JP2007192707A - Information processor and computer-executable program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve route guidance and point guide in the travel direction of a user or by an easily visually recognized landmark at destinations, intersections, interchanges of highways, junctions, or points or the like on the traveling road. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor comprises a road information storage means 10 storing road route information, including the coordinate of the traveling point of the road; a point incident information storage means 10 for storing information for identifying a landmark positioned near each point on a map, positional information of the landmark, and point incident information, including angle information when the landmark is seen from the point; and output means 1 and 8 for extracting and outputting point incident information, related to the visible landmark from the point incident information storage means, based on the travel direction and the angle information on the road calculated, based on the route information when the user passes one or more points along the road laid near the points. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to information processing technology at the time of navigation, for example, route guidance to a destination point.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, car navigation devices that are mounted on automobiles and guide a driver to a destination have been widely used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 below). A portable navigation device that uses a mobile phone to guide a pedestrian to a destination is also known. These navigation devices allow a user to recognize a landmark as a landmark at a destination, an intersection on a route to the destination, a branch on an expressway, an interchange, and the like, and the destination desired by the user based on the landmark. Guide the user to
JP 9-138130 A JP 2001-165688 A Japanese Patent No. 3501390

  However, in the conventional navigation device, there are cases where the user cannot always clearly recognize the mark instructed by the navigation device at a destination, an intersection, an expressway interchange, or a point on a passing road. This is because even if such a mark is displayed on the map displayed by the navigation device, the mark may be difficult to recognize depending on the user's traveling direction or line-of-sight direction.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the positional relationship between buildings that are marks in the vicinity of an intersection. In FIG. 1, two roads intersect at an intersection Pa. Further, in the upper left direction (for example, the northwest direction) in the vicinity of the intersection Pa, for example, there is a mark b that is a building. Furthermore, the mark a which is a building exists above the mark b (north side). On the other hand, in the lower right direction (for example, the southeast direction) near the intersection Pa, there is a mark c that is a building. Furthermore, the mark d which is a building exists on the right side (east side) of the mark b. In such a positional relationship, the mark c is easily visible to the user who goes from the west to the east (the traveling direction A in FIG. 1) at the intersection Pa, but the mark d is difficult to visually recognize.

  Similarly, the mark d is easy to see from the user who goes from the east to the west (the traveling direction B in FIG. 1) at the intersection Pa, but the mark c is difficult to see. Further, the mark b is easy to see from the user who goes from the south to the north (the traveling direction C in FIG. 1) at the intersection Pa, but the mark a is difficult to see. Further, the mark a is easy to see from the user who goes from the north to the south (the traveling direction D in FIG. 1) at the intersection Pa, but the mark b is difficult to see.

  In addition to the navigation device, for example, even when the landmark is determined to meet with the meeting partner at the promised place, the landmark may be difficult to recognize depending on the user's traveling direction or line-of-sight direction. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a situation when waiting at a certain point. For the person coming from the approach direction A in FIG. 2, the mark a is easy to see, but the mark b is difficult to see. For the person coming from the approach direction B, the mark b is easy to visually recognize, but the mark a is difficult to visually recognize.

As described above, when using the navigation device or in various aspects other than the use of the navigation device, for example, it may be difficult to correspond to a landmark on a map or other display and a building corresponding to an actual landmark. .

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is to change the user's direction of travel at a destination, intersection, highway interchange, branch, point on the passing road, meeting point with the other party, etc. It is to provide information processing technology capable of route guidance and point guidance with easy-to-view marks.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention provides, for each point on the map, point identifying information including information for identifying a mark located in the vicinity of the point, position information of the mark, and angle information when the mark is viewed from the point. Information that includes point-accompanying information storage means for storing, and output means for extracting and outputting point-accompanying information related to a visible mark from the point-associated information storage means based on the approach direction to the point and the angle information. It is a processing device. The approach direction to the point may be calculated based on the route information of the road including the coordinates of the passing point of the road when passing the point along the road laid in the vicinity of the point.

