JP2017032654A - Information guide system, information guide method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information guide system, information guide method and computer program that make it possible to appropriately specify a location of an individual facility from a map image without reducing visibility of the map image even in an area having the facilities congested.SOLUTION: An information guide system is configured to: display a map image with respect to a liquid crystal display 15; specify an object facility located in the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 of the object facilities serving as a display object of a POI icon 59; calculate a density level indicative of a degree of density with other object facility for each specified object facility; for the object facility of which the density level is less than a threshold, display the POI icon 59 with the POI icon 59 superposed with respect to a position where the object facility of the map image is present; and for the object facility of which the density level is equal to or more than the threshold, instead of the POI icon 59, display an abbreviated icon 60 abbreviating the POI icon 59.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an information guidance system, an information guidance method, and a computer program for guiding information related to a facility located on a map.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation device is often mounted on a vehicle that provides vehicle travel guidance so that a driver can easily arrive at a desired destination. Here, the navigation device detects the current position of the vehicle by a GPS receiver or the like, acquires map data corresponding to the current position through a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or HDD or a network, and displays it on a liquid crystal monitor. It is a device that can do. Further, in such a navigation device, icons indicating the genre and position of the facility are displayed on the map image in order to guide point information (POI: Point of Interest) such as the genre and position of the facility around the current position of the vehicle. (Hereinafter referred to as POI icon) is also drawn. In recent years, some mobile phones, smartphones, tablet terminals, personal computers, and the like have functions similar to those of the navigation device.

  However, especially in an area where facilities such as urban areas are densely present, a large number of the POI icons are densely displayed on the map image, which makes it impossible to properly provide information on the facilities. there were. In addition, there is a problem that the visibility of the map image also decreases. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-340588 proposes a technique for displaying one representative icon instead of a plurality of POI icons when a plurality of POI icons are overlapped or crowded on a map image. .

JP 2002-340588 (page 3-4, FIG. 8)

  Here, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user can grasp an area where facilities are crowded by referring to the representative icon displayed instead of the POI icon. However, what the user wants to know from the POI icon is not the area where the facilities are concentrated, but the location on the map where the facilities are located. However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since individual POI icons are not displayed in a dense area of facilities, it is impossible to specify a specific facility position from a map image.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and appropriately identifies the position of each facility from the map image without reducing the visibility of the map image even in an area where facilities are densely packed. An object of the present invention is to provide an information guidance system, an information guidance method, and a computer program that make it possible.

In order to achieve the object, an information guidance system according to the present invention is based on a map image display means for displaying a map image on a display device, a facility information acquisition means for acquiring facility information related to a facility, and the facility information. The facility specifying means for specifying the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device among the target facilities to be displayed with the POI icon, and the target facility specified by the facility specifying means The icon display means for superimposing and displaying the POI icon having an external shape indicating the genre of the target facility at a certain position of the target facility in the map image, and the facility specified by the facility specifying means For each target facility, there is a density calculation means for calculating a density indicating the degree of congestion with other target facilities, and the icon display means The serial the target facility density is not less than the threshold value of the target facility, to display the simplified icon simplified the POI icon instead of the POI icon.
Here, the “group of the facility” may include the “group” to which the facility belongs. “Groups” include, for example, chain stores such as franchise, stores operated by the same owner and parent company, related group companies, parent company (head office) and its subsidiaries (branches, sales offices), temples of the same sect. Etc. That is, even if the same “gas station”, the genre may be different between the gas station managed by the company A and the gas station operated by the company B.

  In addition, the information guidance method according to the present invention is a method of guiding information related to facilities using icons displayed on a map image. Specifically, the map image display unit displays the map image on the display device, the facility information acquisition unit acquires the facility information about the facility, and the facility identification unit is based on the facility information. The step of specifying the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device among the target facilities to be displayed with the POI icon, and the icon display means are specified by the facility specifying means. Further, for each of the target facilities, the step of superimposing and displaying the POI icon having an appearance shape indicating the genre of the target facility on a position of the target facility of the map image, For each target facility specified by the facility specifying means, calculating a congestion degree indicating a degree of congestion with another target facility, Display means for the target facility density is not less than the threshold value with the other of the target facility, to display the simplified icon simplified the POI icon instead of the POI icon.

