JP2007240438A - Moving passage searching device, method, and program, recording medium recording program, and guidance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus for easily searching a moving passage to an area around a destination point. <P>SOLUTION: A map around a destination is displayed on a screen, based on a request, by a terminal display means. An address and a display scale at the center of a display region are recognized, and a government area region around the destination is recognized, based on comparison data. The shortest moving passage from a current position to the intersection point between the government area and a road is searched. When moving close to the government area, a guide for prompting the setting input of the presence or absence of the execution of a re-route search is made. An area around the destination to be moved to is set with an area to the degree of vagueness in the user's destination. A moving passage to an ambiguous destination can be searched easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a travel route search device that searches a travel route of a vehicle from a departure point to the vicinity of a destination point based on map information, a method thereof, a program thereof, a recording medium storing the program, and a guidance guidance device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a vehicle-mounted navigation device that searches and guides a moving route to a destination is known as a guidance and guidance device that searches for a moving route of a vehicle and guides and guides the movement of the vehicle. As a navigation device for searching for a moving route, for example, a configuration is known in which a destination can be set as a predetermined area instead of a point and a moving route can be searched (for example, see Patent Literature 1 to Patent Literature 4).
In the device described in Patent Document 1, for each area such as Hakone and Gotemba, area data is stored in which the position coordinates of a plurality of points such as important intersections in front of the area and the train station are stored. In the route search, when the destination is set with an area name of Hakone, the position coordinates of a plurality of points included in the corresponding area are extracted from the area data, and these are set as the position coordinates of the destination. After this, a route search is performed for a plurality of points from the current location of the vehicle that is the departure point, the calculation result obtained by searching the route with the point closest to the departure point as the destination is displayed on the display monitor, and guidance guidance is adopted. It has been.
According to the technique described in Patent Document 2, an area that extends two-dimensionally can be designated as an avoidance area as a setting of an area that is desired to be avoided during route search. As the setting of the avoidance area, various regions of Japan are displayed by specifying the area, and when “Kanto” is selected, for example, 6 prefectures divided by prefecture are displayed, and “Tokyo” is further displayed. When selected, the city is further divided into 23 wards and cities outside the 23 wards, and the town names further divided in detail are displayed, and the town names are designated as areas.
The device described in Patent Document 3 adopts a configuration in which a user designates a free-form area on a map and calculates a route so as to pass through the designated area.
Patent Document 4 describes a region where traffic prohibition regulations other than a resident are present in a map database as polygon-shaped polygon data connecting a plurality of points represented by coordinate values, and a residence as an attribute of the polygon data. A non-resident restriction ID and a non-resident restriction flag and a non-resident restriction ID are added to each intersection node. And the structure which sets the guidance route which does not enter in the area is taken except the case where the point in the residential area where a traffic prohibition regulation other than a resident exists is set as a destination or a waypoint.

JP 2004-219243 A JP 2002-243475 A JP 2004-184168 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-69783

By the way, when the user does not accurately recognize the destination point to be moved to or when the user recognizes the direction but cannot recognize the area including the destination point, the temporary point or temporary area is set as the destination point. It is necessary to set and search for a moving route. In the case of setting the temporary destination point, the temporary destination point can be set and input by setting it on a map displayed on the screen of the display device or by setting a temporary landmark by searching with a keyword. It becomes.
However, if the user does not recognize the destination point accurately or cannot recognize the area including the destination point, the user may search for the approximate route to the destination point even if it is ambiguous. Scrolling the area of the map displayed on the screen to the vicinity of the destination or performing an input operation for searching for a keyword or destination point is troublesome. In particular, when searching for a travel route for moving to an unknown destination far away, displaying a map around the destination and inputting features such as landmarks and intersections around the destination are complicated. The problem is an example.

  In view of the above, the present invention provides a travel route search device that easily searches for a travel route around a destination point, a method thereof, a program thereof, a recording medium storing the program, and a guidance guidance device. One purpose is to do.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a movement route search device for searching a movement route for guiding and guiding the movement of the vehicle from the departure point to the destination point based on the map information. Map information storage means for storing the map information having, and area information regarding different areas of the administrative boundary area corresponding to different display scales for displaying the map information on the screen on the display device is the map information A reference data storage means for storing reference data of a data table structure associated with a size corresponding to the size of the display scale of the display scale, and a request for displaying the map information on the screen at a predetermined display scale on the display device A map display request recognizing means for recognizing a map display request signal and a request for acquiring the map information based on the map display request signal recognized by the map display request means. Display control means for controlling display on the display device at a display scale, route search request recognition means for recognizing a route search request signal relating to a request for searching for the travel route from the departure point to the vicinity of the destination point; , When the route search request recognition unit recognizes the route search request signal, based on the map information and the reference data, a substantially central point in the display area of the map information displayed on the display device , Recognizing the size information of the administrative boundary area corresponding to the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen, and at least of the administrative boundary area of the area corresponding to the area information and the area information at this point A travel route search device comprising: travel route search means for searching for the travel route using either one as the destination point.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a movement route search method for searching, based on map information, a movement route for guiding and guiding the movement of the vehicle from the departure point to the destination point by means of computing means. Map information storage means for storing map information having administrative boundary information, and width information relating to different widths of the administrative boundary area corresponding to different display scales for displaying the map information on the screen on a display device Using the reference data storage means for storing the reference data of the data table structure associated with a size corresponding to the scale of the display scale of the map information, and the calculation means is a display device and a predetermined data When a map display request signal related to a request to display the map information on the display scale is recognized, the map information is stored from the map information storage unit based on the map display request signal. Recognizing a route search request signal related to a request for search of the travel route from the departure point to the vicinity of the destination, a display control step for controlling the display device to display the screen at the display scale requested and acquired, Based on the map information and the control data, a substantially central point in the display area of the map information displayed on the screen by the display device, and an administrative boundary corresponding to the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen A travel route search step of recognizing the travel information of the region and searching for the travel route using at least one of the point and the administrative boundary region having a width corresponding to the width information at the point as the destination point And a movement route search method characterized by implementing the above.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is a travel route search program that causes a computing unit to function as the travel route search device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

  The invention described in claim 11 is a moving route search program characterized by causing a calculation means to execute the moving route search method described in claim 9.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium recording a movement route search program in which the movement route search program according to claim 10 or 11 is recorded so as to be readable by a calculation means. .

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a travel route searching device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a detecting means for detecting a moving state of the vehicle, and a movement searched by the travel route searching device. An informing means for informing a moving state of the vehicle based on a route and a moving state of the vehicle detected by the detecting means.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a navigation device that is a guidance and guidance device that includes the travel route search device of the present invention and guides and guides the movement of a vehicle will be described as an example. The vehicle in the present invention is not limited to a passenger car or a truck, but can be any vehicle traveling on a road such as a motorcycle.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a table structure of display data constituting map information. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a table structure of matching data constituting map information. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing the table structure of the control data. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing administrative boundary areas having different hierarchical structures in order to explain the administrative boundary information of the contrast data. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a destination setting input screen for setting and inputting an administrative boundary area as an ambiguous destination. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a reroute guidance display screen that prompts the user to set the necessity of reroute when approaching the administrative boundary area of an ambiguous destination.

[Configuration of navigation device]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a navigation device as a guidance guidance device. The navigation device 100 is a device that notifies guidance related to the movement of a passenger car corresponding to the movement status of the passenger car, for example. The vehicle is not limited to a passenger car, and any vehicle traveling on a road, such as a truck or a motorcycle, is a target. Further, the navigation device 100 is not limited to a vehicle-mounted type mounted on a passenger car, for example, but may be various types such as a portable type, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a cellular phone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and a portable personal computer. it can.
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 100 includes a sensor unit 110, a terminal communication unit 120, a terminal operation unit 130 as an operation unit, a terminal display unit 140 as a display device, a terminal sound generation unit 150, The terminal storage means 160, the terminal calculating means 170 as a movement route search apparatus which is a calculating means, etc. are provided.

