JP2006323096A - Map display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map display device capable of displaying and correcting the name of province which is changed by the consolidation of municipalities or the like on a screen by using an already possessed map database. <P>SOLUTION: The map display device comprises: a storage means for storing map data; a display means having the screen; an input means for inputting user's instructions; and a control means operatively connected to the respective means. When, in a state in which the control means refers to the map data and makes the screen 33 of the display means display a map picture based on the user instruction from the input means, one of the administrative division areas R1 included in the map picture is selected and a new administrative division name G0 after it is changed is inputted, the new administrative division name G0 is displayed on the administrative division area R1. In addition, by referring to the map data, the old administrative division area name G1 corresponding to the administrative division area R1 may be displayed concurrently. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a map display device, and more particularly to a technique useful for dealing with a map display when the name of an administrative division is changed due to merger of municipalities. The map display device according to the present invention can be applied to, for example, an in-vehicle navigation device.

  In a typical in-vehicle navigation device, a CPU for controlling all processing related to navigation, a storage device such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM storing map data, a display device, and a current position of the vehicle A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a gyro, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like for detecting the traveling direction and traveling speed of the vehicle are provided. Then, the CPU reads out map data including the current position of the own vehicle from the storage device, draws a map image around the own vehicle position on the screen of the display device based on the map data, and determines the current position of the own vehicle. The vehicle position mark to be indicated is displayed superimposed on the screen, the map image is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle, the map image is fixed on the screen and the vehicle position mark is moved, You can see at a glance where your car is currently driving.

  In-vehicle navigation devices are usually equipped with a function (route guidance function) that guides a user so that the user can easily travel on the road without making a mistake. According to this route guidance function, the CPU calculates the optimal route from the departure point (typically the current position of the vehicle) to the destination using map data, such as a horizontal search method or a Dijkstra method. The route searched is stored as a guide route, and the route can be distinguished from other roads on the map image while traveling (for example, the color is changed or the line width is increased). When a predetermined distance is reached to the approaching intersection on the guidance route, a guide map of the intersection (an enlarged view of the intersection, an arrow indicating the direction of travel at the intersection, the intersection) on the map image By displaying the distance to the intersection, the name of the intersection, etc., the user can grasp which road should be traveled and in which direction the intersection should be traveled.

  Thus, in a navigation device that performs route search and route guidance based on an in-vehicle map database, in order to provide highly accurate information guidance on road information, POI (Point Of Interest) information, etc., it is stored in a map database. It is desirable that the map data that reflects the latest information as much as possible.

  On the other hand, municipalities have recently been merged around the country due to the influence of administrative guidance, and administrative division names have sometimes been changed accordingly. In such a situation, the conventional navigation apparatus is particularly inconvenient because the map data can be updated (version up) for a type equipped with a rewritable storage medium such as an HDD as a map database. However, since the map data is not updated for a type equipped with a read-only storage medium such as a DVD-ROM, the new administrative district after the change is changed even if the city name is changed. The map cannot be displayed by name.

  In order to cope with this, it is sufficient to replace with a map storage medium such as a DVD-ROM storing the latest map information. However, since a considerable cost is required, it does not seem to be actively replaced. In addition, when comparing the convenience of being able to check the latest map when it is replaced and the inconvenience that is remembered when it is not replaced, it is necessary to replace it with the latest map storage medium until it is costly. It is doubtful. For example, the information about the names and addresses of roads, intersections, buildings, facilities, etc. in the information contained in the map data does not change so much in content even if there is a change, and generally changes little by little. There is no current inconvenience even if you do not rely on the latest map information. In fact, there are few users who frequently purchase navigation DVD-ROMs in such cases.

As a technique related to such a navigation device, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, in addition to a road map, a database including a house map showing addresses, buildings, names of facilities, etc. is provided, and the position and purpose of the vehicle The distance between the positions of the ground is calculated to determine whether it is larger or smaller than the predetermined distance. If the distance is larger than the predetermined distance, the position of the vehicle is displayed on the road map, and the distance is the predetermined distance In the case of smaller than this, there is a technique in which the map display is switched so that the position of the vehicle is displayed on the house map.
JP-A-5-113750

  As described above, since the map data is not updated in the conventional in-vehicle navigation device equipped with a read-only storage medium such as a DVD-ROM as the map database, the content of information included in the map data has changed. In the case of information that does not change so much in terms of contents such as names and addresses of buildings, facilities, etc., there is no much inconvenience without relying on the latest map information.

