JP2005257329A - Navigation system, navigation method, and navigation program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation technology, capable of making a user easily distinguish the same type of roads as a road, in which the user is traveling at present from other types of roads and having high visibility and having a high level of visibility and usefulness. <P>SOLUTION: This navigation system retrieves and performs guidance on a route for a mobile body to move from a departure point to a specified destination, on the basis of road map data storing previously provided data indicating the types of roads. The navigation system comprises a present location detecting part 40 for detecting the present location of the mobile body; a travel road kind determining part 43 for determining the kind of road in which one is traveling at the present, on the basis of the road map data and the present location; a same-kind road selecting part 44 for selecting the same type of road as the road on which one is traveling at the present; and a display control part 45 for changing a display method of the same type of road selected at the same-kind road selecting part 44 to a display method for other kinds of roads. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention has been improved, for example, in a navigation device that guides and guides a moving route of a moving body so that a road of the same type as the currently traveling road can be displayed separately from other types of roads. The present invention relates to a navigation technology, that is, a navigation device, a method, and a navigation program.

  In recent years, with the generalization of automobiles and the development of information processing technology, navigation devices represented by in-vehicle use are rapidly spreading. This navigation device uses the road map data stored in a DVD, HDD, etc. to detect the current position (latitude, longitude, etc.) of the vehicle that is sequentially detected by a geomagnetic sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a GPS sensor, etc. In addition to displaying above, based on the route data included in the road map data, it calculates the optimal guidance route from the current position to the specified destination, and guides it with specific display or voice synthesis. is there.

By the way, in the above-mentioned navigation apparatus, in the navigation device as described above, since the general road and the elevated road are arranged in three dimensions, they are displayed overlapping on the map, or because both are adjacent to each other. A technique has been proposed in which one display color is changed to another color when the display on the map is difficult to see.
JP 2003-114130 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays one road only when the vehicle is traveling on a general road and the general road and the highway overlap or are close to each other on a map. The method is changed, and when a wide area is displayed, such as when the destination is far away, it is very difficult to identify a place where a general road and a highway are mixed.

  In addition, when trying to travel in urban areas and urban areas where highways such as general roads and highways are densely arranged, it seems as if the general roads and the highways intersect on the map. May be displayed. For this reason, it is easy for a user traveling on an unfamiliar road to easily determine whether or not there is an intersection, and there is a high risk of making an erroneous determination that a left turn or a right turn is possible.

  Furthermore, even if a user who is not accustomed to high-speed driving wants to drive using only a general road to the destination, all the general roads and highways are displayed on the display screen. However, it was not easy to visually recognize and lacked usefulness.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is to identify a road of the same type as the road on which the user is currently traveling, It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation technology, that is, a navigation device, a method, and a program that can be easily distinguished from a road and has high visibility and usefulness.

  In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device according to claim 1 uses a computer or an electronic circuit, and based on road map data in which data indicating a type of road provided in advance is stored, the current position of the moving body In a navigation device that displays a map corresponding to the current position, a current position detection unit that detects a current position of the mobile object, and the mobile object currently travels based on the road map data and the current position. A road type discriminating unit that discriminates the type of a road that is running, an identical type road selecting unit that selects, from the road map data, a road of the same type as the road on which the moving body is currently running, It has a display control part which changes the display method of the road selected by the same type road selection part with the display method of the road of other types.

  The navigation method according to claim 4 captures the invention according to claim 1 from the viewpoint of the method, and the computer or the electronic circuit stores the road map data in which data indicating the type of road provided in advance is stored. In the navigation method for displaying the current position of the moving body together with the map corresponding to the current position, the step of detecting the current position of the moving body, and the movement based on the road map data and the current position Determining the type of road on which the body is currently traveling, selecting from the road map data a road of the same type as the road on which the mobile body is currently traveling, and the selected road And changing the display method to a display method for other types of roads.

