JP2007264558A - Map information display means, and map information display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily obtain the change of information before and after updating map data. <P>SOLUTION: A map information display means comprises: a first storage means storing at least a part of a fist map data; a second storage means storing second map data different from the first map data; a difference information acquisition means acquiring difference information between the first map data and the second map data; and a symbol display means displaying, in a specific form, a symbol corresponding to the difference information acquired by the difference information acquisition means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to map information display means for searching predetermined map data and displaying a map and symbol information around a current position of a vehicle, and a map information display method.

  Navigation systems that provide route guidance from the current position of a vehicle to a destination are widely known and put into practical use. Such a navigation system refers to map data stored in a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), for example, and searches the route for the result. Works to present.

  The map data possessed by the navigation system includes, for example, road information and facility information such as convenience stores. Here, with the passage of time, roads may be newly constructed or abolished due to construction or the like. In addition, facilities such as convenience stores may be newly opened or closed. Accordingly, the information included in the map data becomes old information as time passes. From such a viewpoint, it can be said that it is desirable to periodically update the map data.

There are various forms for updating the map data. For example, there is a method in which a recording medium such as a CD or a DVD in which map data is stored is replaced with a new version. Another method is to rewrite the contents of the HDD on the manufacturer side. Another example is a method in which the vehicle and the host communicate and the map data is updated according to the communication result. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a navigation system in which a vehicle and a distribution center communicate with each other and map data can be updated according to the communication result. More specifically, according to Patent Document 1 below, the distribution center checks whether there is update information on map data around the current position of the vehicle. If there is update information, the contents are presented to the user, and the user is asked to select whether or not to purchase an update map. Here, when the user selects to purchase an updated map, it operates to deliver the updated map to the vehicle.
JP 2004-354149 A

  By updating the map data as described above, for example, a newly opened store or the like is displayed on the screen. In addition, for example, stores that have been crushed after being stopped are not displayed on the screen. However, the user does not memorize all the map contents before the update. Therefore, it can be said that it is extremely difficult for the user to see what has changed and how it changed before the update by looking at the updated map.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a map information display unit and a map information display method that allow a user to easily grasp changes in information before and after updating map data. .

  The map information display means according to an aspect of the present invention that solves the above problem is means for searching for predetermined map data and displaying a map and symbol information around the current position of the vehicle. The map information display means includes first storage means for storing at least part of the first map data, second storage means for storing second map data different from the first map data, Difference information acquisition means for acquiring difference information between the first map data and the second map data, and symbol display means for displaying a symbol corresponding to the difference information acquired by the difference information acquisition means in a specific form. It is characterized by having provided.

  According to the map information display means configured as described above, when there is a difference in symbol information between two map data, the symbol is displayed in a specific form. For this reason, even if the user updates the map data, for example, the user can easily recognize and recognize the change in the symbol information before and after the update.

  In the map information display means, the difference information acquisition means may operate to acquire the difference information only when the second map data has newer information than the first map data. good.

  The difference information acquisition means classifies the symbol information included only in the second map data as new symbol information and the symbol information included only in the first map data as old symbol information. And may operate so as to be managed.

  The symbol display means may operate so as to display each symbol classified by the difference information obtaining means in a different form depending on the classification.

  Here, the map information display means may further include, for example, area information extraction means for extracting information on a predetermined area from the first map data and storing it in the first storage means. In this case, the difference information acquisition means compares the information on the predetermined area stored in the first storage means with the corresponding area information corresponding to the information on the predetermined area included in the second map data. The difference information can be acquired.

  A map information display method according to an aspect of the present invention that solves the above problem is a method for searching predetermined map data and displaying a map and symbol information around the current position of the vehicle. The map information display method includes a first acquisition step of acquiring at least a part of first map data, a second acquisition step of acquiring second map data different from the first map data, A difference information acquisition step of acquiring difference information between the first map data and the second map data, and a symbol display step of displaying a symbol corresponding to the acquired difference information in a specific form.

  According to such a map information display method, when there is a difference in symbol information between two pieces of map data, the symbol is displayed in a specific form. For this reason, even if the user updates the map data, for example, the user can easily recognize and recognize the change in the symbol information before and after the update.

  In the difference information acquisition step, the difference information may be acquired only when the second map data has newer information than the first map data.

  In the difference information acquisition step, among the difference information, symbol information included only in the second map data is classified as new symbol information, and symbol information included only in the first map data is classified as old symbol information. Can also be managed.

