JP2798551B2 - Electronic map display - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic map display device which renders electronic map data by drawing it on a display screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 shows a screen display state in a conventional electronic map display device. In an electronic map display device, a map is drawn and displayed on, for example, a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter abbreviated as “LCD”). On such an electronic map display screen, for example, a map in a range indicated by the drawing range 1 is displayed. When the user specifies a direction such as the moving direction 3, 4, 5 while the display screen 2 having the size of the drawing range 1 is displayed, the display screen 2 and the display screen 6,
7 and 8 alternately move.

[0003]

In a conventional electronic map display device, the amount of map information that can be displayed in a drawing range 1 is limited as shown in FIG. Within the drawing range 1, map data is displayed by a finite number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. When trying to display a wide area map, detailed information cannot be displayed. If an attempt is made to display a certain amount of detailed information, the entire map cannot be displayed, and a partial map is displayed. As described above, the map data that can be displayed on the electronic map display device is limited, and the map data lacks listability as compared with a paper map.

The purpose of viewing a map is often to obtain map information along a route such as a road, a railroad, or a river. Such a route is not necessarily the moving direction 3 shown in FIG.
No match with 4,5. In the case of a paper map or the like, a large amount of information is displayed, and necessary map information can be obtained only by moving the viewpoint along the route. Also, if a route between two points such as a departure point and a destination is displayed on a paper map, even if there are a plurality of routes between them, it is easy to follow the route between the two points by line of sight. is there.

On the other hand, an electronic map displayed by an electronic map display device lacks at-a-glance performance as compared with a paper map, and requires complicated screen operations along a route.
That is, since the drawing range 1 shown in FIG. 11 is narrow, it is necessary to move the drawing range 1 vertically, horizontally, diagonally, etc. along the route. It is very complicated to perform such a movement by a user's manual operation, the number of unnecessary operations increases, and it is difficult to grasp the topography and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic map display device capable of moving a drawing range along a route and displaying an easy-to-view map even on an electronic map that is less comprehensive than a paper map. It is to provide.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic map display device for displaying map information recorded in advance on a screen, comprising: a plurality of points along each of a plurality of routes; Storage means for storing in advance position information indicating a direction to an adjacent point along the route, designating means for designating one or more routes and a route on the route,
The storage contents of the storage means are read out for each route designated by the designation means, map information of a predetermined range around the coordinates of the position information of the points on the designated route is displayed on the screen, and the Processing means for repeating the screen display for the next adjacent point based on the direction of the electronic map display device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, an electronic map display device for displaying map information stored in advance on a screen includes storage means, designation means, and processing means. In the storage means, for each route,
For each of a plurality of points along the route, position information indicating coordinates and directions to adjacent points is stored in advance. The position information of a plurality of points along such a route is stored for a plurality of routes. The designating means designates one or more routes and routes on the routes. The processing means performs screen display along the designated route and route. In displaying the map, first, the contents stored in the storage means are read out for each designated route. Next, map information in a predetermined range is displayed on the screen, centering on the coordinates of the position information of the point on the designated route. Next, based on the direction in the location information,
The screen display is repeated for the next adjacent point. In this way, the map data for each route specified by the specifying means is displayed. When the designated route extends over a plurality of routes, the map display for each route is repeated along the designated route. In this way, it is possible to automatically display a map along the designated route or route.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic electrical configuration of hardware according to an embodiment of the present invention. A liquid crystal display device (hereinafter abbreviated as “LCD”) 10 which is a display device for displaying a map is connected via a bus 11 to a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”).
Abbreviated as “CPU”. ) 12 is connected. CPU1
2, a read-only memory (hereinafter abbreviated as "ROM") 13, a random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as "RAM") 14, a main body key 15, and a compact disk (hereinafter abbreviated as "ROM") via a bus 11. , CD-ROM for reproducing information optically in the same manner as described above.
16 and the transparent touch panel 17 are connected. LCD
Reference numeral 10 displays map information and operation information on a screen within a predetermined drawing range. The CPU 12 includes an LCD 10
Is given image information for display. The program for the CPU 12 to execute a process according to the operation of the user is RO
It is stored in M13. The RAM 14 is used as a work area necessary for executing a program. RAM 14
It also has a so-called resume function. The resume function enables the operation state immediately before the power is turned off to be reproducible even when the power of the electronic map display device is turned off, and the saved state can be reproduced according to the specification when the power is turned on. This is a possible function. The body keys 15 include a key for performing power ON / OFF operation and a key for performing other operations. The CD-ROM 16 stores map data, route information, and the like. The transparent touch panel 17 is mounted on the LCD 10 in an overlapping manner. The transparent touch panel 17 has switches arranged in a matrix inside a transparent panel. The CPU 12 interprets an output from the transparent touch panel 17 in consideration of an image being displayed on the LCD 10. If the position where the transparent touch panel 17 is pressed matches a symbol mark representing a specific operation on the display screen, it is interpreted that the corresponding operation is specified.