  According to this information processing apparatus, when passing through a point along a road laid in the vicinity of the point, the point is based on the traveling direction on the road calculated based on the route information and the angle information. Since the point-related information regarding the visible landmark is extracted from the accompanying information storage means, the landmark included in the extracted information can be visible in the traveling direction, for example, route guidance, waiting Thus, the certainty of recognizing the mark can be increased.

  Preferably, the landmark is a building, and the identification information is at least one of a type of the building, an application, and a type of business using the building when the landmark is viewed from the point. Is information that can be specified. According to the present invention, the output information includes the type and use of the building, and the type of business using the building, and the landmark output from the information processing apparatus and the building that is actually visually recognized. It can make it easier to take action.

  The output means includes voice output means for outputting spot-accompanying information relating to the landmark by voice and means for determining in which direction the landmark appears with respect to the approach direction. The direction in which can be seen may be output as audio. According to the present invention, since it is possible to output in which direction the mark looks (for example, left, right, up, down, etc.) with respect to the traveling direction, the mark can be easily recognized.

  Road display information storage means for storing road display information including a road route, road shape or road appearance near the point; and means for storing a symbol shape for displaying the mark on the screen; The output means may further include means for outputting an image in which the symbol shape is superimposed at a position where the mark is superimposed and superimposed on the road display information. According to the present invention, road information is output as an image in which the symbol shape is superimposed at the position where the mark is located, so that the mark can be easily recognized.

  The output unit may be configured to be connectable to a communication unit that communicates with another information processing apparatus, and may transmit the point-associated information about the extracted landmark to the other information processing apparatus via the communication. According to the present invention, since the information extracted above is transmitted to another information processing apparatus, it is possible to improve the certainty that the other user who uses the communication apparatus recognizes the mark.

The communication means may be operated by a hands-free unit that provides a hands-free function that simplifies manual operation or does not involve human hands during communication with another information processing apparatus.

  The present invention may be realized as an information processing apparatus that stores road information storage means and point-associated information storage means in a server on a network and accesses such a server. Further, the present invention may be a program that causes a computer to execute any one of the processes described above. The present invention may be a computer-readable recording medium in which such a program is recorded, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a flash memory card, or the like.

  Destination, intersection, expressway interchange, branch, or point on the passing road, meeting point with the other party, etc. It becomes.

  An information processing apparatus that provides a navigation function according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the following embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment. Here, as the information processing apparatus, a car navigation apparatus incorporated in the vehicle-mounted device is assumed. However, the information processing apparatus is not limited to the car navigation apparatus, and may be one that guides the route of the user using a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, or the like.

<Outline of processing>
FIG. 3 shows an outline of processing by the information system. This figure has shown the example which provides a route guidance function with respect to the user who passes the intersection vicinity shown by A point. Point B indicates a point on the road that is a predetermined distance away from the intersection (point A). Further, in FIG. 3, it is assumed that there is a building (for example, convenience store OO) in a range that can be visually recognized by the user at the right front of the point B.

  Now, it is assumed that this intersection (point A) is a point where the user should be guided in a predetermined direction by the user designation or the route guidance function of the information processing apparatus. Then, the information processing apparatus executes route guidance processing when the user reaches the point B.

  Specifically, the information processing apparatus stores a point A where the user is to be guided, a point B that is a predetermined distance away from the point A when entering the road A toward the point A, and a point C of the building. Extract from Then, the information processing apparatus determines whether the building is visible from the angle formed by the line segment BA and the line segment BC and the presence / absence of another building from the point B to the point C. And when the condition that it can visually recognize is satisfied, the building of the point C is selected as a mark at the time of route guidance.

  Further, the information processing apparatus determines whether the building is on the right side or the left side of the road from the angle formed by the line segment BA and the line segment BC. Then, when the user passes through the point B, the information processing apparatus guides the user like “There is a convenience store XX in the right direction”.

