JP2014013148A - Terminal device, in-vehicle device, and navigation program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress delay in navigation service which is to be provided for a driver.SOLUTION: A navigation screen data generation unit 14 generates navigation screen data by combining acquired map data with its own vehicle position data for displaying its own vehicle at a position located by position information. A voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 acquires voice guidance data corresponding to the acquired position information. An external apparatus connection unit 80 transmits the navigation screen data and the voice guidance data to an in-vehicle device 200 via a communication path 300. A display changeover control unit 17 changes a display format of the navigation screen to a simple display format before the estimated time at which the in-vehicle device 200 outputs the voice guidance message.

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device that performs navigation, an in-vehicle device, and a navigation program.

  In recent years, car navigation applications that operate on smartphones have become widespread. A smartphone in which such a car navigation application is installed is used by being fixed to a holder on a dashboard in principle. However, the screen size of a general smartphone is about 4 inches, which is smaller than the screen size of an existing car navigation system. Therefore, a mobile device such as a smartphone and an existing vehicle-mounted device (for example, display audio, car navigation dedicated device) are linked to output video and audio generated by an application on the mobile device from the vehicle-mounted device display and speaker. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2012-10287

  In car navigation systems, real-time output of video and audio is strongly required. The same applies to a car navigation system in which a terminal device such as a portable device and an in-vehicle device cooperate.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, The objective is to provide the technique which suppresses the delay of the navigation information which should be provided to a driver | operator.

  A terminal device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information, a map data acquisition unit that acquires map data corresponding to the acquired position information, and the acquired map data based on the position information. A navigation screen data generation unit that generates navigation screen data by combining vehicle position data for displaying the vehicle at a specified position, and voice guidance data that acquires voice guidance data according to the acquired position information An acquisition unit, a communication unit that transmits navigation screen data and voice guidance data to a vehicle-mounted device via a communication path, and a display switching control unit that switches a display format of a navigation screen displayed on the vehicle-mounted device. The display switching control unit switches the display format of the navigation screen to a simple display format before the scheduled time when the voice guidance message is to be output from the in-vehicle device.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an in-vehicle device. This apparatus includes a communication unit that receives navigation screen data and voice guidance data from the terminal device described above via a communication path, a display unit that displays a navigation screen based on the navigation screen data, and voice guidance data. A voice output unit for outputting a voice guidance message. The display unit displays a navigation screen in which the display format can be switched to a simple display format before the scheduled time when the voice guidance message is to be output.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the delay of the navigation information which should be provided to a driver | operator can be suppressed.

It is a figure showing composition of a car navigation system concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable terminal device and vehicle equipment which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a navigation screen. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the portable terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a subroutine of data transmission processing in steps S12 and S17 in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a car navigation system 500 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The car navigation system 500 includes a mobile terminal device 100 and an in-vehicle device 200, and the mobile terminal device 100 and the in-vehicle device 200 are connected by a communication path 300. The mobile terminal device 100 corresponds to a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet, a PDA, or the like. The in-vehicle device 200 corresponds to a car navigation device, display audio, or the like. The communication path 300 corresponds to wired communication such as USB, and short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

  The mobile terminal device 100 transfers video data and audio data for car navigation to the in-vehicle device 200, and the in-vehicle device 200 displays the video data and outputs the audio data as audio. In the car navigation system 500, video data and audio data are transferred through the same communication path 300.

  The quality of navigation screens is increasing year by year, and the amount of video data is increasing. When the communication path 300 is congested, transfer of video data and audio data is hindered, and a delay in screen update or a delay in audio output timing is likely to occur. In the car navigation system 500, screen updating and voice guidance need to be performed without delay. In particular, voice guidance needs to be provided to the driver without delay. Therefore, even if the communication path 300 is congested, a mechanism for avoiding delay of video data and audio data is necessary.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the mobile terminal device 100 and the in-vehicle device 200 according to the present embodiment. The in-vehicle device 200 includes a control unit 210, a display unit 220, an audio output unit 230, and an external device connection unit 240. The control unit 210 includes a display control unit 211, an audio output control unit 212, and a temporary holding unit 213. The display unit 220 includes a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays video data supplied from the display control unit 211. The audio output unit 230 includes a speaker and outputs the audio data supplied from the audio output control unit 212 as audio.

