JP2007047091A - Navigation system, voice data distribution method, route search server, and terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently deal with a voice data without increasing a communication load, even when a storage capacity is limited, in a navigation system using a terminal device such as a cellular phone. <P>SOLUTION: In this navigation system 10 including a route search server 30 for distributing a start point and a guide route up to a destination, to the terminal device 20, the route search server 30 is provided with a voice database 318 for accumulating the voice data distributed to the terminal device 20, while correlated with an identification code in every unit voice data, by dividing the voice data into the unit voice data, and distributes a distribution data to the terminal device 20 while adding the identification code to the distribution data, when the voice data is required to be added in the distribution of the data requested from the terminal device 20, and the terminal device 20 stores the distributed identification code, and requests the distribution of the corresponding unit voice data to the route search server 30, based on the identification code, when a voice output gets necessary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

According to the present invention, a route search unit searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data based on a route search condition including the departure point and the destination, and displays a map and a guidance route. And a navigation system, a route search server, a terminal device, and a voice download method for performing guidance by voice output at a guidance point such as an intersection.
In particular, in the navigation system as described above, the present invention accumulates voice data for guidance with an identification code for each unit voice data, and adds an identification code to the guidance route data in which guidance points are set. The present invention relates to a navigation system configured to download, an audio data distribution method, a route search server, and a terminal device.

  Conventionally, when visiting a destination place on an unknown land, the user arrives while checking the transportation, road, landmark and address drawn on the map by using a map book or the like. In a car equipped with a car navigation system (hereinafter simply referred to as a car navigation system), a guidance displayed on a monitor screen or a voice output guidance (navigation) by starting the car navigation system and inputting a destination. Information) was reached.

  The car navigation system uses a GPS (Global Positioning System), receives GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites orbiting the earth with a GPS antenna, and transmits the GPS signals to the GPS signals. The position is specified by analyzing the satellite position and clock information included. At least four GPS satellites are required. The single positioning accuracy of GPS is generally over 10 m, but it is improved to 5 m or less by adopting DGPS (Differential GPS). In particular, a positioning unit that is currently installed only in some mobile phones, for example, a GPS receiver that receives a signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite and performs positioning, is called the third generation. Mobile phones tend to be installed in all models.

  As a technique for using a terminal device having such a positioning function, technologies in various fields have been proposed. For example, a navigation device (car navigation) for automobiles has been developed, and map / route information is obtained using a mobile phone as a terminal. A communication navigation system for pedestrians distributed from a route search server (route search server) has been proposed.

  In recent years, the performance of mobile communication terminal devices such as mobile phones and PHS has been dramatically improved, and multi-functionalization has been progressing. In particular, the data communication function is strengthened in addition to the call function, and various data communication services are provided to the user via the Internet. A navigation service is one of them, and a communication navigation system that provides route guidance from a current position to a destination for not only a driver of a car but also a mobile phone user has been put into practical use.

  A general navigation device, a route search device and a route search method used in a communication navigation system are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681). This navigation system is configured to send information of departure and destination from a portable navigation terminal to a route search server, and search and guide a route that matches a search condition from road network and traffic network data by the route search server. Has been. As the search condition, there are means for moving from the departure place to the destination, for example, walking, automobile, combined use of railroad and walking, and the route is searched as one of the search conditions.

  The route search server uses roads (routes) of map data as nodes and node positions as the nodes, links connecting the nodes as links, and cost information (distance and required time) for all links as a database. ing. Then, the route search server refers to the database, sequentially searches for links from the departure node to the destination node, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  In the navigation system as described above, the guide route distributed to the terminal device by the route search server is data in which node numbers and link numbers to be followed by the user are arranged in order. In order to guide the direction to turn when the user should turn left or right, such as a node at an intersection, a guidance point is set at the node, and guidance is output to the user by voice or display at the guidance point. A navigation system is also known. For example, before the guidance point, guidance data such as “This is a 200m 00-chome intersection. Turn left at the intersection” is delivered to the terminal device along with the guidance route for each guidance point. When the terminal device travels along the guidance route, the above-mentioned guidance is output for each guidance point, and the user can receive guidance on route progress.

