JP2007139748A - Complementary device and method for navigation map - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire an image of an area incapable of receiving GPS information, or a district with no detail information of road information, no area information or the like in a navigation map, to construct a complemented navigation map based thereon, and to enhance precision for executing the navigation through updating, when the complemented navigation navigation map is not accurate. <P>SOLUTION: This complementary device for the navigation map of the present invention comprises an image acquisition part for acquiring the image including a geography and a route of the prescribed area with the defective detail information in the navigation map, from an outside, a navigation map complimentary part for extracting an object serving as a reference for getting a traffic route and a position from the image, for converting the image into a navigation map mode allowing route search, and for forming a detail information portion of the prescribed area, based on image information of the converted navigation map mode to complement the navigation map, a route guide part for guiding a route of the area with the picked-up image, based on the complemented navigation map, and a navigation map updating part for updating the navigation map by inputting a correction route for the route with inconsistency by a route search person, when the route search person compares an actual route with the route guided by the route guide part and finds the inconsistency. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for complementing a navigation map in searching for a route using a GPS (Global Positioning System) and a navigation map.

  Currently, the navigation service provides various road information and regional information on major buildings, restaurants, gas stations, etc. for the convenience of users. In addition, in major tourist spots, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and GPS are used to provide guidance on tourist facilities.

  However, navigation is difficult because GPS information is not received around the building. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of indoor positioning, various methods such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and intention satellites are being sought.

  However, it is still difficult to navigate around the building.

  In order to solve the above difficulty, in the present invention, an image of a region where GPS information is not received or a region without detailed information such as road information and region information is acquired in the navigation map, and the navigation map is supplemented based on this. If the navigation map supplemented and constructed is inaccurate, the object is to improve the accuracy of navigation execution through updating.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a route search using a GPS and a navigation map, an apparatus for complementing the navigation map includes a terrain and a route of a predetermined area lacking detailed information in the navigation map. An image acquisition unit that acquires an image from the outside, and an object that is a reference for a passage and a position is extracted from the image, and the image is converted into a navigation map that can be searched for a route. A navigation map complementing unit that forms the detailed information portion of the predetermined area based on the image information and complements the navigation map, and guides the route of the area where the image was taken based on the supplemented navigation map If the route searcher compares the actual route with the route guided by the route guide unit and there is a mismatch, the corrected route of the route with the mismatch is forwarded. It is inputted from the route search party and a navigation map updating unit configured to update the navigation map.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a route search using GPS and a navigation map, a method for complementing the navigation map is as follows: (a) a predetermined area lacking detailed information in the navigation map; A step of acquiring an image including the topography and a route from the outside; and (b) extracting an object serving as a reference for a path and a position from the image and converting the image into a navigation map form capable of route search. And (c) forming the detailed information portion of the predetermined area based on the image information converted into the navigation map form, and supplementing the navigation map, and (d) adding the supplemented navigation map And (e) the route searcher compares the actual route with the route guided in the step (d) and there is a discrepancy. Optionally comprises a step of updating the navigation map correction path of the path where there is a mismatch is inputted from the route search person.

  The present invention can complement the navigation map in an area where there is no navigation map or an area where reception via GPS is not accurate in a route search using GPS and a navigation map.

  In addition, since the user can update the navigation map by correcting an error on the navigation map route that occurs when the navigation map is complemented, an accurate navigation map can be constructed.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide route guidance even in an area where it was difficult to provide a navigation service before, such as the peripheral part of a building.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in the drawings, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols as much as possible even when they are displayed on other drawings.

  Hereinafter, in the description of the present invention, when it is determined that a specific description of a related known function or configuration unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Further, in order to further enhance the present invention, there may be changes and modifications at the level of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a guide map image having guide information about a building periphery.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is a guide map image of a predetermined area where GPS accuracy is insufficient or a navigation map is not constructed. It contains objects that serve as a reference for identifying roads and specific locations.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration diagram of a navigation map complementing device.

  In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the navigation map complementing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit 210, a navigation map complementing unit 220, a navigation map updating unit 230, and a route guide unit 240.

  The image acquisition unit 210 is a navigation map serving as a reference for guiding a route by navigation, and acquires an image including a road, a route, a main building other than terrain, etc. in a region without detailed information from the outside. Basically, the acquired image is free from vibration, noise, etc. using conventional image processing techniques.

