JP2011112613A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a "navigation system" performing route guidance accepting with user's intention when the user determines a region only in gross to which user wants to visit. <P>SOLUTION: When selection operation is generated (b1) by user from a menu item "I go to an area which a map displays", a point which the position of a cursor 401 on a map overlaps is adopted as a destination place 421, while a geographical scope of the map currently displayed is adopted as a destination area 422, at the same time a destination area and a reference area 423 surrounding the periphery thereof are established (b2), and then resetting is urged of the destination when the current position turns into a position in the reference area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for receiving a destination setting in a navigation device.

  The navigation device accepts the destination setting by accepting the area that the user wants to go to in each administrative boundary, and on the point that is the shortest route from the current position on the boundary of the received administrative boundary or on the boundary of the administrative boundary. A technique is known that guides the route to a point in the direction of the current position of the user and prompts the user to reset the destination when the boundary of the administrative boundary is reached (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-240438 A

  According to the technology that accepts the area where the user wants to go roughly in the administrative boundary unit and guides the route to the point on the boundary of the accepted administrative boundary, the point on the boundary of the administrative boundary that is the end point of the route to be guided, Depending on the positional relationship with the point where the user finally goes, there is a case where route guidance that makes a large detour is performed as a route from the current position to the point where the user finally goes. In addition, when the range of the area that the user wants to go to is not consistent with the administrative world, the route guidance according to the user's intention cannot be performed, and the destination is reset at an appropriate timing. The user cannot be prompted.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide route guidance that is more convenient for the user even when the user has determined only the area that the user wants to go to.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets a route to a destination as a recommended route, a navigation device for guiding the set recommended route, a current position calculating means for calculating a current position, and a map for displaying a map A display means, a route presenting means representing the recommended route on the map displayed by the map display means, an operation accepting means for accepting a user operation, and a destination setting request from the user via the operation accepting means If the user is requested to set a destination area through the operation accepting means, the operation accepting means is set to the point designated by the user via the operation accepting means. The geographical area specified by the user via the user is set as the target area, and has a size larger than the set target area size. A reference area having a center that coincides with the destination, and destination setting means for setting the center point of the set destination area as a destination, and the destination or the destination when the current position reaches the reference area It provides a destination resetting recommendation means that encourages resetting of the area.

  Here, in such a navigation device, by setting the size of the reference area to an appropriate size with respect to the size of the target area, from the point on the boundary of the reference area to any point in the target area, It becomes possible to set a route without a large change of course direction. In addition, for the route part from the current position to the point on the boundary of the reference area of the recommended route set as the destination of the center of the destination area, the recommended route from the current position to any point in the destination area is set In this case, it can be expected that the route is almost similar to the route portion from the current position to the point on the boundary of the reference area of the recommended route. Therefore, according to the present navigation device, the route that is close to the case where the recommended route from the current position to the final point in the destination area where the user finally goes is searched and guided is guided to the user. be able to. That is, according to the present navigation device, it becomes possible to provide route guidance without a large detour to the point where the user finally goes, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  Here, in such a navigation device, the map display means changes the scale of the map to be displayed and the geographical range of the map to be displayed according to a user operation, and the destination setting means has the map display. A geographical area corresponding to the map displayed by the means may be set as the destination area.

  In the destination resetting recommendation means, when the current position reaches the reference area, the map display means is configured to display a map of a geographical range including the destination area. It is also preferable to easily perform a task of setting a point in the set destination area as a destination or resetting an area in the set destination area as a new destination area.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide route guidance that is more convenient for the user even when the user has determined only the area that the user wants to go to.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the navigation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the destination setting process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process example of the destination setting process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the destination reset support process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process example of the destination reset assistance process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a navigation system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the drawing, the navigation system includes a navigation device 1, an operation unit 2, a display device 3, a vehicle state sensor 4, a GPS receiver 5, and a speaker 6. Here, the vehicle state sensor 4 is various sensors that detect a vehicle state, such as an azimuth sensor such as an angular acceleration sensor or a geomagnetic sensor, or a vehicle speed sensor such as a vehicle speed pulse sensor.