  Moreover, the computer program which concerns on this invention is a program which guides the information regarding a facility with the icon displayed on a map image. Specifically, the computer displays a map image display unit that displays a map image on a display device, a facility information acquisition unit that acquires facility information about the facility, and a POI icon display target based on the facility information. Among the target facilities, the facility specifying means for specifying the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device, and for each target facility specified by the facility specifying means, An icon display unit that superimposes and displays the POI icon having an external shape indicating the genre of the target facility at a certain position of the target facility, and for each target facility specified by the facility specifying unit, A computer program for functioning as a density calculation means for calculating a density indicating a degree of density with a target facility, the icon Display means, for the target facility density is not less than the threshold value with the other of the target facility, to display the simplified icon simplified the POI icon instead of the POI icon.

  According to the information guidance system, the information guidance method, and the computer program according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, for a facility whose density is equal to or greater than a threshold, a simplified icon in which the POI icon is simplified is displayed instead of the POI icon. The visibility of the map image is not lowered even in an area where there is a high density. In addition, since the icon can be continuously displayed at a position corresponding to the facility on the map image without hiding the icon itself, the location of each facility can be appropriately specified from the map image. Furthermore, since POI icons are displayed as usual in areas where facilities are not crowded, it is possible to provide more detailed information about facilities within a range that does not reduce the visibility of the map image.

It is the block diagram which showed the navigation apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of facility data. It is the figure which showed an example of the POI icon which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the map image display processing program which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the driving guidance screen displayed on a liquid crystal display. It is a figure explaining the calculation method of a congestion degree. It is the figure which showed the driving | running | working guidance screen displayed on a liquid crystal display, when there exists a dense area of facilities.

  Hereinafter, an information guidance system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment in which the navigation system is embodied. First, a schematic configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a navigation device 1 according to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a current position detection unit 11 that detects a current position of a vehicle on which the navigation device 1 is mounted, a data recording unit 12 that records various data, Based on the input information, the navigation ECU 13 that performs various arithmetic processes, the operation unit 14 that receives operations from the user, the liquid crystal display 15 that displays information about map images and facilities around the vehicle to the user, Communication is performed between a speaker 16 that outputs voice guidance related to route guidance, a DVD drive 17 that reads a DVD as a storage medium, and an information center such as a probe center or a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center. And a communication module 18.

Below, each component which the navigation apparatus 1 has is demonstrated in order.
The current position detection unit 11 includes a GPS 21, a vehicle speed sensor 22, a steering sensor 23, a gyro sensor 24, and the like, and can detect the current vehicle position, direction, vehicle traveling speed, current time, and the like. . Here, in particular, the vehicle speed sensor 22 is a sensor for detecting a moving distance and a vehicle speed of the vehicle, generates a pulse according to the rotation of the driving wheel of the vehicle, and outputs a pulse signal to the navigation ECU 13. And navigation ECU13 calculates the rotational speed and moving distance of a driving wheel by counting the generated pulse. Note that the navigation device 1 does not have to include all the four types of sensors, and the navigation device 1 may include only one or more types of sensors.

  The data recording unit 12 is also a hard disk (not shown) as an external storage device and a recording medium, and a driver for reading the map information DB 31 and a predetermined program recorded on the hard disk and writing predetermined data on the hard disk And a recording head (not shown). The data recording unit 12 may be configured by a memory card, an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD, instead of the hard disk. Further, the map information DB 31 may be stored in an external server, and the navigation device 1 may be configured to acquire by communication.

  Here, the map information DB 31 includes, for example, link data 33 relating to roads (links), node data 34 relating to node points, facility data 35 relating to facilities, map display data for displaying a map, intersection data relating to each intersection, and routes. It is a storage means in which search data for searching, search data for searching for points, and the like are stored.

  The link data 33 includes the width of the road to which the link belongs, the gradient, the cant, the bank, the road surface state, the number of lanes on the road, the number of lanes decreasing, The data representing the narrowing point, railroad crossing, etc., the corner, the radius of curvature, the intersection, the T-junction, the corner entrance and the exit, etc. The data representing the downhill road, the uphill road, etc. Regarding types, in addition to general roads such as national roads, prefectural roads and narrow streets, data representing toll roads such as highway automobile national roads, city expressways, automobile exclusive roads, general toll roads, and toll bridges are recorded.

