JP3016692B2 - 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 for displaying map information and an object position to confirm a position.
In particular, the present invention relates to a navigation device that reads the position of an object that has passed in the past and displays the position of the object on a map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a navigation apparatus in which the current position of an object, for example, an own vehicle is indicated on a map so that the own vehicle can be guided to a destination. In such a navigation device, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-9093, a plurality of positions to which the vehicle has passed (traveled) are stored, and, for example, the stored positions are read out after traveling. Some models have a function of displaying on a map and reproducing the past traveling locus so that the user can check and manage the route on which the vehicle has traveled after traveling.

[0003]

However, with such functions alone, there were some inconveniences in remembering the driving situation later. In other words, it is difficult to understand how the vehicle traveled along a route without real driving reproduction, and especially when returning to the same road, it is difficult to determine the order in which the vehicle followed the route in the past. It was not always in line with the wishes of the user, for example, it was difficult to confirm what environment (scenery) was around.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient navigation device which enables a realistic running reproduction and allows a user to surely remember the past traffic situation.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a navigation device having a function of reproducing a past trajectory of an object, a display means for displaying map information, Travel locus data storage means for storing a plurality of positions where the object has passed as travel locus data as coordinate data, and image data of an environment corresponding to the coordinate data of a specific position among a plurality of positions where the object has passed in the past Means for storing image data with point data for storing image data with point data, and when reproducing the trajectory, sequentially reads the trajectory data stored in the trajectory data storage means, and stores coordinate data in the trajectory data. When the coordinate data substantially coincides with the coordinate data in the image data with point data, the image in the image data with point data is Navigation system, wherein a and a display control means for automatically displayed on the display unit.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

When the coordinate data in the sequentially read traveling locus data substantially coincides with the coordinate data in the image data with point data corresponding to the specific position, an image of the environment corresponding to the specific position is automatically displayed. To be displayed.
Therefore, the user can easily check the route order and how to pass, and the environment (scenery) around a specific position without bothering the user. Get better.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a navigation device showing one embodiment of the present invention. Note that the GPS method is used as the position detection method in the embodiment. However, the present invention can be applied to a navigation device using another position detection method (for example, an independent method using an azimuth sensor and a distance sensor).

The navigation control circuit 1 has a C (not shown)
A PU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are built in, and these are configured to transmit and receive data via a bus.
The map information is read by the CPU from the map information storage device 2 (for example, composed of a CD-ROM or the like), stored in the RAM, and displayed on the display 3 (for example, composed of a CRT or LCD).

The route setting information from the departure point to the destination point can be obtained by operating the operation key 4 by the operator (user).
Input to U. The CPU extracts a route from the map information based on the route setting information and stores the route in the RAM. When route display is required, the route information is superimposed on the map information and displayed on the display 3. The GPS receiver 5 receives a radio wave from a satellite to determine the position of the vehicle, and the CPU 5
Is input to The CPU corrects the point on the map information according to a predetermined position correction procedure, and displays the mark on the map information in the form of a mark indicating the position of the own vehicle on the display 3.

Further, the operation of detecting the position of the vehicle and correcting the position and displaying the position of the vehicle is periodically repeated by the CPU, so that the map information displayed on the display 3 is displayed in response to the movement of the vehicle. Is displayed so that the vehicle marker moves. As a result, the position of the vehicle can be known, and how to proceed to the destination can be understood.

Next, the storage and reproduction of the running locus will be described. A storage device 6 (for example, an IC card, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or the like) capable of writing / reading the traveling locus data of the vehicle and the image data with point data is connected to the navigation control circuit 1, and C
The travel locus data and the image data with point data are written into the storage device 6 by the PU. In addition, the traveling locus data and the image data with point data are read from the storage device 6 by the CPU and stored in the RAM.

Further, an interface 7 (for example, SCSI, serial, etc.) is provided so that the navigation control circuit 1 can communicate with an external storage device described later. The external storage device 8 is, for example, a hard disk or the like,
Here, the traveling locus data and the image data with point data can be stored (this is not shown mainly in the vehicle, and is shown by dotted lines).

Next, the traveling locus data will be described.
The storage of the traveling locus data is performed in one traveling unit (for example, 6
On the 13th of October, the entire locus between Osaka and Kobe) is performed at predetermined time (or distance) intervals while the vehicle is running. R which the each point CPU has passed the vehicle at predetermined time longitude, latitude (x _n, y _n) as the coordinate data of the
Stored in AM sequentially. In other words, the position coordinates are stored one after another in the order of passage. At this time, the value of n naturally increases one by one.

