JP2010266410A - Server system, on-vehicle navigation device, and photographic image delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a load of a server, and to provide a photographic image of the periphery of a spot required by an on-vehicle navigation device, in real time to the on-vehicle navigation device. <P>SOLUTION: The server calculates a route to a destination required by the on-vehicle navigation device, and delivers spot information of a photographing spot together with route information to the on-vehicle navigation device, when the photographing spot exists on the calculated route. The on-vehicle navigation device performs route guide control based on the received route information, photographs a landscape of the spot and uploads it to the server, when a vehicle arrives at the photographing spot, and requires a photographic image of the photographing spot to the server, when the vehicle approaches the photographing spot. The server preserves the photographic image uploaded by the on-vehicle navigation device corresponding to a photographed spot, and downloads a required photographic image to the on-vehicle navigation device, when the photographic image of a prescribed photographing spot is required from the on-vehicle navigation device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a server system, an in-vehicle navigation device, and a photographic image distribution method, and in particular, calculates a route to a destination requested by a user and distributes the photographic image to a predetermined point around the vehicle. The present invention relates to a server system distributed to a user, an in-vehicle navigation device, and a photographic image distribution method.

The navigation device has a function of guiding the vehicle to the destination along the searched route. When the route is guided, the navigation device divides the screen into two when the vehicle approaches an intersection or a high-speed branch, displays a map on one divided screen, and displays an enlarged intersection or enlarged branch on the other divided screen. In the enlarged view, the direction in which to proceed is displayed.
However, the enlarged intersection map and the enlarged branch map display a simple figure with arrows indicating the direction and in which direction to proceed, and are not actual scenes of intersections and branch points. For this reason, there is a problem that the actual traffic situation and traffic jam situation at these intersections and branching points cannot be accurately grasped. For example, it is impossible to accurately grasp whether all the directions are congested or only a specific direction is congested at intersections and branch points. In addition, even if a new building is built at the corner of the intersection and the landscape is different from the previous one, it is not reflected in the enlarged view of the intersection, so there is a problem of entering in the wrong direction. For this reason, a method has been proposed in which a recent photographic image at an intersection or the like is provided to the user and the photographic image is displayed in place of a conventional simplified figure (see Patent Document 1).
In this prior art, when an image server arranged on a network receives an image distribution request for a predetermined shooting location from a user (in-vehicle navigation device), a predetermined user is given a predetermined shooting location. The wireless communication is requested to capture and upload the scenery at the photographing location at the photographing timing. The user who has received this request takes a picture at a designated timing, transmits the photographed photograph image to the image server, and the image server distributes the received photograph image to the requesting user.

JP 2007-207260 A

However, in the prior art, it is necessary for the image server to determine the vehicle that is traveling toward the shooting location, and to instruct the vehicle about the shooting timing. For this purpose, the route of all the vehicles on which the image server enjoys the service In addition, it is necessary to grasp the position and to determine the vehicle that is traveling toward the shooting location and to determine the shooting timing. For this reason, there is a problem that the load on the image server becomes heavy. The original purpose of the prior art is to show the vehicle immediately before the predetermined point to the vehicle passing through the predetermined point from now on, but it is not possible to provide a photographic image of the desired point in real time for the above reasons. It is possible.
Further, in addition to the lack of real-time property, there is a problem that cost / performance is bad for the user and the car manufacturer because the communication traffic that is not advantageous to the user who takes and uploads the photograph increases.
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to reduce the load on the server and to provide the user with a photographic image in the vicinity of a point desired by the user.
Another object of the present invention is to enable a user to automatically take a photographic image of a required shooting point and upload it to the server without being requested from the server.
Another object of the present invention is that when a route calculation from a user to a destination is requested, it is checked whether there is a shooting point on the calculated route, and the user is notified of the point information of the existing shooting point. In other words, the user can automatically take a photographic image of a required shooting point and upload it to the server.
Another object of the present invention is to notify a user of shooting conditions for taking a picture, take a picture when the shooting condition is satisfied, and automatically upload the picture to the server. .
Another object of the present invention is to separate a route search server and an image distribution server so that a photo image distribution process can be performed at high speed.

Server system The first aspect of the present invention calculates the route to the destination requested by the in-vehicle navigation device and distributes it to the in-vehicle navigation device, and distributes a photographic image of a predetermined point around the vehicle to the in-vehicle navigation device. It is a server system.
The server system according to the present invention calculates a route to a destination requested by a vehicle-mounted navigation device, a photography point holding unit that holds point information of a photography point, and the photography point is on the calculated route. If there is a route distribution unit that distributes the location information of the photographing point together with the route information to the in-vehicle navigation device, an image storage unit that stores a photographic image of each photographing point, and each in-vehicle navigation A photographic image of a photographic spot transmitted from the device is stored in the image storage unit, and when a photographic image of a predetermined photographic point is requested from a predetermined in-vehicle navigation device, the requested photographic image is stored in the image storage unit. An image distribution unit that reads out from the image storage unit and distributes the image to the in-vehicle navigation device.
In the server system, the image distribution unit includes a correspondence table of a photo shooting point and an address of the image storage unit that stores a photo image at the photo shooting point, and a photo image of a predetermined photo shooting point from the in-vehicle navigation device. Is received by referring to the table and stored in the image storage unit, and when a photographic image at a predetermined photographing point is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device, the photographic image is requested with reference to the table. The photograph image is read from the image storage unit and distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device.
In the server system, the route distribution unit is configured by a first server, the image distribution unit is configured by a second server having a different Internet address from the first server, and the first server, together with the route information, captures the photograph The point information of the point and the Internet address of the second server which is the photo image storage destination are distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device.
The first server further distributes the conditions for taking a photograph to the in-vehicle navigation device in addition to the location information of the photograph taking place and the Internet address of the second server that is the photo image storage destination.

