is “Ramen shop 1”, and the POI whose ID information 21 is “37” and whose name is “Ramen shop 2”. Data 31 and POI data 31 whose ID information 21 is “38” and whose name is “Ramen shop 3” and POI data 31 whose ID information 21 is “39” and whose name is “Ramen shop 4” are constituent elements. It is registered.

  Further, the POI group data 32 is re-displayed to display the name information 22 of a plurality of POI data 31 on a map in one screen, unlike the POI data 31 whose ID information 21 is “36” to “39”. Scale information 26 is set.

  On the other hand, in the POI data 31 in which the ID information 21 is registered in the component list information 27 of the POI group data 32, “174” that is the ID information 21 of the POI group data 32 is registered as the group number information 28. . Further, the component list information 27 is not set in the POI data 31, and the group number information 28 is not set in the POI group data 32. By setting the POI data 31 and the POI group data 32 in this way, a plurality of POIs (stores) are collectively presented as one POI.

  Such POI group data may be stored in advance in the storage unit 5 as fixed data prohibited from being rewritten, or may be dynamically generated as appropriate.

[POI information creation process]
Next, a processing procedure of POI information creation processing for dynamically creating POI group data in the navigation device configured as described above will be described. The POI information creation process may be started in parallel with the route guidance process or the like, for example, at a timing when the processing load on the CPU that realizes the configuration of the arithmetic processing unit 1 is reduced.

  In this POI information creation processing, first, in step S1, the POI information management unit 11 determines a processing target range for creating POI group data. Here, the processing target range is a POI range indicated by the position coordinate information 23, and a position coordinate range that is larger than a rectangular area described later is set in advance.

  Then, the POI information management unit 11 sends information indicating the processing target range to the data search unit 14, and refers to the position coordinate information 23 so that the data search unit 14 reads all POI data included in the processing target range. Control all the POI data included in the processing target range as the target POI population S.

  In the next step S2, the POI information management unit 11 determines whether the target POI population S is an empty set by determining whether or not the target POI population S includes POI data. That is, the POI information management unit 11 determines whether or not there is POI data corresponding to the processing target range based on the search result of the data search unit 14 in step S1. If the POI information management unit 11 determines that the target POI population S is an empty set, the POI information management unit 11 ends the processing. If the POI information management unit 11 determines that the target POI population S is not an empty set, the processing proceeds to step S3. Proceed.

  In step S3, the POI information management unit 11 selects one POI data included in the target POI population S and registers it as a component A in the provisional POI group component list L. The provisional POI group constituent element list L is a list in which POI data that may be constituent elements of POI group data, which is the processing result of the POI information creation process, is provisionally registered.

  In step S4, the POI information management unit 11 searches for POI data having a position coordinate close to the position coordinate indicated by the position coordinate information 23 included in the component A registered in the provisional POI group component list L in step S3. In order to do so, a rectangular region of position coordinates including the component A is set. That is, the POI information management unit 11 sets a position processing target range of POI group data.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the POI information management unit 11 obtains the maximum latitude and the minimum latitude, the maximum longitude and the minimum longitude from the position coordinates of the POI included in the component A, and determines the maximum latitude Bmax, By setting the minimum latitude Bmin, the maximum longitude Lmax, and the minimum longitude Lmin, a positional processing target range is set. When there is one component A registered in the provisional POI group component list L, the POI information management unit 11 sets the maximum latitude Bmax and the minimum latitude Bmin as the latitude of the component A, and the maximum The longitude Lmax and the minimum longitude Lmin are set as the longitude of the component A.

  In addition, the POI information management unit 11 sets an outer end area that is extended by a preset extension width D from the outer end position of the rectangular area. That is, in the POI information management unit 11, the latitude obtained by subtracting the predetermined latitude B0 from the minimum latitude Bmin of the rectangular area, the latitude obtained by adding the predetermined latitude B0 to the maximum latitude Bmax, the longitude obtained by subtracting the predetermined longitude L0 from the minimum longitude Lmin, and the maximum longitude The rectangular area is expanded so as to have a latitude obtained by adding a predetermined longitude L0 to Lmax, and an outer end area is set. Here, the predetermined latitude B0 and the predetermined longitude L0 are stored in advance by converting the extension width D determined in advance as a criterion for determining whether or not they are “close” to latitude and longitude values.

