JP2013047649A - Retrieval apparatus and navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase in attribute information of facilities to be presented to a user when narrowing down the facilities and to reduce time required for selecting operation of the attribute information.SOLUTION: Genre information hierarchized to form a tree structure is previously stored correspondingly to facilities. When a keyword is input from a user by voice (S100), Japanese syllabary retrieval is performed (S110) and retrieved results are sorted on the basis of history information stored in a history storage part (S180, S190, S220). Together with sorted facilities, a list of main genres of the facilities is displayed (S240). When the number of main genres of the facilities exceeds a predetermined constant N (S230:NO), hierarchical processing is performed (S250) and main genres of target facilities are changed to genre information of an upper hierarchy so that main genres of a plurality of target facilities respectively having different main genres are changed to the same genre.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for facility search, and is particularly effective for use in setting a destination of a navigation device.

  Conventionally, in a search method in a navigation apparatus, when searching for a facility or the like, a keyword related to the facility is input. At this time, since there are many facilities that hit the input keyword, a genre and an area for narrowing down the desired facility are displayed. That is, the user needs to further select the genre and area of the facility in order to narrow down the facilities that hit the keyword. At this time, if the number of genres and areas is large, the time required for the selection operation becomes long.

  In order to solve such problems, there has been proposed a navigation device that refers to a setting history of a destination or the like and displays a list of facilities hitting a keyword in order of setting frequency (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to this navigation device, facilities hitting a keyword are displayed side by side in the order of setting frequency, so that there is a high possibility that a desired facility can be found.

Japanese Patent No. 4569523

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the setting history is excessive and there is no difference in the setting frequency, the narrowing down may not function well. For this reason, a method of referring to the setting history of the past several months (for example, six months) is also disclosed, but just because the past history is close to the present, it does not necessarily function effectively.

  If narrowing does not work well, it is conceivable to narrow down the searched facilities by attribute information such as genre and area as in the past, but if there are more searched facilities in the first place, there is a possibility that the attribute information may be diverse. In such a case, there is a concern that the time required for the selection operation of the attribute information becomes long as in the conventional case.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and when the facilities are narrowed down by selecting the attribute information, the attribute information presented to the user is suppressed from increasing. The purpose is to shorten the time required for selecting attribute information.

  The retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above-described object, includes a database that enables facility retrieval. In this database, attribute information hierarchized so as to form a tree structure is stored in association with facilities. Note that “facility” is a general term for a place to be searched, and for example, a sightseeing spot is also included in the facility.

  In the search device of the present invention, the search means searches for a facility from the database using input information from the user as a search key. Further, the main attribute acquisition unit acquires attribute information of the lowest layer associated with the facility as the main attribute corresponding to the facility searched by the search unit.

  Here, in particular, the attribute changing means, when the number of main attributes acquired by the main attribute acquiring means exceeds a predetermined number, for the target facilities that are a plurality of facilities having different main attributes, The main attribute is changed to the attribute information of the upper hierarchy by tracing the tree structure so that the attributes are the same.

Then, a list of main attributes corresponding to the found facility including the changed main attributes is presented by the attribute presenting means.
In other words, the present invention devise a method of presenting attribute information on the premise that the information is narrowed down by attribute information, such as when there are a large number of searched facilities. Specifically, the attribute information corresponding to the facility is hierarchized so as to form a tree structure. At this time, the attribute information in the lowest layer becomes the main attribute corresponding to the facility, but the number of attribute information in the lower hierarchy increases. Therefore, the main attribute is changed to the attribute information of the upper hierarchy so that a plurality of facilities are the target facilities and the main attributes of the target facilities are the same.

  For example, in FIG. 4, the main attribute of “Nagoya A Golf” is “Golf Course”, and the main attribute of “Nagoya B Golf Driving Range” is “Golf Driving Range”. These two facilities are set as target facilities, and the main attribute is changed to the attribute information “golf” of the upper hierarchy so that the main attributes of the target facilities are the same. Thereby, the number of main attributes can be reduced.