  The node data 34 includes actual road branch points (including intersections, T-junctions, etc.) and the coordinates (positions) of node points set for each road according to the radius of curvature, etc. Node attribute indicating whether a node is a node corresponding to an intersection, etc., a connection link number list that is a list of link numbers of links connected to the node, and an adjacency that is a list of node numbers of nodes adjacent to the node via the link Data relating to the node number list, the height (altitude) of each node point, and the like are recorded.

Further, as the facility data 35, information related to a facility that is a departure place, a destination, a guidance target, and the like in the navigation device 1 is stored. For example, accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, refueling facilities such as gas stations, commercial facilities such as shopping malls, supermarkets, shopping centers and convenience stores, entertainment facilities such as theme parks and game centers, restaurants and bars, and food and drinks such as taverns Information on facilities such as facilities, parking facilities such as public parking lots, transportation facilities, religious facilities such as temples and churches, public facilities such as museums and museums, and the like.
The facility data 35 includes, for each facility, a facility number that is an identifier of the facility, a facility name that indicates the name of the facility, and a facility genre that indicates the genre of the facility (such as “parking lot”, “post office”, “restaurant”). It is composed of position coordinates indicating the position of the facility.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the facility data 35. For example, in the example of the facility data 35 shown in FIG. 2, it is shown that “convenience store XX chain A branch (genre: convenience store)” corresponding to the facility number: “10001” exists at the point of coordinates (x1, y1). Show. Moreover, it is shown that “× ○ parking lot B town first (genre: parking lot)” corresponding to the facility number: “10002” exists at the point of coordinates (x2, y2). Similarly, information on other facilities is also stored.

  Further, as the facility data 35, an icon (hereinafter referred to as POI icon) displayed on the map image for specifying the genre and position of the facility is also stored. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a POI icon. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the POI icon is defined for each genre of the facility, and has an external shape (including characters, symbols, designs, etc.) indicating the genre of the facility. Then, when a map image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 as will be described later, the map image is displayed in a superimposed manner on a certain genre facility (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Note that the POI icon need not be defined for all genres, and may be defined only for specific genres. Further, the genre defined by the POI icon may be classified for each “group” to which the facility belongs. “Groups” include, for example, chain stores such as franchise, stores operated by the same owner and parent company, related group companies, parent company (head office) and its subsidiaries (branches, sales offices), temples of the same sect. Etc. That is, even if the same “gas station” is used, the gas station operated by the company A and the gas station operated by the company B may have different genres, and the POI icons may be defined respectively.

  Further, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the POI icons are not displayed for the facilities of all genres for which the POI icons are defined, but only for the facilities corresponding to the preset genres. Is displayed. The genre of the facility for which the POI icon is to be displayed can be changed as appropriate based on the user's operation.

  The navigation ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 13 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire navigation device 1. The CPU 41 as an arithmetic device and a control device, and a working memory when the CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processes. Read out from the ROM 43 and the ROM 43 in which a map image display processing program (FIG. 4) described later is recorded in addition to the RAM 42 and the control program for storing the route data when the route is searched. And an internal storage device such as a flash memory 44 for storing the program. The navigation ECU 13 has various means as processing algorithms. For example, the map image display means displays a map image on the liquid crystal display 15. The facility information acquisition means acquires facility information related to the facility. The facility specifying means specifies a facility located in the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 among the facilities to be displayed with the POI icon based on the facility information. The icon display means superimposes and displays a POI icon having an appearance shape indicating the genre of the facility for each facility specified by the facility specifying means at a certain position of the facility in the map image. The density calculation means calculates a density indicating the degree of density with other target facilities for each target facility specified by the facility specifying means.

  The operation unit 14 is operated when inputting a starting point as a travel start point and a destination as a travel end point, and has a plurality of operation switches (not shown) such as various keys and buttons. Then, the navigation ECU 13 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the switches. The operation unit 14 can also be configured by a touch panel provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 15. Moreover, it can also be comprised with a microphone and a speech recognition apparatus.

  The liquid crystal display 15 includes a map image including a road, traffic information, operation guidance, operation menu, key guidance, guidance route from the departure point to the destination, guidance information along the guidance route, news, weather forecast, Time, mail, TV program, etc. are displayed. In place of the liquid crystal display 15, HUD or HMD may be used.