The sensor unit 110 detects the state of movement of the moving body, for example, the vehicle, that is, the current position, the traveling state, and the like, and outputs a predetermined detection signal to the terminal calculation means 170. The sensor unit 110 includes, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit (not shown) and various sensors 112 such as a speed sensor, an azimuth sensor, and an acceleration sensor (not shown).
The GPS receiving unit receives navigation radio waves output from a GPS satellite, which is an artificial satellite (not shown), by the GPS antenna 111. Then, the GPS receiving unit calculates a pseudo coordinate value of the current position based on the signal corresponding to the received navigation radio wave, and outputs it to the terminal calculating unit 170 as GPS data.
The speed sensor, which is the sensor 112 of the sensor unit 110, is disposed in the vehicle, for example, and detects the traveling speed and actual acceleration of the vehicle based on a signal that varies in accordance with the traveling speed that is the moving speed of the vehicle. This speed sensor reads, for example, a pulse signal or a voltage value output by the rotation of an axle or a wheel. Then, the speed sensor outputs a detection signal such as the read pulse signal or voltage value. The azimuth angle sensor that is the sensor 112 has a so-called gyro sensor (not shown), detects the azimuth angle of the vehicle, that is, the traveling direction in which the vehicle moves forward, and outputs a detection signal related to the traveling direction. The acceleration sensor, which is the sensor 112, is disposed in the vehicle, detects acceleration in the traveling direction of the vehicle, converts the detected acceleration into a sensor output value that is a detection signal based on, for example, a pulse or voltage, and outputs the sensor output value. The sensor 112 is not limited to these configurations, and only one of a speed sensor, an azimuth angle sensor, and an acceleration sensor, or an appropriate combination, and another sensor may be used. Any configuration capable of detecting the movement state can be applied. The various sensors 112 may be mounted on the navigation device 100.

The terminal communication unit 120 executes an input interface process set in advance for a signal input via a network (not shown), and outputs the processed signal to the terminal calculation unit 170. Further, when a processing signal to be transmitted to a transmission destination such as a server device (not shown) is input from the terminal calculation unit 170, the terminal communication unit 120 outputs an output interface set in advance for the input processing signal. The process is executed and output to a transmission destination such as a server device via the network.
Further, the terminal communication means 120 may be used for a traffic accident or traffic jam from a road traffic information distribution system such as a system managed by a vehicle information communication system (VICS (registered trademark)) center in Japan. A VICS antenna (not shown) that obtains traffic information (hereinafter referred to as VICS data) is provided. Specifically, VICS data such as traffic jams, traffic accidents, construction, and traffic regulations are acquired from a road traffic information distribution system via a network such as a beacon or FM multiplex broadcast. The acquired VICS data is output as a predetermined signal to the terminal calculation means 170.
Further, the terminal communication unit 120 receives map information, traffic information, and the like that are appropriately distributed from the server device, and appropriately outputs and stores them in the terminal storage unit 160. In addition, based on version information such as map information and traffic information to be transmitted, set time information, and the like, if it has already been acquired, there is no need to store the information.
In addition, as a network, for example, a plurality of base stations capable of transmitting and receiving information through a general protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol), the Internet, an intranet, a LAN (Local Area Network), and a wireless medium Examples include a network such as a communication network or a broadcasting network that constitutes a network, and a wireless medium itself that is a medium for directly transmitting and receiving signals between the navigation device 100 and the road traffic information distribution system. Here, any medium such as radio waves, light, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves can be applied as the wireless medium.

The terminal operation means 130 includes various operation buttons and operation knobs (not shown) that are input and operated with, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The contents of the input operation of the operation buttons and operation knobs are setting items such as setting of operation contents of the navigation device 100, for example. Specifically, the contents of the information to be acquired and the conditions to be acquired are set, the destination is set, the information is searched, the execution command for displaying the traveling state as the moving state of the vehicle, and various information is acquired through the network. Examples include communication operation execution instructions that are communication request information to the effect, settings of various information to be acquired, conditions to be acquired, and the like. Then, the terminal operation unit 130 appropriately outputs a predetermined operation signal to the terminal calculation unit 170 by the setting item input operation to be set.
The terminal operation means 130 is not limited to input operations such as operation buttons and operation knobs. For example, input operation using a touch panel provided on the terminal display means 140, input operation using voice, and input operation using a remote controller are supported. Any configuration capable of setting and inputting various setting items, such as reception of a wireless medium transmitted in this manner, can be applied.

The terminal display unit 140 displays the image data signal output from the terminal calculation unit 170 under the control of the terminal calculation unit 170. As image data, for example, image data such as map information and search information, TV image data received by a TV receiver (not shown), an external device such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a memory card, etc. Or image data read from the terminal storage means 160.
As the terminal display means 140, for example, liquid crystal, organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, PDP (Plasma Display Panel), CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube), FED (Field Emission Display), electrophoretic display panel, etc. are displayed on the screen. Various display devices can be applied.

The terminal sounding means 150 includes sounding means such as a speaker (not shown). The terminal sound generation means 150 is controlled by the terminal calculation means 170, and outputs various signals such as voice data from the terminal calculation means 170 from the sound generation means by voice or the like. As the information to be output by voice, for example, the vehicle's traveling direction, traveling condition, traffic condition, and the like are notified to a passenger such as a driver when guiding the traveling of the vehicle.
Note that the sound generation means can appropriately output, for example, TV sound data received by a TV receiver, sound data recorded in a recording medium, terminal storage means 160, and the like. Further, the terminal sound generation means 150 is not limited to the structure provided with the sound generation means, and may be configured to use the sound generation means provided in the vehicle.

The terminal storage unit 160 includes, for example, a map information storage area 161 as a map information storage unit that stores map information as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a reference data storage unit that stores reference data as shown in FIG. As a reference data storage area 162. The terminal storage unit 160 also includes a traffic jam prediction database for traffic jam prediction, various information acquired via the network, setting items input and set by the terminal operation unit 130, various contents such as music or video, etc. In other words, the terminal calculation means 170 stores various information in a readable manner. Further, the terminal storage unit 160 stores various programs developed on an OS (Operating System) that controls the operation of the entire navigation apparatus 100.
The terminal storage unit 160 includes a drive and a driver that are readable and stored in various recording media such as a magnetic disk such as an HD (Hard Disk), an optical disk such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and a memory card. Furthermore, a configuration constructed by a plurality of drives and drivers can be applied.

The map information stored in the map information storage area 161 includes display data VM that is so-called POI (Point Of Interest) data as shown in FIG. 2, for example, matching data MM as shown in FIG. Search map data, and the like.
The display data VM includes, for example, a plurality of display mesh information VMx each having a unique number added thereto. That is, the display data VM is divided into a plurality of pieces of display mesh information VMx relating to a part of the region, and a plurality of pieces of display mesh information VMx are continuously arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. Note that the display mesh information VMx may be further divided into a plurality of lower display mesh information VMx for a part of the area as appropriate. Each display mesh information VMx is divided into a rectangular shape with the length of one side set, that is, the actual topographical length shortened according to the scale of the map, and the map information is displayed at predetermined corners. It has information on absolute coordinates ZP on the whole, for example, the map of the earth.
The display mesh information VMx includes, for example, name information VMxA such as an intersection name, road information VMxB, and background information VMxC. The name information VMxA has a table structure of data in which other element data in the area, for example, the name of an intersection, the name of an area, and the like are arranged and displayed at a predetermined position in a positional relationship with the absolute coordinate ZP. The road information VMxB is configured in a data table structure in which a road, which is road element data in the region, is arranged and displayed at a predetermined position in a positional relationship with the absolute coordinate ZP. In the background information VMxC, a mark indicating a famous place or building that is other element data, or image information that is other element data indicating the famous place or building, etc. is determined in a positional relationship with the absolute coordinate ZP. It is structured in a table structure of data arranged and displayed at positions.