In-vehicle navigation device The second aspect of the present invention is an in-vehicle navigation device that receives route information from the server to the destination calculated by the server and guides the vehicle to the destination based on the route information.
The in-vehicle navigation device of the present invention includes an in-vehicle camera that captures a landscape around the vehicle, a route information from the server to the destination, and a storage unit that receives and stores the location information of the photography point on the route, the route information Based on the route guidance control to the destination based on the above, it is monitored whether the vehicle approaches the stored photography point, and if it approaches, the server requests a photograph image of the photography point, and the vehicle A route guidance control unit that monitors whether or not it has arrived at the stored photo shooting point and, if it arrives, takes a landscape of the point with the in-vehicle camera and transmits the photo image to the server, a photo received from the server A display unit for displaying an image together with a surrounding map.
The storage unit of the in-vehicle navigation device receives and stores an Internet net address of a photographic image storage destination in addition to the route information and point information from a server, and the route guidance control unit sends the Internet address to the Internet address. While requesting a photographic image at a photographic location, the photographic image at the photographic location is transmitted to the Internet address.
The route guidance control unit of the in-vehicle navigation device receives at least the longitude / latitude position, height, and shooting direction of the shooting point from the server as point information, and the actual longitude / latitude position, height, and direction of the vehicle When they match, it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the photography point.
The in-vehicle navigation device further includes a monitoring unit that monitors whether or not the conditions for photographing are received in addition to the location information, and the route guidance control unit satisfies the conditions. At this time, the photograph image taken by the in-vehicle camera is transmitted to the server together with the photographing point information.

Photo image distribution method The third aspect of the present invention is a photo image distribution method.
In the first photographic image distribution method of the present invention, a route to a destination requested from the in-vehicle navigation device is calculated and distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device, and a photographic image of a predetermined point around the vehicle is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device. This is a method for distributing photograph images of a server system that distributes, 1) a step of holding point information of a photographing point, and 2) calculating a route to a destination requested by an in-vehicle navigation device, and on the calculated route A step of checking whether or not the photography point exists; 3) a step of delivering the point information of the photography point together with the route information to the in-vehicle navigation device when the photography point exists on the route; and 4) each of the steps A step of storing in the image storage unit a photographic image of a photographing point transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device, 5) a predetermined in-vehicle When photographic image of a predetermined photographing location is requested from the navigation device, and a step of distributing the 該車 mounting navigation system a photographic image that is the request by reading from the image storage unit.
In the second photographic image distribution method of the present invention, the photographic image of the in-vehicle navigation device that receives the route information to the destination calculated by the server from the server and guides the vehicle to the destination based on the route information. 1) a step of receiving and storing point information of a photographing point on the route together with route information from the server to the destination, and 2) route guidance control to the destination based on the route information. And a step of monitoring whether or not the vehicle has approached the stored photography point. 3) If the vehicle approaches the photography point, request a photo image of the photography point from the server and receive the photo from the server. A step of displaying an image together with a surrounding map, 4) a step of performing route guidance control to the destination and monitoring whether the vehicle has arrived at the stored photography point 5) by the vehicle camera if arriving photographed scenery 該地 point, and a step of transmitting the image to the server.
The third photographic image distribution method of the present invention is a combination of the first and second photographic image distribution methods, and includes 1) a step of holding point information of a photographing point, and 2) a request from an in-vehicle navigation device. A step of calculating a route to the determined destination and checking whether the photographed point is present on the calculated route; and 3) if the photographed point is present on the route, the route information and the photograph. A step of distributing the spot information of the shooting point to the in-vehicle navigation device, 4) a step of receiving and storing the spot information of the shooting point on the route together with the route information from the server to the destination, and 5) receiving from the server Based on the route information, the route guidance control to the destination is performed, and whether the vehicle has arrived at the stored photography point is monitored. Photographing the scenery of the point and transmitting the photographic image to the server; 6) storing the photographic image of the photographing point transmitted from each in-vehicle navigation device in the image storage unit of the server; and 7) the purpose Performing route guidance control to the ground, monitoring whether the vehicle has approached the stored photography point, and requesting a photographic image of the photography point from the server when approaching the photography point; 8 ) When a photographic image of a predetermined photographic location is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device, a step of reading out the requested photographic image from the image storage unit and distributing it to the in-vehicle navigation device, 9) a photo received from the server Displaying the image together with the surrounding map.