  Such a navigation system is disclosed in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-177029). The navigation system disclosed in Patent Document 2 receives a voice data group having a voice quality desired by a user from a voice guidance support device provided on the Internet by one or a plurality of communication units, and receives a voice by an audio data acquisition processing unit. It is configured to be added to the data storage unit. The user can designate a desired voice quality among voice data groups having different voice qualities stored in the voice data storage unit for all messages at once or for each message. Corresponding to the message, it is stored in the voice data storage unit. The voice guidance unit is configured in advance for a message to be guided when voice guidance is requested when the operation on the operation unit is an operation linked with voice guidance or when a specific process executed in the vehicle-mounted navigation device is requested. Audio output with voice quality registered in.

  That is, the navigation system disclosed in Patent Document 2 accumulates voice guidance voice data as voice data generated by different speakers for each unit voice data, and the user designates the voice of a favorite speaker. By doing so, a preferred voice guidance is provided for each user.

JP 2001-165681 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-177029 (FIGS. 1 and 13)

  Generally, in a communication type navigation system, there is a configuration in which voice data necessary for voice guidance guidance is stored on the terminal device side, and a guide route is downloaded from the server to the terminal device each time. If a voice synthesis function is added to the terminal, such as an in-vehicle navigation device, or a storage device such as a large-capacity hard disk is installed, the voice data is stored in the terminal device and the necessary voice data is played back. Can be configured to.

  When a mobile phone is used as a terminal device in such a system, the voice data group having the voice quality desired by the user is received from the voice guidance support device as described in Patent Document 2 by one or a plurality of communication units. If the acquisition processing unit is added to the audio data storage unit, there is a problem that the capacity of the storage device is insufficient to store the downloaded audio data in the terminal device.

  In addition, in a mobile phone on the terminal device side, there are restrictions on mounting functions such as a voice conversion and a voice synthesizer on the terminal device due to limitations such as cost and physical size of the device. For this reason, voice data provided to a terminal device by a server such as a voice guidance support apparatus is not digital voice data but analog voice data. For this reason, in the structure which downloads required audio | voice data from the server side each time with a guidance route, the problem that the communication load of a network becomes large arises.

  In particular, when using a mobile phone as a terminal device in a car or train that moves at high speed, communication may be interrupted in the middle of data distribution if the communication conditions are bad. There is also a problem of affecting reception.

  As a result of various investigations to solve the above problems, the inventor of the present application has provided a voice database in which voice data for guidance is stored on the server side with an identification code for each unit voice data. An identification code is attached to the guide route data set with points and downloaded (distributed) to the terminal device. Then, each time a terminal device is required, the present invention is completed by conceiving that the above-mentioned problems can be solved if the configuration is made so that the distribution request of the unit voice data corresponding to the server is made by the identification code. It is a thing.

  That is, the present invention has an object to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a navigation system using a terminal device such as a mobile phone, the communication load is not increased and the storage capacity is efficiently limited. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system, an audio data distribution method, a route search server, and a terminal device that can handle audio data.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A route search server in which route search means searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data based on a route search condition including the departure point and the destination and distributes the guidance route to the terminal device. A navigation system including:
The route search server divides voice data to be delivered to a terminal device into unit voice data, and has a voice database in which an identification code is stored in association with each unit voice data, and delivers data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add voice data at the time, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device,
The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. And

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is an identification code corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 2,
The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition, adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data, and distributes it to the terminal device. Guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data is provided, and the guide route data is distributed to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, The unit voice data is output by the output means, and then the unit voice data for which output has been completed is deleted.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 4,
The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. To do.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is
Network data for search based on route search conditions including a departure point and a destination, comprising a voice database in which voice data to be distributed to a terminal device is divided into unit voice data and an identification code is associated with each unit voice data and stored. A voice data distribution method in a navigation system including a route search server in which a route search means searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination with reference to and distributes the guide route to the terminal device,
The route search server divides voice data to be distributed to the terminal device into unit voice data, and includes a voice database in which an identification code is associated and stored for each unit voice data, and distributes data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add voice guidance data at the time, a first step of adding an identification code to the distribution data and distributing to the terminal device;
A second step of storing an identification code distributed by the terminal device and requesting distribution of unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output is required; It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 6,
In the first step, the distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. The audio data distribution method according to claim 6, wherein the identification code corresponds to:

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 7,
The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition, adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data, and distributes it to the terminal device. Comprising a guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of the unit voice data;
In the first step, the route search server distributes the guide route data to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 6,
The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from the route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means,
In the second step, when voice output is required, the voice data requesting unit requests unit voice data from the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage unit, and is distributed from the route search server. The unit voice data is stored in the voice data storage unit, the unit voice data is output by the voice output unit, and then the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 9,
The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing an identification code of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means,
In the second step, when the voice data request means requests voice data from the route search server, the identification code stored in the voice data management means is referred to and the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means is referred to. Including a process of requesting the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the above.

