JP2016070806A - Navigation device and navigation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device that enables an enlargement of a display area of a map screen visually recognizable by users without implementing cumbersome operations by the users.SOLUTION: A navigation device 10 comprises: a route search unit 111 that searches for a guide route to a destination; a route guidance unit 112 that guides the retrieved guide route; and a home button display control unit 121 that causes a home button for causing the route search unit 111 to search for a route of the guide route making a preliminarily set home the destination to be displayed overlapping on a map screen. When the navigation device 10 is in a state matching a predetermined non-display condition of the home button, the home button display control unit 121 causes the home button not to be displayed on the map screen. Accordingly, when the navigation device 10 is in the state matching the non-display condition thereof, the home button displayed on the map screen is configured to automatically disappear without any operation by users.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device and a navigation method, and is particularly suitable for use in a navigation device and a navigation method that can display a home button for searching a guidance route to a home on a map screen.

  Conventionally, in navigation devices, as an input device for performing various input operations, a touch panel superimposed on the surface of a display is often used. In this type of navigation device, various buttons that can be operated by a touch panel are displayed on a display so as to overlap each other on a map screen. In particular, the home button can be used to search for a guidance route having a home as a destination with a single touch, and thus is frequently used and is used in many navigation devices.

  For example, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a map screen by a conventional navigation device. A map screen 800 shown in FIG. 8 is an example of a map screen that is displayed on the display of the navigation device when a conventional navigation device provides guidance for a guidance route with a home as a destination. The map screen 800 represents a map around the current position of the host vehicle. On the map screen 800, an icon 801 representing the current position of the host vehicle and a guidance route image 802 representing the guidance route to the home are displayed in an overlapping manner.

  On the map screen 800, a home button 810 and a switching button 812 that can be operated with a touch panel are displayed in an overlapping manner. The home button 810 is a button for causing the navigation device to search for a guidance route with the home as the destination. The switching button 812 is a button operated when the home button 810 is not displayed.

  The technology for displaying buttons that can be operated by a touch panel on a display is also used for devices other than navigation devices. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a display key is displayed on a central display / input unit provided in a heating cooker, and an operation corresponding to the display key is performed by an input key formed at a position corresponding to the display position. A technique that can be performed is disclosed.

JP 2009-277666 A

  However, the conventional navigation device always displays the frequently used home button on the map screen. Therefore, in the conventional navigation device, unless the user performs an operation for hiding the home button, a part of the map screen is always hidden by the home button, and the display area of the map screen that the user can visually recognize There has been a problem of reducing the amount.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the home button 810 is displayed over the map screen 800 even though the navigation device is already guiding the guidance route 802 to the home. As a result, a part of the map screen 800 is hidden by the home button 810, and the user cannot see a part of the map screen 800. Note that the home button 810 can be hidden by operating the switching button 812 with the touch panel, but the user has to perform a troublesome operation.

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 disables an input key for inputting information that is no longer needed after cooking is started and hides a display key corresponding to the input key after cooking is started. Can be made. However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays a display key in a predetermined key display area, and does not display it over another display screen. Even if this is done, the display area of another display screen cannot be enlarged.

  This invention is made in order to solve such a problem, and it enables it to expand the display area of the map screen which a user can visually recognize, without a user performing troublesome operation. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, a home button for causing the route search unit to search for a guidance route having a preset home as a destination is displayed on the map screen. In the above configuration, when the navigation device is in a state that matches a predetermined non-display condition of the home button, the home button is not displayed on the map screen.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the navigation device is in a state that matches the non-display condition of the home button, the home button displayed on the map screen is automatically displayed without any operation by the user. Erased. Thus, the user can visually recognize a part of the map screen hidden by the home button. Therefore, according to this invention, the display area of the map screen which a user can visually recognize can be expanded, without a user performing troublesome operation.

It is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process by the navigation apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map screen by the navigation apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a function structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process by the navigation apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of the user setting distance which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map screen by the navigation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the map screen by the conventional map display apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Functional Configuration Example of Navigation Device 10]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of a navigation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 10 is a device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. However, the navigation device described in the claims is not limited to this, and can be applied to devices other than devices mounted on the vehicle (for example, portable navigation devices, portable terminals such as smartphones). it can.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 10 according to this embodiment includes a map data storage unit 101, a touch panel 103, a current position detection device 105, a display 102, and a speaker 104. Moreover, the navigation apparatus 10 is provided with the route search part 111, the route guidance part 112, the map screen display control part 120, and the home button display control part 121 as the function structure.