According to the present invention, when a route calculation from the in-vehicle navigation device to the destination is requested, it is checked whether or not a shooting point exists on the calculation route, and the in-vehicle navigation device together with the route information includes the point information of the existing shooting point. Thus, even if the in-vehicle navigation device is not requested by the server, the in-vehicle navigation device can automatically take a photographic image of a required photographing point and upload it to the server.
As a result, the load on the server can be significantly reduced compared to the prior art, and the server can collect the latest photographic images of each shooting point from the in-vehicle navigation device, and the latest in the point desired by the in-vehicle navigation device. Photo images can be provided in real time.
In addition, even if there is no shooting request, the in-vehicle navigation device automatically captures and uploads to the server a photographic image of the required shooting point even if it is not requested by the server. Can be uploaded.
In addition, even if there is no request from the server, the in-vehicle navigation device automatically takes a picture of the required shooting location and uploads it to the server, so there is no hot spot for tunnels or Internet communication. Even if there is, it can be taken and uploaded to the server when communication is possible.
According to the present invention, a server system is constituted by a first server for routing information and point information distribution and a second server for image storage and image distribution. Since the location information and the Internet address of the second server are distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device, the in-vehicle navigation device requests a photograph image of the photographing point from the Internet address (to the second server), and All you have to do is send a photo taken at the photo location to your Internet address. As a result, the load on each server can be reduced, and each server can efficiently process the request of the in-vehicle navigation device, and can provide the latest photographic image of the point desired by the in-vehicle navigation device in real time. .
In addition, according to the present invention, in addition to the location information of the photography location and the Internet address of the photo image storage destination, the conditions for taking a photograph are distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device, and when the in-vehicle navigation device satisfies the imaging conditions Since the photographic image taken by the in-vehicle camera is transmitted to the server together with the shooting point information, a traffic jam point or the like can be added as a new shooting point.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system according to the present invention. It is communication sequence explanatory drawing of the photograph image delivery between the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus of this invention, and a server system. It is route explanatory drawing from present location (starting place) SP to destination DP. It is a block diagram of a server system. It is explanatory drawing of imaging | photography location information POIX which preserve | saves the map data MPD, various search data SCD, and the information of a photography location. It is a block diagram of a vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus. It is an example of a map display around the own vehicle position. This is a photograph display example when a vehicle approaches a photography point (intersection), and a map is displayed on the left half and a photograph image of the intersection is displayed on the right half. It is another example of a photographic image display. It is an example of a display when the vehicle-mounted camera has photographed the surrounding scenery after arriving at the photography point. It is the photograph image delivery processing flow of a navigation control part. It is the photograph image delivery processing flow of the main server in a server system. It is the photograph image delivery processing flow of the image server in a server system. It is a processing flow of the main server of a modification. It is a processing flow of the image server of a modification. It is a processing flow of the navigation control part of a modification. It is an update process flow of the photography point information POIX of the main server. It is a block diagram of the server system provided with the update function of photography location information.

(A) Outline of the Present Invention FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system according to the present invention, which includes a center server system 1, an in-vehicle navigation device 2, a hot spot 3, and the Internet 4.
The in-vehicle navigation device 2 can communicate with the server system 1 at the center via a hot spot 3 and the Internet 4 arranged along the road. The in-vehicle navigation device 2 can also be configured to communicate with the server system 1 of the center via a base station (not shown) and the Internet 4 via a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone.
The in-vehicle navigation device 2 requests the server system 1 to calculate a route to the destination, and performs route guidance control based on the route information received from the server system 1. Then, when approaching a photo shooting point on the route while traveling toward the destination, the server system 1 is requested for a photo image of the point, and if it arrives at the photo shooting point, the photo of the point is taken and the server Upload to system 1.
On the other hand, the server system 1 stores map data and photography point information, and when a route calculation to the destination is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device 2, the route to the destination is calculated using the map data. Then, referring to the photographing point information, the photographing point existing on the route is checked, and the point information of the photographing point is downloaded to the in-vehicle navigation device 2 together with the route information. When a photographic image at a photographic location is uploaded from the in-vehicle navigation device 2, the photographic image is stored in the image memory in correspondence with the location ID, and a photographic image at a predetermined photographic location is also received from the in-vehicle navigation device 2. Is read out from the image memory and downloaded.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a communication sequence for photographic image distribution between the in-vehicle navigation device of the present invention and the server system.
When the in-vehicle navigation device 2 requests the center server system 1 to calculate the route to the destination (step S01), the server system obtains a route RT from the current location (departure location) SP to the destination DP as shown in FIG. Calculate (step S02). Next, the server system 1 refers to the separately set photography point information to check whether or not the photography point exists on the calculated route RT. While delivering to the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 2 (step S03), the spot information of the photography point is delivered (step S04). In the example of FIG. 3, the intersections CP1, CP3,..., CPn, and the sights FP are assumed to be the photographing points.

The in-vehicle navigation device 2 receives and stores the route information from the server system 1 to the destination and the point information of the photographing point on the route, and then performs route guidance control to the destination based on the route information. Start (step S05). Thereafter, in parallel with the route guidance control, the in-vehicle navigation device 2 monitors whether the vehicle has arrived at a predetermined distance from the stored photography point, that is, whether the vehicle has approached the photography point (step S06). When approaching the photo shooting point, the server system is requested for a photo image of the photo shooting point (step S07). As a result, the server system 1 reads the photographic image of the requested photographic location from the image storage unit and downloads it to the in-vehicle navigation device 2. The in-vehicle navigation device 2 divides the screen into two, and displays a map on one side and a downloaded photographic image on the other side (step S08).
In addition, the in-vehicle navigation device 2 monitors whether the vehicle has arrived at the stored photography point in parallel with the route guidance control (step S09). The photographic image is transmitted to the server system 1 (step S10). The server system 1 overwrites the storage area of the image storage unit corresponding to the location name with the photographic image of the photographic location transmitted from each in-vehicle navigation device (step S11). As a result, the server system stores the latest photographic image at each point.
Thereafter, the vehicle-mounted navigation device 2 and the server system 1 repeat the processing from step S06 to step S11 until the destination is reached.