Then, for example, when all running is completed, the CP
U indicates the travel locus data (x_n, Y _n) At the beginning, mainly
The travel number corresponding to the travel unit. Add the running track
Trace data corresponds to image data with point data described later
I try to make it. Table 1 shows this data format.
Shown in

[0019]

[Table 1]

Here, the "running number" is a serial number assigned to each running unit, and a different number (for example, "running number 2") is assigned to a different running unit. The “number of points” indicates the number of stored traveling locus data. "Label" corresponds to "Running No."
This is a part for the user to arbitrarily assign a title.

These "travel No.", "number of points", and "label" form a header portion for travel locus data.
Note that the above-described travel locus data includes a value (x
_n, although a y _n), it may be a difference value from the following a previous data shown in Table 2 is not limited thereto.

[0022]

[Table 2]

According to this, since the value of the data such as Δx ₁ becomes small, the data size can be reduced.
The capacity of the storage device 6 and the like can be used effectively. Next, the image data with point data will be described in detail. The image data is image data arbitrarily created or selected by the user.
When the trajectory mark displayed in (1) reaches a specific position selected by the user (hereinafter, referred to as point data), the image data is mainly for displaying a landscape around the position. Since the image data corresponds to the point data, the point data is added to the image data.

The format of the image data with point data is shown in Table 3 below.

[0025]

[Table 3]

Here, the "size" is the capacity of the image data and is expressed in bytes. “X” indicates point data and corresponds to longitude. “Y” corresponds to latitude. Then, unique image data corresponding to the predetermined point data is added last.
When there are a plurality of (k) image data, a number (k) is assigned to each data string as shown in Table 3.

Next, a method of creating and recording the image data with point data will be described. The point data is a point (vehicle position) where the user wants to represent an image on the map displayed on the display 3 when the vehicle is actually traveling.
To mark. Or, scroll to mark. At this time, the CPU determines the longitude and latitude (x _k , y
_k ) is sent to the storage device 6 and stored in the RAM.

Further, the trajectory moving during the traveling reproduction is temporarily stopped, and the stopped point is designated and stored as point data, or the user selects an arbitrary map (for example, by scrolling the screen). Then, the map may be displayed on the display 3, and the cursor may be moved to a predetermined point to perform marking, thereby specifying and storing the point data. In any case, the driving NO. The point data is stored on the basis of the travel locus data (for example, “travel No. 1”).

The image data is created by inputting a photograph or picture desired by the user with an image scanner. Also, video images are created by conversion with software on a personal computer having a video IF. Then, in order to add image data to the point data, the stored points (point data) are displayed on the screen of the display 3 by operating the operation key 4 by the user (for example, blinking of a cursor or the like). If this point is desired by the user, for example, the CPU displays an image "Please enter an image" on the screen to prompt the user to input data. At this time, the user inputs image data into the navigation control circuit 1 via the interface 7. The CPU adds the image data to the point data to create the image data with the point data shown in Table 3.

However, the travel NO.
Since it cannot be made to correspond to the travel locus data in (for example, “travel No. 1”), the CPU adds the same header part as the above-described travel locus data to the head of the image data with point data. Table 4 shows this header portion.

[0031]

[Table 4]

Here, "running number" in Table 4 is the same as that of the running locus data. Therefore, in the data of Table 4, the point at which the image data was input this time is the traveling NO. (For example, the entire locus between Osaka and Kobe on June 13). "Number of points" indicates the number of image data with point data.

The "total data number" indicates the total size of the data string of the image data with point data. The “label” is the same as that of the traveling locus data. As described above, by adding a substantially common header portion to the image data with point data and the traveling locus data, a certain traveling N
O. Image data with point data and travel trajectory data corresponding to.

When the CPU completes the series of data creation, the CPU writes the image data with point data and the traveling locus data in the storage device 6. When the data capacity is large, the data may be written to the external storage device 8. In this embodiment, the CPU creates the image data with the spot data having the header portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user may create and edit the image data in the external storage device 8 such as a personal computer in advance. Good.

FIG. 2 shows a CPU for reproducing the traveling history.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the state of the display 3 when reproducing the traveling history. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. Note that the flow of this example describes an example corresponding to the third display control means.

