JP2009244731A - Information output system, mobile input and output equipment, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to retrieve and display target information with an easy operation which does not force a user to perform complicated operations. <P>SOLUTION: A car navigation system (an information output system) includes: an atlas 15B (map printing medium) whereon a pattern convertible into a coordinate value indicating a position depicted on a printing medium and a map are superposed on each other and printed; a pattern reading section reading the pattern; a generating section generating the coordinate value from the read pattern; a converting section for converting the coordinate value into positional information on the map; an information retrieving section retrieving the target information included in a prescribed area calculated on the basis of the converted positional information; and a display section 42 displaying an electronic map corresponding to the map in the atlas 15B (map printing medium), and superposing the target information retrieved by the information retrieving section on the electronic map and displaying it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information output system, a portable input / output device, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that allows a map to be displayed on a map display means such as a liquid crystal display, and allows a route to be roughly input using a finger or a pen on the display screen. This navigation device allows a user to input a substantially correct route without watching the map data displayed on the display screen without accurately inputting the route.

  In Patent Document 2, an electronic map is printed with an electronic pen by using a database that prints an electronic map on the electronic paper and associates the dot pattern held by the electronic paper with the geographical coordinate values of the map printed on the electronic paper. Disclosed is a map information processing system having a function that can be immediately converted into a geographic coordinate value corresponding to one point when an upper point is designated. This map information processing system can set a destination by the function described above.

JP 2001-074481 A (paragraph number 0008 etc.) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-294-942 (Abstract Solution, Claim 10, etc.)

  However, although the navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can input a route almost correctly by simply tracing the route on the display, the size and resolution of the display are problematic. The size of the display used in the navigation device is about 7 inches at the maximum because it is incorporated in the center console or arranged on the dashboard. Therefore, when a part of the route is enlarged and displayed, it is necessary to change the scale of the map or change the display range in order to see all the routes, and the user is forced to perform complicated operations. .

  The map information processing system disclosed in Patent Document 2 can be operated while confirming a route on the electronic paper, so that it is easy for the user to understand and the above-described problem is considered to be solved. However, even with the map information processing system disclosed in Patent Document 2, the operation performed with the electronic pen is only to set the target value of the route, and thus the above-described problem cannot be solved. That is, for example, when searching for facility information existing on the route to the destination, it is necessary to perform a search operation while viewing the display after setting the route with the electronic pen. Therefore, even in the map information processing system disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user is forced to perform complicated operations while viewing a display of about 7 inches.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an information output system, portable input / output device, and portable information device that can search and display target information on a map with a simple operation without forcing the user to perform complicated operations. The purpose is to provide a program.

  An information output system according to the present invention includes a map print medium on which a pattern and a map that can be converted into coordinate values indicating a position written on a print medium are overlaid and printed, a pattern reading unit that reads the pattern, and a read An information search unit that generates a coordinate value from a pattern, a conversion unit that can convert the coordinate value into position information on a map, and information for searching for target information included in a predetermined range calculated based on the converted position information And a display unit that displays an electronic map corresponding to the map of the map print medium and displays the target information retrieved by the information retrieval unit in a superimposed manner on the electronic map. .

  The information output system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, it reads a pattern along a road printed on a map print medium, converts the pattern into position information, searches for facilities around the road calculated based on the converted position information, and displays the facility information It is.

  The information output system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, the apparatus has facility genre selection means that can specify the genre of facility information displayed on an electronic map.

  The information output system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, it has an external data input means which can replace the conversion information which a conversion part has.

  The information output system according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. In other words, when the pattern reading unit continuously reads the pattern on the map print medium, the conversion unit sequentially converts the continuously read pattern into position information, and the information search unit sets a predetermined range. The facility information search process and the display process are continuously performed by sequentially changing them.

  A portable input / output device according to the present invention includes a pattern reading unit that reads a pattern that can be converted into a coordinate value indicating a position from a map print medium, a generation unit that generates a coordinate value from the read pattern, and an electronic A conversion unit that can convert to position information on a map, an information search unit that searches for target information included in a predetermined range calculated based on the converted position information, and the information search unit determines that there is target information And a user notification means for notifying the user of that fact.