  However, if the information changes greatly in terms of content, such as a merger of cities, towns and towns, inconvenience occurs in the map database (old map information). In particular, when a municipality is merged, not only the name of the administrative division but also the administrative division area is generally changed. Even in such a case, only the map display with the old municipality name can be performed. It is also inconvenient that the map cannot be displayed with the new administrative division name and area after the change.

  In addition, some navigation devices have a function of performing color-coded display for each administrative division area so that the user can easily see when displaying a map, but a read-only memory such as a DVD-ROM is provided. As for the type equipped with media, even if the administrative division area is changed due to merger of municipalities, etc., it can not cope with the change, so the color-coded display for each area which should be a convenient function for the user is not useful There was also.

  The above-mentioned problem is not unique to the vehicle-mounted navigation device. For example, if it is in an environment where address search or the like can be performed from a map database such as a DVD-ROM already possessed, for example, a personal computer for home use It can happen in (PC) as well.

  The present invention was created in view of the problems in the prior art, and the administrative division name changed due to the merger of cities, towns and villages can be displayed and corrected on the screen using the map database already possessed. An object is to provide a map display device.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a map display device that can cope with correction of the color-coded display of the administrative division area accompanying the change of the administrative division name.

  In the present invention, when the user knows information related to the change of the administrative division name due to the merger of municipalities, etc. via an information transmission medium such as news, newspapers, the Internet, or when applied to an in-vehicle navigation device It is assumed that the name of the administrative division has been changed from a roadside sign or a guidance display board when the vehicle enters the administrative division area.

  Based on this premise, according to the basic form of the present invention, the storage means storing map data, the display means provided with a screen, the input means for inputting user instructions, the storage means, the display means and the input means Operably connected control means, wherein the control means is configured to display a map image based on a user instruction from the input means on the screen of the display means with reference to the map data. When any administrative division area included in the map image is selected and a new administrative division name after change is input, the inputted new administrative division name is displayed in the administrative division area. A featured map display device is provided.

  According to the map display device according to this basic form, for example, when applied to an in-vehicle navigation device, when the vehicle enters a certain administrative division area, the map displayed on the screen of the display means based on a user instruction When the administrative division area is selected from the image and the new administrative division name after the change is input, the input new administrative division name is added to the administrative division area on the map image based on the control from the control means. It is displayed.

  In other words, using the map data stored in the storage means (already owned map database), the administrative division name changed by the merger of municipalities, etc. is displayed (corrected) on the screen. . This makes it possible to display the map with the new administrative division name after the change without costly replacement for the latest map storage medium, which is inconvenient and inconvenient as seen in the prior art. Can be greatly reduced.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the map display device according to the above aspect, the control means causes the inputted new administrative division name to be displayed in the administrative division area on the screen of the display means. When another administrative division area that has been changed to the same name as the new administrative division name is selected, the new administrative division name is displayed in the selected other administrative division area. A map display device is provided that displays each administrative division area corresponding to the new administrative division name in the same color.

  According to the map display device according to this embodiment, the new administrative division name after the change is displayed in the administrative division area, and the administrative division area is changed to the same name as the new administrative division name. Is selected, the new administrative division name is displayed in the selected other administrative division area based on the control from the control means, and each administrative division area corresponding to the new administrative division name has the same color. Is displayed. In other words, when displaying by color-coded for each administrative division area, even if the administrative division area is changed with the change of administrative division name, it corresponds to the change (correction of color-coded display of the administrative division area) be able to.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment when a map display device according to the present invention is applied to an in-vehicle navigation device.