(B) Server System FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the server system 1, and includes a main processing unit 11 that performs route calculation processing, photo point search processing on the route, and the like, and each photo shooting point uploaded from the in-vehicle navigation device. The image processing unit 12 performs the storage processing of the photographic image and the download processing of the photographic image of the requested photographic location, and routes the packet received from the Internet to the main processing unit 11 and the image processing unit 12 according to the destination, A router 13 is provided for transmitting packets transmitted from the main processing unit 11 and the image processing unit 12 to the Internet.
The main processing unit 11 includes a main server 11a that performs route calculation processing and photo point search processing on the route, a map database 11b that stores map data and various search data, and an operation unit 11c that inputs various commands and data. The user information storage unit 11 stores user information, route information, and current position for each user. The map database 11b stores map data MPD and various search data SCD as shown in FIG. The search data includes, for example, 1) address search data ADD for searching for a destination from an address, 2) phone number search data TLD for searching for a destination by telephone number, and 3) facility name search data for searching for a destination by facility name. NMD, 4) Category search data CTD for searching a destination from a category, 5) Icon data ICD holding icon information of POI (Point Of Interest), and 6) Shooting point information POIX for storing information of a shooting point Has been. Photo shooting points may be intersections, expressway junctions, sights, traffic jams, etc., but it is not necessary to use all of these as photo shooting sites. A point.

The shooting point information in the shooting point information POIX is, for example,
・ Shooting point name (point ID)
・ Point types (intersections, branch points, traffic congestion points, sights, etc.)
・ Latitude and longitude of the point ・ Direction of shooting ・ Height of the shooting point ・ Inclination angle of the shooting point ・ Flag indicating presence / absence of photographic image ・ Shooting time (for example, shooting season, shooting month)
・ Although it is composed of the shooting time zone, at least the shooting point name (point ID), the longitude and latitude of the point, the shooting direction, and the height of the shooting point are indispensable as the point information. The height information of the shooting point is necessary to distinguish a point on the highway and the general road when the highway and the general road are parallel to each other. The information on the inclination angle of the photographing point is necessary for distinguishing the approach path to the expressway from the point on another path. The shooting time information indicates the shooting time because it is meaningless even when it is not blooming at the famous places of plum, cherry blossoms, etc., and the shooting time zone information is dark and meaningless Is instructed.

  When the route calculation is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device together with the departure point and the destination, the main server 11a performs route calculation using the map data of the map database 11b, and on the route calculated with reference to the shooting point information POIX. If there is a photo point, the location information of the photo point is downloaded to the in-vehicle navigation device together with the route information. If the main server 11a simultaneously downloads the map data of the leaf in which the calculation route exists together with these information, the in-vehicle navigation device 2 does not need a map database. That is, the in-vehicle navigation device 2 performs route guidance control based on the downloaded map data and route information, and requests a photographic image from the server system when it approaches the downloaded photography point, and arrives at the photography point. Take a photo and upload the photo image to the server.

  The image processing unit 12 stores the uploaded photographic image of each photographic spot and downloads the requested photographic image of the photographic spot, and the latest photograph taken at each photographic spot. An image memory 12b for storing images is provided. The image server 12a includes a table TBL indicating a correspondence relationship between a spot ID (point name or spot longitude / latitude) of a photographing point and an address for storing a photograph image of the spot. Therefore, when a photo image of a predetermined photo shooting location is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device, the image server 12a obtains the address of the image memory 12b corresponding to the photo shooting location from the correspondence table TBL, and obtains the photo image from the address. Read and download (distribute) to the car navigation system. When a photo image of a predetermined photo shooting point is uploaded from the in-vehicle navigation device, the address of the image memory 12b corresponding to the photo shooting point is obtained from the correspondence table TBL, and the photo image uploaded to the address is overwritten. And always try to keep the latest photographic images.

(C) In-vehicle navigation device FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the in-vehicle navigation device.
The bus BUS of the navigation control unit 20 includes a CPU (processor) 21 that performs various navigation controls, a map data storage unit 22 that stores map data downloaded from the server system, a facility database 23 that stores facility search data, and the vehicle. An image drawing unit 24 that generates a map image, a photographic image, or an enlarged view of an intersection around the position, a voice guidance control unit 25 that guides an intersection traveling direction and road traffic by voice, an autonomous navigation sensor, and detection information from GPS Receives a position calculation unit 26 that calculates a vehicle position, an Internet communication unit 27 that communicates with the server system 1 of the center via a hot spot or the Internet, traffic broadcast information such as traffic jams, for example, VICS broadcast information (VICS: trademark) Traffic broadcast receiving unit 28, photo image taken with in-vehicle camera The image processing unit 29 performs image processing such as compression, various settings, operation unit 30 for inputting an instruction is connected.

  The processor 21 executes image generation control, destination setting / route request control, route guidance control, photographed image upload / download control, and the like according to various software stored in the ROM 21a. That is, the processor 21 controls the image drawing unit 24 with the map generation control software MPGC to generate a map image, a photographic image, or an enlarged intersection map around the own vehicle position, and 2) destination according to the destination setting software DTSP. Performs setting and route request control to the server system 1, and 3) performs route guidance control using the route information calculated by the server system 1 by the route guidance software RTGP. 4) Photo image distribution software PTDL When the vehicle approaches the photo shooting point, the server system 1 is requested for a photo image via the Internet communication unit 27. When the vehicle arrives at the photo shooting point, the vehicle-mounted camera 38 is controlled to take a photo and take the photo image. Upload to. The processor 21 stores the guide route information RTIF received from the server system 1 and the spot information PLIF of the photographed spot on the route in the RAM 21b.