  The speaker 16 outputs voice guidance for guiding traveling along the guidance route based on an instruction from the navigation ECU 13 and traffic information guidance.

  The DVD drive 17 is a drive that can read data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD or a CD. Based on the read data, music and video are reproduced, the map information DB 31 is updated, and the like. A card slot for reading / writing a memory card may be provided instead of the DVD drive 17.

  The communication module 18 is a communication device for receiving traffic information composed of information such as traffic jam information, regulation information, and traffic accident information transmitted from a traffic information center, for example, a VICS center or a probe center. For example, a mobile phone or DCM is applicable.

  Next, a map image display processing program executed by the navigation ECU 13 in the navigation device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the map image display processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the map image display processing program is executed after the ACC power supply (accessory power supply) of the vehicle is turned on, displays the map image on the liquid crystal display 15, and draws an icon indicating the location of the facility on the map image. It is a program to do. Note that the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 below is stored in the RAM 42 or ROM 43 provided in the navigation apparatus 1 and is executed by the CPU 41.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 in the map image display processing program, the CPU 41 draws a map image of an arbitrary area on the liquid crystal display 15 based on data read from the map information DB 31. Here, the area to be rendered in S1 is an area around the current position of the vehicle, for example. The size of the area varies depending on the display scale of the map image set in the navigation device 1, and the smaller the scale, the larger the area of the map image becomes the drawing target. Further, the area to be drawn is configured to be changeable in accordance with the subsequent user operation or the movement of the current position of the vehicle.

  For example, when the vehicle moves, the area to be drawn of the map image changes according to the position of the moving vehicle. Specifically, the drawing target area is scrolled so that the current position of the vehicle is always located at a predetermined position (for example, slightly below the center) of the map image. On the other hand, when the user performs a flick operation or a drag operation on the map image, the drawing target area is scrolled in the flick direction or the drag direction. Further, when the user changes the scale of the map set in the navigation device 1, the size of the area to be drawn is changed. In addition to the map image, the CPU 41 also draws on the liquid crystal display 15 an own vehicle position mark indicating the current position of the vehicle, a point name, an operation icon, a POI icon, a simplified icon, and the like described later. As a result, a traveling guidance screen 50 for guiding the traveling of the vehicle is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the travel guide screen 50 displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. As shown in FIG. 5, a map image 51 around the current position of the vehicle, a vehicle position mark 52 indicating the current position of the vehicle matched on the map, and the navigation device 1 are set on the travel guidance screen 50. A route image 53 showing the shape of a guide route (displayed only when a guide route is set) and various operation icons 54 to 58 operated when performing point registration or route search are also displayed. Is done. Further, a POI icon 59 indicating the location and genre of the facility is drawn on the map image 51 as will be described later. Furthermore, if a specific condition is satisfied, the POI icon 59 may be replaced with a simplified icon as described later. Then, by referring to the travel guide screen 50 displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, the user can grasp the road shape around the user, the facility, the route to the destination, and the like.

  Next, in S <b> 2, the CPU 41 determines whether the peripheral facility display setting of the navigation device 1 is ON. The peripheral facility display setting is a function for setting whether or not to display the POI icon for the facility included in the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. Then, the peripheral facility display setting is set to ON or OFF based on a user operation on the setting screen for setting the function of the navigation device 1.

  And when it determines with the surrounding facility display setting of the navigation apparatus 1 being ON (S2: YES), it transfers to S3. On the other hand, when it is determined that the peripheral facility display setting of the navigation device 1 is OFF (S2: NO), the map image display processing program is terminated without drawing the POI icon.

  In S3, the CPU 41 selects a target facility (hereinafter referred to as “drawing target”) that is located in the map image drawn on the liquid crystal display 15 in S1 among the facilities (hereinafter referred to as “target facility”) that are to display the POI icon. Identify the facility. Here, as described above, the POI icon is defined for each genre of facility (see FIG. 3). However, the POI icon is not displayed for facilities of all genres for which the POI icon is defined. Basically, it is displayed only for facilities corresponding to a preset genre (for example, parking lot, gas station, convenience store, restaurant). The genre of the facility for which the POI icon is to be displayed can be changed as appropriate based on the user's operation. The facility corresponding to the genre set as the display target of the POI icon becomes the “target facility”.

