JP2007040795A - Navigation system and information provision method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently search for a desired point for a user out of an area corresponding to input information to enhance convenience, even when the point is not specified uniquely by the input information input from by the user in the search for the point. <P>SOLUTION: When a destination is set based on the input information such as an address and a phone number input by an occupant in own vehicle, the input information from the occupant is determined which is the information expressing the point or the information expressing the area, a position on a map of the area is specified when information of partial input expressing the area, and a representative point within the area, for example, is set as the destination. When the own vehicle reaches within the area during an introduction guide, a map image is displayed with a display mode for the area different from other area, and the occupant in the own vehicle searches for the destination efficiently, by referring to the map information, while grasping exactly the range for searching for the original destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device having a function of performing a point search based on input information from a user and an information providing method for providing various navigation information.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a navigation apparatus that guides a user to a destination while displaying a map image, as one method for setting the destination, a point based on input information such as an address and a telephone number input by the user is used. A technique of performing a search and setting a point obtained as a search result as a destination is known.

In order to uniquely identify a point to be set as a destination by this point search, it is usually necessary for the user to input input information such as an address and a telephone number correctly, but the address below the address is input. In order to make it possible to set the destination even in the case of partial input that is not performed or partial input that is entered only up to the local phone number of the phone number, within the area of the range that can be specified by partial input There has also been proposed a method in which a representative point is determined in advance, and in the case of partial input, the representative point is temporarily set as a destination (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-147132 A

  By the way, when the representative point in the predetermined area is temporarily set as the destination as described above, the user scrolls the map image from the vicinity of the representative point temporarily set as the destination, and while viewing the map image, the original destination Searching for a point that should be the ground, or searching for a point that should be the original destination while actually moving around the representative point when reaching the vicinity of the representative point according to the guidance with the representative point as the destination There are many ways to use it.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, only a representative point in an area specified by partial input is temporarily set as a destination, and the area specified by partial input is different from that on the map image. Since it is displayed in the same manner as the area, there is a problem that the user does not know which range should be searched for the point that should be the original destination and lacks convenience.

  The present invention was devised to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and even when a point cannot be uniquely specified by input information input from a user during a point search. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device and an information providing method that improve convenience by allowing a user to efficiently search for a desired point from an area corresponding to input information.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines whether the input information from the user is information representing a point or an area, and if the input information from the user is information representing an area, When a map image including an area is displayed, the area is displayed in a display form different from other areas.

  According to the present invention, when the input information input from the user at the time of the point search is information representing an area, a map image in which the area is displayed differently from the other areas is displayed. By referring to this map image, it is possible to efficiently search for the point while grasping the range for searching for the desired point, and it is possible to improve convenience.

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

  The navigation device of the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle to display a map image, search for a guidance route, guide guidance, and provide various navigation information to the vehicle occupant. It has a point search function for searching for points based on the input information. In a navigation device having this point search function, it is possible to perform route search using a point obtained as a search result as a destination, and to perform guidance guidance for moving the vehicle along the searched route. The present invention is not limited to such a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, but can be effectively applied to a navigation device incorporated in a mobile terminal device carried by a user such as a mobile phone.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the navigation device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the navigation device of this embodiment, an input device 2, a GPS receiver 3, an in-vehicle sensor 4, and a map data storage device 5 are connected to the input side of a navigation controller 1 that is a main body. The display device 6 and the speaker 7 are connected to the output side of the navigation controller 1.

  The input device 2 is a user interface used by a vehicle occupant to input various types of information, and includes, for example, various operation buttons, a joystick, a touch panel type switch, and the like. Various types of information from the vehicle occupants input using the input device 2 are sent to the navigation controller 1 as needed.

  The GPS receiver 3 receives a signal sent from a satellite of the global positioning system (GPS). The GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 3 is used to detect the absolute position and direction of a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the host vehicle) on which the navigation device of this embodiment is mounted. The vehicle-mounted sensor 4 is a wheel speed sensor or a gyro sensor mounted on the own vehicle, and is used for estimating the current position of the own vehicle by self-contained navigation. The GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 3 and the sensor detection value of the in-vehicle sensor 4 are sent to the navigation controller 1 as needed.

