JP4043846B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that performs map image display processing around a vehicle position and route search processing to a destination.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, an in-vehicle navigation device uses a facility search function for searching for a specific facility based on a search condition specified by the user, or a route for searching for a travel route to a destination or waypoint specified by the user. It has a search function, a route guidance function for guiding the vehicle along the travel route obtained by the route search, and the like.
[0003]
The user can search for a desired facility, for example, a tourist facility that he / she wants to visit, by using the facility search function described above. In addition, by using the route search function described above, a specific tourist facility obtained by the search is set as a destination, and a travel route until reaching the tourist facility is searched for and superimposed on a map image on the screen. Can be displayed.
[0004]
Thus, by using the facility search function, the route search function, etc. provided in the conventional navigation device, the burden on the user required for selecting the facility and selecting the traveling road until it arrives at this facility is greatly reduced. It becomes possible.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the user actually goes to the facility searched using the conventional navigation device described above, the use of the facility may end earlier than planned. For example, when a tourist facility such as an amusement park is searched and actually used, if there are unexpectedly few users and all vehicles can be boarded in a shorter time than planned, the remaining time will be excessive. End up. In such a case, returning to the vehicle once and operating the navigation device to search for other tourist facilities around the tourist facility, it takes a lot of time to search for the facility. There was a problem.
[0006]
When searching for the facility that the user wants to go to first, if the facility existing in the vicinity is also searched, the trouble of returning to the vehicle and operating the navigation device can be reduced. However, when you search for a facility for the first time, you may think that it is sufficient to search only that facility, so you have to do something to find a facility that you probably don't want to go at that time. If it is necessary to perform this, the psychological burden on the user becomes heavy, and it is difficult to actually expect such a usage form.
[0007]
The present invention has been created in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation device that can reduce the labor required for searching for facilities.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the navigation device of the present invention includes a specific facility extraction unit that extracts one specific facility in response to a specific operation, and a predetermined range around the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extraction unit. Peripheral facility searching means for searching for peripheral facilities existing in the facility, facility information drawing means for drawing facility information about the peripheral facilities searched by the peripheral facility searching means, and facility information drawn by the facility information drawing means on the display device Display processing means for displaying. When searching for one specific facility, a search for peripheral facilities existing around this specific facility is performed and the facility information is displayed. Therefore, when a user searches for a specific facility, The facility information related to the surrounding facilities can be acquired without performing a special operation, and the labor required for searching for these facilities can be reduced.
[0009]
The image processing apparatus further includes map image drawing means for drawing a map image around the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extraction means, and the display processing means includes facility information drawing means on the map image drawn by the map image drawing means. It is desirable to display the facility information drawn by the above. By displaying the facility information superimposed on the map image around the specific facility, you can know the geographical features around the specific facility along with the facility information of the peripheral facility, so it will be used as a reference when planning in advance Will be able to.
[0010]
Further, route search processing means for setting the specific facility extracted by the above-mentioned specific facility extraction means as a destination and obtaining an optimum traveling route between the predetermined departure place and the destination by route search processing is further provided. It is desirable to provide. As a result, when operating the navigation device in combination with the search for the specific facility and the route search, it becomes possible to obtain the facility information of the peripheral facility at the same time, and when actually using the specific facility, the vehicle returns to the vehicle again. No need to search for nearby facilities.
[0011]
Further, it is desirable that the route search processing means described above obtains a travel route including both the specific facility and the surrounding facility by the route search processing. Thereby, not only the time required for searching for these facilities but also the time required for searching for a route using these facilities as destinations or waypoints can be reduced.
[0012]
In addition, it is desirable that the facility information described above includes information related to the available time range of surrounding facilities. This allows you to know whether the surrounding facilities are actually available without having to perform any special operations just by looking at the facility information.
The facility information described above preferably includes information indicating the positional relationship between the specific facility and the surrounding facility.
[0013]
In addition, it is desirable that the peripheral facility search unit described above searches for peripheral facilities by setting a classification type to be searched based on the classification type to which the specific facility belongs. As a result, peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type as the specific facility or belonging to a related classification type can be set as search targets, and it is possible to search for a peripheral facility that the user actually wants to go to. .
[0014]
In addition, it is desirable that the peripheral facility search means described above selects only available facilities from the peripheral facilities existing around the specific facility. As a result, unnecessary facility information can be eliminated and only facility information useful to the user can be provided.
In addition, it is desirable that the peripheral facility search unit described above selects a predetermined number of peripheral facilities according to a predetermined priority when there are more than a predetermined number of peripheral facilities obtained by the search by the peripheral facility search unit. Thereby, it is possible to select only facility information about peripheral facilities with high priority, and it is possible to provide facility information that is highly useful to the user.
