JP4248908B2 - Non-guided city information display method and navigation device for displaying the information - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device having a guidance function for searching for a route to a destination and performing guidance to the destination according to the searched route, and more particularly, to displaying information about a municipality during non-guidance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The navigation device reads the map data around the vehicle position from a map storage medium such as a DVD or HDD by detecting the current position of the vehicle, draws the map on the display screen, and draws the vehicle mark on the map. To do. When the current position changes due to the movement of the vehicle, the map is scrolled or the vehicle mark on the map is moved accordingly, and the map information around the vehicle position is presented to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.
[0003]
The navigation device has a function of searching for a route to a destination set by the user and guiding the route. The route guidance function uses map data to search for a low-cost route from the current vehicle position to the destination using the Dijkstra method, etc., stores the searched route in the memory as guidance route data, and runs The route is displayed on the display.
[0004]
On the other hand, when the user does not input an instruction to search for a route to the destination, in other words, when the user is not guiding, a map around the vehicle position is displayed on the display. For example, by using a two-screen display as shown in FIG. 12, a map around the vehicle position is displayed on the left screen, the name of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, the name of the previous and next intersections, along with the general road map on the right screen. The distance to the next intersection, the address of the current location, etc. are displayed. Patent Document 1 displays the name of the road on the searched road (FIG. 2-1 of Patent Document 1) as a way to display road information and the like along such a travel route, Separately, a technique for displaying a road name (FIG. 2-2) is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, when a plurality of travel routes extracted by the route search process are displayed, the type of road (highway, national road, prefectural road, etc.) and the content of the road (○ Disclosure of technology for simultaneously displaying additional information (such as street and △ line).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-351896
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-267474 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional navigation device has the following problems. Generally, there are few users who set a destination every time they drive and guide the route, and in most cases, it is considered that they are not guiding. The following is a summary of what functions the user wants for the navigation device during non-guidance.
[0007]
1. A function that displays a map (detailed map), current location name, and road name around the vehicle location.
This makes it possible to always know where you are now, even if you are not guided.
[0008]
2. A function to display road information.
If you know detailed information about the road you are driving, and dynamic and static information such as obstacles, regulations, and traffic jams that are in the immediate vicinity, it will be convenient for driving.
[0009]
3. A function to display surrounding map information (wide / middle map).
Understand the connection situation with the surrounding roads by the wide area map (city level) and the positional relationship with the surrounding municipalities, and check the situation around the destination by the middle area map (city level) or lower can do.
[0010]
4). A function to notify peripheral POI (Point of Interest) information.
Information on facilities in the vicinity is mainly divided into two cases.
4-1) Notify the POI existing around the road at any time. When traveling on an unknown land, the user can be informed of the unknown facilities by presenting famous POIs (facilities / tourist attractions, etc.) that exist nearby.
4-2) Inform the gas station / convenience store / restaurant.
[0011]
5. Road search function
Based on the road that is running, information on other roads running in parallel is provided. This is mainly divided into three cases.
5-1) Detour function in case of emergency
If you find a heavy traffic jam, closed road, accident, etc., you will need to bypass the road. At that time, it is necessary to search for a detour. In addition, there may be a case where a road that is currently running becomes a dead end or a dead end.
[0012]
5-2) Presentation of different road information
When traveling on an unfamiliar land, the user is informed of the existence of another candidate road by presenting other road information that is advanced in the current traveling direction among other roads in the vicinity. It will be a new road for the user.
5-3) Searching for roads when lost
In this case, the following case is assumed.
(A) When the road you are currently driving becomes a dead end or a dead end
(I) When you get lost in a residential area on a narrow street without knowing it
(C) You are close to the point you want to go to, but you do not know the destination
[0013]
If you are traveling on a land you do not know during non-guidance and you do not know the positional relationship between the cities before and after, you can use the function 1 above to know the positional relationship between the current location and the destination and the surrounding cities. The current location information is often collected using. In most cases, other functions are used in combination (particularly the above-mentioned function 3), and the positional relationship and surrounding conditions are confirmed. In order to execute the above functions 1 and 3, for example, after switching to a two-screen display, a detailed map and a wide area map that shows the relationship between the road that is currently running and the surrounding municipalities are displayed. In some cases, it is necessary to scroll the wide area map for confirmation. Requiring such a manual operation while traveling is a cumbersome task for the user, and when the passenger is absent, it can sometimes interfere with safe driving.