  The functional blocks 111, 112, 120, and 121 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 111, 112, 120, 121 is actually configured by including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. of a computer, and is stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory. This is realized by operating the stored program.

  The map data storage unit 101 stores map data. The map data includes node information of a plurality of nodes, road link information of a plurality of road links, facility data, place name data, and the like. Further, the map data storage unit 101 stores registered spot data of spots arbitrarily designated by the user. The registration point data includes registration point data of the user's home.

  The display 102 displays various information (mainly a map screen). As the display 102, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display or the like is used. The touch panel 103 is an example of an input device for inputting various information. The touch panel 103 is provided so as to overlap the surface of the display 102. The speaker 104 outputs various voices (for example, guidance voice for route guidance). The current position detection device 105 detects the current position of the vehicle. The current position detection device 105 includes, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) and an autonomous navigation unit.

  Based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 101, the route search unit 111 is a destination arbitrarily set by the user by operating the touch panel 103 from the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 105. Search for the guidance route to.

  The route guidance unit 112 is based on the guidance route searched by the route search unit 111, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 101, and the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 105. Guide the vehicle to the destination. The guidance of the vehicle by the route guidance unit 112 is accompanied by a display on the display 102 such as a guidance route and an intersection guidance screen, and an output of guidance voice from the speaker 104.

  The map screen display control unit 120 generates a map screen around the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 105 based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 101, and displays the map screen. 102 is displayed.

  The home button display control unit 121 controls display of the home button on the display 102. The home button is a button for causing the route search unit 111 to search for a guidance route having the home as the destination set in the registration point data of the map data storage unit 101.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the home button display control unit 121 causes the home button 310 to be superimposed on a predetermined position (lower left) on the map screen 300 and displayed on the display 102. In this state, when the user operates the touch panel 103 and presses the home button 310, the route search unit 111 searches for a guide route with the home as the destination.

  On the other hand, the home button display control unit 121 does not display the home button on the map screen when the navigation device 10 is in a state that matches the non-display condition of the home button. In the first embodiment, the home button display control unit 121 sets the home button as a state that matches the non-display condition of the home button when the guidance route with the home as the destination is guided by the route guide unit 112. Is not displayed on the map screen. This is because, in general, in a state where guidance of the guidance route to the home has already been performed, it is considered that the possibility that the user again causes the navigation device 10 to search for the guidance route to the home is low.

[Example of processing by navigation device 10]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the navigation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For example, the process illustrated in FIG. 2 is a predetermined timing for displaying a map screen in the navigation device 10 (for example, timing when the navigation device 10 is turned on, timing when the navigation function is started in the navigation device 10, etc.). It is executed when

  First, the map screen display control unit 120 displays a map screen around the current position of the vehicle on the display 102 (step S202). Next, the home button display control unit 121 displays the home button on a predetermined position on the map screen on the display 102 (step S204).

  Thereafter, the route search unit 111 determines whether or not the user has instructed to search for a guidance route to the destination (step S206). Here, when the route search unit 111 determines that the search for the guidance route is not instructed (step S206: No), the navigation device 10 returns the process to step S202.

  On the other hand, when the route search unit 111 determines that the search for the guidance route has been instructed (step S206: Yes), the route search unit 111 searches for the guidance route to the destination set by the user (step S208). Then, the route guidance unit 112 starts guiding the guidance route searched in step S208 (step S210).

  Further, the home button display control unit 121 determines whether or not the destination of the guidance route for which guidance has been started in step S210 is home (step S212). If the home button display control unit 121 determines that the destination of the guidance route is home (step S212: Yes), the home button display control unit 121 deletes the home button displayed on the display 102. (Step S214). And the navigation apparatus 10 advances a process to step S216.

  On the other hand, when the home button display control unit 121 determines that the destination of the guidance route is not home (step S212: No), the navigation device 10 proceeds to step S216 while the home button is displayed on the display 102. Proceed.