  The external device connection unit 240 includes a USB host or a short-range communication module, and is connected to an external device connection unit of another device (in this embodiment, the external device connection unit 80 of the mobile terminal device 100) by wire or wirelessly. . In the present embodiment, external device connecting section 240 receives video data and audio data for navigation transmitted from portable terminal apparatus 100 and outputs them to control section 210.

  The temporary storage unit 213 is a buffer for temporarily storing video data and audio data input from the external device connection unit 240. The display control unit 211 supplies the video data held in the temporary holding unit 213 to the display unit 220 at a predetermined timing. The audio output control unit 212 supplies the audio data held in the temporary holding unit 213 to the audio output unit 230 at a predetermined timing.

  The mobile terminal device 100 includes a control unit 10, a map data holding unit 20, an audio data holding unit 30, a GPS unit 40, a network connection unit 50, a display unit 60, an operation unit 70, and an external device connection unit 80. The control unit 10 includes a map data acquisition unit 11, a voice guidance data acquisition unit 12, a position information acquisition unit 13, a navigation screen data generation unit 14, a temporary storage unit 15, a stream generation unit 16, and a display switching control unit 17.

  The configuration of the control unit 10 can be realized in hardware by any computer processor, memory, or other LSI, and in software by a program loaded in the memory. Depicts functional blocks realized by. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof. For example, it is realized by cooperation of a system controller, an application processor, a memory, and a car navigation application program on the memory.

  The map data holding unit 20 holds map data. The voice data holding unit 30 holds voice data serving as a template for voice guidance messages. The map data holding unit 20 and the audio data holding unit 30 may be built on a built-in memory or may be built on an external recording medium.

  The GPS unit 40 includes a GPS receiver and receives radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites for positioning. The GPS unit 40 outputs position information defined by longitude and latitude to the control unit 10. The network connection unit 50 includes a communication module for connecting to the Internet via a mobile phone network or a wireless LAN. In the present embodiment, the network connection unit 50 is connected to a map server (not shown) on the network, receives map data and voice guidance voice data, and supplies them to the control unit 10.

  The map data and voice data may be acquired when the car navigation application is downloaded for the first time or updated, and held in the map data holding unit 20 and the voice data holding unit 30 in a lump. Further, when the car navigation application is executed, data of a necessary part may be adaptively acquired according to the current position information.

  The display unit 60 includes a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays video data supplied from the control unit 10. The operation unit 70 includes physical keys and / or touch panel keys formed on the display. The operation unit 70 receives a user operation and supplies an operation signal corresponding to the operation to the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the display unit 60 displays an operation screen of the car navigation application, and the operation unit 70 receives a destination input from the user.

  The external device connection unit 80 includes a USB host or a short-range communication module, and is connected to an external device connection unit of another device (in this embodiment, the external device connection unit 240 of the in-vehicle device 200) by wire or wirelessly. In the present embodiment, external device connection unit 80 transmits video data and audio data for navigation supplied from control unit 10 to in-vehicle device 200.

  The position information acquisition unit 13 acquires the position information input from the GPS unit 40 and passes it to the map data acquisition unit 11 and the voice guidance data acquisition unit 12. The map data acquisition unit 11 acquires map data corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 13 from the map data holding unit 20. Specifically, map data around the current position specified by the position information is acquired.

  The navigation screen data generation unit 14 adds the vehicle position data for displaying the vehicle at the position specified by the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 13 to the map data acquired from the map data acquisition unit 11. Combine to generate navigation screen data. In the navigation screen, the vehicle is generally displayed with an arrow mark having an arrow extending in the traveling direction. The navigation screen data generation unit 14 specifies a map range to be displayed on the screen based on the position information, and generates navigation screen data by superimposing an arrow mark on the vehicle position on the map.

