JP2008241344A - Route setting method and navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route setting method and navigation device capable of improving the usability. <P>SOLUTION: In the route setting method allowing a user to determine the route where one's own vehicle travels using a map screen of a display 5, when the user's finger or a dedicated pen touches a road displayed on the map screen 5a, the contact position of the finger or pen is acquired, the map coordinate corresponding to the contact position is detected, the route from the detected map coordinate to the next branch point in the progressing direction of the own vehicle is set as the route of the own vehicle, and guide is performed based on the set route. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route setting method and a navigation device.

  As a navigation device that is mounted on a vehicle and searches for a route from a current position to a destination, there is a device that designates a route by a user tracing a road with a finger or a dedicated pen (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The operation of designating a road with a finger or a pen has an advantage that it is easy for the user to operate because it can be operated as if the user is tracing a map printed on paper.

However, when the distance from the current position to the destination is long, the length that the user traces becomes long, which may make the operation troublesome. On the other hand, in the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, the map screen is displayed at the maximum scale in which the starting point and the destination are displayed on a single screen, and an operation is performed by inputting a rough route. Makes it relatively easy. When the user wants to correct the route, a point near the route is designated by a touch panel operation, and the navigation device searches for a route including the designated point.
JP 2001-74481 A

  However, in the above-described apparatus, even when a rough route is input, it is necessary to trace from the current position to the destination, which may be troublesome. Also, when performing a tracing operation, if the destination is not set, all of the vehicles traveling while scrolling the screen until the map screen including the destination is displayed from the map screen including the current position are displayed. Since the road must be traced, the usability of the device is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a route setting method and a navigation device that can improve usability.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a route setting method in which a user determines a route traveled by the host vehicle on a map screen displayed on a display device. When the vehicle touches the road displayed on the map screen, the contact position of the finger or the tracing means is acquired, the map coordinate corresponding to the contact position is detected, and the progress of the host vehicle is detected from the map coordinate. The gist is to determine the route up to the next branch point in the direction as the route of the host vehicle.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation device in which a user determines a route traveled by the host vehicle on a screen displayed on a display device, a map screen output means for displaying a map screen on the display device, a user's When the finger or the tracing means touches the road displayed on the map screen, the position detecting means for acquiring the contact position of the finger or the tracing means and detecting the map coordinates corresponding to the contact position; and the position The gist of the invention is that it further comprises route determination means for determining, from the map coordinates detected by the detection means, to the next branch point in the traveling direction of the own vehicle as the route of the own vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the second aspect, from the map coordinates detected by the position detecting means until the next branch point in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is included in the screen display range. The gist further includes screen scroll means for scrolling the map screen.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the navigation device according to claim 2 or 3, searching for a previous route in the traveling direction from the branch point ahead of the contact position of the user's finger or the trace means, The gist of the present invention is that it further comprises guiding means for displaying the route on the map screen.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the destination setting means for setting the destination, and the current position of the host vehicle and the destination are connected. A route guidance means for searching for a route to be displayed and displaying the route on the map screen, wherein the position detecting means is configured such that when the user's finger or the tracing means contacts the route displayed on the map screen In addition, the contact position of the finger or the tracing means is acquired, and the map coordinates corresponding to the contact position are detected, and the route determination means is configured to detect the map coordinates from the detected map coordinates to the next branch point on the route. When the route from the contact position of the user's finger or the tracing unit to the previous branch point is determined as the route of the host vehicle, the route guidance unit determines the route from the branch point to the object. Earth Route newly searched the in, and be required to view the pathway on the map screen.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when setting the route, the contact position of the user's finger or the tracing means is detected, and the map coordinates corresponding to the contact position are acquired. In addition, the route from the map coordinate to the next branch point in the traveling direction is automatically set as the route of the own vehicle. This eliminates the need for the user to trace all desired roads displayed on the map to determine the route, thus improving usability.