  Next, in S4, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the display scale of the map image set in the current navigation device 1 is a wide area map. The wide area map has a scale of 1/10000 or less, for example. Note that the display scale of the map image is configured to be appropriately changeable based on the user's operation, for example, between 1/1250 and 1 / 20480,000.

  And when it determines with the display scale of the map image currently set in the navigation apparatus 1 being a wide area map (S4: YES), it transfers to S5. On the other hand, when it is determined that the display scale of the map image set in the current navigation device 1 is not a wide area map (S4: NO), what is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 is an enlarged city map or the like. Since the map image is displayed, it is determined that the visibility of the map image is not hindered even if the POI icon is displayed for all “drawing target facilities”, and the process proceeds to S6.

  Further, in S5, the CPU 41 determines whether or not there are a predetermined number or more of “drawing target facilities” specified in S3. The predetermined number is an upper limit value that does not impair the visibility of the map image by the POI icon, for example, 50. The predetermined number can be appropriately set according to the resolution of the liquid crystal display 15 and the screen size of the liquid crystal display 15.

  When it is determined that there are a predetermined number or more of “drawing target facilities” specified in S3 (S5: YES), the process proceeds to S7. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of “drawing target facilities” specified in S3 is less than a predetermined number (S5: NO), it is assumed that POI icons are displayed for all “drawing target facilities”. Is determined not to hinder the visibility of the map image, and the process proceeds to S6.

  In S <b> 6, the CPU 41 draws a POI icon for each “facility to be drawn” at a certain position of each facility in the map image. As a result, the POI icon 59 is displayed superimposed on the map image 51 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the map image display processing program ends.

  On the other hand, the subsequent processing of S7 to S10 is executed for each “drawing target facility” specified in S3, and the processing of S7 to S10 is executed for all “drawing target facilities” specified in S3. After that, the map image display processing program is terminated.

  First, in S <b> 7, the CPU 41 calculates a density indicating the degree of density with other target facilities for the “drawing target facility” to be processed. In the present embodiment, an average value of distances from the “drawing target facility” to be processed to other target facilities (hereinafter referred to as an average distance) is calculated as the density. In addition, the other target facilities whose average distance is to be calculated may be only the target facility located in the map image drawn on the liquid crystal display 15 (that is, “drawing target facility”) or located outside the map image. Target facilities may also be included. However, when including target facilities located outside the map image, target facilities that are far away from the “drawing target facility” to be processed are excluded from the calculation target. Specifically, only target facilities located within a predetermined distance (for example, within 10 km) from the “drawing target facility” to be processed are set as calculation targets. Furthermore, in order to calculate an accurate density, only target facilities located within a predetermined distance (for example, within 10 km) from the “drawing target facility” to be processed are set as calculation targets for the target facilities located in the map image. Is desirable.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when there are facilities B to G as target facilities around a facility A that is a drawing target facility to be processed, the average distance from the facility A to each facility B to the facility G The value is calculated as the density. However, for example, when the facility G is far away from the facility A, the average value of the distances from the facility A to the facilities B to F may be calculated as the density.

  Moreover, although the distance between facilities is calculated based on the position coordinate of each facility, it is not necessarily calculated by said S7. In other words, the distance to other target facilities may be stored in advance in the DB for each target facility nationwide, and the corresponding distance may be read from the DB in S7. Further, the average distance (concentration) may be stored in advance in the DB for each target facility. In addition, the shorter the average distance calculated in S7, the higher the degree of congestion with other target facilities (concentration), and conversely, the longer the average distance calculated in S7, the greater the distance from other target facilities. It can be determined that the degree of congestion (concentration) is low.

  Next, in S8, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the density calculated in S7 is equal to or greater than a threshold (that is, the average distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance). Note that the threshold value serving as the determination criterion in S8 is appropriately set based on the display scale of the map image. Specifically, the smaller the display scale of the map image is, the shorter the distance on the map image with respect to the actual distance is, so the threshold is set to a longer distance.