The invention according to claim 11 of the present application is
To a terminal device that stores an identification code of unit voice data distributed from a route search server and requests distribution of unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output is required A route search server connected via a network,
The route search server divides voice data to be delivered to a terminal device into unit voice data, and has a voice database in which an identification code is stored in association with each unit voice data, and delivers data requested by the terminal device. When voice guidance data needs to be added at this time, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 12 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 11,
The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guidance route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is an identification code corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guidance route. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 13 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 12,
The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition, adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data, and distributes it to the terminal device. Guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data is provided, and the guide route data is distributed to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present application is
A route search server in which route search means searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data based on a route search condition including the departure point and the destination and distributes the guidance route to the terminal device. The voice data to be distributed to the terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and provided with a voice database in which identification codes are stored in association with each unit voice data, and when data requested by the terminal device is distributed. When it is necessary to add voice guidance data, it is a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that adds an identification code to the distribution data and distributes it to the terminal device,
The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. And

The invention according to claim 15 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 14,
The distribution data requested by the terminal device is guidance route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is an identification code corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guidance route. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 16 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 14,
The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, The unit voice data is output by the output means, and then the unit voice data for which output has been completed is deleted.

The invention according to claim 17 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 16,
The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. To do.

In the invention according to claim 1,
The route search server divides voice data to be distributed to the terminal device into unit voice data, and includes a voice database in which an identification code is associated with each unit voice data and stores the data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add audio data to the distribution data, an identification code is added to the distribution data and distributed to the terminal device. The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and when the voice output becomes necessary, the identification is performed. Based on the code, a request is made to distribute unit voice data corresponding to the route search server.
Accordingly, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data itself corresponding to the identification ID of the unit voice data required when the voice output becomes necessary. Since it is distributed and reproduced and output, the communication load of the network is not increased. Moreover, even if the storage device has a small storage capacity, the distribution data can be stored, and there is no fear of insufficient storage capacity.

In the invention according to claim 2, in the navigation system according to claim 1, the distribution data requested from the terminal device is data of a guide route searched based on a route search condition, and the unit voice data is the guide route. It is an identification code corresponding to the unit voice data at the guidance point set above.
Therefore, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data is identified by the identification ID required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. Since the distribution request is made, the unit voice data itself is downloaded and reproduced and output, the guidance route data can be distributed without increasing the communication amount. Moreover, even if the storage capacity of the terminal device is small, unit voice data can be stored, and there is no possibility of insufficient storage capacity.

In the invention according to claim 3, in the navigation system according to claim 2, the route search server sets a guidance point on the guide route searched based on the route search condition, and for each guidance point together with the guide route data. When the guidance is added as voice data to the terminal device and distributed to the terminal device, a guidance route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data is provided, and the guidance route data is distributed to the terminal device.
Therefore, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data is identified by the identification ID required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. Since the distribution request is made and the unit audio data itself is downloaded and reproduced and output, the guidance route data can be distributed without increasing the communication amount. Moreover, even if the storage capacity of the terminal device is small, unit voice data can be stored, and there is no possibility of insufficient storage capacity.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system according to the first aspect, the terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from the route search server, voice data requesting means, and voice data storage means. And voice output means, and the voice data request means requests unit voice data from the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means when voice output is required, and the route search server Is stored in the audio data storage unit, the unit audio data is output by the audio output unit, and then the unit audio data for which output has been completed is deleted.
Therefore, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data is identified by the identification code required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. Since the distribution request is made, the unit audio data itself is downloaded and reproduced and output, and thereafter the identification code and the downloaded unit audio data are deleted, the network communication load is not increased, and the storage device having a small capacity Voice guidance can be performed even when using.

In the invention according to claim 5, in the navigation system according to claim 4, the terminal device further stores the identification code of the unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means. The voice data requesting means refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means and corresponds to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means when the voice data requesting means requests voice data from the route search server. It requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data.
Accordingly, the terminal device requests the route search server 30 to distribute the unit voice data already downloaded and stored in the terminal device 20 until a series of navigation (guidance from the departure place to the destination) ends. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the communication load on the network.

  In the inventions according to claims 6 to 10, it is possible to provide the audio data distribution method in the navigation system according to claims 1 to 5, respectively.