FIG. 2 shows the operation of the CPU 12 shown in FIG. Power ON / OFF in the body key 15 in step a1
When the operation keys are operated and the power is turned on, C
The PU 12 starts an initialization program in the ROM 13. When the initialization program is started, the process proceeds to step a3, and it is determined whether or not there is resume information in the RAM 14. RAM 14 is a power ON / O of main body key 15
Even when the power supply to the entire apparatus is stopped by a key or the like for operating the FF, the power supply voltage is applied and the stored contents are retained. CMOS as the RAM 14
If a semiconductor element with low power consumption such as that described above is used, it is easy to hold stored contents for a long time.

A specific address in the RAM 14 is assigned to resume information. In step a3, the address of this resume information is read, and it is determined whether or not there is resume information. If there is resume information, the operation of the CPU 12 is performed according to the resume information in step a4 while the power is off. RAM14
Stores the state immediately before the power was last turned off, so that the state when the power was turned off can be reproduced.

If it is determined in step a3 that there is no resume information, the process proceeds to step a5 to perform an initialization operation. The initialization operation is performed by rewriting data stored in the RAM 14 according to a program in the ROM 13.
Performs processing such as clearing the work area. Next, in step a6, the program in the ROM 13 is started, a map display initial screen is displayed, and a standby state is waited for an input instruction from the user.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 show a display state of a screen when a wayside designation is performed in this embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a map display initial screen, FIG. 4 shows a menu selection screen, FIG. 5 shows a roadside designation confirmation screen, and FIG. 6 shows an operation screen for moving along the designated roadside.

FIG. 3 shows a normal screen which is drawn by specifying the scale and specifying the center point of the drawing range as the position of the intersection of the diagonal lines of the drawing range rectangle. Most of the screen displays the drawn map information 20. At the bottom of the screen, symbol marks for display operation are displayed as upward movement 21, downward movement 22, leftward movement 23, rightward movement 24, enlargement 25, reduction 26, and menu 27. A transparent touch panel 17 is mounted on the display screen of the LCD 10, and these symbol marks 21 to 27 function as virtual push buttons. By pressing these push buttons, enlargement, reduction, menu selection, and scrolling up, down, left, and right can be performed.

FIG. 4A shows a state in which the menu information 28 is displayed on a part of the map information 20 by pressing the transparent touch panel 17 on the menu 27 shown in FIG. When "railway scroll" is selected from the menu information 28, a railroad designation 29 is displayed on the map information 20 as shown in FIG. In the state of FIG. 4B, for example, when “National Highway 1” is designated, the screen state changes to that of FIG.

In FIG. 5, the operation information 30 at the bottom of the screen on which the map information 20 is displayed is blank, and a line-side designation confirmation 31 for confirming a user's erroneous operation is displayed on the screen.
When "Yes" is specified, it is understood that the operation is not an erroneous operation. If "No" is specified, it is confirmed that the operation is erroneous, and for example, the screen returns to the map display initial screen shown in FIG. The reason why such confirmation is performed is that when scrolling along the designated line, the amount of rewriting of the drawing information increases and the processing time also increases. If it takes time to recover from an erroneous operation, the operability will deteriorate, so check again before the operation.

When it is confirmed in FIG. 5 that the operation is not an erroneous operation, the line-side designation confirmation 31 disappears. CPU 12 shown in FIG.
Accesses the route information in the CD-ROM 16.

FIG. 6 shows route information stored in the CD-ROM 16 in advance. The route information includes, for a certain route, the name of the route, the coordinates of points on the route, and additional information.
One route, for example, "National Highway No. 1" is selected from the table 40 for accessing the route information according to the route ID number designating the route. The content selected on the table 40 is a pointer to the position information array 41 of the designated route. From the route name data in the position information array 41,
The route name "National Route 1" is obtained. In the position information array 41, a plurality of n to n + 6 on the corresponding route 50
The coordinates of points and additional information are stored. Line 5
Points n to n + 6 on 0 are extracted at regular intervals d. The smaller the distance d, the smoother the scroll. The arrangement of the array and the arrangement of the points are determined, for example, from north to south and east to west.
The additional information of points n to n + 6 on route 50 is
+6, information indicating in which direction the route 50 continues, and if the points n to n + 6 are major intersections, the I
Includes D number.

That is, when a route ID number of a certain route is given, a table 40 for accessing route information is provided.
A pointer to the position information of the designated route is obtained from the top according to the route ID number. These tables 40 and array 4
1 are stored in the CD-ROM 16 and can be read and used by the CPU 12 in the RAM 14 in the main body as needed.

FIG. 7 shows the state of the lower menu when entering the wayside scroll mode. As the route display 61, a route name from the position information array 41 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. As the direction instruction 62 that is the forward direction, for example, “north” is displayed. As the direction instruction 63 that is the next direction, for example, “South” is displayed. The stoppage of the lineside scroll mode is performed in response to the stop instruction 64. The user can select the direction instruction 62, the direction instruction 63 or the stop instruction 6
Pressing any one of the buttons 4 allows the user to scroll along the line.