  The map data storage device 5 stores map data handled by the navigation device of the present embodiment, and has a recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). Here, the map data is composed of node data indicating points on the map and link data indicating roads connecting the nodes, and each node data includes the position coordinates, point attributes, point names, etc. of the points. Each link data includes data such as position coordinates of the start point and end point of the link, link length, road width, road attribute, road name, and the like. The map data is divided into data units (areas) that can be processed at one time by the navigation controller 1, and each section is uniquely identified by being given a section number, latitude and longitude data. It has a data structure that can be used.

  The map data stored in the map data storage device 5 is appropriately read based on a command from the navigation controller 1 and sent to the navigation controller 1. As the recording medium of the map data storage device 5, in addition to the DVD described above, recording media having various specifications such as a CD (Compact Disc), a memory card, and a hard disk can be adopted. In addition, when the navigation device has a data communication function by wireless communication or the like, a configuration is adopted in which map data from a service center or the like that provides a map data distribution service is acquired and sent to the navigation controller 1. May be.

  The display device 6 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display installed on the center console of the own vehicle, a projector that projects and displays an image on the windshield of the own vehicle, and the map image is controlled under the control of the navigation controller 1. Various kinds of navigation information such as are displayed. The speaker 7 outputs various kinds of voice information such as voice guidance at the time of route guidance under the control of the navigation controller 1.

  The navigation controller 1 controls the overall operation of the navigation device of the present embodiment, and includes peripheral components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input / output interface. It consists of a microcomputer equipped with a circuit. In the navigation controller 1, a navigation function executing unit 11, a display control unit 12, and a voice control unit 13 are realized as main control functions.

  The navigation function execution unit 11 is based on various control programs stored in a ROM or the like inside the navigation controller 1, and various navigation functions such as a current location grasping function 21, a destination setting function 22, a route search function 23, and a guidance guidance function 24. Execute. Further, the display control unit 12 performs control for displaying various navigation information including a map image on the display device 6 according to the function executed by the navigation function execution unit 11. In addition, the voice control unit 13 performs control for outputting various types of voice information such as voice guidance at the time of route guidance from the speaker 7 according to the function executed by the navigation function execution unit 11.

  When the current position grasp function 21 is executed by the navigation function execution unit 11, the GPS signal from the GPS receiver 3 and the sensor detection value from the in-vehicle sensor 4 are taken in, and the absolute position and direction of the own vehicle based on the GPS signal are in-vehicle. It is corrected by the self-contained navigation using the sensor detection value from the sensor 4, and the accurate current location of the own vehicle is grasped.

  In addition, when the destination setting function 22 is executed by the navigation function execution unit 11, the destination is set based on the input information input by the occupant of the vehicle using the input device 2. Specifically, for example, when an address, a telephone number, or the like is input as input information from an occupant of the own vehicle, a point search is performed based on the input information from the occupant, and the obtained search result is a destination. Set as Here, in particular, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, when the input information from the occupant is a partial input in which the address below the address is not input, or in a partial input in which only the local number of the telephone number is input. If the navigation function executing unit 11 executes the destination setting function 22 so that the destination can be set even if it exists, as shown conceptually in FIG. The destination setting unit 33 sets the destination. That is, when input information such as an address or a telephone number is input from a passenger of the own vehicle, first, the determination unit 31 determines whether the input information from the passenger is information representing a point or information representing a region. To do. If the input information from the occupant is information representing a point, the destination setting unit 33 sets the point as a destination, and if the input information from the occupant is information representing a region, the region specifying unit 32 sets the region. The position on the map is specified to obtain a representative point, and the destination setting means 33 sets the representative point as the destination. Note that representative point candidates for each region are determined in advance and stored as map data.

  Further, when the route search function 23 is executed by the navigation function execution unit 11, a route toward the destination set by the destination setting function 22, starting from the current location of the own vehicle ascertained by the current location grasping function 21. Explored. Further, when the guidance function 24 is executed by the navigation function execution unit 11, guidance guidance for moving the host vehicle along the route searched by the route search function 23 is performed. Specifically, under the control of the display control unit 12, a map image or an enlarged intersection image on which the vehicle position mark, the destination mark, the route to the destination, etc. are superimposed is displayed on the display device 6, Under the control of the voice control unit 13, voice guidance is output from the speaker 7.