<System configuration>
FIG. 4 shows a system configuration example of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a CPU 1 that provides a car navigation function by executing a program, a ROM 2 that stores a program executed by the CPU 1, a RAM 3 that holds a program executed by the CPU 1 or data processed by the CPU 1, and a user Input device 4 that receives operations when inputting information to the information processing apparatus, graphic controller 5 that generates data on the screen, graphic memory 6 that holds data generated by graphic controller 5, and CPU 1 or graphics A display device 8 that displays data generated by the controller 5 on a screen, a display controller 7 that controls the display device 8, and a drive device that reads data from a removable portable medium (eg, CD-ROM, DVD, etc.) 10 (for example, CD-ROM drive B), a decoder 9 for restoring data recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM, an orientation sensor 12 connected through an interface 11, an angular velocity sensor 13, a distance sensor 14, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 15 and a communication interface 16. Although not shown in FIG. 4, for example, a hard disk drive may be provided to store data in the hard disk.

  With the configuration in FIG. 4, the user instructs display of map information on the display device 8 using an input device such as a joystick or a touch panel. The information processing device reads map information from a medium such as a CD-ROM, and displays a map desired by the user, an enlarged view, and the like on the display device 8 by processing of the graphics controller 5.

  Next, the user designates a destination or a point on which a route is desired by using the input device 4. Then, the information processing device performs route information in the CD-ROM, point information on each point (intersection, branch, highway entrance, exit, etc.) on the route, route guidance specified by the user, or point guidance. Based on the information of the desired point, the route is guided to the user or the point is guided.

  At that time, the information processing apparatus detects the traveling direction by the direction sensor 12. In addition, the information processing apparatus detects the rotation speed by the angular velocity sensor 13. Further, the information processing apparatus detects the moving distance by the distance sensor 14. Further, the information processing device detects the current position and time by the GPS unit.

  In this way, the information processing apparatus guides the user according to the road route information. When the user approaches a predetermined point (for example, an intersection, a branch, an entrance to an expressway, an exit, or a point where the user desires to guide a route), the information processing apparatus CDs a mark that is visible in the vicinity of the CD. Extract from database in ROM. Then, the mark (symbol shape indicating the mark) is superimposed on a map on the screen, a road surface shape diagram in which the point is enlarged, a perspective view that displays the point in three dimensions, and the user is output by voice output. Induce. Here, it is assumed that the CD-ROM or the like stores image data such as a map, a road surface shape diagram in which the point is enlarged, and a perspective view in which the point is displayed in three dimensions. A CD-ROM or the like corresponds to the road display information storage means of the present invention.

  This information processing can communicate with other information processing devices by connecting a mobile phone (corresponding to the communication means of the present invention) or a wireless LAN unit (corresponding to the communication means of the present invention) to the communication interface 16. It becomes. Further, when the information processing apparatus 1 is configured as a mobile phone itself or a mobile information terminal, the driver 10 such as a CD-ROM is not always necessary. In that case, route information, point information, and point-related information, or a map, or the point is expanded to a server installed in a mobile phone base station, on a mobile phone carrier's network, or in a public network such as the Internet. A database function for storing image data such as a road surface shape diagram, a three-dimensional perspective view for displaying a point, etc. may be provided, and information may be downloaded to the information processing apparatus as necessary.

<Data structure>
The structure of data referred to when the information system performs route guidance will be described with reference to FIGS. These data are read from a database (corresponding to the point-associated information storage means of the present invention) in a medium (CD-ROM or the like) by the driving device 10 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a point data group and the structure of building data linked by a pointer from the point data group. Each record of the point data group (one line of the point data group) includes a coordinate value (X1, Y1, etc.) of the point and a pointer to the record of the building data linked to the point. Here, the coordinate values are, for example, longitude and latitude. However, as a coordinate value, for example, a coordinate value on a coordinate system starting from a predetermined reference point in Japan may be used. Further, for example, a relative origin (for example, the upper right point of the sheet) may be provided for each sheet of map data displayed on the display device 8, and coordinates for each sheet of map data may be defined.