[0015]
Moreover, it is desirable that the priority order mentioned above is the order close to the specific facility. Thereby, the facility information of the surrounding facilities that are easy for the user to use can be provided.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment. The navigation device shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation controller 1, a DVD 2, a disk reading device 3, a remote control (remote control) unit 4, a vehicle position detection unit 5, a display device 6, and an audio unit 7.
[0017]
The navigation controller 1 controls the overall operation of the navigation device. The navigation controller 1 realizes its function by executing a predetermined operation program using a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like. The detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described later.
[0018]
The DVD 2 is an information recording medium that stores map data necessary for map display, facility search, route search, and the like. This DVD 2 stores map data in units of rectangular figure leaves divided into appropriate sizes by longitude and latitude. The map data of each leaf can be specified and read by designating the leaf number.
[0019]
The disc reader 3 can be loaded with one or more DVDs 2 and reads map data from any of the DVDs 2 under the control of the navigation controller 1. The loaded disc is not necessarily a DVD but may be a CD. Further, both DVD and CD may be selectively loaded.
[0020]
The remote control unit 4 includes a joystick for designating directions such as up, down, left, and right, and various operation keys such as a numeric keypad for inputting numbers and a “decision key” for confirming various settings. A signal is output to the navigation controller 1.
[0021]
The vehicle position detection unit 5 includes, for example, a GPS receiver, an orientation sensor, a distance sensor, and the like, detects the vehicle position (longitude, latitude) at a predetermined timing, and outputs a detection result.
Based on the drawing data output from the navigation controller 1, the display device 6 displays various images such as a map image around the vehicle position and search results for surrounding facilities. The audio unit 7 outputs a guidance voice or the like generated based on the voice signal input from the navigation controller 1 into the vehicle interior.
[0022]
Next, a detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 will be described. The navigation controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a map buffer 10, a map readout control unit 12, a map drawing unit 14, a vehicle position calculation unit 20, a route search processing unit 22, a guidance route drawing unit 24, a voice guidance unit 26, and a specific facility search. A unit 30, a peripheral facility search unit 32, a facility information drawing unit 34, an input processing unit 40, and a display processing unit 50 are configured.
[0023]
The map buffer 10 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD 2 by the disk reader 3. The map reading control unit 12 outputs a request for reading a predetermined range of map data to the disk reading device 3 in accordance with the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculating unit 20 and the instruction from the input processing unit 40. Based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10, the map drawing unit 14 performs drawing processing necessary to display a map image and creates map image drawing data.
[0024]
The vehicle position calculation unit 20 calculates the vehicle position based on the detection data output from the vehicle position detection unit 5, and if the calculated vehicle position is not on the road of the map data, the vehicle position is calculated. Perform map matching processing to correct.
The route search processing unit 22 searches for a travel route (guidance route) that connects a departure point and a destination (or waypoint) according to a predetermined search condition. The guide route drawing unit 24 generates guide route drawing data for displaying the guide route obtained by the search processing by the route search processing unit 22 on the map. The voice guidance unit 26 generates a voice signal such as intersection guidance necessary for guiding the vehicle along the guidance route obtained by the search process by the route search processing unit 22.
[0025]
The specific facility search unit 30 searches for a facility that satisfies the search condition specified by the user. This search is performed until one specific facility is finally extracted. When the specific facility search unit 30 searches for one specific facility, the peripheral facility search unit 32 searches for one or a plurality of peripheral facilities existing in a predetermined range around the specific facility. The facility information drawing unit 34 performs drawing processing necessary to display the facility information related to the surrounding facility searched by the surrounding facility searching unit 32 and generates facility information drawing data.
[0026]
The input processing unit 40 outputs commands for performing operations corresponding to various operation instructions input from the remote control unit 4 to each unit in the navigation controller 1. The display processing unit 50 receives the map image drawing data generated by the map drawing unit 14 and displays a predetermined range of map images on the screen of the display device 6 based on the drawing data. Further, when facility information drawing data generated by the facility information drawing unit 34 or guidance route drawing data generated by the guidance route drawing unit 24 is input, the display processing unit 50 converts these drawing data into a map image. The images are displayed on the screen of the display device 6 again.
[0027]
The specific facility search unit 30 described above is a specific facility search unit, the peripheral facility search unit 32 is a peripheral facility search unit, the facility information drawing unit 34 is a facility information drawing unit, the display processing unit 50 is a display processing unit, and a map drawing. The unit 14 corresponds to the map image drawing unit, and the route search processing unit 32 corresponds to the route search processing unit.
[0028]
The navigation device of this embodiment has such a configuration, and the operation thereof will be described next.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation apparatus that performs route search processing using the search result after the facility search is performed.