  If it is determined that the density calculated in S7 is equal to or greater than the threshold (that is, the average distance is equal to or less than the predetermined distance) (S8: YES), the process proceeds to S9. On the other hand, when it is determined that the density calculated in S7 is less than the threshold (that is, the average distance is longer than the predetermined distance) (S8: NO), the process proceeds to S10.

  In S <b> 9, the CPU 41 draws a simplified icon obtained by simplifying the POI icon instead of the POI icon at a position of the map image drawing target facility for the processing target “drawing target facility”. Note that the simplified icon has the same appearance shape regardless of the genre of the facility and has a smaller size than the POI icon. In the present embodiment, the simplified icon has a dot shape as shown in FIG. 7, but may have another shape (for example, a triangle shape, a square shape, a star shape, or a cross mark). Further, the simplified icon may be configured to change the display color and size depending on the genre of the drawing target facility. For example, a convenience store is displayed in blue, a parking lot is displayed in red, and a gas station is displayed in yellow.

  On the other hand, in S <b> 10, the CPU 41 draws a POI icon with respect to the “drawing target facility” to be processed at a position where the map image drawing target facility is located.

  Then, as a result of executing the processing of S7 to S10 for all the “drawing target facilities” specified in S3, as shown in FIG. 7, the “drawing target facility having a low density with other target facilities” "", The POI icon 59 is displayed at the location of the facility as usual. On the other hand, for the “drawing target facility” having a high density with other target facilities, the simplified icon 60 is displayed instead of the POI icon 59 at the location of the facility. As a result, the visibility of the map image is not lowered even in an area where facilities are densely packed. In addition, since the icon can be continuously displayed at a position corresponding to the facility on the map image without hiding the icon itself, the location of each facility can be appropriately specified from the map image. Furthermore, since POI icons 59 are displayed as usual in areas where facilities are not crowded, it is possible to provide more detailed information about facilities within a range that does not reduce the visibility of the map image.

  In addition, the user can acquire detailed information on the facility corresponding to the selected POI icon 59 or set it as the destination by selecting the POI icon 59 displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. The simplified icon 60 is basically not subjected to such selection processing. However, similar to the POI icon 59, the above-described selection process may be performed.

  As described above in detail, in the navigation device 1, the information guidance method using the navigation device 1, and the computer program executed by the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the map image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 (S1). Among the target facilities to be displayed with the POI icon 59, the target facility located in the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 is identified (S3), and for each identified target facility, The degree of congestion indicating the degree of congestion is calculated (S7), and the target facility whose density is less than the threshold is displayed with the POI icon 59 superimposed on the position of the target facility on the map image (S10). Therefore, for a target facility whose density is equal to or higher than the threshold, the POI icon 59 is simplified instead of the POI icon 59. Since Icon 60 Show (S9), it does not reduce the visibility of the map image even in areas where facilities are densely. In addition, since the icon can be continuously displayed at a position corresponding to the facility on the map image without hiding the icon itself, the location of each facility can be appropriately specified from the map image. Furthermore, since POI icons 59 are displayed as usual in areas where facilities are not crowded, it is possible to provide more detailed information about facilities within a range that does not reduce the visibility of the map image.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the average value of the distance from the “drawing target facility” to another target facility is used as the density of the “drawing target facility”, but other criteria may be used as the density. . For example, the density of the target facilities in an area centered on the “drawing target facility” (for example, 3 km square) may be used as the density.

  In the present embodiment, as conditions for replacing the POI icon 59 with the simple icon 60, the display scale of the map image is a wide area map (S4), and the target facilities located in the map image are a predetermined number or more. Although (S5) is a condition, one or both of these conditions may be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the simple icon 60 has a dot shape, but may have another shape as long as it has a shape simplified from the POI icon 59. For example, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a star shape, or a cross mark may be used.

  In addition to the navigation device, the present invention can be applied to a device having a map image display function. For example, the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a mobile terminal). Further, the present invention can be applied to a system including a server and a mobile terminal. In that case, each step of the above-described map image display processing program (FIG. 4) may be configured to be implemented by either a server or a portable terminal.

  Moreover, although the embodiment which actualized the information guidance system according to the present invention has been described above, the information guidance system can also have the following configuration, and in that case, the following effects can be obtained.

