JP2010169588A - Information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve narrowing processing from a plurality of candidate objects. <P>SOLUTION: In a candidate selection step 110, narrowing processing from a plurality of candidate objects into a few candidate objects is executed. A selection step 140 classified by arrival time is included in the candidate selection step 110. In this processing, each arrival time required for movement via a road between the plurality of candidate objects is provided as an index. A plurality of sections provided in each prescribed arrival time range are utilized for providing each arrival time. The plurality of candidate objects are grouped into some section corresponding to the arrival time. The plurality of sections are provided to a user as object for selection. A selection operation by the user is input into a navigation device. Selection processing in each section of the arrival time facilitates selection by the user of a candidate object having an optional arrival time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus that provides information on candidate properties.

  Conventionally, an information providing apparatus that provides information on a selected candidate property is known. Such an apparatus includes candidate selection means for narrowing down a small number of candidate properties from among a plurality of candidate properties, and information providing means. The information providing means provides information on one or a small number of candidate properties selected by the candidate selecting means. For example, a navigation device mounted on a vehicle includes means for selecting a target point on the ground and provides route information to the target point. As such an apparatus, apparatuses described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes means for performing a so-called reading search and means for inputting an operation for selecting one from the search results.

  The device described in Patent Document 2 includes means for displaying in order of travel time between the vehicle and the ground facility, and means for inputting an operation for selecting the displayed ground facility.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-85778 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-232641

  However, in the conventional apparatus, since a large number of candidate properties are displayed in order, the user has to visually select and select the candidate properties in order. For example, in the device of Patent Document 2, a candidate property with the shortest travel time can be quickly selected, but for a user who desires a predetermined travel time, the scroll operation until reaching the candidate property that satisfies the condition becomes complicated and narrowed down. There was a problem that the work required a long time.

  An object of this invention is to provide the information provision apparatus which improved the narrowing-down process from several candidate properties.

  The present invention provides, as an index, the arrival time required for traveling between a target property and a plurality of candidate properties via a road, and can be easily narrowed down to candidate properties corresponding to any travel time desired by the user. Another object is to provide an information providing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the following technical means can be employed.

  The invention according to claim 1 comprises candidate selection means (110) for selecting a small number of candidate properties from a plurality of candidate properties, and information providing means (180) for providing information on the selected candidate properties, The selecting means includes an arrival time calculating means (142) for calculating an arrival time required to move between the target property and a plurality of candidate properties via a road, and a plurality of candidate properties according to the calculated arrival times. A grouping means (143) for grouping into a plurality of sections provided for each predetermined arrival time range, a section display means (144) for displaying the sections, and a section input means (145) for inputting an operation for selecting the sections. In this case, a technical means called an information providing apparatus is employed.

  According to the present invention, since the arrival time can be selected for each category, it is possible to provide a selection means that allows the user to easily understand and can easily select an arbitrary candidate property.

  Invention of Claim 2 employ | adopts the technical means that a target property is a mobile body and a candidate property is a point on a map. According to the present invention, a point on the map can be selected based on the arrival time between the mobile object and the point on the map. An index that is highly convenient for the user can be provided.

  The invention described in claim 3 employs technical means in which the information providing means (180) provides information relating to the route between the target property and the candidate property. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an index that is highly convenient for the user.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the category display means (144) includes a plurality of category columns (140a) corresponding to a plurality of categories, an arrival time range (140b) of each category column, and a category of each category column. A technical means of displaying the number of candidate properties (140c) to which the member belongs is employed. According to the present invention, information useful for the user to select one of the categories can be presented together with the category column.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the candidate selecting means (110) is a post-selecting means (130, 140) for selecting a small number of candidate properties from a plurality of candidate properties belonging to the category input by the category input means (145). , 150, 160) is employed. According to the present invention, narrowing down to a single candidate property or a small number of candidate properties can be improved in combination with other selection means.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a technical means in which the candidate selection means (110) includes a front selection means (120, 150) for selecting a plurality of candidate properties and providing them to the arrival time calculation means (142). Is adopted. According to the present invention, narrowing down to a single candidate property or a small number of candidate properties can be improved in combination with other selection means.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis as described in a claim and said each means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later as one aspect.

It is a block diagram which shows the information provision apparatus of 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the information provision apparatus of 1st Embodiment performs. It is a top view which shows the search screen of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the name order display of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the display classified by arrival time of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the name order display of 1st Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information providing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The information providing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a navigation apparatus. The navigation device displays the position of the navigation device itself that is the target property on a map. For example, the navigation device is mounted on a vehicle that is a moving body, and the navigation device displays the position of the vehicle. Furthermore, the navigation device displays information related to candidate properties such as facilities, points, roads, and other moving objects on the map and provides them to the user. The information provided by the navigation device includes, for example, the contents of facilities on the ground, the attributes of roads, the contents of road regulations, or route information when moving to a facility that is a candidate property via a road.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the information providing process of the navigation device 1. 3 to 6 are plan views showing display screens of the navigation device 1.

