JP2007298338A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system capable of presenting the users with information that will be a rough guide for selecting a registered location as a destination. <P>SOLUTION: For history information, when registered locations have been selected in the past from among registered locations within a display range of a map, is read (step S220), the number of selections or destination arrival ratio is computed on the basis of the read history information (step S230). The display form of a registered location icon is set, according to the computed number of selections or the computed destination arrival ratio (step S240), and the registered location icon is displayed in the set display form (step S250). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that displays a map to a set destination and guides a vehicle to the destination.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a navigation device that selects a destination from registered locations registered in advance by a user, searches for a recommended route to the destination, and displays it on a map (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

JP 2006-17572 A

  In the conventional navigation device as disclosed in Patent Document 1, since there is no information that serves as a guide when selecting a registered location as a destination, the user may not know which registered location to select.

The navigation device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a registered place setting means for setting a registered place, and a registered place icon for indicating the position of the registered place set by the registered place setting means on the map displayed on the display monitor. Display control means for displaying, a selection means for selecting a registration place, a route search means for searching for a recommended route with the registration place selected by the selection means as a destination, and a registration place was selected by the selection means in the past Display changing means for changing the display form of the registered place icon according to the history of the time.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device of the first aspect, the navigation device further includes a selection number calculation unit that calculates the number of times the registration place has been selected by the selection unit in the past, and the display change unit is calculated by the selection number calculation unit. The display form of the registered place icon is changed based on the selected number of times.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device of the first aspect, the navigation device of the first aspect further comprises an arrival rate calculating means for calculating an arrival rate at the destination when the registration place is selected in the past, and the display changing means is The display form of the registered place icon is changed based on the destination arrival rate for each registered place calculated by the arrival rate calculating means.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the navigation device further includes history information display means for displaying history information when a registration place is selected by the selection means in the past.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the information used as the standard at the time of selecting a registration place as a destination can be shown to a user.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This navigation device is used by being mounted on a vehicle. When a destination is set by a user who is a driver of the vehicle, the navigation device searches for a recommended route to the destination and automatically follows the searched recommended route. Guide the vehicle to the destination.

  A navigation device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control circuit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a current location detection device 14, an image memory 15, a display monitor 16, an input device 17, and a disk drive 18. The disc drive 18 is loaded with a DVD-ROM 19 in which map data is recorded. The control circuit 11 includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and executes a control program stored in the ROM 12 using the RAM 13 as a work area. Thereby, for example, various processes and controls such as setting a destination, searching for a recommended route, and displaying a map are performed in the navigation device 1.

  The ROM 12 uses a flash memory that can update the stored data contents. In addition to the control program, registered location setting information and history information of each registered location, which will be described later, are stored. ing. These contents are updated as appropriate by setting a new registered place or selecting any of the registered places as a destination.

  The current location detection device 14 is a device that detects the current location of the host vehicle, that is, the location of the host vehicle. For example, a vibration gyro sensor 14a that detects the traveling direction of the host vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 14b that detects a vehicle speed, It consists of various sensors, such as a GPS sensor 14c for detecting. The navigation device 1 can determine a route search start point, which will be described later, based on the vehicle position detected by the current location detection device 14, or display the vehicle position on a map.

  The image memory 15 temporarily stores image data to be displayed on the display monitor 16. The image data includes map drawing data for displaying a map, various graphic data, and the like, and is created by the control circuit 11 based on the map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 19. The created image data is output from the control circuit 11 to the image memory 15, whereby a map is displayed on the display monitor 16.

  The input device 17 has various input switches for the user to set a destination and a transit point of the vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as a destination). The input device 17 is realized by an operation panel, a remote control, a touch panel integrated with the display monitor 16 or the like. The user operates the input device 17 to input an address, a telephone number, a facility name, designate a specific point on the map, or select one of registered locations registered in advance as will be described later. Or the like, the destination can be set.

  The disk drive 18 reads map data for displaying a map from the loaded DVD-ROM 19. This map data includes route calculation data used for route search, route guidance data such as intersection names and road names used to guide the vehicle to the destination according to the recommended route, road data representing roads, etc. ing. The map data also includes background data representing map elements other than roads such as rivers, railways, various facilities on the map (landmarks), and the like.