  The image acquired by the image acquisition unit 210 can be an image file such as a JPEG file downloaded from the Internet, in addition to an image such as an image acquired by a camera, a camcorder, a mobile phone, or a PDA.

  The navigation map complementing unit 220 extracts traffic roads such as roads, main terrain, and other objects such as buildings and display boards that serve as reference for position determination from the images acquired by the image acquisition unit 210. The passage is a basis for navigation of the user, and the object is a material for confirming the position when the navigation is executed.

  Next, the road is extracted from the acquired image using various road extraction algorithms including half conversion.

  Half conversion is used for pattern extraction over the entire area of the image, and is used for line extraction, which is the basis of the passage. In the half conversion, a point on the (x, y) plane is converted to a (ρ, θ) plane of ρ = x cos θ + ysin θ. Here, ρ represents a normal distance to a straight line, and θ represents an angle. If three points on the straight line are captured, three curves on (ρ, θ) are created, and the intersection of the three curves determines (ρ, θ) in this space, and a straight line is extracted through this.

  In order to extract important text information (name information of a building or structure) on a traffic route, a text extraction algorithm such as DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) that extracts a text algorithm from an image is performed.

The DCT algorithm is related to the Fourier transform, and the following transformation is performed on the two-dimensional image and processed in the frequency domain.

  The above-described method for extracting a traffic path is an embodiment, and can be extracted through a Laplacian edge extraction method, a region extraction method, or the like. In addition, it is not limited to the extraction method described in this specification, and it should be noted that the image can be converted into the navigation map format through a general route and edge extraction method. I must.

  When the route searcher compares the actual route with the route guided by the route guide unit and there is a mismatch, the navigation map update unit 230 receives the corrected route of the route with the mismatch from the route searcher. Update the navigation map.

  The navigation map updating unit 230 receives a navigation map update request from the user when the route guidance based on the portion obtained by converting the image into the navigation map through the above-described extraction method or the like by the navigation map complementing unit 220 is inaccurate. The user updates the navigation map of the inaccurate part using GPS or stride.

  That is, the user calculates the user's stride by movement, and uses the calculated distance traveled per hour to calculate the structure of the roadway and the building displayed on the navigation map generated by the navigation map complement unit 220. The error between the position and the actual path and the position of the structure is calculated.

  In one embodiment for calculating the error, a unit distance per pixel is arbitrarily selected on the navigation map, and the distance between each structure is calculated. If the user moves from structure to structure on foot, the travel time and distance per time are measured, so the travel distance is calculated.

  When this distance traveled and the distance on the navigation map are compared and the error increases to 10 m or more, the position of the structure is redisplayed on the navigation map, and the scale of the entire navigation map is recalculated when necessary. Update.

  Next, the navigation map update unit 230 receives an error value from the user, updates the navigation map, and uses it for future navigation.

  The route guide unit 240 guides the route of the area where the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 210 is taken based on the navigation map supplemented and updated by the navigation map supplement unit 220 and the navigation map update unit 230. The user's current position and route are displayed to the user who requested the route guidance, or the route guidance is provided to the user through voice.

  1 is a preferred embodiment of navigation map complementation according to the present invention, and when the guide map shown in FIG. 1 is present, the image acquisition unit 210 captures the guide map, and sets a traffic route, a building, and a guide sign. Etc. are extracted and converted to a navigation map format.

  Next, route guidance is performed based on the converted navigation map, and during the route guidance, when an error occurs with the actual route, the user can measure the error level through a measurement method using GPS and the user's stride. And update the navigation map.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration for performing navigation through complementing a navigation map using an image, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image acquisition unit 310, an object such as a main building that can acquire an image by using a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device), a camera, a camcorder, an Internet image, or the like, and can classify a route and a position from the acquired image. Through the process of extracting the image, the terminal 320 converts the image into the navigation map format and stores it in the map storage unit 330.

  The main unit 340 performs navigation by inputting a user's operation command from the command input unit 350 based on the navigation map stored in the map storage unit 330 acquired through an image of an area where navigation is difficult to execute.

  In the navigation execution, the route that the user wants to search is displayed on the screen under the control of the main unit 340 through the display driving unit 360 and the voice guidance unit 370, or the travel route of the user is guided as a voice signal through the speaker. .