For example, a few days after the user completes one traveling unit (in this case, image data has already been input), the route on which the vehicle has traveled and the surroundings of the traveling have been determined. When the user wants to confirm what kind of scenery the scene is, he operates the reproduction switch 31 shown in FIG. At this time, the process shown in FIG. 2 is started (step S1). And the driving NO. (May be a label), step S2, step S2
No. 3 is designated as the traveling NO. Is searched from the storage device 6 (or the external storage device 8) for the presence or absence of the traveling locus data and the image data with the point data.

Therefore, the traveling locus data and the point data
When image data with data is found, step S3
Control then proceeds to step S4. In step S4, these
Initialize data variables (set n = 0, k = 0)
). Then, the process proceeds to the next step S5, where the traveling locus data
(X₀, Y₀) Is read. And it is displayed on the display 3
This travel locus data (x ₀, Y₀)
The corresponding position is marked (step S6). FIG.
This marking (running track mark)
A, for example, a red dot is superimposed on the map.
In this case, (x₀, Y₀), That is, n = 0
In the traveling NO. Marking from the starting point in
Will start. The position of the marking is always displayed on the screen.
If you move the map so that it is in the center of the
It will be easier to see.

Next, in step S7, point data (x ₀ , y ₀ ) in the image data with point data is read. Then, in step S8, an interval between the position (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the point data and the position (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the traveling trajectory data currently being marked is obtained. FIG.
“Δx” indicated by is “(x _n −x _k )” and “Δx”
y "is" (y _n -y _k) ". Therefore, when the interval is “L”, that is, when the distance is larger than a predetermined distance determination coefficient, the position of the traveling locus data currently marked reaches the position (k = 0) of the point data first registered as an image. It is determined that it has not been performed, and the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is the next registered spot data by comparing the value of k at this time with the total number (K) of spot data (image data with spot data). At this time, if there is the next registered point data, k is smaller than K. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S13, 1 is added to k (that is, k = 1), and the process returns to step S7 to return to the next registered point. The data is read out, and the position (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the traveling locus data currently marked in step S8 is stored in the point data (x
₁ , y ₁ ) is determined, and if not, 1 is added to k in step S13, and the position of the traveling locus data reaches the position of the point data, or the point data is finally The above processing is repeated until the registered point data is reached.

That is, in the processing up to this point, the position of the registered spot data is searched one by one with respect to the traveling locus data currently marked, and whether or not there is appropriate spot data is searched. It is doing. On the other hand, if there is no valid point data with respect to the position of the currently-marked traveling locus data, k becomes equal to K in step S12, and the process proceeds to the next step S14. In this step S14, it is determined whether or not there is a position of the traveling locus data to be marked next. This determination is made by comparing the value of n at this time with the total number (N) of point data (travel locus data). If the value of n is smaller than the total number (N), it is determined that there is still the next traveling locus data, the process proceeds to step S15, and the display speed adjustment counter “t” is set to 0. Then, in step S16, 1 is added to the counter "t", and it is determined whether or not the counter "t" has reached the display speed coefficient "s" preset by the user. That is, the process of step S16 is performed until the next position is marked.
The display of the position of the travel trajectory data that is currently marked is kept for the period of time “s”.

When the counter "t" reaches the display speed coefficient "s", the process proceeds to step S17, where 1 is added to the current n to mark the position of the next traveling locus data, and k
Is initialized, and the process returns to step S5. In this case, the traveling locus data read in step S5 is (x ₁ ,
y ₁ ), the position (point B) corresponding to the travel locus data (x ₁ , y ₁ ) is marked next on the map in FIG. 3 (step S6). The previous position (point A) remains marked as it is.

Then, the next processing (steps S7, S8,
(Steps S12 and S13 are repeated), and 1 is added to n. If there is no appropriate point data, the processing from step S14 to step S17 is performed through step S17, and the positions that have passed in the past are sequentially marked. Processing up to this point (mainly steps S5, S6, S15, S16, S
17) basically corresponds to an example of the first display control means. In this way, instead of marking all the positions that have passed in the past at once, instead of marking the positions one by one in the order in which the vehicles have passed in the past, the actual vehicle on the map is marked. It will be similar to the way you drive. Therefore, a real traveling can be reproduced, and it becomes very easy for the user to remember what route the vehicle has traveled. This is particularly useful when traveling back and forth on the same road, and this can be easily confirmed by looking at the reproduction.

