JP2008224344A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the setting of a fuzzy search area. <P>SOLUTION: In this navigation device, a user can indicate a search area in hand writing on a map displayed on a display. Therefore, a search area can be set by the user's fuzzy indication which is "around here". In this navigation device, search data on a searching object existing in the search area set by the user are narrowed down aside from the other search data to perform a search, thereby enhancing the hit rate of a searching object intended by the user to allow search time to be further shortened. Besides, this navigation device can be equipped with the function of enlarging the search area as far as peripheral areas including the search area, this making it possible to prevent search object omission deriving from the fuzziness of search area indication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, for example, a device for setting a search area by handwriting.

In recent years, guiding a vehicle by a navigation device has been actively performed.
The navigation device has a function of searching for a route from a departure place to a destination, a function of detecting a position of the own vehicle using a sensor such as a GPS (Global Positioning Systems) satellite or a gyro, and a route to the destination and the own vehicle. It has a function to display the current location of the map on the map.
Some navigation devices increase search efficiency by setting a search area and narrowing search targets, as shown in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, for example.

JP-A-9-210715 JP-A-9-101159 JP-A-9-264750

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a specific area is designated by a postal code or a telephone number, and the specific area is used as a search area.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for performing a search using landmarks around the vehicle position as a search area.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for searching for facilities along a route with a route along the route as a search area.

  Even if the user knows the approximate location of the destination facility, such as “around here”, the user has to input the address or telephone number by examining the address, which is inconvenient.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily set an ambiguous search area in a navigation device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, in the invention described in claim 1, map display means for displaying a map, designated position detection means for detecting a position designated by a user on the displayed map, Corresponding to the displayed map, closed region setting means for setting a closed region with the detected designated position as a reference, target data acquisition means for acquiring target data corresponding to the set closed region, Search word acquisition means for acquiring a search word for searching for object data, and the search word associated with the object data in the acquired object data matches the acquired search word. There is provided a navigation apparatus comprising: search means for searching for a thing; and presentation means for presenting the searched object data.
In the invention according to claim 2, further comprising an expansion unit that expands the set closed region to set an extended region, and the search unit does not search for object data in the set closed region, The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein object data existing in the extended area is searched.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the navigation device according to the second aspect, wherein the expansion means sets a minimum area along the road including the closed area as the expansion area. .
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a traveling road storage unit that stores a traveled road is provided, and the expansion unit includes the closed region and extends along at least a part of the stored traveled road. The navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an area is set as the extension area.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the expansion means expands the closed region by using at least one of a topographical boundary or an administrative boundary existing outside the closed region. The navigation device described in 1. is provided.
In the invention according to claim 6, the designated position detection means acquires the set moving direction and moving distance of the closed region from the user, and moves the closed region by the acquired moving distance in the acquired moving direction. A navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided.
In the invention according to claim 7, the designation of the position of the boundary of the set closed region is received by the designated position detecting means, the deformation amount of the portion is acquired from the user, and the designation of the closed region is received. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a boundary of a location is deformed by the acquired deformation amount.
The invention according to claim 8 further comprises handwritten character accepting means for accepting handwritten characters, wherein the search word obtaining means obtains a character candidate similar to the accepted handwritten character as a search word. A navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided.

  According to the present invention, an ambiguous search area can be easily set by accepting a handwritten range designation from a user on a map.

(1) Outline of Embodiment In the navigation device of the present embodiment, a user can specify a search area by handwriting on a map displayed on a display.
Therefore, the navigation device can set the search area by an ambiguous designation of the user as “around here”.
And the navigation device improves the hit rate of the search object intended by the user by narrowing down the search data of the search object existing in the search area set by the user from other search data, Search time can be shortened.
The navigation device can also have a function of extending the search area to the surrounding area including the search area, thereby suppressing a search target omission derived from ambiguity in specifying the search area. it can.
Furthermore, the navigation device accepts the input of the search word by hand, so that a series of operations including setting of the search word and setting of the search area can be a handwriting operation, and the convenience of the user is improved. it can.

(2) Details of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a navigation apparatus 1 to which this embodiment is applied.
The navigation device 1 is mounted on a vehicle and includes a current position detection device 10, an information processing control device 20, an input / output device 40, and an information storage device 50, as shown in this figure. First, the current position detection device 10 has the following configuration. The absolute direction sensor 11 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor that detects in which direction the vehicle is located from detection in the N direction based on a magnet, and may be any means that detects the absolute direction.