  Next, the POI information management unit 11 sends the position coordinates including the outer end region and the rectangular region to the data search unit 14, and the position coordinate information 23 indicating the position coordinates included in the outer end region and the type information 24 indicating the same type. The data search unit 14 is controlled to search for POI data including The POI data to be searched for is not necessarily limited to the POI data included in the target POI population S defined in step S1, and may be POI data outside the target POI population S. This is a range in which the target POI population S is set for convenience in order to execute the POI information creation process within a realistic time, and the same type of POI data is placed inside and outside the target POI population S. This is because there may be cases where they are close to each other.

  In the next step S5, the POI information management unit 11 includes POI data including the type information 24 of the same type as the component A selected in step S3 in the rectangular area set in step S4. It is determined whether there is POI data that is not registered in the group component list L.

  Then, when the POI data is included in the search result from the data search unit 14, the POI information management unit 11 determines that there is the same type of POI data close to the component A, and in step S6, the POI data Is registered in the provisional POI group component list L, and the process returns to step S4. As a result, the POI information management unit 11 updates the proximity determination reference value by setting a rectangular area including the newly registered POI data as the component A (step S4), and the adjacent POI data of the same type is updated. By repeatedly determining whether or not it exists (step S5), POIs of the same type and close to each other are collected.

  On the other hand, if the POI data is not included in the search result from the data search unit 14, the POI information management unit 11 determines that there is no POI data of the same type adjacent to the component A, and the process proceeds to step S7. Proceed with the process.

  In step S7, the POI information management unit 11 determines whether or not the number of POI data included in the provisional POI group component list L as the component A is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. When the POI information management unit 11 determines that the number of POI data of the component A is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (for example, 5), the process proceeds to step S8, and the number of POI data of the component A is the predetermined number. If not, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S8, the POI information management unit 11 sets the POI data that is the constituent element A of the temporary POI group constituent element list L to the POI group, and creates new POI group data. Then, the POI information management unit 11 controls the data search unit 14 so that the newly created POI group data is stored in the storage unit 5.

  At this time, the POI information management unit 11 sets the constituent element list information 27 of the newly created POI group data to the ID of the POI data that is the constituent element A, and the POI data group that is the constituent element A The number information 28 is set to the ID of the newly created POI group data.

  Further, the POI information management unit 11 creates name information 22 of POI group data based on the name information 22, position coordinate information 23, and type information 24 of the POI data that is the component A. Specifically, the POI information management unit 11 controls the data search unit 14 to read out road links close to the position coordinates of each POI data, and assigns a common route name, for example, ring No. 2 to them. If there is a common route name, the name information 22 such as “(route name) along the line (type name) group” is created by combining the route name and the type name of each POI data. . On the other hand, when there is no common route name, the place name is checked from the map information in which each POI data exists, and the place name commonly assigned to the most POI data is used as “(place name) (type”. Name information 22 such as “name) group” is created. At this time, the POI information management unit 11 obtains the position coordinates used when creating the name information 22 from the average value of the latitude and longitude of each POI. Also, the POI information management unit 11 obtains, for example, the average value of the latitude and longitude of each POI, and creates single position coordinate information 23 for the POI group data.

  Further, the POI information management unit 11 obtains the redisplay scale information 26 according to the distribution of the position coordinates of the POI data. At this time, the POI information management unit 11 obtains the smallest rectangular area including all the POIs from the maximum and minimum values of latitude and longitude determined in step S4, and the most detailed scale within which the rectangular area can fit within the display screen. Set to.

  Furthermore, when the POI information management unit 11 creates the display level information 25 of the POI group data, in order to display all POIs included in the POI group data, the POI information management unit 11 has a wider scale than the display scale for displaying each POI. Since it should be displayed on a map, for example, it is set to a display level that is one step higher than the display level that performs the widest display among the display levels set for each POI data so that it is displayed one scale higher To do. The POI information management unit 11 may obtain a rectangular area to be displayed at a scale set in the redisplay scale information 26, and may set a higher display level when the size of the rectangular area is large.

  On the other hand, in step S9, the POI information management unit 11 causes the POI to be registered as a POI group because the number of POI data constituting the component A in step S7 is less than the predetermined number. It is determined that it is not, and the component A (POI data) included in the provisional POI group component list L is deleted from the target POI population S. As a result, the POI information management unit 11 excludes the POI data from processing, clears the provisional POI group component list L, returns to step S2, and proceeds to processing for creating other POI group data.

  At this time, the POI information management unit 11 may include POI data outside the target POI population S in the provisional POI group component list L as described above. In this case, the target POI population S And only the POI data included in the provisional POI group component list L is deleted from the target POI population S.