  A navigation program according to a seventh aspect captures the invention according to the first and fourth aspects from the viewpoint of a computer program, and stores data indicating the type of road prepared in advance by controlling the computer. In the navigation program for displaying the current position of the moving object together with the map corresponding to the current position based on the road map data, the computer detects the current position of the moving object, and the road map data and the Based on the current position, the type of road on which the mobile unit is currently traveling is determined, and the road map data is selected from the same type of road on which the mobile unit is currently traveling, The display method of the selected road is changed from the display method of other types of roads.

  In the inventions according to claims 1, 4, and 7 as described above, urban areas and urban areas where “general roads” and “elevated roads” having different road types are densely provided are provided. Even if you are going to drive, only roads of the same type as the road on which your vehicle is currently driving are highlighted and displayed. It can be prevented from becoming difficult to see.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the processing in the display control unit displays a road of the same type as the road on which the moving body is currently traveling in color, The type of road other than the above is displayed in monochrome.

  The invention according to claim 5 captures the invention according to claim 2 from the viewpoint of the method, and in the navigation method according to claim 4, the process of changing the display method is performed by A road of the same type as the road that is running is displayed in color, and other types of roads are displayed in monochrome.

  The invention described in claim 8 captures the inventions described in claim 2 and claim 5 from the viewpoint of a computer program. In the navigation program described in claim 7, the process for changing the display method is performed. The road of the same type as the road on which the mobile body is currently traveling is displayed in color, and the other types of roads are displayed in monochrome.

  The invention described in claims 2, 5 and 8 as described above is a process in the display control unit in the invention in claim 1, a process for changing the display method in the invention in claim 4, or The process for changing the display method in the invention of claim 7 is more specifically shown, and by these means, only the road of the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling is emphasized. Visibility can be greatly improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the processing in the display control unit displays a road of the same type as the road on which the moving body is currently traveling in a predetermined color. Other types of roads are displayed in a translucent manner.

  The invention according to claim 6 captures the invention according to claim 3 from the viewpoint of the method, and in the navigation method according to claim 4, the process of changing the display method is performed by A road of the same type as the road that is running is displayed in a predetermined color, and other types of roads are displayed in a translucent manner.

  The invention described in claim 9 captures the inventions described in claim 3 and claim 6 from the viewpoint of a computer program. In the navigation program described in claim 7, the process of changing the display method is performed. The road of the same type as the road on which the moving body is currently traveling is displayed in a predetermined color, and the other types of roads are displayed in a translucent manner.

  The invention described in claims 3, 6 and 9 as described above is a process in the display control unit in the invention in claim 1, a process for changing the display method in the invention in claim 4, or The process for changing the display method in the invention of claim 7 is more specifically shown, and by these means, only the road of the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling is emphasized. Visibility can be greatly improved.

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to easily distinguish a road of the same type as the road on which the user is currently traveling from other types of roads, which is highly visible and useful navigation. Techniques, i.e. navigation devices, methods and programs can be provided.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although this embodiment is realizable by controlling the computer provided with the peripheral device by the program, the implementation | achievement aspect of the hardware and program in this case can be variously changed. In addition to the navigation apparatus and method, the present invention can be grasped as a program as described above and a computer-readable storage medium storing such a program. Therefore, in the following description, virtual circuit blocks that implement the functions of the present invention and this embodiment are used.

[1. Constitution〕
[1-1. overall structure〕
First, the navigation device in the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “this device”) generally displays a road belonging to the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, differently from roads belonging to other types. Displaying with a method (for example, highlighting) ensures excellent visibility and usefulness for the user, and includes the following elements shown in the functional block diagram of FIG.

  That is, the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and direction on the ground surface with respect to the current position of the automobile (referred to as the own vehicle) on which the apparatus is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position. This is a part for receiving GPS radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites with an antenna or a receiver. The relative azimuth detection unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative azimuth of the host vehicle using a gyroscope or the like. The vehicle speed detection part 3 is a part which calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing the vehicle speed pulse obtained from a motor vehicle.