  The portable input / output device according to the present invention has the following features in addition to the above-described configuration of the invention. That is, it has an external data input means which can replace the conversion information which a conversion part has.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as any one of the information output systems described above.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as any one of the portable input / output devices described above.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information output system, a portable input / output device, and a program that can search and display target information on a map with a simple operation without forcing a user to perform a complicated operation.

  Hereinafter, an information output system, a portable input / output device, and a program according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The information output system will be described by taking as an example a car navigation system 10 that is installed in a car or the like, reads trajectory information drawn by a portable input / output device on a map book, and displays the read trajectory information on an electronic map. . The portable input / output device will be described as the electronic pen 20 of the car navigation system 10. The program will be described as a part of the operation of the car navigation system 10.

(Overall description of the car navigation system 10)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a car navigation system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The car navigation system 10 includes a map book 15 as a map print medium, an electronic pen 20 as a portable input / output device for selecting a position in the map book 15, and a car navigation device 40 that can communicate with the electronic pen 20. And are the main components. Note that the car navigation device 40 may be fixedly installed on the vehicle or may be installed so that it can be removed from the vehicle.

(Description of map book 15)
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a map book 15A similar to the map book 15 in FIG. A dot pattern 17 composed of a plurality of dots 16 is printed on the entire map book 15A in FIG. The dot pattern 17 is printed on a sheet with, for example, ink that absorbs infrared rays, and can be converted into coordinate values indicating each position in the map book 15A by, for example, 6 × 6 dots 16.

  This coordinate value can be expressed by, for example, a two-dimensional coordinate value by (x, y) with reference to the upper left corner of the map book 15A in FIG. Of course, the origin of the coordinate system may be other than the upper left, such as the center or the upper right.

  The electronic pen 20 as a portable input / output device recognizes the dot pattern 17 by receiving infrared rays reflected by portions other than the dot pattern 17 with an infrared camera 23 (see FIG. 3). Then, by reading the dot pattern 17 with the electronic pen 20, a unique coordinate value indicated by the read dot pattern 17 on the map book 15A can be obtained.

  The dot pattern 17 is composed of an extremely large number of dots 16, and the dots 16 are printed with ink that absorbs infrared rays at intervals of 0.3 mm, as shown in an enlarged manner in the center of FIG. These dots 16 are printed with a predetermined amount shifted from the center of the grid in any of the upper, lower, left and right directions, as shown on the right in FIG.

  This dot 16 is composed of 6 × 6 = 36 dots to form one dot pattern 17, and each dot 16 has four combinations, so that 1 of 1.8 mm × 1.8 mm size Since one dot pattern 17 has 4 36 combinations, one dot pattern 17 can be uniquely identified by not using the same dot pattern 17.

  Note that, when the map book 15A has a plurality of pages, as a method of knowing which page is designated, for example, there is a method of storing information related to the page in the dot pattern 17. In addition, there is a method of storing data using coordinate values of the same coordinate system for all pages. That is, when all pages are arranged on a plane to form a large sheet, the coordinate system can be set so that the upper left corner of the large sheet is the origin. Of course, the origin of the coordinate system may be other than the upper left, such as the center or the upper right. Also, if the identification unit is defined by a page number for an area of 1000 sheets in A4 size, the point indicated by the electronic pen 20 is the XY coordinates within the page number (1 to 1000) + A4 size. By expressing, it is possible to specify which position on which page.

(Description of the electronic pen 20)
The electronic pen 20 as a portable input / output device can acquire data (coordinate values) for specifying the position of the pen tip on the map book 15 by reading the dot pattern 17 printed on the map book 15. . By applying this, if a plurality of coordinate values read by the electronic pen 20 are plotted on the car navigation device 40 side based on the acquisition time of those data, those coordinate values can be reproduced as trajectory information.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the electronic pen 20 and the car navigation device 40 in FIG. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, information such as coordinate values is transmitted from the electronic pen 20 to the car navigation device 40, but it is also possible to transmit information from the car navigation device 40 to the electronic pen 20.

