JP2017122885A - Map display device and map content display control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map display device and map content display control method that can reduce chores of users upon searching for desired contents through visual inspection from on a map displayed on a screen.SOLUTION: A map display device comprises: a content specification unit 7 that specifies a content at a viewpoint position having attention focused on by a user with respect to a map image displayed on a screen; and a display mode change unit 8 that changes a display mode of the sequentially specified contents during a period having a content retrieval mode set up. When the user focuses on the content on the map image, the display mode of the focused-on content is configured so as to change. Accordingly, upon searching for a desired content through visual inspection from the map image displayed on the screen, the content viewed by the user and a content not yet viewed by the user are made easily discriminable to be able to avoid inefficiency in which the same contents on the map image are repeatedly viewed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a map display device and a content display control method on a map, and is particularly suitable for use in a map display device that displays a map image on the screen based on map data including various contents.

  In general, a map image displayed on a screen of a navigation device based on map data includes various contents. For example, as content existing on a map image, content related to terrain including roads and facilities, content related to text including place names and facility names, content related to icons including various landmarks and traffic light marks, content related to operation buttons and so on.

  The user of the navigation device may search for desired content on the map image by visual inspection according to the purpose at that time. For example, when it is desired to go to a desired facility, or when it is desired to travel using the desired facility as a landmark, searching for a text displaying the facility name is performed. When this is performed during driving, it is necessary to move the line of sight many times and alternately view the front of the vehicle and the map image.

  However, if there is a lot of candidate content, during the round-trip visual recognition action including safety confirmation ahead of the vehicle, the same area can be repeated many times without being able to focus on the area that has already been viewed on the map image. I sometimes see it. For this reason, the number of repeated visual recognition increases, and there is a problem that it takes much time to search for desired content.

A technique is known in which a user's viewpoint position with respect to a displayed map image is detected and a map image corresponding to the viewpoint position is displayed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a specific example, Patent Document 1 describes that when a user's pupil is opened, a predetermined region is enlarged and displayed with the viewpoint position on the map as the center.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a map of the position that the user is currently viewing can be enlarged and displayed, but if the desired content is not included there, the vehicle can be used for safety confirmation. After moving the line of sight ahead, it is necessary to move the line of sight to the map image again to search for the desired content. At that time, since it is impossible to eliminate the possibility that the same position is repeatedly viewed, it is not possible to solve the problem that it takes time to search for the desired content.

Japanese Patent No. 5478242

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the user's trouble when visually searching for desired content on a map image displayed on the screen. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, the content at the viewpoint position where the user is gazing with respect to the map image displayed on the screen is specified, and sequentially specified while the content search mode is set. The display mode of the content is changed.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the user gazes at the content on the map image during the setting of the content search mode, the display mode of the gazeed content is changed. If the user gazes at a plurality of contents sequentially, the display mode of the plurality of gazed contents is sequentially changed, and the display mode is maintained while the content search mode is set. Therefore, when visually searching for desired content on the map image displayed on the screen, the content that the user has already seen and the content that has not been seen can be easily identified, and the same content on the map image can be identified many times. Inefficiencies that are repeatedly observed can be avoided. Thereby, a user's effort at the time of searching for a desired content can be reduced.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the map display apparatus by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state from which the display mode of the some content specified on the map image was changed. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the map display apparatus by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the other function structural example of the map display apparatus by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the other function structural example of the map display apparatus by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the other function structural example of the map display apparatus by this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the map display device according to the present embodiment. The map display device is implemented as, for example, a navigation device that is an example of an information processing device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the map display device (navigation device) 100 according to the present embodiment has, as its functional configuration, a current position detection unit 1, an operation reception unit 2, a map reading unit 3, a map display unit 4, and a viewpoint detection unit. 5, the mode setting part 6, the content specific | specification part 7, and the display mode change part 8 are comprised. The navigation device 100 includes a map data storage unit 101 as a storage medium. In addition, a display 200 and a camera 300 are connected to the navigation device 100.

  Each of the functional blocks 1 to 8 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 1 to 8 is actually configured by including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. of a computer, and stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory. Is realized by operating.

  The map data storage unit 101 stores map data necessary for map display. The map data stored in the map data storage unit 101 is managed by hierarchizing into units called levels from a high-level map for overlooking a wide area to a low-level map describing a narrow area in detail. Yes. Map data at each level includes various types of content such as content related to terrain including roads and facilities, content related to text including place names and facility names, content related to icons including various landmarks and traffic light marks, and content related to operation buttons. Contains content.

  The map data is configured such that each content type (terrain, text, icon, operation button) can be identified. For example, by adding information indicating the type of each content as accompanying information, the type of content can be identified. Alternatively, the content type can be identified by grouping and storing each content for each type.

  The current position detection unit 1 detects the current position of the vehicle, and includes a self-contained navigation sensor and a GPS receiver. The operation reception unit 2 receives various operations performed on the navigation device 100 by the user using an operation unit (not shown) such as a touch panel or a remote controller. For example, the operation reception unit 2 receives an operation for scrolling a displayed map.

  The map reading unit 3 controls reading of map data stored in the map data storage unit 101. Specifically, the map reading unit 3 inputs information on the current vehicle position detected by the current position detection unit 1 while the vehicle is running, and stores map data in a predetermined range including the current vehicle position in map data. Read from the unit 101. Further, when the map is scrolled, the map reading unit 3 reads from the map data storage unit 101 map data in a predetermined range including a scroll destination point designated through the operation receiving unit 2.

  The map display unit 4 controls the display of the map on the display 200 based on the map data read from the map data storage unit 101 by the map reading unit 3. In this embodiment, it has normal mode and content search mode, and when the content search mode is set, the map display part 4 displays a map image in a mode different from normal. Details of the content search mode will be described later.

  The viewpoint detection unit 5 detects the viewpoint position at which the user is gazing with respect to the map image displayed on the screen by the map display unit 4 based on the user's face image captured by the camera 300. Note that a known technique can be applied to the technique itself for detecting the viewpoint position of the user.

  In the present embodiment, it is detected that the user has consciously watched a part of the map image, and the watched position is detected as a viewpoint position. For example, when the viewpoint detection unit 5 detects that the user continues to view the same position on the map image for a predetermined time or longer, the viewpoint detection unit 5 detects the position as the viewpoint position.

  The mode setting unit 6 sets a content search mode. Although it is possible to set the content search mode according to the user's operation on the operation reception unit 2, in the present embodiment, the content search mode is set by a different method. That is, the mode setting unit 6 automatically sets the content search mode when the viewpoint position detection on the map image by the viewpoint detection unit 5 is intermittently performed a plurality of times.

  That is, when the user tries to visually find desired content on the map while driving, it is necessary to view the map image while confirming safety in front of the vehicle, so the user alternates between the vehicle front and the map image. Visible to. When the mode setting unit 6 detects that the viewpoint position is intermittently detected a plurality of times by the viewpoint detection unit 5 by such a round-trip visual recognition action between the vehicle front and the map image, the mode search unit 6 selects the content search mode. Set automatically.

  Regarding the detection of the viewpoint position at the stage before the content search mode is set, the length of the predetermined time used as a criterion for determining whether or not the user continues to see the same position on the map image is set. Alternatively, the content search mode may be shorter than during setting.

  The mode setting unit 6 also cancels the setting of the content search mode (setting of the normal mode). Although it is possible to cancel the content search mode in accordance with a user operation on the operation reception unit 2, in the present embodiment, the content search mode is canceled by a different method. For example, the mode setting unit 6 cancels the content search mode when the viewpoint position detection on the map image by the viewpoint detection unit 5 is not detected for a predetermined time or longer.

  The content specifying unit 7 specifies the content on the map image at the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit 5 during the setting of the content search mode. That is, the content specifying unit 7 specifies content such as roads and facilities such as roads and facilities at the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit 5, text such as place names and facility names, icons, and operation buttons. The content specifying unit 7 also specifies the existence area of the content at the viewpoint position.

  For example, a long strip shape for roads, closed space for facilities, text for place names and facility names, etc., small area graphics for icons, and relatively large graphics for operation buttons, Each content is stored as a component of map data in a state in which each existence area can be specified. Therefore, the content specifying unit 7 can specify the content existing region at the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit 5.

  The display mode changing unit 8 controls the map display unit 4 to change the display mode of the content sequentially specified by the content specifying unit 7 while the content search mode is set by the mode setting unit 6. For example, the display mode changing unit 8 displays the content existing area specified by the content specifying unit 7 with a lower contrast than others. Alternatively, the specified content existing area may be displayed in a highlighted manner, or the specified content existing area may be displayed with a mask. In short, the identified content may be displayed so as to be distinguishable from others.