  According to invention of Claim 2, the navigation apparatus detected the contact position of a user's finger | toe or the trace means, and was made to acquire the map coordinate corresponding to a contact position. In addition, the route from the map coordinate to the next branch point in the traveling direction is automatically set as the route of the own vehicle. This eliminates the need for the user to trace all desired roads displayed on the map to determine the route, thus improving usability.

According to the invention described in claim 3, since the screen is scrolled to the branch point, the route can be easily determined while looking at the detailed map.
According to the invention described in claim 4, the route ahead from the branch point is displayed on the screen. For this reason, since the user only has to select the route searched by the navigation device, it is easy to determine the route.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the route to the destination is automatically displayed, the user can select the route only by touching the displayed route with the finger or the tracing means. For this reason, a user's usability can be improved more.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a navigation unit 2 as a navigation device constituting the navigation system 1 includes a host vehicle position calculation unit 10, a GPS reception unit 11, route determination means, guidance means, route guidance means, destination setting. And a route search unit 12 as means. In addition, a geographic data storage unit 13, a vehicle side I / F 14, a map screen output unit, a guidance unit, a screen scroll unit, an image processor 18 as a route guidance unit, and an operation determination unit 20 as a position detection unit are provided. .

The own vehicle position calculation unit 10 inputs a position detection signal indicating coordinates such as latitude and longitude received by the GPS receiving unit 11 from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and calculates the absolute position of the own vehicle by radio navigation. To do. In addition, the vehicle position calculation unit 10 inputs vehicle speed pulses and angular velocities from the vehicle speed sensor 30 and the gyro sensor 31 provided in the vehicle through the vehicle side I / F 14 provided in the navigation unit 2. Then, the vehicle position calculation unit 10 calculates the relative position from the reference position by autonomous navigation using vehicle speed pulses and angular velocities, and identifies the vehicle position in combination with the absolute position calculated by radio wave navigation.

  The navigation unit 2 also includes a geographic data storage unit 13. The geographic data storage unit 13 is an external storage medium such as an internal hard disk or an optical disk. The geographic data storage unit 13 includes a map screen on each route network data (hereinafter referred to as route data 15) for searching for a route to the destination, and a touch panel display (hereinafter simply referred to as display 5) as a display device. Each map drawing data 16 for outputting 5a is stored.

  The route data 15 is data related to roads in the mesh that divides the whole country. As shown in FIG. 2, this route data is hierarchized into a plurality of layers from wide area route data 15i to narrow detailed route data 15k. The upper level route data 15i is data of main roads such as main national roads and highways. Lower-level route data 15j and 15k indicate networks such as prefectural roads and general roads. Although FIG. 2 shows the three-layer route data 15 for convenience, the number of layers is not particularly limited.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the route data 15 has a mesh ID 15a that is an identifier of each mesh and a link ID 15b that indicates an identifier of each link in the mesh. A link is a data element that connects nodes indicating an intersection, an interchange, a road end point, and the like.

  In addition, node coordinates 15c, road type 15d, link cost 15e, corresponding higher level 15f, and the like are associated with the link ID 15b. The node coordinates 15c have the coordinates of the node that is the start point of the link indicated by the link ID 15b and the coordinates of the node that is the end point of the link. The road type 15d indicates the type of road indicated by the link such as an expressway, a national road, a prefectural road, a general road, and traffic regulation information such as one-way traffic. The link cost 15e is the cost of the link itself based on the link length or the like. The corresponding upper level 15f is data indicating an upper level link or mesh corresponding to the link.

  For example, when the route search unit 12 (see FIG. 1) acquires the coordinates of the current position and the coordinates of the destination, the route search unit 12 searches for a route to the destination under a plurality of conditions using the link cost 15e. That is, a new cost is calculated by multiplying the link cost 15e by a coefficient set according to the conditions such as the shortest distance, general road priority, toll road priority, etc. Add costs. Further, a route with the smallest total cost is defined as a route under each condition.