The relative azimuth sensor 12 detects, for example, whether or not an intersection is bent, and may be an optical rotation sensor attached to a rotating part of a handle, a rotational resistance volume, or an angle sensor attached to a wheel part. Further, a gyro sensor that detects a change in angle using an angular velocity may be used. That is, any means capable of detecting an angle that has changed relative to the reference angle (absolute direction) may be used.
The distance sensor 13 may be, for example, one that detects and counts the rotation of a wheel, or one that detects acceleration and integrates twice. That is, any means capable of measuring the moving distance of the vehicle may be used.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 14 is a device that receives a signal from an artificial satellite, and provides various information such as the signal transmission time, the position information of the receiver, the moving speed of the receiver, and the traveling direction of the receiver. Obtainable.
The beacon receiving device 15 is a device that receives a signal transmitted from a transmitting device installed at a specific point. In particular, VICS information can be obtained, and information related to vehicle travel such as traffic jam information, current position information, and parking lot information can be obtained.
Thus, the navigation device 1 includes a current position acquisition (detection) unit.

The data transmission / reception device 16 is a device for communicating with the outside of the vehicle using a telephone line or radio waves and exchanging information. For example, there are various usage methods such as a car phone, ATIS, VICS, GPS correction, and inter-vehicle communication, and it is possible to input / output information related to traveling.
Next, the information processing control device 20 performs calculation and control based on the information input from the current position detection device 10 and the input / output device 40 and the information stored in the information storage device 50, and displays the calculation result on the display 42. , A means for controlling to output to the output means such as the printer 43 or the speaker 44.

The information processing control device 20 has the following configuration.
The central processing unit (CPU) 21 performs overall calculation and control of the entire navigation device 1.
The first ROM 22 is a program related to navigation, in particular, detection of the current position, switching of the search mode (region mode, wide area mode), input of handwritten characters, selection of character candidates corresponding to handwritten characters, setting of a search area by handwriting, Stores navigation programs related to route search and display guidance. The sensor input interface 23 is a means for receiving information from the current position detection device 10.
Thus, the navigation device 1 includes route search means and route guidance means.

The RAM 24 stores information input by the user such as destination information and passage point information input by an input device, which will be described later, and results calculated by the CPU 21 based on the user input information, as well as routes It is a storage means for storing the searched result or the map information read from the information storage device 50.
The communication interface 25 is a means for inputting / outputting information from the current position detecting means device 10, particularly information obtained from the outside.

The second ROM 26 stores a program related to navigation, particularly a navigation program related to voice guidance. The image processor 27 is a processing means for processing vector information processed by the CPU into image information.
The clock 28 keeps time. The image memory 29 is means for storing image information processed by the image processor.
The audio processor 30 processes the audio information read from the information storage device 50 and outputs it to the speaker 44.

The input / output device 40 includes an input device 41 for inputting data such as a destination, a passage point, and a search condition by a user, a display 42 for displaying an image, a printer 43 for printing information, and a speaker 44 for outputting sound. The
The input device 41 includes, for example, a touch panel, a touch switch, a joystick, and a key switch that accept handwritten character input in the present embodiment.
The information storage device 50 is connected to the information processing control device 20 via the transmission path 45.
The information storage device 50 includes a map data file 51, an intersection data file 52, a node data file 53, a road data file 54, a photo data file 55, a destination data file 56, a guidance point data file 57, a detailed destination data file 58, A destination reading data file 59 and other data files 60 are stored.

The other data file 60 stores a search data file for the user to search for a search object, a character data file for selecting a character candidate corresponding to the user's handwritten character, and the like.
The information storage device 50 is generally composed of a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM that is an optical storage medium, or a hard disk that is a magnetic storage medium, but various information such as a magneto-optical disk and a semiconductor memory. You may comprise with a storage medium.

In the navigation device 1 configured as described above, map information is read from the information storage device 50 and displayed on the display based on the current position detected by the current position detecting means.
Furthermore, when the destination is input, the route from the current position to the destination is calculated by the information processing control device 20, and the current position detected by the current position detection device 10 is tracked to perform route guidance.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the logical configuration of the search data file.
The search data file stores position data, name search data, address search data, facility search data, genre search data, and other search data. Each data is associated with the object ID of the search object. ing.
These are usually constructed by a relational database or the like, but are listed here in a table for simplification.