  The building data includes information regarding the building linked to each point in the point data group. In the present embodiment, the building data is also referred to as point-associated information. Each record of point incidental information includes, for example, a type, a detailed type, coordinates, a color, and a checkable direction.

  In the example of FIG. 5, an example in which four buildings are linked to one point is shown, and the details of the building a among them are shown as point-associated information. Here, the type refers to the type and use of the building at that point, the type of business carried out using the building, and the like. For example, the type is a convenience store. The detailed type is more detailed information that describes the building. For example, the detailed information is a trade name “X Mart” or the like of a company that uses the point as a store. The coordinates are the position of the building indicated by the point-related information, for example, the longitude and latitude where the building is located. The confirmation direction is a direction from the point B in FIG. 3, that is, the direction from the entry point to the coordinates of the building indicated by the point associated information.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the orientation. The direction of the confirmable direction is stored in the point incidental information in units of 45 degrees, for example, north is 0 degrees. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the unit of 45 degrees, and the confirmation possible direction may be set with a coarse angle, or the confirmation possible direction may be set with a fine unit.

  In any case, for example, when the confirmable direction is 45 degrees, it means that the building of the point incidental information is located in the 45 degree direction from the entry point (point B in FIG. 3). The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be visually recognized at each entry point when the user's traveling direction (front line-of-sight direction) and the confirmable direction are within a predetermined allowable range. Is used as a landmark. On the other hand, at each entry point, the information processing apparatus marks the building as being difficult to visually recognize when the user's traveling direction (front line-of-sight direction) and the confirmable direction do not fall within a predetermined tolerance range. Exclude from

  FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show examples of point incidental information. In FIG. 7, the type is a convenience store, the detailed type is a store called Xmart, the coordinates are x1, x1, and the color (for example, the color of the building, the dominant color of the store appearance) is blue This is an example in which the confirmable direction is 180 degrees, that is, a direction from the entry point toward the south.

  In FIG. 8, the type is a gas station, the detailed type is a trade name of GX oil, the coordinates are x2, x2, the color is blue, and the confirmable direction is 45 degrees, that is, from the entry point to the northeast It is an example of the direction to go.

<Processing flow>
The route guidance processing procedure by the information processing apparatus will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.

FIG. 9 shows an outline of the route guidance processing procedure. In this process, first, the user sets a spot with the input device 4 (S1). In point setting, the point that should be the target of this route guidance,
The direction of approach to that point is determined.

  Next, when the user approaches the vicinity of the set point, the information processing apparatus executes a mark extraction process at that point (S2). Then, the information processing apparatus executes notification processing using the extracted landmark (S3). The notification is based on, for example, a display in which a symbol shape indicating the extracted mark is superimposed on a planar map image, a three-dimensional perspective view, or the like. In addition, a voice notification is also executed. The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to the output means of the present invention.

  FIG. 10 shows details of the point setting process (S1 in FIG. 9). In this process, the point where the user should be guided to the route / guide the route is determined according to the designation of the destination by the user, the setting of the route, or the designation of the point where the route guidance / point guidance is desired (S11). . This point is, for example, an intersection on a guidance route by navigation, a branch, an entrance to an expressway, an exit, or the like.

  In addition, a point where the user particularly desires route guidance / point guidance may be set. For example, it is a case where the meeting point with the meeting partner is collated and notified to the partner.

  Next, the information processing apparatus searches for roads close to the determined point from the road route information. Further, the road connected to the searched road is extracted from the road route information. Here, the road route information is information in which a route for each road (coordinates of passing points) is recorded, and is recorded in a database such as a CD-ROM (corresponding to the road information storage means of the present invention).

  Then, the information processing apparatus cuts out an area portion having a predetermined distance from the determined point in the extracted road (S12). Then, the coordinates of a predetermined distance point (hereinafter referred to as an entry point, for example, point B in FIG. 3 corresponds to the entry point) from the determined point are calculated.

  Further, the information processing apparatus determines a direction from the boundary point to the determined point (S13). This direction is calculated from the coordinates of the boundary point and the coordinates of the determined point. Usually, an approach point is set before the point determined on the route to be routed from the current point. For this reason, in the case of a point on the route by the navigation function, the information processing apparatus determines the direction. On the other hand, when the user sets a point where the user particularly wants to guide the route instead of a point on the route when the navigation function is executed, the user determines the approach direction by the input device 4. For example, when the point is an intersection where two roads intersect, the user designates which part of the four road parts to enter.

  Next, the information processing apparatus registers the spot information in the RAM 3 (S14). This point information is referred to according to the movement of the user, and when the point is approached, a mark extraction process (S2 in FIG. 9) at that point is executed.

  FIG. 11 shows details of the landmark extraction process. In this process, first, the determined point, for example, a passing intersection and a predetermined range portion of a road connected to the intersection are referred to from the RAM 3 (registered in S14 of FIG. 10) (S21). And the building accompanying the intersection is extracted from point accompanying information (refer FIG. 5) (S22).

  Next, the information processing apparatus excludes the non-target building from the landmark (S23). A non-target building refers to a building that is difficult to confirm as a landmark when viewed from the current approach direction. The non-target building is, for example, the approach direction to the intersection (the direction of the line segment BA in FIG. 3, the normal line-of-sight direction during movement) and the direction from the entry point to the building (the direction of the line segment BC in FIG. 3). It is judged by the deviation of the angle. If this deviation is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that visual recognition is possible. On the other hand, if this deviation is larger than a predetermined value, it is determined that visual recognition is difficult.

  FIG. 12 shows details of the notification process. In this process, first, the positional relationship between the determined point, for example, the passing intersection and the extracted building is investigated (S31). That is, it is determined whether the building that serves as a mark is located on the front right side or the front left side with respect to the approach direction from the entry point toward the intersection, that is, the road.

  Then, the information processing apparatus guides the user by voice, for example, “Convenience store XX is on the right side of the road ahead” (S32). In addition, an enlarged map of the vicinity of the intersection (for example, a road surface shape diagram showing a road route on a two-dimensional map, a three-dimensional perspective view of the vicinity of the intersection), and the like, a building symbol (building mark) And the type, usage, type of business, etc., for example, the character string of “convenience store OO”, etc. are superimposed and displayed on the display device 8 (S33).

  FIG. 13 shows an example of processing for transmitting the landmark information to another information processing apparatus. This process is a process used by the user when waiting at a desired point with a friend, for example. Here, it is assumed that the setting of the target meeting point, the setting of the approach direction, and the extraction of the mark at the meeting point have already been completed by the processing of FIGS. The processing contents are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  Next, the user establishes a connection with the counterpart device using, for example, a hands-free unit mounted on the vehicle (S101). For example, a call to a partner mobile phone is started by an operation button of a hands-free unit. Also, an e-mail may be sent to the other mobile phone. Further, communication connection with a counterpart device through a wireless LAN and the Internet may be used. The hands-free unit may accept a user instruction by voice recognition.

  Next, the information processing apparatus transmits voice reading data explaining the mark of the target meeting point to the counterpart device (S102). In addition, the information processing apparatus uses an enlarged view (for example, a diagram showing a road route on a two-dimensional map, a three-dimensional perspective view showing the vicinity of an intersection) as a counterpart device with a mark of a target meeting point superimposed. Transmit (S103). The enlarged view is, for example, bitmap data.

  Next, the information processing apparatus disconnects communication with the counterpart device using the hands-free unit (S104).

<Effect of embodiment>
As described above, according to the information processing apparatus, a visible building is extracted as a landmark when viewed from the approaching direction to the determined point, and is superimposed on the enlarged view of the point. To display. Therefore, it is possible to guide the route with the building visible to the user as a landmark.

