JP2007249749A - Information output device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information output device with reduced processing time relating to data retrieval and improved operation feeling of a user. <P>SOLUTION: The information output device comprises an extraction means 50 for extracting information pertinent to text data input by a user from a database 20 and an output means 30 for outputting the information extracted by the extraction means 50. The extraction means 50 replaces a replaceable specified keyword in the input text data with a replacing keyword associated with the specified keyword and also extracts the information pertinent to either of the input text data and the text data wherein the specified keyword is replaced with the replacing keyword from the database 20. The output means 30 outputs the information extracted by the extraction means 50 together with the text data input by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is particularly applicable to an in-vehicle navigation device, and includes extraction means for extracting information corresponding to text data input by a user from a database, and output means for outputting information extracted by the extraction means. The present invention relates to an information output device provided.

  Conventionally, a general navigation device has a map database in which location information associated with a destination is stored, and searches for data corresponding to the destination input by a user (driver or occupant) from the map database. Later, processing such as route guidance is performed according to the destination determined by the user. At this time, by reducing the amount of data in the map database, the processing time for data retrieval can be shortened.

  A device described in Patent Document 1 is known as a device for retrieving data from a database using an input search keyword. In this apparatus, parts other than abbreviations and proper nouns are converted into other words for searching.

As in this device, if a replaceable word (for example, “Department Store” and “Department Store” in the case of a navigation device) can be appropriately replaced in the search process, these words (in the above example, “ Since it is not necessary to store both “A department store” and “A department store”), the amount of data in the database can be reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-162008

  However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, it is assumed that the initially input search keyword is not output as it is as a data label, and the user may feel uncomfortable. Accordingly, if the conventional device is applied to a navigation device, the processing time for data retrieval can be shortened, but the operation for determining the destination by the user may take a relatively long time. .

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and it is a main object of the present invention to provide an information output apparatus that shortens the processing time for data retrieval and improves the user's operation feeling.

  To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention includes an extraction unit that extracts information corresponding to text data input by a user from a database, and an output unit that outputs the information extracted by the extraction unit. In the information output device, the extraction unit is a unit capable of replacing a replaceable specific keyword in the input text data with a replacement keyword associated with the specific keyword, and the input text data or the specific keyword Is a means for extracting from the database information corresponding to any of the text data replaced with the replacement keyword, and the output means outputs the information extracted by the extraction means together with the text data input by the user. It is a feature. Here, the input text data includes not only text data input as a character string by an input device such as a keyboard, but also data input by voice and converted into text data.

  According to this aspect of the present invention, a replaceable specific keyword is extracted from text data input by a user, and either the input text data or text data in which the specific keyword is replaced with a replacement keyword. Since the corresponding information is extracted from the database and the information extracted from the database is output together with the input text data, the user can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable with the output, and the data search The processing time can be shortened and the operational feeling of the user can be improved.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the specific keyword and the replacement keyword preferably relate to a non-proprietary noun part included in the place name.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the information output apparatus which improved the user's operation feeling while shortening the processing time concerning a data search can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information output apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a navigation device 1 according to an embodiment to which an information output device of the present invention is applied. The navigation device 1 includes, as main components, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 10, a map database 20, an input / display device 30, a speaker 40, a navigation device electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as a navigation device ECU). 50). Note that communication between devices in the following description is performed using an appropriate communication protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

  The GPS receiver 10 is a receiving device for detecting the current position (latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.) of the host vehicle. Data detected by the GPS receiver 10 is transmitted to the navigation device ECU 50 as needed.

  The map database 20 is a database in which map data is held on a storage medium such as a hard disk, a DVD, or a CD-ROM. This map data adopts so-called point information (POI: Point Of Interest), that is, an information format associated with the destination. In the present embodiment, a destination that also serves as a data label, a destination position (latitude and longitude), a telephone number, and the like are stored as a series of data sets.