  In the symbol display step, the symbols classified in the difference information acquisition step can be displayed in different forms depending on the classification.

  Here, the map information display method may further include, for example, an area information extraction step for extracting information on a predetermined area from the first map data. In this case, in the difference information acquisition step, the information on the predetermined region extracted in the region information extraction step is compared with the corresponding region information corresponding to the information on the predetermined region included in the second map data. The difference information can be acquired.

  According to the map information display means and the map information display method according to the present invention, it is possible for the user to easily grasp the change in information before and after updating the map data.

  The configuration and operation of the navigation system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation system 100 has a navigation function for guiding a user to a destination.

  The navigation system 100 includes a control unit 1, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 2, a gyro sensor 3, a vehicle speed sensor 4, a recording medium 5, an input unit 6, a display unit 7, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 8, a DRAM (Dynamic Random An access memory (SRAM) 9, a static random access memory (SRAM) 10, a video random access memory (VRAM) 11, an FM signal processing unit 12, a beacon processing unit 13, a user interface 14, and an image processing unit 15. The control unit 1 operates to control the entire system in an integrated manner. Each component of the navigation system 100 executes various processes under the control of the control unit 1.

  The GPS receiver 2 captures and tracks some of the plurality of GPS satellites that orbit the earth. Then, position and velocity positioning is executed using the GPS signals from the respective GPS satellites received during acquisition / tracking. The GPS receiver 2 passes the calculated positioning result (hereinafter referred to as “GPS positioning” for convenience) to the control unit 1.

  The gyro sensor 3 and the vehicle speed sensor 4 are sensors for known dead reckoning (hereinafter abbreviated as “DR”). The gyro sensor 3 measures an angular velocity related to the direction of the vehicle on which the navigation system 100 is mounted, and outputs the measurement result to the control unit 1. The vehicle speed sensor 4 detects the rotational speeds of the left and right drive wheels of the vehicle, generates a vehicle speed pulse signal corresponding to the average speed, and outputs the vehicle speed pulse signal to the control unit 1. For convenience, these sensor outputs are referred to as “DR sensor outputs”.

  The recording medium 5 has a built-in HDD, for example. The recording medium 5 stores map data required when the navigation system 100 performs navigation, for example. Such map data includes, for example, background data representing topography, road data composed of polylines, symbol data such as restaurants, convenience stores, and stations. In addition, each symbol data includes various kinds of information related to the symbol. These symbol data have a hierarchically managed structure and constitute a search database.

  FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of a search database made up of each symbol data. As shown in FIG. 2, each symbol data has a data structure in which the “index part” is an upper hierarchy and the “real data part” is a lower hierarchy.

  The index part includes version information of the search database. The index unit manages all symbol data for each category. Examples of the category include “convenience store”, “supermarket”, “discount store”, and the like. In addition, “convenience store”, “supermarket”, and “discount store” are managed with index numbers “1”, “2”, and “3”, respectively.

  In the actual data part, detailed data of each symbol is managed by being classified into categories. For example, under the “convenience store” category of the index part, that is, in the actual data part, the convenience store data of all regions covered by the map data is managed. As an example of data constituting each symbol in the actual data part, an actual data number (“1”, “2”...), An arbitrary ID (“1011000”, “1011001”...), An icon code (“11”, “18”, etc.), name (“A mart K store”, “B mart Y store”, etc.), coordinates (XY coordinate system in this case), and the like. The arbitrary ID is a number assigned serially in each category. Each arbitrary ID is assigned a unique number so as not to overlap each other even between categories.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The input unit 6 is for performing a user operation, and is, for example, a mechanical input key installed on a front panel (not shown) of the navigation system 100. Alternatively, it is a remote control device (not shown) that realizes user operation by performing infrared communication with the user interface 14. For example, the power switch is one element constituting the input unit 6.

  The display unit 7 is for displaying a navigation screen, for example. An image displayed on the display unit 7 is generated by the image processing unit 15. In addition, the display unit 7 is a known touch panel such as a pressure-sensitive type or an electrostatic type, and also serves as an input unit. When the input unit 6 or the display unit 7 is operated, a signal corresponding thereto is input to the control unit 1 via the user interface 14. And the control part 1 controls each component so that the process corresponding to user operation may be performed.

  The ROM 8 stores programs and various data for realizing the navigation function. The DRAM 9 and the SRAM 10 are development destinations of programs and data stored in, for example, the recording medium 5 and the ROM 8. For example, the control unit 1 reads out a program stored in the recording medium 5 or the ROM 8 and develops the program in a predetermined area of the DRAM 9 or the SRAM 10 for execution. Thereby, for example, a navigation function is realized. The SRAM 10 is backed up by a battery when the power is turned off, and can retain the memory contents. The VRAM 11 is an image memory for holding an image displayed on the display unit 7.