On the other hand, like the display data VM, the matching data MM is divided into a plurality of pieces of matching mesh information MMx related to, for example, a partial region to which a unique number is added, and a plurality of pieces of matching mesh information MMx are continuously formed vertically and horizontally. Has been. Note that the matching mesh information MMx may be further divided into a plurality of lower-layer matching mesh information MMx regarding a part of the region as appropriate. Each matching mesh information MMx is divided into a rectangular shape with the length of one side set, that is, the length on the actual terrain shortened according to the scale of the map, and the entire map information is divided into predetermined corners. For example, it has information on absolute coordinates ZP on a map of the earth. Note that the matching mesh information MMx may have a different data structure representing an area different from the display mesh information VMx, that is, the scale of the divided area may be different. Here, if the scales are the same, the data may be associated using information of a unique number, and if the scales are different, the data may be associated using absolute coordinates, for example.
For example, when displaying the moving state of the vehicle superimposed on the map information, the matching data MM prevents the vehicle from being erroneously displayed such that the display representing the vehicle is located on the building instead of on the road. This is used for map matching processing for correcting the display so that the display to be displayed is located on the road. This matching data MM has a plurality of link string block information.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the link string block information, a plurality of links L as line segment information, which is a line segment connecting the nodes N as the point information constituting the road and representing the points, are associated with a predetermined regularity. It is a table structure of data. More specifically, the links L are associated with each other as a continuous link row that is continuous on a broken line, such as a continuous road such as a Koshu highway or an Ome highway.
The link L is node information such as link information (link ID) as line segment unique information that is a unique number added to each link L, and a unique number representing two nodes N connected by the link L. And attribute information related to the characteristics of the road, which are road types such as tunnels, road widths, level crossings, and elevated roads. The link L is associated with the VICS link, and the positional relationship between the VICS data and the map display corresponds to the link L.
The node N corresponds to a nodal point such as an intersection, a turning point, a branching point, or a merging point of each road. The information related to the node N includes point-specific information (node ID) that is a unique number added to each node N in the link string block information, coordinate information (not shown) of the position where each node N exists, It includes branch information indicating whether or not a branch point such as a branch point intersects, information regarding the presence or absence of a traffic light, and the like. Note that the node N is information that has only point-specific information and coordinate information that does not have flag information in order to simply represent the shape of the road, and information that represents a configuration related to the characteristics of the road such as a tunnel or the width of the road. Some also have attribute information. Note that a node N that does not have flag information and simply represents the shape of a road is not used to determine the identity of a point.
Further, the link string block information of the matching data MM is associated with information on road characteristics, for example, the number of lanes, whether it is a main line, the type of a national road, a prefectural road, a toll road, the configuration of a tunnel, and the like. Based on the information regarding the characteristics of the road, the road can be displayed in a map corresponding to the display data VM.
Further, the travel route search map information has, for example, the same table structure as the matching data MM, that is, point information representing points such as a node N representing roads and line segment information connecting points such as links L. The table structure is an information structure for representing a road in order to search for a movement route.

The reference data stored in the reference data storage area 162 includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, scale information 162 </ b> A related to a scale that is a display scale for displaying the display data VM on the terminal display means 140, and administrative boundaries. Address hierarchy information 162B, which is area information relating to different areas of the administrative boundary area, which is an area, is configured in a table structure in which a plurality of them are associated with each other and recorded.
Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the address hierarchy information 162B includes different areas of the administrative boundary area 164 in the lot number display, such as “Tohoku region” and “Kanto region”, “Tokyo”, “Saitama”, “Osaka”, “Hokkaido” and other regions by prefecture, “Meguro-ku” and “Suginami-ku” by region, “Shimomeguro”, “ Ogikubo and other areas according to large characters and town chome, "Ichome" and other areas according to character and chome, "No. 1" and other areas according to lot numbers, and "No. 1" and other issues This information defines the area size. In addition, as a point, not only a point but the surface area | region used as a certain area | region is included. The address hierarchy information 162B has a hierarchical structure in which an area gradually increases with respect to a predetermined point, and is associated with a hierarchical structure in which the degree of display scale increases as the area increases.
Although FIG. 4 illustrates a six-level hierarchy for convenience of explanation, this is not limited to this, and an example of the administrative boundary area 164 is also described, but this example may not be associated as control data. .

Further, the terminal storage unit 160 stores search information for acquiring information on a predetermined point in the map information, for example.
In other words, the search information includes various information such as prefectural names, municipalities, district names such as letters and chome, point names, etc., content and guidance, and stores as points. For example, the table structure has a tree structure in which item information is associated in a hierarchical manner.
Further, the terminal storage unit 160 stores a traffic jam prediction database for traffic jam prediction.
This traffic jam prediction database is, for example, statistical traffic information obtained by statistically processing past traffic conditions using temporal elements, and is a group of data indicating past traffic conditions at an arbitrary location. This is used for predicting the traffic situation during the display process. This traffic jam prediction database stores, for example, date classification ID (identification) indicating classification such as date and day of the week and VICS data acquired from VICS etc. for each VICS link, and is a temporal element for each accumulated VICS link. A time-series data, which is data related to a tendency of a traffic jam situation, which is a traffic situation statistically processed at 10-minute intervals by date classification or the like, is configured in a table structure in which a plurality of records are recorded as one record.

  The terminal calculation means 170 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and is connected to various input / output ports (not shown) to which a GPS receiving port of the sensor unit 110 is connected and various sensors 112 of the sensor unit 110 are connected. Sensor port to which the terminal communication means 120 is connected, a key input port to which the terminal operation means 130 is connected, a display port to which the terminal display means 140 is connected, and a voice control port to which the terminal sound generation means 150 is connected And a storage port to which the terminal storage means 160 is connected. The terminal calculation means 170 includes, as various programs, a current position recognition means 171 that is a departure point information acquisition means for acquiring departure point information regarding the departure point, and a destination point information acquisition means that acquires destination point information regarding the destination point. A destination recognition unit 172, a condition recognition unit 173 that also functions as a map display request recognition unit and a route search request recognition unit, a guidance notification unit 174, a display control unit 175 that also functions as a guidance notification unit, and a travel route A route processing unit 176 as a search unit, a timing unit 177, and the like are provided.

The current position recognizing means 171 recognizes the current position of the vehicle that is the departure point. Specifically, a plurality of current pseudo positions of the vehicle are calculated based on the vehicle speed data and azimuth angle data output from the speed sensor and azimuth angle sensor of the sensor unit 110. Further, the current position recognizing means 171 recognizes the current pseudo coordinate value of the vehicle based on GPS data relating to the current position output from the GPS receiver. Then, the current position recognizing means 171 compares the calculated current pseudo position with the recognized current pseudo coordinate value, calculates the current position of the vehicle on the separately acquired map information, and obtains the current position as the starting point. The position is recognized, and current position information is acquired as departure point information regarding the current position.
The current position recognizing means 171 determines the inclination and height difference of the road on the basis of the acceleration data output from the acceleration sensor, calculates the current pseudo position of the vehicle, and recognizes the current position. That is, it is possible to accurately recognize the current position of the vehicle even at places that overlap on a plane such as a three-dimensional intersection or an expressway. In addition, when traveling on mountain roads and hills, the current distance is obtained by correcting the error between the travel distance obtained from speed data and azimuth angle data and the actual vehicle travel distance using the detected road slope. Recognize position.
Note that the current position recognizing unit 171 recognizes a starting point set as a starting point input by the terminal operation unit 130 as a pseudo current position in addition to the current position of the vehicle described above as the current position. Various information obtained by the current position recognizing unit 171 is appropriately stored in the terminal storage unit 160.

The destination recognizing unit 172 acquires destination information that is destination point information regarding a destination that is a destination set and input by an input operation of the terminal operation unit 130, for example, and recognizes the position of the destination.
As destination information to be set and input, for example, in addition to various information for specifying a place as a point, such as coordinates such as latitude and longitude, an address, a telephone number, etc., the administrative boundary area 164 as a predetermined area is also contrasted. can do. The destination information recognized by the destination recognition unit 172 is stored in the terminal storage unit 160 as appropriate.