  In the inventions according to claims 11 to 13, it is possible to provide route search servers constituting the navigation system according to claims 1 to 3, respectively. In the inventions according to claims 16 and 17, it is possible to provide terminal devices constituting the navigation systems according to claims 1, 2, 4, and 5, respectively.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. In the following embodiments, a navigation system that uses a mobile phone as a terminal device and performs route search and route guidance by voice guidance will be described as a specific example. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and The present invention can also be applied to a navigation system using a portable electronic device as a terminal or a communication navigation system using an in-vehicle mobile terminal. In the present specification, these terminal devices are collectively referred to as terminal devices.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system 10 includes a portable terminal 20 and a route search server 30 connected via a network 12 such as the Internet. The route search server 30 searches for the optimum route based on the route search conditions (departure point, destination) requested from the terminal device 20. In order to provide the terminal device 20 with voice guidance at the guidance point set at the searched guidance route and intersection, a database 318 of voice data (DB) storing voice data is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the voice data accumulated in the voice data (DB) 318 is decomposed into voice data (analog voice data recording voice generated by a speaker) for guidance at a guidance point, as shown in FIG. Each unit voice data is stored with a data name with an identification ID (identification code). For example, the guidance “Please turn right 200m, OO street, △ Chome intersection, turn right” reproduces the unit voice data specified by the identification ID [0001], [0008], [0006], [0002] in this order. Can be done.

  When the route search server 30 distributes map data and guide route data to the terminal device 20, the route search server 30 sets guidance points for performing guidance such as intersections of guide routes, and voice data to be output as guidance at the guidance points for each guidance point. Is distributed, not the audio data itself but the identification ID (identification code) for each unit audio data.

  The terminal device 20 temporarily stores identification IDs of all unit voice data distributed together with the guidance route data, and routes the identification IDs required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. A request for delivery of the corresponding unit audio data is sent to the search server 30, the unit audio data itself is downloaded, and the audio data is reproduced. Therefore, when the guidance route data is distributed, the voice data itself is not distributed, but only the identification ID is distributed, so that the communication load of the network is not increased.

  Even if the guidance route from the departure point to the destination is long and there are a lot of guidance points, the voice data identification ID is only distributed for each guidance point, so it can be distributed without increasing the amount of communication. Yes, even if the storage capacity of the terminal device 20 is small, the amount of data can be stored sufficiently. Since certain voice data is required only when approaching a certain guidance point, the identification ID is specified and the voice data itself is downloaded from the route search server 30 when necessary when approaching the guidance point. If the identification ID and the downloaded unit voice data are discarded (deleted) when the guidance is completed, the voice guidance can be performed even if a storage device with a small capacity is used.

  The route search server 30 includes a control unit 311, a communication unit 312, a distribution data editing unit 313, a guide route data creation unit 314, map data (DB) 315, a route search unit 316, search network data 317, and the above-described voice data ( DB). The search network data 317 includes road network data 317A for route search by automobile and pedestrian network data 317B for route search for pedestrians. The road network data 317A does not include road data in areas where vehicles are prohibited from entering such as pedestrian roads and parks, and the pedestrian network data 317B does not include road data such as expressways that are prohibited from pedestrian traffic. . The data structure of the search network data 317 will be described later.

  Although not shown, the control unit 311 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication unit 312 is an interface for communicating with the terminal device 20 via the network 12. The route search means 316 searches the optimum route with reference to the search network data 317 according to the route search condition transmitted from the terminal device 20.

  The guidance route data creation means 314 sets guidance points in the guidance route obtained as a result of the route search, and refers to the voice data (DB) 318 to identify the identification ID of the unit voice data constituting the guidance at each guidance point. Extract and create as guidance data. The guidance route and guidance data created by the guidance route data creation unit 314 are edited into data for distribution to the terminal device 20 by the distribution data editing unit 313 together with the map data acquired from the map data (DB) 315, and the communication unit. It is distributed to the terminal device 20 via 312.

  Road network data 317A and pedestrian network data 317B for searching for a route by a pedestrian or an automobile are configured as follows. For example, when the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 3, the end points, intersections, and bending points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed links. Link cost data and configuration, which is expressed as node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number), and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link) Is done.

