JP2012208760A - Information providing device, information providing method, and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute optimum retrieval according to position-fix accuracy of a current position in an information providing device which retrieves and displays information about a plurality of predetermined types of targets according to the current position.SOLUTION: When an information providing application is started, from an internal memory 14, a CPU 11 reads out menu items indicating a plurality of types of target retrieval functions (retrieval of a route to the nearest station, retrieval of the nearest convenience store, and the like) which can be provided according to a current position measured by a GPS receiver 2, and displays the menu items on a display device 4. When a user uses an operation device 5 to select a desired menu item, the CPU 11 executes a function corresponding to the selected menu item. At this time, the CPU 11 refers to position-fix accuracy information generated by the GPS receiver 2, and if the accuracy is low, extends a retrieval range.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing device, an information providing method, and a program thereof realized by a mobile terminal device, a navigation device, or the like.

  A navigation device having a function of appropriately changing a menu item representing a search function according to a current position is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation system that displays menu items whose contents can be updated according to the current position. Specifically, the current position is measured by a GPS receiver or the like, and menu information associated with the area corresponding to the current position is acquired. Then, menu items are displayed using the acquired menu information.

  By the way, in some menu items, the positioning accuracy of the current position affects the function. Such menu items are often found in menu items unique to navigation devices. For example, in a navigation device, when searching for the nearest convenience store within a search range within a predetermined distance from the current position, the current position detection accuracy is inferior, so a range different from the range to be searched may be searched. possible.

JP 2001-282824 A

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to enable an optimal search to be executed according to the positioning accuracy of the current position.

An information providing apparatus according to the present invention includes a positioning unit that measures a current position, a positioning accuracy information acquisition unit that acquires positioning accuracy information that indicates positioning accuracy in the positioning unit, and a predetermined position from a current position measured by the positioning unit. A display unit that displays a plurality of menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects existing in a range, a range determination unit that determines the predetermined range based on the positioning accuracy information, and a menu that is displayed on the display unit And a search unit that searches for a search target indicated by a menu item selected from the items.
The information providing method of the present invention is an information providing method executed by the information providing apparatus, and includes a positioning step for positioning the current position, and a positioning accuracy information acquiring step for acquiring positioning accuracy information indicating the positioning accuracy in the positioning step. And a display step for displaying a plurality of menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects existing in a predetermined range from the current position measured in the positioning step, and the predetermined range is determined based on the positioning accuracy information An information providing method comprising: a range determining step; and a search step of searching for a search target indicated by a menu item selected from the menu items displayed in the display step.
The program of this invention is a program for making the computer of an information provision apparatus perform each process of the information provision method of this invention.

[Action]
According to the present invention, the current position is measured, positioning accuracy information is acquired, a plurality of menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects existing within a predetermined range from the current position are displayed, and the menu item selected by the user When searching for the search target indicated by, the search range is determined based on the positioning accuracy of the current position.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of menu items indicating search targets of the search function provided corresponding to the current position are displayed, and the search target indicated by the menu item selected by the user from among the menu items is displayed. When executing the search, an optimal search can be executed based on the positioning accuracy of the current position.

It is a block diagram of the information provision apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a part of operation | movement of the information provision apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the remaining part of operation | movement of the information provision apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the menu item displayed with the information provision apparatus of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Configuration of information providing device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a portable navigation device. However, the present invention is applied to a system including a mobile phone in which information providing application software is installed and a server on a network. You can also.

  The information providing apparatus includes a control device 1 having a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, a random access memory (RAM) 13, and an internal memory 14, and each is connected to the control device 1. A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 2, an orientation sensor 3, a display device 4, an operation device 5, and an external I / F (interface) 6 are provided.

  The CPU 11 in the control device 1 executes various calculations. The ROM 12 stores various arithmetic programs executed by the CPU 11 and patterns such as characters and symbols displayed on the display device 4. The RAM 13 temporarily stores data and calculation results when the CPU 11 executes various calculations. The internal memory 14 is composed of a non-volatile memory, and stores various map-related data such as road shape data, related facility data, name data and the like in association with road shape data. Information necessary for displaying menu items to be described later is also stored.

