JP2805683B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device mounted on an automobile or the like and capable of displaying a position of a vehicle and a guide display from the position of the vehicle to a target position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is already known, in a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, for example, GPS (Global Positioning) is used.
System: a wide-area positioning system), and by providing a database (for example, CD-ROM) with map information, a current position (own vehicle position) and a predetermined purpose on a display screen. To display the land,
In addition, the navigation display can be performed by calculating the distance and direction from the displayed position to the destination.

When calculating the distance and direction from the vehicle position to a desired destination or from the displayed position on the map to the desired destination, naturally the target position is calculated. Must be specified. That is, it is necessary for the user to input or register in advance (destination point designation operation). Since the position grasp on the system is all done by coordinate data, when the user wants to register the desired position information,
For example, by specifying a position on the displayed map, the coordinate data is stored.

If only coordinate data is registered, it is not suitable for the user's actual use (selection of destination) when the user wants to know the direction and distance, so the coordinate data is given a name by the user. Is registered with the coordinate data. Thereafter, the user reads out the destination (that is, the coordinate data) depending on the name, and executes the navigation display to the destination.

[0005]

However, the operation of assigning a name to a designated point involves, for example, displaying Japanese syllabary, alphabets, symbols, and the like on a display screen, and selecting a character or the like by moving a cursor. The input operation of creating a character string is necessary, the operation is complicated, it takes time to set the name,
There were problems such as easy mistakes.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to very easily set a name corresponding to coordinate data specified in a destination specifying operation. I do.

That is, in the navigation device, a database means storing at least map information corresponding to the coordinates and a symbol corresponding to the coordinates, a display means capable of displaying the read map information, and a display means displayed on the display means. Input means for specifying an arbitrary point on the map information, and storage means for registering and holding the coordinates of the specified point and its name. Further, the control means registers the information including the symbol having the coordinates of the point designated by the input means and the coordinates in the vicinity thereof on the map information displayed on the display means as the destination information of the route guidance operation in the storage means. When the registration operation is started, the display mode on the display unit is set to the display mode for the registration operation, the display regarding the registration process is executed, and when the registration operation is completed,
It is possible to perform control so as to return to the display mode immediately before the start of the registration operation and execute the display on the display means.

In the database, in correspondence with the coordinate data on the map information, place names, road names, station names, map symbols, and characters and symbols as service information of restaurants, hotels and the like are recorded. These are usually displayed on the screen together with the map information, or read out and used (displayed) by a user performing an operation in a predetermined operation mode. By using the information of characters, symbols, figures, etc. stored in association with the coordinate data (collectively referred to as symbols) as the name of the point designated in the destination point designation operation, the user By inputting a character string in consideration of the name, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of setting the name. Further, the display mode changes along with the registration operation on the display, so that the user can easily understand the operation. After the registration, the display mode returns to the original display mode, thereby eliminating unnecessary labor. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a navigation device mounted on the automobile of the present embodiment, wherein 1 is a navigation computer, 2 is a monitor device formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and 3 is a device on which map information and symbols are recorded. CD
A CD-ROM driver for performing a reproducing operation of the ROM 4;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a GPS antenna unit, 6 denotes a GPS receiver, and 7 denotes an operation device serving as a user operation input unit.

The navigation computer 1 can grasp the position of the vehicle based on the information input from the GPS receiver 6. The GPS receiver 6 calculates a self-position on the earth by using a plurality of high-orbit satellites, calculates a distance and a change in distance from a signal received by the GPS antenna unit 5, and coordinates the self-position. Obtain as data.

The navigation computer 1 has a C
While controlling the reproduction operation of the D-ROM driver 3,
The map information and the symbols read from the CD-ROM 4 are supplied by the CD-ROM driver 3 and can be displayed on the monitor device 2 as needed. Further, the operating device 7 includes a joystick 7a.
And operation buttons 7b and 7c are prepared, and the user can cause the navigation computer 1 to execute a predetermined display control operation by these operations.

