JP2008082818A - Navigation system and navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extract and display an icon image on an installation in an available state, in displaying a map image and an icon image on a display means. <P>SOLUTION: In the navigation system 10, a map image is displayed on the display means 16 while an icon image corresponding to the attribute of the installation is displayed on the map image according to the present position of the installation. The navigation system 10 is equipped with: map data 14; an icon image database 22 with icon images stored therein, the icon images corresponding to the attributes of the installations included in the map data 14; an installation information database 20 with installation information stored therein, the installation information being information on individual installations included in the map data; an installation search means 21; and an icon image display control means 18. In displaying the map image and the icon image on the display means 16, the search means 21 extracts an installation in an available state by referring to the information database 20 while the control means 18 displays the icon image of the extracted installation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication type or in-vehicle type navigation system or navigation device that displays a map image and an icon image corresponding to the attribute of the facility on the map image according to the location of the facility. The present invention relates to a navigation system and a navigation apparatus that extract and display an icon image of a facility in a usable state when displaying a map image and an icon image on a display means.

  In recent years, the performance of mobile communication terminal devices such as mobile phones and PHS has been dramatically improved, and multi-functionalization has been progressing. In particular, the data communication function is strengthened in addition to the call function, and various data communication services are provided to the user via the Internet. A navigation service is one of them, and recently, a navigation service that provides route guidance from a current position to a destination in real time not only for automobile drivers but also for mobile phone users has been realized.

  In these navigation systems and navigation devices, icon images indicating types of facilities such as convenience stores, fast food stores, supermarkets, etc. may be displayed on the map image displayed on the display means at the location of the corresponding facility. Has been done. However, there is a restriction on the size of the display screen, and when the icon image of the facility located in the map area to be displayed is randomly displayed, many icon images may be displayed. There is a problem that results in hindering visual recognition of the map image. For this reason, various ideas have been proposed for displaying icon images.

  For example, in the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-159530), content data necessary for downloading map data from an external database and displaying an icon image representing a facility on a display map is simultaneously provided. A technique is disclosed that can change and set the number and type of content data to be downloaded when downloading.

  The technology disclosed in this Patent Document 1 is provided with a display capable of displaying a map and content data indicating the location and type information of the map data and facilities from a database provided outside through a telephone line. A telephone interface unit, and map data and content data are selectively downloaded from the database through the telephone interface unit and stored in a storage device, and a map indicated by the stored map data is displayed and stored on the map. Control means for displaying an icon image corresponding to the type information of the content data in correspondence with the position indicated by the position information of the content data. The control means is configured to change and set the number and type of content data to be downloaded through the telephone interface unit.

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an icon image unnecessary for the user is displayed on a limited size map screen, and as a result, there is a limit on the size. When recognizing the map displayed on the display, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the icon image displayed on the map becomes a visual obstacle, and the usability is improved.

  Further, in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-337041), in a map display system that outputs a facility icon image representing a facility together with a map, the number of facility icon images to be displayed at a specific point of the map image A technique is disclosed in which the facility icons are displayed together when there are many.

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, map data that is information for drawing a map is read by a map data reading unit, and facility data that is information of a facility drawn together with the map is read by a facility data reading unit. A plurality of facility data is aggregated by the aggregation processing means from the facility data read by the facility data reading means, and a map based on the map data read by the map data reading means is drawn by the drawing means. The aggregation facility icon, which is a graphic image representing the result of the aggregation by the aggregation processing means, is drawn. Such a configuration facilitates identification of maps and facility information.
JP 2001-159530 A (paragraph [0005], FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-337041 (paragraph [0006], FIG. 2)

  In the map display techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, there is a device that can easily identify a map, facility information, etc. even when the number of icon images displayed is large when displaying facility icon images. Has been made.

  However, depending on the user, among icon images indicating facilities of the same type, there are many cases where there is a desire to display only icon images of facilities that are actually available. For example, if you are driving to the destination by car and looking for a parking lot, when you move to that location by paying attention to the parking lot closest to the destination from the icon images showing the parking lot, the parking lot It is a common experience to find a parking lot that is full and has other free space.

  Although the map display technology disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can suppress the display of icon images that hinder the visual recognition of map images, only the icon images of facilities that can actually be used are displayed as described above. It was not always convenient for users who wanted to.

