JP2008097092A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device capable of efficiently and easily retrieving destinations or the like by a pinyin retrieval. <P>SOLUTION: This navigation device is provided with: a user input means; a storage device for storing a database as the object of retrieval such as a facility name or a region name; a retrieval means for retrieving the retrieval object corresponding to pinyin retrieval characters input by a user input means; and a display control means for, when a plurality of retrieval objects matched with the pinyin retrieval characters are retrieved by the retrieval means, displaying the plurality of retrieval objects in a batch in a list as one master data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a destination search method in a navigation device, and more particularly to a method for pinyin search for a destination from a Chinese database.

  The navigation device searches for an optimal route from the vehicle position to the destination, and performs route guidance guidance to the driver based on the searched route. As a destination search method, a desired position is directly specified from a map displayed on a display, or data such as a facility or a region stored in a database is searched from input characters, a telephone number, an address, or the like. There is a way.

  Since the amount of information stored in the database is enormous, it is desirable to improve search efficiency when searching for a destination and to provide accurate information to the user in a short time. As one method, in the case of performing a search by characters, a narrow search that narrows down corresponding candidates in order from the first character constituting the search character string is generally performed.

  In Patent Document 1, when searching for a destination or the like from a POI (Point of Interest) corresponding to a category, if the POI is a chain store, only the representative name is displayed, and the number of displayed POIs is reduced. And the technique which improves operativity is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses an item search device that can easily input an initial of a desired item when searching for a desired item from a plurality of items.

JP-A-2005-37127 JP-A-2005-115431

  As described above, when searching for a destination by characters, there is a method of narrowing down candidates that match in order from the top of the search character string. When searching for destinations in Chinese, Pinyin search is a method corresponding to this refined search. Pinyin refers to the reading and pronunciation of one Chinese kanji character as an alphabetic character string. Pinyin search is a search for a Chinese name using this alphabet.

  When performing a pinyin search for a destination in a navigation device, a search using an initial of pinyin is used. For example, “Beijing” in Chinese becomes “Bei Jing” in Pinyin. A search for “Beijing” is performed using “BJ” which is an acronym for Pinyin.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining a data structure when performing a pinyin search for a facility name. For example, when the pinyin of the first character “J”, the second character “C”, and the third character “T” is input as the input character string 300, a data list corresponding to the input character string 300 is displayed in the data table 310. Created. In the data table 310, normal data 312 including the character “J” at the head and data 314 corresponding to a pre-registered keyword including the character “J” in part are created.

  When a Pinyin search using such Pinyin initials is performed, there are cases where a large number of Chinese characters having the same alphabet are hit and it is difficult to specify a target facility. For example, when a user inputs “JYZ” which is the pinyin in order to search for a facility with a unique name “Kanoka (unique name)”, the search result is as shown in FIG. The number of hits for facility names including “JYZ” Pinyin will exceed 10,000, reaching approximately 40,000. The number of hits is displayed as a list on the display, and it is not easy for the user to specify the display 320 of “Kanoka” from among them, and it takes a very long time. The reason why a large number of facility names are hit is that, in China, unique names are often not assigned to facility names. For example, in the case of a gas station as an example, there are many cases where a unique name such as “Oka Gasoen XX Store” is not maintained, and it is maintained in the database with the name “gasoline” (gasoline station). There are many cases. For this reason, even if a search is made with “oil filling tank (gas station)”, many identical identical facility names are hit and displayed in the list.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and provides an information search device, an information search method, and a navigation device using the same that can efficiently and easily search for a destination or the like. With the goal.

  An information search apparatus according to the present invention includes an input means, a storage means for storing a plurality of search objects, a search means for searching for a search object corresponding to a search character input from the input means, and a search by the search means. Display control means for displaying a plurality of search targets as a single search target when a plurality of search targets matching the character are searched;

  Preferably, the search character is a pinyin initial assigned to a Chinese kanji, and so-called pinyin search is performed. In addition, when the search target grouped into one is selected from the input unit, the display control unit displays a plurality of search targets included in the grouped search target as the next hierarchy. Further, the display control means distinguishes and displays the search target that completely matches the search character and the search target that partially matches the search character in the display of the next layer. At that time, attribute information may be displayed on the search object that completely matches in order to facilitate identification. The information search apparatus may further include user selection means for selecting whether the search by the search character is a complete match or a partial match.

  The above-described information search device according to the present invention can be used for searching for a destination of a navigation device. At that time, the display control means can search from the vehicle position to the search target as attribute information of a plurality of search targets that completely match. The distance from the vehicle position to the search target may be displayed.

  The destination searching method in the navigation device according to the present invention includes a step of inputting a pinyin search character, a step of searching the database for a search target that matches the pinyin search character, and a search for a plurality of search targets that match the pinyin search character. A plurality of search objects are collectively displayed as a single search object in a list, and when the search objects integrated into one of the lists are selected, the search objects are combined into one. Displaying a plurality of search targets included in the search target as the next hierarchy.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of search objects that match the search character are collectively displayed as one search object in the list, the user can easily search for a desired search object from the list. And the time required for the search can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, an in-vehicle navigation device will be described as the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. The navigation device 1 includes a GPS receiver 10 that receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite and measures the current position and current direction of the vehicle, a self-contained navigation sensor 12 that includes a vehicle speed sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like, a touch panel 22, and a voice input unit 24. A user input interface 20 including a remote control unit 26, a storage device 30 having a large-capacity hard disk, a data communication control unit 32 that enables data communication with the outside wirelessly or by wire, and an audio output unit that outputs audio from the speaker 42 40, a display control unit 50 for displaying an image on the display 52, a program memory 60 for storing a program, a data memory 70 for temporarily storing data, a state detection unit 80 for detecting a running state of the vehicle by in-vehicle communication such as a vehicle bus, And a control unit 90 is included.

  The storage device 30 stores a program and a database for executing various navigation functions. The program includes functions necessary for searching for a destination such as Pinyin, searching for a route to the destination, route guidance to the destination, and other navigation.

  The database includes map data, area names, facility data, etc. necessary for road guidance. The map data includes link (road) data and intersection data regarding roads. Link data is data related to roads connecting intersections, node data indicating the coordinates of the start and end points of roads, type data indicating road types (national roads, ordinary roads, prefectural roads, etc.), width, and regulations. (For example, one-way), information on the number of lanes, link cost or link duration. The intersection data includes restriction data relating to the coordinate position of the intersection, the name of the intersection, the right / left turn of the intersection, and the like. The facility data includes information such as the location and name of restaurants, parking lots, shops, buildings, and many other landmarks. Further, in this embodiment, in order to perform Chinese Pinyin search, the database includes names of regions and facilities in Chinese notation.

  The program memory 60 loads a program stored in the storage device 30 and stores, for example, a program 62 for performing a pinyin search for a destination, a program 64 for performing a route search to the destination, a program 66 for performing route guidance, and the like. The data memory 70 stores a data table 72 created during Pinyin search, searched facility data 74, map data 76 read from the storage device 30, and the like.

  Next, the search for the destination in the navigation device will be described. Here, FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D show an operation example and a display example when searching for a destination by name by Pinyin search. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the user gives an instruction to search for a destination, a search menu screen 100 is displayed on the display. When the name button 102 is selected from the search menu screen 100, a facility name button 104 and a region name button 106 are displayed as shown in FIG. When the facility name button 104 is selected, a character input screen 110 on which alphabetic characters for Pinyin search are arranged is displayed as shown in FIG. When the user inputs an initial for pinyin search from the character input screen 110, an alphabetical string is written in the input frame 112 of the character input screen 110 as shown in FIG. FIG. 4D is an example in which “qyy” is input as an initial letter. When the initial letter “qyy” is input, only the alphabet that can be selected next is strongly displayed, and the alphabet that cannot be selected is displayed. Transparent display. The character input method may be any of input using a touch panel, input using a rotary switch, input using a remote controller, input using a mouse, and the like.

  Next, details of the pinyin search will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the facility name is selected as shown in FIG. 2B, the control unit 90 prepares for a search for the facility name database included in the storage device 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 2D, when a pinyin character string to be searched is input from the character input screen 110 (step S101), the control unit 90 performs only the name whose pinyin search completely matches. A screen that prompts the user to input whether the search is a complete match search that searches for a partial match search that includes a name that partially matches is displayed, and the user is allowed to select either a complete match or a partial match.

The control unit 90 determines whether or not there is a perfect match according to the user input (step S102). When the exact match is selected, the control unit 90 displays a list of first-stage data searched corresponding to the Pinyin character string (step S103).
The control unit 90 performs a Pinyin search with reference to the facility name database stored in the storage device 30, and creates a data table reflecting the search result. The data table is constructed in a hierarchical manner, that is, the first-stage data includes parent data grouped into similar data groups and individual data remaining out of the group as child data. The data included in each parent data is included as child data.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a hierarchical data table when a facility name is subjected to a pinyin search. For example, when “JYZ” is input as a Pinyin character string, the data 120 in the first row is completely the parent data of “Gas tank” that completely matches “JYZ” or the character string “JCT”. The parent data of the matching “JCT” is included. The second stage data 122 includes child data included in the first stage parent data. In other words, when there are a plurality of facility names hit by the input character string, the parent data is a collection of the names.

  FIG. 5A is a display example of the first-stage data 120 when the facility name is searched for a pinyin. On the display, a map screen 130 centered on the vehicle position and a list 140 based on the retrieved first-stage data are displayed. The list 140 displays parent data and / or child data. As described above, the parent data is obtained by collecting a plurality of facility names into one facility name, and is displayed as one data in the list 140. For this reason, the total number of searches is drastically reduced. By dramatically reducing the number of searches, many facility names can be displayed in the list 140. Preferably, the child data also displays the distance from the vehicle position to the destination, the direction from the vehicle position to the destination, the genre to which the facility belongs, a mark that can identify the facility, and the like as attribute information. . The attribute information refers to information registered in advance when the facility name database is created. In the example of FIG. 5A, the distance from the vehicle position is displayed as the attribute information 141.

  Next, referring to the list display shown in FIG. 5A, when the user selects a desired facility name from the list 140 (step S104), the control unit 90 determines whether or not the selected facility name is parent data. Determination is made (step S105). If it is parent data, the control unit 90 displays a list of child data included in the selected parent data (step S106). For example, in the example of FIG. 4, when “oil refill” is selected, the control unit 90 determines that the data is parent data, and displays a list of child data included in the second-stage data 122. The second-stage data 122 includes a complete matching part 124 that arranges facility names that completely match Pinyin characters and a partial matching unit 126 that arranges facility names including Pinyin characters. When the user input is a complete match search, the control unit 90 displays a list of child data of the complete match unit 124.

  FIG. 5B is a display example when “oiled lees” is selected from the list 140 of FIG. On the display, a list 142 is displayed together with the map screen 130, and child data “oiled coffee” included in the parent data “oiled coffee” is displayed. Further, as the attribute information 143 of “oiling tank”, the distance from the own vehicle position is displayed in order from the nearest vehicle position.

  Next, when desired child data is selected from the second-stage list 142 shown in FIG. 5B (step S107), or child data is added from the first-stage list 140 shown in FIG. When selected, a process is executed with the selected child data as the destination (step S108).

  Next, an operation when the user selects a partial match search will be described. If the control unit 90 determines that the search is a partial match (step S102), the control unit 90 displays a first-stage data list corresponding to the input pinyin character string (step S110). FIG. 6A is a display example of data in the first row when a facility name is searched for a pinyin. On the display, a map screen 150 centered on the position of the vehicle and a list 160 of searched first-stage data are displayed. The list 160 displays not only completely matched facility names but also partially matched facility names. Similarly to the above, the attribute information (distance from the vehicle position) 161 is also displayed in the child data.

  Next, when the user selects a facility name from the first list (step S111), the control unit 90 determines whether or not the selected facility name is parent data (step S112). If there is, a list of child data included in the parent data is displayed (step S113). FIG. 6B is a display example when the “oil refill” of the parent data is selected from the list 160 of FIG. The list 162 displays the facility names of the complete match portion 124 and the partial match portion 126 as shown in FIG. 4, and further displays the facility name attribute information (distance from the vehicle position) 163. Is done. FIG. 6C is a display example in which the list 162 is rearranged in order of distance from the vehicle position. In the list 164, the completely matched facility name and the partially matched facility name are mixed and displayed in order of distance (attribute information 165).