  In this way, when the facility is narrowed down by the attribute information by selecting the attribute information, it is suppressed that the attribute information presented to the user is increased, and the time required for the attribute information selection operation is shortened. Can do.

  The attribute information may be genre information as shown in the example of FIG. However, any information that can be hierarchized to form a tree structure may be used. Therefore, area information in which addresses are hierarchized can also be employed. Further, if the facility has been searched in the past, the time zone or day of the week at the time of the past search may be stored, and the search status of the time zone or day of the week may be hierarchized as attribute information. In this case, the attribute information is updated at the time of search or the like, and the attribute information becomes dynamic.

  In addition, the “predetermined number” may be a number that can be displayed on a single screen when the list of main attributes is displayed, for example. In this way, for example, it is not necessary to scroll the screen using a scroll bar, so that the effect of shortening the time required for the attribute information selection operation is conspicuous.

By the way, it is conceivable to determine the target facility whose main attribute is changed to the attribute information of the upper hierarchy as follows.
That is, as shown in claim 2, it is conceivable that the attribute changing unit determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of facilities for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring unit. For example, the number of facilities is obtained for each main attribute, and a facility having a main attribute with a relatively small number of the facilities is set as a target facility. In this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the target facility whose main attribute is to be changed.

  Further, as shown in claim 3, it is conceivable that the attribute changing means determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of hierarchies for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring means. For example, the number of hierarchies is obtained for each main attribute, and a facility having a main attribute having a relatively large number of hierarchies (a deep hierarchy) is set as a target facility. In this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the target facility whose main attribute is to be changed.

Although the above has been described as the invention of the search device, it can also be realized as an invention of the navigation device.
That is, as shown in claim 4, when a facility is set as a destination, the navigation device calculates a guidance route to the facility and performs guidance along the guidance route. This navigation apparatus also includes the same database, search means, main attribute acquisition means, attribute change means, and attribute presentation means as those of the search apparatus described above. In this manner, when the facility is narrowed down by selecting the attribute information in the navigation device, the amount of attribute information presented to the user is suppressed, and the time required for the attribute information selection operation is reduced. Can be shortened.

  Assuming such a navigation device, as shown in claim 5, it is conceivable to further comprise history information storage means for storing history information corresponding to the facility. The history information includes at least one of setting information indicating that a facility has been set as a destination and arrival information indicating that the facility has been reached. In this case, the facility presentation means rearranges and presents the facilities based on the history information stored in the history information storage means. In this way, the time required for the attribute information selection operation can be shortened, and the time required for the facility selection operation can also be shortened.

  Note that the setting information may include a set number indicating the number of times the facility is set as the destination. In addition, it is conceivable that the arrival information includes the number of times of arrival indicating the number of times of arrival at the facility.

  If the history information is stored in this way, as shown in claim 6, the attribute changing means is based on the history information corresponding to the facility for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring means. It is conceivable to determine at least one of the facilities. For example, the number of times the facility is set or reached is obtained for each main attribute, and a facility having a main attribute with a relatively small number of times of setting or arrival is set as the target facility. In this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the target facility whose main attribute is to be changed.

  As in the search device, the attribute changing unit determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of facilities for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring unit. It is possible. Further, as shown in claim 8, the attribute changing means may determine at least one of the target facilities based on the number of hierarchies for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring means. In any configuration, it is possible to appropriately determine a target facility whose main attribute is to be changed.

  By the way, the navigation device can be embodied as various devices including a GPS receiver, such as a mobile phone and a smartphone. For example, it may be embodied as a car navigation device, and may be used by being mounted on a vehicle as shown in claim 9.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a car navigation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the genre information contained in facility information. It is a flowchart which shows a search display process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hierarchy process of 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hierarchy process of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hierarchy process of 3rd Example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the car navigation apparatus 10.
The car navigation device 10 includes a position detector 21, an operation switch group 22, a remote control device 23, an external communication device 24, a map database 25, a display unit 26, an audio output unit 27, a microphone 28, a history, A storage unit 29 and a control unit 30 are provided.