  The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are parts that serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus. The memory group M is various memories necessary for the operation of the apparatus. For example, the ROM 5 for storing programs is accessed by the main CPU when the apparatus is activated. A main program is loaded into a dynamic RAM (DRAM) 6 that provides a work area and the like.

  The SRAM (static RAM) 7 is a storage means for acquiring and storing various settings such as the current position, destination, route, and information included in the road map data, and while the main power is off. Is also backed up by a battery and provides memory contents when turned on, but can be replaced by other storage means such as flash memory or hard disk drives. A display VRAM (video RAM) 8 stores bitmap data of an image to be displayed on the display unit 10.

  The display unit 10 is a part that displays various types of information such as a map, an operation menu, a search list, and point information on a liquid crystal display screen (not shown). The voice output means can be used together with the guidance by the synthesized voice. The input unit 11 is a part for a user to input information such as a command from a switch or the like. The input unit 11 includes a touch sensor function, a remote control unit, an infrared transmission / reception unit, and the like, but is configured integrally with the display unit 10 as a touch panel. Or it can be configured as a switch on the front panel. The user interface unit 9 is a user interface that connects the display unit 10 and the input unit 11 to the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 using an I / O control circuit, a device driver, or the like.

  The HDD control unit 12 is means for reading various data such as a navigation program recorded in a hard disk (mass storage device) from a database. The database includes various scale map data, a network structure of roads or road sections. Is stored together with type data indicating the type of road (general road, highway, toll road, etc.). The road map data includes various point information regarding points on the map. The point information includes, for example, the coordinates of the point, the name of the point, the type of the point, the data for the search list such as the address and the telephone number, the type of the road that the point is in contact with, and the like. In addition, interface data necessary for the navigation program, for example, menus, lists, buttons, guidance displays (direction, distance, time, etc.), various marks (landmarks, icons, current position, travel locus, etc.) may be included. Good.

  The program and data storage locations described above can be realized by various storage media, and it is possible to freely design which storage media to store a part or all of. Therefore, not only the main program but also a part of navigation interface data may be stored in the ROM 5 in advance. Further, instead of the hard disk, a CD-ROM control unit, a DVD-ROM control unit, or the like may use data read from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

  The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part that receives FM broadcast waves and extracts desired data such as traffic information of the VICS service from the broadcast waves. The traffic information includes traffic jam information. The optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14 is a part that receives and processes information such as identification information of each beacon and traffic information of the VICS service from an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on a shoulder or the like.

[1-2. Role of main CPU and its peripheral circuits]
Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are configured to realize the roles as the following parts shown in FIG. 1 by the action of the program as described above. That is, the current position detection unit 40 is means for sequentially calculating the own vehicle position, and specifically, is configured to calculate the own vehicle position by combining GPS navigation positioning and autonomous navigation positioning. .

  Here, in GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained by the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 based on radio waves from an artificial satellite. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative bearing detection unit 2 and the vehicle speed detection unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the host vehicle.

  The destination designation unit 41 is means for receiving designation of a destination, that is, input by facility search from a database in which the road map data is recorded or cursor designation on a map. The route setting unit 42 calculates a route from the current position detected by the current position detecting unit 40 to the destination specified by the destination specifying unit 41 based on the road map data, and obtains the result. It is a means for setting a given route.

  The traveling road type discriminating unit 43 is a means for discriminating the type of road (general road, highway, toll road, etc.) on which the vehicle is currently traveling based on the current position, traveling direction, road map data, and the like. . Any known technique can be applied to this traveling road type discrimination method, and it is not limited to a specific one. For example, it is possible to use a method of discriminating from the VICS reception signal, a method of discriminating that the vehicle has entered the expressway by receiving ETC radio waves from the tollgate on the expressway, and the like.

  The same type road selection unit 44 is a means for selecting a road of the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling from the road map data and sending the information to the display control unit 45 described later. This selection process is executed, for example, by referring to road type data attached to each road stored in advance in the road map data.