  Here, when a plurality of contents are sequentially specified from the map image by the content specifying unit 7, the display mode changing unit 8 sequentially changes the display modes of the plurality of contents. That is, every time content is specified by the content specifying unit 7, the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode of the content. Regarding the content whose display mode has been changed, the changed display mode is maintained while the content search mode is set. FIG. 2 shows a state where the display mode of the plurality of contents specified on the map image is changed.

  By the way, there is a possibility that different types are included in the plurality of contents specified by the content specifying unit 7 (that is, contents watched by the user). In this case, the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode of all the content specified by the content specifying unit 7 regardless of the type of content. In this way, it is possible to change all the contents once viewed by the user to be in an identifiable state by changing the display mode.

  On the other hand, the display mode changing unit 8 may change the display mode only for a specific type of content. For example, the display mode changing unit 8 estimates the type of content that the user is looking for based on the type of content specified by the content specifying unit 7 during the setting of the content search mode, and only the content of the estimated type Change the display mode for.

  Specifically, the display mode changing unit 8 sets the content type first specified by the content specifying unit 7 after the content search mode is set by the mode setting unit 6 as the type of content that the user is searching for. The display mode is changed only for the content of the estimated type. That is, when content is first specified by the content specifying unit 7, the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode regardless of the type. Thereafter, the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode only for the content of the same type as the content type specified first among the content specified by the content specifying unit 7.

  As another example, after the content search mode is set by the mode setting unit 6, the display mode changing unit 8 calculates the degree of correlation related to the predetermined number of types of content specified by the content specifying unit 7, and the degree of correlation is The largest type may be estimated as the type of content that the user is looking for. The degree of correlation is calculated so that the value increases as the number of the same type among the predetermined number of contents specified after setting the content search mode increases. In addition, the degree of correlation is calculated so that the value increases as the same type of content is continuously specified.

  After estimating the type of content that the user is looking for based on the degree of correlation calculated as described above, the display mode changing unit 8 targets only the estimated type of content among the predetermined number of content. Change the display mode. Thereafter, the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode for only the content of the same type as the type estimated as described above among the content specified by the content specifying unit 7.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the map display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 starts when the map display device is turned on and a map image is displayed on the display 200.

  First, the mode setting unit 6 determines whether or not the viewpoint position on the map image by the viewpoint detection unit 5 has been intermittently performed a plurality of times (step S1). Here, when the viewpoint position is detected intermittently a plurality of times, the mode setting unit 6 sets the content search mode (step S2).

  After setting the content search mode, the viewpoint detection unit 5 detects the viewpoint position where the user is gazing at the map image displayed on the screen by the map display unit 4 (step S3). And the content specific | specification part 7 specifies the content on the map image in the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection part 5 (step S4).

  Next, the display mode changing unit 8 determines whether or not the content specified by the content specifying unit 7 has reached a predetermined number after the content search mode is set in step S2 (step S5). If the predetermined number is not yet reached, the process returns to step S3.

  On the other hand, when the specified content has reached the predetermined number, the display mode changing unit 8 calculates the correlation degree for the predetermined number of content types, and the content of the content for which the user is searching for the type with the highest correlation degree. The type is estimated (step S6). Then, the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode of the estimated type of content among the predetermined number of contents specified by the loop processing in steps S3 to S5 after setting the content search mode (step S7).

  Thereafter, the viewpoint detection unit 5 determines whether or not a new viewpoint position at which the user is gazing at the map image has been detected (step S8). If a new viewpoint position has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, when a new viewpoint position is detected, the content specifying unit 7 specifies the content on the map image at the detected new viewpoint position (step S9).

  Next, the display mode changing unit 8 determines whether or not the content type newly specified in step S9 is the same as the content type estimated as the user is searching for in step S6 (step S10). ). If it is determined that the content type is the same as the estimated content type, the process returns to step S7, and the display mode changing unit 8 changes the display mode of the content.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the newly specified content type is not the same as the estimated content type, the mode setting unit 6 performs a predetermined time from when the viewpoint position is detected by the viewpoint detection unit 5 the previous time. It is determined whether or not elapses (step S11). When the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, the process returns to step S8, and the viewpoint detection unit 5 detects again the new viewpoint position that the user is gazing at.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed, that is, when the viewpoint position on the map image is not detected for a predetermined time or longer, the mode setting unit 6 cancels the content search mode and sets the normal mode ( Step S12). At this time, the display mode changing unit 8 returns the display mode to the original state for the content whose display mode has been changed. Thereby, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is completed.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the content at the viewpoint position where the user is gazing with respect to the map image displayed on the screen is specified, and sequentially specified while the content search mode is set. The display mode of content is changed.