  In the navigation device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when an occupant of the own vehicle inputs an address, a telephone number, or the like using the input device 2, the navigation controller 1 automatically sets the destination and searches for a route. The guidance information for moving the vehicle along the searched route is performed, but the input information from the occupant of the vehicle is a partial input representing the area instead of the point, and the representative in the area When a point is set as a destination, when the vehicle approaches the destination according to the guidance and the vehicle reaches the area specified by the input information from the occupant, the area is set as another area. Is configured to display a map image in a different display form on the display device 6.

  That is, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, as described above, while the navigation function execution unit 11 of the navigation controller 1 is executing the guidance guidance function 24, the display device 6 is controlled by the display control unit 12. The map image on which the vehicle position mark, the destination mark, the route to the destination, etc. are superimposed is displayed. At this time, as long as the host vehicle does not reach the area specified by the input information from the occupant, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the area specified by the input information from the occupant is distinguished from other areas. The map image which makes these area | regions the same display form without displaying is displayed. Thereafter, when the vehicle approaches the destination and the vehicle reaches the area specified by the input information from the occupant, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a map in which the area is displayed differently from the other areas An image is displayed. Here, the different display forms may be display color differences or brightness differences. In addition, a line may be superimposed on the boundary between the area specified by the input information from the occupant and another area, or processing such as shading in the area specified by the input information from the occupant or other area May be applied. That is, displaying in a different display form means displaying the area specified by the input information from the occupant and the other areas in a distinguishable manner.

  As described above, the navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment, when setting a destination based on input information such as an address or a telephone number input by a passenger of the own vehicle, the input information represents a part instead of a point. If it is an input and the representative point in the area is set as the destination, the map image is displayed in a display form different from other areas when the vehicle reaches the area. , So that passengers can efficiently find their original destination. In other words, as a situation where the occupant wants guidance guidance to a representative point set as a destination by partial input, he / she guides to a representative point near the original destination and then moves around the representative point However, many people are thinking about how to use it, such as searching for the original destination. At this time, even if the vehicle reaches the vicinity of the representative point, if the area where the original destination may exist is displayed on the map image displayed on the display device 6 without distinction from other areas, Car occupants do not know in what range the original destination should be searched, and cannot efficiently search for the original destination.

  Therefore, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, when the host vehicle approaches the representative point set as the destination for guidance guidance, and the host vehicle reaches the area specified by the input information of the partial input from the occupant, By displaying a map image that can distinguish the area where the original destination can exist from other areas, it is possible for the passengers of the vehicle to clearly grasp the range to search for the original destination and to determine the original destination We are trying to find it efficiently. In addition, although the timing which switches the display of the map image currently displayed on the display apparatus 6 is demonstrated as an example here as a timing which the own vehicle arrived in the area | region specified with the input information from the passenger | crew of the own vehicle, The display switching timing is not limited to this example. For example, the display switching timing may be a timing at which the vehicle approaches a predetermined distance from the area.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes started when the passenger of the own vehicle inputs input information such as an address and a telephone number using the input device 2 in the navigation device of the present embodiment. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, when input information from a passenger of the own vehicle is input, first, in step S1, the navigation function execution unit 11 of the navigation controller 1 performs the destination. The setting function 22 is executed, and the determination means 31 determines whether or not the input information from the occupant is information representing a point. If it is determined that the input information from the occupant is information representing a point, the destination is set by the destination setting means 33 in the next step S2. On the other hand, if it is determined that the input information from the occupant is information representing an area rather than a point, the area specifying unit 32 specifies the position of the area on the map in step S3, and the destination in step S4. The setting means 33 selects a representative point in the area and sets the representative point as a destination.

  Next, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, in step S5, the navigation function execution unit 11 executes the route search function 23, and is set in step S2 or step S4 from the current location of the host vehicle grasped by the current location grasping function 21. Search for the optimal route to the desired destination. In step S6, the navigation function executing unit 11 executes the guidance and guidance function 24 to provide guidance for moving the vehicle along the route searched in step S5. Specifically, under the control of the display controller 12, a map image or an enlarged intersection image on which the vehicle position mark, the destination mark, the route to the destination, etc. are superimposed is displayed on the display device 6, Also, voice guidance is output from the speaker 7 under the control of the voice control unit 13.