  In FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes a processing device 2, a position information acquisition device 3, a communication device 4, a storage device 5, and an interface device 6. The processing device 2 is provided by an electronic control device including a microcomputer. The position information acquisition apparatus 3 includes an inductive position information acquisition apparatus and an autonomous position information acquisition apparatus, and measures their own position, that is, the position of the vehicle by combining them. As an inductive position information acquisition device, a device that receives a signal from an external device such as a ground station or an artificial satellite and measures its own position is used. For example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device that is a positioning system using an artificial satellite is used. As a self-supporting position information acquisition device, a speed sensor that measures the traveling speed of the vehicle, an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of the vehicle, a geomagnetic sensor that measures the traveling direction of the vehicle, a gyro sensor that measures a change in the traveling direction of the vehicle, etc. It includes sensors and a processing device for processing those signals. The amount of movement from the initial position is calculated by the self-supporting position information acquisition device, and its own position is measured. The communication device 4 provides communication with a ground station or communication with another vehicle that is another moving body. Part of the information on the candidate property is provided via the communication device 4. The storage device 5 is a storage medium that stores map information, information on candidate properties, and the like. The interface device 6 includes an output device and an input device. As an output device, a display device 6a and a speaker are provided. The input device includes a touch panel 6b and switches provided on the display device 6a. The touch panel 6b detects that the key area displayed on the display device 6a has been touched by the user. The processing device 2 executes processing corresponding to the key corresponding to the area detected by the touch panel 6b.

  FIG. 2 shows a series of processes for the navigation device 1 to provide route guidance. Each step of the flowchart shows processing by the microcomputer, and is a means for realizing the function. The navigation device 1 includes a candidate selection step 110 and an information provision step 180. The candidate selection step 110 provides a narrowing process from a large number of candidate properties to a small number of candidate properties. The user selects a single candidate property or a small number of candidate properties from a large number of candidate properties in the candidate selection step 110. After this candidate selection step 110, information providing step 180 provides information on the selected candidate property. In this embodiment, information on the name, attribute, and content of the selected candidate property is displayed. Further, the route from the current vehicle position to the candidate property is displayed on the map. In addition, a driving operation for reaching the candidate property from the current vehicle position is instructed.

  In the candidate selection step 110, a plurality of selection means 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 for selecting a single or a small number of candidate properties having characteristics desired by the user from among a large number of candidate properties. Provided. The plurality of selection means are provided in a predetermined order in a series of selection operations or in response to a user request. In this embodiment, the candidate selection step 110 is predetermined such that the search step 120 based on reading is executed first, followed by the selection step 130 in order of names. In addition to such a predetermined execution order, an arbitrary selection means is activated in response to a user request.

  When the user's selection operation is input by any of the selection means, it is determined in step 170 whether or not the number of selected candidate properties is suitable for the processing by the information providing step 180. For example, in step 170, it is determined whether or not the number of selected candidate properties is single. If a single candidate property is selected, the process proceeds to an information providing step 180 where information regarding the selected candidate property is provided. For example, information such as a name and characteristics regarding the candidate property is acquired from the communication device 4 or the storage device 5 and displayed on the display device 6a.

  One of the selection means is a search step 120 based on reading. In the search step 120, candidate properties having names that match the readings input by the user are extracted. As a result, a single candidate property or a plurality of candidate properties are selected.

  FIG. 3 shows a display on the display device 6 a in the search step 120. In the search step 120, a key 120a for inputting a character indicating reading, the input character 120b, and the number 120c matching the search condition are displayed.

  One of the selection means is a name order selection step 130. In the name order selection step 130, a plurality of candidate properties are displayed in the name order, that is, the reading order, and one candidate property is selected by inputting a user's selection operation for the name. The name order selection step 130 may include the following steps. In step 131, a plurality of candidate properties selected in the pre-selection step such as the search step 120 are input. Next, in step 132, a plurality of candidate properties are arranged in order of name. In step 133, a plurality of candidate properties are displayed in order of name. In step 134, the user's selection operation is input.

  FIG. 4 shows the display on the display device 6 a in the name order selection step 130. In the name order selection step 130, the names 130a of candidate properties are listed and displayed in order. Further, on the display device 6a, switching keys 62, 63, 64 for instructing switching to another selecting means are displayed. When one of the names 130a is touched by the user, this is detected by the touch panel 6b. The flowchart proceeds to step 170 through the process of step 134. When one of the switching keys 62, 63, 64 is touched by the user, an interrupt process is activated and proceeds to the selection step indicated by the operated switching key.