  In the illustrated configuration (map display device 20), 1 indicates a DVD drive, and the disc 1a driven by the DVD drive 1 has a scale level (1/12500, 1/25000, 1 / 50,000, etc.). Map data divided into longitude and latitude widths of appropriate sizes. In addition to data (name, location, address, phone number, genre, etc.) related to buildings and facilities (convenience stores, super discount shops, gas stations, etc.) existing on the map, this map data includes route search And road data and intersection data necessary for processing such as map matching. The road data is composed of nodes corresponding to points where a plurality of roads such as intersections and branches (points expressed by longitude and latitude) and links corresponding to roads, lanes and the like connecting the nodes. Further, the map data includes information indicating the name of each municipality (administrative division name) corresponding to each administrative division area as information related to the present invention. The DVD drive 1 constitutes a DVD-ROM (read only memory) together with the disk 1a. In this embodiment, a DVD-ROM is used as a storage medium for storing map data, but a rewritable storage medium such as an HDD may be used instead.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes an operation unit for operating a navigation device main body, which will be described later, and has a “touch panel” in this embodiment. Although not particularly illustrated, this touch panel is made of a transparent electrode provided on a display surface of a display device to be described later, and a current technology such as a resistance pressure sensitive method or a capacitive coupling method is used. The touch panel (operation unit 2) is disposed on a center console (not shown) between the driver seat and the passenger seat in the passenger compartment, and at least the driver can visually recognize the display screen, and the touch panel Can be operated. In the present embodiment, a touch panel is used as a form of the operation unit 2, but instead of this, a remote controller (remote control) type transmitter and receiver may be used. In this case, the remote control transmitter is provided with various operation buttons such as a “menu” button, a “decision” button, and a joystick. By operating these various operation buttons, various menus and various items are displayed on the screen of the display device. (Operation screen) is displayed, any menu or item is selected, or processing related to the selected menu or item is executed.

  Further, 3 is a communication device such as a mobile phone or an in-vehicle phone for communicating with the outside, and 4 is a GPS receiver that receives a GPS signal sent from a GPS satellite and detects the longitude and latitude of the current position of the vehicle. Reference numeral 5 denotes a self-contained navigation sensor equipped with an angle sensor such as a gyro for detecting the traveling direction of the own vehicle, a distance sensor for generating a pulse at every predetermined traveling distance, and the like.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a display device such as an LCD. Basically, guidance information related to navigation (a map around the current position of the vehicle, from the departure point to the destination) based on control from the navigation device body described later. Guidance route, the current position of the vehicle (vehicle position mark, etc.) is provided to the user through the screen, and further, as will be described later, this device 20 performs operations for map display related to the merger of cities, towns and villages, etc. Such guidance information is displayed on the screen. Reference numeral 7 denotes a speaker, which provides guidance information related to the navigation to the user by voice, and further outputs guidance information related to an operation for displaying a map related to the merger of cities, towns, towns and villages as necessary. Is.

  In the navigation apparatus body 10, 11 is a buffer memory for temporarily storing map data read from the disk 1a via the DVD drive 1, and 12 is a control unit constituted by a microcomputer or the like. The control unit 12 basically detects the current position of the vehicle based on a signal output from the GPS receiver 4, or the traveling speed of the vehicle based on a signal output from the self-contained navigation sensor 5. The map data to be displayed by controlling the DVD drive 1 is read from the disk 1a to the buffer memory 11, or the starting point is set according to the search conditions set using the map data read to the buffer memory 11. Various processes related to navigation such as searching for a guidance route from (the current position of the vehicle) to the destination are executed. Furthermore, the control part 12 has a function which controls the process which concerns on the operation for the map display which concerns on the municipal merger etc. which this apparatus 20 performs so that it may mention later.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a map drawing unit that performs a map image drawing process using the map data read to the buffer memory 11, and in this embodiment, the map is based on control from the control unit 12 as will be described later. For each administrative division area included in the image (by municipality), the drawing process is performed with different colors. When displaying color-coded for each area, the adjacent administrative division areas are selected and displayed in different colors, and the new administrative division name after the change due to the merger of municipalities is displayed. All administrative division areas corresponding to the division name are displayed in the same color. 14 is an operation screen that displays various menus and various items according to the operation status based on control from the control unit 12, and an operation screen / mark generation unit that generates various marks such as a vehicle position mark and a cursor. A guide route storage unit 16 for storing data related to all nodes (coordinates of points expressed in longitude and latitude) from the starting point to the destination of the guide route searched by the unit 12; Guide route drawing for reading the guide route data from the guide route storage unit 15 based on the control and drawing the guide route in a display mode different from other roads (for example, changing the color, increasing the line width, etc.) Indicates the part.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes an administrative division name registration unit for registering administrative division names based on control from the control unit 12. The administrative division name registration unit 17 includes a new administrative division name (new city name after merger) displayed on the screen of the display device 6 based on an input instruction from the operation unit 2 by the user as will be described later. Is linked and registered with the information of the old administrative division name (the old municipality name before the merger stored in the map database 1, 1a) corresponding to the administrative division area. FIG. 2 shows an example of information registered in the administrative division name registration unit 17. In the example shown in the figure, in the administrative agency “XX prefecture”, “△△ county AA village” and “△△ county BB town”. And three administrative divisions (old administrative divisions) of “CC City” are merged and changed to a new administrative division “XX City”.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an image composition unit. Based on the control from the control unit 12, the map image drawn by the map drawing unit 13 (for each administrative division area, the color is displayed in a color different from the adjacent area). The map image) has a function of superimposing the guidance route drawn by the guidance route drawing unit 16, the operation screen generated by the operation screen / mark generation unit 14, various marks, and the like on the screen of the display device 6. is doing. Further, as will be described later, the image composition unit 18 also has a function of displaying guidance information related to an operation for displaying a map related to a merger of cities, towns and villages performed by the device 20 on the screen of the display device 6. Reference numeral 19 denotes an audio output unit, which is an audio signal based on control from the control unit 12 (guidance information related to navigation and, if necessary, guidance information related to an operation for displaying a map related to a merger of municipalities, etc.) Is output to the speaker 7.