Next, in step S8, when the distance is "L", that is, smaller than the predetermined distance determination coefficient, the position of the traveling locus data currently marked reaches the position of the point data registered as an image. Then, the process proceeds to step S9. That is, if shown in FIG. 3, the position of the traveling locus data currently marked is the position of the point C, and the position of the point data is the registered point P1.

In step S9, the image data is read from the image data with the point data having the point data, and based on the image data, the registered image corresponding to the point data is changed to the map which has been displayed and displayed. (Shown in FIG. 3B) and the waiting time counter “W” is set to 0. Then, in the next step S10, 1 is added to the counter "W", and the counter "W" is compared with the waiting time "T" set in advance by the user. Counter "W" is still time "T"
If not, the process proceeds to the next step S11, and the "continue" key 32 on the display 3 (corresponding to one of the operation keys 4 in FIG. 1 and a key for forcibly changing to the original map display)
It is determined whether or not has been operated. If it has not been operated, the process returns to step S10, where 1 is added to the current counter "W", and this counter "W" is compared with the time "T".

That is, this process is performed unless there is a continuous input.
This means that the display of the image is kept for the time “T”. Then, when the counter “W” reaches the time “T” or the “continue” key 32 is operated, the display of the image is stopped, and the display is changed to the original display shown in FIG. The process proceeds from step S12 to S14, and the same processing as described above is performed to mark the position of the next traveling locus data. In addition, one traveling NO. When display of all traveling locus data is completed, n becomes equal to N. Therefore, the process shifts from step S14 to "END" processing, and the traveling unit, that is, traveling NO. Will be terminated (note that unless the “pause” key 33 is operated,
The display showing the entire trajectory is kept as it is).

The above processing (mainly the processing from step S7 to step S13) corresponds to an example of the second display control means. Here, the specific position is described as a position set and registered in advance by the user, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this and may be a position originally written in the ROM. In this way, when the marked position reaches a specific position registered in advance, an image (landscape) corresponding to this position is displayed, so that it is easy to confirm what kind of landscape this position was. it can.

As described above, in this example, a realistic image can be reproduced.
It is possible to easily confirm in which route order the vehicle has traveled, and to easily confirm what kind of scenery a particular position was. It can also provide users with visual entertainment, so to speak as a kind of album. Note that the flow of this example is an example corresponding to a third display control unit (in other words, a combination of an example of the first display control unit and an example of the second display control unit).
However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even when only the process showing an example of the first display control means described in the above flow or the process showing an example of the second display control means is mainly adopted, the traveling The effect of being able to easily remember the situation later remains the same.

Since the above data is stored in the storage device 6, for example, an IC card or the like, if the capacity becomes large, another IC card or the external storage device 8 may be used. You don't have to. Further, since the display interval (time) of the marking and the display time of the image can be arbitrarily set by the user, the display can be performed according to the user's intention. At this time, the VTR is
"Pause", "FF", "REW",
If a "Stop" switch is provided and these functions are added to the reproduction control, it becomes more convenient for the user.

If the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment is taken out of the vehicle and a home television monitor is connected to the interface 7 instead of the display 3, traveling can be reproduced on the home television in the home. It will be useful. Further, the above-described image image has been described as being created by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The image image may be selected from several image data preset in the ROM of the navigation device 1 and registered. The point data may also be preset in the ROM.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a traveling locus of a vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be adopted as a human passing locus such as hiking. Further, instead of the image display, the environment at the specific position may be described and reproduced by voice.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, what kind of scenery a certain position was is automatically reproduced.
In reproducing, the user's trouble can be saved, and the convenience can be improved.

[0052]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a navigation device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a CPU in a navigation control circuit showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state of the display 3 when reproducing a traveling locus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation control circuit 2 ... Map information storage device 3 ... Display device 4 ... Operation key 5 ... GPS receiver 6 ... Storage device 7 ... Interface 8 ... External Storage device

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A navigation device having a function of reproducing a past trajectory of an object, a display means for displaying map information, and a plurality of positions where the object has passed in the past as travel trajectory data as coordinate data. Travel locus data storage means for storing, and image data with point data for storing image data of an environment corresponding to coordinate data of a specific position among a plurality of positions to which an object has passed in the past as image data with point data When the locus is reproduced, the traveling locus data stored in the traveling locus data storage unit is sequentially read out, and when the coordinate data in the traveling locus data substantially coincides with the coordinate data in the image data with point data. Display control means for automatically displaying an image in the image data with point data on the display means; A navigation device comprising: