JP2008111693A - Mobile apparatus and target information retrieval method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile apparatus capable of easily verifying the positions and information of visually recognizable targets. <P>SOLUTION: When retrieval is to be performed on a target, the mobile apparatus detects a current position, measures the distance to the target 21 visually recognizable from the current position by a distance measuring device 141, detects the bearing to the target by a bearing sensor 121, makes reference to a map data base on the basis of the measured distance and the detected bearing, and specifies the target and its position. Information on the specified target is displayed preferably on a map with the current position. In the case that the target is specified at a relatively large angle of elevation, the measured distance (a) is converted into an actual distance (x) and used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile device capable of acquiring target information and a target information search method.

  Conventionally, using the global positioning system (GPS) and an azimuth detection sensor such as an acceleration sensor, the current location and azimuth of the user device are detected, the positional relationship to the target point set based on the value is shown, and navigation is performed. There was a way to do it.

  In such a navigation method, in order to set a target point, information for specifying the target point such as the name, address, and telephone number of the target point is input, or the corresponding point is displayed on the map displayed on the display. It was necessary to specify.

  By the way, when you walk outside and see a particular building, such as a tall building, you may be interested in what it is and how far it is.

  In such a case, it is preferable that the position and information can be obtained immediately and easily by instructing the target using the mobile device possessed by the user.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and intends to provide a mobile device capable of easily confirming the position and information of a visible target and a target information search method using the same. .

  A mobile device according to the present invention includes a position detection means for detecting a current position, a distance measurement means for measuring a distance from the current position to a visible target, an orientation detection means for detecting the orientation of the target, Search means for referring to a map database based on the measured distance and the detected orientation, specifying the target and its position, and display means for displaying information on the specified target It is characterized by. The map database may be held inside the mobile device or may be acquired from the outside via a communication interface.

  With this configuration, if the distance and direction to the target are known, the position of the target is specified by referring to the map database. Moreover, if the information of the target is stored in the map database, the information is also acquired.

  According to the present invention, when a target is visible, the target and its position can be specified by the mobile device of the present invention even if the user does not have knowledge or information about the target. . That is, as long as the target is visible, the positional relationship between the user and the target on the map can be confirmed, and information about the target can be acquired.

  It is also possible to acquire the positional relationship between the user and the target on the map, to acquire information about the target from the coordinates of the target on the map, and to navigate to the target It becomes like this.

  In navigation, if a user is good at viewing a map, it may be possible to find a target on the map and set it as the destination. However, everyone cannot expect this kind of behavior. According to the mobile device of the present invention, it is possible to specify a destination intuitively by pointing a target in real space by being incorporated in a navigation system or combined with a navigation system. The destination can be set easily and quickly than specified above.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a mobile device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The mobile device 100 includes a control unit 101 including a CPU, a display unit 102 having a display screen for displaying information such as text, still images, and moving images, an operation unit 103 combining a plurality of keys, and navigation. ROM 104 that stores various application programs such as application programs, RAM 105 that provides a work area and temporary data storage area for the CPU, a speaker unit 106 that outputs sound, and a GPS antenna 111 that acquires position data A GPS control unit 112 for controlling it, an azimuth sensor 121 for measuring the azimuth of the mobile device 100, an azimuth sensor control unit 122 for controlling it, and an elevation sensor 131 for measuring the elevation angle And the elevation sensor control unit 132 for controlling it, and measuring the distance to the object Distance measuring device 141 and distance measuring device control unit 142 for controlling it, communication unit 151 connected to an external network for telephone and data communication, clock unit 161 for date and timer management, CCD A camera unit 171 that performs imaging using an imaging element such as a control unit, and a control line 150 and a data line 160 that connect the control unit 101 to each unit. The ROM 104 may store a map database. Further, at least a part of the ROM 104 may include a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The distance measuring device 141 uses a laser, an ultrasonic wave, or the like, and is a device for measuring the distance to the target with the measuring device facing the target. The distance measuring device 141 may further include a unit that generates visible light such as a laser pointer as a target instruction unit that indicates a target. Or it is good also as a structure using the camera part 171 which can visually recognize a target object by the preview of a display screen as a target object instruction | indication means.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the mobile device 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the distance measuring device 141 is directed toward the target 21, and the distance to the target 21 is measured. The distance measuring device 141 that measures the elevation angle (θ) with the elevation angle sensor may be built in the mobile device 100 or may be externally attached.

  Since the distance obtained by the distance measuring device 141 is a distance from the mobile device 100 to a specific point on the target, as shown in FIG. 3, when the measurement distance a and the elevation angle θ to the target are obtained. Convert the measured distance to the actual distance. That is, the actual distance x to the target can be obtained by the following equation (1).