The condition recognizing unit 173 recognizes each setting item set and input by the input operation of the terminal operation unit 130.
For example, the condition recognizing unit 173 recognizes a map display request signal that is an operation signal related to a request to display the map information display data VM on the screen at a predetermined display scale on the terminal display unit 140. Specifically, the condition recognizing means 173 is a map display request signal and a map area to be displayed on the map and a display scale, together with an input operation for requesting the terminal display means 140 to execute screen display of a predetermined map. The map display condition for displaying the map information in the display area of the terminal display means 140 such as the scale ratio is recognized. Further, when the condition recognizing unit 173 recognizes a destination periphery setting request described in detail later by a predetermined input operation, the point information at the center point in the screen display area of the map displayed on the terminal display unit 140, that is, For example, the address information represented by the lot number display of the lot number, such as “Tokyo ○○ ward ○○ town ○ chome ○ address ○ No.”, and the administrative border area information on the administrative border area 164 based on the lot number display information and the comparison data are acquired. To do.
Further, the condition recognition unit 173 recognizes a route search request signal which is an operation signal related to a request for searching for a moving route from the current position as a departure point to the destination point or a predetermined administrative boundary area around the destination point. Specifically, the condition recognizing means 173 uses a condition for searching for a movement route set and input by an input operation together with an input operation for requesting the execution of a movement route by the route processing means 176 as a route search request signal. For example, various setting items such as the shortest time, the shortest distance, and whether toll roads are used are also acquired.
Then, the condition recognizing unit 173 outputs a command signal corresponding to the contents and request of each setting item to the guidance notifying unit 174, the display control unit 175, the route processing unit 176, or the like.

The guidance notifying unit 174 is stored in the terminal storage unit 160 and is based on the travel route information obtained in advance corresponding to the map information and the traveling state of the vehicle, or the feature guide information, for example, the vehicle movement, for example, the vehicle Guidance information relating to guidance of contents supporting the traveling of the vehicle is generated. The guidance notification means notifies the generated guidance information by image display by the terminal display means 140 or voice output by the terminal sound generation means 150.
Specifically, a predetermined arrow or symbol is displayed on the display screen of the terminal display means 140, or “700m ahead, the XX intersection is in the right direction in the △△ direction.” For example, voice guidance such as “This is a traffic jam” is output by the terminal sound generation means 150 or the like.

The display control unit 175 controls the terminal display unit 140 as appropriate to display various information on the screen of the terminal display unit 140.
Further, the display control unit 175 superimposes an icon indicating the current position or destination, a moving route, and an icon related to traffic congestion on the map information, and causes the terminal display unit 140 to display the map information display data VM on the screen. do.
Further, the display control means 175 displays a destination setting input screen 200 as shown in FIG. 6 for setting and inputting a predetermined administrative boundary area around the destination point for route search. The destination setting input screen 200 includes items obtained by dividing the address number display of the address information recognized by the condition recognizing means 173 into different areas of the administrative boundary area, such as “Tokyo”, “XX Ward”, “ Recognizes items such as “XX”, “XX”, “XX address”, “XX number”, etc., and has a plurality of command buttons 201 that can be selected by input operation corresponding to each item. It is configured to prompt selection of any item. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 6 shows a state surrounded by a thick frame line indicating that the command buttons 201 corresponding to the items “No. 1” and “No. 7” can be input, but this is not restrictive. The selectable command button 201 is an administrative boundary area 164 corresponding to a display scale that is one scale larger than the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen recognized by the condition recognition means 173, and The address hierarchy below the administrative boundary area 164 that does not include the current position is illustrated. However, for example, the command buttons 201 of items corresponding to the administrative boundary areas 164 of all the hierarchical levels may be input operable.
When any command button 201 on the destination setting input screen 200 is input, the condition recognizing unit 173 recognizes it as a destination periphery setting request, and the condition recognizing unit 173 applies the input operation to the command button 201. The corresponding administrative boundary area 164 is recognized from the point information based on the map information and acquired as administrative boundary area information.
When the display control means 175 recognizes that the current position is close to the administrative boundary area 164 set as the destination point on the searched travel route, the display control means 175 creates a new one from the current position to the destination set by the user. For example, a reroute guidance display screen 210 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the terminal display unit 140 so as to prompt the user to input whether or not to request the travel route search. As the distance at which the current position is close to the administrative boundary area 164, a threshold of a predetermined distance, for example, 1 km before, or a threshold that increases the distance corresponding to the size of the administrative boundary area 164 is stored in the terminal storage unit 160. You just have to. In FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, a point where the administrative boundary icon 221 indicating the administrative boundary intersects with the route icon 222 indicating the moving route is indicated by a star 223, but the star 223 may not be displayed. Good. Further, in FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, an icon 224 indicating the current vehicle position, which is the current position, is superimposed and displayed.
Further, the display control unit 175 controls display of various display screens for setting and inputting various information by prompting an input operation by the terminal operation unit 130, for example.

The route processing unit 176 calculates a travel route on which the vehicle travels based on setting item information for route setting set and inputted by the user and map information stored in the terminal storage unit 160 to search for a route. To do. This route processing means 176 determines whether or not to take into account VICS data, which is traffic information such as traffic regulation, traffic jam, and traffic jam prediction, based on the setting item information set and input by the user's input operation. The travel route is searched or calculated based on various route search requests such as the shortest time.
The setting item information for route setting is displayed on the terminal display unit 140 by the display control unit 175 by using the display control unit 175 to display a display screen that prompts the user to set various conditions based on an operation signal corresponding to an input operation related to a moving route setting request. Display and obtain by input operation according to the screen display. The set travel route is output to the terminal storage unit 160 and stored as appropriate.
As the search for the movement route, for example, when the traffic jam prediction request information is not described in the setting item information, current position information, destination information, setting item information, and current traffic jam information are acquired. Based on the acquired information, the map information for moving route search of the map information is used, for example, a road through which the vehicle can pass is searched, a route having a short required time, a route having a short moving distance, a traffic jam or the like Generate travel route information that sets routes that avoid traffic restrictions. Then, the travel time information about the travel time, the travel distance information about the travel distance, and the like are generated by calculating the travel time and travel distance to the destination in each travel route information.
On the other hand, when the traffic jam prediction request information is described in the setting item information, current position information, destination information, setting item information, and current traffic jam information are acquired. Then, based on the acquired information, movement candidate route information in which a route having a short required time, a route having a short movement distance, a candidate route avoiding a traffic jam or a traffic restriction place, or the like is set is generated. Then, current traffic jam information and traffic jam prediction information are acquired, and travel route information in which a route is set is generated by further narrowing down candidate routes of the travel candidate route information based on the acquired information. Then, the travel time information about the travel time, the travel distance information about the travel distance, and the like are generated by calculating the travel time and travel distance to the destination in each travel route information.
In addition, when searching for this movement route, the map information matching data MM may be used in addition to the movement route search map information. For example, this is the case where a travel route is searched using a road that is not travel route search map information, such as a narrow road such as a back road. When the matching data MM is used, a route is appropriately searched based on the determination of the road state. The travel route information also includes route guidance information that assists the travel by, for example, guiding the vehicle during travel. This route guidance information is appropriately displayed on the terminal display means 140 or is appropriately output by the terminal sound generation means 150 to assist the traveling.
Further, the route processing unit 176 takes into account the traffic jam prediction information, and the predicted arrival position of the vehicle every elapse of 30 minutes, for example, information from the sensor unit 110 when the vehicle travels corresponding to the moving route. And map information. Specifically, the travel distance during a predetermined period of time is calculated from information on the legal speed included in the map information, and the predicted arrival position is recognized based on the calculated travel distance using the map data matching data MM. To do. The predicted position information related to the predicted arrival position is stored in the terminal storage unit 160 as appropriate.

Further, the route processing means 176 searches for a moving route using a predetermined administrative boundary area which is an ambiguous route search request set and input by the user as a destination point.
Specifically, the route processing unit 176 recognizes the map information of the administrative boundary from the map information based on the administrative boundary region 164 set and inputted as the destination point by the condition recognition unit 173, and at the same time, the star mark 223 shown in FIG. Like the position of, the intersection of the administrative boundary and the link L and the node N in the map information is recognized, and these intersections are set as temporary destination points. Then, as described above, the travel route is searched from the current position as the departure point to the temporary destination point, and the travel route having the shortest distance or the shortest time is set as a travel route candidate based on the ambiguous route search request. Note that, based on the respective orientations of the current position and each intersection, the closest intersection may be recognized, and a travel route may be searched using this intersection as a temporary destination point.