  The electronic pen 20 has a pen-shaped housing 21 as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 3, an infrared LED (Light Emitting Diode) 22, an infrared camera 23, a communication I / F (Inter Face) 24, A microcomputer 25 to which these are connected, a battery (not shown) for supplying power to them, and the like are the main components.

  The infrared camera 23 is, for example, an infrared CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and periodically outputs received infrared pattern data to a pattern reading unit 29 described later. The infrared LED 22 and the infrared camera 23 are disposed toward the pen tip of the electronic pen 20. Thereby, the infrared camera 23 of the electronic pen 20 can receive the reflected light from the infrared map book 15A irradiated by the infrared LED 22 toward the pen tip, and periodically read the dot pattern 16 near the pen tip. .

  The communication I / F 24 is an interface such as Bluetooth, infrared communication, and wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and other devices (here, the car navigation device 40 shown in FIG. 3) according to a transmission signal from the transmission unit 31 described later. Data is transmitted to and from the communication I / F 41). In addition, the communication I / F 24 is connected to another device by a wired communication cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F or an E / N (Ethernet (registered trademark)) cable. You may communicate.

  The microcomputer 25 includes a timer 26 that measures time and elapsed time, a memory 27, a pattern reading unit 29, a generation unit 30, a transmission unit 31, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and the like as main components.

  The memory 27 stores various data such as read data 28. The CPU reads and executes a program (not shown) stored in the memory 27. Thereby, the microcomputer 25 of the electronic pen 20 realizes functions such as the pattern reading unit 29, the generation unit 30, and the transmission unit 31.

  The pattern reading unit 29 reads each pattern data periodically output from the infrared camera 23 and stores the pattern data in the memory 27. The generation unit 30 reads the pattern read by the pattern reading unit 29 from the memory 27, analyzes it, and generates a coordinate value. The microcomputer 25 associates the generated coordinate value with the current time measured by the timer 26 and stores it in the memory 27. As a result, the read data 28 is stored in the memory 27. The read data 28 includes a plurality of coordinate values generated by the generation unit 30 and a plurality of time information indicating the reading time of each coordinate value.

  The transmission unit 31 manages communication by the communication I / F 24 of the electronic pen 20. The transmission unit 31 supplies the read data 28 stored in the memory 27 to the communication I / F 24 of the electronic pen 20 for transmission.

(Description of the car navigation device 40)
The car navigation apparatus 40 includes a communication I / F 41, a liquid crystal device 42 as a display unit, an input device 43 as an external data input unit, a GPS receiving device 45, a microcomputer 46 as a control unit to which these are connected, and the like. It is a component.

  Since the communication I / F 41 is the same as the communication I / F 24 of the portable input / output device, description thereof is omitted. The liquid crystal device 42 as a display unit displays data such as maps and route guidance results, images, and the like. The input device 43 as an external data input means is a device for even inputting from an external recording medium such as a CD drive, a DVD drive, or a USB memory for rewriting data stored in the car navigation apparatus 40. The GPS receiving device 45 is a device that can receive traffic information by GPS.

  The microcomputer 46 as a control unit includes a CPU (not shown), a data acquisition unit 47, a memory 48, a UI (User Interface) unit 49, a position information generation unit 50, a trajectory data analysis unit 51, a data recording unit 52, and a route search unit. 53, the facility search part 54, etc. are the main components.

  The CPU reads and executes a program (not shown) stored in the memory 48. Thereby, the microcomputer 46 of the car navigation device 40 includes a data acquisition unit 47, a UI unit 49, a position information generation unit 50, a trajectory data analysis unit 51, a data recording unit 52, a route search unit 53, a facility search unit 54, and the like. Realize the function.

  The data acquisition unit 47 manages communication by the communication I / F 41 of the car navigation device 40. The communication I / F 41 of the car navigation device 40 receives data from the communication I / F 24 of the electronic pen 20.

  The memory 48 stores various data. Specifically, various databases such as a facility information conversion table 55, a scale table 56, a coordinate conversion table 57 as a conversion unit, received data 58, navigation data 59, guidance. Various data such as route data 60 and a program (not shown) for operating each function of the car navigation device 40 are stored.