  In the map display device (vehicle-mounted navigation device) 20 configured as described above, the DVD drive 1 (including the disk 1a) is “storage means”, the operation unit 2 is “input means”, and the display device 6 is “ The control unit 12 corresponds to the “display unit”, and the administrative division name registration unit 17 corresponds to the “correction information registration unit”.

  Hereinafter, processing for performing map display related to merger of cities, towns and villages in the map display device (vehicle-mounted navigation device) 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example of processing for performing the map display according to the transition order of the operation screens, and FIG. 3D and FIG. 4A show the same screen display. . Similarly, FIGS. 5 and 6 show other examples of processing for performing the map display in accordance with the transition order of the operation screens. FIGS. 5 (d) and 6 (a) show the same screen display. Show.

<First Processing Example: See FIGS. 3 and 4>
First, as a precondition, when a vehicle equipped with the device 20 is routed toward a destination and enters an administrative division area in the middle of the route, the user (at least the driver) It is assumed that the administrative division name of the area has been changed from the information display board.

  Then, with the vehicle stopped, in the first step (see FIG. 3A), based on the user instruction from the operation unit 2, the display device 6 is controlled via the control unit 12 and the operation screen / mark generation unit 14. An operation screen (menu screen) 30 is displayed on the screen as shown in the figure. This menu screen 30 displays “address name display change” 41 as a selection item. When the user touches this “address name display change” 41, the screen of the display device 6 transitions to the next operation screen 31 (see FIG. 3B) based on the control from the control unit 12. On this operation screen 31, “select and change from address” 42 and “select and change from map” 43 are displayed as selection items.

  When the user touches “Change from address” 42, the screen of the display device 6 transitions to the next operation screen 32 (see FIG. 3C) based on the control from the control unit 12. In this operation screen 32, information 44 ("AA village", "BB town", "CC city" in the illustrated example) indicating the old address (old city name) is selected as selection items, and information is input to the user. Guidance information 51 (in the illustrated example, “Please select the old address”) is displayed. When the user touches the old address selection item 44 (“AA village” in the illustrated example) according to the guidance information 51, the screen of the display device 6 is changed to the next operation screen 33 (FIG. 3) based on the control from the control unit 12. Transition to (d). In the processing example shown in FIG. 3C, guidance information 51 for prompting the user to input information is displayed on the screen 32, but instead of this screen display, the guidance information is based on control from the control unit 12. Information may be output as audio from the speaker 7.

  On the other hand, when “Select from map and change” 43 is touched on the operation screen 31, the screen of the display device 6 transitions to the next operation screen 33 (see FIG. 3D) based on the control from the control unit 12.