  The GPS receiver 2 receives and calculates radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites, thereby measuring a reception point, that is, a current position (latitude, longitude) of the information providing device, and a positioning accuracy representing the positioning accuracy. Generate information. Here, the positioning accuracy information corresponds to a GDOP (Geometrical Dilution of Precision) value generated when the GPS receiver 2 measures the current position, and is “good (less than 50 m)”, “intermediate (error) 3 stages of accuracy, “50 m or more and less than 300 m” and “bad (error 300 m or more)”. The direction sensor 3 includes a geomagnetic sensor that detects the direction in which the information providing device is directed.

  The display device 4 includes a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, and displays a map, a current position, an orientation, and the like. The operation device 5 is a device for inputting various commands when the user uses the information providing device. The operation device 5 includes a touch panel on the screen of the display device 4, a button on a device housing (not shown), or a combination thereof. Become. The external I / F 6 is an interface for connecting an external memory such as an SD memory or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone.

<Operation of information providing device>
The operation of the information providing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the menu item display screen shown in FIG. The processing of this flowchart is executed by the CPU 11 reading out the information providing application program stored in the ROM 12 in response to an instruction to start the information providing application by the user. Normally, this program is written in the ROM 12 at the time of manufacture of the apparatus, but it can also be written in the ROM 12 and the internal memory 14 via the external I / F 6 from a memory card recording this program or a server on the network.

  First, the CPU 11 acquires current position information and positioning accuracy information generated by the GPS receiver 2 (step S1), and determines whether the positioning accuracy is poor (step S2). If the positioning accuracy is not bad (step S2: NO), that is, if the positioning accuracy is good or intermediate, the menu item that does not include the menu item representing the current position correction function is read from the internal memory 14 and displayed on the display device 4. It is displayed (step S3). On the other hand, if the positioning accuracy is poor (step S2: YES), the menu item including the menu item representing the current position correction function is read from the internal memory 14 and displayed on the display device 4 (step S4). If the positioning accuracy is not bad, the menu item representing the current position correction function is changed to a masked display mode, and the menu item itself is displayed, but the user cannot select it.

  FIG. 4 shows menu items displayed by executing step S3. These menu items are menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects in the search function that can be provided according to the current position, and do not include a menu item that indicates the current position correction function.

  Here, the menu items are “Current location”, “Route to nearest station”, “Toilet”, “Convenience store”, “Home channel”, “Mail”, “Last train”, “Search / History”, “Nearest” “Police / Police” is displayed on the display device 4.

  These menu items are displayed when a map display application, a route guidance application, or the like is selected as the information providing application. Further, the display range of the map in each menu and the distance for each menu such as “route to the nearest station” and “toilet” can be arbitrarily set in advance for each menu by the user. Further, the number and arrangement (display position in the screen) of each menu item can be arbitrarily set. There may be menu items that change the display position and menu items that do not change. Menu items that do not change the display position may be displayed at a specific position, or the user may determine the display position.

  Each menu item is numbered and can be selected by a user operation. For example, the number of each menu item is associated with the input keys “1”, “2”,..., “0”, and the input keys “1”, “2”,. "Is input, the display area corresponding to the input number is enlarged and displayed, and the function of each menu item is executed. In the case of a touch panel, the selected display area can be enlarged. Furthermore, the menu item may include a menu item that includes, for example, a set menu item that does not use position information.

  In the menu item “current location”, a map centered on the current position is displayed above the characters “1 present location”, and an icon indicating the current position is displayed at the center of the map. When this menu item screen is selected by the operation device 5, a peripheral search is performed, and information on peripheral facilities as a search result and an address of the current position are displayed.

  In the “Route to the nearest station” menu item, a map with the current position at the left end is displayed above the text “2 Route to the nearest station”, and an icon indicating the current position is displayed near the left end of the map. The icon of the nearest station is displayed in the center of the map. In addition, characters representing the distance from the current position to the nearest station are also displayed. When this menu item screen is selected with the operation device 5, a route to the nearest station is searched, and information (time table, etc.) on the searched route and the nearest station is displayed.

  In the “Toilet” menu item, a map centered on the current location is displayed above the letters “3 Toilet”, an icon indicating the current location is displayed at the center of the map, and the toilet is placed where the toilet is located. An icon is displayed. In addition, characters representing the distance from the current position to the toilet (here, 100 m and 200 m) are also displayed. When this menu item screen is selected with the operation device 5, a route to the nearest toilet is retrieved, and information regarding the retrieved route and the nearest toilet is displayed. When a plurality of toilets are displayed on the map, when an arbitrary toilet is selected with the operation device 5, a route to the toilet is searched, and the searched route and information on the toilet are displayed.