[0029]
When the search condition is input by the user (step 100), the specific facility search unit 30 searches for one specific facility that satisfies the search condition (step 101). Numerous specific examples can be considered for the search operation for extracting one specific facility. For example, if the user selects the desired classification from the displayed classification types (category of each facility classified in advance), a list of a plurality of facilities included in this classification type is displayed. A person selects one facility as a specific facility. In addition, when there are separate classification types that include leisure facilities, sights / historic sites, etc., and classification types that include prefecture names, specify multiple classification types at the same time as when specifying them simultaneously. After displaying the list of facilities by narrowing down the corresponding facility, the user selects one facility as the specific facility from among them. Also, if you know the name and phone number of the specific facility you want to extract by searching, display these input screens and enter them directly to extract one specific facility corresponding to these name and phone number. You may do it.
[0030]
When one specific facility is extracted, the position of this specific facility is sent to the map reading control unit 12, and the disk data is read from the DVD 2 by the disk reader 3 to draw the map image of the specific facility and its surroundings. And stored in the map buffer 10. The map drawing unit 14 draws a map image around the specific facility based on the map data stored in the map buffer 10 (step 102).
[0031]
When one specific facility is extracted, the peripheral facility search unit 32 next searches for a peripheral facility existing in a predetermined range around the specific facility (step 103). Specifically, a facility included in a predetermined longitude range and latitude range centered on a specific facility is set as a search target facility, and peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type as the specific facility are searched. For example, when the specific facility belongs to the classification type “leisure facility”, peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type are searched.
[0032]
There are a number of variations of the peripheral facility search. For example, in the specific example described above, the regional range of the search target facility is set to a predetermined longitude range and latitude range centered on the specific facility, but may be within a certain distance range centered on the specific facility, It is conceivable that the vehicle can be traveled within a predetermined time within a predetermined time period, or peripheral facilities close to a specific facility are selected in order, and an area where the number of peripheral facilities reaches a predetermined number is set as a regional search range.
[0033]
Further, although the peripheral facilities belonging to the same classification type as the specific facility are searched, the facilities belonging to the same and similar classification types may be searched. For example, if a specific facility belongs to the classification type “Leisure facility”, the search range of surrounding facilities should be expanded not only to the classification type “Leisure facility” but also to a similar classification type “Famous place / historic site”. Also good.
[0034]
In addition, even when a peripheral facility is searched by narrowing down a regional range, a classification type, or the like, a large number of peripheral facilities may be obtained by the search. In this case, conditions may be further set to reduce the number of surrounding facilities. For example, when the map data includes information regarding the date and time when each facility can be used, only the peripheral facilities that can be used may be extracted in consideration of the closed days and opening hours of each facility. In addition, when the priority order is set in the classification type or other conditions, a predetermined number of surrounding facilities may be extracted in the order of higher priority order. Alternatively, a predetermined number of surrounding facilities may be extracted in order of decreasing distance or time (required time for driving a vehicle) from a specific facility, that is, in order of shortness.
[0035]
When the search for one or a plurality of specific facilities is completed in this way, the facility information drawing unit 34 draws a facility information image relating to each peripheral facility extracted by the search (step 104). This facility information image includes a “name” of the surrounding facility, an “appearance image” obtained by photographing the surrounding facility with a camera, an “usable time” indicating a usable time range of the surrounding facility, and the like.
[0036]
Next, the display processing unit 50 superimposes and displays the facility information image drawn in step 104 on the map image around the specific facility drawn in step 102 (step 105).
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific display example in which a facility information image is superimposed on a map image. For example, when a facility in Nikko city is searched as a specific facility, four surrounding facilities existing in the vicinity are extracted, and a facility information image regarding each surrounding facility is created and displayed. Yes. As shown in FIG. 3, each facility information image includes “name” and “usable time” together with “appearance image” of each peripheral facility.
[0037]
Next, the route search processing unit 22 determines whether or not the searched specific facility and surrounding facilities are set as a route search destination (step 106). If these facilities are not set as destinations, a negative determination is made. In this case, the specific facility search unit 30 determines whether or not to continue searching for another specific facility (step 107), and an affirmative determination is made when the user instructs to continue. Returning to step 100 described above, the processing after the search condition input is repeated. If the user instructs not to continue the search, a negative determination is made, and a series of processing relating to the facility search ends.
[0038]
If the user gives an instruction to set the searched specific facility or surrounding facility as a destination for the route search, an affirmative determination is made in step 106, and then the route search processing unit 22 It is determined whether or not the searched specific facility or surrounding facility is set as a transit point (step 108). If the waypoint is not set, a negative determination is made, and the route search processing unit 22 sets the specific facility as the destination (step 109). In addition, when the user gives an instruction to set a specific facility or a peripheral facility as a transit point, an affirmative determination is made in the determination of step 108, and the route search processing unit 22 performs route search for the specific facility and the peripheral facility. The destination and the waypoint are set (step 110).