  The UI unit 49 has a function of providing an interface between the liquid crystal device 42 described above, the input device 43 as an external data input unit, the GPS receiving device 45 and the microcomputer 46.

  The position information generation unit 50 has a function of generating a latitude value and a longitude value of the current position of the vehicle based on the radio wave received by the GPS receiving device 45. The position information generation unit 50 is obtained by these functions when the car navigation device 40 has a function of receiving a gyro sensor, an FM (Frequency Modulation) radio wave for D-GPS (Differential-Global Positioning System), or the like. The latitude value and longitude value of the current position of the vehicle may be generated based on the information, or the latitude value and longitude value generated based on the GPS receiving device 45 may be corrected based on these functions.

  The trajectory data analysis unit 51 has a function of collecting a plurality of coordinate values as one trajectory information. In addition, when the received data 58 as the read data 28 is stored in the memory 48, the trajectory data analysis unit 51 uses the coordinate conversion table 57, the scale table 56, and the received data 58 to extract a point. It has a function to determine the conditions.

  The data recording unit 52 has a function of storing the trajectory information collected by the trajectory data analysis unit 51 in the memory 48. Thus, the reception data 58 and the like are stored in the memory 48.

  The route search unit 53 has a function of searching for a guide route using the navigation data 59. For example, the route search unit 53 stores the guide route generated by the search in the memory 48. As a result, the guide route data 60 is stored in the memory 48.

  The facility information conversion table 55 as an information search unit is a database in which facility information associated with latitude and longitude is recorded.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the facility information conversion table 55 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the facility information conversion table 55 includes an ID for identifying a facility genre, a name (genre name), a latitude / longitude, an address, a telephone number, and the like. Note that latitude and longitude are stored as integer values by a predetermined calculation formula. For example, the latitude and latitude (125996788, 488705777) indicated by ID = 502 in FIG. 4 are converted into integer values by the following calculation formula. Equation 1 is an equation for obtaining an integer value (P) in the case of latitude X hour Y minute Z second, and Equation 2 obtains an integer value (Q) in the case of longitude A hour B minute C second. Is an expression for

[Formula 1]
P = (X × 60 × 60 + Y × 60 + Z) × 1000

[Formula 2]
Q = (A × 60 × 60 + B × 60 + C) × 1000

  The latitude and longitude converted to integer values are values converted in association with the coordinate values of the map book 15 as appropriate. The details of the conversion method with the coordinate values of the map book 15 are omitted.

  The facility information conversion table 55 provides facility information by performing information processing such as selection, combination, and projection of these pieces of information under the control of the microcomputer 46 and the like.

  The scale table 56 is a database having a plurality of electronic maps with different scales.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the scale table 56 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the scale table 56 stores the scales of a plurality of maps printed on the map book 15.

  Each scale recorded in the scale table 56 is associated with extraction range size information indicating the size (radius) of the extraction range. For example, extraction range size information with a radius of 2 kilometers is associated with a scale of 1 / 100,000. The plurality of extraction range size information is information on a plurality of extraction ranges according to the scale of the map. Note that the size (radius) of the plurality of extraction ranges in FIG. 5 is a predetermined common size (for example, a radius of 2 centimeters) in the map book 15A. As with the facility information conversion table 55, the scale table 56 determines the extraction range size information of these pieces of information under the control of the microcomputer 46 and the like.

  The coordinate conversion table 57 as a conversion unit is a database for converting the coordinate value as the read data 28 transmitted from the electronic pen 20 into the latitude value and longitude value information (position information) on the map.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the coordinate conversion table 57 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the coordinate conversion table 57 includes a page number, a reference latitude, a reference longitude, a latitude X coordinate interval, and a longitude Y coordinate interval. The page number is information defining the map book 15 in units of pages. The reference latitude is a latitude corresponding to a predetermined X coordinate value of the map book 15. The reference longitude is a longitude corresponding to a predetermined Y coordinate value of the map book 15. The latitude X-coordinate interval is information indicating the interval per one point of the X-coordinate of longitude, and in FIG. 6, it is shown that it changes by 3.1 seconds per one point of the X-coordinate. The longitude Y coordinate interval is information indicating an interval per one point of the Y coordinate of latitude, and indicates that the longitude Y coordinate changes by 2.5 seconds per point. The reference latitude and the reference longitude are processed by converting them into integer values using a predetermined calculation formula as described in FIG. Further, each coordinate value in the coordinate conversion table 57 is associated with a latitude value and a longitude value at a point in the map that is printed over the dot pattern 16 in which the coordinate value is encoded. Similar to the facility information conversion table 55, the coordinate conversion table 57 converts these pieces of information under the control of the microcomputer 46 and provides a latitude value and a longitude value.