The position detector 21 is a configuration for specifying the current location of the vehicle, and includes a GPS receiver 21a, a gyroscope 21b, and a distance sensor 21c.
The GPS receiver 21a receives radio waves from GPS (Global Positioning System) artificial satellites and outputs the received signals. The gyroscope 21b detects the magnitude of the rotational motion applied to the vehicle. The distance sensor 21c detects the distance traveled from the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle.

  Based on the output signals from these sensors 21a to 21c, the position, direction, speed, etc. of the vehicle are calculated. The method for obtaining the current location based on the output signal from the GPS receiver 21a may be either a single positioning method or a relative positioning method.

The operation switch group 22 is a switch for inputting various instructions from the user.
The remote control device 23 is configured to input various instructions from the user, similar to the operation switch group 22, and includes a remote control 23a that is separate from the car navigation device 10, and a remote control sensor 23b that inputs a signal from the remote control 23a. have.

  The external communication device 24 is connected to a packet communication network or the like to communicate with the outside. The external communication device 24 acquires accident information, traffic jam information, and the like from the VICS information center via an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on the roadside.

  The map database 25 records map information, audio data, and the like. Specifically, map information (node number, link number, road shape data, road width data, road type data, road number, road regulation data, terrain data, mark data, intersection data, facility information, etc.), for guidance Voice data, voice recognition data, and the like.

  The display unit 26 is a color display device, and can be configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a CRT, or the like. The display unit 26 displays a map and a search screen. On the map screen, a mark indicating the current location of the vehicle, a guidance route to the destination, and the like are displayed in an overlapping manner. The search screen includes a voice input screen and a search result display screen.

  The voice output unit 27 is configured to output various guide voices and the like, and can output guide voices based on facility information input from the map database 25 and various guide voices based on guidance routes.

  The microphone 28 outputs an electrical signal based on the voice uttered by the user. Specifically, when the user inputs (speaks) voice, an electric signal (voice signal) based on the input voice is output to the control unit 30. The user can operate the car navigation device 10 by voice by inputting various voices to the microphone 28. In the facility search, a keyword related to the facility is input using the microphone 28.

  The history storage unit 29 is configured to store history information corresponding to the facility. Specifically, the setting information including the number of times that the facility is set as the destination and the arrival information including the number of times that the facility has been reached are stored.

  The setting information is stored when the destination is set. On the other hand, even if the destination is set, it is not known whether the facility will actually be reached, so the arrival information indicates the actual arrival at the facility. Accordingly, the arrival information is automatically stored when the guidance to the facility set as the destination is completed. Alternatively, the peripheral facility is stored when an instruction to store the arrival information is input from the user.

The history storage unit 29 is embodied as a so-called HDD or the like. Of course, an external storage device such as a memory stick may be used.
The control unit 30 controls the entire apparatus, and is configured around a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an SRAM, an I / O, a bus line connecting these components, and the like. Then, based on a program stored in the ROM or the like, various processes such as a search display process described later are executed.

  Various processing includes route calculation processing. In the route calculation process, an optimum guidance route from the current location to the destination is calculated based on the map information stored in the map database 25 and the destination set via the operation switch group 22 and the like.

  Various processes include a route guidance process. In the route guidance processing, route guidance is performed by displaying a guidance route on the display unit 26 or outputting guidance voice based on the guidance route to the voice output unit 27.

  Here, particularly in the present embodiment, the facility information stored as a part of the map information in the map database 25 is characterized. Then, facility information is demonstrated using FIG. In the present embodiment, all the places to be searched are referred to as “facility”. Therefore, the facility includes sightseeing spots.

  The facility information includes genre information of the facility. This makes it possible to narrow down the facilities searched by a part of the facility name by selecting the genre. Specifically, a search is performed when a part of the facility name is input as a keyword by voice or the like. As a result, the facility including the keyword is displayed. At that time, the genre list of the search facility is also displayed. Here, the user can narrow down the search facility by selecting a genre from the genre list.