The display control unit 45 highlights the road selected by the same type road selection unit 44 as being the same type of road as the currently running road with respect to other roads, etc. This is a means for changing the display method.
As an example of changing the display method, roads of the same type as the road that is currently running are displayed in “color”, and roads of other types are displayed in “monochrome”, or they are currently running. A method may be considered in which roads of the same type as the existing road are displayed darkly and roads of other types are displayed lightly. This “thin” display method includes a “semi-transparent” display method.

  Further, the map display unit 46 is based on the calculated vehicle position, route, road type, and road map data, and the vehicle is currently traveling on a map around the vehicle position or on a wide-area map. This is means for distinguishing roads of the same type as roads from other roads and displaying them on the display unit 10 in a three-dimensional display or in another manner. In addition, a mode for highlighting and displaying the same type of road as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling so that it can be easily identified can be set in advance in the navigation program. Based on this, display processing is performed.

  The guidance control unit 47 is a means for controlling guidance guidance by determining elements to be displayed in the route, elements such as blinking emphasis, and using combined speech. That is, the current position detection unit 40, the route setting unit 42, the map display unit 46, and the guidance control unit 47 determine the route to the designated destination based on the road map data read from the HDD control unit 12. Navigation means for searching for and guiding guidance.

[2. Action)
An example of processing according to the present embodiment as described above will be described. As an outline, while a normal navigation display is performed on the display unit 10 while the vehicle is traveling, the type of road on which the vehicle is currently traveling (general road, highway, toll) is displayed by the traveling road type determination unit 43 Display control processing is performed so that the same type of road can be easily distinguished from other types of roads, and displayed on the display unit 10.

  Details of the processing will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that setting a destination and calculating a guidance route from the current position to the destination and performing guidance guidance are the same as in a normal navigation device, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  That is, when the vehicle starts traveling, normal navigation processing is performed, so that the current position and traveling direction, etc. are continuously detected by the absolute position / direction detection unit 1, the relative direction detection unit 2, the current position detection unit 40, and the like. It is detected (step 201). Then, the traveling road type determination unit 43 determines the type of road on which the vehicle is currently traveling (step 202).

  Subsequently, the same type road selection unit 44 selects a road of the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling from the road map data (step 203). Then, all roads of the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling are selected from all the roads existing in the range displayed on the display unit 10 (the surrounding area or the wide area of the vehicle). Whether or not it has been determined is determined (step 204), and the processing of step 203 to step 204 is repeated until all are selected.

  When all roads of the same type as the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling are selected, the display control unit 45 changes the display method of those roads (step 205). Note that the specific content of the change in the display method is set in advance as described above.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the type of road on which the vehicle is currently traveling has changed (step 206). For example, the type of road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, such as entering a highway from a general road, is determined. If it is determined that it has changed, the process returns to step 202 and the same processing as described above is performed. On the other hand, if the type of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling has not changed, it is determined whether or not to end the navigation (step 207). If not, the processing from step 206 to step 207 is performed. repeat.

[3. effect〕
According to the present embodiment as described above, the host vehicle is currently traveling even when trying to travel in an urban area or urban area where general roads and elevated roads are densely provided. Since only roads of the same type as the road are highlighted, it is possible to prevent the currently running road from becoming difficult to see due to other types of roads. For example, if the user wants to leave the city center using only the current highway (for example, the Metropolitan Expressway), only the highway that is the same as the road on which the vehicle is traveling is emphasized. Since it is displayed, it becomes possible to drive without being bothered by a general road that is densely provided around the area.

  In addition, when a user who is unfamiliar with driving or a user unfamiliar with high-speed driving wants to travel to the destination using only the same general road that is currently traveling, only the general road is displayed on the display screen. Is displayed with emphasis, making it easier to grasp various information related to general roads (for example, restaurants facing the general roads, gas station locations, etc.), and highway entrance / exit indications, Since the user is not confused by the display of the service area along the road, a display screen that is easier to understand can be obtained.