  Further, the map drawing data 16 is stored for each mesh obtained by dividing a map of the whole country, and is divided for each layer from a wide area map to a narrow area map. As shown in FIG. 3B, the map drawing data 16 includes a mesh ID 16a, background data 16b, road data 16c, and the like. The background data 16b is drawing data for drawing roads, urban areas, rivers, and the like. The road data 16c is data indicating the shape of the road such as shape interpolation data and road width displayed on the map.

The image processor 18 (see FIG. 1) reads map drawing data 16 for drawing a map around the vehicle position from the geographic data storage unit 13, generates output data, and temporarily stores it in a VRAM (not shown). Remember. Further, a video signal based on the output data is output to the display 5, and a map screen 5a as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed. Moreover, the image processor 18 superimposes the own vehicle index 5M on a position corresponding to the current position of the own vehicle in the map screen 5a. Further, when the route search unit 12 searches for a route, the search result is displayed.

  Furthermore, the route search unit 12 inputs a contact position from the touch panel control unit 35 (see FIG. 1) that controls the display 5. Since the display 5 is a touch panel device as described above, when the user's finger or a dedicated pen as a tracing means touches a predetermined position on the screen before starting the route guidance, the route manual input designation mode or button Mode selection such as input designation mode and destination designation can be performed. The route manual designation is a route designation method in which a user sets a route by tracing a part of a road displayed on the map screen 5a with a finger or a pen.

  The touch panel control unit 35 includes an output unit that outputs a control signal to the display 5 and a reception unit that receives a detection signal output from the display 5 (none of which is shown). The touch panel control unit 35 detects a finger contact position or a pen contact position represented by screen coordinates based on the waveform of the detection signal, and outputs the contact position to the route search unit 12.

  In addition, the operation determination unit 20 of the navigation unit 2 inputs a contact position from the touch panel control unit 35 and determines a user operation. That is, when the “route manual input” operation unit (not shown) is displayed on the map screen 5a, the route manual input designation mode is selected when the display position of the operation unit matches the contact position. Judge. When a predetermined operation switch 6 (see FIG. 1) adjacent to the display 5 is operated, it is determined that the manual input designation of the route is selected.

  Further, the operation determination unit 20 determines the name of the destination, the name of the facility, and the like based on the contact position on the screen, and acquires the coordinates of the destination using the search data included in the map drawing data 16. The operation determination unit 20 temporarily stores the coordinates of the destination in a storage unit (not shown) and outputs the coordinates of the destination to the route search unit 12.

  Next, the processing procedure of this embodiment is demonstrated according to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation determination unit 20 first determines whether or not the manual input designation of the route has been selected based on the touch panel control unit 35 (step S1). As described above, when a predetermined touch panel operation on the display 5 or a push button operation of the operation switch 6 is performed, it is determined that the manual input designation is selected.

  If it is determined that a manual input operation has been selected (YES in step S1), operation determination unit 20 determines whether or not a destination has been set (step S2). When the coordinates of the destination are stored in the storage unit and it is determined that the destination is set (YES in step S2), the process proceeds to step S3. If it is determined that the destination is not set (NO in step S2), the process proceeds to step S4.

  First, a case where a destination is set will be described. The route search unit 12 acquires the coordinates of the current position of the host vehicle from the host vehicle position calculation unit 10, and searches for and displays the route R from the current position P1 to the destination P2 as shown in FIG. 5 (step S3). . The route search unit 12 uses the route data 15 of the main road hierarchy, and as shown in FIG. 5, each route R1 to Rn (n is a natural number) based on different conditions such as the shortest distance, general road priority, toll road priority, etc. Search for each. Each searched route R is composed of a link Ln of an upper hierarchy indicated by a solid line in the figure. Note that if the route becomes the same even when searching under a plurality of conditions, the number of the route R may be one.