  The operation screen 33 includes a map image including the old address selected on the operation screen 32, or a region around the vehicle position extracted by the control unit 12 based on the selection “change from map” 43 on the operation screen 31. A map image is displayed. Further, the operation screen 33 also displays guidance information 52 (“Select a map area to be changed” in the illustrated example) for prompting the user to input information. When displaying the map image, each administrative division area included in the map image (“AA village” R1, “BB town” R2, in the illustrated example) via the map drawing unit 13 based on the control from the control unit 12. “CC city” R3) is selected and displayed in different colors so that adjacent areas have different colors. In the figure, the difference in hatching direction and line spacing given to each area R1, R2, R3 represents a state in which the display color is different for each area.

  In the display example of FIG. 3 (d) (= display example of FIG. 4 (a)), for the sake of simplification of illustration, the display of the guidance route, the vehicle position mark, and the like while the vehicle is traveling is omitted. Yes.

  When the user touches any administrative division area (“AA village” R1 in the illustrated example) according to the guidance information 52 displayed on the operation screen 33, the screen of the display device 6 is changed based on the control from the control unit 12. Transition to the next operation screen 34 (see FIG. 4B). In the processing example shown in FIG. 4A, an administrative division area (“AA village” R1) is selected by touching the corresponding portion on the screen 33 (touch panel) with a finger. You may make it select the said area using a machine. In this case, operate the joystick provided on the remote control transmitter to move the cursor to the corresponding map area on the screen 33 (point in “AA village” R1), and operate the “OK” button to select the area. To do. Further, instead of displaying the guidance information 52 on the screen 33, the guidance information may be output from the speaker 7 based on the control from the control unit 12.

  On the operation screen 34 (FIG. 4B), as shown in the figure, various operation buttons such as the “50-sound input” key 45 and the “complete” key 46 and the old administrative division name of the area selected on the operation screen 33 are displayed. Information G1 (in the example shown, “XXX prefecture ΔΔ county AA village”) and the information G0 of the new administrative division name that the user entered by touching the “50 sound input” key 45 (in the example shown in the figure) “XX City of XX Prefecture”) is displayed. When the inputted new administrative division name (G0) is confirmed, the “complete” key 46 is touched to be confirmed.

  When the municipality name (new administrative division name) after the change due to merger of municipalities is input in this way, the screen of the display device 6 is changed to the next operation screen 35 (FIG. 4 (c)). On this screen 35, based on the control from the control unit 12, the information G0 of the inputted new administrative division name (in this case, “XX city”) is displayed in the administrative division area R1. At this time, with reference to the map database (DVD-ROM1, 1a), information G1 of the old administrative division name (in this case, “ΔΔ county AA village”) corresponding to the administrative division area R1 is also displayed. .

  Further, the information G0 of the new administrative division name (“XX city”) displayed on the screen 35 is registered in the administrative division name registration unit 17 by the control unit 12 in the form of a table as illustrated in FIG. That is, referring to the map databases 1 and 1a, the old administrative division name ("△△ county AA village") corresponding to the administrative division area R1 is identified and linked to the old administrative division name information G1. The information G0 of the new administrative division name is stored.

<Second Processing Example: See FIGS. 5 and 6>
In this second processing example, it is assumed that the first processing has already been performed under the same preconditions as in the first processing example (FIGS. 3 and 4) described above.

  After the steps of FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) in the same manner as the processing performed in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the user can change the old address according to the guidance information 51 (FIG. 5 (c)). When the selection item 44 (in the illustrated example, “BB town”) is touched or “selection from the map and change” 43 is touched on the operation screen 31 (FIG. 5B), the control unit 12 performs control. The screen of the display device 6 transitions to the next operation screen 36 (FIG. 5 (d) = FIG. 6 (a)).

  In this operation screen 36, the old old selected in the display mode in which the adjacent administrative division areas have different colors as in the case of the above-described operation screen 33 (FIG. 3 (d) = FIG. 4 (a)). A map image around the vehicle position including the address (in this case, “BB town”) is displayed, and guidance information 52 is also displayed. However, unlike the case of the operation screen 33 described above, a part of the administrative division area included in the map image displayed on the operation screen 36 (in the example shown, “ΔΔ county AA village” R1) Referring to the table (FIG. 2) registered in the administrative division name registration unit 17 by the control unit 12, the information G1 of the old administrative division name (“ΔΔ county AA village”) corresponding to the administrative division area R1 In addition, information G0 of the new administrative division name (“XX city”) is also displayed.