[Display control processing]
Next, a display control process for displaying a POI that is a constituent element of POI group data with reference to the POI group data created by the POI information creation process described above will be described.

  When the arithmetic processing unit 1 performs display control processing such as map display, map call display, point registration, and detailed information display on the POI group data, a process of displaying each POI data included in the POI group data; Similar processing is performed.

  In the arithmetic processing unit 1, when performing map display, the data search unit 14 reads out map information necessary for map drawing in accordance with the display range determined by the display position determination unit 12, and an output information creation unit using the map information The display data is created by 13. At this time, the output information creation unit 13 refers to the display level information 25 included in the POI data and POI group data and determines whether to display the POI superimposed on the map display at the current scale or not to display it. Display data is created.

  As a result, the arithmetic processing unit 1 displays the POI group when the map is displayed at the wide scale, and displays each POI when the map is displayed at the detailed scale. Further, the arithmetic processing unit 1 performs the same display control process for the POI and the POI group for the redisplay of the map, the location registration, and the detailed information display.

  Specifically, when a map 41 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed by the output unit 3, for example, the user speaks the name of the POI group “ring 2 ramen group” shown on the map by voice. When the input is made, the POI information management unit 11 controls the output information creation unit 13 to display the operation input command menu 42 as shown in FIG. The operation input command menu 42 presents to the user the contents that can be processed by the arithmetic processing unit 1 based on the operation input information from the input unit 2 based on the current state of the arithmetic processing unit 1.

  When the operation input information designating “call display” is input from the input unit 2, the POI information management unit 11 searches the POI information using the contents of the operation input information and the “ring 2 ramen group” as keys. The data search unit 14 is controlled to perform processing. Then, the data search unit 14 outputs POI group data and map information whose name is the detected “ring 2 ramen group” to the output information creation unit 13. In response to this, the output information creation unit 13 creates display data indicating a map of the redisplay scale centered on the coordinate position with reference to the position coordinate information 23 and the redisplay scale information 26 of the POI group data. By displaying it on the output unit 3, a map 41 including a POI indicating a ramen shop that is a constituent element of the POI group data as shown in FIG. 7 is presented.

  In the POI information management unit 11, when the operation input information designating “point registration” is input from the input unit 2 while the map 41 and the operation input command menu 42 shown in FIG. 6 are displayed, The data search unit 14 is controlled so that the position coordinate information 23 of the POI group data having the name “ring 2 ramen group” is stored in the storage unit 5 as a favorite point of the user. At this time, the data search unit 14 stores, for example, a preset “user's favorite spot list”, name information 22 and “position coordinate information 23” as “ring 2 ramen groups” in association with each other, and the like. register. As a result, the arithmetic processing unit 1 can directly call from another menu or edit the displayed name or design at the next operation.

  Further, in the state where the POI information management unit 11 displays the map 41 and the operation input command menu 42 shown in FIG. 6, when operation input information designating “detailed information display” is input from the input unit 2. If there is predetermined detailed information, the detailed information is read and detailed information 43 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. When the POI information management unit 11 does not include detailed information like the POI group data created by the POI information creation process described above, the POI information management unit 11 stores the name information 22 and the component list information 27 included in the POI group data. The data search unit 14 is controlled so that the name information 22 and the like of the registered POI data is sent to the output information creation unit 13 for display.

  Furthermore, the POI information management unit 11 receives the operation input information for designating “ΔΔ forest” from the input unit 2 while the map 41 shown in FIG. 5 is being displayed, as shown in FIG. When the operation input command menu 42 is displayed, when “call display” is selected and the map of the scale that outlines the Δ △ forest is displayed again, “point registration” is selected and the user's favorite point is displayed. When “detailed information display” is selected and detailed information such as the opening time, number of parking lots, and incidental facilities of △△ forest is displayed, the same processing as the processing for the POI group data described above is performed. I do.

[Destination setting process]
Next, the destination setting process for setting the destination of the vehicle using the POI data and the POI group data in the navigation apparatus as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In this destination setting process, first, in step S11, for example, when the map 41 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, the operation input information for designating the POI or the POI group in the map 41 is inputted. When the operation input command menu 42 regarding the POI or POI group as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, the POI information management unit 11 inputs operation input information for designating “destination setting” from the input unit 2.

  In the next step S2, the POI information management unit 11 determines whether the processing target of the destination setting process is POI data, thereby determining whether the processing target is POI data or POI group data. Then, the POI information management unit 11 proceeds to step S17 when it is determined that the processing target is POI data, and proceeds to step S13 when it is determined that the processing target is POI group data.