  In the road data, the minimum unit representing a road section is called a link, and each road is composed of a plurality of links. A point connecting the links is called a node, and each node has position information (coordinate information). The link shape, that is, the shape of the road is determined based on the position information of the node.

  Although an example using a DVD-ROM is described here, the map data may be read from a recording medium other than the DVD-ROM, such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk, or a memory card. Or it is good also as receiving the map data transmitted via a mobile telephone line etc. from the outside, and using the map data. That is, any method may be used for acquiring map data.

  When the user operates the input device 17 to set the destination as described above, the navigation device 1 uses the current location detected by the current location detection device 14 as a route search start point, based on the above-described route calculation data. A route search from the current location to the destination is performed by calculating the algorithm. The recommended route obtained as a result of the route search is displayed on the map separately from other roads by changing its display form, for example, display color. Thus, the user can recognize the recommended route on the map displayed on the display monitor 16. In addition, the navigation device 1 guides the host vehicle by instructing the traveling direction by an image or voice to the user so that the host vehicle can travel according to the recommended route. Thus, route guidance to the destination is performed by displaying the map and guiding the vehicle to the destination according to the recommended route.

  An example of a map screen displayed on the display monitor 16 by the navigation device 1 is shown in FIG. In this map screen, a vehicle position mark 20 indicating the vehicle position and registered location icons 21, 22 and 23 indicating registered locations are displayed on the map. The registered location icons 21 to 23 all have the same design but have different colors. That is, the registered place icon 21 is displayed in a light color, and the registered place icon 23 is displayed in a dark color. The registered location icon 22 is displayed in an intermediate color.

  The difference in the shades of the registered place icons 21 to 23 as described above represents the difference in the number of selections for each registered place, that is, the number of times each registered place has been selected as the destination in the past. For example, for a registered location where the number of selections is less than 10, the registered location icon 21 in a light shade is displayed. On the other hand, for a registered place where the number of selections is 10 times or more and less than 20 times, a registered place icon 22 having a darker color than the registered place icon 21 is displayed. For registered locations where the number of selections is 20 times or more, a darker registered location icon 23 is displayed. In this way, the display form of the registered place icon is changed according to the number of selections for each registered place.

  In the above example, the thresholds of the number of selections used to determine the change in the hue of the registered location icon are 10 and 20. However, this is merely an example, and other selections are set as thresholds. May be. In the above example, two threshold values (10 times and 20 times) are selected, and the registered place icons are displayed in three different colors by comparing with the two threshold values. However, by appropriately setting the number of threshold values, the registered place icon can be displayed in any other color shade.

  Or you may make it change a shape instead of the color of a registration place icon according to the frequency | count of selection for every registration place. FIG. 3 shows an example of a map screen in which the shapes of the registered place icons 21 to 23 are changed according to the number of selections for each registered place. For example, a planar shaped registration place icon 21 is displayed for a registered place where the number of selections is less than 10 times, and a three-dimensional shape is used for a registered place where the number of selections is 10 times or more and less than 20 times. The registered location icon 22 is displayed. Moreover, the registration place icon 23 which has a higher three-dimensional shape is displayed with respect to the registration place where the frequency | count of selection is 20 times or more. In this way, the display form of the registered place icon can be changed according to the number of selections for each registered place. Also in this case, as described above, the number of selections set for the threshold value and the type of shape of the registered place icon are not limited to this.

  In the above description, the display form of the registered place icons 21 to 23 is changed according to the number of selections for each registered place. However, the destination arrival rate for each registered place, that is, each registered place is selected as the destination in the past. The display form of the registered place icons 21 to 23 can be changed according to the arrival rate at the destination. For example, the number of times that the arrival rate is less than 50%, that is, the number of times that the registered location has been set as the destination so far, the number of times that the destination has been reached without terminating the guidance is less than 50%. For the registered location, a registered location icon 21 having a light color or a planar shape is displayed. On the other hand, a registered place icon 22 having a darker color or three-dimensional shape than the registered place icon 21 is displayed for a registered place having an arrival rate of 50% or more and less than 80%. For registered locations with an arrival rate of 80% or higher, a registered location icon 23 having a darker color or a higher three-dimensional shape is displayed. In this way, the display form of the registered place icon may be changed according to the destination arrival rate for each registered place.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a screen that is displayed when any registered place icon (here, registered place icon 22) is selected on the map screen of FIG. When the user selects the registered location icon 22 by a cursor operation or touch panel operation using the input device 17, a screen as shown in FIG. 4A is first displayed accordingly. On this screen, a dialog window 30 is displayed for allowing the user to select either “destination setting” or “history information display” for the selected registration location icon 22.