  Further, the image processor 18 acquires the link ID 15b and the node coordinates 15c constituting each route R from the route search unit 12, and reads the map drawing data 16 corresponding to the link ID 15b and the node coordinates 15c. Furthermore, as shown to Fig.6 (a), based on the read map drawing data 16, it outputs to the map screen 5a which displayed the path | route R searched. At this time, when the route R does not fit in the screen display range, the route may be displayed while scrolling. FIG. 6A shows a map screen 5a when the route search unit 12 searches for three routes R1 to R3 under different conditions. On the map screen 5a, the routes R1 to R3 are drawn with different colors or line types, for example. In addition, confirmation buttons B1 to B3 associated with the routes R1 to R3 are displayed on the map screen 5a. The confirmation buttons B1 to B3 are operation buttons for confirming the paths R1 to R3, respectively.

  When the routes R1 to R3 displayed on the map screen 5a are not corrected, the route R is confirmed by operating the confirmation buttons B1 to B3. When the user wants to correct the route R displayed on the map screen 5a, the user makes correction by touch panel operation based on one of the displayed routes R. The operation determination unit 20 determines whether or not the touch position CP of the user's finger or pen is detected by the touch panel control unit 35 (step S4).

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the user touches one of the routes R (the route R2 in FIG. 6B) with a finger F or a pen, and the operation determination unit 20 touches the touch panel control unit 35. When the contact position CP on the route R is detected based on the result (YES in step S4), the operation determination unit 20 outputs the contact position CP represented by the screen coordinates to the route search unit 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the image processor 18 deletes the route R that has not been selected (routes R1 and R3 in FIG. 6B) and the confirmation button B corresponding to the route R. If contact position CP is not detected (NO in step S4), the process proceeds to step S9.

  When the contact position CP on the route R is detected, the route search unit 12 acquires the contact position CP on the route R from the operation determination unit 20, and as shown in FIG. Y) Replace with the coordinates above. Further, the route search unit 12 detects the corresponding link LC that is the link where the contact position CP is located based on the route data 15.

  Furthermore, the route search unit 12 detects a branch point ahead of the contact position CP (step S5). Specifically, among the nodes N at both ends of the corresponding link LC, the node N (hereinafter referred to as “continuous”) ahead of the contact position CP in the direction from the current position P1 of the host vehicle to the contact position CP (the arrow D direction in FIG. 5) Node NC) is detected as the next branch point.

  Then, the route search unit 12 sets the route from the current position P1 to the next branch point (continuous node NC) as the route of the host vehicle (step S6). That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), at least the contact position CP is automatically taken from the contact position CP to the next branch point by simply touching a part of the path R2 with a finger or a pen. The user's tracing operation can be omitted from to the next intersection or interchange branch point in the traveling direction. Accordingly, it is possible to easily set the route and to shorten the time required for the route setting.

  Further, the route search unit 12 searches for a route R from the continuous node NC indicating the branch point to the destination P2 (step S7). At this time, the route search unit 12 also searches for a plurality of routes RA from the continuous node NC to the destination P2 using different route data 15j and 15k indicating detailed roads under different conditions. As a result, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 5, a route that includes a link Lm such as a general road or a road in an urban area with a narrow road is searched from the continuous node NC. For this reason, even when a relatively large scale screen is displayed on the map screen 5a, a detailed road such as a general road that is not normally displayed on a large scale screen is automatically searched. This saves you the trouble of switching to and setting the route.

  When searching for a route, the image processor 18 obtains the link ID 15b indicating the route R and the node coordinates 15c from the route search unit 12, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the image processor 18 first searches for the route selected by the user. In addition to R, the newly searched routes R4 and R5 are displayed on the map screen 5a of the display 5 (step S8). Thereby, when there is a road to be detoured ahead of the branch point, the user can select a route R that detours the road. Furthermore, when there is a facility that is ahead of the branch point and wants to stop along the general road, a route R that passes through the facility can be selected.