  In the present embodiment, the navigation screen data generation unit 14 generates certain navigation screen data as difference data between the navigation screen data and navigation screen data that is temporally different. Specifically, difference data with the previous navigation screen data is generated. Thereby, the data amount of navigation screen data can be reduced. The navigation screen data generated by the navigation screen data generation unit 14 is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 15.

  The voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 acquires voice guidance data corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 13 from the voice data holding unit 30. During navigation, various voice guidance is output as voice. The main one is route voice guidance. The route voice guidance includes voice branch guidance. The audio branch guidance guides the direction of turning in front of the branch road according to the route from the current position to the destination. The bending direction is defined by 8 directions or 10 directions. The voice branch guidance is output by voice a plurality of times from before the branch road (for example, an intersection). For example, the voice guidance is performed three times just before the intersection, about 700 m before, about 300 m before, and immediately before. Specifically, a message such as “It is about 700 m ahead and diagonally left” is output as a voice. In the route voice guidance, when it approaches the destination, a message such as “It is around the destination” is output by voice. Voice guidance includes route voice guidance, accident frequent spot guidance, dozing prevention guidance, and the like.

  The voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 can calculate the distance between the branch road and the own vehicle based on the position information of the road data included in the map data and the position information of the own vehicle acquired by the position information acquisition unit 13. . The voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 specifies a voice message that will be required from now on based on the distance and the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed may be a fixed assumed average speed, or may be estimated from a value input from an acceleration sensor (not shown).

  The voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 acquires voice data of the voice message (hereinafter referred to as voice guidance data) from the voice data holding unit 30. The acquired voice guidance data is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 15.

  The stream generation unit 16 generates a data stream by superimposing the navigation screen data and the voice guidance data held in the temporary holding unit 15. At this time, the stream generation unit 16 determines the superimposition position of the voice guidance data based on the voice output time of the voice guidance message calculated by the voice guidance data acquisition unit 12. The generated data stream is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 200 by the external device connection unit 80.

  The display switching control unit 17 switches the display format of the navigation screen displayed on the display unit 220 of the in-vehicle device 200. Specifically, the display switching control unit 17 switches the display format of the navigation screen to a simple display format before the scheduled time when the voice guidance message is to be output from the voice output unit 230 of the in-vehicle device 200. Specifically, the display format of the navigation screen is switched to a simple display format during the period from the scheduled time to the set time.

  The display switching control unit 17 acquires the voice output time at which the voice guidance message is to be output from the voice guidance data acquisition unit 12. Hereinafter, a specific example will be described. When the distance between the vehicle and the intersection is less than 3 km, the voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 reads the voice guidance data of the voice branch guidance message from the voice data holding unit 30 in advance. When the vehicle speed is 60 km / h, the voice guidance message 700 m before the intersection needs to be output by voice after 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 supplies the scheduled time for voice output to the stream generation unit 16 and the display switching control unit 17.

  The display switching control unit 17 instructs the navigation screen data generation unit 14 to change the display format of the navigation screen during the period from the scheduled time to a set time (for example, 5 seconds) before. When receiving the instruction from the display switching control unit 17, the navigation screen data generation unit 14 generates navigation screen data in a simple display format for a specified period.

  The simple display format refers to a display format in which the screen change is relatively small. In particular, in this embodiment, the navigation screen data is defined by the difference data from the previous navigation screen data. Therefore, the smaller the screen change amount, the smaller the data amount of the navigation screen data.

  The display switching control unit 17 can select a map update type display format and a vehicle update type display format. The map update type display format is a display format in which the vehicle position is fixed and the map is variable. In this map update type display format, the display coordinates of the vehicle position are fixed on the navigation screen, and the map is scrolled. While traveling, the map is always scrolled.

  The own vehicle update type display format is a display format in which the own vehicle position is variable and the map is fixed. In this vehicle update type display format, the map is fixed on the navigation screen, and the vehicle position mark in the map moves. While traveling, the vehicle position mark is always displayed.

  Comparing the map update type display format with the vehicle update type display format, the former can always display information around the vehicle more uniformly. However, since the latter is overwhelmingly smaller in screen changes, the latter can greatly reduce the amount of data.

  The display switching control unit 17 selects the map update type display format at normal times, and selects the own vehicle update type display format when it is necessary to reduce the load. The display switching control unit 17 selects the vehicle update type display format for the period from the above-mentioned scheduled time to the set time. This period is a period immediately before the voice guidance message is output. The voice guidance message must be output without delay. Further, when the data amount of the navigation screen data increases, the communication load of the communication path 300 and the processing load of the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle device 200 increase, and the probability of occurrence of transmission delay or processing delay increases. Therefore, the display switching control unit 17 selects the own vehicle update display format in order to reduce the delay occurrence probability in the period immediately before outputting the voice guidance message.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the navigation screen. The navigation screen shown in FIG. 3 transitions from the upper screen to the lower screen. The own vehicle position mark C1 and the post office mark P1 are displayed on the navigation screen shown in FIG. The post office is located at the corner of the intersection. The first navigation screen I1 and the second navigation screen I2 are displayed in a map update type display format.

  Subsequent display formats differ depending on whether the voice guidance function is on or off. When the voice guidance function is off, the screen transitions to the third navigation screen I3a, the fourth navigation screen I4a, and the fifth navigation screen I5 on the left side. In this case, it is displayed in the map update type display format as before.

  When the voice guidance function is on, the screen transitions to the third navigation screen I3b, the fourth navigation screen I4b, and the fifth navigation screen I5 on the right side. When the distance between the intersection with the post office at the corner and the own vehicle is closer than the set distance, the voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 acquires a voice branch guidance message. The display switching control unit 17 switches from the map update display format to the own vehicle update display format when the period immediately before outputting the voice branch guidance message starts. When the transition is made from the third navigation screen I3b to the fourth navigation screen I4b, a voice branch guidance message is output by voice. For example, a voice is output saying "It is about 300m ahead and it is straight ahead."

  When the voice output of the voice guidance message ends, the display switching control unit 17 switches from the own vehicle update display format to the map update display format. The fifth navigation screen I5 is displayed in a map update type display format.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of mobile terminal apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. First, the voice guidance data acquisition unit 12 calculates the next voice reproduction time based on the position information, map data, route information, time information, etc. of the vehicle (S10). The navigation screen data generation unit 14 updates the navigation screen based on the position information of the own vehicle (S11). The external device connection unit 80 transmits stream data including at least the navigation screen data to the in-vehicle device 200 (S12).

  The display switching control unit 17 calculates the arrival time from the current time to the next audio reproduction time (S13). The display switching control unit 17 compares the arrival time with the set time (S14). While the arrival time is equal to or longer than the set time (N in S14), the process proceeds to step S11. When the arrival time is shorter than the set time (Y in S14), the display switching control unit 17 switches from the map update display format to the vehicle update display format (S15).

  The navigation screen data generation unit 14 updates the navigation screen based on the position information of the own vehicle (S16). The external device connection unit 80 transmits stream data including at least navigation screen data to the in-vehicle device 200 (S17). The display switching control unit 17 determines whether or not the transmission of the audio data is completed (S18). While it is not completed (N in S18), the process proceeds to step S16. When completed (Y in S18), the display switching control unit 17 switches from the own vehicle update display format to the map update display format (S19). The processes from step S10 to step S19 are repeated until the navigation ends (Y in S199) (N in S199).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a subroutine of the data transmission process in steps S12 and S17 in the flowchart of FIG. When the navigation screen is updated, the navigation screen data generation unit 14 extracts a difference between the video data of the previous navigation screen and the video data of the current navigation screen (S121). The external device connection unit 80 transmits the difference data (S122). When there is voice guidance data that should be voice-output at the current navigation screen display timing (Y in S123), the external device connection unit 80 transmits the voice guidance data (S124).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the delay of the voice guidance message can be suppressed by reducing the timing at which the voice guidance message is output and the amount of video data on the navigation screen in the immediately preceding period. In addition, display delay of the navigation screen at the timing when the voice guidance message is output can be suppressed. The timing at which the voice guidance message is output is a timing at which the driver can easily confirm the navigation screen, such as approach to an intersection or destination, and there is a strong demand for suppressing display delay.