  In the navigation device of the present embodiment, when the destination is set in step S2, the above route guidance is continued until the vehicle arrives at the destination, and the vehicle arrives at the destination. End the guidance. On the other hand, when the representative point is set as the destination in step S4, the host vehicle steps while monitoring the current location of the subject vehicle ascertained by the current location grasping function 21 during the guidance guidance as described above. It is monitored whether or not the region specified in S3, that is, the region specified by the input information from the passenger of the own vehicle has been reached (step S7). When the vehicle reaches the area (Yes in step S7), the display control unit 12 switches the display of the display device 6 in step S8, and the area is under the control of the display control unit 12. Is displayed on the display device 6 in a display form different from other areas, and the guidance guidance is terminated.

  As described above in detail with specific examples, according to the navigation device of this embodiment, when setting a destination based on input information such as an address and a telephone number input by a passenger of the own vehicle. In addition, if this input information is a partial input representing a region, not a point, and a representative point in the region is set as the destination, when the vehicle reaches the region, A map image having a display form different from the area is displayed on the display device 6. Therefore, by referring to the map image displayed on the display device 6, the vehicle occupant can efficiently search for the destination while accurately grasping the range where the original destination is searched.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a navigation device according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The navigation device of this embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), and the processing when the destination setting function 21 is executed by the navigation function execution unit 11 of the navigation controller 1 is as follows. This is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the description similar to that of the first embodiment will not be repeated, and only the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  In the navigation device of the present embodiment, when the destination setting function 22 is executed by the navigation function execution unit 11, as conceptually shown in FIG. 6, the determination means 41, the area specifying means 42, the point input receiving means 43, The destination setting means 44 sets the destination. That is, when input information such as an address or a telephone number is input from a passenger of the own vehicle, first, the determination means 41 determines whether the input information from the passenger is information representing a point or information representing a region. If the input information from the occupant is information representing a point, the point setting means 44 sets the point as the destination. On the other hand, if the input information from the occupant is information representing an area, the area specifying unit 42 specifies the position of the area on the map and causes the display control unit 12 to display a map image including the area. Output control commands. Then, under the control of the display control unit 12, a map image including the region is displayed on the display device 6. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the display control unit 12 causes the display device 6 to display a map image in which the area is displayed differently from the other areas. And if the crew member of the own vehicle which referred to this map image performs the input which specifies the arbitrary points in the field using input device 2, spot input reception means 43 will receive the input from this crew member, The destination setting unit 44 sets the point received by the point input receiving unit 43 for the purpose.

  As described above, the navigation device according to the present embodiment, when setting a destination based on input information such as an address and a telephone number input by a passenger of the own vehicle, represents the region instead of the point. In the case of partial input, before setting the destination, by displaying a map image in which the area is displayed differently from other areas, the occupant of the vehicle The site set as the ground can be searched efficiently. In other words, as a situation where the occupant performs partial input when setting the destination, a map image of the area including the point to be set as the destination is displayed, and the point to be set as the destination from the map image is displayed. Many of them are thinking about how to use it. At this time, even if the display device 6 displays a map image including a region specified by partial input, the region is displayed on the map image displayed on the display device 6 without distinction from other regions. Then, the vehicle occupant does not know in which range the point to be set as the destination in the map image should be searched, and cannot efficiently search for the point.

  Therefore, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, when displaying a map image including an area specified by the input information of the partial input from the occupant when setting the destination, the area is displayed so as to be distinguished from other areas. By displaying a map image with a different form, it is possible to clearly grasp the range in which the occupant searches for a point to be set as the destination in the map image and efficiently search for the point to be set as the destination. I am doing so.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes started when the passenger of the own vehicle inputs input information such as an address and a telephone number using the input device 2 in the navigation device of the present embodiment. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, in the navigation device of this embodiment, when input information from the passenger of the own vehicle is input, first, in step S11, the navigation function execution unit 11 of the navigation controller 1 performs the destination. The setting function 22 is executed, and the determination means 41 determines whether or not the input information from the occupant is information representing a point. If it is determined that the input information from the occupant is information representing a point, the destination is set by the destination setting means 44 in the next step S12. On the other hand, if it is determined that the input information from the occupant is information representing an area rather than a point, the position of the area on the map is specified by the area specifying means 42 in step S13, and display control is performed in step S14. Under the control of the unit 12, a map image in which the area is displayed differently from the other areas is displayed on the display device 6.