  The genre information in this embodiment is hierarchical data having a tree structure. As shown in FIG. For example, the genres “restaurant”, “family restaurant”, and “sushi” are attached to the genre “eat / drink” in the first layer. Further, the genres “family restaurant A” and “family restaurant B” (store name) in the third hierarchy are added to the genre “family restaurant” in the second hierarchy. Furthermore, for the genre “sushi” in the second layer, the genres “sushi”, “spinning sushi”, and “takeaway sushi” in the third layer are added. The fourth genre “conveyor sushi A” and “conveyor sushi B” (store names) are attached.

  The facility information has genre information hierarchized in this way. It is as shown in FIG. For example, the facility information includes a first level genre “stay” and a second level genre “hotel” corresponding to “Nagoya A Hotel”. Also, for example, the first level genre “eating / drinking” corresponding to “Nagoya A Sushi”, the second level genre “sushi”, the third level genre “rotary sushi”, and the fourth level genre “A sushi” ( (Name of store).

  Here, the main genre of each facility is the lowest genre of the hierarchical genre information. For example, the main genre of “Nagoya A Hotel” is “Hotel”, and the main genre of “Nagoya A 庵” is “Coffee Shop”. When “Nagoya City Hall”, “Nagoya A Hotel”, “Nagoya A や” and “Nagoya A Sushi” are displayed as search results, the list of genres is “Public facilities” which is the main genre. , “Hotel”, “Coffee Shop”, “A Sushi”.

  The present embodiment is characterized in the search display process executed by the control unit 30 on the assumption that the genre information is hierarchized in this way. Next, the search display process will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the search display process. This search and display processing is executed when the ignition key is operated by the driver to reach the accessory power supply position (ACC) or to the engine operating position (ON).

  In the first S100, a keyword is input. In this process, a keyword is input from the voice of the user input via the microphone 28. Here, at least a part of the facility name is input as a keyword.

  In subsequent S110, a 50 sound search is performed. In this process, the facility including the keyword is searched from the map database 25 using the input keyword as a search key. Search results are arranged in the order of 50 tones in the RAM.

  In the next S120, it is determined whether or not a search result has been obtained. If there is a search key, an affirmative determination is made here. If it is determined that a search result has been obtained (S120: YES), the process proceeds to S130. On the other hand, if the search result is not obtained (S120: NO), “no applicable item” is determined in S140, and then the process proceeds to S230. In this case, in S240, a message that there is no corresponding facility is displayed.

  In S130, the number of times of setting included in the setting information is acquired. As described above, the set number of times is the number of times the facility is set as the destination. Therefore, in this process, the number of times set as the destination for each facility searched in S110 is read from the history storage unit 29.

  In subsequent S150, it is determined whether the set number of times has been acquired. This process determines whether or not the set number of times has been acquired in S130. That is, if at least one of the facilities searched in S110 has been set as a destination in the past, an affirmative determination is made here. If it is determined that the set number of times has been acquired (S150: YES), the process proceeds to S160. On the other hand, when it is determined that the set number of times could not be acquired (S150: NO), the process proceeds to S200.

  In S160, the number of arrivals included in the arrival information is acquired. As described above, the number of times of arrival is the number of times that the facility has been reached. Therefore, this process reads the frequency | count of reaching | attaining the said facility from the log | history memory | storage part 29 about each facility searched in S110.

  In continuing S170, it is judged whether the frequency | count of arrival has been acquired. If at least one of the facilities searched in S110 has reached the past, an affirmative determination is made here. If it is determined that the number of arrivals has been acquired (S170: YES), the process proceeds to S180. On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of times of arrival has not been acquired (S170: NO), the process proceeds to S190.

  In S180, the search facilities are sorted by the sum of the set number of times and the reached number of times. In this process, the search results arranged in the order of 50 sounds are rearranged by the total number of set times and arrival times. In addition, about the facility where the sum total of the setting frequency | count and arrival frequency is the same, an order is decided according to a setting frequency | count.