The image drawing unit 24 reads out map data around the vehicle position from the map data storage unit 22 to generate a map image around the vehicle, and the map image and the guidance route generated by the route guidance software by the CPU 21 and the vehicle position mark. Are displayed on the touch panel monitor 31. Further, when the image drawing unit 24 approaches the photo shooting point, the image drawing unit 24 divides the screen into two, and displays the map on one side and the latest photo image of the photo shooting point downloaded on the other side. FIG. 7 is a map display example around the own vehicle position, and the central black triangle is the own vehicle position mark. FIG. 8 is a photograph display example when the vehicle approaches a photography point (intersection). A map is displayed on the left half, and the latest photograph image at the intersection photographed by another in-vehicle navigation device is displayed on the right half. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, an arrow ARR indicating the intersection traveling direction can be superimposed on the photographic image. Further, when the intersection is not a photography point, the image drawing unit 24 divides the screen into two as in the prior art, and displays a map on one side and an enlarged view of the intersection on the other side. Further, when the vehicle arrives at the photographing point and the in-vehicle camera 38 captures the surrounding scenery, the image drawing unit 24 divides the screen into two parts, as shown in FIG. A photographic image PIM is displayed for a predetermined time together with a message MSG indicating this.
The voice guidance control unit 25 performs control for notifying the user of intersection guidance, traffic jam information, and accident occurrence information when the vehicle approaches the intersection, and the voice output unit 32 is in response to an instruction from the voice guidance control unit 25. Digital voice data of a predetermined message is output, converted into an analog signal, and output from the speaker 33.

The position calculation unit 26 is connected to a gyro 34 that is an autonomous navigation sensor and a vehicle speed pulse generator 35, and to a GPS receiver 36. The GPS receiver 36 performs predetermined processing on the reception signal input from the GPS antenna 37 and inputs GPS reception data to the position calculation unit 26. When the current position of the vehicle becomes unknown, the position calculation unit 26 adopts the GPS position as the current position, and thereafter estimates the current position using the output signal of the self-contained navigation sensor (gyro 34, vehicle speed pulse generator 35). At the same time, the map matching process is performed to correct the estimated current position on the road link.
The image processing unit 29 performs image processing such as compression on a photographic image at a photographic location photographed by the in-vehicle camera 38 and stored in the image memory 39, and outputs the result.

(D) Photo Image Distribution Processing of Navigation Device FIG. 11 is a photo image distribution processing flow of the navigation control unit 20 of the in-vehicle navigation control device.
When a route to the destination is required, the destination and the current vehicle position (departure point) input by operating the touch panel or the operation unit 30 are transmitted to the server system 1 serving as a distribution center via the Internet communication unit 27. Then, route calculation is requested (step 101).
The navigation control unit 20 receives the route information from the main server 11a of the server system to the destination, and also receives the point information of the photography point on the route and the Internet address of the photograph image storage destination (image server 12a in FIG. 4). The information is received and stored in the RAM 21b (step 102).
Next, the navigation control unit 20 starts the route guidance control based on the received route information, and continues the route guidance control until the destination is reached (step 103). In parallel with the route guidance control, the navigation control unit 20 monitors whether the vehicle has arrived at a predetermined distance, for example, 300 m from the photographing point (step 104). The arrival at the point is checked (step 105), and if it does not arrive, it is checked whether the destination has been reached (step 106). If it has not arrived, the processing returns to step 103 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

  In step 104, if the vehicle approaches a predetermined distance from the photo shooting point, the navigation control unit 20 requests the image server 12a, which is a photo storage destination, to download a photo image at the photo shooting point (step 111). That is, the navigation control unit 20 creates and transmits a packet having the Internet address of the image server 12a as a destination address, and a point ID of a photo shooting point and a request message for downloading a photo image as data.

When the image server 12a receives the packet, it downloads the photographic image at the requested photographic location, so the navigation control unit 20 receives the photographic image data (step 112), divides the screen into two, The latest photographic image of the photographed location downloaded on the other side is displayed (step 113). Thereby, the driver can grasp the situation at the photographing point, for example, a traffic jam situation, a cherry blossom blooming situation, and the like. In addition, after that, the photographic image of the point can be displayed until passing the photographic point, or can be switched to an enlarged intersection view.
If the process of step 113 is completed, the navigation control unit 20 checks whether the destination has been reached (step 106). If not, the navigation control unit 20 returns to step 103 and repeats the subsequent processes.
On the other hand, if the vehicle arrives at the photographing point in step 105, the navigation control unit 20 controls the in-vehicle camera 38 to take a photograph, compresses the photographed photograph image (step 114), and then compresses it. The photograph image is uploaded to the image server 12a which is a photograph storage destination (step 115). In other words, the navigation control unit 20 creates and transmits a packet having the Internet address of the image server 12a as the destination address and the point ID of the photography point and the compressed photographic image data as data. Thereby, the image server 12a overwrites the uploaded photographic image in the storage area of the image memory corresponding to the point ID.

(E) Photo Image Distribution Processing of Main Server in Server System FIG. 12 is a flow of photo image distribution processing of the main server 11a in the server system.
The main server 11a (FIG. 4) of the server system monitors whether a route calculation from a predetermined in-vehicle navigation device to the destination is requested (step 201), and when requested, the route from the departure point to the destination Is calculated (step 202). Next, the main server 11a refers to the photography location information POIX (FIG. 5) to check whether a photography location exists on the calculated route (step 203). If there is no such location, only the calculated route information is obtained. Download to the in-vehicle navigation device (step 204).
On the other hand, if there is a photography point on the calculated route, the main server 11a uses the in-vehicle navigation with the route information and the location information of the photography point and the Internet address of the photograph image storage destination (image server 12a in FIG. 4). Distribute to the device (step 205).