  Then, the navigation device 1 uses a map data storage unit 11 that is a storage device such as a DVD drive or HDD that stores map data representing a map, a current state calculation unit 12, a GUI using the operation unit 2 and the display device 3 as a user. A GUI control unit 13, a route search unit 14, a memory 15, a control unit 16, a guidance image generation unit 17, and an audio output unit 18.

  However, the above navigation apparatus 1 may be a CPU circuit having a general configuration including peripheral devices such as a microprocessor, a memory, and other graphic processors and geometric processors in terms of hardware. In this case, each unit of the navigation device 1 described above may be realized as a process embodied by a microprocessor executing a program prepared in advance. In this case, such a program may be provided to the navigation apparatus 1 via a recording medium or an appropriate communication path.

Now, in such a configuration, the current state calculation unit 12 of the navigation device 1 repeatedly performs the following processing.
That is, the current state calculation unit 12 has a current position estimated from the outputs of the vehicle state sensor 4 and the GPS receiver 5 and the vicinity of the previously determined current position indicated by the map data read from the map data storage unit 11. A map matching process with the map is performed, and the most likely coordinates as the current position and the most likely direction as the current traveling direction are determined as the current position and the current traveling direction, respectively, and set in the memory 15.

The control unit 16 accepts a destination setting from the user via the operation unit 2 and the GUI control unit 13 in response to a user destination setting request, and sets the destination setting in the memory 15. The destination setting acceptance operation will be described later.
When the destination setting is accepted, the control unit 16 causes the route search unit 14 to search for a recommended route to the destination set in the memory 15. The route search unit 14 reads out map data in the necessary geographical area from the map data storage unit 11, and sets a minimum cost route from the current position set in the memory 15 to the destination at a predetermined cost such as a minimum distance. A recommended route is calculated based on the model, and the route data of the calculated recommended route is set in the memory 15.

In addition, when the current position set in the memory 15 becomes near the destination, the control unit 16 determines that the destination has arrived, and also performs processing for clearing the destination and the recommended route set in the memory 15. .
The control unit 16 repeats the following guide image generation process.
That is, in the guidance image generation process, the control unit 16 determines the display direction so that the current traveling direction set in the memory 15 is on the upper side, and the display map scale is reduced according to the user setting or initial setting made in advance. And a geographical range having a predetermined size determined according to the determined display orientation and the determined display map scale around the reference position is determined as the map display range. Here, at the time of route guidance, the reference position serving as the reference of the map display range is the current position.

In the guide image generation process, the control unit 16 causes the guide image generation unit 17 to draw a map based on the map data in the determined map display range at the display map scale. In addition, when the current position set in the memory 15 is included in the map display range, the control unit 16 causes the guide image generation unit 17 to draw a current position mark indicating the current position on the map.
Further, when the route data of the recommended route is set in the memory 15, the control unit 16 causes the guide image generation unit 17 to display a portion on the destination side from the current position of the recommended route in the determined map display range. The recommended route figure that represents is drawn on the map. Further, when the destination is set in the memory 15 and the destination is included in the map display range, the control unit 16 also displays a destination mark indicating the position of the destination in the guidance image generation unit 17. To draw on the map.

On the other hand, the guide image generation unit 17 generates the guide image by performing the above drawing under the control of the control unit 16, and displays the guide image on the display device 3 via the GUI control unit 13.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the guide image displayed in this way. The guide image is displayed on a map 211 representing a map within the map display range, a current position mark 212 representing the current position, or a map display. The recommended route graphic 213 representing the recommended route within the range and the destination mark 214 representing the destination are displayed.

  Moreover, the control part 16 displays the button which receives a user's various instruction | indication via the GUI control part 13 on such a guidance image, and performs the process according to operation of a user's button. For example, in the figure, as this button, a detailed button and a wide area button 221 for accepting a change operation of the display map scale, a menu button 222 for accepting a call operation of a menu screen of various menus, and a destination setting process to be described later A set with a destination button 223 for receiving a call operation is provided.