  In step S216, the route guidance unit 112 determines whether the host vehicle has arrived at the destination. If the route guidance unit 112 determines that the host vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S216: Yes), the navigation device 10 returns the process to step S202. On the other hand, when the route guidance unit 112 determines that the host vehicle has not arrived at the destination (step S216: No), the map screen display control unit 120 causes the display 102 to display a map screen around the current position of the vehicle. (Step S218). And the navigation apparatus 10 returns a process to step S216.

[Display example of map screen by navigation device 10]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a map screen by the navigation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A map screen 300 illustrated in FIG. 3A is an example of a map screen displayed on the display 102 when the navigation apparatus 10 does not provide guidance for a guidance route whose destination is a home. On the other hand, a map screen 300 ′ shown in FIG. 3B is an example of a map screen displayed on the display 102 when the navigation apparatus 10 provides guidance for a guidance route with the home as the destination.

  The map screens 300 and 300 'represent a map around the current position of the host vehicle, and include a plurality of road images. The map screen 300 is configured to include a facility image 302 representing the location, type, and name of the facility in addition to a plurality of road images. The map screen 300 ′ includes facility images 301 and 302 representing the location, type, and name of the facility in addition to a plurality of road images. In addition, an icon 311 representing the current position of the host vehicle is displayed on the map screen 300, 300 '. Further, a guidance route image 312 representing a guidance route to the home is displayed on the map screen 300 'in an overlapping manner. In addition, a home button 310 that can be operated by the touch panel 103 is displayed on the map screen 300 in an overlapping manner. The home button 310 is a button for causing the route search unit 111 to search for a guidance route with the home as the destination.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the guidance route to the home is not performed in the navigation device 10, the home button 310 is superimposed on the map screen 300 under the control of the home button display control unit 121. Is displayed. For this reason, since the facility image 301 is hidden by the home button 310 on the map screen 300, the facility image 301 cannot be viewed by the user.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the navigation device 10 is guiding the guidance route 312 to the home, the home button is displayed on the map screen 300 ′ under the control of the home button display control unit 121. 310 is not displayed. Thereby, on the map screen 300 ′, the facility image 301 displayed at the display position of the home button 310 can be visually recognized by the user.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the navigation device 10 starts guiding the guidance route with the home as the destination, the home button displayed on the map screen is not operated by the user. It is automatically deleted. Thus, the user can visually recognize a part of the map screen hidden by the home button. Therefore, according to 1st Embodiment, the display area of the map screen which a user can visually recognize can be expanded, without a user performing troublesome operation.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In particular, in the following, with respect to the navigation device 10 ′ of the second embodiment, changes from the navigation device 10 of the first embodiment will be described.

[Functional Configuration Example of Navigation Device 10 ']
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the navigation device 10 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 10 ′ shown in FIG. 4 further includes a user set value storage unit 106, and the navigation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a home button display control unit 121 ′ instead of the home button display control unit 121. Different from 10.

  The user set value storage unit 106 stores a user set distance, which is a distance from the home set by the user in order to define a target range where the home button is not displayed. For example, the user setting value storage unit 106 displays a setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the display 102 and allows the user to set the user setting distance. When the user setting distance is set, the user setting value storage unit 106 stores the user setting distance.

  In the second embodiment, the home button display control unit 121 ′ is configured such that the current position of the navigation device 10 ′ detected by the current position detection device 105 is stored in the user set value storage unit 106 from the home. The home button is not displayed on the map screen as a state that matches the non-display condition of the home button when it is within the range of. In general, in the vicinity of the home, in most cases, the user grasps the return route to the home without looking at the map screen, and the user causes the navigation device 10 ′ to perform a search process of the guide route to the home. This is because the possibility is low.

  The user set value storage unit 106 can cause the user to set “non-display function OFF” instead of the user set distance. When the “non-display function OFF” is set, the home button display control unit 121 ′ displays the home button on the display 102 regardless of the distance from the home to the current position of the navigation device 10 ′.

[Example of processing by the navigation device 10 ']
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the navigation device 10 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention. For example, in the processing illustrated in FIG. 5, the navigation device 10 ′ starts a navigation function at a predetermined timing (for example, when the navigation device 10 ′ is turned on, at a predetermined timing when the map screen is displayed). It is executed when the timing etc. arrives.