  In the “Convenience Store” menu item, a map centered on the current position is displayed above the characters “4 Convenience Store”, an icon indicating the current position is displayed at the center of the map, and a convenience store (hereinafter referred to as a convenience store) is displayed. An icon indicating a convenience store is displayed at the existing position. In addition, characters representing the distance from the current position to the nearest convenience store (500 m in this case) are also displayed. When this menu item screen is selected with the operation device 5, a route to the nearest convenience store is searched, and information on the searched route and the nearest convenience store is displayed. When a plurality of convenience stores are displayed on the map, when an arbitrary convenience store is selected with the operation device 5, a route to the convenience store is searched, and the searched route and information about the convenience store are displayed.

  In the “home channel” menu item, a map centered on the current position is displayed above the characters “5 home channel”, and an icon indicating a house is displayed at the center of the map. When this menu item screen is selected with the operation device 5, the return channel (walking route) from the current position to the home is retrieved and displayed. You can also search and display information about available transportation that is not suspended.

  In the “Mail” menu item, a map centered on the current position is displayed above the characters “6 Mail”, and “mail to” characters are displayed near the center of the map. When this menu item screen is selected by the operation device 5, a mail is transmitted from a mobile phone connected to the external I / F 6 to a pre-registered mobile phone or the like existing within the map display range.

  In the “last train” menu item, a map centered on the current position is displayed above the characters “7 last train”, and the time until the last train of the nearest station is displayed at the bottom of the map. When this menu item screen is selected by the operation device 5, in addition to the time until the last train, the route to the nearest station and information about the station are displayed. It is also possible to display transfer guidance information from the nearest station to your home.

  In the “Search / History” menu item, a map centered on the current position is displayed above the characters “8 Search / History”, and “Search” characters and a search history display frame are displayed at the center of the map. It is displayed. When this menu item screen is selected by the operation device 5, the screen shifts to a search history display screen within the map display range.

  In the “Nearest Police / Koban” menu item, a map with the current position near the upper left corner is displayed above the characters “9 Nearest Police / Koban”, and an icon indicating the current position near the upper left corner of the map. Is displayed, and an icon indicating the nearest police or police box is displayed near the lower right corner of the map. In addition, characters representing the distance (here, 500 m) from the current position to the nearest police or police box are also displayed. When this menu item screen is selected with the operation device 5, the route to the nearest police / duty box is searched, and information on the searched route and the nearest police / police is displayed.

  The menu items displayed by the execution of step S4 are menu items “0” arranged at the lower end of FIG. 4 in “1 Location where you are” to “9 Nearest police and police box” shown in FIG. Menu items related to the current position correction function are added. In the menu item relating to the current position correction function, for example, “directly input the current position by the user (selecting a position on the map)”, “acquiring the current position using means other than GPS (cell phone base station) And “use of wireless LAN access point)” and “execute positioning by GPS again”.

  Returning to the description of FIG. If the positioning accuracy is not bad (step S2: NO), after displaying the menu item in step S3, it is determined whether or not the menu item has been selected within a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) (step S2). If not selected (step S5: NO → S6: YES), the process returns to step S1, and if selected (step S5: YES), the process proceeds to step S11 in FIG.

  Also, when the positioning accuracy is poor (step S2: YES), it is determined whether or not the menu item is selected while a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses after the menu item is displayed in step S4 ( If not selected (step S7: NO → S8: YES), the process proceeds to step S1, and if selected (step S7: YES), the selected menu item is corrected to the current position. It is determined whether the function is related or not (step S9).

  If it is determined that the item is not an item related to the current position correction function (step S9: NO), that is, if it is a menu item shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S11 in FIG. If this is the case (step S9: YES), the process proceeds to step S10 to execute the current position correction process (here, “directly input the current position (select the position on the map) by the user)” and then to step S3. Transition.

  That is, when the positioning accuracy is poor, the current position correction process is executed according to the current position correction instruction by the user, so that the same state as when the positioning accuracy is not bad can be obtained.