  The input / display device 30 is, for example, a display device that employs a VGA (Video Graphics Array) as a graphic system to display an image including a moving image and allows a user to perform various input operations as a touch panel. The input / display device 30 detects a change in voltage caused by a user touching the surface of the input / display device 30 and recognizes a position where the touch operation is performed. Further, the input / display device 30 detects a touch operation performed on a virtual input key on the screen when inputting characters for destination search described later. Note that the character input method for destination search is not limited to this, and other devices such as a remote control key and a voice recognition device may be used. The input operation performed on the input / display device 30 is transmitted to the navigation device ECU 50, and the display content of the input / display device 30 is determined by the navigation device ECU 50.

  The navigation device ECU 50 is, for example, a computer unit in which a ROM, a RAM, and the like are connected via a bus with a CPU as a center, and includes a timer, a counter, a communication port, and the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the navigation device ECU 50 includes, as main functional blocks realized by using such a hardware configuration, for example, a current position specifying unit 52, a destination search unit 54, and a route guide unit. 56.

  The current position specifying unit 52 basically specifies the current position (latitude and longitude) of the host vehicle based on the input signal input from the GPS receiver 10, but if necessary, the vehicle speed sensor or the yaw rate sensor. Corrections are made as appropriate based on sensor output values. Moreover, it is good also as a thing provided with a beacon receiver and FM multiplex broadcast receiver, and detecting the present position of the own vehicle.

  The destination search unit 54 determines whether or not a data set with the destination (text data) input by the user (driver or occupant) using the input / display device 30 as a label exists on the map database 20. If it exists, it is set as the final destination through a confirmation operation by the user.

  In addition, when the data set having the input destination as a label does not exist on the map database 20, a specific keyword that can be replaced is extracted from the input destination, and the specific keyword is associated with the specific keyword. A search is performed as to whether or not a data set having the text data replaced with the replacement keyword as a label exists in the map database 20, and if it exists, this is similarly set as the final destination (hereinafter, this specific keyword). The function of performing a search by substituting with a replacement keyword is referred to as a replacement function). At this time, the input destination is used as the label of the information displayed as the destination.

  A combination of the replaceable specific keyword and the replacement keyword associated with the specific keyword may be stored in advance in the ROM of the navigation device ECU 50, for example. Various combinations are conceivable depending on the language of the country in which the apparatus is used. For example, when used in Japan, “** department store” and “** department store”, “** station” and “** station”, “** highway” and “** highway”, “** "Park" and "** Park" can be considered. In addition, according to the memory | storage aspect in the map database 20, which is a specific keyword and which is a replacement keyword may be determined. Moreover, it is good also as substitution in both directions.

  On the other hand, when used in Europe and America, “** Street” and “** St”, “** Avenue” and “** Av”, “** Parkway”, “** Pky”, and the like can be considered.

  By doing so, it is possible to cope with each of input operations (for example, “A department store” and “A department store”) performed in different variations on the same label. By the way, if labels corresponding to different variations are stored on the map database 20 respectively, the capacity burden on the map database 20 increases, and the processing time for data search increases. Therefore, in the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment, by providing such a replacement function, the capacity burden of the map database 20 is reduced and the processing time for data search is shortened. In particular, in Europe and the United States, place names related to streets are often stored in abbreviated form, and when a user inputs a full spell, the place name is often not output as a destination, so the benefit of such a replacement function is great.

  Further, the replacement function according to the present invention may be limited to the non-proprietary noun part included in the place name. When the words partially overlap between the labels on the map database 20, the non-proprietary noun part included in the place name is mainly replaced as described above. For other overlapping examples, the replacement keyword is used. This is because the actual benefits to be prepared (as described above, the capacity burden of the map database 20 and the effect of reducing the processing time related to data search) are small. By doing so, it is possible to suppress an excessive combination of specific keywords and replacement keywords and an increase in the capacity burden of the ROM.