  According to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the user gazes at the content on the map image during the setting of the content search mode, the display mode of the gazeed content is changed. If the user gazes at a plurality of contents sequentially, the display mode of the plurality of gazed contents is sequentially changed, and the display mode is maintained while the content search mode is set.

  Therefore, when visually searching for desired content on the map image displayed on the screen, the content that the user has already seen and the content that has not been seen can be easily identified, and the same content on the map image can be identified many times. Inefficiencies that are repeatedly observed can be avoided. That is, it is possible to search for desired content while avoiding a visually recognized area whose display mode has been changed. Thereby, a user's effort at the time of searching for a desired content can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the display mode is changed only for the content existing area specified by the content specifying unit 7, and other areas can be left in a normal display state. On the other hand, if a relatively large area of a predetermined size is displayed as a viewed area at the specified content position, the desired content that the user is looking for is hidden by the display of the viewed area. , You may not be able to find the desired content. According to the present embodiment, such inconvenience can be prevented from occurring.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the type of content that the user is looking for is estimated based on the type of content specified by the content specifying unit 7 during the setting of the content search mode. It is not limited to. For example, it may be configured as shown in FIG. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 4, the navigation device 100 further includes a history management unit 9 as a functional configuration, and further includes a history information storage unit 102 as a storage medium. Further, a display mode changing unit 8 ′ is provided instead of the display mode changing unit 8.

  Each time the history management unit 9 sets the content search mode and the content specifying unit 7 specifies the content, the history management unit 9 stores the specified content type in the history information storage unit 102 as history information. In other words, the history management unit 9 causes the history information storage unit 102 to store the type of content specified by the content specifying unit 7 during the period from when the content search mode is set to when it is canceled. . The history management unit 9 stores and accumulates history information for a plurality of times in the history information storage unit 102 every time the content search mode is set and the content is specified.

  Based on the history information stored in the history information storage unit 102, the display mode changing unit 8 'specifies the type of content that has been specified in the past with the highest frequency. A predetermined number of types may be specified in order from the highest frequency. And a display mode is changed only for the content of the kind specified as mentioned above among a plurality of contents specified by content specifying part 7. Accordingly, for example, a user who has a strong tendency to search for an icon can change only the icon, and a user who has a strong tendency to search for a text can change only the text.

  Here, the user's content search tendency is estimated based on the content identification history, and the type of content whose display mode is to be changed is specified based on the search tendency. It is not limited to. For example, the user's operation content for the navigation device 100 may be stored as a history, and the type of content whose display mode is to be changed may be specified based on the history of the operation content. For example, when a predetermined number or more of operation histories searched for restaurants are stored in the time zone from 11:00 to 13:00, the display mode is changed only for restaurant icons or text in the same time zone. Condition.

  As another example of estimating the type of content that the user is looking for, a configuration as shown in FIG. 5 may be used. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 5, the navigation device 100 further includes a visual profile acquisition unit 10 as a functional configuration, and further includes an arrangement profile storage unit 103 as a storage medium. Further, a display mode changing unit 8 ″ is provided instead of the display mode changing unit 8.

  The arrangement profile storage unit 103 stores arrangement profile information related to at least one of the content area displayed on the map image and the viewing direction for each content type. Here, the “area” of the content displayed on the map image is information indicating in which area on the map image each of the terrain, text, icon, and operation button contents is displayed. is there. For example, the road is displayed in every area on the map image, the facility and the icon are displayed in the area along the road, and the operation buttons are displayed side by side on the right side or the lower side of the map image.

  Further, the “viewing directionality” of the content displayed on the map image is information representing in what direction the user normally views the content. For example, it is information that the text is visually recognized from the left to the right, the facility, the icon, and the operation button are visually focused on one point, and that the direction of the visual recognition is not determined if the road.

  The visual profile acquisition unit 10 acquires a visual profile related to at least one of the viewpoint position and the viewpoint movement on the map image based on the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit 5. Here, the visual profile is information representing which region on the map image is viewed along in what direction based on the viewpoint position of the user actually detected by the viewpoint detection unit 5. .