  First, the map screen display control unit 120 displays a map screen around the current position of the vehicle on the display 102 (step S502). Next, the home button display control unit 121 'reads the user set distance stored in the user set value storage unit 106 (step S504).

  Next, the home button display control unit 121 'determines whether or not “non-display function OFF” has been set instead of the user set distance (step S506). Here, when the home button display control unit 121 ′ determines that “non-display function OFF” is set instead of the user setting distance (step S506: Yes), the navigation device 10 ′ advances the process to step S516. .

  On the other hand, when the home button display control unit 121 ′ determines that “non-display function OFF” is not set instead of the user-set distance (step S506: No), the current position detection device 105 determines the current position of the vehicle. Detection is performed (step S508). Then, the home button display control unit 121 'calculates a distance D from the current position of the vehicle detected in step S508 to the home (step S510). The distance D is, for example, a linear distance calculated based on the position coordinates of the current position of the vehicle and the position coordinates of the home.

  Thereafter, the home button display control unit 121 'determines whether or not the distance D calculated in step S510 is shorter than the user set distance read in step S504 (step S512). When the home button display control unit 121 ′ determines that the distance D is shorter than the user set distance (step S512: Yes), the home button display control unit 121 ′ hides the home button (step S514). ). Then, the navigation device 10 'advances the process to step S518.

  On the other hand, when the home button display control unit 121 ′ determines that the distance D is not shorter than the user set distance (step S512: No), the home button display control unit 121 ′ displays the home button on the display 102 (step S512). S516). Then, the navigation device 10 'advances the process to step S518.

  In step S518, the map screen display control unit 120 determines whether or not to end the display of the map screen. For example, the map screen display control unit 120 performs a predetermined operation for ending the display of the map screen in the navigation device 10 ′ (for example, an operation for turning off the power of the navigation device 10 ′, an operation for ending the navigation function, etc.). It is determined that the display of the map screen is terminated.

  Here, when the map screen display control unit 120 determines that the display of the map screen is to be ended (step S518: Yes), the navigation device 10 'ends the series of processes illustrated in FIG. On the other hand, when the map screen display control unit 120 determines not to end the display of the map screen (step S518: No), the navigation device 10 'returns the process to step S502.

  According to the process of FIG. 5, for example, when the host vehicle is located outside the range of the user set distance from home, the home button is automatically displayed on the display 102. Thereafter, when the own vehicle moves within the range of the user set distance from home, the home button is automatically deleted from the display 102.

[Example of user setting distance setting screen]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user setting distance setting screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A screen 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 is an example of a setting screen displayed on the display 102 of the navigation device 10 ′ when the user performs various settings on the navigation device 10 ′.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the screen 600 includes a setting field 610 for setting a user setting distance. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, “3000 m” is set as the user setting distance in the setting field 610. In this case, when the distance from the home to the current position of the host vehicle is “3000 m” or more, the home button is displayed on the display 102.

  On the other hand, when the distance from the home to the current position of the host vehicle is shorter than “3000 m”, the home button is not displayed on the display 102. The user can set “non-display function OFF” in the setting field 610 instead of the user setting distance. When “non-display function OFF” is set in the setting field 610, the home button is displayed on the display 102 regardless of the distance from the home to the current position of the host vehicle.

[Display example of map screen by navigation device 10 ']
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a map screen by the navigation device 10 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A map screen 700 shown in FIG. 7A is an example of a map screen displayed on the display 102 when the host vehicle is located outside a circular range having a user-set distance from the home as a radius r. On the other hand, a map screen 700 ′ shown in FIG. 7B is an example of a map screen displayed on the display 102 when the host vehicle is located within a circular range having a user-set distance from the home as a radius r. It is.