  The FM signal processing unit 12 is an apparatus that receives, for example, FM multiplex broadcasting, extracts a desired signal from the received signal, and processes the extracted signal. The beacon processing unit 13 is a device that receives and processes a signal transmitted from, for example, an optical beacon installed on a main road or a radio beacon installed on an expressway. The signal received by the FM signal processing unit 12 or the beacon processing unit 13 is, for example, road traffic information (VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) signal) distributed by the road traffic information communication system center.

  Here, the processing of the control unit 1 when receiving the GPS positioning result from the GPS receiver 2 and the DR sensor output from each sensor will be described.

  The control unit 1 performs DR positioning calculation based on the DR sensor output output by each sensor, and obtains the traveling direction and the moving distance of the vehicle. Next, the control unit 1 compares the calculated DR positioning result and the GPS positioning result with the error estimation value for each positioning result. And based on this comparison result, the positioning result determined to be highly accurate is selected, and the selected positioning result is map-matched. Further, the control unit 1 extracts map data around the current position from the recording medium 5 based on each positioning result. Next, the image processing unit 15 is operated so that the vehicle position mark indicating the current position of the vehicle is superimposed on the extracted map data. As a result, various information including navigation information is output and displayed on the display unit 7.

  The map matching here means correcting an error such as a vehicle position mark being displayed at a position off the road in the map displayed on the display unit 7. By performing map matching, the vehicle position can be matched with the map, and the user can accurately grasp the current position of the vehicle. Map matching is always performed regardless of the execution of navigation.

  Next, processing related to update of map data executed in the navigation system 100 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of search result storage processing that can be executed before updating the map data. Note that the user operations described below can be achieved using either the input unit 6 or the touch panel (display unit 7).

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is started, for example, when a power supply (not shown) of the navigation system 100 is turned on. When the processing of this flowchart is started, the control unit 1 enters a state of waiting for a user operation for point selection (step 1, step is abbreviated as “S” in the following specification and drawings). The “point selection user operation” mentioned here includes various forms. As one form thereof, for example, an operation of moving a cursor displayed on the screen of the display unit 7 to a desired point on the map and selecting the point. Further, for example, an operation of selecting a desired point from a predetermined list that lists each point (a list that map data initially has, a list of points that are arbitrarily registered by the user, etc.) is also included. As the selected point, for example, the user's home or work area, a favorite spot, or the like is assumed.

  When a user operation for selecting a spot is detected in the process of S1 (S1: YES), the control unit 1 shifts to a state of waiting for a user operation for storing peripheral information (S2). This “peripheral information storage user operation” is an operation for storing information related to the symbols around the point selected in the processing of S1 (hereinafter referred to as “peripheral information”).

  When a user operation for storing peripheral information is detected in the process of S2 (S2: YES), the control unit 1 refers to a predetermined storage area, and whether the peripheral information of the point selected in the process of S1 has already been stored. It is determined whether or not (S3). More specifically, first, the presence / absence of peripheral information in a predetermined storage area is determined. If there is surrounding information, it is determined whether or not information indicating that it is surrounding information of the point selected in the process of S1 is included with reference to each one. Here, the “predetermined storage area” is, for example, a predetermined area of the DRAM 9 or the SRAM 10. Further, it may be a predetermined area of the HDD (recording medium 5). The predetermined storage area is an area that is not rewritten even when the map data is updated.

  When it is determined that the peripheral information of the point selected in the process of S1 is not yet stored in the predetermined storage area (S3: NO), the control unit 1 has a radius nkm (for example, a radius of 5 km) around the point ) Search and obtain information about each symbol within. Based on this, peripheral information is generated and stored as a single file in a predetermined storage area (S4). Thereby, the processing of this flowchart is completed. The “radius nkm” can be changed to a desired value by a predetermined user operation.

  FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram of the data structure of the peripheral information stored in the process of S4. In the process of S4, the control unit 1 acquires version information from the “index part” of the search database and writes it in the header of the peripheral information.

  Further, in the process of S4, the control unit 1 acquires the coordinates of the point selected in the process of S1 along with the acquisition of the version information. Furthermore, information on the search range (for example, the radius of 5 km) is also acquired. Next, the number of symbols existing in the search range and the data of each symbol are acquired. Here, for the purpose of reducing the data size of the peripheral information, the control unit 1 operates to extract and acquire only an arbitrary ID and coordinates from the symbol data. When the size of the predetermined storage area is large, all information included in the “index part” and “actual data part” of each symbol data to be obtained may be extracted and obtained.

  In the process of S3, when it is determined that the peripheral information of the point selected in the process of S1 is already stored in the predetermined storage area (S3: YES), the control unit 1 is the same as the process of S4. The surrounding information is created and overwritten on the existing surrounding information at the same point (S5). After overwriting and saving, the processing of this flowchart ends. In the process of S5, a predetermined message may be displayed on the display unit 7 before the overwrite saving process to confirm with the user whether or not to overwrite.

  Next, a process executed immediately after updating the map data will be described. The update of the map data here means that the map data stored in the HDD is rewritten with another map data. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of this process. When the map data is updated, the control unit 1 first determines whether or not peripheral information is stored in the predetermined storage area (S11). Here, when it is determined that the peripheral information is not stored (S11: NO), the control unit 1 ends the process of the flowchart of FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the peripheral information is stored in the process of S11 (S11: YES), the control unit 1 executes the processes of S12 to S14 regarding the peripheral information. When there are a plurality of stored peripheral information, the processing of S12 to S14 is executed for each piece of peripheral information. In addition, the processes of S12 to S14 are performed on each piece of peripheral information in a predetermined order (for example, the order of file names of each piece of peripheral information).

  In the process of S12, the control unit 1 determines that the version information (hereinafter referred to as “updated version information”) included in the “index part” of the updated search database is included in the peripheral information of the predetermined storage area. It is determined whether the information is newer than the information (hereinafter referred to as “version information before update”). Here, when it is determined that the updated version information is the same as or older than the pre-update version information (S12: NO), the control unit 1 proceeds to S15.

  In the process of S15, the control unit 1 determines whether peripheral information that has not been subjected to the process of S12 or the like still remains in the predetermined storage area. Here, when it is determined that the processing of S12 and the like is performed for all the peripheral information (S15: NO), the control unit 1 ends the processing of the flowchart of FIG. On the other hand, when it is determined that the peripheral information that has not been subjected to the process of S12 or the like still remains in the predetermined storage area (S15: YES), the control unit 1 returns to the process of S12, Processing is performed on the next peripheral information.

  When it is determined in the process of S12 that the updated version information is newer than the pre-update version information (S12: YES), the control unit 1 determines the coordinates of the point and the search range included in the peripheral information of the pre-update version information. Get information. Next, the updated map data is searched using these acquired information, and peripheral information in the map data is acquired (S13). That is, in the process of S13, information corresponding to the peripheral information in the updated map data and corresponding to the peripheral information in the pre-update version information is acquired.

  Next, the control unit 1 compares the peripheral information acquired in S13 with the peripheral information of the pre-update version information corresponding thereto (more precisely, the arbitrary IDs included in the peripheral information of each other), and the difference information (In other words, an arbitrary ID in which a difference is observed, hereinafter referred to as “difference ID”) is stored in the acquisition SRAM 10 or the like (S14). After obtaining / saving the difference ID, the process of S15 is executed.

  The processing of S14 will be supplemented. The difference ID is managed by classifying into two types, for example. One type of difference ID relates to, for example, symbol information (eg, information on a newly opened store) that exists only in the updated map data. The other type of difference ID relates to, for example, symbol information (eg, information about a store that has been closed) that exists only in the map data before update. For convenience of explanation, the information on the former symbol is referred to as “new symbol information”, and the information on the latter symbol is referred to as “old symbol information”. The “old symbol information” includes the coordinates of the symbol. The arbitrary ID included in the new symbol information is unique. This unique arbitrary ID consists of a number that has never been assigned in the map data so far.

  Next, processing when displaying the updated map will be described. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of this process. FIG. 7 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 7 by this processing.

  The control unit 1 displays the map, symbols, and the like around the vehicle on the display unit 7 by performing processing such as acquisition of current position information and map matching described above. At this time, the control unit 1 determines whether or not each symbol displayed on the screen (more precisely, an arbitrary ID of this symbol) is classified as “new symbol information” (S21). Then, a new icon N for emphasizing that it is newly installed is displayed close to a symbol classified as “new symbol information” according to the determination result (S22). Further, with reference to the coordinates included in the “old symbol information”, it is determined whether or not the displayed map includes the corresponding coordinates (S23). Then, according to the determination result, the old icon D indicating that the store has disappeared is displayed at the corresponding coordinates (S24). Thereby, for example, the image shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 7. This process starts when the navigation system 100 is turned on and ends when the power is turned off.