The time measuring means 177 recognizes the current time based on a reference pulse such as an internal clock.
Then, the time measuring means 177 appropriately outputs time information regarding the recognized current time.

[Operation of navigation device]
Next, as an operation of the navigation device 100, a travel route search process will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, as an example of a search for a travel route, an ambiguous route search that uses the administrative boundary area 164 as a destination instead of a point as a destination as a destination is exemplified. Nor. Moreover, although the structure which searches the point regarding the feature which a user recognizes as a destination periphery based on the search information memorize | stored in the terminal memory | storage means 160 is illustrated, it does not restrict to this, For example, in the area | region containing a present position Any method of displaying a map of an area that the user thinks is the vicinity of the destination on the screen, such as scrolling the map information displayed on the screen of the terminal display unit 140, can be applied.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of a travel route setting process for searching for a travel route for driving support in the navigation device. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which map information obtained as a result of the feature search for setting the destination periphery for the ambiguous route search is displayed on the screen. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the display form of the map information as a result of the feature search to change the destination periphery for the ambiguous route search is changed. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of confirming whether or not a reroute search is necessary during the guidance guidance process in the navigation device.

When a passenger who is a user on the vehicle turns on the power of the navigation device 100 and supplies power, the terminal computing unit 170 performs initial setting and controls the terminal display unit 140 by the display control unit 175. To display the main menu. In other words, the terminal display unit 140 displays a display screen that prompts the user to input settings for the content to be operated by the navigation device 100.
For example, at the time of initial setting, the navigation apparatus 100 may appropriately execute a process of acquiring map information, VICS data, and the like via the network by the terminal calculation unit 170.

When the terminal calculation unit 170 recognizes an operation signal corresponding to the input operation requesting the setting of the movement route from the main menu, the display control unit 175 causes the display control unit 175 to perform various information necessary for searching the movement route, for example, the destination The terminal display means 140 displays a display screen that prompts for input of various setting item information such as information, whether it is the shortest distance or the shortest time, and whether or not to predict traffic congestion.
That is, when the terminal calculation unit 170 recognizes various types of information necessary for the search for the movement route based on the input operation of the terminal operation unit 130, the current position recognition unit 171 first performs processing for recognizing the current position. Specifically, the current position recognizing means 171 converts the vehicle speed data and azimuth angle data output from the speed sensor and azimuth angle sensor of the sensor unit 110 and the GPS data related to the current position output from the GPS receiver unit. Based on this, the current position of the vehicle is calculated to obtain the current position information. The acquired current position information is appropriately stored in the terminal storage unit 160.

Further, the terminal calculation unit 170 performs processing for recognizing the destination set and input by the destination recognition unit 172.
Specifically, the user performs a process of setting a predetermined administrative boundary area 164 around the destination according to an instruction on the display screen displayed on the terminal display unit 140. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, in accordance with a screen display that prompts the user to input a destination setting, the user operates the terminal operation unit 130 to search for predetermined features, etc. Based on the above, search is performed by keyword search or the like (step S101). Here, as a search for destinations, for example, search for features such as stations and facilities around the destination such as “Meguro Station” or “Tokyo Dome”, or keywords related to areas such as “Suginami” related to the destination Search related features such as “Suginami-ku, Tokyo” and “Suginami-ku government office” by input.
Then, for example, as shown in the map screen display of FIG. 9, the display control means 175 sends the map information display data VM to a predetermined state in a state where the searched feature 301 is located at the approximate center in the display area of the terminal display means 140. The screen is displayed on the terminal display means 140 at the display scale (step S102). For the convenience of explanation, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the cursor 302 is superimposed on the searched feature 301 to indicate the searched position. In addition, when displaying a map of search results related to an area such as “Suginami-ku, Tokyo” on the screen, for example, almost the entire area is displayed in the display area centered on the government office that has jurisdiction over the designated area such as “Suginami-ku government office”. Display on the display scale.

Thereafter, the condition recognizing unit 173 displays whether or not the region displayed on the screen in step S102 is set and input as the destination periphery by, for example, causing the display control unit 175 to display a display screen for prompting setting input. Recognize (step S103). In this step S103, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the map area displayed on the screen centered on the searched feature, or the display area is changed by appropriately changing the display scale or scrolling, for example, as shown in FIG. Thus, the condition recognition means 173 recognizes as a destination periphery setting request and makes the map area displayed on the screen ambiguous. It is set and inputted as the vicinity of the destination for route search (step S104).
If it is determined in step S103 that the area displayed on the screen is not set as the periphery of the destination, for example, a setting input for re-searching is performed, the process returns to step S101 to re-search the destination.

When the destination surrounding setting input in step S104 is executed, the condition recognizing unit 173, based on the destination surrounding setting request, a point at the center of the map information displayed on the terminal display unit 140, that is, the cursor. The address information of the point indicated by 302 is recognized based on the map information stored in the map information storage area 161, for example, the address information of “Tokyo Metropolitan XX Ward XX Town ○ Chome ○ Address ○ Number”. Furthermore, the condition recognition unit 173 recognizes the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen of the terminal display unit 140, and based on the comparison data stored in the comparison data storage area 162, the administration boundary area 164 related to the administration boundary area 164 Get information. Then, the condition recognizing unit 173 recognizes the address hierarchy as the destination periphery based on the address information and the administrative boundary area information (step S105).
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the display scale is “1/1562” and the lot number where the cursor 302 is located is “Tokyo Metropolitan Area XX 1-chome No. 7 address 1”, as shown in FIG. 4. Based on the contrast data, the administrative boundary area 164 is recognized as an address hierarchy that is the size of an area for each issue that becomes a point. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the display scale is “1/12500” and the lot number where the cursor 302 is located is “Tokyo 1st Street 1st Street No. 1 1”, FIG. Based on the contrast data shown, the administrative boundary area 164 is recognized as an address hierarchy that is the size of the area for each large character / machi chome.

In addition, the display control unit 175 sets the neighborhood of the destination in the item of the address number recognized by the condition recognition unit 173 divided into different areas of the administrative boundary area, for example, the screen display shown in FIG. In this case, the items of the address hierarchy such as “Tokyo”, “XX District”, “Lower XX”, “1-Chome”, “No. 7”, “No. 1”, etc. are recognized and shown in FIG. Such a destination setting input screen 200 is generated based on a form stored in advance in the terminal storage unit 160. Here, the condition recognizing means 173 sets the destination periphery as the address hierarchy, for example, on the screen display shown in FIG. 9, and recognizes the address hierarchy as the size of the area for each issue in step S105. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the display control means 175, together with the “No. 1” command button 201 corresponding to the address hierarchy of the area of the area for each number, It is possible to perform an input operation up to the command button 201 of “seventh address” corresponding to the address hierarchy of the area by character / chome which is the address hierarchy one level higher. Further, for the upper address hierarchy, for example, the destination setting input screen 200 is generated such that a display state with a low contrast or a display form with a low brightness cannot be input.
Note that the display control means 175 does not have the current position recognized by the current position recognition means 171 located within the area of “7th address”, which is a character / chome area that is the address hierarchy one level above. Recognize. If it is located within the area of “address 7”, the command button 201 corresponding to the address hierarchy is set in a state where input operation is not possible.
Then, the display control means 175 controls the terminal display means 140 to display the generated destination setting input screen 200 on the terminal display means 140, and allows the user to set the “ambiguous destination” that is the administrative boundary area 164 around the destination. Prompt for input.