  The map screens 700 and 700 'represent a map around the current position of the host vehicle and include a plurality of road images. The map screen 700 includes a facility image 701 representing the location, type, and name of the facility in addition to a plurality of road images. In addition to the plurality of road images, the map screen 700 ′ includes a facility image 702 that represents the location, type, and name of the facility, and an icon 703 that represents the location of the home. In addition, an icon 711 representing the current position of the host vehicle is displayed on the map screen 700, 700 '. In addition, a home button 710 that can be operated by the touch panel 103 is displayed on the map screen 700 in an overlapping manner. The home button 710 is a button for causing the route search unit 111 to search for a guidance route with the home as the destination.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the host vehicle is located outside a circular range having a user-set distance from the home as a radius r, the home button display control unit 121 'controls the map screen 700 to display it. A home button 710 is displayed in an overlapping manner.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the host vehicle is located within a circular range having a user-set distance from the home as a radius r, the map screen 700 is controlled by the home button display control unit 121 ′. 'Home button 710 is not displayed above. Thereby, on the map screen 700 ′, the facility image 702 displayed at the display position of the home button 710 can be visually recognized by the user.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the own vehicle moves from a home within a circular range having a user-set distance as a radius r, the vehicle is displayed on the map screen without any operation. The home button is automatically cleared. As a result, the user can visually recognize a part of the map screen without being hidden by the home button. Therefore, according to 2nd Embodiment, the display area of the map screen which a user can visually recognize can be expanded, without a user performing troublesome operation.

  The “state where the navigation device matches the non-display condition of the home button” described in the claims is not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiments. For example, in each of the above embodiments, when a guidance route having a destination other than the home as a destination is guided by the route guidance unit 112, the navigation device is assumed to be in a state that matches the non-display condition of the home button. The button may not be displayed on the map screen. This is because, in general, it is considered that the possibility that the navigation device 10 or 10 ′ performs the search process of the guidance route to the home while the user is heading to the destination other than the home is low.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, when the navigation apparatus 10 and 10 'are moving from the point where it was repeatedly made the destination, a navigation apparatus matches the non-display conditions of a home button, The home button may not be displayed on the map screen. Generally, when the user is moving from a point that the user has visited repeatedly, the user is likely to be on the way home and the user knows the return route to the home. This is because the possibility is high.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the navigation devices 10 and 10 ′ are moving from a point where the navigation route to the home has been searched, the navigation device matches the non-display condition of the home button. As a state to be performed, the home button may not be displayed on the map screen. Generally, if you are moving from a point where you have searched for a guidance route to your home, it is likely that the user is on the way home and the user is returning home This is because it is considered that there is a high possibility of grasping.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10 'Navigation apparatus 101 Map data memory | storage part 102 Display 103 Touch panel 104 Speaker 105 Current position detection apparatus 106 User setting value memory | storage part 111 Path | route search part 112 Route guidance part 120 Map screen display control part 121,121' Home button display control Part

Claims (8)

A route search unit for searching for a guide route to the destination;
A route guidance unit for guiding the guidance route searched by the route search unit;
A home button display control unit for displaying a home button for causing the route search unit to search for the guidance route with a preset home as the destination, on a map screen;
The home button display control unit
The navigation device, wherein the home button is not displayed on the map screen when the navigation device satisfies a predetermined non-display condition of the home button. The home button display control unit
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the home button is not displayed on the map screen when the guidance route to the destination is guided by the route guidance unit. The home button display control unit
3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the home button is not displayed on the map screen when the guidance route having the home as the destination is being guided by the route guidance unit. The home button display control unit
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein when the current position of the navigation device is within a predetermined distance from the home, the home button is not displayed on the map screen. A user setting value storage unit for storing the user setting value of the predetermined distance;
The home button display control unit
The home button is not displayed on the map screen when the current position of the navigation device is within the range of the user setting value stored in the user setting value storage unit from the home. 5. The navigation device according to 4. The home button display control unit
6. The home button is not displayed on the map screen when the navigation device is moving from a point that has been repeatedly set as a destination. 6. Navigation device. The home button display control unit
The navigation device does not display the home button on the map screen when the navigation device is moving from a point that has been searched for a guidance route to the home. The navigation device according to one item. A navigation method using a navigation device,
The home button display control unit of the navigation device causes a home button for causing the route search unit of the navigation device to search for a guidance route having a preset home as a destination is displayed over the map screen. Home button display process,
A route search step in which the route search unit of the navigation device searches for a guidance route to a destination;
A route guidance step in which a route guidance unit of the navigation device guides the guidance route searched in the route search step;
The home button display control unit of the navigation device deletes the home button from the map screen when the navigation device is in a state that matches a predetermined non-display condition of the home button. A navigation method comprising the steps of:

Images