The navigation computer 1 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. An operation / control unit (CP) 10 performs various operations and generates a required control signal.
U) and 11 are an input / output interface unit, 12 is a program ROM, 13 is a work RAM, 14 is a destination memory in which coordinate data and names of destinations are registered by a destination specifying operation described later, and 15 is a CD-ROM 4 Is a display data memory that retains the data reproduced and supplied from.

In the navigation device configured as described above, basically, three types of modes of operation are executed as shown in FIG. 5, and the display mode is determined by selecting each mode.
That is, the vehicle position display mode (POS mode), the map search mode (MAP mode), and the destination position designation mode (WP mode).

In the POS mode, a map display centering on the own vehicle position is displayed. That is, based on the coordinate data of the vehicle position input from the GPS receiver 6, the navigation computer 1 reads map information and symbols in a predetermined area centered on the coordinate data from the CD-ROM 4 so as to read them. The driver 3 is controlled to hold the reproduced and supplied data in the display data RAM 15.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, map information of a predetermined scale and a predetermined symbol centered on the current vehicle position (for example, represented by a 10 o'clock cursor KS) are displayed on the monitor device 2 as image information. Supply and display. The scale of the displayed map is determined by the user using the operation device 7.
Can be selected step by step.

In the POS mode, if the coordinate data supplied from the GPS receiver 6 changes as the vehicle moves, the own vehicle position (that is, the cursor KS) maintains the center position. Such map information is read from the display data RAM 15 or the display data RAM 15
If you exceed the area stored in the CD-ROM
4, the map information of the corresponding area is read into the display data RAM 15, and then supplied to the monitor device 2 as image information. That is, the map display is scrolled in a predetermined direction as the automobile moves.

In the MAP mode, the map display is scrolled in the direction specified by the user. That is,
The operation of reading the map information and supplying the image information is almost the same, but the display map is scrolled by a user operation instead of holding the own vehicle position at the center position. For example, when the user indicates the direction using the joystick 7a while displaying in the POS mode, the navigation computer 1 shifts to the MAP mode, and the map is displayed in the direction input by the joystick 7a regardless of the own vehicle position. Scroll the display. Also, a map around an arbitrary point designated by the user can be displayed without using the own vehicle position as a starting point. That is, in the MAP mode, the user can see a map of a desired area.

Further, these POS modes and MA
In the P mode, the center position of the display map (that is, POS
In the MAP mode, the desired position selected by the user using the joystick 7a or the like.
, The navigation display to the desired destination is executed. This is because the direction and distance are calculated by comparing coordinate data corresponding to the center position of the display map with coordinate data of a position designated by the user as the destination, and the calculated data is used as image data as a monitor device. 2 and displayed.

The "destination" used in the navigation display operation to the destination in the POS mode and the MAP mode is designated by the user in the operation in the WP mode, and the coordinate data is stored in the destination memory 14. Registered in. Further, since it is inconvenient for the user to use the coordinate data alone, that is, to read out the registered destination, a name is given to the coordinate data, and this name is also registered in the destination memory 14.

For example, when the operation button 7b of the operation device 7 is pressed in the POS mode or the MAP mode, the processing operation of the navigation computer 1 (CPU 10) shifts to the WP mode, and the point designated by the cursor KS at that time (ie, the POS mode) When the mode is shifted from the WP mode to the WP mode, the coordinate data and the name are registered as positions where the own vehicle position is to be registered, and when the mode is shifted from the MAP mode to the WP mode, a desired position selected by the user using the joystick 7a or the like. Is done. After the registration operation, the mode returns to the original mode (POS mode or MAP mode).

The data registered in the destination memory 14 in the WP mode process is displayed in the POS mode or the MAP mode in the monitor device 2 as shown in FIG. 6, for example. A desired destination for which the navigation display is to be executed is specified. When the user specifies a destination, the coordinate data of the destination is compared with the coordinate data of the position specified by the current cursor KS, and the distance and direction to the destination are calculated as described above.