  When “Destination setting” is selected on the screen of FIG. 4A, a registration location corresponding to the selected registration location icon 22 is set as the destination, and a recommended route to the registration location is searched. By doing in this way, the user can select any of the registered locations as the destination. On the other hand, when “history information display” is selected, history information representing the history when the registered location was previously selected as the destination is displayed for the registered location corresponding to the selected registered location icon 22. Is done.

  An example of a screen displayed when “history information display” is selected is shown in FIG. On this screen, a history information window 31 showing the history information of the registered location corresponding to the selected registered location icon 22 is displayed. In the history information window 31, as the history information when the registered place has been set as the destination so far, the date, the departure place when the recommended route is searched, and the time required to the destination are new in date. It is expressed in order. If the route guidance is terminated halfway without reaching the registered location set as the destination, “Destination not reached” is displayed in the required time column. Such history information is stored in the ROM 12, which is a flash memory, and the content is updated as needed when a destination is selected from registered locations or when route guidance ends without arriving at or arriving at the destination. Is done.

  Based on the history information as described above, the number of selections and the destination arrival rate for each registered place are calculated, and the display forms of the registered place icons 21 to 23 are changed according to the calculation result. In addition, since the content of the historical information mentioned here is an example, you may display other content as historical information.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart executed in the control circuit 11 when the processing as described above is executed. The flowchart of (a) sets the registration location, the flowchart of (b) displays the registration location icon on the map, and the flowchart of (c) selects the destination from the registration locations. , Respectively. Hereinafter, description will be made in order from the flowchart of FIG.

  When setting a registration location, in the first step S110, a point to be registered as a registration location is designated on the map. For example, the user designates an arbitrary point on the map with a cursor or touch panel operation, or designates the name, address, telephone number, etc. of an arbitrary facility, thereby specifying the point to be registered. In the next step S120, a registration location icon is selected. The navigation device 1 stores registration location icons of various designs in advance, and the user selects a registration location icon from among them by selecting an appropriate design registration location icon according to the type of registration location. Is done.

  In step S130, a registration location is set. Here, the registration location is set by storing the registration location specified in step S110 and the registration location icon selected in step S120 in the ROM 12, which is a flash memory. If step S130 is performed, the flowchart of Fig.5 (a) will be complete | finished. In this way, the registration location is set. When a plurality of registered locations are set, the process as described above is executed for each registered location.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 5B will be described. When displaying the registered place icon on the map, in the first step S210, it is determined whether or not there is a registered place within the display range of the map. If there is a registered location, the process proceeds to the next step S220, and history information about the registered location is read from the ROM 12.

  In step S230, based on the history information read in step S220, the number of selections or the destination arrival rate at the registered location is calculated. In other words, either the number of times that the registered place has been selected as the destination in the past or the arrival rate to the destination when the registered place has been selected as the destination in the past is calculated. At this time, which of the number of selections and the destination arrival rate is calculated depends on what changes the display form of the registered place icon. That is, if the display form of the registered place icon is changed according to the number of selections for each registered place, the number of selections is calculated. On the other hand, if the display form of the registered place icon is changed according to the destination arrival rate for each registered place, the destination arrival rate is calculated. It should be noted that the basis for changing the display form of the registered place icon may be determined in advance or may be selectable by the user.

  In step S240, the display form of the registered place icon is set based on the number of selections or the destination arrival rate calculated in step S230. Here, as described in the example of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the calculated selection frequency or destination arrival rate is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and is selected in step S120 according to the comparison result. The color and shape of the registered location icon are set.

  In step S250, a registered place icon representing the registered place is displayed on the map in the display form set in step S240. When step S250 is executed, the flowchart of FIG. In this way, the registered place icon is displayed.