In such a navigation apparatus 1, the control unit 16 further includes a destination setting process for receiving and setting a destination from the user, and a destination resetting for supporting the user's destination resetting. Perform support processing.
First, the destination setting process performed by the control unit 16 will be described.
Here, the destination setting process is started in response to the user operation of the destination button 223 described above, and is also started by a destination resetting support process as described later.
FIG. 3 shows the procedure of the destination setting process.
As shown in the drawing, in the destination setting process, first, as shown in FIGS. 4a1 and b1, the cursor 401 and the destination area graphic 402 are placed at the center position of the guide image on the guide image via the GUI control unit 13. Display (step 302). Here, the target area graphic 402 is a graphic of a fixed size smaller than the size of the guide image, and is always arranged with the cursor position as the center position. In the illustrated example, the target area graphic 402 is a positive graphic with 1/5 of the short side of the guide image as one side, but the target area graphic 402 may be a circular graphic or the like. Further, the size of the target area graphic 402 may be arbitrarily changed according to a user operation.

  Next, the destination setting menu 410 is displayed via the GUI control unit 13 (step 304). Here, the destination setting menu 410 includes three menu items of “go to designated point”, “go to designated area”, and “go to display map area” as shown in the figure.

  Then, the control unit 16 receives an operation of moving the map display range (scrolling operation) by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 2 from the user, or accepting a map scale changing operation by the map detail button and the wide area button 221 (step 306). The occurrence of acceptance of the selection operation by the user of the menu item of the destination setting menu 410 (steps 308-312) is monitored.

  Then, if an operation of moving the map display range (scroll operation) or accepting a map scale change operation by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 2 from the user occurs (step 306), the reference of the map display range according to the operation The display range is moved (scrolled) by changing the reference position, and the display map scale is changed (step 314). And it returns to the monitoring of step 306-312. In the destination setting process, in step 306, the occurrence of acceptance of the movement operation of the cursor 401 by a predetermined operation of the user operation unit 2 is also monitored, and if the movement operation of the cursor 401 occurs, in step 314 You may make it move the cursor 401 and the target area figure 402 displayed centering on the said cursor 401 on a guidance image. Further, when the size of the target area graphic 402 is variable according to the user operation as described above, in step 306, the acceptance of the size change operation of the target area graphic 402 by the predetermined operation of the user operation unit 2 occurs. If the size change operation of the target area graphic 402 occurs, the size of the target area graphic 402 is changed according to the size change operation in step 314.

  On the other hand, when the selection operation by the user of the menu item “go to specified point” of the destination setting menu 410 occurs (step 308), the point where the center position of the cursor 401 overlaps on the map of the guide image is displayed. The destination is set (step 316), and the destination setting process is terminated.

  When the user accepts the selection operation of the menu item “go to the designated area” of the destination setting menu 410 (step 310), first, as shown in FIG. A point where the center positions of 401 overlap is set as the destination 421 (step 318). Next, a geographical range overlapping the target area graphic 402 on the map of the guide image is set as the target area 422 (step 320), and a reference area 423 surrounding the target area and its periphery is set (step 322). Then, the destination setting process is terminated.

  Here, the reference area is set so that the center thereof coincides with the center of the destination area (that is, the destination) and the size thereof is a predetermined multiple of the destination area. That is, for example, the reference area is set as a circular area having a radius that is 1.4 times the longest distance from the boundary of the destination area to the destination (that is, if the destination area is square or rectangular, A circular area whose radius is 0.7 times the diagonal length is used as a reference area. If the target area is a circle, refer to a circular area whose radius is 1.4 times the radius. Area).

  When the selection operation by the user of the menu item “go to display map area” of the destination setting menu 410 occurs (step 312), first, as shown in FIG. A point where the center positions of the cursors 401 overlap is set as the destination 421 (step 324). Next, a map display range, which is the geographical range of the map of the guide image, is set in the destination area 422 (step 326), and a reference area 423 surrounding the destination area and its surroundings is set (step 328). The setting process ends.

Here, also in step 328, the reference area is set so that its center coincides with the center of the destination area (that is, the destination) and its size is a predetermined multiple of the destination area, as in step 322.
The destination setting process has been described above.
If the destination is set in this way, as shown in FIGS. 4a2 and b2, a recommended route 432 from the current position 431 to the set destination 421 is set and route guidance is started. As shown in FIG. 2, route guidance is performed using a guide image representing the current position mark 212, the recommended route graphic 213, and the destination mark 214 on the map 211 around the current position.