  Further, by selecting the vehicle update type display format as a simple display format, the communication load and the processing load can be significantly reduced without reducing the screen size and the display content.

  As described above. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the display switching control unit 17 switches from the map update type display format to the own vehicle update type display format when switching from the normal display format to the simple display format has been described. In this regard, the embodiment is not limited to switching to the own vehicle update display format. For example, the display information may be switched to a display format that simplifies the display content by omitting character information and / marks with low priority on the navigation screen. It may also be switched to a screen with a reduced resolution.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the position information acquisition unit 13 acquires the position information from the GPS unit 40 included in the mobile terminal device 100 has been described. In addition, a GPS unit may be provided on the in-vehicle device 200 side, and the position information acquisition unit 13 may acquire position information input from the GPS unit on the in-vehicle device side via the communication path 300. Depending on the place where the mobile terminal device is placed, the positional accuracy of the GPS is lowered. Therefore, the positional accuracy can be increased by acquiring the positional information from the in-vehicle device side where the position of the GPS antenna is fixed.

  500 car navigation system, 100 mobile terminal device, 10 control unit, 11 map data acquisition unit, 12 voice guidance data acquisition unit, 13 position information acquisition unit, 14 navigation screen data generation unit, 15 temporary storage unit, 16 stream generation unit, 17 display switching control unit, 20 map data holding unit, 30 voice data holding unit, 40 GPS unit, 50 network connection unit, 60 display unit, 70 operation unit, 80 external device connection unit, 200 in-vehicle device, 210 control unit, 211 Display control unit 212 Audio output control unit 213 Temporary holding unit 220 Display unit 230 Audio output unit 240 External device connection unit 300 Communication path

Claims (5)

A location information acquisition unit for acquiring location information;
A map data acquisition unit that acquires map data corresponding to the acquired location information;
A navigation screen data generation unit that generates navigation screen data by combining the acquired map data with the vehicle position data for displaying the vehicle at the position specified by the position information;
A voice guidance data acquisition unit for acquiring voice guidance data according to the acquired position information;
A communication unit that transmits the navigation screen data and the voice guidance data to a vehicle-mounted device via a communication path;
A display switching control unit that switches a display format of a navigation screen displayed on the in-vehicle device,
The terminal device, wherein the display switching control unit switches the display format of the navigation screen to a simple display format before a scheduled time when a voice guidance message is to be output from the in-vehicle device. The navigation screen data generation unit generates a certain navigation screen data as difference data between the navigation screen data and the navigation screen data different in time,
The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the display switching control unit switches to a display format with a relatively small screen change before the scheduled time.   3. The display switching control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display switching control unit switches from a display format in which the vehicle position is fixed and the map is variable to a display format in which the vehicle position is variable and the map is fixed before the scheduled time. Terminal equipment. A communication unit for receiving navigation screen data and voice guidance data from a terminal device via a communication path;
A display unit for displaying a navigation screen based on the navigation screen data;
A voice output unit that outputs a voice guidance message based on the voice guidance data;
With
The in-vehicle device, wherein the display unit displays a navigation screen in which a display format is switched to a simple display format before a scheduled time when the voice guidance message is to be output. A location information acquisition function for acquiring location information;
A map data acquisition function for acquiring map data corresponding to the acquired location information;
A navigation screen generation function for generating navigation screen data by combining the acquired map data with the vehicle position data for displaying the vehicle at the position specified by the position information;
A voice guidance data acquisition function for acquiring voice guidance data according to the acquired position information;
A transmission function for transmitting the navigation screen data and the voice guidance data to a vehicle-mounted device via a communication path;
A computer realizes a display switching control function for switching a display format of a navigation screen displayed on the in-vehicle device,
The navigation program, wherein the display switching control function switches the display format of the navigation screen to a simple display format before a scheduled time when a voice guidance message is to be output from the in-vehicle device.

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