  In this way, the information G0 of the new administrative division name (“XX city”) is displayed in the administrative division area R1, and the name is changed to the same name as the new administrative division name based on a user instruction (touch operation). When the other administrative division area ("BB town" R2 in the illustrated example) is selected, the screen of the display device 6 is changed to the next operation screen 37 (FIG. 6B) based on the control from the control unit 12. ))). In the operation screen 37, as in the case of the operation screen 34 (FIG. 4B) described above, various operation buttons such as the “50 sound input” key 45 and the “complete” key 46, and the operation screen 36 are selected. Information G2 of the old administrative division name of the designated area (in the example shown, “XX prefecture ΔΔ county BB town”) and the new administrative division name information G0 input by touching the “50-sound input” key 45 (In this case, “XX city of XX prefecture”) is displayed. Similarly, when the inputted new administrative division name (G0) is confirmed, the “complete” key 46 is touched to be confirmed.

  When the new administrative division name (“XX prefecture XX city”) is input in this way, the screen of the display device 6 is changed to the next operation screen 38 based on the control from the control unit 12 (see FIG. 6C). Transition to. On this screen 38, information 53 (shown in the figure) that informs that an administrative division name having the same name as the registered new administrative division name (“XX city”) has been input based on the control from the control unit 12. In the example, “There is a city name with the same name. Do you want to display it as the same city?”) Is displayed. Further, a selection item 47 of “Yes” or “No” to be selected by the user for the guidance information 53 is displayed on the screen 38. When the user touches “Yes”, the screen of the display device 6 transitions to the next operation screen 39 (see FIG. 6D) based on the control from the control unit 12.

  On this screen 39, based on the control from the control unit 12, a new administrative division name (“XX”, which is already registered as a new name of the old administrative division area (“ΔΔ County AA Village” in the illustrated example)). The information G0 of the new administrative division name (“XX city”) is displayed in another administrative division area (in this case, “ΔΔ county BB town”) that has been changed to the same name as “city”). At this time, referring to the map database (DVD-ROM 1, 1a), information G2 of the old administrative division name corresponding to the other administrative division area is also displayed. At the time of display, each administrative division area (“△△ county AA village” and “△△”) corresponding to the new administrative division name (“XX city”) via the map drawing unit 13 based on the control from the control unit 12. County BB Town ") is displayed in the same color. Further, based on the control from the control unit 12, the information G0 of the new administrative division name (“XX city”) is sent to the administrative division name registration unit 17 of the old administrative division name (in this case, “ΔΔ county BB town”). The information G2 is linked and registered (FIG. 2).

  As described above, according to the map display device 20 according to this embodiment, when a vehicle equipped with this device enters an administrative division area that is being routed toward a destination, a user instruction When the administrative division area R1 is selected from the map image displayed on the screen 33 (FIG. 4A) of the display device 6 based on the above, and the new administrative division name G0 (FIG. 4B) is input. Based on the control from the control unit 12, the input new administrative division name G0 is displayed in the administrative division area R1 on the screen 35 (FIG. 4C) of the display device 6 and corresponds to the area R1. The old administrative division name G1 is also displayed.

  In other words, using the map data stored on the DVD-ROM 1, 1a (the map database already owned), the administrative division name changed due to the merger of cities, towns and villages, etc. is displayed (corrected) on the screen. I have to. This makes it possible to display the map with the new administrative division name after the change without costly replacement for the latest map storage medium, which is inconvenient and inconvenient as seen in the prior art. Can be greatly reduced.

  Further, in the state where the new administrative division name G0 is displayed in the administrative division area R1 on the screen 36 of the display device 6 (FIG. 6A), the same as the new administrative division name G0 based on the user instruction. When another administrative division area R2 that has been changed to the name is selected, the selected other administrative division area is displayed on the screen 39 (FIG. 6D) of the display device 6 based on the control from the control unit 12. The new administrative division name G0 is displayed in R2, and the administrative division areas R1 and R2 corresponding to the new administrative division name G0 are displayed in the same color. In other words, when displaying by color-coded for each administrative division area, even if the administrative division area is changed with the change of administrative division name, it corresponds to the change (correction of color-coded display of the administrative division area) It becomes possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the map display device according to the present invention is applied to the in-vehicle navigation device 20 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is based on the gist configuration (a map database such as a DVD-ROM already possessed). As shown in the map display for navigation, as is clear from the display (correction) of the administrative division name changed by the merger of municipalities, etc. and the color-coded display (correction) of the administrative division area accompanying it) Of course, it is not limited. For example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where an address search or the like is performed from a map database (a storage medium connectable to a PC) using a home personal computer (PC).