  In step S11, it is determined whether or not a search range is set for the function (map display, route guidance, mail transmission, etc.) of the information providing application corresponding to the selected menu item. In the case of the menu items shown in FIG. 4, the search range for "Route to nearest station", "Toilet", "Convenience store", "Email", "Last train", "Search / History", and "Nearest police / alternate" Is set, and no search range is set for “location where I am now” and “home channel”.

  When the search range is set (step S11: YES), it is determined whether the positioning accuracy is poor (step S12). Here, when processing is performed in the order of step S7: YES → S9: NO → S11 → S12, the positioning accuracy is poor, and when processing is performed in the order of step S5: YES → S11 → S12, it is not bad. .

  If the measurement accuracy is poor (step S12: YES), in step S13, the search range is expanded from the range displayed on each menu item screen, and after performing a peripheral search in step S14, in step S15, The information providing application function corresponding to the selected menu item is executed. Here, when the measurement accuracy is poor, since the positioning error is 300 m or more, it is preferable to extend the search range by at least 300 m. Note that the information providing apparatus may have a function that allows the user to set the search range in advance.

  If the positioning accuracy is not bad (step S12: NO), the peripheral search is executed as it is without expanding the search range (step S14), and the function of the information providing application corresponding to the selected menu item is executed (step S14). S15).

  If the search range is not set in the function of the information providing application corresponding to the selected menu item (step S11: NO), the process proceeds to step S15 as it is, and the information providing application corresponding to the selected menu item. The function is executed (step S15).

  When the function of the information providing application corresponding to the selected menu item is finished, the processing of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is finished. Then, it may be configured to repeat from the beginning of the flowchart, or the information providing application may be terminated. Here, the end of the function of the information providing application corresponding to the selected menu item means that, for example, when the device determines that it has arrived at the destination (the nearest station, home, etc.) in the route guidance, a mail is transmitted Such as when the device recognizes that the purpose of each function has been achieved. Whether or not the destination has been reached is determined based on the positioning information of the GPS receiver 2, and whether or not a mail has been transmitted is based on the operating state of the mobile phone connected to the external I / F 6. judge. Also, when the purpose of each function is not achieved, such as when the user interrupts the execution of the function in the middle, the processing of the flowcharts in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be terminated.

  As described above in detail, according to the information providing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, the current position is measured, and a plurality of menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects existing within a predetermined range from the current position are displayed. When searching for the search target indicated by the menu item selected by the user, if the positioning accuracy is poor, the search range is extended, so that a search error due to poor positioning accuracy can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, each menu item is an image like an icon, but the size and shape may be changed. Further, an icon and a character can be combined with each other even if it is not an image like an icon but an image composed of characters. Further, the image may be an image showing the associated function. If the image when the associated function is executed is reduced, or the image obtained when the associated function is executed is deformed, the menu item is selected in advance when the user selects the menu item. Since the function corresponding to is executed and the corresponding image is created and displayed as a menu item, the selected function can be displayed immediately. Further, the scale of the map may be changed when each menu item is displayed and when the function of the selected menu item is executed. Further, menu items may be displayed after a search is performed in advance.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control apparatus, 2 ... GPS receiver, 3 ... Direction sensor, 4 ... Display apparatus, 5 ... Operation apparatus, 6 ... External I / F, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Internal memory.

Claims (4)

A positioning unit that measures the current position;
A positioning accuracy information acquisition unit for acquiring positioning accuracy information representing the positioning accuracy in the positioning unit;
A display unit for displaying a plurality of menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects existing in a predetermined range from the current position measured by the positioning unit;
A range determination unit that determines the predetermined range based on the positioning accuracy information;
An information providing apparatus comprising: a search unit that searches for a search target indicated by a menu item selected from the menu items displayed on the display unit. In the information provision apparatus described in Claim 1,
The range determining unit is an information providing apparatus that widens the predetermined range when the positioning accuracy is less than a predetermined level than when the positioning accuracy is higher than a predetermined level. An information providing method executed by an information providing apparatus,
A positioning process for positioning the current position;
A positioning accuracy information acquisition step for acquiring positioning accuracy information representing the positioning accuracy in the positioning step;
A display step of displaying a plurality of menu items indicating a plurality of types of search objects existing in a predetermined range from the current position measured in the positioning step;
A range determining step for determining the predetermined range based on the positioning accuracy information;
A search step of searching for a search target indicated by a menu item selected from the menu items displayed in the display step.   The program for making the computer of an information provision apparatus perform each process of the information provision method described in Claim 3.

Images