  In step S17, the POI information management unit 11 sets the position coordinate information 23 of the selected POI data as a destination, and sends the position coordinates indicating the destination to the route search unit 15 via the data search unit 14. . Thereby, in step S19, the route search part 15 performs the route search process which calculates | requires a guidance route using the map information required for a route search process.

  On the other hand, in step S13, the POI information management unit 11 compares the position coordinate information 23 of the POI group data indicating the POI group selected in step S11 with the current position information from the current position acquisition unit 4. The distance between the current position and the POI group is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the distance between the current position and the POI group is a predetermined distance or more. Here, the predetermined distance may be a fixed value set in advance, or may be obtained according to the position coordinate distribution range of the POI that is a constituent element of the POI group selected in step S11. At this time, the POI information management unit 11 may obtain a minimum rectangular area that includes all the POIs that are constituent elements, and may set a distance that is three times the diagonal of the rectangular area as the predetermined distance. If the POI information management unit 11 determines that the distance between the current position and the POI group is a predetermined distance or more, the process proceeds to step S18, and the distance between the current position and the POI group is a predetermined distance or more. If it is determined that it is not, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S18, the POI information management unit 11 sets the position coordinate information 23 of the POI group data selected in step S11 as a destination, and searches the route for the position coordinates indicating the destination via the data search unit 14. Send to part 15. Thereby, in step S19, the route search part 15 performs the route search process which calculates | requires a guidance route using the map information required for a route search process.

  In step S14, the POI information management unit 11 controls the data search unit 14 to supply the output information creation unit 13 with the POI data that is a component of the POI group selected in step S11. The creation unit 13 creates display data for displaying a list of POIs constituting the POI group and presents them to the user. In addition, the output information creation unit 13 displays a list of POIs and presents a request for selecting a POI included in the list to the user.

  In the next step S15, the POI information management unit 11 inputs operation input information for designating any POI from the input unit 2 in response to the POI list displayed in step S14, and the process proceeds to step S16. To determine which POI has been selected. At this time, in the POI information management unit 11, when operation input information for selecting cancel is input without selecting an individual POI, the process proceeds to step S18, and operation input information for selecting an individual POI is input. In that case, the process proceeds to step S17. As a result, the POI information management unit 11 sets the POI group or POI position coordinate information 23 selected in step S11 as a destination (step S17, step S18), and performs a process for obtaining a guidance route (step S19). .

  Thereby, in the arithmetic processing unit 1, even when an individual POI is selected as a destination or a POI group is selected, the position coordinate information 23 of the POI data and the position coordinate information of the POI group data are selected. 23 can be used to set the destination.

  In this navigation device, even when the waypoint setting process is selected and the waypoint is set while the operation input command menu 42 is displayed, the same process as the destination setting process described above is performed. Thus, the waypoint can be set using the position coordinate information 23 of the POI data and the position coordinate information 23 of the POI group data.

[Route guidance processing]
Next, in the navigation device as described above, the POI data and the POI group data are used to specify the POI group as a destination or waypoint, and based on the vehicle guidance route obtained by the route search unit 15, the vehicle A processing procedure of route guidance processing for guiding the route will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This route guidance process is executed, for example, every predetermined period when the vehicle is traveling.

  In this route guidance processing, first, in step S21, the POI information management unit 11 selects a destination or waypoint where the position coordinates of the POI group are specified among the destinations or waypoints of the currently set guidance route. Determine if it exists. When the POI information management unit 11 determines that there is a destination or waypoint for which the POI group position coordinates are specified, the process proceeds to step S23, and the POI group position coordinates are specified. If there is no place or waypoint, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, the POI information management unit 11 performs a normal route guidance process based on the current position information of the host vehicle and the guidance route, and ends the process. The normal route guidance process is a process for notifying the user of the direction of the turn of the vehicle when the vehicle approaches the intersection where the vehicle should turn left or right from the current position information, and determined that the vehicle has traveled off the guidance route. In this case, the process of re-searching the guidance route from the current position to the destination is continuously executed until the host vehicle finally approaches or reaches the destination.