  When a plurality of registered locations are within the map range, the processing as described above is executed for each registered location. As a result, the number of times of selection or destination arrival rate for each registered location is calculated for each registered location, and a plurality of registered location icons are displayed differently according to the calculated number of selected locations or destination arrival rate for each registered location. Displayed in form.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 5C will be described. When selecting a destination from among registered locations, in the first step S310, a registered location is selected. Here, one of the registered registration locations is selected as a registration location to be set as the destination in accordance with a user operation. When the registration place is selected, in the next step S320, the dialog window 30 shown in FIG. 4A is displayed.

  In step S330, it is determined whether “Destination setting” or “History information display” is selected by the user in the dialog window displayed in step S320. If “Destination setting” is selected, the process proceeds to step S340. If “History information display” is selected, the process proceeds to step S360. Hereinafter, the case where the process proceeds to step S340 will be described first.

  In step S340, the registration location selected in step S310 is set as the destination. In step S350, a recommended route to the destination set in step S340 is searched. When step S350 is executed, the flowchart of FIG. After that, route guidance to the destination is performed according to the searched recommended route. In this way, the destination is selected from the registered locations.

  Next, the case where it progresses to step S360 is demonstrated. In step S360, history information relating to the selected registered location is displayed by displaying the history information window 31 shown in FIG. 4B for the destination selected in step S310. When step S360 is executed, the flowchart of FIG. In this way, the history information of the registered place is displayed.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be achieved.
(1) The history information stored in the ROM 12 is read (step S220), and the display form of the registered place icon is set according to the history when the registered place is selected in the past represented by the history information ( Step S240). By displaying the registered place icon in the display form set in this way (step S250), the display form of the registered place icon is changed. Since it did in this way, the information used as the standard at the time of selecting a registration place as a destination can be shown to a user by the difference in the display form of a registration place icon.

(2) The number of times of selection or the destination arrival rate is calculated for each registered place within the display range of the map (step S230), and the display form of the registered place icon is changed based on the calculated number of selections or destination arrival rate. By setting in step S240, the display form of the registration place icon is changed. Since it did in this way, the display form of a registration place icon can be determined reliably and easily.

(3) Since the history information when the registered place has been selected in the past is displayed for the selected registered place (step S360), more detailed information can be presented to the user.

  In the above embodiment, the display form of the registered place icon is changed by changing the color and shape of the registered place icon. However, the display form other than the shade and shape, such as the size and blinking speed, is changed. You may let them. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the above can be acquired.

  The embodiment and various modifications described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as the features of the invention are not impaired.

  In the above embodiment, each means described in the claims is realized by the processing of the control circuit 11. That is, the registration location setting means is step S130, the display control means is step S250, the selection means is step S310, the route search means is step S350, the display change means is step S240, the selection frequency calculation means and the arrival rate calculation means are step S230, The history information display means is realized by step S360. However, this is merely an example, and when interpreting the invention, there is no limitation or restriction on the correspondence between the items described in the above embodiments and the items described in the claims.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the map screen which changed the color of the registration place icon. It is the figure which showed the example of the map screen which changed the shape of the registration place icon. It is an example of a screen when any registration place icon is selected. It is a flowchart performed in the navigation apparatus by one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 11 Control circuit 12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Current location detection device 15 Image memory 16 Display monitor 17 Input device 18 Disk drive 19 DVD-ROM
20 Own vehicle position mark 21, 22, 23 Registration location icon

Claims (4)

Registration location setting means for setting the registration location;
Display control means for displaying a registered place icon for indicating the position of the registered place set by the registered place setting means on the map displayed on the display monitor;
A selection means for selecting the registration location;
A route search means for searching for a recommended route with the registration place selected by the selection means as a destination;
A navigation apparatus comprising: a display changing unit that changes a display form of the registered place icon according to a history when a registered place is selected by the selecting unit in the past. The navigation device according to claim 1.
A selection number calculation means for calculating the number of times the registration place has been selected in the past by the selection means;
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the display changing means changes a display form of the registered place icon based on the number of selections calculated by the selection number calculation means. The navigation device according to claim 1.
An arrival rate calculation means for calculating an arrival rate at a destination when a registration place is selected by the selection means in the past;
The navigation device characterized in that the display changing means changes the display form of the registered place icon based on the destination arrival rate calculated by the arrival rate calculating means. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A navigation apparatus, further comprising history information display means for displaying history information when a registration place is selected by the selection means in the past.

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