(2) Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as distinguishable road types, not only general roads and expressways but also toll roads, road widths are a certain width or more. The road can be set as appropriate. For example, if the display method of a road narrower than the currently running road width is changed, it is possible to travel with peace of mind even if the user is not used to driving.
In addition to the examples described above, various display modes such as changing the thickness of the road, changing the shape such as a solid line and a dotted line, and the like can be applied as examples of changing the display method depending on the road type.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a so-called off-board type navigation system in which the latest data can be provided via a wireless communication network, instead of the so-called on-board type in which navigation data is placed in the vehicle. It is. In this case, a server outside the vehicle connected via the communication network can perform all or part of the above processing, and the processing result is reduced by the in-vehicle computer to acquire the processing result. be able to. In addition, this invention is not limited to vehicle-mounted use, It is applicable also to another moving means and portable navigation.

The functional block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows an example of the display screen when the own vehicle is drive | working a general road in the conventional navigation apparatus. The navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The figure which shows an example of the display screen when the own vehicle is drive | working a general road.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position and direction detection part 2 ... Relative direction detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit 5 ... ROM
6 ... DRAM
7 ... SRAM
8 ... VRAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... User interface part 10 ... Display part 11 ... Input part 12 ... HDD control part 13 ... FM multiplex reception and processing part 14 ... Light / radio wave beacon reception and processing part 40 ... Current position detection part 41 ... Destination designation part 42 ... Route setting unit 43 ... Traveling road type determination unit 44 ... Same type road selection unit 45 ... Display control unit 46 ... Map display unit 47 ... Guidance control unit M ... Memory group

Claims (9)

In a navigation device that displays the current position of a moving object together with a map corresponding to the current position based on road map data in which data indicating the type of road provided in advance is stored using a computer or an electronic circuit.
A current position detecting unit for detecting a current position of the moving body;
Based on the road map data and the current position, a traveling road type determination unit that determines the type of road on which the mobile body is currently traveling;
From the road map data, the same type road selection unit for selecting the same type of road as the road on which the mobile body is currently traveling,
A display control unit that changes a display method of the road selected by the same type road selection unit to a display method of other types of roads;
A navigation device comprising: The processing in the display control unit is
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a road of the same type as the road on which the mobile object is currently traveling is displayed in color, and other types of roads are displayed in monochrome. The processing in the display control unit is
The road of the same type as the road on which the mobile object is currently traveling is displayed in a predetermined color, and other types of roads are displayed in a translucent manner. Navigation device. In a navigation method in which a computer or an electronic circuit displays a current position of a moving object together with a map corresponding to the current position based on road map data in which data indicating a type of road provided in advance is stored.
Detecting a current position of the moving body;
Determining the type of road on which the mobile body is currently traveling based on the road map data and the current position;
Selecting the same type of road as the road on which the mobile is currently traveling from the road map data;
Changing the display method of the selected road with the display method of other types of roads;
A navigation method comprising: The process of changing the display method is as follows:
5. The navigation method according to claim 4, wherein a road of the same type as the road on which the mobile object is currently traveling is displayed in color, and other types of roads are displayed in monochrome. The process of changing the display method is as follows:
5. The road of the same type as the road on which the mobile object is currently traveling is displayed in a predetermined color, and other types of roads are displayed in a translucent manner. Navigation method. In a navigation program for displaying the current position of a moving object together with a map corresponding to the current position based on road map data storing data indicating the type of road provided in advance by controlling the computer,
In the computer,
Detecting the current position of the moving object;
Based on the road map data and the current position, to determine the type of road on which the mobile body is currently traveling,
From the road map data, let the mobile body select the same type of road as the road on which it is currently traveling,
A navigation program characterized by causing a display method of a selected road to be changed from a display method of other types of roads. Processing to change the display method,
8. The navigation program according to claim 7, wherein a road of the same type as the road on which the mobile body is currently traveling is displayed in color, and other types of roads are displayed in monochrome. Processing to change the display method,
8. The road of the same type as the road on which the mobile object is currently traveling is displayed in a predetermined color, and other types of roads are displayed in a translucent manner. Navigation program.

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