For example, the first configuration is as follows.
A map image display means (41) for displaying the map image (51) on the display device (15), a facility information acquisition means (41) for acquiring facility information relating to the facility, and a POI icon based on the facility information Of the target facilities to be displayed in (59), specified by the facility specifying means (41) for specifying the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device, and specified by the facility specifying means Icon display means (41) for superimposing and displaying the POI icon having an external shape indicating the genre of the target facility at a position of the target facility in the map image for each target facility; For each of the target facilities specified by the means, a density calculation means (41) for calculating a density indicating the degree of congestion with other target facilities, the icon display hand It is for the target facility density is not less than the threshold value with the other of the target facility, to display the simplified simplified icons (60) the POI icon instead of the POI icon.
According to the information guide system having the above-described configuration, a simplified icon obtained by simplifying the POI icon is displayed instead of the POI icon for a facility having a congestion degree equal to or greater than a threshold value. Is not reduced. In addition, since the icon can be continuously displayed at a position corresponding to the facility on the map image without hiding the icon itself, the location of each facility can be appropriately specified from the map image. Furthermore, since POI icons are displayed as usual in areas where facilities are not crowded, it is possible to provide more detailed information about facilities within a range that does not reduce the visibility of the map image.

The second configuration is as follows.
The simplified icon (60) has the same external shape regardless of the genre of the target facility.
According to the information guide system having the above-described configuration, the appearance shape of the icons to be displayed is unified in an area where facilities are densely packed, so that the display screen can be made easier for the user to view without complicating the icon display. It becomes.

The third configuration is as follows.
The simplified icon (60) changes the display color according to the genre of the target facility.
According to the information guide system having the above-described configuration, it is possible to display the genre of each facility so as to be identifiable to the user without complicating the icon display in an area where the facilities are dense.

The fourth configuration is as follows.
The simplified icon (60) is smaller than the POI icon (59).
According to the information guidance system having the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the icons from being displayed overlapping each other as much as possible. As a result, it is possible to improve the visibility of the map image and accurately specify the position of each facility from the map image.

The fifth configuration is as follows.
The simplified icon (60) has a dot shape.
According to the information guidance system having the above-described configuration, it is possible to simply and clearly indicate the position of each facility in an area where the facilities are concentrated. As a result, it is possible to improve the visibility of the map image and accurately specify the position of each facility from the map image.

The sixth configuration is as follows.
In the case where the number of the target facilities specified by the facility specifying means (41) is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit value, the icon display means (41) has a congestion degree with other target facilities equal to or greater than a threshold value. The simplified icon (60) is displayed instead of the POI icon (59) for the target facility.
According to the information guidance system having the above-described configuration, in a situation where the visibility of the map image is not hindered even if the POI icon is displayed for all the target facilities, the POI is set for all the target facilities. Since the icon is displayed, it is possible to perform the replacement with the simplified icon only in a necessary situation. That is, it is possible to provide detailed information about the facility by using the POI icon as much as possible. In addition, the processing load on the CPU related to the replacement with the simplified icon can be reduced.

The seventh configuration is as follows.
In the case where the scale of the map image (51) displayed on the display device (15) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined scale, the icon display means (41) has a threshold value of density with other target facilities. The simplified icon (60) is displayed instead of the POI icon (59) for the target facility.
According to the information guidance system having the above-described configuration, in a situation where the visibility of the map image is not hindered even if the POI icon is displayed for all the target facilities, the POI is set for all the target facilities. Since the icon is displayed, it is possible to perform the replacement with the simplified icon only in a necessary situation. That is, it is possible to provide detailed information about the facility by using the POI icon as much as possible. In addition, the processing load on the CPU related to the replacement with the simplified icon can be reduced.

The eighth configuration is as follows.
The density calculation means (41) calculates an average value of distances from the target facility that is a calculation target of the density to another target facility located in the map image as the density.
According to the information guidance system having the above configuration, it is possible to accurately specify a target facility located in an area where the facilities are densely based on the distance between the facilities.

The ninth configuration is as follows.
The density calculation means (41) calculates, as the density, an average value of distances from the target facility that is a calculation target of the density to other target facilities located in the map image and outside the map image. .
According to the information guidance system having the above configuration, the density of the target facility is fixed regardless of which area is the display target of the map image. Therefore, when the map image is scrolled or the scale is changed, , The POI icon can be prevented from being switched to a simple icon, and the simple icon can be prevented from being switched to a POI icon.