  The user can easily and reliably grasp the updated map content by looking at the new icon N and the old icon D. For example, when a new store or the like is created near the home or work place, it can be easily and reliably grasped. Similarly, when a store is crushed, it can be easily and reliably grasped.

  The above is the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be modified in various ranges. For example, in the present embodiment, the new icon N and the old icon D are displayed in a range centered on a predetermined point, but in another embodiment, the new icon N and the old icon D are related to all areas covered by the map data. May be displayed. In this case, the same information as the peripheral information is stored in the predetermined storage area for all areas before the map data is updated.

  Various forms of difference information are not limited to the new icon N, the old icon D, and the like. For example, the form which blinks the symbol of a new establishment etc. or displays it with a specific color is mentioned. That is, a symbol such as a new store may be displayed in a specific display form that can be distinguished from other normal symbols.

  Further, the control unit 1 can be configured to operate so as to determine the range in which the new icon N and the old icon D are displayed by linking with other functions. For example, a home registration function is known as a general function of a navigation system. The search result storage process of FIG. 3 may be realized in association with this function. Specifically, the user performs a user operation for storing peripheral information without performing a user operation for selecting a point. Here, when home registration is performed by the home registration function, the control unit 1 is configured to operate so as to generate peripheral information within a radius nkm centered on the home. According to this embodiment, the required user operation is reduced, so the burden on the user is reduced.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the navigation system of embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram of the search database which consists of each symbol data is shown. It is a flowchart of the search result preservation | save process which can be performed before map data update. The conceptual diagram of the data structure of the periphery information preserve | saved by the process of S4 of FIG. 3 is shown. It is a flowchart of the process performed immediately after map data update. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of displaying the map after an update. An example of the image displayed on a display part is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 GPS receiver 3 Gyro sensor 4 Vehicle speed sensor 5 Recording medium 6 Input part 7 Display part 8 ROM
9 DRAM
10 SRAM
11 VRAM
12 FM signal processing unit 13 Beacon processing unit 14 User interface 15 Image processing unit 100 Navigation system

Claims (10)

In map information display means for searching predetermined map data and displaying a map and symbol information around the current position of the vehicle,
First storage means storing at least part of the first map data;
Second storage means for storing second map data different from the first map data;
Difference information acquisition means for acquiring difference information between the first map data and the second map data;
Map information display means, comprising: symbol display means for displaying a symbol corresponding to the difference information acquired by the difference information acquisition means in a specific form.   The map information display according to claim 1, wherein the difference information acquisition means acquires the difference information only when the second map data has newer information than the first map data. means.   The difference information acquisition means classifies symbol information included only in the second map data as new symbol information and symbol information included only in the first map data as old symbol information. The map information display means according to claim 1, wherein the map information display means manages the map information.   The map information display means according to claim 3, wherein the symbol display means displays each symbol classified by the difference information acquisition means in a different form depending on the classification. Further comprising region information extraction means for extracting information on a predetermined area from the first map data and storing it in the first storage means;
The difference information acquisition means compares the information on the predetermined area stored in the first storage means with corresponding area information corresponding to the information on the predetermined area included in the second map data, The map information display means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the difference information is acquired. In a map information display method for searching predetermined map data and displaying a map and symbol information around the current position of the vehicle,
A first acquisition step of acquiring at least a part of the first map data;
A second acquisition step of acquiring second map data different from the first map data;
A difference information acquisition step of acquiring difference information between the first map data and the second map data;
A map information display method comprising: a symbol display step of displaying a symbol corresponding to the acquired difference information in a specific form.   The map information display method according to claim 6, wherein, in the difference information acquisition step, the difference information is acquired only when the second map data has newer information than the first map data.   In the difference information acquisition step, among the difference information, symbol information included only in the second map data is classified as new symbol information, and symbol information included only in the first map data is classified as old symbol information. The map information display method according to claim 6, wherein the map information display method is managed.   The map information display method according to claim 8, wherein, in the symbol display step, each symbol classified in the difference information acquisition step is displayed in a different form depending on the classification. A region information extracting step of extracting information on a predetermined region from the first map data;
In the difference information acquisition step, the information on the predetermined region extracted in the region information extraction step is compared with the corresponding region information corresponding to the information on the predetermined region included in the second map data, The map information display method according to claim 6, wherein difference information is acquired.

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