In S190, where the number of times of arrival cannot be acquired, the search facility is sorted by the set number of times. In this process, the search results arranged in the order of 50 sounds are rearranged by the set number of times.
On the other hand, in S200 that is shifted when the set number of times cannot be acquired, the number of times of arrival is acquired as in S160.

  In continuing S210, it is judged whether the frequency | count of arrival has been acquired. This process is the same as S170. If it is determined that the number of arrivals has been acquired (S210: YES), the process proceeds to S220. On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of times of arrival has not been acquired (S210: NO), the process proceeds to S230 without executing the process of S220. In this case, the search facility is not sorted and remains in the order of 50 sounds.

In S220, the search facilities are sorted by the number of arrivals. In this process, the search results arranged in the order of 50 sounds are rearranged by the number of arrival times.
In S230, it is determined whether or not the number of genres of the search facility is a constant N or less. In this process, it is determined whether or not the total of the main genres of each searched facility is a constant N or less. Note that the constant N is preferably small considering that the user selects a genre for narrowing down. For example, the constant N is set to a number that allows the genre list to fit on one screen, that is, a number that does not require scrolling through the genre list. It is preferable to do. If the number of genres ≦ N (S230: YES), the process proceeds to S240. On the other hand, when the number of genres> N (S230: NO), the process proceeds to S250.

  In S240, the result is displayed. This process displays a list of searched facilities and a list of main genres of the facilities. Thereby, the user can further narrow down the search facility by selecting a genre.

  In S250, hierarchical processing is performed. In this process, a target facility that is a plurality of facilities is determined, and the main genre of the target facility is changed to a genre of a higher hierarchy of the hierarchical genre information. Here, the method of determining the target facility is shown as an example below.

[First embodiment]
In the first embodiment, at least one of the target facilities is determined based on the number of facilities for each main genre.

  For example, FIG. 4A shows facilities searched by the keyword “Nagoya” and the genres (all hierarchies) of these facilities. It is assumed that “Nagoya City Hall”, “Nagoya A 役”, “Nagoya A Sushi”, “Nagoya A Golf”, “Nagoya B Golf Driving Range”, etc. are searched as shown in FIG.

  Here, Nagoya City Hall's main genre is “Public Facilities”, Nagoya A 庵 's main genre is “Café”, Nagoya A Sushi's main genre is “A Sushi” (name), and Nagoya A Golf ’s main genre is “Golf Course” “The main genre of the Nagoya B Golf Driving Range is“ Golf Driving Range ”.

  FIG. 4B shows a list of these main genres. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of facilities for each main genre. That is, before hierarchical processing, as shown in the left column, there are “10” facilities belonging to public facilities, “5” facilities belonging to coffee shops, “1” facilities belonging to A sushi, and golf courses. There are “1” facilities and “1” facilities belonging to the driving range.

  In this case, the number of facilities belonging to “A sushi”, “golf course”, and “golf driving range” is one, and the number of facilities belonging to the main genre is reduced. Therefore, the main genre “golf course” of Nagoya A Golf and the main genre “golf practice field” of the Nagoya B golf practice field are changed to the genre “golf” of the upper hierarchy (see FIG. 4A).

As a result, as shown in the right column of FIG. 4B, the main genres after the hierarchy processing are “public facilities”, “coffee shop”, “A sushi”, and “golf”, and the number of genres can be reduced.
If it does in this way, the target facility used as the change object of a main genre can be determined appropriately.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, at least one of the target facilities is determined based on the number of hierarchies for each main genre.

For example, FIG. 5A shows a part of facilities searched by the keyword “Nagoya” and genres of these facilities, as in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5B shows a list of main genres corresponding to the facilities. The numbers in parentheses indicate the hierarchy of the main genre. That is, as shown in the left column, before the hierarchy process, the public facility is the first hierarchy, the coffee shop is the second hierarchy, the A sushi is the fourth hierarchy, the golf course is the third hierarchy, and the golf practice field is the third hierarchy. Yes.