The object ID is identification information for identifying the search object. The object ID is used as, for example, a key when linking with another database.
The position data is search data that records the latitude and longitude of the location of the search object, and the position of the search object on the map is specified by the position data.

The name search data is search data in which the name of the search object is recorded. For example, the name of the search object such as “Tanaka Shokudo”, “Family Restaurant Suzuki”, “Yamada Gas Station” is recorded in characters. .
The address search data is search data in which the address of the search object is recorded. For example, “Aichi Prefecture Chikusa-ku XX-machi 1-2-3” is recorded, and the address of the search object is recorded in characters. Has been.

The facility search data is search data in which the facility classification of the search object is recorded. For example, the facility classification such as “restaurant”, “gas station”, “convenience store”, and the like is recorded in characters.
Also, a plurality of facility classifications can be associated with one search object such as “convenience store” and “convenience store”.
The genre search data is a genre to which the search object belongs, such as “eat”, “rest”, and “play”, and is recorded in characters. It is also possible to associate a plurality of genres with one search object, such as associating “eat” and “rest” with a restaurant.

The navigation device 1 accepts designation of search data (name search data, address search data,...) From the user and searches for character candidates for handwritten characters in the designated search data.
That is, the navigation apparatus 1 narrows down search data by setting a search area, and also narrows down search data by name, address, facility, genre, etc. designated by the user.

For example, when the user designates name search data and then inputs “Tanaka Shokudo” by handwriting, the navigation apparatus 1 searches the name search data in the search data file for the characters “Tanaka Shokudo”, and the name search data. The object ID associated with is specified. That is, the search object is specified from the name search data.
Further, when the user designates the facility search data and then inputs “restaurant” by hand, the navigation apparatus 1 can search the characters “restaurant” in the facility search data and specify the search object.

More specifically, the navigation device 1 searches for a search object including at least a part of a combination of character candidates corresponding to handwritten characters (including the order of characters).
For example, if the candidate character is “Yamada Shokudo”, in addition to “Yamada Shokudo”, “Yanomachi Yamada Shokudo” and “Yamada Shokudo Main Store” are searched, but “Tayama Shokudo” is not searched. It has become.
As described above, the navigation device 1 includes a search unit that searches for a target object in which a character associated with the target object matches the selected character candidate.

Next, the character data file will be described.
Although not shown, various characters are registered in the character data file. These characters include various characters such as hiragana, kanji, and alphanumeric characters, but symbols are also included in the characters.
The navigation device 1 determines a similarity between a character handwritten on the touch panel by the user and a character registered in the character data file using a predetermined algorithm, and a character intended by the user whose similarity is a predetermined value or more. Is selected as a character candidate.
In the present embodiment, the similarity between the handwritten character and the character candidate is evaluated from 0% to 100%, and the higher the similarity, the higher the similarity.
Thus, the navigation device 1 includes character candidate selection means for selecting a character candidate similar to the handwritten character by determining the degree of similarity with the handwritten character.
It can also be said that the navigation device 1 includes character recognition means for recognizing handwritten characters based on the similarity.

The navigation device 1 searches the character candidate selected from the character data file in this way with the search data designated in the search data file to identify the search object, but the character selected for one character. When there are a plurality of candidates, the navigation device 1 performs a search for each selected combination of characters.
For example, when a user inputs “Tanaka” by handwriting, the navigation apparatus 1 selects “Ta” and “Sun” as candidates for “Ta”, and selects “Middle” and “Kushi” as candidates for “Middle”. The navigation device 1 searches each combination of “Tanaka”, “Tasushi”, “Daytime”, and “Dayske” with designated search data.

Next, various operation screens of the navigation device 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search word input screen displayed by the navigation device 1.
In the navigation device 1, a transparent touch panel 71 on which the display content of the display 42 can be seen is attached to the upper surface of the display 42.
The touch panel 71 detects, for example, a position coordinate where the user has physically touched with a fingertip or a pen tip by pressing or static electricity, and outputs the detected position coordinate to the information processing control device 20.
The touch panel 71 has a function as a handwritten character receiving means for receiving handwritten characters and a function as a search word acquiring means for acquiring a search word.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the user inputs “Convenience Store” to the touch panel 71 with a fingertip.
A display 81 “handwritten search” is displayed on the upper portion of the display 42 to indicate that the user is accepting handwriting input. On the lower right side of the display 42 is a completion button 82 that is touched when handwriting input is completed. It is displayed.