(F) Photo Image Distribution Processing of Image Server in Server System FIG. 13 is a flow of photo image distribution processing of the image server 12a in the server system.
The image server 12a checks whether there is a request for downloading a photographic image from the in-vehicle navigation device (step 301). If there is no request for downloading a photographic image, the image server 12a checks whether a captured image has been received from the in-vehicle navigation device (step 302). ) If not received, return to the beginning and repeat the subsequent processing.
In step 301, when the image server 12a receives a packet requesting the download of a photographic image from a predetermined in-vehicle navigation device, the image server 12a extracts a point ID of the photographic point from the packet, and refers to the built-in table TBL. The image memory address corresponding to the point ID is obtained, the photo image of the photo shooting point requested from the address is read out and downloaded to the requesting vehicle-mounted navigation device (step 303). Thereafter, the process returns to the beginning and the subsequent processing is repeated. .
On the other hand, in step 302, if a packet containing the photographic image data taken by the in-vehicle camera and the point ID of the photographic point is received from the in-vehicle navigation device, the point ID is extracted, and the point is referenced with reference to the built-in table TBL. An image memory address corresponding to the ID is obtained, and the received photographic image is overwritten at the address (step 304). Thereafter, the process returns to the beginning and the subsequent processing is repeated.

According to the above embodiment, when a route calculation from the in-vehicle navigation device to the destination is requested, it is checked whether or not a shooting point exists on the calculated route, and the in-vehicle navigation includes the point information of the existing shooting point together with the route information. Since the device is notified, the in-vehicle navigation device can automatically take a photographic image of a required shooting point and upload it to the server without being requested from the server. As a result, the load on the server can be significantly reduced compared to the prior art, and the server can collect the latest photographic images of each shooting point from the in-vehicle navigation device, and the latest in the point desired by the in-vehicle navigation device. Photo images can be provided in real time.
In addition, even if there is a continuous shooting location, the in-vehicle navigation device automatically captures and uploads to the server a photo image of the required shooting location, even if there is no request from the server. Images can be uploaded.
In addition, even if it is not requested by the server, the in-vehicle navigation device automatically takes a picture of the required shooting location and uploads it to the server, so there are no hot spots for tunnels or Internet communication. However, you can take a picture and upload it to the server when communication becomes possible.
The first server for route information and point information distribution and the second server for image storage and image distribution constitute a server system. The first server, together with the route information, includes point information of a photography point, Since the Internet address of the two servers is distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device, the in-vehicle navigation device requests the photograph image of the photographing point to the Internet address (to the second server) and the photo to the Internet address. All you have to do is send a photographic image taken at the shooting location. As a result, the load on each server can be reduced, and each server can efficiently process the request of the in-vehicle navigation device, and can provide the latest photographic image of the point desired by the in-vehicle navigation device in real time. .

(G) First Modification In the above embodiment, the point information of the photographing point on the route is distributed from the main server 11a to the in-vehicle navigation device, but in addition to the embodiment, the photographing condition for photographing is set. The in-vehicle navigation device can also be configured to take a picture and upload the photographic image to the image server 12a when the photographing condition is satisfied. The shooting conditions are, for example, when reaching the start point of a traffic jam, when reaching a traffic jam end point, when reaching an accident occurrence point, or the like.
FIG. 14 is a processing flow of the main server 11a according to the modified example. The main server 11a monitors whether or not a route calculation from the in-vehicle navigation device to the destination is requested (step 401). A route from the ground to the destination is calculated (step 402). Next, the main server 11a refers to the photograph point information POIX (FIG. 5) to check whether a photograph point exists on the calculated route (step 403). The shooting conditions and the Internet address of the photographic image storage destination (image server 12a) are distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device (step 404).
On the other hand, if there is a photo shooting point on the calculated route, the main server 11a loads the point information of the photo shooting point, shooting conditions, and the Internet address of the photo image storage destination (image server 12a) along with the route information. Distribute to the navigation device (step 405).

FIG. 15 is a processing flow of the image server of the modification.
The image server 12a checks whether there is a request for downloading a photographic image from the in-vehicle navigation device (step 501). If there is no request for downloading a photographic image, the image server 12a checks whether a captured image has been received from the in-vehicle navigation device (step 502). ) If not received, return to the beginning and repeat the subsequent processing.
On the other hand, in step 501, if the image server 12a receives a packet requesting downloading of a photographic image from a predetermined in-vehicle navigation device, the image server 12a extracts the point ID of the photographic point from the packet and refers to the built-in table TBL. Then, the image memory address corresponding to the point ID is obtained, the photograph image of the requested photographing point is read out from the address, and delivered to the in-vehicle navigation device that is the request source (step 503). repeat.

In step 502, if a photographic image taken by the in-vehicle camera is received from the in-vehicle navigation device, the message included in the received packet is referred to and it is checked whether the photographic image is taken because the photographic condition is satisfied. (Step 504). If the photograph image is not photographed because the photographing condition is satisfied, the image server 12a extracts the spot ID from the received packet, refers to the built-in table TBL, obtains the image memory address corresponding to the spot ID, The received photographic image is overwritten at the address (step 505). Thereafter, the process returns to the beginning and the subsequent processing is repeated.
In step 504, if the photographic image is taken when the photographing condition is satisfied, the image server 12a adds a predetermined spot name (point ID) to the received photographic image, and an image memory corresponding to the spot ID. The address is determined, the received photographic image is stored at the address, and the correspondence between the point ID and the address is registered in the table TBL (step 506).
Next, the image server 12a transmits the point ID, the latitude / longitude, height, and shooting direction of the shooting point to the main server 11a (step 507), and then returns to the beginning and repeats the subsequent processing.
The main server 11a receives the point ID, the latitude and longitude of the shooting point, the height, and the shooting direction, and registers them in the shooting point information POIX of the map database.