  That is, in FIG. 3, ◯ and ◎ indicate nodes, and ◎ indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 3, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 3, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 3, in reality there are other such routes, so a possible route from the node AX to the node CY is similarly searched. Of these routes, the route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method. Therefore, the searched guide route is expressed as the order of nodes and / or links that guide (guide) the user.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a guidance route searched by the route search server 30. In FIG. 4, a route from a departure point (start) to a destination (goal) is expressed as a route that follows links in the order of node N1, node N2, node N3, and node N4. In the intersection node, a guidance point is set in order to guide whether to go straight or turn left and right, and the guidance at the guidance point is distributed to the terminal device 20 in association with the identification ID of the unit voice data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the guidance route data (including guidance points and identification IDs of unit voice data) of FIG. 4 distributed from the route search server 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, nodes N1, N2, and N4 are intersections and guidance points are set, and node N3 is a right turn and guidance is not required and guidance points are not set.

  In the node N1, identification IDs [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] of unit voice data are associated in the order shown in FIG. Similarly, in the node N2, unit voice data identification IDs [0001, 0009, 0007, 0003] are associated in the order shown in FIG. 5, and in the node N4, unit voice data identification IDs [0001, 0010, 0005, [0003] are associated in the order of FIG.

  If the unit voice data corresponding to the identification ID [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] is downloaded from the route search server 30 and played back as guidance of the node N1, “Turn right at 200m, 〇 way, △ Chome intersection, turn right” Is output by voice (see FIG. 2). Similarly, when the unit voice data corresponding to the identification ID is downloaded from the route search server 30 and played back, the guidance “node 200m, Δ street, □ chome intersection, turn left” is output as voice. When the unit voice data corresponding to the identification ID is downloaded from the route search server 30 and played back, the guidance “Please turn right at 200m, □ street, OOxx crossing, turn right” is output as a voice.

  On the other hand, the terminal device 20 includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 211, a positioning unit 212 including a GPS receiver, a route search request unit 213, a voice data request unit 214, a voice data storage unit 215, and a communication unit 217. , A distribution data storage unit 218, an audio reproduction unit 219, an audio output unit 220 including a speaker, a display unit 221 including a liquid crystal display panel, an operation / input unit 222, and the like.

  Although not shown, the control unit 211 includes a microprocessor (CPU) having a RAM and a ROM, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The operation / input means 222 is for operation / input means consisting of numeric keys, alphabet keys, other function keys, selection keys, scroll keys, and the like. From the menu screen displayed on the display means 221 as output means Various input operations are performed by selecting a desired menu or operating keys. Accordingly, the display unit 221 also functions as a part of the operation / input unit 222. The communication unit 217 is an interface for communicating with the route search server 30 via the network 12.

  The positioning means 212 receives a GPS satellite signal by a GPS receiver, and measures the current position (latitude / longitude) of the terminal device 20. In addition, by providing an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, etc., the current position of the terminal device 20 can be determined by autonomous navigation, and when the GPS receiver cannot be determined from the GPS satellite signal, the current position is measured instead. be able to.

  When a user wants to request a route search from the route search server 30, the user operates the operation / input unit 222 to display a service menu screen or a predetermined input screen on the display unit 221, and the departure place, destination, and movement The route search conditions such as means (walking or car), scheduled departure time and desired arrival time are input. When the current position is selected as the starting point, the current position measured by the positioning means 212 is used as the starting point.

  The route search request unit 213 edits the input route search condition into data to be transmitted to the route search server 30 and transmits the data to the route search server 30 via the communication unit 217. Distribution data such as a guidance route, a map, and guidance data distributed from the route search server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage unit 218. These distribution data are read from the distribution data storage unit 218 as necessary and displayed on the display unit 221. At the time of display, the current position measured by the positioning means 212 is displayed as a current position mark on the map together with a guide route.

  The guide route data distributed from the route search server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage unit 218. When the user travels along the guidance route and approaches the node for which the guidance point is set, the voice data requesting unit 214 transmits the identification ID of the node for which the guidance point is set to the route search server 30, and the corresponding unit voice data. Request distribution (download). The route search server 30 reads the requested unit voice data from the voice data (DB) 318 based on the identification ID and distributes it to the terminal device 20.

  When the terminal device 20 receives the unit voice data distributed from the route search server 30, the terminal device 20 stores the unit voice data in the voice data storage unit 215, reproduces it in the order of the identification ID by the voice reproduction unit 219, and outputs it by the voice output unit 220. For example, since the guidance at the node N1 described above is the identification ID [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] (see FIGS. 5 and 2), it is said that “Turn right at 200m, OO street, △ Chome intersection, turn right”. Guidance is output from the voice output means.