The touch panel 71 detects contact with a user's fingertip, pen tip, or the like, and outputs the detected coordinate value to the information processing control device 20 every moment.
The information processing control device 20 stores the coordinate value output from the touch panel 71, and when the completion button 82 is touched, an area formed from the stored coordinate value is displayed for each character stored in the character file. The similarity is calculated in comparison with.
The information processing control device 20 selects a character whose similarity is equal to or higher than a predetermined value as a character candidate and performs a search.
In this embodiment, the search term is input by handwriting input. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods such as input by a Japanese syllabary button or voice input are used. It is also possible to configure so as to input.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a search area input screen displayed by the navigation device 1.
The navigation device 1 displays such a search area input screen on the display 42 when the completion button 82 is touched on the search word input screen of FIG.
On the search area input screen, a map around the current position (may be a map of the area specified by the user) is displayed, and the user outlines the area to be set as the search area while keeping the fingertip etc. in contact with the touch panel 71. Trace. In the figure, the traced trace is indicated by a dotted line.

Then, when the input of the contour of the search area is completed, the user touches the completion button 83 to notify the navigation device 1 of the input completion.
Thus, the display 42 functions as map display means for displaying a map, and the touch panel 71 functions as designated position detection means for detecting the position designated by the user on the displayed map.

Although details will be described later, the navigation device 1 acquires the coordinate value of the point where the user touches the fingertip or the like every moment. When the completion button 83 is touched, the navigation device 1 forms a closed region using these points, and sets this in the search area 90.
When the navigation device 1 sets the search area 90, the search target object existing in the search area 90 is set as a search target.

As described above, the navigation apparatus 1 includes a closed region setting unit that sets a closed region based on the designated position detected by the touch panel 71 corresponding to the map displayed on the display 42.
As a result, in the example of FIG. 4A, the search objects 101a and 101b existing in the search area 90 are search targets.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a search result screen displayed by the navigation device 1.
When the search process is completed, the navigation device 1 displays a search result screen on the display 42.
A recognition result display area is provided at the top of the search result screen, and the recognition result of handwritten characters input by the user is displayed. In FIG. 4B, “convenience store” is displayed as a recognition result of handwritten characters “convenience store” input by the user.
The navigation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment stores frequently used abbreviations and formal names such as “convenience store” and “convenience store” in association with each other, and the abbreviations are converted into formal names.
When a plurality of search characters are recognized, a plurality of “Ginza”, “Kinza”, and the like are displayed. Moreover, it can also comprise so that what the user touched among the plurality displayed may be employ | adopted as a character candidate for a search.

Search result selection buttons 87, 87,... Are displayed in the center of the search result screen.
In FIG. 4B, “Super Yamada” and “Tanaka Mart” are hit for the search for the input “convenience store”.
In addition, it can also comprise so that the search target object hit may be displayed as a list on a map.
Thus, the navigation apparatus 1 includes a presentation unit that presents the searched object.
When the user touches one of the search result selection buttons 87, the touch is detected by the touch panel 71, and the coordinate value of the touched position is transmitted to the information processing control device 20.
The information processing control device 20 recognizes which search result selection button 87 has been selected from the coordinate values, and performs processing such as route guidance on the selected search object.

Next, the function in which the navigation apparatus 1 receives the setting of the search area by handwriting is demonstrated using FIG.
In the search area input screen, the navigation device 1 displays a map on the display 42 and associates the coordinate values of each point on the touch panel 71 with the latitude and longitude of the point on the map.
Therefore, when the user visually recognizes the map and touches an arbitrary point on the map, the navigation apparatus 1 acquires the latitude / longitude of the point touched by the user from the coordinate value of the point touched on the touch panel 71. Can be done.
In the present embodiment, latitude / longitude is used as the position information, but the position may be specified by other information.

In the search area input screen configured as described above, the navigation device 1 samples the coordinate values of the points touched by the user on the touch panel 71 at predetermined time intervals.
Therefore, when the user moves the fingertip while touching on the touch panel 71, the navigation apparatus 1 can acquire the coordinate values of a plurality of points 104, 104,.

The navigation device 1 supplements the points 104, 104,... Acquired in this way with a smooth closed curve, and sets a closed area surrounded by the closed curve as a search area 90.
Note that the points 104, 104,... Can be complemented by line segments.