  Then, the display of the map image in step S14 is continued until an input designating an arbitrary point in the area is performed from the occupant of the own vehicle, and an input designating an arbitrary point in the area from the occupant of the own vehicle. (Yes in step S15), the input from the occupant is received by the point input receiving unit 43, and the destination is set by the destination setting unit 44 in step S16.

  Next, in the navigation device of the present embodiment, in step S17, the navigation function execution unit 11 executes the route search function 23 and is set in step S12 or step S16 from the current location of the host vehicle grasped by the current location grasping function 21. Search for the optimal route to the desired destination. In step S18, the navigation function execution unit 11 executes the guidance guidance function 24, performs guidance guidance for moving the vehicle along the route searched in step S17, and the vehicle arrives at the destination. The series of processing ends.

  As described above in detail with specific examples, according to the navigation device of this embodiment, when setting a destination based on input information such as an address and a telephone number input by a passenger of the own vehicle. In addition, when the input information from the occupant is a partial input representing an area instead of a point, a map image in which the area is displayed differently from other areas is displayed on the display device 6 so that the occupant can A point set as a destination can be found in the map image. Therefore, by referring to the map image displayed on the display device 6, the vehicle occupant can efficiently search for the point while accurately grasping the range to search for the point set as the destination.

  The navigation device described above exemplifies one application example of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents disclosed in the description of the above embodiment, and these Of course, various alternative techniques that can be easily derived from the disclosure are also included.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the navigation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram which shows notionally each means implement | achieved by performing the destination setting function in the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. In the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment, it is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map image displayed on a display apparatus during guidance guidance. In the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment, it is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map image displayed on a display apparatus when the own vehicle reaches | attains in the area | region specified by partial input. In the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment, it is a flowchart which shows the flow of a series of processes started when the passenger | crew of an own vehicle inputs input information, such as an address and a telephone number. It is a functional block diagram which shows notionally each means implement | achieved by performing the destination setting function in the navigation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. In the navigation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, it is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map image displayed on a display apparatus when the input from the passenger | crew of the own vehicle is partial input. In the navigation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, it is a flowchart which shows the flow of a series of processes started when the passenger | crew of an own vehicle inputs input information, such as an address and a telephone number.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation controller 2 Input device 5 Map data storage device 6 Display device 11 Navigation function execution part 12 Display control part 21 Present location grasp function 22 Destination setting function 23 Route search function 24 Guidance guidance function 31 Determination means 32 Area | region identification means 33 Destination Setting means 41 Determination means 42 Area specifying means 43 Point input receiving means 44 Destination setting means

Claims (4)

In a navigation device having a point search function for searching for points based on input information from a user,
Determining means for determining whether the input information from the user is information representing a point or information representing a region;
An area specifying means for specifying a position of the area on the map when the determination means determines that the input information from the user is information representing the area;
Display means for displaying a map image;
When the display means displays a map image including the area specified by the area specifying means, the navigation apparatus comprises display control means for displaying the area in a display form different from other areas. . A destination setting means for setting a representative point in the area as a destination when the determination means determines that the input information from the user is information representing the area;
Guidance guidance means for guiding the user to the destination set by the destination setting means,
When the current position of the user reaches the area specified by the area specifying means, the display control means causes the display means to display a map image having a display form different from the other areas. The navigation device according to claim 1. A point input receiving unit that receives a user's input designating an arbitrary point in the region when the determination unit determines that the input information from the user is information representing the region;
Destination setting means for setting a point designated by the user received by the point input receiving means as a destination;
Guidance guidance means for guiding the user to the destination set by the destination setting means,
The display control means causes the display means to display a map image in which the area specified by the area specifying means is different from the other areas when the point input receiving means receives user input. The navigation device according to claim 1. An information providing method for providing various navigation information by performing a point search based on input information from a user,
A determination step of determining whether the input information from the user is information representing a point or information representing a region;
An area specifying step for specifying the position of the area on the map when it is determined in the determination step that the input information from the user is information representing the area;
An information providing method comprising: a map image display step of displaying a map image including an area specified in the area specifying step as a display form different from other areas.

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