This embodiment has a feature in the operation in the WP mode. The operation of registering a destination will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that F101 to F1
Shown at 06.

When the operation button 7b of the operation device 7 is pressed in the POS mode or the MAP mode as described above, WP
Mode and switch to navigation computer 1 (C
PU 10) enters a destination registration process (F101, F102).
. In other words, the user presses the operation button 7b when registering the vehicle position or a desired point selected in the MAP mode as a "destination".

Then, first, the coordinates (x _P , y _P ) of the center point of the displayed map, that is, the position of the cursor KS are obtained, and these are designated as designated positions (F103). These coordinates (x _P , y
_P ) is GP when step F101 is in the POS mode.
The coordinates input from the S receiver 6 may be used as they are, and in any of the POS mode and the MAP mode, the map information read from the CD-ROM 4 is in a form corresponding to the coordinates, so the display data memory 15 may be obtained.

Next, the display data memory 15 is searched for a symbol read from the CD-ROM 4 together with the map information. As the symbol, for example, SB shown in FIG.
As shown as _1, there are place names, road names, and map symbols that are displayed on the screen together with the map display in the POS mode or the MAP mode, and are not normally displayed together with the map display, but can be additionally used as necessary. Data such as road names and intersection names set as information (S
B ₂ ) and data (SB ₃ ) such as restaurant, hotel, and parking lot information as service information.
These symbols SB ₁ , SB ₂ , and SB ₃ are stored directly or indirectly (incidentally) in association with the coordinate data as shown in FIG.

Among the symbols held in the display data memory 15 together with the map information, the symbol (A: coordinate (x) set at the coordinate position that is the shortest distance from the designated position coordinates (x _P , y _P ) _a, look for the y _a)) (F10
Four). Here, if the coordinates (x _n, y _m) set in symbol of "iidabashi station" is designated coordinates (x _P, y _P)
Nearest symbols from (A: coordinates (x _A, y _A)) and was.

Then, the navigation computer 1 causes the monitor device 2 to execute a display as shown in FIG. That is, the designated position is represented by, for example, the flag F with “WP”, the name of the designated position is displayed as “Iidabashi Station”, and the designated position and the name are presented to the user (F105).

Then, the designated position coordinates (x _P , y _P )
Is registered in the destination memory 14 in association with the symbol (for example, "Iidabashi Station") named (F106). When this registration operation is completed, the navigation computer 1
Return to the mode immediately before shifting to P mode (F106 → F1
01). The destination registered in the WP mode is displayed as a menu by name as shown in FIG. 6, and the coordinate data is used as the destination of the navigation display operation based on the designation of the user.

That is, in the case of this example, the user automatically selects a name from symbols by simply designating the position of the destination to be registered (for example, pressing the operation button 7b).
Since the name of the destination is registered together with the coordinates of the designated position, it is not necessary to perform a troublesome and confusing name input operation. Of course, there is no need to worry about the name.
When the registration operation is completed, the original mode (PO
(S mode or MAP mode), so that the user can not only easily perform the registration operation, but also can continue the operation up to the end of the registration.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation in the WP mode in the second example of the present invention.
01 to F208. The device configuration and the like are the same as in FIGS. FIG. 2 is used as an example of a map display.

In this example, the name at the time of destination registration can be selected by the user. First, when the user presses the operation button 7b functioning as a mode switching key in the POS mode or the MAP mode, the mode shifts to the WP mode (F201, F202), and the variable n is set to 1 (F20).
3). Then the coordinates of the cursor position as in the example of FIG 1 the designated position coordinates (x _P, y _P) and to (F 204), the designated coordinates (x _P, y _P) symbols of the display data memory 15 based on the Search the list. Then, the designated position coordinates (x
_P, y _P) close to the n-th from the coordinate (x _A, looking for symbols with y _A) (F205). That is, the closest symbol is selected first. Then, the symbol at the designated position and the nearest coordinate are displayed as a name as shown in FIG.
206).