  Further, the image processor 18 displays the confirmation buttons B4 and B5 for confirming the newly searched paths R4 and R5 in addition to the confirmation button B2 of the selected path R2. At this time, a search condition such as “distance priority” may be displayed on the confirmation buttons B4 and B5. When confirming one of the routes R2, R4, and R5 displayed on the map screen 5a shown in FIG. 6B as the route on which the host vehicle travels, the confirm button B corresponding to the route R is pressed. select. When the route is further corrected with respect to the routes R2, R4, and R5 displayed on the map screen 5a in FIG. 6B, the user selects one of the newly displayed routes R with the finger F or Trace with a pen.

  After displaying the route R in step S8, or when the finger or pen contact position CP is not detected on the map screen 5a (NO in step S4), the operation determining unit 20 is based on the user's touch panel operation. It is determined whether or not the route selection has been completed (step S9). For example, when the confirmation button B5 corresponding to the route R5 is operated on the map screen 5a shown in FIG. 6B, the operation determination unit 20 determines that the selection of the route has been completed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, only the route R5 selected by the image processor 18 is displayed on the map screen 5a, and the other routes R2, R4 and the confirmation buttons B are deleted. In addition, when one of the confirmation buttons B is operated on the map screen 5a in FIG. 6B to determine the route R, the display of the map screen 5a in FIG. 6C may be omitted.

  Further, when any of the confirmation buttons B is operated on the initial map screen 5a shown in FIG. 6A, it is determined that the route selection has been completed. Alternatively, when the contact position CP of the finger or pen matches the destination P2, it may be determined that the route selection has been completed.

  If it is determined that the route selection has been completed (YES in step S9), normal route guidance is performed according to the selected route R (step S10). If the confirmation button B is not operated or if the contact position CP is in front of the destination P2, it is determined that the route selection has not been completed (NO in step S9), the process returns to step S4, and the tip of the contact position CP is reached. The process (steps S4 to S8) of searching for and displaying the path R ahead is repeated until the path selection is completed.

  In step S11, the route search unit 12 and the touch panel control unit 35 determine whether or not the guidance is ended. At this time, the route search unit 12 determines whether the host vehicle has arrived at the destination. When the vehicle arrives at the destination, it is determined that the guidance is finished (YES in step S11), and the guidance is finished.

  Further, the touch panel control unit 35 determines whether or not the route guidance is instructed by a touch panel operation or an input operation of the operation switch 6. If cancellation of route guidance is instructed, it is determined that the guidance is finished (YES in step S11), and the guidance is finished.

Next, the case where the destination is not designated will be described from step S4. First, the operation determination unit 20 is based on the touch panel control unit 35, and the contact position CP of the user's finger F or pen.
Is detected (step S12). As shown in FIG. 8A, when the user contacts the road on the map with the finger F and the operation determining unit 20 determines that the contact position CP is detected (YES in step S4). The route search unit 12 acquires the contact position CP from the operation determination unit 20 and replaces it with the position on the map coordinates. 8A to 8C illustrate a detailed map screen 5a on which roads other than the main road are displayed, instead of the map screen 5a displaying a wide area. Further, an end button 41 for ending the route selection is displayed on the map screen 5a. When the end button 41 is operated, the route is determined. The VICS (registered trademark; Vehicle Information and Communication System) communication unit (not shown) provided in the navigation unit 2 receives traffic jam information transmitted by beacons and FM multiplex broadcasting, and maps the current traffic jam section. You may make it display on the screen 5a.

  In addition, the route search unit 12 detects a branch point ahead of the contact position CP replaced with the map coordinates (step S5). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the corresponding link LC in which the contact position CP is located is detected, and the direction from the current position P1 toward the contact position CP among both ends of the corresponding link LC (y in FIG. 7) A node N ahead of the contact position CP in the direction of the arrow) is set as a continuous node NC as a branch point.