  Further, the information processing apparatus guides the user by clearly indicating whether the road is moving on the right side or the left side based on the approach direction to the point and the positional relationship between the marks. Therefore, the user's landmark recognition is further facilitated.

  Further, in the case of waiting or the like, the information processing apparatus transmits, to the meeting partner, point explanation information such as an enlarged view of the meeting point including a mark visible from the approaching direction to the meeting point and voice reading information. be able to. Therefore, even when the point is explained to the other party, such as in a meeting, the partner can understand the meeting point more than before, and the certainty of the meeting can be increased.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the user is route-guided by determining the visibility and the right side or the left side of the traveling direction from the azimuth angle in the plane by 0 degrees north. However, in addition to the determination in the plane, the visibility and the upper side or the lower side of the line of sight (horizontal line) may be guided by the elevation angle of the line of sight. For example, when it is determined that the building is moving on an elevated road, and the building is under the road and cannot be seen from the angle of the line of sight, it may not be extracted from the point-associated information. In addition, if it is visible even under the road, it may be guided as “Convenience store XX” in the lower right direction of the road.

It is a figure which shows the example of the positional relationship of the building used as the mark in the intersection vicinity. It is a figure which shows the condition at the time of waiting at a certain point. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the process by the information system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the building data linked by a pointer from a point data group and a point data group. It is a figure which shows the example of an azimuth | direction. It is Example 1 of point incidental information. It is Example 2 of point incidental information. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the process procedure of route guidance. It is a figure which shows the detail of a point setting process. It is a figure which shows the detail of a mark extraction process. It is a figure which shows the detail of a notification process. It is a figure which shows the example of the process which transmits mark information to another information processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4 input device 8 display device 10 driver (drive device such as CD-ROM)
15 GPS
16 Communication interface

Claims (7)

For each point on the map, point-related information storage for storing point-related information including information for identifying a mark located in the vicinity of the point, position information of the mark, and angle information when the mark is viewed from the point Means,
An information processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that extracts and outputs point-accompanying information related to a visible mark from the point-associated information storage unit based on the approach direction to the point and the angle information.   The landmark is a building, and the identification information can specify at least one of the type, usage, and type of business using the building when the landmark is viewed from the point. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, which is information.   The output means includes voice output means for outputting the spot-accompanying information related to the landmark by voice and means for determining in which direction the landmark looks with respect to the approach direction. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the mark is visible is output as audio. Road display information storage means for storing road display information including a road route, road shape or road appearance near the point; and means for storing a symbol shape for displaying the mark on the screen;
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output unit further includes a unit that outputs the video in which the symbol shape is superimposed at a position where the mark is superimposed and superimposed on the road display information.   5. The output unit is configured to be connectable to a communication unit that communicates with another information processing apparatus, and transmits the point-associated information about the extracted landmark to the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit. The information processing apparatus according to any one of the above. Means for referring to road information storage means for recording road route information including the coordinates of road passing points from a server connected to the network;
For each point on the map from a server connected to the network, information for identifying a mark located in the vicinity of the point, position information of the mark, and angle information when viewing the mark from the point Means for referring to point-associated information storage means for storing information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that extracts and outputs spot-accompanying information relating to a visually recognizable mark from the spot-associated information storage unit based on the approach direction calculated based on the route information and the angle information. Referring to the route information from the road information storage means that records the route information of the road including the coordinates of the passing point of the road on the computer;
For each point on the map, store such point-associated information, including information identifying the landmark located near the point, location information of the landmark, and angle information when viewing the landmark from the point Referring to the point-associated information from the point-associated information storage means;
Extracting point-associated information relating to a visually recognizable mark from the point-associated information storage means based on the approach direction calculated based on the route information and the angle information;
A computer-executable program for executing the step of outputting the extracted spot incidental information and the spot information together.

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