Next, the destination resetting support process performed by the control unit 16 will be described.
FIG. 5 illustrates the destination resetting support process.
Here, the destination resetting support process is started when a new reference area is set in the destination setting process shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, in this process, as shown in FIG. 6a, the process waits for the current position 610 to be a position in the reference area 423 (step 502), and if the current position becomes a position in the reference area, The reference position serving as a reference for the display map scale and the map display range is changed so that the map in the map display range becomes a target area or a map representing the target area and its surroundings (step 504). That is, more specifically, the map display range is set to be the smallest range including the target area within the map display range, or the map display range is set so that the target area and the current position are within the map display range. Set it to the smallest range that contains it.

Then, the destination setting process shown in FIG. 3 is started (step 506), and as shown in FIG. 6b, a message 620 prompting the resetting of the destination is displayed (step 508), and the destination resetting support process is performed. Exit. However, steps 506 and 508 may be performed after waiting for the automobile to stop running after the current position becomes a position in the reference area.
The destination reset support process has been described above.
Here, in the destination resetting support process, the destination setting process is not performed when the current position 610 reaches the boundary of the reference area 423 that is some distance from the destination area 422, but not when the current position 610 reaches the boundary of the destination area 422. The reason why the user is prompted to reset the destination is as follows.

  In other words, if there is a point on the boundary of the reference area 423, a route without a large change in the course direction or the like can be set up to an arbitrary point in the target area 422. Further, the route portion from the current position to the point on the boundary of the reference area 423 of the recommended route set with the center of the destination area 422 as the destination 421 is the recommended route from the current position to the arbitrary point in the destination area 422. It can be expected that the route will be substantially the same as the route portion from the current position to the point on the boundary of the reference area 423 in the case where is set. Therefore, it is considered that a route close to the case where the recommended route from the current position to the final destination is searched and guided can be guided by doing in this way.

This destination resetting support process is started again when the reference area is set again by the destination setting process started in step 506.
Therefore, by repeatedly using the destination setting process and the destination resetting support process, the user can provide route guidance with a low degree of detour to the final determined destination while sequentially narrowing the area to be visited. You will be able to receive it.
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, for any area where the user wants to go approximately, it is possible to guide a route without a large detour to the point where the user finally goes in the area. The sex can be further improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 2 ... Operation part, 3 ... Display apparatus, 4 ... Vehicle state sensor, 5 ... GPS receiver, 6 ... Speaker, 11 ... Map data storage part, 12 ... Current state calculation part, 13 ... GUI control part , 14 ... Route search unit, 15 ... Memory, 16 ... Control unit, 17 ... Guide image generation unit, 18 ... Audio output unit, 401 ... Cursor, 402 ... Destination area figure, 410 ... Destination setting menu.

Claims (4)

A navigation device for setting a route to a destination as a recommended route and guiding the set recommended route,
Current position calculating means for calculating the current position;
Map display means for displaying a map; route presentation means for representing the recommended route on the map displayed by the map display means;
Operation accepting means for accepting a user operation;
When a destination setting is requested by the user via the operation accepting means, a point designated by the user via the operation accepting means is set as a destination, and the destination is designated by the user via the operation accepting means. When the setting of the area is requested, the geographical area designated by the user through the operation accepting means is set as the target area, and has a size larger than the set target area size. A destination setting means for setting a reference area having a center coinciding with the center of the area, and setting a center point of the set destination area as a destination;
A navigation apparatus comprising: a destination resetting recommendation unit that prompts resetting of the destination when the current position reaches the reference area. The navigation device according to claim 1,
The map display means changes the scale of the map to be displayed and the geographical range of the map to be displayed according to a user operation,
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the destination setting means sets a geographical area corresponding to the map displayed by the map display means as the destination area. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The destination reset recommendation means causes the map display means to display a map of a geographical range including the destination area when the current position reaches the reference area. A computer program that is read and executed by a computer,
A computer program for causing the computer to function as the navigation device according to claim 1, 2 or 3.