  When desired data is selected by the user from the child data in the second-stage list 162 (step S114), the control unit 90 sets the selected child data as a destination, for example, from the position of the vehicle. A route search process to the ground is started (step S08).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of facility names that match the Pinyin search character are searched, the number of search cases can be reduced by displaying them in a list in a single parent data, The user can easily select a desired facility name from the list. Moreover, when displaying the child data in a list, the attribute information is displayed, so that the facility name can be easily identified by referring to the attribute information even if the names are the same.

  Although the said Example showed the example which pinyin-searches a destination from a facility name, this is an illustration and may be another search. For example, the present invention can also be applied to searches from other names such as area names, address names, and genre names. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a navigation device, and can be applied to a search device or the like that stores information in a database and searches for desired information from the database.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Deformation / change is possible.

  The present invention can be used in an information retrieval apparatus, a navigation apparatus, an AVN apparatus including an audio / video / navigation function, and an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. FIGS. 2A to 2D are diagrams showing an operation example and a screen display example when searching for a destination by name by Pinyin search. It is a flowchart explaining the pinyin search operation | movement in the navigation apparatus concerning a present Example. It is a figure explaining the database structure suitable for the pinyin search which concerns on a present Example. FIGS. 5A and 5B are display examples showing search results when an exact match in Pinyin search is selected. FIGS. 6A and 6B are display examples showing search results when a partial match in Pinyin search is selected. FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining a conventional pinyin search, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a display example at that time.

Explanation of symbols

1: Navigation device 10: GPS receiver 20: Operation panel 30: Storage device 32: Communication control unit 40: Audio output unit 50: Display control unit 52: Display 60: Program memory 70: Data memory 80: State detection unit 90: Control unit 100: Search menu screen 102: Name button 104: Facility name button 106: Area name button 110: Character input screen 112: Input frame 120: First-stage data 122: Second-stage data 124: Perfect match section 126 : Partial match part 130: Map screen 140, 142: List 141, 143: Attribute information 150: Map screen 160, 162: List 161, 163: Attribute information

Claims (14)

Input means;
Storage means for storing a plurality of search targets;
Search means for searching for a search object corresponding to a search character input from the input means;
Display control means for displaying a plurality of search objects as a single search object when a plurality of search objects matching the search character are searched by the search means;
An information retrieval apparatus having The information search device according to claim 1, wherein the search character is a Pinyin initial assigned to a Chinese kanji. The display control means displays a plurality of search objects included in the search object grouped into the one as a next hierarchy when the search object grouped into the one is selected from the input means. 3. The information search device according to 1 or 2. The information search apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit distinguishes and displays a search target that completely matches a search character and a search target that partially matches a search character in the display of the next hierarchy. The information search device according to claim 4, wherein the search objects that completely match each other have the same name. The information search apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the display control means also displays attribute information for identifying each of the search objects that completely match. The information search apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising user selection means for selecting whether the search by the search character is a complete match or a partial match. A navigation device for searching for a destination using the information search device according to claim 1. The display control means includes any one of a distance from the vehicle position to the search target, a direction from the vehicle position to the search target, and an identification mark of the search target as the attribute information of the search target that completely matches. The navigation device described. A method of searching for a destination in a navigation device,
Entering a pinyin search character;
Searching the database for a search object that matches the Pinyin search character;
When a plurality of search objects that match the Pinyin search character are searched, the plurality of search objects are collectively displayed as a single search object in a list; and
When the search target grouped into one is selected from a list, displaying a plurality of search targets included in the search target grouped into the one as a next hierarchy;
Destination search method with The destination search method according to claim 10, wherein the Pinyin search character is an initial of Pinyin assigned to Chinese. The destination search method according to claim 10, wherein a search target that completely matches the search character and a search target that partially matches the search character are displayed separately in the display of the next hierarchy. The destination search method according to claim 12, wherein the attribute information is also displayed together with the search object that completely matches. The destination search method according to claim 13, wherein the attribute information includes any one of a distance from the vehicle position to the search target, a direction from the vehicle position to the search target, and an identification mark of the search target.

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