JP3182998B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is used in, for example, an in-vehicle navigation system, and allows a driver to confirm and adjust a driving schedule in advance by virtually experiencing a route set from a departure point to a destination point. The present invention relates to a navigation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digitized map information is displayed on a display device using various sensors for positioning the current position of a user, for example, for use in a vehicle, and the current position is displayed in a superimposed manner. Various navigation devices have been developed for providing guidance on the current position and the direction and distance to a destination.

As various sensors, self-contained sensors such as a geomagnetic sensor and a vehicle speed sensor and other independent sensors such as a GPS and a sign post are used singly or in combination. A large-capacity storage device such as a ROM or an optical disk is used, and a CRT or an LCD device is used as a display device. In any navigation device, not only the current position is simply displayed, but also the current position or the starting point and the destination point are set, and the route from the current position or the starting point to the destination point is set or searched in some way. A so-called navigation device that performs route guidance using the route has been developed.

[0004]

The use of the route set or searched in this way displays the digitized map information on the display device at the time of actual driving, and displays the current position and the above route in a superimposed manner. As a result, it is used for route guidance to the destination. At this time, there is a case where a voice is used when turning right or left to provide guidance to that effect or to report that the vehicle has deviated from the distance or route to the destination.

[0005] However, in any case, the use of the set route is currently limited to only when the vehicle is actually driven according to the route. Can not be used effectively in many cases.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been developed in accordance with the present invention.
First storage means for storing map data
(1) storing the map data to be displayed in the first storage means;
First read control means (2) for reading from (1);
Second storage means (3) for storing the set route information
And route information to be displayed from the second storage means (3).
A second read control means (4) for reading information,
1. The map data read by the read control means (2)
Data and the second read control means (4).
Vehicle equipped with display means (5) for displaying route information
Navigation device, using the route information
Parameters entered to perform simulation
Simulation that performs path simulation based on
And a display control means (6).
Drive simulation by simulation control means
It is characterized by displaying the current position inside.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of simulating a set route to a destination in advance, confirming a schedule, and adjusting a schedule.

[0008]

Since the set route has distance data for each short section of the route, the travel time is calculated based on the set parameters and the route is traced while displaying the information. Is simulated as follows. In addition, it is also possible to set a break time at a relay point so that a time such as a break on the way can be considered, and perform a simulation based on the information.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are a functional block diagram and a device configuration diagram, respectively, showing an embodiment of a path setting device. First, the functions of the present invention will be described using the functional block diagram of FIG.

[0010] From the first storage means 1 for storing digitized map data, the map data read using the first read control means 2 for reading map data to be displayed is displayed on the display means 5. Is displayed using. The route information read out from the second storage means 3 for storing the set route information using the second read control means 4 for reading the route information to be displayed has already been displayed. So that they overlap properly on the map,
The display means 5 is used to superimpose the data on the displayed map data.

On the other hand, various simulation parameters are input and stored using the parameter input control means 7 for inputting various parameters for performing a simulation using the route. The parameters, the map data read using the first read control means 2 described above, and the route information read using the second read control means 4 are converted by the simulation control means 6 for controlling the execution of the simulation. The simulation is performed, and the pattern and the information of the simulation are displayed using the display means 5.

The correspondence between the components shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1 described above in the device configuration diagram of FIG. 2 will be described below.

The first read control means 2, the second read control means 4, the display means 5, the simulation control means 6, and the parameter input means 7 are stored as programs in the ROM 9 and the DRAM 10 Central processing unit (CPU) while using as a work area
11 is executed and controlled.

The first storage means 1 corresponds to digitized map data 14, and in recent years, a CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory) capable of storing a large amount of data is often used.

The second storage means 3 corresponds to an SRAM section 15 which is a non-volatile memory and holds route information.

The first read control means 2 reads the data of the first storage means 1, temporarily stores the data in the DRAM unit 10, processes the data, and requests the display means 5 to display a map.

The second read control means 4 reads data from the second storage means 3 and sends the data to the display means 5.
Request display of map.

The parameter input control means 7 controls the input section 8 and stores the input parameters in the DRAM section 10. FIG. 7 shows an example of a simulation parameter input screen.
Shown in In the display example of FIG. 7, an input unit 8 provided with a cursor key button 20 is shown. The cursor buttons 20 include an upper item selection 23, a lower item selection 24,
Two parameter value increase / decrease selections (Increase 21, Decrease 22)
It has four. These buttons are arranged near the display unit 12.

The simulation control means 6 comprises a DRAM
A simulation is executed and controlled using the map data, the route information data, and the simulation parameter data stored in the unit 10 and the SRAM unit 15,
The display unit 5 is requested to display simulation information.

The display means 5 processes the requested display data and writes the display data to the video RAM section 13 to display the display data on the display section 12. As the display unit 12,
CRTs and LCDs are used.

As an actual navigation device, a method of performing navigation by combining a positioning sensor and the like in addition to the configuration of the present invention is generally used.
At this time, guidance using voice has begun to be performed well.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the parameter input control means 7 executed and controlled by the central processing unit (CPU) 11. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the simulation control means 6 executed and controlled by the central processing unit (CPU) 11. FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is an example of a display screen in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

Hereinafter, the drive simulation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

When the execution of the drive simulation is started, first, a simulation parameter setting process is performed. Hereinafter, the parameter setting process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of the simulation parameter setting process of FIG. First, a list of created routes is displayed (step 101). If there are a plurality of set routes, a route to be simulated is selected from them (step 102). For the selected route, the map data automatically selected by the control means 1 is read from the storage means 1 by the control means 1 at a scale at which the entire route can be displayed, and is superimposed on the map data on the display device. Display on the top (Step 10
3). Thereby, the entire route for performing the simulation can be seen. At this time, as accompanying information,
Displaying the route of the entire route, for example, further clarifies information on the entire route. Here, it is confirmed whether or not to simulate the route (step 104). If another route is to be selected, the process returns to step 102.