When the user performs an input operation in which any command button 201 is selected according to the destination setting input screen 200 displayed on the screen, the condition recognizing unit 173 performs the administration corresponding to the item of the selected command button 201. The boundary area 164 is recognized as an “ambiguous destination” which is a destination point (step S106).
After this step S106, the destination recognizing means 172 obtains the administrative boundary area information regarding the administrative boundary of the administrative boundary area 164 set as the destination from the map information, and becomes the intersection of each road that intersects this administrative boundary. A point (for example, the star 223 in FIG. 7) is recognized based on the link L and the node N of the map information. Then, the route processing means 176 performs processing for searching for a moving route to each point where each road intersects the administrative boundary (step S107).

That is, at the timing of the processing request for the ambiguous route search or after the input of the setting around the destination described above, the terminal calculation means 170 controls the terminal display means 140 by the display control means 175 to search for the travel route. The display prompts the user to input various setting items that are conditions such as the shortest time and the shortest distance. Then, when the user sets and inputs the setting items by the input operation of the terminal operation unit 130 in accordance with the instruction on the displayed display screen, the terminal calculation unit 170 sets the setting item information regarding the set items that have been set and the terminal communication unit. The VICS data acquired at 120 is acquired. The acquired setting item information and VICS data are also output and stored in the terminal storage unit 160 as appropriate.
Then, the route processing unit 176 searches for a plurality of moving route candidates from the current position recognized by the current position recognizing unit 171 with each point where the road intersects the administrative boundary of the administrative boundary region 164 set and input as a destination. Then, the required time and travel distance from the current position to each destination in each travel route candidate are calculated, and the required time information and travel distance information are generated. Then, the route processing unit 176 sets a travel route candidate that best matches the setting item information, for example, the travel route information having the shortest distance, and the display control unit 175 moves the terminal display unit 140 by superimposing the map information, for example. A route is displayed, or a predetermined time and a moving distance of the moving route information are displayed together.
When setting the travel route, the route processing unit 176 performs, for example, guidance for confirming whether or not the set travel route is acceptable, that is, processing for confirming with a screen display or voice. When the user recognizes an operation signal indicating that a search result by an input operation at the terminal operation means 130 is determined, the movement route is determined. In addition, when the user does not accept the displayed travel route, for example, a process of searching for the travel route or a process of returning to step S101 to search again can be exemplified. The set travel route information is appropriately stored in the terminal storage unit 160.

By setting the travel route, the display control unit 175 of the terminal computing unit 170 reads out map information at a predetermined scale from the terminal storage unit 160 and superimposes the set travel route and current position icon 224 on the map information. To be displayed on the terminal display means 140.
In addition, when the input setting of superimposing and displaying predetermined traffic information or feature information is made in advance, the information is appropriately superimposed and displayed on the map information based on the information.

And the terminal calculating means 170 performs the guidance guidance process for assisting the movement of a vehicle based on the present position of a vehicle (step S108). That is, the terminal calculation means 170 sequentially recognizes the current position information from the sensor unit 110, compares it with the movement route information set in step S107, and generates the route guidance information of the movement route information or the guidance notifying means 174. Based on the information, the guidance notifying means 174 displays the information appropriately on the terminal display means 140 or outputs the sound appropriately on the terminal sound generation means 150 to assist the traveling.
Further, the terminal calculation means 170 determines whether or not the current position has reached the destination every time the vehicle moves and the movement situation fluctuates. Here, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, during the guidance guidance processing in step S108, the point set and inputted as the destination, that is, the road set by the administrative boundary area 164 and the movement route set and inputted. It is determined whether or not a point at which the point intersects (see star 223 in FIG. 7) has been reached to a predetermined distance (step S111). When recognizing that a predetermined distance has been reached before reaching the administrative boundary area 164, for example, a reroute guidance display screen 210 as shown in FIG. Prompt for setting. If it is determined in step S111 that the distance has not been approached, the process returns to step S108 to continue the guidance and guidance process.

Further, when the user requests a reroute based on the screen display prompting the reroute necessity setting in step S111, for example, the process returns to step S101 to newly set the destination or the vicinity of the destination and perform the reroute. That is, it is determined whether or not the administrative boundary area 164 that is a destination polygon around the new destination is set as a new destination (step S112).
In this step S112, a new administrative boundary area 164 is set as a new destination, and when a new travel route search request is recognized, a travel route from the current position to the new destination is searched as described above. Then, guidance guidance processing is performed (step S113). In this way, by carrying out reroutes sequentially, the administrative boundaries will gradually become smaller and guidance on the travel route to more detailed destinations will be repeated, leading to guidance and guidance to the desired destination. It becomes.
On the other hand, if the new administrative boundary area 164 is not set as the new destination in step S112, that is, if the reroute request is not recognized, the process returns to step S108 and the guidance guidance process is continued on the already set travel route. When the terminal calculation means 170 recognizes a setting input for stopping the guidance and the recognition that the destination has been reached, the guidance and guidance processing is terminated and the driving support is terminated.

[Function and effect of navigation device]
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the map display request signal related to the request to display the map information display data VM on the screen at the predetermined display scale on the terminal display means 140, that is, the feature for searching around the destination. When the search request signal for requesting the search is recognized, the display control means 175 reads out the map information of the predetermined area including the searched feature according to the search request signal from the map information storage area 161, and the terminal at the predetermined display scale. The display unit 140 displays the screen. Then, when the condition recognition means 173 recognizes the ambiguous route search request, the address information of the substantially central point in the map information displayed on the screen set as the destination destination periphery is recognized based on the map information. Recognize the address hierarchy corresponding to the scale of the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen based on the contrast data stored in the contrast data storage area 162, and based on the address information and the address hierarchy, around the destination destination Recognize the ambiguous destination. Thereafter, the route processing means 176 searches for a moving route from the current position to the administrative boundary area 164 that is an “ambiguous destination”.
For this reason, even if the user does not recognize the destination correctly, map information that is commonly used to determine the vicinity of the destination is displayed on the screen and is used based on the map information displayed on this screen. By setting an appropriate ambiguous area as the destination periphery, the user sets the ambiguous area set by the user as an administrative boundary area 164 having a predetermined size according to the display state of the screen based on the comparison table. is doing. That is, based on the approximate center point information in the display area of the map information displayed on the screen and the degree of display scale of the map information displayed on the screen at the time when it is set as the “ambiguous destination” The administrative boundary area 164 is set. Therefore, the administrative boundary area 164 around the destination is automatically set in accordance with the degree of the user not recognizing the destination, and it is possible to easily search for a moving route to the ambiguous destination.
Then, as an operation for searching for a moving route from the display state of the map information display screen for the user to determine the vicinity of the destination, the point information at substantially the center in the display area of the map information displayed on the screen, and the map information Since the area around the destination, that is, the area of the administrative boundary area 164 is calculated based on the display scale level using the reference table having a simple data table structure, the calculation load is easily increased. In addition, the area around the destination can be set according to the ambiguity of the user.

When the ambiguous route search request is recognized by the condition recognizing means 173, the display control means 175 recognizes address information that is point information at substantially the center of the map information displayed on the screen, and the map information displayed on the screen. An address hierarchy having a width corresponding to the display scale level is recognized, and an administrative boundary area 164 having a width corresponding to the display state of the map displayed on the screen is recognized based on the address information and the address hierarchy. Furthermore, the display control means 175 has an administrative boundary area 164 corresponding to a display scale whose display scale scale is smaller than the recognized administrative boundary area 164 and a scale whose display scale scale is one step larger than the recognized administrative boundary area 164. The administrative boundary area 164 corresponding to the display scale of the degree is recognized. That is, the display control means 175 has the administrative boundary area 164 of each address hierarchy having a smaller area than the recognized administrative boundary area 164 and the administrative boundary area of the address hierarchy one level wider than the recognized administrative boundary area 164. 164, and has a command button 201 that can be selected by an input operation in an item corresponding to these points and the administrative boundary area 164, and prompts the user to input the setting of “ambiguous destination” by any selection. For example, a destination setting input screen 200 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen.
For this reason, any one of the areas corresponding to each address hierarchy from an area that is one step wider than the area that the user has determined to be around the destination can be set as an “ambiguous destination”. The user's confidence can set the area around the destination according to the ambiguity of the destination, and the usability can be improved.