FIG. 16 is a processing flow of the navigation control unit of the modification, and the same parts as those in the embodiment of FIG. That is, the processing from steps 101 to 115 is the same as that in FIG.
The difference is the processing when the vehicle has not arrived at the photography point in step 105. That is, the navigation control unit 20 checks in step 105 if the vehicle has not arrived at the photo shooting point, whether the shooting conditions distributed from the server system are satisfied (step 601). In step 106, it is checked whether the destination has been reached. It should be noted that the determination as to whether or not the shooting conditions are satisfied, for example, the determination as to whether a traffic congestion point or an accident point has been reached, receives a traffic broadcast, such as a VICS broadcast, and analyzes the broadcast information. By doing.
In step 601, if the shooting condition is satisfied, the navigation control unit 20 controls the in-vehicle camera 38 to take a picture of the scenery around the vehicle, compresses the taken photo image (step 602), and then Create a message including data indicating the position (latitude and longitude), height, and shooting direction of the shooting point, a shooting condition on flag indicating that the shooting condition is satisfied, and the image is taken together with the photo image data. Uploading to the image server 12a, which is a photo storage destination (step 603), and thereafter the processing from step 106 onward is repeated.
According to this modification, a condition for taking a photograph is distributed to the user, and the user transmits a photograph image photographed by the vehicle-mounted camera to the server together with the photographing point information when the photographing condition is satisfied. Etc. can be added as a new shooting point.

(H) Second Modification A shooting point can be added to, deleted from, or changed in the shooting point information POIX in the map database.
FIG. 17 is an update process flow of the photography point information POIX of the main server 11a in the server system. If it is necessary to update the addition or deletion of the shooting point (step 701), the addition or deletion of the shooting point is performed from the operation unit (step 702). In addition, VICS information and traffic statistics information are analyzed, and it is checked whether it is necessary to add a new shooting point or delete it from the shooting point (step 703). The point information POIX is updated (step 704).
FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a server system provided with the above-described photo point information update function. Components identical with those shown in FIG. The difference is that the main processing unit 11 is provided with a traffic broadcast receiving unit 11e and a traffic jam statistics unit 11f.
According to this modification, a traffic jam point or the like can be added or updated to the photo shooting point information POIX as a new shooting point.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center server system 2 Car navigation system 3 Hot spot 4 Internet 11 Main processing part 11a Main server 11b Map database 11c Operation part 12 Image processing part 12a Image server 12b Image memory 13 Router MPD Map data SCD Various search data POIX Photographing point Shooting point information to save the information of

Claims (22)