Here, when it is determined that the user can register with this name and, for example, the operation button 7b (functioning as an enter key) is pressed again, the designated position coordinates (x _P , y
_P ) and the name "Iidabashi Station" in correspondence with the destination memory 14
(F208).

However, if the user does not like this name, for example, by pressing the operation button 7c (functioning as a select key), the variable n is incremented (F207).
It returns to step F205. That is, the designated position coordinates (x
_P, y _P) from the second closest coordinates (x _A, symbols with y _A) are searched. Then, a symbol having the second closest coordinate, for example, “Iidabashi intersection” is selected, and FIG.
It is displayed as shown in (c) (F206). Further operation buttons 7
When c is pressed, the symbol of the coffee cup (indicating a restaurant) which is the third closest symbol is selected, and FIG.
This is displayed as shown in (d), and is similarly used to determine whether the user can be registered.

By selecting the symbols in the vicinity of the designated position in the order of shorter distance, for example, the user can register the most favorite symbol as the name, and can freely set the name without complicating the operation. The degree can be expanded. When the registration is completed in step F208, the flow returns to step F201 to return to the mode before registration (POS mode).
Mode or the MAP mode), the user can continue the operation before the registration operation.

Although not represented in the flow chart of FIG. 8, additional symbols (restaurant name, menu contents, or restaurant name) indirectly connected to the coordinate data as shown in FIG. It is also conceivable to select a name corresponding to a map symbol). That is, any symbol corresponding to coordinates and having a position set on a map can be used as a name of a destination to be registered.

Conversely, the symbols registered as names may be limited to character data, and map symbols and restaurant marks may not be selected. By using only character data, the registered names are all proper unique names and can be easily distinguished, which is suitable for the operation of selecting a destination in the navigation operation.

The configuration and navigation operation of the navigation device of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other processing flows in the WP mode are also conceivable.

[0038]

As described above, in the navigation device of the present invention, the symbols recorded in the database in correspondence with the coordinate data on the map information are designated at the time of the destination point designation (WP mode) operation. It is possible to eliminate the need for the user to enter a character string in consideration of the name, and to perform the complicated and time-consuming name setting by making it possible to use the name as the name of the designated place, thereby realizing easy operation. effective. In addition, since the symbol is selected from the vicinity of the designated position, there is an advantage that the most appropriate name can be obtained without the user's consideration. A good navigation operation can be realized by the coordinates and symbols registered in the storage means as the destination information of the route guidance operation.

Further, when the registration operation is started, the display mode on the display means is set as the display mode for the registration operation, and the display relating to the registration process is executed, so that the operation of the user can be easily understood. Is completed, the display mode is returned to the display mode immediately before the start of the registration operation, and the display on the display means is executed, thereby obtaining an advantage that the operation immediately before the registration can be continued.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a WP mode operation in an example of a first embodiment of a navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a display operation according to an example of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a navigation device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a navigation computer in the navigation device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition state of an operation mode of the navigation device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a destination selection menu display during a navigation operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a symbol storage mode in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a WP mode operation in the example of the second embodiment of the navigation device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 navigation computer, 2 monitor device, 3
CD-ROM driver, 4 CD-ROM, 5 GP
S antenna unit, 6 GPS receiver, 7 operating device,
10 CPU, 14 destination memory, 15 display data memory

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A database unit storing at least map information corresponding to coordinates and a symbol corresponding to coordinates, a display unit capable of displaying map information read from the database unit, and display on the display unit. Input means for specifying an arbitrary point on the specified map information, storage means for registering and holding the coordinates of the specified point, and a name for the coordinates, and a map displayed on the display means Information including a symbol having coordinates of a point designated by the input means and coordinates in the vicinity of the information can be registered in the storage means as destination information of the route guidance operation, and the registration operation can be started. When performing, the display relating to the registration process is executed by setting the display mode of the display means as the display mode for the registration operation And control means capable of performing control so as to return to the display mode immediately before the registration operation is started and to execute the display of the display means when the registration operation is completed. Navigation device.