x = a × cos θ (1)
However, when the elevation angle θ is sufficiently small, x = a can be considered, and thus the elevation angle sensor is not always necessary.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a change in display content of the display unit 102 when the mobile device 100 measures a distance.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of a display screen 300 of the display unit 102 for searching for a target. The target search in the present embodiment is activated by menu selection or a specific key press, and displays a display screen 300. In this display screen 300, the user is prompted to indicate the target with a pointer and press the enter button. In response to this, when the user designates the target and presses the enter button, the mobile device measures the distance a to the target by the distance measuring device 141 and detects the elevation angle θ at that time by the elevation sensor 131. . The direction sensor 121 also detects the direction in which the distance measuring device 141 is facing. The distance x is obtained according to the result of this measurement and detection. The position of the target on the map is specified by referring to the map database based on the distance x and the direction based on the current position. If possible, the target is also specified, and information information (for example, name, height, date of construction, remarks, etc.) related to the target is acquired. Further, in the case of cooperation with the navigation system, the moving means (for example, walking), the current time, the arrival time when moving with the position of the target as the destination, the assumed moving distance, etc. are shown in FIG. A display screen 400 is displayed. Here, the assumed movement distance is preferably a distance along the estimated route. Such distance can be obtained from a map database. Thereafter, when navigation is performed, map display is performed according to the user's operation, and navigation is performed with the position of the obtained target set as the destination.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen when the target search according to the present embodiment is performed after the navigation system is activated. The display screen 500 displays a window 501 that prompts the user to specify a target in a state where a map including the current position is displayed. A current position cursor 502 representing the current position and direction is displayed on the map. In response to this, when the user designates the target and presses the enter button, the same processing as described in FIG. 4 is executed. However, in the case of FIG. 5, since the navigation system has already been activated, a display screen 600 as shown in FIG. 6 is immediately displayed. In this display screen 600, a target point 601 where a target is present is displayed on a map. Further, when information related to the target is acquired, the information is also displayed. In the figure, the name of the target building is displayed at the target point 601. Further, when additional information as described in FIG. 4B is obtained, the information is additionally displayed as shown in the display screen 700 of FIG. In addition, a recommended route from the current position to the target point is displayed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a display form of information when information other than the name of the building is obtained for the target point 601. Such information may be obtained from a predetermined server by accessing the Internet via the communication unit 151 as well as being obtained from the navigation system. Although it is assumed that the navigation system is provided in the mobile device, an external navigation system may be used via the Internet or the like.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the target specifying process in the present embodiment. This process is realized by the control unit 101 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 105.

  First, the current position is confirmed by GPS (S11). Next, the user is prompted to specify the target as described above (S12). Waiting for the user's instruction (S13), the distance a is measured (S14). Next, the elevation angle θ is measured (S15). Furthermore, the azimuth | direction which the distance measuring device 141 faces is measured (S16). Therefore, the actual distance x is calculated by the above equation (1) (S17). Next, a map database is searched and a target point and a target are specified (S18). Further, information about the target is acquired (S19). Therefore, a cursor indicating the current position and direction and a target point are displayed together with the map on the display screen (S20). Further, information on the target is displayed (S21).

  In this example, the target identification process includes confirmation of the current position and map display, but map display is not an essential step as described with reference to FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, when a target such as a building that does not know what it is, but looks interesting, is found in a travel destination, etc., information on the target is obtained and navigation to the target is easy. Can be done.

  Even if you are not good at reading maps or people who tend to be crazy, you can enjoy traveling freely as if you were visiting for the first time, “What is that building?” “Looks like that!” Will be able to.

  Moreover, in a navigation device using a GPS and a position measurement sensor such as a car navigation system or a cellular phone, a distance measurement device and an elevation angle measurement sensor are added, and the distance measurement device measures the distance, thereby Destination can be set.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made. For example, although an example in which GPS is used as the current position detecting means has been shown, the present invention is not limited to GPS. Although the mobile device is assumed to be a portable terminal, it may have a configuration in which an azimuth sensor, an elevation sensor, a distance measuring device, and the like are externally attached to the car navigation device.

It is a block diagram which shows the mobile body apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the mode of the measurement of the distance to the target by the distance measuring device in embodiment of this invention. In embodiment of this invention, it is the figure which showed the principle which converts the measured distance to a target into an actual distance. In embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example (a) of a display screen for target object search, and an example (b) of a search result. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen in the case of performing the target object search of embodiment of this invention after starting a navigation system. It is a figure which shows the display screen following the display screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other display screen following the display screen of FIG. In embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the display form of the information when information other than the name of a building is obtained about the target point. It is a flowchart showing an example of the target specific process in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Mobile device, 101 ... Control part, 102 ... Display part, 103 ... Operation part, 106 ... Speaker part, 111 ... GPS antenna, 112 ... GPS control part, 121 ... Direction sensor, 122 ... Direction sensor control part, 131 ... elevation angle sensor, 132 ... elevation angle sensor control unit, 141 ... distance measurement device, 142 ... distance measurement device control unit, 150 ... control line, 151 ... communication unit, 160 ... data line, 161 ... clock unit, 171 ... camera unit, 300 ... display screen, 400 ... display screen, 500 ... display screen, 501 ... window, 502 ... current position cursor, 600 ... display screen, 601 ... target point, 700 ... display screen

Claims (7)

Position detection means for detecting the current position;
Distance measuring means for measuring the distance from the current position to the visible target;
Direction detection means for detecting the direction of the target;
Search means for referring to a map database based on the measured distance and the detected orientation and identifying the target and its position;
A mobile device comprising: display means for displaying information on the identified target.   The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising an elevation angle detection unit that detects an elevation angle of the distance measurement unit, and further comprising a distance correction unit that corrects the distance measured by the distance measurement unit based on the elevation angle.   The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a map showing a route from a current position to the target with reference to the map database.   The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring unit further includes a target instruction unit that indicates a target.   5. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the target instruction means includes means for generating visible light.   The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the target instruction means includes a camera unit that can visually recognize the target on a display screen. A target information search method using a mobile device,
Detecting the current position;
Measuring the distance from the current position to the visible target;
Detecting the orientation of the target;
Referencing a map database based on the measured distance and detected orientation to identify the target and its location;
And displaying the information of the identified target. A target information search method comprising:

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