  In the above-described embodiment, the example of changing the administrative division name caused by the merger of municipalities and the color-coded display of the area associated therewith has been described as an example, but conversely, the municipal merger is once performed. However, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the merger is canceled due to an increase in dissatisfaction with the residents.

  In this case, in accordance with each processing example (FIGS. 3 to 6) according to the above-described embodiment, the map database (DVD-ROM1, 1a) already held and the administrative division name registration unit 17 are registered. By referring to the information (information registered by linking the old municipality name before the merger and the new name at the time of the merger), the display correction of the administrative division name after the merger dissolution and the same as in the embodiment described above It is possible to correct the color-coded display in the associated administrative division area.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the information about the change of the administrative division name due to the merger of the municipalities is acquired when the vehicle equipped with the device 20 enters the administrative division area has been described as an example. However, as is apparent from the gist of the present invention, the timing for acquiring the information is not limited to this. For example, if the information is already known through news, newspapers, the Internet, etc., the above-mentioned administrative division name is displayed (corrected) and the corresponding administrative division area is color-coded (corrected) prior to driving the vehicle. ) Is also possible.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure which concerns on one Embodiment at the time of applying the map display apparatus which concerns on this invention to a vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the information registered into the administrative division name registration part. FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of processing for performing map display related to merger of cities, towns, villages, and the like in the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of processing for performing map display related to merger of cities, towns, villages, and the like in the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram (No. 1) illustrating another example of a process for performing map display related to merger of cities, towns and villages in the apparatus of FIG. 1 according to a transition order of operation screens. FIG. 10 is a diagram (No. 2) illustrating another example of the process for performing map display related to the merger of cities, towns and villages in the apparatus of FIG. 1 according to the transition order of the operation screens.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... DVD drive (DVD-ROM / storage means),
2 ... operation part (input means),
6 ... Display device (display means),
12 ... Control part (control means),
13 ... Map drawing part,
17 ... Administrative division name registration section (correction information registration means),
20 ... In-vehicle navigation device (map display device),
30-39 ... display screen,
41-44, 47 ... selection items,
45, 46 ... operation buttons,
51-53 ... Guidance information,
G0 ... New administrative division name information,
G1, G2 ... Information on old administrative division names,
R1, R2, R3 ... Administrative division area.

Claims (8)

Storage means storing map data;
Display means with a screen;
Input means for inputting user instructions;
Control means operably connected to the storage means, display means and input means,
The control means refers to any administrative division area included in the map image in a state in which a map image based on a user instruction from the input means is displayed on the screen of the display means with reference to the map data. A map display apparatus that displays the input new administrative division name in the administrative division area when the new administrative division name after change is input.   When the control means displays the input new administrative division name in the administrative division area on the screen of the display means, the control means also refers to the map data and also includes the old administrative division name corresponding to the administrative division area. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the map display device is also displayed.   Correction information registration means for registering the information of the new administrative division name displayed on the screen of the display means by the control means by linking with the information of the old administrative division name corresponding to the administrative division area The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising:   When the control means displays a map image based on a user instruction from the input means on the screen of the display means, the control means color-codes each administrative division area included in the map image, and adjacent administrative division areas The map display device according to claim 1, wherein a color different from that is selected and displayed.   The control means displays the inputted new administrative division name in the administrative division area on the screen of the display means, and further changes to another administrative district whose name is the same as the new administrative division name. When a branch area is selected, the new administrative division name is displayed in the other selected administrative division area, and each administrative division area corresponding to the new administrative division name is displayed in the same color. The map display device according to claim 1.   When the control means displays the new administrative division name in the selected other administrative division area, the control means also displays the old administrative division name corresponding to the other administrative division area with reference to the map data. The map display device according to claim 5, wherein   The map display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the map display device is applied to an in-vehicle navigation device.   The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the map display device is applied to a personal computer.

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