Furthermore, the display control means 175 divides the lot number display of the address information, which is the point information at the approximate center of the map information displayed on the screen, for each different area of the administrative boundary area 164 as each item of each command button 201. For example, “Tokyo”, “XX Ward”, “Lower XX”, “XX Street”, “XX Address”, “XX Number” are divided and generated.
For this reason, since the point information recognized from the map information is simply used, it can be easily recognized that the user sets the area around the destination according to the ambiguity without increasing the calculation load.
Further, the information regarding the address hierarchy for each area of the administrative boundary area 164 corresponds to the display scale level.
For this reason, a simpler data structure comparison table makes it easier to perform a search for a movement route around the administrative boundary area 164 as the destination and can improve usability.

Then, the route processing unit 176 sets the destination or administrative boundary area 164 corresponding to the item of the command button 201 selected based on the destination setting input screen 200 displayed on the terminal display unit 140 by the display control unit 175. A process of searching for a moving route as an “ambiguous destination” around the ground is performed.
For this reason, by the input operation for setting the command button 201 on the destination setting input screen 200 displayed based on the map information displayed on the screen, the movement route to the vicinity of the destination is searched, and the usability can be further improved.

Further, the route processing means 176 searches for a moving route with the administrative boundary area 164 not including the current position as an “ambiguous destination”. In other words, the display control means 175 uses the command buttons 201 that can be input and operated to items corresponding to the administrative boundary area 164 up to the address hierarchy below the administrative boundary area 164 that does not include the current position.
For this reason, as the route processing means 176, an operation for searching for a movement route from the current position to a point where the administrative boundary and the road intersect (see the star 223 in FIG. 7) is performed, so the administrative boundary including the current position is included. If a wide administrative boundary area 164 such as “Meguro Ward” or “Tokyo Metropolitan Area” can be set as a destination area even though a vehicle is already located in Meguro Ward, for example, the area around the destination from the current position It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that a search for an appropriate movement route cannot be obtained due to the search for the movement route in the outward direction, and the movement route can be searched well.

Then, the route processing means 176 searches for a moving route from the current position to the temporary destination which is each point where the administrative boundary and each road intersect as the ambiguous route search, under the condition that the shortest distance or the shortest time is obtained. Search for travel routes.
For this reason, it is possible to search for a travel route that can move efficiently to the “fuzzy destination”, and when further searching for a reroute from a temporary destination that is a point where the administrative boundary and the road intersect, the administrative boundary region 164 that is narrower inside It is possible to search for a movement route that can be efficiently moved to, and to improve usability.

In addition, the guidance notifying unit 174 uses the terminal display unit 140 to appropriately display the route guidance information of the movement route information for guiding the movement of the vehicle based on the moving route searched for the ambiguous route and the current position, and the generated guidance information. The display or the terminal sound generation means 150 appropriately outputs a voice to assist the traveling, and approaches a predetermined distance to the temporary destination where the administrative boundary where the current position is the boundary position of the administrative boundary area 164 and the movement route intersect. When recognizing this, the terminal display means 140 displays a reroute guidance display screen 210 for prompting a setting input as to whether or not to re-search for a new travel route by setting a new destination or the vicinity of the destination. It is urged to set the necessity.
For this reason, by executing the reroute sequentially, the area of administrative boundaries gradually becomes smaller and the guidance of the movement route to the more detailed destination is repeated, so that a good guidance guidance to the desired destination can be obtained. .

Then, the CPU recognizes the condition recognition unit 173, the route processing unit 176, the guidance notification unit 174, the display control unit 175, and the like as programs, so that the above-described processing can be performed.
As a result, by using a recording medium in which the program is incorporated or the program is recorded, the above processing can be easily obtained, and the use can be easily expanded.

[Modification of Embodiment]
In addition, this invention is not limited to each embodiment mentioned above, The deformation | transformation shown below is included in the range which can achieve the objective of this invention.

That is, as described above, the vehicle is not limited to an automobile or the like, but may be a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle, for example, and any vehicle traveling on a road can be targeted.
In addition, the present invention is not limited to a vehicle-mounted device, and various device forms such as a configuration directly carried by a user, for example, a mobile phone and a PHS can be used.
The navigation apparatus 100 is not limited to a single item, and for example, map information or the like is appropriately acquired from the server apparatus via the network, or the server apparatus searches for the moving route of the vehicle, and the search result is obtained via the network. It is also possible to configure a system such as transmitting to a terminal device and confirming with the terminal device.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a configuration mounted on a vehicle, and may be used as so-called simulation software for setting a virtual departure point and destination on a personal computer and searching for a movement route and an avoidance movement route on a personal computer. it can.

As the reference data, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, it is configured with six address hierarchies, but it may be configured with fewer address hierarchies or more address hierarchies.
In addition, one address hierarchy is associated with one display scale. For example, when there are many display scales, one address hierarchy may be associated with two or three display scales depending on the degree. Good.
The degree of display scale is not limited to the scale scale as shown in FIG.

In addition, during the guidance guidance process based on the travel route set in the ambiguous route search, the guidance for prompting the setting input for requesting the reroute search when approaching the administrative boundary area 164 based on the current position was explained. However, it is not necessary to provide guidance for reroute search. Furthermore, guidance that prompts the user to input a setting for a reroute search request after reaching the temporary destination that is the intersection of the administrative boundary area and the road, that is, the intersection of the administrative boundary and the road may be implemented.
And as this guidance method, it is not restricted to the structure mentioned above.

Furthermore, the destination setting input screen 200 for setting the “ambiguous destination” in the ambiguous route search is not limited to the above-described configuration.
That is, not only the command button 201 but any selection method such as a radio button can be applied. Further, the address hierarchy name of the comparison data may be used as it is, without being an item divided from the address information represented by the lot number display. Furthermore, for example, only the area corresponding to the administrative boundary area 164 corresponding to the map information displayed on the screen may be set, or all the address hierarchies may be input-operable. Further, without displaying the destination setting input screen 200, for example, when an input operation for setting and inputting as a destination periphery is recognized in the map information displayed on the screen, the administrative boundary area 164 is automatically set as an “ambiguous destination”. May be set. In such a case, it is possible to improve the usability by implementing a display that automatically sets the screen display to be confirmed as `` fuzzy destination '' or a screen display that prompts input operations for confirmation. preferable.

Also, the route processing means 176 has been described by calculating each moving route candidate from the current position with each point where the administrative boundary and the road intersect as a temporary destination. For example, as shown in FIG. Based on the coordinates of the administrative boundary and each point where the road intersects, only the nearest point in the direction or the point with the shortest distance is set as a temporary destination, and a plurality of points to this temporary destination are set. A movement route candidate may be calculated.
With such a configuration, the load of the ambiguous route search process is reduced, the travel route can be searched more quickly, and the usability can be improved.

  In addition, the current position information recognized by the current position recognizing means 171 is acquired based on the output data from the various sensors 112 and the GPS data output from the GPS receiving unit. As a method for recognizing the current position of the vehicle, As described above, a plurality of communication bases can be used when the pseudo current position input by the terminal operation means 130 is recognized as the current position, or when the server apparatus recognizes the position of the vehicle as a system configuration, for example. Various methods such as recognizing the current position based on the radio field intensity from the station can be used.

Each function described above is constructed as a program. However, as described above, it may be configured by hardware such as a circuit board or an element such as one IC (Integrated Circuit). Can also be used. In addition, by adopting a configuration that allows reading from a program or a separate recording medium, handling is easy, and usage can be easily expanded.
Note that the calculation means is not limited to one computer, but includes a configuration in which a plurality of computers are combined in a network, an element such as a CPU or a microcomputer, or a circuit board on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted.