  In the route guidance process, when there is an error between the position of an actual route, a building, etc. and the position in the navigation map, the user inputs an error correction through the command input unit 350 and is stored in the map storage unit 330. Update the navigation map.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing navigation using a navigation map complementing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  When a user searches for a route using GPS and a navigation map, if the navigation map for navigation does not match the actual traffic route and the structure such as an actual building, the GPS or the user's stride is used. Then, the error is corrected and the navigation map is updated (S410, S412, S413, S414).

  When a user tries to search for a route using GPS and a navigation map, if a navigation map for navigation lacks detailed information and route guidance is difficult, a CCD, camera, camcorder, or Internet image is used. Then, an image including the topography and route of the area is acquired (S410, S420).

  Then, the traffic image is extracted from the acquired image (for example, a guidance map displaying the terrain and route of a specific area) using various road extraction algorithms such as half conversion, and important text in the traffic route is extracted. A text extraction algorithm such as DCT that extracts information (name information of buildings and structures) is performed to convert the image into a navigation map form that can be searched for a route (S430, S440).

  The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include all types of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system.

  Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, flexible disk, optical data storage device, etc., and carrier wave (for example, Including those embodied in the form of transmission over the Internet. In addition, the computer-readable recording medium can be distributed in a computer system connected via a network, and computer-readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

  As described above, the optimum embodiment has been disclosed with reference to the drawings and the specification. Although specific terms are used herein, they are merely used for the purpose of describing the present invention and limit the scope of the invention as defined in the meaning and claims. It was not used for that purpose.

  Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention must be determined by the technical idea of the claims.

  The present invention is applicable to a technical field related to a navigation map complementing device.

It is a guidance map image which has guidance information about a building periphery. It is drawing which shows the internal structure of the complement apparatus of a navigation map. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for performing navigation through navigation map complementing using an image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing navigation using a navigation map complementing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

310 Image acquisition unit 320 Terminal 330 Map storage unit 340 Main unit 350 Command input unit 360 Display drive unit 370 Voice guidance unit

Claims (8)

A device for complementing the navigation map in searching for a route using GPS and a navigation map,
An image acquisition unit for acquiring an image including a terrain and a route of a predetermined area lacking detailed information in the navigation map from the outside;
An object that is a reference for a traffic route and a position is extracted from the image, and the image is converted into a navigation map form capable of route search. Based on the converted image information of the navigation map form, the predetermined region A navigation map complement that forms the detailed information part and complements the navigation map;
Based on the complemented navigation map, a route guidance unit for guiding the route of the area where the image was taken;
When the route searcher compares the actual route and the route guided by the route guide unit and there is a mismatch, the route searcher inputs a corrected route of the route with the mismatch and updates the navigation map. A navigation map updater;
A navigation map complementing device characterized by comprising:   2. The navigation map complementing device according to claim 1, wherein the image is a photograph of a guidance map on which a topography and a route of the predetermined area are displayed.   The navigation map complementing device according to claim 1, wherein the image is an image of the inside and outside of a building. The navigation map update unit
When the route searcher compares the actual route and the route guided by the route guide unit and there is a mismatch, the distance of the mismatched route is measured based on the stride of the route searcher, and the navigation The navigation map complementing device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation map is updated by correcting an error of a route having the mismatch as compared with a distance grasped on a map. A method of complementing the navigation map in searching for a route using GPS and a navigation map,
(A) acquiring an image including a topography and a route of a predetermined area lacking detailed information in the navigation map from the outside;
(B) extracting a traffic route and an object serving as a reference for position determination from the image, and converting the image into a navigation map form capable of route search;
(C) forming the detailed information portion of the predetermined area based on the image information converted into the navigation map form, and supplementing the navigation map;
(D) guiding the route of the area where the image was taken based on the complemented navigation map;
(E) When the route searcher compares the actual route with the route guided in the step (d) and there is a mismatch, the corrected route of the route with the mismatch is input from the route searcher and the navigation Updating the map;
A navigation map complementing method characterized by including:   6. The navigation map complementing method according to claim 5, wherein the image is obtained by photographing a guidance map in which a topography and a route of the predetermined area are displayed.   6. The navigation map complementing method according to claim 5, wherein the image is an image of the inside and outside of a building. The step (e) includes:
The distance of the route with the mismatch is measured based on the stride at the time of the route search, and the navigation map is updated by correcting the error of the route with the mismatch by comparing with the distance grasped on the navigation map. The navigation map complementing method according to claim 5, wherein:

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