  In this case, the main genre “A Sushi” of Nagoya A Sushi is the deepest hierarchy. Therefore, the main genre “A sushi” of Nagoya A sushi and the main genre “coffee shop” of Nagoya A 変 更 are changed to the genre “eating / drinking” in the upper hierarchy (see FIG. 5A).

  As a result, as shown in the right column of FIG. 4B, the genres after the hierarchy processing are “public facilities”, “eat / drink”, “golf courses” and “golf driving ranges”, and reduce the number of genres. Can do.

If it does in this way, the target facility used as the change object of a main genre can be determined appropriately.
[Third embodiment]
In the third embodiment, at least one of the target facilities is determined based on the history information corresponding to the facility for each main genre.

For example, FIG. 6A shows a part of facilities searched by the keyword “Nagoya” and the genres of these facilities, as in FIGS. 4A and 5A.
FIG. 6B shows a list of main genres corresponding to the facilities. The numbers in parentheses indicate the total number of set times and arrival times of facilities belonging to each genre. That is, as shown in the left column before level processing, “1” for public facilities, “2” for coffee shops, “1” for A sushi, “10” for golf courses, and “10” for golf driving ranges 8 ”.

  In this case, looking at the genres “public facilities”, “coffee shop”, and “A sushi”, the total of the set number of times and the number of times reached is small. Therefore, the main genre “A sushi” of Nagoya A sushi and the main genre “coffee shop” of Nagoya A 庵 are changed to the genre “eating / drinking” of the upper hierarchy (see FIG. 6A).

  As a result, as shown in the right column of FIG. 6B, the genres after the hierarchy processing are “public facilities”, “eat / drink”, “golf courses”, and “golf driving ranges”, and reduce the number of genres. Can do.

  As described above, since the history information (the total of the set number and the reached number) is stored in the history storage unit 29, the set number and the reached number can be obtained for each main genre. The set number of times and the number of times of arrival for each main genre may be obtained in the process of S250, or may be obtained and stored in advance.

If it does in this way, the target facility used as the change object of a main genre can be determined appropriately.
As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the genre information hierarchized so as to form a tree structure is stored in the facility information in the map database 25 in association with the facility. Here, when a keyword is input by voice from the user (S100 in FIG. 3), a 50-sound search is performed (S110), and the search results are sorted based on the history information stored in the history storage unit 29. (S180, S190, S220). Then, a list of main genres of the facilities is displayed together with the facilities that are the search results (S240).

  Here, in particular, when the number of main genres of facilities as search results exceeds a predetermined constant N (S230: NO), hierarchical processing is performed (S250). In this hierarchical process, the main genre is changed to the genre information of the upper hierarchy so that the target genre of the target facility is the same for the target facilities that are a plurality of facilities having different main genres.

  Accordingly, when the facility is narrowed down by the genre information by causing the user to select the genre information, an increase in the genre information (number of main genres) displayed to the user is suppressed, and the genre information is selected. The time required can be shortened.

  At this time, when the list of main genres is displayed, for example, the predetermined constant N may be set to such a number that the list fits on one screen. In this way, for example, it is not necessary to scroll the screen using a scroll bar, so the effect of shortening the time required for the selection operation of genre information is conspicuous.

  In the present embodiment, a history storage unit 29 that stores history information (setting information and arrival information) corresponding to the facility is provided. Then, in the search display process, the number of settings included in the setting information is acquired (S130 in FIG. 3). In addition, the number of arrivals included in the arrival information is acquired (S160, S200). Then, the facilities are rearranged at least one of the set number and the reached number (S180, S190, S220). Thereby, the time required for the selection operation of genre information can be shortened, and the time required for the facility selection operation can also be shortened.

  The map database 25 in the present embodiment constitutes a “database” in the claims, and the genre information corresponds to “attribute information”. Further, the control unit 30 in the present embodiment constitutes “search means”, “main attribute acquisition means”, “attribute change means”, and “attribute presentation means” in the claims, and the history storage section 29 stores “history information”. The storage means "is configured.