  The content specifying unit 8 ″ specifies the arrangement profile having the highest correlation with the visual profile acquired by the visual profile acquisition unit 10 among the arrangement profiles stored for each type of content in the arrangement profile storage unit 103, The display mode is changed for only the content of the type related to the specified arrangement profile, so that the type of content that the user is looking for can be estimated according to how the user visually recognizes it. it can.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the content search mode is set by the mode setting part 6, you may make it increase the display amount of a content compared with the time of the normal mode where the content search mode is not set. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example in that case. As shown in FIG. 6, the map display unit 4 further includes a display amount control unit 40 that controls the display amount of content as described above.

  For example, the display amount control unit 40 controls the map reading unit 3 to read out map data at a level corresponding to a display scale larger than the display scale set in the normal mode from the map data storage unit 101, and The content included in the map data is displayed in addition to the content included in the map data at a level corresponding to the display scale in the normal mode. At this time, all types of content such as terrain, text, and icons may be added and displayed, or only specific types of content may be added and displayed.

  According to the present embodiment, the content once watched by the user is easily identified by changing the display mode. Therefore, even if more content than usual is displayed, it is possible to efficiently search for the desired content. Rather, since it is possible to search for the desired content while the content that is not displayed at the display scale in the normal mode is also displayed at the same time, there is a high possibility that the desired content can be found without changing the display scale. Efficiency can be increased.

  In addition, when the display amount of content is increased, a situation may occur in which a plurality of content is displayed at the same or near place. In this case, first, any one of a plurality of contents is displayed, and when the contents are watched and specified by the content specifying unit 7, the display of the contents is deleted and the next content is displayed. May be. And when the last content is specified by the content specific | specification part 7 among the some content in the same or near place, you may make it change the display mode of the content.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example in which a map display apparatus is mounted as the navigation apparatus 100, this invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can also be applied when a map display device is mounted on an information processing device other than the navigation device 100.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of actualization 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 5 Viewpoint detection part 6 Mode setting part 7 Content specification part 8,8 ', 8 "Display mode change part 9 History management part 10 Visual profile acquisition part 40 Display amount control part 101 Map data storage part 102 History information storage part 103 Arrangement profile Memory

Claims (7)

A mode setting section for setting the content search mode;
A viewpoint detection unit that detects a viewpoint position at which the user is gazing with respect to the map image displayed on the screen;
A content specifying unit for specifying content on a map image at the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit;
A map display device comprising: a display mode changing unit that changes a display mode of the contents sequentially specified by the content specifying unit while the content search mode is set by the mode setting unit.   The display mode changing unit estimates the type of content that the user is looking for based on the type of content specified by the content specifying unit during the setting of the content search mode, and selects only the content of the estimated type. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the display mode is changed as a target. A history management unit that stores the type of the identified content as history information in the history information storage unit each time the content is specified by the content identification unit by setting the content search mode;
The display mode changing unit specifies a type of content having a high frequency specified in the past based on the history information stored in the history information storage unit, and displays only the specified type of content as a target. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the mode is changed. An arrangement profile storage unit that stores arrangement profile information related to at least one of an area of content displayed on a map image and a viewing direction for each type of content;
A visual profile acquisition unit that acquires a visual profile relating to at least one of the position of the viewpoint on the map image and the movement of the viewpoint based on the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit;
The display mode changing unit specifies an arrangement profile having the highest correlation with the viewing profile acquired by the viewing profile acquisition unit among the arrangement profiles stored for each type of content in the arrangement profile storage unit. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the display mode is changed only for content of a type related to the specified arrangement profile.   When the content search mode is set by the mode setting unit, a display amount control unit is further provided that controls to increase the display amount of the content compared to when the content search mode is not set. The map display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the map display device is characterized.   The mode setting unit automatically sets the content search mode when the viewpoint detection on the map image by the viewpoint detection unit is intermittently performed a plurality of times. 6. The map display device according to any one of 5 above. A method for controlling display of content on a map image in an information processing apparatus that displays a map image on a screen based on map data,
A first step in which a mode setting unit of the information processing apparatus sets a content search mode;
A second step in which the viewpoint detection unit of the information processing apparatus detects a viewpoint position at which the user is gazing at the map image displayed on the screen;
A third step in which the content specifying unit of the information processing device specifies the content on the map image at the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint detection unit;
The display mode changing unit of the information processing apparatus includes a fourth step of changing the display mode of the contents sequentially specified by the content specifying unit while the content search mode is set by the mode setting unit. The content display control method on the map characterized by the above-mentioned.