  In addition, the specific structure and procedure for carrying out the present invention can be appropriately changed to other structures and the like within a range in which the object of the present invention can be achieved.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the map display request signal related to the request to display the map information display data VM on the screen at the predetermined display scale on the terminal display means 140, that is, the feature for searching around the destination. When the search request signal for requesting the search is recognized, the display control means 175 reads out the map information of the predetermined area including the searched feature according to the search request signal from the map information storage area 161, and the terminal at the predetermined display scale. The display unit 140 displays the screen. Then, when the condition recognition means 173 recognizes the ambiguous route search request, the address information of the substantially central point in the map information displayed on the screen set as the destination destination periphery is recognized based on the map information. Recognize the address hierarchy corresponding to the scale of the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen based on the contrast data stored in the contrast data storage area 162, and based on the address information and the address hierarchy, around the destination destination Recognize the ambiguous destination. Thereafter, the route processing means 176 searches for a moving route from the current position to the administrative boundary area 164 that is an “ambiguous destination”.
For this reason, even if the user does not recognize the destination correctly, map information that is commonly used to determine the vicinity of the destination is displayed on the screen and is used based on the map information displayed on this screen. By setting an appropriate ambiguous area as the destination periphery, the user sets the ambiguous area set by the user as an administrative boundary area 164 having a predetermined size according to the display state of the screen based on the comparison table. is doing. That is, based on the approximate center point information in the display area of the map information displayed on the screen and the degree of display scale of the map information displayed on the screen at the time when it is set as the “ambiguous destination” The administrative boundary area 164 is set. Therefore, the administrative boundary area 164 around the destination is automatically set in accordance with the degree of the user not recognizing the destination, and it is possible to easily search for a moving route to the ambiguous destination.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the table structure of the data for display which comprises the map information in the said one Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the table structure of the matching data which comprises the map information in the said one Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the table structure of the comparison data in the said one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the administrative boundary area | region of the width from which the hierarchical structure differs for demonstrating the administrative boundary information of the contrast data in the said one Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the destination setting input screen for setting and inputting the administrative boundary area | region as an ambiguous destination in the said one Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the reroute guidance display screen which prompts the necessity setting of a reroute when approaching the administrative boundary area | region of the ambiguous destination in the said one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the movement route setting process which searches the movement route for driving | running | working assistance in the navigation apparatus in the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed on the screen the map information of the result of the feature search in order to set the destination periphery for the ambiguous route search in the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which changed the display form of the map information of the result of having searched the feature in order to set the destination periphery for the ambiguous route search in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which confirms the necessity of the reroute search during guidance guidance in the navigation apparatus in the said one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the temporary destination set at the time of an ambiguous route search with the navigation apparatus in other embodiment of this invention with an asterisk.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Navigation apparatus as guidance guidance apparatus 110 ... Sensor part as detection means 130 ... Terminal operation means 140 ... Terminal display means which is a display apparatus as notification means 150 ... Terminal sound generation means 161 as notification means …… Map information storage area as map information storage means 162 …… Contrast data storage area as reference data storage means 170 …… Terminal calculation means 171 as a travel route search device as calculation means 171 …… Current position recognition means 173. ... Condition recognizing means that also functions as map display request recognizing means and route search request recognizing means 174 ... Guidance notification means 175 ... Display control means 176 ... Route processing as movement route searching means that also functions as map information acquisition means Means 200 …… Destination setting input screen

Claims (13)

A travel route searching device for searching a travel route for guiding and guiding the movement of a vehicle from a departure point to a destination point based on map information,
Map information storage means for storing map information having administrative boundary information relating to the administrative boundary;
Corresponding to different display scales for displaying the map information on the screen on the display device, the area information on the different areas of the administrative boundary area which is the area of the administrative boundary corresponds to the scale of the scale of the display scale of the map information A reference data storage means for storing reference data in a data table structure associated with the breadth;
Map display request recognition means for recognizing a map display request signal related to a request to display the map information on a screen at a predetermined display scale on a display device;
Display control means for obtaining the map information based on the map display request signal recognized by the map display request means and controlling the display device to display the screen at the requested display scale;
Route search request recognition means for recognizing a route search request signal related to a request for searching for the travel route from the departure point to the vicinity of the destination point;
Recognizing the route search request signal by the route search request recognition means, based on the map information and the reference data, a substantially central point in the display area of the map information displayed on the display device, Recognizing the size information of the administrative boundary area corresponding to the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen, and at least one of the point and the administrative boundary area of the size corresponding to the area information at this point Travel route search means for searching for the travel route using either one as the destination point;
A travel route searching apparatus characterized by comprising: The travel route searching device according to claim 1,
When the route search request recognizing unit recognizes the route search request signal, the display control unit displays a lot number corresponding to the location and an administrative area having a size corresponding to the scale of the map information displayed on the screen. Corresponding to each boundary area, each administrative boundary area corresponding to each display scale having a smaller scale scale than this administrative boundary area, and each administrative boundary area corresponding to a display scale having a one-step scale scale larger than the scale scale of the map information A travel route search device, characterized in that control is performed to cause the display device to display a destination setting input screen prompting selection of any of the selected items. The travel route search device according to claim 2,
The display control means generates each item of the destination setting input screen by dividing the lot number display of the point for each different area of the administrative boundary area. The travel route search device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
The moving route search means aims at either the point or the administrative boundary area corresponding to the item selected based on the destination setting input screen displayed on the display device by the display control means. A travel route search device characterized by searching the travel route as a point. A travel route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Comprising current position recognition means for recognizing the current position of the vehicle;
The travel route search device, wherein the travel route search means searches for the travel route using an administrative boundary area that does not include the current position recognized by the current position recognition means as the destination point. A travel route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
When the travel route search means searches for the travel route using the administrative boundary area as a destination point, the movement from the departure point to each intersection of the administrative boundary and the road on which the vehicle moves is based on the map information. A travel route searching apparatus characterized by searching for a travel route having the shortest distance or the shortest time among routes. A travel route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The control data stored in the control data storage means includes regions for each region, regions for each prefecture, regions for each municipality, regions for large characters and towns, regions for characters and regions, A moving path search device characterized in that the data table structure is associated with the scale of the display scale of the map information in a hierarchical structure according to the size of the area and the area for each number to be a point. . A travel route searching device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Current position recognition means for recognizing the current position of the vehicle;
Guidance notifying means for notifying the notifying means of guidance for guiding and guiding the movement of the vehicle based on the current position recognized by the current position recognizing means and the moving route searched by the moving route searching means; Equipped,
When the guidance notification means recognizes that the current position has reached or approached the administrative boundary area as the destination point searched by the movement route search means, a search for a movement route from the current position to the new destination point is made. A moving route search apparatus characterized by causing the notification means to notify reroute guidance that prompts a setting input as to whether or not to request the execution of the above. A movement route search method for searching a movement route for guiding and guiding the movement of a vehicle from a departure point to a destination point based on map information by a calculation means,
Map information storage means for storing map information having administrative boundary information relating to the administrative boundary, and different areas of the administrative boundary area corresponding to different display scales for displaying the map information on the screen on the display device Using comparison data storage means for storing comparison data of a data table structure in which the area information is associated with an area corresponding to the size of the scale of the display scale of the map information,
The computing means is
When the display device recognizes a map display request signal relating to a request to display the map information on the screen at a predetermined display scale, the map information is acquired from the map information storage means based on the map display request signal, and the requested display is obtained. A display control step for controlling the display device to display the screen at a reduced scale;
When recognizing a route search request signal related to a search request for the travel route from the departure point to the vicinity of the destination, the map information displayed on the display device is displayed on the screen based on the map information and the reference data. Recognizing a substantially central point in the display area and area information of the administrative boundary area corresponding to the display scale of the map information displayed on the screen, the area corresponding to the area and the area information at this point And a travel route search step for searching the travel route using at least one of the administrative boundary areas as the destination point. 9. A moving route search program characterized by causing an arithmetic means to function as the moving route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A moving route search program for causing a calculating means to execute the moving route search method according to claim 9. 12. A recording medium storing a travel route search program, wherein the travel route search program according to claim 10 or 11 is recorded so as to be readable by a computing means. A travel route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Detecting means for detecting a moving state of the vehicle;
Informing means for informing the moving state of the vehicle based on the moving route searched by the moving route search device and the moving state of the vehicle detected by the detecting means;
A guidance and guidance device characterized by comprising:

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