  Further, the processing of S110 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the processing as the function of “search means”, the processing of S250 corresponds to the processing as the functions of “main attribute acquisition means” and “attribute changing means”, and the processing of S240. The processing corresponds to processing as a function of “attribute presenting means”.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical scope thereof.
(B) In the above embodiment, hierarchized genre information is used as facility attribute information, but the attribute information may be information that can be hierarchized so as to form a tree structure. Therefore, area information in which addresses are hierarchized can also be employed. Further, if the facility has been searched in the past, the time zone or day of the week at the time of the past search may be stored, and the search status of the time zone or day of the week may be hierarchized as attribute information. In this case, the attribute information is updated at the time of search or the like, and the attribute information becomes dynamic.

  (B) Although the invention is embodied as the car navigation apparatus 10 in the above embodiment, it may be embodied as a mobile phone or a smartphone having a navigation function.

  (C) In the above embodiment, a keyword related to a facility is input using the microphone 28. On the other hand, you may input the keyword regarding a facility using the operation switch group 22, remote control 23a, etc. FIG. That is, the keywords related to the facility may be input by some input means.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Car navigation apparatus, 21 ... Position detector, 21a ... GPS receiver, 21b ... Gyroscope, 21c ... Distance sensor, 22 ... Operation switch group, 23 ... Remote control device, 23a ... Remote control, 23b ... Remote control sensor, 24 ... External communicator, 25 ... map database, 26 ... display unit, 27 ... audio output unit, 28 ... microphone, 29 ... history storage unit, 30 ... control unit

Claims (9)

A database that enables search of facilities and stores attribute information that is hierarchized so as to form a tree structure in association with facilities,
Search means for searching for facilities from the database using the input information from the user as a search key;
Main attribute acquisition means for acquiring attribute information of the lowest layer associated with the facility as a main attribute corresponding to the facility searched by the search means;
When the main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquisition means exceeds a predetermined number, for the target facility that is a facility having a different main attribute, so that the main attribute of the target facility is the same, Attribute changing means for changing the main attribute to the attribute information of the upper hierarchy by tracing the tree structure,
Attribute presentation means for presenting a list of main attributes corresponding to the found facility, including the main attributes changed by the attribute change means;
A search apparatus comprising: The search device according to claim 1,
The attribute changing unit determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of facilities for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring unit. The search device according to claim 1,
The attribute change means determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of hierarchies for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquisition means. When a facility is set as a destination, a navigation device that calculates a guidance route to the facility and performs guidance along the guidance route,
A database that enables search of facilities and stores attribute information that is hierarchized so as to form a tree structure in association with facilities,
Search means for searching for facilities from the database using the input information from the user as a search key;
Main attribute acquisition means for acquiring attribute information of the lowest layer associated with the facility as a main attribute corresponding to the facility searched by the search means;
When the number of main attributes acquired by the main attribute acquisition unit exceeds a predetermined number, for the target facilities that are a plurality of facilities having different main attributes, the main attributes of the target facilities are made the same. , Attribute change means for changing the main attribute to the attribute information of the upper hierarchy following the tree structure;
Attribute presentation means for presenting a list of main attributes corresponding to the found facility, including the main attributes changed by the attribute change means;
A navigation device comprising: The navigation device according to claim 4, further comprising:
History information storage means for storing at least one of setting information indicating that the facility has been set as the destination and arrival information indicating that the facility has been reached as history information corresponding to the facility;
Facility presentation means for rearranging and presenting the facilities based on the history information stored in the history information storage means;
A navigation device comprising: The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute changing unit determines at least one of the target facilities based on history information corresponding to the facility for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring unit. The navigation device according to claim 4 or 5,
The attribute change means determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of facilities for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquisition means. The navigation device according to claim 4 or 5,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute changing unit determines at least one of the target facilities based on the number of hierarchies for each main attribute acquired by the main attribute acquiring unit. The navigation device according to any one of claims 4 to 8,
A navigation device that is mounted on a vehicle and used.

Images