  When the continuous node NC is determined, the route search unit 12 sets the route from the current position P1 to the continuous node NC as the route RB of the host vehicle (step S6). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the image processor 18 scrolls the screen from the current position P1 to the continuous node NC (see FIG. 7). The image processor 18 reads the map drawing data 16 in the direction from the current position P1 toward the continuous node NC and including the corresponding link LC, and displays the map drawing data 16 until the intersection or interchange indicated by the continuous node NC is displayed. Output continuously. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8A, the map screen 5a displaying the area between the current position P1 and the continuous node NC shown in FIG. 8B is sequentially displayed from the map screen 5a around the current position. Further, the operation stops on the map screen 5a around the continuous node NC shown in FIG. For this reason, it is not necessary to trace the road on the map with the finger F or the pen even though the road set as the route RB is a single road. Also, when setting a route while looking at the detailed screen without setting the destination, the route from the contact position CP to the next branch point is automatically set as the route RB. Until then, the user can trace the operation.

  Further, the route search unit 12 searches for the route RA connected to the continuous node NC indicating the branch point based on the route data 15 (step S7). At this time, based on the traffic regulation information stored in the route data 15, a route through which the host vehicle cannot pass is not selected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, routes R6 to R8 branched from the continuous node NC are searched. In FIG. 8, for example, the route search unit 12 searches for routes R6 to R8 from the contact position CP to the next branch point in the traveling direction, but may search for a route within a predetermined distance range. A route in a range included in the display range may be searched.

  When searching for the previous routes R6 to R8 from the branch point, the image processor 18 acquires the link ID 15b and the node coordinates 15c indicating the routes R6 to R8 from the route search unit 12, and as illustrated in FIG. The newly searched routes R6 to R8 are displayed on the map screen 5a of the display 5 (step S8).

  The user selects a route of the own vehicle while confirming on the map screen 5a a road to be avoided such as a congestion occurrence section, a section that is difficult to drive, or a facility that the user wants to stop on the way. Then, as shown in FIG. 8D, one of the routes R6 to R8 is touched with a finger F or a pen, and the desired route RB is set as the route of the host vehicle. At this time, since a route can be selected on a detailed screen displayed up to a detailed general road or facility, a route according to the user's request can be set.

  The operation determination unit 20 determines whether or not the selection of the route RA is completed based on the user's touch panel operation (step S9). For example, when the user operates the end button 41, the operation determination unit 20 determines that the selection of the route RA has ended (YES in step S9), and performs normal route guidance according to the determined route RB (step S10). ). If selection of the route RA has not been completed (NO in step S9), the process returns to step S5, and the route to the branch point (continuous node NC) ahead of the contact position CP is taken as a route, and the route RA ahead is searched and The display process (steps S5 to S8) is repeated until the route selection is completed.

  Further, the route search unit 12 and the touch panel control unit 35 determine whether or not the guidance is ended (step S11). As described above, when it is determined that the guidance is finished (YES in step S11), the guidance is finished. If it is determined that the guidance has not ended (NO in step 11), the route guidance is repeated (step S10).

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, the navigation unit 2 acquires the contact position CP of the finger F or the dedicated pen when the user's finger F or the dedicated pen contacts the road displayed on the map screen 5a. The map coordinates corresponding to the contact position CP are detected. In addition, the route from the detected map coordinates to the next branch point in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is automatically set as a route, and guidance is performed based on the set route. This eliminates the need for the user to trace all desired roads displayed on the map to determine the route, thereby facilitating the route setting operation and improving the usability of the apparatus.

  (2) In the above embodiment, when the current position P1 and the destination P2 are not included in one screen or when the destination is not set, the following point is determined from the point on the road where the contact position CP is positioned. The map screen 5a is scrolled until a branch point is displayed. For this reason, even when the user looks at the detailed map screen 5a, the route can be easily determined without tracing all the roads.

  (3) In the above embodiment, when the destination P2 is set, the route R connecting the next branch point of the contact position CP and the destination P2 is searched and displayed on the map screen 5a. Further, the route RA from the branch point is searched and displayed even when the destination P2 is not set. For this reason, the user does not set all the routes by the tracing operation, but only needs to select one of the routes searched by the navigation unit 2, so that the route setting is facilitated.