  In step S23, the POI information management unit 11 compares the current position information from the current position acquisition unit 4 with the position coordinates of the POI group set as the destination or waypoint of the guidance route, and the own vehicle Is determined to approach any of the POI groups within a predetermined distance. As this predetermined distance, the same value as the value used for determining whether the position coordinates of the POI group are set as the destination or the position coordinates of the individual POIs as the destination in the above step S13 can be used. When the POI information management unit 11 determines that the host vehicle has not approached any of the POI groups within a predetermined distance, the POI information management unit 11 proceeds to step S24, and the host vehicle has moved to the POI group at a predetermined distance. If it is determined that they are approaching within, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S24, the POI information management unit 11 performs the normal route guidance process described above for a predetermined time, and returns the process to step S23. As a result, when the POI information management unit 11 performs a normal route guidance process, the vehicle is approaching any one of the POI groups set as the destination or the waypoint within a predetermined distance. The determination in step S23 is repeated periodically until it is determined. The condition for shifting to the process of step S23 after performing the normal route guidance process in step S24 may be that the route guidance process is temporarily interrupted when the calculation load required for the route guidance process decreases. . In step S24, the route guidance process is performed again from the previous route guidance state that was interrupted by the process in step S23.

  In step S25, the POI information management unit 11 controls the data search unit 14 to read the POI group data of the POI group determined to have approached within a predetermined distance from the host vehicle in step S23, and the POI group The output information creation unit 13 is controlled to display a list of the position coordinate information 23 of the POI data that is a data component.

  Next, when the operation input information from the input unit 2 is input in step S26, the POI information management unit 11 is the operation input information for selecting one of the POIs displayed as a list in step S27. It is determined whether the operation input information is canceled.

  If it is determined that any POI group has been selected, the POI information management unit 11 resets the position coordinates of the selected POI to the destination or waypoint in step S28, and re-enters in step S29. The route search unit 15 is controlled to search the guidance route most using the set destination or waypoint, and the process returns to step S21.

  On the other hand, when the canceled operation input information is input, the POI information management unit 11 details the destination for the POI group determined in step S30 that the vehicle has approached within a predetermined distance in step S23. A non-detailed flag indicating that it is not set is set, and the process returns to step S21. This is because it is determined from the operation input information that the position coordinates of the POI that is a constituent element of the POI group are not set as the destination or the waypoint. As a result, the POI information management unit 11 does not perform the subsequent steps S25 to S30 for the POI group set in the flag indicating that the destination is not set in detail.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above in detail, according to the navigation device according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, POI group data including the same type of POIs whose position coordinates are close to each other as a constituent element is generated and processed by a user operation. If it is determined that the target is POI data, navigation processing using POI data is performed. If it is determined that the processing target is POI group data, navigation processing using POI group data is performed. Can be performed in the same way as navigation processing for a single POI, and the navigation processing is intended for a place where the POI intended by the user is concentrated. Can be done easily. Specifically, according to the navigation device, it is possible to perform processing for a place where POIs with high user interest are concentrated in the same way as processing for a single POI, and do not directly specify the POI as a destination. It is possible to perform navigation processing such as provisional route setting and processing for displaying a place where POI is concentrated on a wide area map.

  Further, according to this navigation device, the name of the POI group is displayed when the map display scale is wide-area display, and the name of a single POI is displayed when the map display scale is detailed display. Since navigation processing is performed, the POI group name can be displayed by displaying the POI group name even when the map is displayed in a wide area display, and the POI intended by the user can be easily displayed. Can be found. In particular, according to this navigation device, it is possible to avoid a problem that the user does not notice that POIs of the same type are concentrated in a state where the individual POIs are distributed and displayed in one screen.

  Further, according to this navigation device, when the operation input information for setting the POI group information as the destination or the waypoint is input, the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the POI group is a long distance. In such a case, the position coordinates indicated by the POI group are set as the destination or waypoint, and if the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the POI group is a short distance, it is included in the POI group Since the position coordinates indicated by any of the POIs of the constituent elements are set to the destination or waypoint, when the host vehicle is away from the destination, a troublesome operation such as setting each POI as the destination is performed. Thus, a temporary route can be set easily, and a detailed route can be set after considering the POI actually visited when approaching the destination. Therefore, according to this navigation device, it is possible to flexibly set an appropriate route according to the situation of the user, and it is possible to improve convenience.

  Furthermore, according to this navigation apparatus, when the POI group is set as the destination or waypoint, the POI group is set when the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the destination or waypoint is within a predetermined distance. Since the POI of any of the constituent elements included is set as the destination or waypoint, even if the location where the POI is concentrated is temporarily set as the destination or waypoint, the vehicle and the POI It is possible to prompt the user to set a detailed route according to the distance from the group, and the convenience can be further improved.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made depending on the design and the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from this embodiment. Of course, it is possible to change.