  In the present embodiment, the user samples the fingertip trajectory. However, the user touches a plurality of points on the touch panel 71 discretely, and the search area 90 is set by complementing the touched points. It can also be configured. In this case, the search area 90 can be set if the user touches at least three points.

Furthermore, a configuration in which the user touches one point on the touch panel 71 and the navigation device 1 sets a circle with a radius Rkm around the point as a search area is also possible.
That is, the navigation device 1 performs a search within a range of points designated by the user, such as a locus of contact points touched by the user on the touch panel 71 or discrete points.

Next, the procedure by which the navigation device 1 configured as described above searches for a search object will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the information processing control device 20 receives a search request from the user by detecting a button press or the like, the information processing control device 20 acquires the current position using the GPS receiving device 14 or other devices / sensors.
Next, the navigation apparatus 1 accepts designation of search data used for search out of the name search data, address search data, and the like from the user (step 5).

Then, the information processing control device 20 displays a search word input screen on the display 42 and accepts input of the search word by handwriting from the touch panel 71 (step 10).
When the input of the search word is accepted, the information processing control device 20 calculates the similarity between the handwritten character input by the user and the character recorded in the character data file, so that the degree of similarity with the handwritten character is predetermined. Are selected as character candidates (step 15).

  Next, the information processing control device 20 displays a map corresponding to the current position on the display 42 and sets the correspondence between the coordinate value of the point on the touch panel 71 and the latitude / longitude, thereby displaying the search area input screen. It is displayed on the display 42, and designation of a search area by handwriting is accepted from the touch panel 71 (step 20).

The information processing control device 20 samples and acquires the coordinate values of a series of points touched by the user, and acquires the latitude and longitude corresponding thereto.
Then, the information processing control device 20 recognizes the search area by complementing these points with a curve or the like (step 25).

Next, the information processing control device 20 acquires search data (name search data, address search data, etc.) designated by the user from the search data file, and the point indicated by the position data is included in the search data. Narrow down what is in the search area (step 30).
Thus, the navigation device 1 includes object data acquisition means for acquiring search data (corresponding to object data) corresponding to the set search area 90 (closed area).

Next, the information processing control device 20 searches the search data narrowed down in step 30 for those whose characters recorded in the search data match the character candidates selected in step 15 (step 35).
As described above, the navigation device 1 includes a search unit that searches for search data (target data) that matches a search term associated with the target data and a search term that is input by handwriting. I have.

When there is matching search data (step 40; Y), the information processing control device 20 outputs these to the search result screen (step 50).
On the other hand, if there is no matching search data (step 40; N), the information processing control device 20 searches for character candidates in all search data of the search data specified by the user (step 45) and searches the search results. It outputs to a result screen (step 50).

Next, a modification of the present embodiment will be described.
In the navigation device 1, since the user sets a search area by handwriting in the car, it may be difficult to set an accurate search area as intended by the user.
For this reason, the navigation device 1 of the present modification sets an extended area in which the search area set by the user is expanded by a predetermined amount, and extends the search target to the extended area.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the search area expansion function according to this modification.
In FIG. 7, a search area 90 indicated by a dotted line is set by complementing the points input by the user on the touch panel 71 (not shown) by the navigation device 1.
The navigation device 1 sets the expansion area 91 by a closed area including the search area 90.
When the search data is not searched in the search area 90, the navigation device 1 further searches the search data in the expansion area 91.
As described above, the navigation device 1 includes an expansion unit that expands the search area 90 including the closed region and sets the expanded region 91.

In the example of FIG. 7, the search objects 101 a, 101 b, and 101 c are included in both the search area 90 and the extended area 91.
On the other hand, the search object 101d is not included in the search area 90, but is included in the extended area 91.
Therefore, the navigation device 1 first searches for the search objects 101a, 101b, and 101c when searching in the search area 90, and searches for the search objects 101a and 101b when searching in the extended area 91. , 101c, and the search object 101d.
Alternatively, when searching in the extension area 91, the navigation device 1 may be configured to search for the search object 101d that is the difference between the search area 90 and the extension area 91.

For example, the expansion method takes a plurality of points on the boundary line of the search area 90, sets points that are outside the search area 90 by a predetermined distance in the direction perpendicular to the boundary line, and passes through these points. An extension area 91 can be obtained by complementing a point with a curve or the like.
Alternatively, the search area 90 and the extension area 91 may have the same center of gravity, and a similar shape of the search area 90 in which the similarity ratio is a predetermined multiple may be used as the extension area 91.
Various methods for setting the expansion area 91 are conceivable in addition to these, and examples thereof will be described later.