FIG. 8 shows a processing operation for the wayside scrolling. The operation starts from step b1 and proceeds to step b2
Then, a map is drawn by designating the center point, and a map display initial screen as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. In step b3, a route is selected using the menu in FIG. 4 and confirmed as shown in FIG. 5 to determine the route. In step b4, as shown in FIG.
The table 40 for accessing the route information is searched from the route ID number corresponding to the determined route. In step b5, by using the pointer obtained from the table 40,
The position information array 41 is accessed, and a point closest to the center point of the current display range is searched.

At step b6, a map is drawn by designating the point searched at step b5. At this time, the menu is also changed as shown in FIG. In step b7, it is determined whether the direction has been designated. When the direction is specified, the process proceeds to step b8. In step b8, the position information array 41 shown in FIG. 6 is traced forward to obtain the next point. If it is determined in step b7 that the direction has not been specified, the process proceeds to step b9. In step b9,
It is determined whether a direction has been designated. When the direction is specified, the process proceeds to step b10. At step b10, the next point is obtained by following the position information array 41 in the next direction. When step b8 or step b10 ends,
It returns to step b6. If the direction is not specified in step b9, the process proceeds to step b11. Step b1
At 1, it is determined whether or not a stop instruction has been issued. When the stop instruction is issued, the process returns to step b1. If the stop instruction has not been issued, step b7 and subsequent steps are repeated.

As another embodiment of the present invention, when a point in the position information array 41 shown in FIG. 6 is an intersection with another route, an intersection ID number is assigned and a route over a plurality of routes is provided. It can also be described. The intersection ID number is a number for a table that accesses the name and position information of the intersection. This intersection ID number can access the intersection information in the same manner as the access to the line information by the line ID number in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a format for describing a route using an intersection ID number and a route ID number. As an intersection, for example, "Meishin Kyoto Minami IC", Route I
D is described as "Route 1", the direction is "South", the intersection ID is "Yokooji", the route ID is "Keihan National Highway", the direction is "South", and the user creates a new route. , RAM 14 or the like. As described above, the route stored in the RAM 14 is read by the CPU 12, and scrolling along this route can also be performed.

FIG. 10 shows a scroll operation according to the route information. The scroll according to the route is selected from the menu information 28 shown in FIG. When the selection is made, the operation starts from step c1. In step c2, R
The route information is read from the AM 14. In step c3, the location information array is accessed from the route ID. Next, in step c4, the point is searched from the intersection ID. Next, in step c5, points in the determined arrangement direction of the array are sequentially viewed from the direction. Step c6 is
It is determined from the ID whether the point is an intersection. If the vehicle has not reached the intersection, the process of step c5 is repeated.
When the vehicle reaches the intersection, the process returns to step c2. Thereafter, the same processing is performed with the intersection, the route, and the direction as the intersection, the route, and the direction.

In the above embodiment, various instructions are given from the transparent touch panel 17 mounted on the LCD 10, but it is needless to say that the instructions may be given by other means such as a keyboard and a mouse. is there. Also, a table 40 for accessing the route information
Or, the position information array 41 of the designated route is stored in the CD-ROM 16
However, it goes without saying that it may be stored in another recording medium.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in an electronic map display device which lacks a list as compared with a paper map,
The range of the map information displayed on the screen along the designated route can be easily moved. This makes it possible to realize a map that is easy for the user to easily grasp the travel route actually desired and that is easy to see. Further, since the moving route over a plurality of routes can be confirmed with a small number of operations, the route to the destination can be more easily found. If the route is specified according to the contents stored in the memory or the like, it is easy for the user to add a route defined by the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of turning on the power of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an image displayed by the LCD 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an image displayed by the LCD 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

5 is a diagram showing an image displayed by the LCD 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing route information in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

7 is a diagram showing a part of the display screen of the LCD 10 in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a line-side scroll operation according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a format of a route description in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a display operation along a path according to the format shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display screen of a conventional electronic map display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 LCD 12 CPU 13 ROM 14 RAM 16 CD-ROM 17 Transparent touch panel 20 Map information 28 Menu information 29 Route designation 40 Table 41 Array 50 Route 51-54 Drawing range 62 Direction instruction 63 Direction instruction

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic map display device for displaying map information recorded in advance on a screen, comprising: for each of a plurality of points along a plurality of routes, coordinates of each point; Storage means for storing in advance the position information indicating the direction of the vehicle, designating means for designating one or more routes and a route on the route, and storing the contents of the storage means for each route designated by the designating means. Read, display the map information in a predetermined range on the screen with the coordinates of the position information of the point on the designated route as the center, and display the screen display for the next adjacent point based on the direction of the position information. An electronic map display device comprising: a repetitive processing unit.