  The inventor of the present application has made various studies to solve the above problems, and as a result, collected facility information of each facility via the communication means and stored in the facility information database, and the map of the desired point from the navigation device. When the display of an image is requested, it is conceived that the above problem can be solved if a facility in an available state is searched and only an icon image of the facility is extracted and displayed. The present invention has been completed.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above-described problems, and provides a navigation system and a navigation apparatus that search for a facility that is available based on facility information and display an icon image of the facility. It is intended to provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
In the navigation system for displaying a map image on the display means and displaying an icon image according to the attribute of the facility on the map image according to the location of the facility,
The navigation system stores map data, an icon image database in which icon images corresponding to the attributes of the facilities included in the map data are stored, and facility information that is information about individual facilities included in the map data. Facility information database, facility search means, and icon image display control means,
When displaying the map image and the icon image on the display means, the facility search means refers to the facility information database to extract a usable facility, and the icon image display control means includes the extracted facility. The icon image is displayed.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the facility is a parking lot, and the navigation system includes a communication unit, and the communication unit uses the vacant space for each parking lot. Is acquired and recorded in the facility information database, and the facility search means extracts a facility in an empty state.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the facility is a store, and the navigation system includes a communication unit, and acquires business information for each facility by the communication unit. Recorded in the facility information database, and the facility search means extracts a facility in a business state.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is
In a navigation device that displays a map image on a display means, and displays an icon image according to an attribute of the facility on the map image according to a location of the facility,
The navigation system stores map data, an icon image database in which icon images corresponding to the attributes of the facilities included in the map data are stored, and facility information that is information about individual facilities included in the map data. Facility information database, facility search means, and icon image display control means,
When displaying the map image and the icon image on the display means, the facility search means refers to the facility information database to extract a usable facility, and the icon image display control means includes the extracted facility. The icon image is displayed.

  The navigation device according to claim 5 of the present application is the navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the facility is a parking lot, and the navigation device includes a communication unit, and the communication unit uses the vacant space for each parking lot. Is acquired and recorded in the facility information database, and the facility search means extracts a facility in an empty state.

  The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is the navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the facility is a store, the navigation device includes a communication unit, and obtains business information for each facility by the communication unit. Recorded in the facility information database, and the facility search means extracts a facility in a business state.

  In the invention according to claim 1 and claim 4, the navigation system and the navigation device include map data, an icon image database in which an icon image corresponding to an attribute of a facility included in the map data is stored, and the map When displaying a map image and an icon image on a display means, comprising a facility information database storing facility information that is information related to individual facilities included in the data, a facility search means, and an icon image display control means The facility searching unit extracts a facility in a usable state with reference to the facility information database, and the icon image display control unit displays an icon image of the extracted facility.

  According to such a configuration, when a map image is displayed, available facilities are searched, and only icon images indicating the facilities can be displayed. Therefore, the number of icon images displayed on the map image can be suppressed. Since the map image is easy to visually recognize and only the icon images of the available facilities are displayed, there is no problem that the facility cannot be used although it arrives at the facility according to the guidance.

  In the invention according to claims 2 and 5, in the navigation system and navigation device according to claims 1 and 4, the facility is a parking lot, and the navigation system and the navigation device include communication means, The communication means obtains information on vacancy and full cars for each parking lot and records them in the facility information database.

  According to such a configuration, when a map image is displayed, an available parking lot is searched, and only an icon image indicating the parking lot can be displayed. Therefore, the number of icon images displayed on the map image is reduced. Since it can suppress, it becomes easy to visually recognize a map image, and since only the icon image of the available parking lot is displayed, the malfunction that a parking lot cannot be performed does not arise.

  In the invention according to claims 3 and 6, in the navigation system and navigation apparatus according to claims 1 and 4, the facility is a store, and the navigation system includes a communication unit, and the communication unit includes the facility. Each business information is acquired and recorded in the facility information database, and the facility search means extracts a facility in a business state.

  According to such a configuration, when a map image is displayed, an available store is searched, and only an icon image indicating the store can be displayed. Therefore, the number of icon images displayed on the map image can be suppressed. Since the map image is easy to visually recognize and only the icon images of available stores are displayed, there is no problem that the stores cannot be used.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a navigation system and a navigation device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is intended to specify the present invention as the navigation system and the navigation device. Instead, the present invention can be equally applied to navigation systems and navigation devices of other embodiments included in the scope of claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 includes a control unit 11, a GPS reception unit 12, a self-contained navigation unit 13, map data 14, a route search unit 15, a display unit 16, an input unit 17, an icon image display control unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a facility. An information DB (database) 20, a facility search means 21, an icon image DB (database) 22 and the like are provided.

  Although the present embodiment shows the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, it may be a communication type navigation system composed of a navigation server and a navigation terminal device. It may be a navigation system that guides routes using transportation. In the case where the navigation terminal device is a portable terminal device that does not have a vehicle-mounted function, the self-contained navigation means 13 need not be provided.

  Although not shown, the control unit 11 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The GPS receiving means 12 receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites at a constant cycle and measures the current position. The self-contained navigation means 13 is for performing dead reckoning navigation by obtaining various sensor outputs such as an acceleration sensor and a rudder angle sensor provided in the vehicle and calculating a current position.

  The display means 16 is a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display unit or the like, and displays a map image and a recommended route. The input means 17 is composed of operation buttons, a touch panel, and the like, and operates various functions of the navigation device 10 and inputs required numerical values and characters. When a desired departure point and destination are set from the operation means 17 and navigation is requested, the route search means 15 refers to the map data 14 and searches for a recommended route that connects the two points at the shortest.

  The recommended route searched by the route search means 15 is displayed on the display means 16 together with the map image. The map image is displayed on the display means 16 based on a predetermined range of map data centered on the current position calculated by the GPS receiving means 12 or the autonomous navigation means 13, and a current position mark indicating the current position is displayed on the map image. Is done.

  The icon image DB (database) 22 stores icon image image data corresponding to the facility attribute (facility type). When displaying a map image on the display unit 16, the icon image DB 22 stores the facility attribute. The icon image data corresponding to the facility is acquired, and the icon image corresponding to the attribute of the facility is displayed at the location of each facility.

  The map data 14 stores the attributes (types) and location of various facilities existing in the map area. Detailed information about each facility, that is, the facility name and telephone number, or the facility related to the business of the facility Information is stored in a facility information DB (database) 20. This facility information is configured to be acquired and updated from an external information providing unit via the communication unit 19. For example, when the facility is a parking lot, the VICS system provides a state of whether there is an empty space or a full vehicle. Can be updated at time intervals.

  In addition, when the facility is a store, detailed facility information such as business days and business hours can be acquired from store information provided by various servers and home pages. When the display of the map image is requested, the facility search means 21 searches the facility information in the facility information DB 20 and extracts available facilities. Then, the icon image display control means 18 reads the icon image corresponding to the available facility attribute extracted by the facility search means 21 from the icon image DB 22 and displays the icon image on the map image displayed on the display means 16. The icon image is displayed.

  If the facility is a parking lot, the facility search means 21 extracts a parking lot with an empty space with reference to the facility information DB 20, and the icon image display control means 18 parks at the location of the extracted parking lot. An icon image indicating the parking lot is displayed. Further, when the facility is a store, the facility search means 21 refers to the facility information DB 20 to extract a business day and business hours from the facility information of each facility and extracts a usable facility, and performs icon image display control. The means 18 displays an icon image indicating the store at the location of the extracted store.

  The above description has explained a general example in which a user of the navigation device 10 displays a map image of a predetermined scale, latitude / longitude range based on a desired route or point. When displaying, an icon image indicating the facility can be selectively displayed by the user specifying a desired facility type.

  The first example is an example of displaying parking lot information in the navigation device 10. In this case, when displaying the map image and the parking lot icon image on the display means 16, the facility search means 21 extracts the corresponding parking lot from the facility information DB 20 based on the parking lot availability information, and parks from the icon image DB 22. The icon image of the parking lot is acquired and the icon image of the parking lot is displayed at the location of the parking lot where there is an empty space to guide the user.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a map image display screen displayed on the display means 16. The display example of FIG. 2 shows an example in which the facility search means 21 searches for a parking lot having an empty space within a predetermined range centered on the current location, and displays an icon image of the parking lot at the location. . A main road 3a and a plurality of empty parking lot icon images 3b are displayed on the display screen, and a current position mark 3c indicating the current position of the navigation device 10 is displayed at the center of the screen.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of facility information stored in the facility information DB 20. FIG. 3 shows an example in which location data 42, an empty vehicle rate 43, and link information 44 are stored in association with each parking lot name 41 as facility information of a parking lot. The unoccupied vehicle ratio 43 is updated at any time by information acquired from the VICS system via the communication means 19.

  The facility search means 21 refers to the vacant vehicle rate stored in the facility information DB 20 and searches for a parking lot having a high vacant vehicle rate (for example, 70% or more) as a parking lot with an empty space. The search range at that time is configured to set a fixed distance range centered on the current position of the navigation device 10 and extract a plurality of parking lots (A, C, D, E in FIG. 3) in order of increasing distance. it can. When a parking lot having an empty space near the current position is searched in this way, a parking lot icon image 3b is displayed as shown in the display screen of FIG. In addition, when the vacancy rate of the parking lot cannot be obtained from the outside, the available parking lot may be searched based only on whether the vehicle is full or has an empty space.

  When viewing or downloading the detailed information of the parking lot displayed with the desired icon image by looking at the displayed icon image 3b, the user selects and clicks the desired icon image from the displayed icon image group. Link information 44 (see FIG. 3) is recorded in the icon image, and information can be downloaded by linking to a dedicated parking lot guidance server having detailed information on the parking lot indicated by the selected icon image.

  The second example is an example of displaying available shop information that is available in the navigation device 10. In this case, when displaying a map image and an icon image of a store on the display means 16, the facility search means 21 extracts a store in operation from the facility information DB 20 based on the sales information of each store, and stores the store from the icon image DB 22. An icon image corresponding to the attribute is acquired, and the icon image is displayed at the location to guide the user.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a map image display screen displayed on the display means 16. The display example of FIG. 4 shows an example in which the facility search means 21 searches for stores that are in business within a predetermined range centered on the current location, and displays an icon image of the store corresponding to the location. A main road 5a and a plurality of empty parking lot icon images 5b are displayed on the display screen, and a current position mark 5c indicating the current position of the navigation device 10 is displayed at the center of the screen.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of facility information stored in the facility information DB 20. FIG. 5 shows an example in which location data 62, business hours 63, and link information 64 are stored in association with each store name 61 as store information. The facility search means 21 refers to the business day and business hours from the facility information stored in the facility information DB 20, and acquires the date / time acquired from the calendar function of the navigation device or the date / time specified by the user (for example, 20:00 on weekdays) ) To find out if there are any stores that are open.

  The facility search range is set to a fixed distance range centered on the navigation device 10 and a plurality of parking lots (X to Z in FIG. 5) are extracted in order of increasing distance. When the facility search means 21 searches for a nearby store with the current position as the center, an icon image 5b corresponding to the store attribute is displayed at the location of the store as shown in the display screen of FIG.

  When viewing or downloading detailed information of a desired store by looking at the displayed icon image 5b, the user selects and clicks a desired icon from the displayed icon image group. Link information 64 is recorded in the facility information, and information can be downloaded by linking to an information providing server having detailed information on the selected store.

  As described above, according to the navigation device of the present invention, when a map image and an icon image are displayed on the display means, an available facility is searched, and an icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility is displayed at the location of the facility. Since the image is displayed, the number of icon images displayed on the map image can be reduced, the map image can be easily viewed, and only the icon images of the available facilities are displayed. However, there is no problem that the facility cannot be used.

  Although the above description of the present invention is based on the navigation device as an example, the present invention is not limited to the navigation device 10 of the example, but may be applied to a navigation system including a navigation terminal device and a navigation server. Is possible. Further, the navigation terminal device may be either on-vehicle use or walking.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the icon image which shows the map image and parking lot facility which are displayed on a display means in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the facility information accumulate | stored in facility information DB, and is a figure which shows the facility information regarding a parking lot facility. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the map image displayed on a display means in this invention, and the icon image which shows the facility of a shop. It is a figure which shows an example of the facility information accumulate | stored in facility information DB, and is a figure which shows the facility information regarding the facility of a shop.

Explanation of symbols

10. Navigation device 11 ... Control means 12 ... GPS receiving means 13 ... Self-contained navigation means 14 ... Map data 15 ... Route search means 16 ... Display means 17 ··· Input means 18 ··· Icon image display control means 19 ··· Communication means 20 ··· Facility information DB (database)
21 ··· Facility search means 22 ··· Icon image DB (database)

Claims (6)

In the navigation system for displaying a map image on the display means and displaying an icon image according to the attribute of the facility on the map image according to the location of the facility,
The navigation system stores map data, an icon image database in which icon images corresponding to the attributes of the facilities included in the map data are stored, and facility information that is information about individual facilities included in the map data. Facility information database, facility search means, and icon image display control means,
When displaying the map image and the icon image on the display means, the facility search means refers to the facility information database to extract a usable facility, and the icon image display control means includes the extracted facility. A navigation system characterized by displaying an icon image.   The facility is a parking lot, and the navigation system includes communication means, acquires information on vacancy and fullness for each parking lot by the communication means, records the information in the facility information database, and the facility search means is in an empty state. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein a facility located in the area is extracted.   The facility is a store, the navigation system includes a communication unit, acquires business information for each facility by the communication unit, records the business information in the facility information database, and the facility search unit is in a state of operating. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system is extracted. In a navigation device that displays a map image on a display means, and displays an icon image according to an attribute of the facility on the map image according to a location of the facility,
The navigation system stores map data, an icon image database in which icon images corresponding to the attributes of the facilities included in the map data are stored, and facility information that is information about individual facilities included in the map data. Facility information database, facility search means, and icon image display control means,
When displaying the map image and the icon image on the display means, the facility search means refers to the facility information database to extract a usable facility, and the icon image display control means includes the extracted facility. A navigation device characterized by displaying an icon image of the above.   The facility is a parking lot, and the navigation device includes communication means, acquires information on vacancy and fullness for each parking lot by the communication means, records the information in the facility information database, and the facility search means is in an empty state. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a facility in the area is extracted.   The facility is a store, the navigation device includes a communication unit, acquires business information for each facility by the communication unit, records the business information in the facility information database, and the facility search unit is in a state of operating. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is extracted.

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