[0039]
In addition, it should be possible to arbitrarily set which facility is set as the destination from among the searched specific facilities and neighboring facilities, and which other facilities are set as transit points according to the operation of the user. Is desirable. For example, the map image displayed on the screen of the display device 6 includes the location of a specific facility (in the example shown in FIG. 3, a flag at the center of the screen) and facility information of each peripheral facility. If two or more can be selected by the user's operation, the waypoint and destination are set in the order of selection. Alternatively, a list of specific facilities and surrounding facilities may be displayed on the screen so that it can be arbitrarily specified whether each facility is set as a destination or whether it is set as a transit point.
[0040]
When the setting of the destination or the setting of the destination and the waypoint is completed in this way, the route search processing unit 22 then selects the optimum travel route that reaches this destination with the vehicle position at that time as the starting point. A route search process for setting as a guide route is performed (step 111). After that, the guidance route drawn by the guidance route drawing unit 24 is displayed overlaid on the map image, and a route guidance operation for instructing a branching intersection or the like by voice is started if necessary (step 112).
[0041]
As described above, in the navigation device according to the present embodiment, when one specific facility is searched, the peripheral facility existing around the specific facility is searched and the facility information is displayed. When searching for a desired specific facility, facility information relating to surrounding facilities can be acquired without performing a special operation, and the effort required to search for these facilities can be reduced. Also, by displaying the facility information superimposed on the map image around the specific facility, you can know the geographical features around the specific facility along with the facility information of the peripheral facility. To be able to.
[0042]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the facility information image displayed on the map image includes the appearance image, the name, and the available time of the peripheral facility, but which information can be appropriately changed. For example, when the appearance image is not prepared for all the surrounding facilities, the appearance image may be omitted for the surrounding facility. In addition, in order to easily select a facility that is easy for the user to use from among the searched peripheral facilities, the time required to go from the specific facility to each peripheral facility, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in each peripheral facility, etc. The various types of information may be included in the facility information. Also, the facility information includes information indicating the positional relationship between the specific facility and the peripheral facility, for example, an arrow whose direction is set so as to go from each peripheral facility to the specific facility, and a linear distance between them. You may do it.
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, the facility information is displayed by searching for the surrounding facilities before the route search process. However, the facility information is stored in a memory built in the navigation device or a hard disk device. And when it arrives at the specific facility (or peripheral facility) as the destination, it may be read again and displayed on the screen.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when searching for one specific facility, a search for peripheral facilities existing around the specific facility is performed, and the facility information is displayed. When searching for a desired specific facility, it is possible to acquire facility information relating to surrounding facilities without performing a special operation, and it is possible to reduce the time and effort required to search for these facilities.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a navigation device that performs a route search process using a search result after performing a facility search.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific display example in which a facility information image is superimposed on a map image.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Navigation controller 2 DVD
3 Disc reader 4 Remote control (remote control) unit 5 Vehicle position detection unit 6 Display device 7 Audio unit 10 Map buffer 12 Map read control unit 14 Map drawing unit 20 Vehicle position calculation unit 22 Route search processing unit 24 Guide route drawing unit 30 Specific facility search unit 32 Peripheral facility search unit 34 Facility information drawing unit 40 Input processing unit 50 Display processing unit

Claims (9)

A specific facility extracting means for extracting one specific facility according to a specific operation;
Peripheral facilities search means for searching for peripheral facilities that exist in a predetermined range around the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extraction means and belong to the same classification type as the specific facility ;
Facility information drawing means for drawing facility information related to the surrounding facilities searched by the surrounding facility search means;
Display processing means for displaying the facility information drawn by the facility information drawing means on a display device;
A navigation device comprising: In claim 1,
Map image drawing means for drawing a map image around the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extraction means;
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the display processing means displays the facility information drawn by the facility information drawing means in an overlapping manner on the map image drawn by the map image drawing means. In claim 1 or 2,
It further comprises route search processing means for setting the specific facility extracted by the specific facility extraction means as a destination and obtaining an optimum travel route between the predetermined departure place and the destination by route search processing. A navigation device characterized by the above. In claim 3,
The navigation device characterized in that the route search processing means obtains a travel route including both the specific facility and the peripheral facility by route search processing. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facility information includes information related to a time range in which the surrounding facility can be used. In any one of Claims 1-5,
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the facility information includes information indicating a positional relationship between the specific facility and the peripheral facility. In any one of Claims 1-6,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral facility search means selects only available facilities from the peripheral facilities existing around the specific facility. In any one of Claims 1-7,
The peripheral facility searching means selects a predetermined number of the peripheral facilities according to a predetermined priority when there are more than a predetermined number of the peripheral facilities obtained by the search by the peripheral facility searching means. Navigation device. In claim 8,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority order is an order close to the specific facility.

Images