  The route guide unit 56 selects an optimum route from the current position of the host vehicle specified by the current position specifying unit 52 to the final destination set by the destination search unit 54, and the input / display device 30 and the speaker 40. Route guidance using. Note that this functional block is well known to those skilled in the art, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, a specific operation when the navigation device ECU 50 sets the final destination will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of characteristic processing executed by the destination search unit 54 of the navigation device ECU 50. This flow is executed every time a destination is input by the user.

  First, the destination search unit 54 stores the destination input by the user in the storage means such as the RAM (S100).

  Next, a data set having the destination input by the user as a label is searched in the map database 20 (S110), and it is determined whether or not this exists (S120).

  If there is a data set on the map database 20 with the destination input by the user as a label, the input / display device 30 is controlled to display the data set to the user as it is (S130). 1 routine is completed.

  If the data set with the destination input by the user as a label does not exist on the map database 20, the specific keyword is extracted from the input destination and the text data in which the specific keyword is replaced with the replacement keyword is labeled. Is searched in the map database 20 (S140), and it is determined whether or not it exists (S150).

  If a data set having the replaced text data as a label exists on the map database 20, a display data set is created by replacing the label of the data set with the destination stored in S100 (S160). Then, the input / display device 30 is controlled to display the created display data set to the user (S130), and one routine of this flow is completed. At this time, the RAM of the navigation device ECU 50 may be used as a working area for creating a display data set.

  In this way, even when a data set is searched using text data in which a specific keyword is replaced with a replacement keyword, the initially input destination is displayed as a label. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the user from feeling uncomfortable. As a result, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the operation for determining the destination by the user takes a relatively long time even though the processing time related to the data search is shortened by the replacement function.

  If neither the data set labeled with the destination input by the user nor the data set labeled with the replaced text data exists on the map database 20, a message “not applicable” is displayed ( S170), one routine of this flow is finished.

  According to the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment, by providing the replacement function, it is possible to reduce the capacity burden of the map database 20 and to shorten the processing time for data search.

  In addition, since it is possible to limit the replacement function to the non-proprietary noun part included in the place name, it is possible to prevent the ROM from increasing the capacity burden of the ROM by preparing a combination of specific keywords and replacement keywords. Can do.

  In addition, even when information is searched by the replacement function, the destination that was originally input is displayed as a label, so the user feels uncomfortable and the replacement function has shortened the processing time for data search. Nevertheless, it is possible to suppress a situation in which an operation for determining the destination by the user takes a relatively long time.

  As mentioned above, although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such one embodiment, and within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, Various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the hardware configuration of the navigation device 1 may be any hardware configuration as long as it includes a map database, a processing entity having a search function and a replacement function, temporary storage means, and an output device.

  The present invention can be used at least for navigation devices. The appearance, weight, size, running performance, etc. of the vehicle on which this is mounted are not limited.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the navigation apparatus 1 which concerns on one Example with which the information output device of this invention was applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the main functional blocks which ECU50 for navigation apparatuses implement | achieves. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the characteristic process which the destination search part 54 of ECU50 for navigation apparatuses performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 10 GPS receiver 20 Map database 30 Input / display apparatus 40 Speaker 50 Electronic control unit 52 for navigation apparatuses Current position specific | specification part 54 Destination search part 56 Route guidance part

Claims (2)

An information output device comprising: extraction means for extracting information corresponding to text data input by a user from a database; and output means for outputting information extracted by the extraction means,
The extraction means is means for replacing a replaceable specific keyword in the input text data with a replacement keyword associated with the specific keyword, and the input text data or the specific keyword is replaced. It is a means to extract information corresponding to any of the text data replaced with keywords from the database,
The information output device, wherein the output means outputs information extracted by the extraction means together with text data input by the user. The information output device according to claim 1,
The specific keyword and the replacement keyword relate to a non-proprietary noun part included in a place name.
Information output device.

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