  The unit voice data that has become unnecessary in the guidance route is deleted from the voice data storage unit 215, and when approaching a new node to which a guidance point is set, the voice data request unit 214 is based on the identification ID as described above. Then, a unit voice data distribution request is sent to the route search server 30, and the unit voice data necessary for the node is downloaded. By repeating this procedure, it is possible to significantly reduce the communication load compared to downloading all voice data related to the guide route at once.

  Further, since the guidance data added to the guide route data is distributed and stored with the identification ID, the communication load is small, and the capacity of the storage device for storing the distribution data is small. Since the unit voice data requested and downloaded by the voice data requesting unit 214 to the route search server 30 is only data necessary for a certain node, the voice data storage unit 215 can be a storage device having a small storage capacity.

  Next, the operation procedure of the navigation system 10 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the route search server 30, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the terminal device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the route search server 30 receives a route search request from the terminal device 20 in the process of step S10, the route search means 316 refers to the search network data 317 according to the route search condition in the process of step S11. To search for guidance routes. When the optimum guidance route is searched, the guidance route data creation means 314 sets guidance points in the process of step S12.

  Next, in the process of step S13, the guidance route data creation means 314 refers to the voice data (DB) 318, extracts the identification ID of the unit voice data that matches the content to be guided at the guidance point, and in the process of step S14. The guidance route data is created by adding the guidance point and the identification ID of the unit voice data to the guidance route data. The created guide route data is edited into data to be distributed to the terminal device 20 by the distribution data editing means 313 in the process of step S15 and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when the terminal device 20 transmits a route search request to the route search server 30 in the process of step S20 and receives guide route data from the route search server 30 in the process of step S21, the terminal device 20 stores it in the distribution data storage unit 218. This is temporarily stored. In the process of step S22, when approaching a node with voice guidance, that is, a node where a guidance point is set, the process proceeds to step S23, where the voice data requesting unit 214 sets the identification ID of the unit voice data added to the guidance point. The route search server 30 is used to request distribution of the corresponding unit voice data.

  If it is determined in step S22 that there is no voice guidance (guidance point setting), the process proceeds to step S28. In the process of step S28, it is determined whether or not the route guidance is finished (whether the destination is reached and the navigation is finished). In the flowchart of FIG. 6B, the process from step S22 to step S27 is a process that is repeated for each identification ID when identification IDs of a plurality of unit voice data are associated with one guidance point.

  When the requested unit voice data is received from the route search server 30 in the process of step S24, it is stored in the voice data storage means 215 in the process of step S25. Then, in step S26, the unit sound data is sequentially output by the sound reproduction means 219 and the sound output means 220. When the sound output is completed, the unit sound data is deleted from the sound data storage means 215 in the process of step S27.

  In the process of step S28, it is determined whether the route guidance has been completed (whether the destination has been reached and the navigation has been completed). If not, the process returns to step S22 and the processes up to step S28 are repeated.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the navigation system 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. 7, the same components as those in the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. In order to avoid duplication of explanation, explanations regarding the components having the same reference numerals are omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the unit voice data downloaded to the terminal device 20 by the identification ID has been described as being deleted from the voice data storage unit 215 every time output ends. However, until a series of navigation to the destination ends. The unit voice data is held in the voice data storage unit 215, and the voice data having the same identification ID as the identification ID already downloaded and stored is not downloaded from the route search server 30, but stored in the voice data storage unit 215. Unit audio data can also be used.

  In order to perform such control, in the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. 7, the terminal device 20 further includes voice data management means 216 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the voice data management means 216 stores the identification ID of the unit voice data that has already been downloaded and saved in the voice data storage means 215. In FIG. 8, N1, N2, and N4 indicate the nodes of the guide route shown in FIG. The identification ID indicates unit voice data required at each of the nodes N1, N2, and N4. The example of FIG. 8 is the same as the guidance shown in FIG. The identification ID in parentheses in FIG. 8 is the same as the unit voice data used in the other previous nodes, and uses the unit voice data that has been downloaded from the route search server 30 and saved in the voice data storage means 215. be able to.

  That is, since the unit voice data with the identification ID [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] has been downloaded and stored in the voice data storage unit 215 at the node N1, the unit voice data with the identification ID [0001] is stored at the node N2. Can use the data of the voice data storage means 215, and does not need to be downloaded from the route search server 30 again. Similarly, the unit voice data with the identification ID [0001, 0003] in the node N4 has already been downloaded in the previous node, and therefore does not need to be downloaded from the route search server 30 again. As described above, when the voice data requesting unit 214 requests the route search server 30 to download voice data, the identification ID (FIG. 8) stored in the voice data management unit 216 is referred to, and the identification has already been downloaded. Except for the ID, it is only necessary to make a voice data request for only a newly required identification ID.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the terminal device 20 according to the second embodiment. When the route search request is transmitted to the route search server 30 in the process of step S30 and the guide route data is received from the route search server 30 in the process of step S31, it is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage means 218. In the process of step S32, when approaching a node with voice guidance, that is, a node for which a guidance point is set, the process proceeds to step S33, and the voice data requesting unit 214 sets the identification ID of the unit voice data added to the guidance point. The route search server 30 is used to request distribution of the corresponding unit voice data.

  If it is determined in step S32 that there is no voice guidance (guidance point setting), the process proceeds to step S38. In the process of step S38, it is determined whether or not the route guidance is finished (whether the destination is reached and the navigation is finished). In the flowchart of FIG. 9, the processing from step S32 to step S37 is a processing that is repeated for each identification ID when the identification IDs of a plurality of unit audio data are associated with one guidance point.

  Next, in the process of step S33, the identification data stored in the voice data management means 216 for the identification ID associated with the guidance point (the identification ID for which the corresponding unit voice data has already been downloaded) is referred to, and the voice data It is determined whether or not it has been stored in the storage means 215. For identification IDs not stored in the voice data storage unit 215, the voice data request unit 214 requests the route search server 30 to distribute unit voices in step S34. If it has been stored in the audio data storage means 215, the process proceeds to the audio output process in step S37. At this time, the audio output uses unit audio data stored and saved in the audio data storage means 215.

  When the requested unit voice data is received from the route search server 30 in the process of step S35, it is stored in the voice data storage means 215 and the identification ID is added to the voice data management means in the process of step S36. Then, in the process of step S37, the unit audio data is sequentially output by the audio reproduction means 219 and the audio output means 220, and in the process of step S38, whether or not the route guidance has been completed (whether the destination has been reached and the navigation has been completed). Is determined.

  If navigation is not completed in the process of step S38, the process returns to step S32 and the processes up to step S37 are repeated. When the navigation is finished in the process of step S38, the unit voice data and the identification ID stored in the voice data storage means 215 and the voice data management means 216 are deleted in the process of step S39, and the process is finished.

  If the navigation system 10 is configured in this way, the unit voice data that has already been downloaded and stored in the terminal device 20 until the end of a series of navigation (guidance from the departure place to the destination) is re-routed. There is no need to make a distribution request to the server 30, and the communication load can be further reduced.

  In the second embodiment, the unit voice data downloaded from the route search server 30 is deleted from the terminal device 20 when the navigation is completed. However, a certain amount of storage device capacity is secured in the in-vehicle navigation system. If possible, it is possible to store a certain amount of unit audio data and use the stored unit audio data as necessary.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the guidance (voice guidance) at the guidance point set in the guidance route is distributed as voice data has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the navigation system provides it. In other services, such as searching for places of interest such as hotels and restaurants, and guidance services, when delivering search results to the terminal device, the server adds voice data to the terminal device. It is generally applicable when delivering

  In addition, unit voice data of voice guidance includes standard guidance, for example, a distance to the intersection that is a guidance point (200m ahead), or guidance of straight ahead or left / right turn, road names, intersection names, and landmark names. Thus, it becomes a combination of indeterminate guidance depending on the guide route. Atypical guidance is added and updated as map data is added and updated after a certain period of time.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the present invention is intended to be applied to all of the above-mentioned regular and indeterminate unit voice data has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the regular unit voice data is a terminal device. It is also possible to apply the distribution method according to the present invention to a single unit voice data and download it together with the identification ID. As described above, the communication load can be further reduced by applying the distribution method according to the present invention to the irregular unit voice data.

  According to the present invention, voice data such as voice guidance is divided into unit data, each is given an identification ID, the initial identification ID is downloaded, and the voice data based on the identification ID every time voice output is required. Since it is downloaded and deleted when it is no longer needed, the communication load can be reduced, and it is suitable for use in a communication type in-vehicle navigation system and a pedestrian navigation system using a mobile phone. In addition, the communication packet charge is low, which is particularly suitable for a navigation system using a mobile phone.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a voice database (DB) storing voice data for guidance. It is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of the road network for a route search. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a guidance route. It is a figure which shows an example of the guidance data (voice data) in the guidance route | root of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the navigation system concerning Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the route search server 30, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the terminal device 20. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the data memorize | stored in an audio | voice data management means in the navigation system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the terminal device in the navigation system concerning Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10. Navigation system 12 ... Network 20 ... Terminal device 211 ... Control means 212 ... Positioning means 213 ... Route search request means 214 ... Voice data request means 215 Voice data storage means 217 Communication means 216 Voice data management means 218 Delivery data storage means 219 Voice playback means 220 Voice output means 221 Display means 222 .. operation / input means 30... Route search server 311... Control means 312 .. communication means 313 .. distribution data editing means 314... Guide route data creation means 315. DB)
316 ... Route search means 317 ... Search network data 317A ... Road network data 317B ... Pedestrian network data 318 ... Voice data (DB)

Claims (17)

A route search server in which route search means searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data based on a route search condition including the departure point and the destination and distributes the guidance route to the terminal device. A navigation system including:
The route search server divides voice data to be delivered to a terminal device into unit voice data, and has a voice database in which an identification code is stored in association with each unit voice data, and delivers data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add voice data at the time, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device,
The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. And navigation system.   The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is an identification code corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. The navigation system according to claim 1.   The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition, adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data, and distributes it to the terminal device. The navigation system according to claim 2, further comprising guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of the unit voice data, and delivering the guide route data to the terminal device.   The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, 2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the unit voice data is output by the output means, and thereafter the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted.   The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. The navigation system according to claim 4. Network data for search based on route search conditions including a departure point and a destination, comprising a voice database in which voice data to be distributed to a terminal device is divided into unit voice data and an identification code is associated with each unit voice data and stored. A voice data distribution method in a navigation system including a route search server in which a route search means searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination with reference to and distributes the guide route to the terminal device,
The route search server divides voice data to be distributed to the terminal device into unit voice data, and includes a voice database in which an identification code is associated and stored for each unit voice data, and distributes data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add voice guidance data at the time, a first step of adding an identification code to the distribution data and distributing to the terminal device;
A second step of storing the identification code distributed by the terminal device and requesting distribution of unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary;
An audio data distribution method comprising:   In the first step, the distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. The audio data distribution method according to claim 6, wherein the identification code corresponds to: The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition, adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data, and distributes it to the terminal device. Comprising a guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of the unit voice data;
The audio data distribution method according to claim 7, wherein in the first step, the route search server distributes the guide route data to the terminal device. The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from the route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means,
In the second step, when voice output is required, the voice data requesting unit requests unit voice data from the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage unit, and is distributed from the route search server. The unit voice data is stored in the voice data storage means, the unit voice data is output by the voice output means, and then the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted. Audio data delivery method. The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing an identification code of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means,
In the second step, when the voice data request means requests voice data from the route search server, the identification code stored in the voice data management means is referred to and the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means is referred to. The audio data distribution method according to claim 9, further comprising a process of requesting the route search server to distribute unit audio data corresponding to the above. To a terminal device that stores an identification code of unit voice data distributed from a route search server and requests distribution of unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output is required A route search server connected via a network,
The route search server divides voice data to be delivered to a terminal device into unit voice data, and has a voice database in which an identification code is stored in association with each unit voice data, and delivers data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add voice guidance data at this time, an identification code is added to the distribution data and distributed to the terminal device.   The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guidance route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is an identification code corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guidance route. The route search server according to claim 11.   The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition, adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data, and distributes it to the terminal device. 13. The route search server according to claim 12, further comprising guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data, and delivering the guide route data to the terminal device. A route search server in which route search means searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data based on a route search condition including the departure point and the destination and distributes the guidance route to the terminal device. The voice data to be distributed to the terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and provided with a voice database in which identification codes are stored in association with each unit voice data, and when data requested by the terminal device is distributed. When it is necessary to add voice guidance data, it is a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that adds an identification code to the distribution data and distributes it to the terminal device,
The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. A terminal device.   The distribution data requested by the terminal device is guidance route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is an identification code corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guidance route. The terminal device according to claim 14.   The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, 15. The terminal device according to claim 14, wherein the unit voice data is output by the output means, and thereafter, the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted.   The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. The terminal device according to claim 16.

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