  That is, in the navigation device described above, the case where the POI information is created by the arithmetic processing unit 1 mounted on the vehicle has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information such as map information and route search results is received from the server. In the case of a server-client type communication navigation device, POI information may be created by the server at the time of data maintenance, and the data may be appropriately transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device as a client and stored.

  In the navigation device described above, in the route guidance process and the destination and waypoint setting process, a POI group is set using a group of POIs of the same type that are close to each other as a constituent element. The POI of the destination area including the destination may be set as the destination, and the POI set for the destination may be processed and presented to the user.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating POI information made into the database memorize | stored in a memory | storage part in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of POI information preparation processing in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting process of the area | region when creating the component of POI group in the POI information creation process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map which superimposed the name of POI group in the display control process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the operation input command menu when making POI group into the process target in the display control process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map which superimposed the name of the component of POI group in the display control process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the detailed information of the component of POI group in the display control process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the destination setting process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the route guidance process in the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation processing part 2 Input part 3 Output part 11 POI information management part 12 Display position determination part 13 Output information creation part 14 Data search part 15 Path | route search part 21 ID information 22 Name information 23 Position coordinate information 24 Type information 25 Display level information 26 Redisplay Scale Information 27 Component List Information 28 Group Number Information 31 POI Data 32 POI Group Data 41 Map 42 Operation Input Command Menu 43 Detailed Information

Claims (6)

Processing for setting a destination or waypoint of the vehicle, guidance route setting processing for setting a guide route from the current location of the vehicle to the waypoint or the destination, and route guidance processing for guiding the vehicle to the destination according to the guide route A navigation device that performs navigation processing including:
An input means for generating operation input information corresponding to the user's operation;
Arithmetic processing means for performing navigation processing according to the operation input information generated by the input means;
Output means for presenting the processing result of the navigation processing of the arithmetic processing means to the user;
Map information indicating a map, point information indicating a type and position coordinate regarding a point included in the map information, and a close position coordinate and the same type of point information as a constituent element are associated with a single position coordinate. Storage means for storing the point group information registered in the
The arithmetic processing means performs navigation processing using the spot information stored in the storage means when the processing target is determined to be the spot information based on the operation input information generated by the input means, and the input A navigation apparatus characterized in that when the processing target is determined to be the point group information based on the operation input information generated by the means, navigation processing is performed using the point group information stored in the storage means.   When the map display scale displayed on the output means is a wide area display, the arithmetic processing means displays the name of the point group information, and the map display scale displayed on the output means is a detailed display. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein navigation processing for displaying a name of the point information is performed.   When the operation means generates operation input information for setting the point group information as a destination or waypoint by the input means, the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the point group information is When it is a long distance, the position coordinates indicated by the point group information are set as a destination or a transit point, and the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the point group information is a short distance The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position coordinates indicated by the point information of any of the components included in the point group information are set as a destination or a waypoint.   The arithmetic processing means sets the position coordinates indicated by the point group information as a destination or waypoint, and the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates set at the destination or waypoint is within a predetermined distance. The output means is controlled so as to present that the position coordinates indicated by the point information of any of the components included in the point group information are set as a destination or a stopover The navigation device according to claim 3. Processing for setting a destination or waypoint of the vehicle, guidance route setting processing for setting a guide route from the current location of the vehicle to the waypoint or the destination, and route guidance processing for guiding the vehicle to the destination according to the guide route A navigation device that performs navigation processing including:
An input means for generating operation input information corresponding to the user's operation;
Arithmetic processing means for performing navigation processing according to the operation input information generated by the input means;
Output means for presenting the processing result of the navigation processing of the arithmetic processing means to the user;
Map information indicating a map, point information indicating a type and position coordinate regarding a point included in the map information, and a close position coordinate and the same type of point information as a constituent element are associated with a single position coordinate. Storage means for storing the point group information registered in the
The arithmetic processing means, when the operation input information for setting the point group information as a destination or waypoint is generated by the input means, the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the point group information Is a long distance, the position coordinates indicated by the point group information are set as a destination or a transit point, and the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates indicated by the point group information is a short distance. In this case, the navigation apparatus is characterized in that the position coordinates indicated by the point information of any of the components included in the point group information are set as a destination or a waypoint.   The arithmetic processing means sets the position coordinates indicated by the point group information as a destination or waypoint, and the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates set at the destination or waypoint is within a predetermined distance. The output means is controlled so as to present that the position coordinates indicated by the point information of any of the components included in the point group information are set as a destination or a stopover The navigation device according to claim 5.

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