In a server system that calculates a route to a destination requested from an in-vehicle navigation device and distributes it to the in-vehicle navigation device, and distributes a photo image of a predetermined point around the vehicle to the in-vehicle navigation device,
A photography point holding unit that holds point information of a photography point,
The route to the destination requested by the in-vehicle navigation device is calculated, and whether or not the photography point exists on the calculated route is determined. If there is, the point information of the photography point is obtained together with the route information. A route delivery unit for delivering to the in-vehicle navigation device;
An image storage unit for storing photographic images at each photography point;
When the photographic image of the photographic location transmitted from each in-vehicle navigation device is stored in the image storage unit, and the photographic image of the predetermined photographic location is requested from the predetermined in-vehicle navigation device, the requested photo An image delivery unit that reads an image from the image storage unit and delivers the image to the in-vehicle navigation device;
A server system comprising: The server system according to claim 1,
The image distribution unit includes a correspondence table between a photographing point and an address of the image storage unit that stores a photographic image at the photographing point,
When a photographic image of a predetermined photographic location is received from the in-vehicle navigation device, the received photographic image is stored in the image storage unit with reference to the table, and a photographic image of the predetermined photographic location is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device. The photographic image requested with reference to the table is read from the image storage unit and distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device.
A server system characterized by that. The server system according to claim 1 or 2,
The route distribution unit is configured by a first server, the image distribution unit is configured by a second server having a different Internet address from the first server,
The first server distributes the location information of the photography point and the Internet address of the second server, which is a photographic image storage destination, to the in-vehicle navigation device together with the route information.
A server system characterized by that. The server system according to claim 3, wherein
The photography location holding unit includes at least longitude / latitude position information, height information, and an imaging direction of the location, and the first server distributes the information to the in-vehicle navigation device as location information.
A server system characterized by that. The server system according to claim 3, wherein
The photography point holding unit includes information on longitude and latitude position information, height information, a photographing direction, an inclination angle of a photographing point, a photographing time, and a photographing time zone of the photographing point, and the first server includes these information. To the in-vehicle navigation device as point information,
A server system characterized by that. The server system according to claim 3, wherein
It is equipped with traffic broadcast receiving means or traffic statistics information creating means,
The first server refers to traffic jam information or traffic statistics information obtained from traffic broadcasts, finds a traffic jam spot, and saves the traffic jam spot as the shooting spot in the photography spot holding unit.
A server system characterized by that. The server system according to claim 3, wherein
In addition to the location information of the photography location and the Internet address of the second server that is the storage location of the photo image, the first server further distributes the conditions for taking a photo to the in-vehicle navigation device.
A server system characterized by that. In the in-vehicle navigation device for receiving route information calculated by the server from the server and guiding the vehicle to the destination based on the route information.
In-vehicle camera that captures the scenery around the vehicle,
A storage unit that receives and stores the location information of the photography point on the route along with the route information from the server to the destination,
Perform route guidance control to the destination based on the route information, monitor whether the vehicle has approached the stored photography point, and request a photographic image of the photography point from the server if approached, A route guidance control unit that monitors whether the vehicle has arrived at the stored photo shooting point, and if it arrives, takes a landscape of the point with the in-vehicle camera, and transmits the photo image to the server;
A display unit for displaying a photographic image received from the server together with a surrounding map;
An in-vehicle navigation device comprising: The storage unit receives and stores an Internet net address of a photographic image storage destination in addition to the route information and point information from a server,
The route guidance control unit requests a photographic image of the photographic spot to the Internet address and transmits the photographic image of the photographic spot to the Internet address.
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by that. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 8,
The route guidance control unit receives at least the longitude and latitude position, height, and shooting direction of the shooting point from the server as point information, and when the actual longitude and latitude position, height, and direction of the vehicle match these, Is determined to have arrived at the photography point,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by that. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 10,
When the route guidance control unit further receives information on the photographing time and the photographing time zone as the point information, the vehicle has arrived at the photographing point, and the current time and the current time zone are these photographing times, When it matches the photo shooting time zone, the photo image taken by the in-vehicle camera is sent to the server.
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by that. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 8,
In addition to the point information, when a condition for taking a picture is received, a monitoring unit that monitors whether the condition is satisfied,
The route guidance control unit transmits a photographic image taken by the in-vehicle camera together with photographing point information to the server when the condition is satisfied,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized by that. In the photo image distribution method of the server system that calculates a route to the destination requested from the in-vehicle navigation device and distributes the route to the in-vehicle navigation device, and distributes a photo image of a predetermined point around the vehicle to the in-vehicle navigation device.
A step of maintaining point information of the photographing point;
Calculating the route to the destination requested by the in-vehicle navigation device, and checking whether the photography point exists on the calculated route;
If the photo shooting point is present on the route, delivering the point information of the photo shooting point together with the route information to the in-vehicle navigation device;
Storing a photographic image of a photographic location transmitted from each in-vehicle navigation device in an image storage unit;
A step of reading out the requested photographic image from the image storage unit and delivering the photographic image to the in-vehicle navigation device when a photographic image of a predetermined photography point is requested from the predetermined in-vehicle navigation device;
A photographic image delivery method comprising: The photographic image distribution method according to claim 13,
A correspondence table of a photography point and an address of the image storage unit that stores a photograph image at the photography point,
When a photographic image of a predetermined photographic location is received from the in-vehicle navigation device, the photographic image received with reference to the table is stored in the image storage unit,
When a photographic image of a predetermined photography point is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device, the requested photographic image is read from the image storage unit with reference to the table and distributed to the in-vehicle navigation device.
A photographic image delivery method characterized by the above. The photographic image distribution method according to claim 13,
In addition to the location information of the photography location, the conditions for taking a photo are delivered to the in-vehicle navigation device,
A photographic image delivery method characterized by the above. In the photo image distribution method of the in-vehicle navigation device that receives route information from the server to the destination calculated by the server and guides the vehicle to the destination based on the route information.
Receiving and storing point information of a photography point on the route together with route information from the server to the destination;
Performing route guidance control to the destination based on the route information, and monitoring whether the vehicle approaches the stored photography point;
Requesting a photographic image of the photographic point from the server when approaching the photographic point, and displaying the photographic image received from the server together with a surrounding map;
Performing route guidance control to the destination and monitoring whether the vehicle has arrived at the stored photography point;
If it arrives, the vehicle-mounted camera captures the scenery of the point, and transmits the photographic image to the server;
A photographic image delivery method comprising: The photographic image delivery method according to claim 16,
In addition to the point information from the server, receiving and storing the Internet net address of the photo image storage destination,
Requesting a photographic image of the photographic location to the Internet address and transmitting the photographic image to the Internet address;
A photographic image delivery method comprising: The photographic image delivery method according to claim 16,
The step of monitoring whether it has arrived at the photographing point is a step of receiving at least the longitude and latitude position, height, and photographing direction of the photographing point from the server as the point information, and the actual longitude and latitude position, height, and direction of the vehicle. Determining that the vehicle has arrived at the photography point when these match,
A photographic image delivery method comprising: The photographic image delivery method according to claim 16,
In addition to the point information, when receiving a condition for taking a picture, monitoring whether the condition is satisfied;
Transmitting a photographic image taken by the in-vehicle camera to the server when the condition is satisfied,
A photographic image delivery method comprising: In the photo image distribution method of calculating a route to a destination requested from the in-vehicle navigation device and distributing the route to the in-vehicle navigation device, and distributing a photo image of a predetermined point around the vehicle to the in-vehicle navigation device.
A step of maintaining point information of the photographing point;
Calculating the route to the destination requested by the in-vehicle navigation device, and checking whether the photography point exists on the calculated route;
If the photo shooting point is present on the route, delivering the point information of the photo shooting point together with the route information to the in-vehicle navigation device;
Receiving and storing point information of a photography point on the route together with route information from the server to the destination;
The route guidance control to the destination is performed based on the route information received from the server, and it is monitored whether the vehicle has arrived at the stored photography point. Photographing and transmitting the photographic image to the server;
Storing a photographic image of a photographic location transmitted from each in-vehicle navigation device in an image storage unit of the server;
Performing route guidance control to the destination, monitoring whether the vehicle approaches the stored photography point, and requesting a photographic image of the photography point from the server when approaching the photography point ,
A step of reading out the requested photographic image from the image storage unit and delivering the requested photographic image to the in-vehicle navigation device when a photographic image of a predetermined photography point is requested from the in-vehicle navigation device;
Displaying a photographic image received from the server together with a surrounding map;
A photographic image delivery method comprising: The photographic image delivery method according to claim 20,
In addition to the point information from the server, receiving and storing the Internet net address of the photo image storage destination,
Requesting a photographic image of the photographic location to the Internet address and transmitting the photographic image to the Internet address;
A photographic image delivery method comprising: The photographic image delivery method according to claim 20,
The server distributes at least the longitude / latitude position information, height information, and shooting direction of the shooting point to the in-vehicle navigation device as point information, and when the actual longitude / latitude position, height, and direction of the vehicle match these, Determining that it has arrived at the photography point,
A photographic image delivery method characterized by the above.

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