  The received data 58 is obtained by recording the read data 28 transmitted from the electronic pen 20 as a portable input / output device in the memory 48. The received data 58 includes data received from other than the electronic pen 20 as a portable input / output device. For example, data input from the input device 44 is handled as the received data 58.

  The navigation data 59 includes, for example, map display data, a plurality of node data, a plurality of link data, a plurality of facility data, and the like. The map display data is, for example, data for displaying a map on the liquid crystal device 42 as a display unit, and is obtained by converting a map or the like posted on the map book 15 into image data.

  The node data is data of intersections and corner points, and has attribute information such as the names of the points, latitude values, and longitude values. The link data is data associated with a road section connecting the intersections, and includes attribute information such as information on a plurality of nodes to which the intersections are connected and road names. The facility data is data relating to facilities such as a company, a building, and an exhibition hall, and includes, for example, text data indicating the name of each facility and attribute information such as latitude and longitude values.

  Next, a specific operation of the car navigation system 10 described above will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first search process performed by the car navigation device 40 shown in FIG.

  The microcomputer 46 as the control unit of the car navigation device 40 starts the first search process when the power is turned off or the first search process is started (START), and whether or not the trajectory information is input. Is determined (step S100).

  If the trajectory information is not input (No in step S100), the microcomputer 46 repeats the determination process in step S100. On the other hand, when the trajectory information is input (Yes in step S100), the microcomputer 46 performs a process for determining whether or not there is a coordinate value in the data constituting the trajectory information (step S101). If there is no coordinate value in the data constituting the trajectory information (No in step S101), the microcomputer 46 ends the first search process (END). On the other hand, when there is a coordinate value in the data constituting the trajectory information (Yes in step S101), the microcomputer 46 converts one of the coordinate values constituting the trajectory information into latitude and longitude information (step). S102).

  The microcomputer 46 determines whether there is a facility registered in association with the latitude and longitude converted in step S102 (step S103). If there is a facility registered in association with the latitude and longitude converted in step S102 (Yes in step S103), the microcomputer 46 displays the facility information on the liquid crystal device (step S104).

  On the other hand, if there is no facility registered in association with the latitude / longitude information converted in step S102 (No in step S103), the microcomputer 46 further converts the data that has not been converted into the coordinate values constituting the trajectory information. It is determined whether or not there is any (step S105). Note that the process also proceeds to step S105 after step S104 described above.

  If there is unconverted data in the coordinate values constituting the trajectory information (No in step S105), the microcomputer 46 returns to the process in step S102. On the other hand, when there is no unconverted data in the coordinate values constituting the trajectory information (Yes in step S105), the microcomputer 46 ends the first search process (END).

  An example of this first search process is shown in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 8, the electronic pen 20 traces the road line printed on the map book 15B. The car navigation apparatus 40 converts the coordinate value transmitted from the electronic pen 20 into latitude and longitude information, and plots it on the liquid crystal device 42 as a cursor C traveling on the road of the electronic map. At the same time, the car navigation apparatus 40 causes the liquid crystal device 42 to display the facility information P associated with the converted latitude / longitude information.

  By such first search processing, facility information can be searched from the trajectory information received from the electronic pen 20 as the portable input / output device and displayed on the liquid crystal device 42. Therefore, information can be searched only by an easy operation of pointing a desired portion of the map book 15B with the electronic pen 20 without forcing the user to perform a complicated operation.

  In addition, by repeating this first search process continuously, facility information can be displayed on the liquid crystal device 42 of the car navigation device 40 while interlocking with the operation of tracing the electronic pen 20. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when the car navigation device 40 continuously reads the dot pattern 17 on the map book 15 </ b> B by the pattern reading unit 29, the display coordinates from the continuously read dot pattern 17. Using the conversion table 57, the information is sequentially converted into latitude / longitude information, and the information search unit 54 determines an arbitrary range M using the converted latitude / longitude information as a central point. The facility information search process and the display process are continuously performed while sequentially changing in conjunction with the operation of 20.

  Next, the second search process of the car navigation system 10 will be described. Unlike the first search process, this second search process is effective when it is desired to search facility information for a predetermined area (arbitrary range) instead of tracing the vicinity of the road on the map with the electronic pen 20. .

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second search process performed by the car navigation device 40 shown in FIG.

  When the power is turned off or the second search process is set to start (START), the microcomputer 46 serving as the control unit of the car navigation device 40 determines whether or not the trajectory information has been input (step S110). ). If the trajectory information is not input (No in step S110), the microcomputer 46 repeats the determination process in step S110.

  On the other hand, when the trajectory information is input (Yes in step S110), the microcomputer 46 performs a process of determining whether or not there is a coordinate value in the data constituting the trajectory information (step S111). If there is no coordinate value in the data constituting the trajectory information (No in step S111), the microcomputer 46 ends the second search process (END). On the other hand, when there is a coordinate value in the data constituting the trajectory information (Yes in step S111), the microcomputer 46 performs a process of extracting the maximum value and the minimum value from the plurality of coordinate values included in the trajectory information. The search area is determined in line (step S112). Here, the process of extracting the maximum value and the minimum value performed in step S112 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram conceptually showing a process of extracting the maximum value and the minimum value of the coordinate values performed by the car navigation device 40 shown in FIG. For example, on the map book 15C as a map print medium, a coordinate system is defined in which a predetermined point at the left corner is defined as a start point (0, 0), the horizontal position is Xn, and the vertical position is Ym.

  A point S, a point A, and a point G are printed on the map printed on the map book 15C. Then, it is assumed that the user wants to search for facility information included from the point S to the point A and draws the locus β with the electronic pen 20. Then, the electronic pen 20 acquires a plurality of coordinate values (Xn, Ym) composed of the locus β and transmits them to the car navigation device 40.

  When the microcomputer 46 serving as the control unit of the car navigation device 40 acquires a plurality of coordinate values (Xn, Ym) constituting the locus β using a search range determination unit (not shown), these coordinate values are obtained. The minimum value (Xmin) and maximum value (Xmax) in the horizontal direction and the minimum value (Ymin) and maximum value (Ymax) in the vertical direction are detected.

  Then, the microcomputer 46 determines T1 (Xmin, Ymin), T2 (Xmin, Ymax), T3 (Xmax, Ymin), T4 (Xmax, Ymax) on the map book 15C and determines the search area. The microcomputer 46 may determine the search region by calculating coordinate values (for example, T1 and T4) corresponding to two diagonal lines among the four coordinate values T1 to T4 described above.

  The microcomputer 46 performs processing for converting the coordinate values constituting the search area calculated in step S112 into latitude and longitude, respectively (step S113). The microcomputer 46 determines whether there is a facility registered in association with the coordinate value included in the search area surrounded by the latitude and longitude converted in step S113 (step S114).

  If there is a registered facility (Yes in step S114), the microcomputer 46 displays the facility information on the liquid crystal device 42 (step S115), and ends the second search process (END). On the other hand, when there is no registered facility (No in step S114), the microcomputer 46 ends the second search process as it is (END).

  By such a second search process, in addition to tracing the road displayed on the map book 15 </ b> C with the electronic pen 20, it is possible to search for facility information of a region included in a predetermined range. Therefore, information can be searched only by an easy operation of enclosing a desired range of the map book 15C with the electronic pen 20 without forcing the user to perform a complicated operation.

  The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

  In the above-described embodiment, all the facility information registered in association with the coordinate value is displayed on the liquid crystal device 42. In addition to this, for example, a facility genre selection unit that can specify a genre of a facility to be displayed on an electronic map may be provided.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram in which a map M and facility genre selection means S1, S2, S3 are printed on a map book 15D similar to the map book 15 shown in FIG. This facility genre selection means S1, S2, S3 is an area used for displaying only facilities that are included in the range selected by the electronic pen 20 and belong to the genre. As shown in FIG. 12, the facility genre selection means S1, S2, S3 are provided in areas other than the area where the map M of the map book 15D is printed.

  A facility genre ID is stored in association with a coordinate value included in a specific area surrounded by the facility genre selection means S1, S2, and S3. Then, when the electronic pen 20 once reads the coordinate values of the facility genre selection means S1, S2, and S3, the facility genre possessed by the facility information retrieved by the facility retrieval unit 54 from the plurality of coordinate values read by the electronic pen 20 thereafter. Only the facility information having the matching facility genre ID from the IDs is finally displayed. That is, the presence or absence of both facility information IDs is determined by the 0 and 1 flags, and by obtaining the logical product of the flags, the facility information to be finally displayed can be determined and the facility information can be displayed.

  Further, when a plurality of facility information is displayed on the liquid crystal device 42 of the car navigation device 40, unnecessary facility information is read by reading one of the facility genre selection means S1, S2, and S3 with the electronic pen 20. Can be erased from the liquid crystal device 42 and only necessary facility information can be displayed. In addition, it is preferable that the character, figure, symbol, and pattern drawn in the area of the facility genre selection means S1, S2, and S3 are easily associated with the facility genre by the user. For example, if it is a gas station, a figure including “GS” is used as in the facility genre selection means S2.

  By providing such facility genre selection means S1, S2, and S3, in addition to the effects described above, a result that matches the facility information that the user wants to search can be obtained. For example, even in a city center where there are a lot of registered facility information, only facility information belonging to a desired facility genre that the user wants to search can be displayed as a search result.

  The embodiment described above includes the coordinate conversion table 57 and the information search unit 54 on the car navigation device 40 side. In addition to this, for example, the electronic pen 20 may be provided with these functions, and the electronic pen 20 may further include user notification means. This user notification means is, for example, a vibration device. When the facility information is within a predetermined range from the coordinate value pointed by the electronic pen 20, the user is notified that the vibration device is vibrated and the facility information is in the vicinity thereof. To inform. Note that the user notification means may be one that blinks an LED or outputs a sound in addition to what is notified by vibrating.

  By providing such a user notification means, in addition to the above-described effects, it is a chance that the search result can be understood directly, and the user does not have to constantly watch the display screen of the liquid crystal device 42.

  Further, the facility information conversion table 55 or the coordinate conversion table 57 stored in the memory 48 of the car navigation device 40 according to the above embodiment, or the facility information conversion table 55 or the coordinate conversion table 57 in the memory 27 of the electronic pen 20 is stored. When provided, the facility information, electronic map information, and latitude / longitude information recorded in these are stored in advance. Therefore, the car navigation device 40 or the electronic pen 20 may be provided with external data input means so that these pieces of information can be easily replaced. The external data input means may be an external memory connection device such as a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, or an SD card if the car navigation device 40 is used, or an SD card if the electronic pen 20 is used. The external memory connection device may be used.

  In addition, the program stored in the memory 27 of the electronic pen 20 as the portable input / output device according to the above embodiment and the program stored in the memory 48 of the car navigation device 40 are stored in the memory 27, Even those stored in the memory 48 may be stored in the memories 27 and 48 after the shipment of these devices. Some of these programs may be stored after the shipment of these devices. As described above, the programs stored in the memories 27 and 48 after shipment are installed programs stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) or a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, it may be downloaded from a server device or the like via a transmission medium such as the Internet.

  In addition, the program stored in the memory 48 of the car navigation device 40 according to the above-described embodiment and the various data described above are partly or entirely part of an external storage device such as an HDD outside the microcomputer 46, a car, It may be stored in, for example, a memory card or a CD-ROM that is detachable from the navigation device 40. In particular, when any one or more of the facility information conversion table 55, the coordinate conversion table 57, and the scale table 56 have data closely related to the print contents of the map book 15, the data is stored in the car navigation device 40. Is stored in a removable memory card and provided to the user together with the map book 15. Thereby, the car navigation apparatus 40 can respond | correspond to several map books 15 etc. by replacing | exchanging and mounting the memory card corresponding to each map book 15 grade | etc.,.

  In addition, all or a part of the functions of the constituent blocks included in the car navigation system 10 according to the above embodiment may be realized by software, or at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware. For example, all or a part of the processing in the control unit 46 may be realized on a computer by one or a plurality of programs, and at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware.

  In addition, a computer program for operating the car navigation device 40 of the car navigation system 10 according to the above embodiment as a whole or a part of the device is a memory card, a CD (compact disc), a DVD (digital versatile disk), an MO. (Magneto-optical) and the like stored in a computer-readable recording medium and distributed, installed in another computer, for example, a mobile phone, an audio device, an electronic watch, etc., and operated as a car navigation device 40, or The steps performed by the car navigation device 40 may be executed. Furthermore, the program may be stored in a disk device or the like included in a server device on the Internet, and may be downloaded to a computer serving as the car navigation device 40 by being superimposed on a carrier wave, for example.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the car navigation system 10 as an example, this invention is applicable also to other navigation systems, such as a ship. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a navigation system but also to a search system that simply searches for facilities and the like. For example, all information that can be registered such as a lawyer's office, a doctor's office, and a house where an elderly person lives can be searched.

  The present invention can be applied to all systems for retrieving target information.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a car navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the same map book as the map book in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the electronic pen and navigation apparatus in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the facility information conversion table in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the scale table in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the coordinate conversion table in FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first search process performed by the navigation device shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a first search process shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the change of the arbitrary ranges at the time of performing repeatedly the 1st search process shown in FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second search process performed by the navigation device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows notionally the process which extracts the maximum value and minimum value of the coordinate value which the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 performs. FIG. 2 is a diagram in which a map and facility genre selection means are printed on a map book similar to the map book shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 car navigation system (information output system), 15, 15A to D map book (map printing medium), 20 electronic pen (portable input / output device), 29 pattern reading unit, 30 generating unit, 42 liquid crystal device (display unit), 43 input device (external data input means), 46 microcomputer (control section), 55 facility information conversion table (information search section), 57 latitude / longitude conversion table (conversion section), S1 to S3 facility genre selection means

Claims (9)

A map print medium on which a pattern and a map that can be converted into coordinate values indicating the position written on the print medium are printed in an overlapping manner;
A pattern reading unit for reading the pattern;
A generating unit that generates the coordinate value from the read pattern;
A conversion unit capable of converting the coordinate value into position information on the map;
An information search unit for searching for target information included in a predetermined range calculated based on the converted position information;
A display unit for displaying an electronic map corresponding to the map of the map print medium, and displaying the target information retrieved by the information retrieval unit superimposed on the electronic map;
An information output system comprising:   Read the pattern along the road printed on the map print medium, convert the pattern into the position information, search for facilities around the road calculated based on the converted position information, and facility information The information output system according to claim 1, wherein:   The information output system according to claim 1, further comprising a facility genre selection unit capable of designating a genre of facility information to be displayed on the electronic map.   The information output system according to claim 1, further comprising an external data input unit capable of replacing conversion information of the conversion unit. When the pattern reading unit continuously reads the pattern on the map print medium, the conversion unit sequentially converts the continuously read pattern into the position information,
The information output system according to claim 1, wherein the information search unit sequentially changes the predetermined range and continuously performs a search process and a display process of facility information. A pattern reading unit that reads a pattern that can be converted into a coordinate value indicating a position from a map print medium;
A generating unit that generates the coordinate value from the read pattern;
A conversion unit capable of converting the coordinate value into position information on the electronic map;
An information search unit for searching for target information included in a predetermined range calculated based on the converted position information;
User notification means for notifying the user when the information search unit determines that the target information is present;
A portable input / output device characterized by comprising:   The portable input / output device according to claim 6, further comprising an external data input unit capable of replacing conversion information of the conversion unit.   A program for causing a computer to function as the information output system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   A program for causing a computer to function as the portable input / output device according to any one of claims 6 and 7.