  One of the selecting means is the arrival time selection step 140. In the arrival time selection step 140, a plurality of candidate properties are grouped for each arrival time category, and the category is displayed. And the candidate property which belongs to a division is selected by inputting selection operation of a user to a division.

The arrival time selection step 140 may include the following steps. In step 141, a plurality of candidate properties selected by a pre-selection step such as search step 120 are input. Next, in step 142, for each of the plurality of candidate properties, an arrival time required to move between the current position and the plurality of candidate properties via the road is calculated. Step 142 provides arrival time calculation means. In step 142, the arrival time required to move between the vehicle and the plurality of candidate properties via the road is calculated based on the current position of the vehicle and the positions of the plurality of candidate properties. In step 143, a plurality of candidate properties are grouped into a plurality of sections based on the calculated arrival times. This grouping can also be called a classification process. A plurality of divisions are provided for each predetermined arrival time range. For example, it is a division provided every 30 minutes. By this step 143, the category to which each of the plurality of candidate properties belongs is specified. Step 143 provides grouping means. In step 144, a plurality of categories are displayed. The display of the plurality of sections is performed for the user to select one of them. In step 145, the user's selection operation is input. Step 144 provides section display means, and step 145 provides section input means.
FIG. 5 shows the display on the display device 6a in the selection step 140 according to arrival time. The display device 6a displays a plurality of division fields 140a corresponding to the divisions. In each section column 140a, the arrival time range 140b indicated by each section and the number 140c of candidate properties belonging to each section are displayed. When the user touches one section 140a, this is detected by the touch panel 6b. The flowchart proceeds to step 170 through the processing of step 145. When one of the switching keys 61, 63, 64 is touched by the user, an interrupt process is activated and proceeds to the selection step indicated by the operated switching key.

  One of the selection means is a genre selection step 150. In the genre selection step 150, a single or a small number of candidate properties are selected from a plurality of candidate properties using the genre of the candidate property as an index. The genre selection step 150 groups a plurality of candidate properties according to a predetermined genre. Each genre is characterized by the type of facility such as a restaurant or public institution, the characteristics of a point such as an intersection or a sharp curve. The genre selection step 150 displays a step of inputting a plurality of candidate properties from the pre-selection means executed in advance, a step of classifying the input candidate properties into a plurality of genres, a plurality of genres, A display step that prompts the user to select one and a step of inputting a selection operation by the user can be provided. The genre selection step 150 is activated by an interrupt process when the switching key 63 is operated on the display screen of another selection means.

  One of the selection means is a distance order selection step 160. In the distance order selection step 160, a single or a small number of candidate properties are selected from a plurality of candidate properties using the distance between the vehicle and the candidate property as an index. The distance order selection step 160 obtains the distance between the target property vehicle and the candidate property for a plurality of candidate properties. The distance can be obtained based on the position information of the vehicle, the position information of the candidate property, and the map data. The distance order selection step 160 includes a step of inputting a plurality of candidate properties from the preceding selection means executed in advance, a step of calculating respective distances with respect to the input candidate properties, and a plurality of candidate properties in the order of the distance. The step of arranging, the step of displaying a plurality of candidate properties in order of distance, and the step of inputting the user's selection operation for the displayed candidate properties can be included. The distance order selection step 160 is activated by an interrupt process when the switching key 64 is operated on the display screen of another selection means.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device will be described. The processing in FIG. 2 is started when the user requests narrowing down of candidate properties and information providing processing. First, a search step 120 based on reading is executed as a prefix selection process. When a single candidate property is extracted by the search step 120, the name order selection step 130 no longer has a processing target, so the process proceeds to step 170, and further proceeds to step 180.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in many cases, according to the search step 120, a large number of candidate properties are selected. Next, the processing device 2 executes a name order selection step 130 which is a default selection process. The user can select a candidate property using the names of candidate properties displayed in order as an index. When a single candidate property is selected by this process, the process proceeds to step 180 via step 170.

  On the display screen in the name order selection step 130 illustrated in FIG. 4, when the user obtains the arrival time selection step 140 and operates the switching key 62, the arrival time selection step 140 is executed. The plurality of candidate properties selected in the search step 120 as the pre-selection process is input to the selection step 140 according to arrival time, and the arrival time required when the road is moved from the vehicle to the candidate property for the plurality of candidate properties. Is calculated. Further, the plurality of candidate properties are grouped for each arrival time category. A plurality of sections are displayed on the display device 6a.

  When the user selects one category on the display screen shown in FIG. 5, it is determined in step 170 whether or not there is a single candidate property belonging to that category. If only a single candidate property belongs to the selected category, the process proceeds to step 180 via step 170. If a plurality of candidate properties still belong to the selected category, the process proceeds again to the name order selection step 130 as post-selection means.

  The display screen shown in FIG. 6 is provided by a name order selection step 130 as post-selection means. Since a relatively small number of candidate properties are displayed on this display screen, the user can select a target property that is relatively easy to select.