The tenth configuration is as follows.
The density calculation means (41) calculates an average value of distances from the target facility, which is a calculation target of the density, to other target facilities within a predetermined distance as the density.
According to the information guide system having the above-described configuration, it is possible to calculate a more accurate density by not setting a facility for distant density as a calculation target of the density.

The eleventh configuration is as follows.
The threshold value is set longer as the scale of the map image (51) displayed on the display device (15) is smaller.
According to the information guidance system having the above configuration, it is possible to set an appropriate threshold value according to the scale of the map image displayed on the display device.

1 Navigation device 13 Navigation ECU
15 Liquid crystal display 31 Map information DB
41 CPU
42 RAM
43 ROM
50 Travel Guide Screen 51 Map Image 59 POI Icon 60 Simple Icon

Claims (13)

Map image display means for displaying a map image on a display device;
Facility information acquisition means for acquiring facility information about the facility;
A facility identifying means for identifying the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device among the target facilities to be displayed with the POI icon based on the facility information;
Icon display means for superimposing and displaying the POI icon having an external shape indicating the genre of the target facility at a position of the target facility in the map image for each target facility specified by the facility specifying means When,
For each of the target facilities specified by the facility specifying means, a density calculation means for calculating a density indicating the degree of congestion with other target facilities, and
The information display system, wherein the icon display means displays a simplified icon obtained by simplifying the POI icon instead of the POI icon for the target facility whose density with other target facilities is a threshold value or more.   The information guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the simplified icon has the same appearance shape regardless of the genre of the target facility.   The information guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the simple icon changes a display color depending on a genre of the target facility.   The information guide system according to claim 1, wherein the simplified icon is smaller than the POI icon.   The information guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the simplified icon has a dot shape.   In the case where the number of the target facilities specified by the facility specifying means is greater than or equal to a predetermined upper limit value, the icon display means is configured to display the POI icon for the target facilities whose congestion with other target facilities is a threshold value or more. The information guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the simplified icon is displayed instead of the information icon.   In the case where the scale of the map image displayed on the display device is equal to or smaller than a predetermined scale, the icon display unit is configured to display the POI icon for the target facility whose density with other target facilities is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The information guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the simplified icon is displayed instead of the information icon.   8. The density calculation unit calculates an average value of distances from the target facility, which is a calculation target of the density, to another target facility located in the map image as the density. The information guidance system described in any one.   2. The density calculation unit calculates an average value of distances from the target facility, which is a calculation target of the density, to other target facilities located in the map image and outside the map image as the density. The information guidance system in any one of Claims 7 thru | or 7.   10. The density calculation unit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the density calculation means calculates an average value of distances from the target facility that is a calculation target of the density to another target facility within a predetermined distance as the density. Information guidance system.   The information guidance system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the threshold is set to be longer as the scale of the map image displayed on the display device is smaller. A map image display means for displaying a map image on a display device;
A facility information acquisition means for acquiring facility information about the facility;
A facility identifying unit identifying, based on the facility information, the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device among the target facilities to be displayed as POI icons;
An icon display means superimposes the POI icon having an external shape indicating the genre of the target facility on a position of the target facility on the map image for each target facility specified by the facility specifying means. Steps to display;
A congestion degree calculating means, for each target facility specified by the facility specifying means, calculating a congestion degree indicating a degree of congestion with other target facilities; and
The information display method, wherein the icon display means displays a simplified icon obtained by simplifying the POI icon instead of the POI icon for the target facility whose density with other target facilities is a threshold value or more. Computer
Map image display means for displaying a map image on a display device;
Facility information acquisition means for acquiring facility information about the facility;
A facility identifying means for identifying the target facility located in the map image displayed on the display device among the target facilities to be displayed with the POI icon based on the facility information;
Icon display means for superimposing and displaying the POI icon having an external shape indicating the genre of the target facility at a position of the target facility in the map image for each target facility specified by the facility specifying means When,
For each target facility specified by the facility specifying means, a computer program for functioning as a density calculation means for calculating a density indicating the degree of congestion with other target facilities,
The said icon display means is a computer program which displays the simplified icon which simplified the said POI icon instead of the said POI icon about the said target facility whose density with other said object facilities is a threshold value or more.

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