  (4) In the above embodiment, when the destination P2 is set, the route R connecting the current position P1 and the destination P2 is searched. Furthermore, when the user's finger F or pen touches the route R, the position from the contact position CP to the branch point is determined as the route of the host vehicle. For this reason, when the destination P2 is clear, it is possible to search for a route according to the request in consideration of a road that the user wants to avoid or a road that the user wants to pass.

In addition, you may change this embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, when the destination is not set, the route RA is displayed from the next branch point (continuous node NC) of the contact position CP, but the display of the route RA from the branch point is omitted. May be. In this case, the user designates the route ahead of the branch point with the finger F or the pen, and the navigation unit 2 sets the route from the newly detected contact position CP to the further branch point as the route of the host vehicle. .

The display 5 detects the contact of the user's finger F or a dedicated pen, but may be a tracing means other than the pen.
-The map screen 5a shown to Fig.8 (a)-(d) may be made to be a 2 division screen. At this time, the detailed map screen shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D may be displayed on one screen, and a screen showing the entire confirmed route or the like may be displayed on the other screen. In this way, it is possible to grasp the entire route already determined on the other screen while performing an operation to determine the route on one screen.

The block diagram of the navigation system of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the data structure of route data. (A) is route data, (b) is explanatory drawing of map drawing data. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of this embodiment. The conceptual diagram of the route setting in case the destination is set. It is a map screen in case the destination is set, Comprising: (a) is an initial state, (b) And (c) is a screen figure of the state designated with the finger | toe. The conceptual diagram of the route setting when the destination is not set. It is a map screen when the destination is not set, (a) is a state designated with a finger, (b) and (c) are screen scroll states, (d) is a screen with a route selected with a finger. Figure.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation system, 2 ... Navigation unit as navigation apparatus, 5 ... Display as display apparatus, 5a ... Map screen, 12 ... Route determination means, guidance means, route guidance means, route search part as destination setting means, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Map screen output means, guidance means, screen scroll means, image processor 18 as route guidance means ... operation determination unit as position detection means, CP ... contact position, F ... finger, R, R1-R8, Rn ... route RA, RB ... route, P1 ... current position, P2 ... destination.

Claims (5)

In the route setting method in which the user determines the route on which the vehicle travels on the map screen displayed on the display device,
When the user's finger or the tracing means touches the road displayed on the map screen, the contact position of the finger or the tracing means is acquired, the map coordinates corresponding to the contact position are detected, and the map coordinates are detected. A route setting method for determining a route up to the next branch point in the traveling direction of the host vehicle as the route of the host vehicle. In the navigation device in which the user determines the route traveled by the host vehicle on the screen displayed on the display device,
Map screen output means for displaying a map screen on the display device;
A position detecting means for obtaining a contact position of the finger or the tracing means when a user's finger or the tracing means is in contact with the road displayed on the map screen, and detecting map coordinates corresponding to the contact position;
A navigation apparatus comprising: route determination means for determining from the map coordinates detected by the position detection means to a next branch point in the traveling direction of the own vehicle as a route of the own vehicle. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The apparatus further comprises screen scroll means for scrolling the map screen until the next branch point in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is included in the screen display range from the map coordinates detected by the position detecting means. Navigation device. The navigation device according to claim 2 or 3,
Navigation further comprising a guiding means for searching for a previous route in a traveling direction from the branch point ahead of the contact position of the user's finger or the tracing means, and displaying the route on the map screen. apparatus. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Destination setting means for setting the destination;
Searching for a route connecting the current position of the host vehicle and the destination, and further comprising route guidance means for displaying the route on the map screen,
The position detection means obtains a contact position of the finger or the trace means when the user's finger or the trace means contacts the route displayed on the map screen, and map coordinates corresponding to the contact position Detect
The route determination means determines from the detected map coordinates to the next branch point on the route as the route of the host vehicle,
The route guidance unit newly searches for a route from the branch point to the destination when the route from the contact position of the user's finger or the trace unit to the previous branch point is determined as the route of the host vehicle. And displaying the route on the map screen.

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