Next, a procedure for the navigation device 1 to search for a search object in the extended area will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
Steps that perform the same processing as in FIG. 6 are given the same step numbers, and the description will be simplified or omitted.
Steps 5 to 35 are the same as those in FIG.

If there is a search data that matches the character candidate in the search data narrowed down in step 35 (step 40; Y), the information processing control device 20 outputs this to the search result screen (step 50).
On the other hand, if there is no search data that matches the character candidate (step 40; N), the information processing control device 20 sets an extended area so as to include the search area (step 65).
Then, the information processing control device 20 narrows down the search data in the extension area by examining the search data (name search data, address search data, etc.) specified by the user and including the position data included in the extension area. (Step 70).

Next, the information processing control device 20 searches the search data narrowed down at step 70 for a character whose character recorded in the search data matches the character candidate selected at step 15 (step 75).
If there is matching search data (step 80; Y), the information processing control device 20 outputs these to the search result screen (step 50).
On the other hand, if there is no matching search data (step 80; N), the information processing control device 20 searches for character candidates in all search data of the search data specified by the user (step 45) and searches the search results. It outputs to a result screen (step 50).

Next, various setting methods for the extended area will be described.
FIG. 9A shows an example in which an extended area is set with a road as a boundary line.
For example, assume that the user sets a search area 90 as shown in the figure.
In this case, the navigation device 1 searches for the nearest roads 105a to 105d in the search area 90, and sets the closed area surrounded by the roads 105a to 105d as the extended area 91.
In this way, the navigation device 1 sets the minimum area along the road that includes the search area 90 (closed area) as the extended area 91.
In the example shown in the figure, the search object 101a is included in the extended area.

In this example, the road is used as the boundary of the extended area 91. However, the boundary may be further extended by a predetermined distance from the road toward the outside of the extended area 91.
If comprised in this way, a search target object can be searched in the both sides of a road. In the example of the figure, the search target object 101b is also a search target.
Since the search target intended by the user often exists along the road, the hit rate can be increased by setting such an extended area.

FIG. 9B is an example in which the extended area is set so as to include a road that has traveled before.
In this example, the navigation device 1 includes traveling road storage means for storing a previously traveled road in the information storage device 50 (FIG. 1).
In the navigation device 1 configured as described above, for example, it is assumed that the user sets a search area 90 as shown in the drawing.
In this case, the navigation device 1 searches for the nearest roads 105a to 105d in the search area 90, and further searches for the nearest road 105e in the search area 90 among the roads that have already traveled.

And the navigation apparatus 1 includes the search area 90 using these searched roads 105a-105e, and sets the expansion area | region along at least one part of the road 105e which has already drive | worked.
As a result, the navigation apparatus 1 sets an expansion area 91 composed of roads 105a, 105b, 105e, and 105d.
Thereby, the search target object 101c facing the road on which the user has traveled before can be included in the search target.
Further, when the extension area 91 is extended from the road 105e by a predetermined distance in the outward direction of the extension area 91, search objects on both sides of the road 105e can be set as search targets.

  When the user sets the search area in an ambiguous manner, there may be a case where he / she is looking for a store that he / she visited before. The possibility that the search object desired by the user will hit increases, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

FIG. 10 is an example in which an extended area is set using a boundary of a river, a coast, or an administrative area as a boundary line.
In this example, when there is a topographical or administrative boundary such as a river within a predetermined distance from the search area 90, the navigation device 1 sets an expansion area 91 that uses these as a part of the boundary.

For example, assume that the user sets a search area 90 as shown in the figure within a predetermined distance from the river 106.
In this case, the navigation device 1 searches for the nearest roads 105 a to 105 d in the search area 90 and searches for the road 105 e that passes through the river 106 and is the nearest road to the search area 90.
And the navigation apparatus 1 tries the structure of a closed area | region using the road 105a-the road 105e including the river 106. FIG.

As a result, the navigation device 1 sets an expansion area 91 along the river 106 and the roads 105a, 105b, and 105e.
In this way, the navigation device 1 expands the search area 90 using at least one of the topographical boundary and the administrative boundary existing outside the search area 90 (closed region).
Since the user may remember facilities based on rough topographical or administrative boundaries, such as “I was on this side of the river” or “I was surely in Okazaki city”, In this case, if the search area 90 is expanded to the topographical boundary and the administrative boundary, the possibility that the search target intended by the user can be hit increases.

In addition, the navigation device 1 can be provided with a function of moving or deforming the search area 90.
FIG. 11A shows an example in which the user drags the search area 90.
The navigation device 1 can detect an operation in which the user places a fingertip or the like on the search area 90 on the touch panel 71 (not shown) and drags the fingertip.
Dragging is an operation of moving a fingertip or the like while touching the touch panel 71.
The navigation device 1 samples the movement of the user's fingertip or the like on the touch panel 71 and detects the moving direction and moving distance every moment.
And the navigation apparatus 1 moves the search area 90 according to the moving distance detected every moment.
By this process, the search area 90 moves to the search area 90a as indicated by the arrow in the figure, and the search target object 101e is newly added to the search target.

FIG. 11B shows an example in which the user changes the search area 90.
The navigation device 1 can detect an operation in which the user places a fingertip or the like on the boundary of the search area 90 on the touch panel 71 (not shown) and drags it.
The navigation device 1 samples the movement of the user's fingertip or the like on the touch panel 71 and detects the moving direction and moving distance every moment.
And the navigation apparatus 1 deform | transforms the boundary of the vicinity which the user is touching according to the movement distance detected every moment.
By this processing, the portion of the boundary 92 in the search area 90 is deformed and moved to the boundary 93 as indicated by the arrow in the figure. As a result, the search object 101e is newly added to the search object.

The following effects can be obtained by the present embodiment described above.
(1) By accepting designation of an area by handwriting, it is possible to set an ambiguous search area “this area” on the map.
(2) Since the search is performed after narrowing down the search data to those corresponding to the search area, the search hit rate can be increased and the search speed can be improved.
(3) By inputting the search word by handwriting, the input of the search word and the setting of the search area can be made a continuous handwriting operation, and the convenience of the user can be enhanced.
(4) Even if the search target intended by the user is leaked from the search area due to the setting of the ambiguous search area, it can be set as the search target by setting the extended area so as to include the search area. .

1 is a system configuration diagram of a navigation device to which the present embodiment is applied. It is the figure which showed an example of the logical structure of a search data file. It is the figure which showed an example of the search word input screen. It is the figure which showed an example of the search area input screen. It is a figure for demonstrating the function which receives the setting of a search area by handwriting. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure which searches a search target object. It is a figure for demonstrating a search area expansion function. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure which searches a search target object in an extended area. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a setting of an extended area. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a setting of an extended area. It is a figure for demonstrating the example which deform | transforms a search area.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 10 Current position detection apparatus 20 Information processing control apparatus 40 Input / output apparatus 41 Input apparatus 42 Display 50 Information storage apparatus 71 Touch panel

Claims (8)

Map display means for displaying a map;
Designated position detecting means for detecting a position designated by the user on the displayed map;
A closed region setting means for setting a closed region based on the designated position detected in correspondence with the displayed map;
Object data acquisition means for acquiring object data corresponding to the set closed region;
A search term acquisition means for acquiring a search term for searching for object data;
Search means for searching for a search word associated with the target object data and a search word that matches the acquired search word among the acquired target data;
Presenting means for presenting the retrieved object data;
A navigation device comprising:
Comprising an expansion means for expanding the set closed region to set an extended region;
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the search means searches for the object data existing in the expanded extended area when the object data is not searched in the set closed area.
The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the expansion unit sets a minimum area along a road including the closed area as the expansion area.
It has travel road storage means for storing the traveled road,
The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the expansion unit includes the closed region and sets a region along at least a part of the stored traveled road as the expansion region.
The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the expansion unit expands the closed area using at least one of a topographic boundary or an administrative boundary existing outside the closed area.
The designated position detecting means includes a moving means for acquiring the set moving direction and moving distance of the closed area from a user, and moving the closed area by the acquired moving distance in the acquired moving direction. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The designated position detecting means accepts designation of the location of the set closed region boundary, obtains a deformation amount of the location from the user, and obtains the deformation amount of the location where the designation of the closed region is accepted. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the navigation device is deformed only by a distance.
Comprising handwritten character accepting means for accepting handwritten characters;
The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the search word acquisition unit acquires a character candidate similar to the accepted handwritten character as a search word. .

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