Next, a simulation parameter setting screen for the route for simulation is displayed (step 105). At this time, the traveling speed of a highway, a national road, a prefectural road, a city road, other roads and the like, and a departure time are set as parameters (step 10).
6). FIG. 5 shows an example of a simulation parameter setting screen. The setting of the data of each parameter is performed using two buttons capable of instructing an increase or decrease of the traveling speed. Also,
Switching between the parameters is performed using two buttons capable of indicating an upper item and a lower item. Of course, an input device instead of a button may be used, or a remote control may be used. It is confirmed whether or not the designated simulation parameters are acceptable (step 107). If the simulation parameters are to be changed, the process returns to step 106.

The running speed of the expressway is calculated from the simulation parameters thus set (step 108).

Generally, the traveling speed of the highway input in step 106 is input at an hourly speed (Km / hour). It is easier to calculate this value if it is converted into a numerical value on the order of minute speed (m / min). This can be calculated as: minute speed = hourly speed x 1000/60. Similarly, the respective traveling speeds of the national road, the prefectural road, the city road, and other roads are calculated (step 10).
8 to Step 112). However, instead of calculating each time, a conversion table from hourly speed to minute speed may be fixed.

As a final process of setting the simulation parameters, the mileage of the simulation and the mileage of other roads below the highway are initialized to 0 (step 113), and the mileage of the simulation and the mileage of the other roads below the highway are reduced. The running time is initialized to 0 (step 114).

Next, regarding the processing of the simulation,
This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. First, the starting point of the selected route is set as the current point (step 201). Since the starting point of the simulation is the starting point of the route, a map centering on the starting point is displayed (step 202). At this time, the most detailed map is selected, but the scale may be changed during the simulation. Hereinafter, using the determination shown in step 203, the processing is repeated until the current point becomes the last point on the route.

On the display screen, scrolling is performed by sequentially tracing the points of the route like a map scroll of a general navigation device (step 204). After scrolling to the point, the road type of the short route is determined (steps 205 to 208). If the short route is a highway, the distance of the short route is added to the highway distance (step 209), and the travel time of the highway is calculated (step 210). Here, the traveling time can be calculated from the designated traveling speed and the distance information of the set route as follows: traveling time = distance ÷ speed.

Similarly, as shown in steps 211 to 218, if the short route is a national road, a prefectural road, a city road, or any other road, the distance of the short route is added to each distance, and each running Calculate time.

As a result, the travel time to the current point can be calculated (step 219) and the travel distance to the current point can be calculated (step 220). Further, the travel distance to the current point can be calculated (step 220). Also, the time at the current point is determined in Step 2
21 can be calculated. As described above, the calculated simulation information is displayed on the display screen.

In this embodiment, the running distance, running time, current time, and the remaining distance are displayed (step 22).
2 to step 225). FIG. 8 shows an example of the display screen. In FIG. 8, A indicates the current time, B indicates the mileage, and C indicates
Indicates the travel time, and D indicates the remaining distance to the destination. E indicates a route to be driven from now on, and F indicates a route which has been driven so far among the routes.
G indicates the current position during the drive simulation,
In this example, the running car is displayed.

The current point is advanced by one, and step 203
The above processing is repeated until the current point becomes the last point on the route.

[0035]

As described above, by simply setting the traveling speed and the departure time using the route storing the distance information, it is virtually displayed as if the vehicle is traveling on the route. You can experience a realistic navigation.

Also, by calculating and displaying the time at each point, the running time, the running distance, the remaining distance to the destination point and the relay point, and the like, before driving,
In addition to the benefits of being able to check the drive schedule and adjust it to match the schedule, the user also feels very mentally secure and can drive safely. Bring significant benefits.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a simulation parameter setting process according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a simulation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a simulation process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a simulation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a simulation parameter input screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 first storage means 2 first read control means 3 second storage means 4 second read control means 5 display means 6 simulation control means 7 parameter input control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-71180 (JP, A) JP-A-62-111508 (JP, A) JP-A-3-39780 (JP, A) JP-A-5-1995 108009 (JP, A) JP-A-4-297821 (JP, A) JP-A-5-323872 (JP, A) JP-A-6-187590 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ^7, DB name) G08G 1/0969 G01C 21/00 G06T 11/60 300 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. First storage means for storing map data
(1) and The map data to be displayed is stored in the first storage means (1).
First read control means (2) for reading, Second storage means (3) for storing the set route information
When, Route information to be displayed from the second storage means (3)
Second read control means (4) for reading, Read by the first read control means (2)
Reading from the map data and the second reading control means (4)
Display means (5) for displaying the found route information
Car navigation device, To perform a simulation using the route information
Path simulation based on input parameters
Simulation control means (6) for performing
The display means is a driver by the simulation control means.
Display the current position during the eve simulation.
In-vehicle navigation device. 2. The simulation device according to claim 1, wherein
Displays the remaining distance to the destination calculated by the control means
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
Device. 3. The simulation device according to claim 2, wherein
Displaying the mileage calculated by the control means
The vehicle-mounted navigation device according to claim 1, wherein 4. The simulation device according to claim 1, wherein
Displaying the travel time calculated by the control means
The vehicle-mounted navigation device according to claim 1, wherein