  In this embodiment, the arrival time selection step 140, the search step 120, and the genre selection step 150 are processes that may select a plurality of candidate properties. This can be a pre-selection process for the selection step 140. On the other hand, since the selection step 140 by arrival time is a process that may select a plurality of candidate properties, all selection steps that can be narrowed down from the plurality of candidate properties can be post-selection processing.

  According to this embodiment, since it is possible to select each arrival time for each category, it is possible to provide a selection means that allows the user to easily understand and can easily select any candidate property. The user does not need to understand the arrival time in minutes or seconds and select a candidate property, and can make a selection based on a rough grasp for each category. In addition, the user can easily narrow down from a plurality of candidate properties when he / she wishes to select using the arrival time as an index. It is possible to enable a user to easily find and select a candidate property having an arbitrary arrival time.

(Other embodiments)
The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The above-described embodiments can be accompanied by various modifications, improvements, or extensions within the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention includes embodiments including at least the following modifications, improvements, and extensions.

  The number of divisions used in the arrival time selection step 140 may be various time intervals such as every 15 minutes and every hour instead of every 30 minutes. Furthermore, the number of sections and the range of sections may be the number of sections that can be displayed on one screen.

  Further, in step 142 for calculating the arrival time, instead of the process for calculating the arrival times of all candidate properties input from the preselection means, some predetermined or specified by the user You may perform the process which calculates arrival time only about a candidate property. For example, a process of calculating the arrival time only for candidate properties existing within 10 km, or a process of calculating the arrival time only for the top 10 items having the closest distance after being arranged in order of distance may be added.

  In step 142 for calculating the arrival time, various calculation methods can be employed. For example, a method of calculating the arrival time based on the travel distance on the road and the average travel speed may be employed. Moreover, you may employ | adopt the method of calculating arrival time based on the travel distance on a road, the speed limit of each road, and the waiting time in a traffic light. Further, the arrival time may be calculated by the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-232641. In step 142, road traffic congestion information may be acquired via the communication device 4, and the arrival time may be calculated by adding the passage of time due to the traffic congestion. Further, in step 142, the arrival time information provided from the base station may be provided by requesting the ground base station that collects a large amount of road information such as traffic jam information to provide the arrival time information.

  In the above embodiment, the name order selection step 130 is set as a process executed by default after the search step 120. However, the arrival time selection step 140 may be set to be executed after the search step 120. Further, the arrival time selection step 140 may be set to repeat a predetermined number of times while gradually subdividing the division until the number of candidate properties is reduced to a predetermined number or less. For example, in the first selection step 140 according to arrival time, a division every 30 minutes is provided, and when one division is selected, a plurality of candidate properties belonging to that division are reached based on a division every 5 minutes. Processing such as providing the hourly selection step 140 can be performed.

  Further, instead of or in addition to the selection means of the above embodiment, a selection means for presenting another index may be provided. For example, selection means based on the spelling of candidate properties can be provided.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although this invention was applied to the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus, this invention may be applied to a portable navigation apparatus. For example, the present invention can be applied to portable devices such as a navigation device, a mobile phone, and a portable information terminal possessed by a pedestrian. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a route guidance device or a vehicle allocation support device in a base station fixed on the ground. For example, the present invention may be applied to a process of selecting any of a plurality of vehicles with a plurality of vehicles as candidate properties and a customer on the ground as a target property.

1 Navigation device (information provision device)
2 Processing Device 3 Location Information Acquisition Device 4 Communication Device 5 Storage Device 6 Interface Device 6a Display Device 6b Touch Panel

Claims (6)

Candidate selection means (110) for selecting a small number of candidate properties from a plurality of candidate properties;
Information providing means (180) for providing information on the selected candidate property,
The candidate selecting means includes
An arrival time calculating means (142) for calculating an arrival time required to move between the target property and a plurality of candidate properties via a road;
Grouping means (143) for grouping a plurality of candidate properties into a plurality of sections provided for each predetermined arrival time range based on the calculated arrival times;
Section display means (144) for displaying the section;
An information providing apparatus comprising: a section input means (145) for inputting an operation for selecting the section.   The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target property is a moving object, and the candidate property is a point on a map. The information providing means (180)
The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information relating to a route between the target property and the candidate property is provided. The section display means (144)
A plurality of division fields (140a) corresponding to a plurality of divisions;
The arrival time range (140b) in each section,
4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of candidate properties (140c) belonging to each category is displayed. The candidate selecting means (110)
The post-selection means (130, 140, 150, 160) for selecting a small number of candidate properties from a plurality of candidate properties belonging to the category input by the category input means (145) is provided. 4. The information providing device according to any one of 4. The candidate selecting means (110)
The information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising front selection means (120, 150) for selecting a plurality of candidate properties and providing the arrival time calculation means (142).

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