[0014]
Furthermore, when the user desires information on another road during non-guidance, complicated operations such as map scrolling and enlargement / reduction are required. Also, it may be inefficient because the user may have already passed the target road before starting to operate and finding another road.
[0015]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to provide a display method capable of automatically displaying city information related to a traveling road during non-guidance and a navigation device therefor. .
It is another object of the present invention to provide a display method capable of automatically displaying another road candidate during non-guidance and a navigation device therefor.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The navigation device according to the present invention includes a guidance function that searches for a route to a destination and guides to the destination according to the searched route, and includes the following means. A position detecting means for detecting a position of the vehicle and outputting position detection information; and a municipality around a road around which the vehicle is traveling based on the position detection information when the guidance function is turned off. And municipal information display means for displaying information. Thereby, even during non-guidance, the user can be automatically informed of the positional relationship between the cities before and after the road on which the vehicle is running or in the surrounding area. Also, the user is not required to perform complicated operations for such information.
[0017]
For example, the information about the municipality can include the name of the municipality through which the road on which the vehicle is traveling, the distance from the point where the vehicle is traveling to the administrative community to the next municipality, the required time, It includes other roads that branch off from the road that is running, the name of the municipality adjacent to the other road, the branching point of the municipality, and the like. Such information is displayed on a screen different from the map screen displaying a map around the vehicle position.
[0018]
Preferably, the navigation device further searches for the next branch point of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling based on the position detection information when the guidance function is turned off, and currently travels starting from the branch point. A different road search means for searching for another road that returns to the municipality ahead of the existing road, wherein the city information display means lists the other roads searched by the different road search means in the list. Display in association with the display. As a result, even when traveling on an unknown land, the user can be informed of a new road automatically without requiring a complicated operation. It is also useful when you can confirm traffic jams, or when you get lost in narrow streets or bags.
[0019]
The another road may be displayed so as to be connected from the branch city name to the restored city name, or the route number of another road may be displayed.
[0020]
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying municipal information in a navigation device, including a position detection step of detecting a position of a vehicle and outputting position detection information, and the position detection during non-guidance when the guidance function is not executed. And a display step of displaying information on the road on which the vehicle is traveling and information about the municipalities around the road based on the information. Thereby, even during non-guidance, the user can be informed of the positional relationship of the municipalities around the road that is running automatically.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 includes a GPS receiver 10, a self-contained navigation sensor 11, a VICS / FM multiplex receiver 12, an operation panel 20, a voice input unit 21, a remote control operation unit 22, an input interface 23, a storage unit 30 that stores map data and the like. , An audio output unit 40, a speaker 41, a display control unit 50, a display 51, a program memory 60, a data memory 70, and a control unit 80 for controlling each unit.
[0022]
The GPS receiver 10 receives radio waves from an artificial satellite (GPS satellite) and measures the current position and current direction of the vehicle. The self-contained navigation sensor 11 includes a vehicle speed sensor that detects a moving distance of the vehicle and an angle that detects a rotation angle of the vehicle. Output signals from the GPS receiver 10 and the self-contained navigation sensor 11 are supplied to the control unit 80, and the control unit 80 calculates the current position and direction of the vehicle based on these output signals. The VICS / FM multiple receiver 12 sequentially receives the current road traffic information outside the vehicle from the antenna 13. Such information includes road traffic jam information, traffic accident information, and the like, and can be obtained by using, for example, optical beacons, radio wave beacons, telephone lines, and FM signals.
[0023]
The operation panel 20, the voice input unit 21, and the remote control operation unit 22 constitute an input of the navigation device 1. Through these inputs, the user gives various instructions and settings such as a search to the destination, a search for a route to the destination, and a display screen setting change to the navigation apparatus 1. The operation panel 20 can use, for example, a plurality of operation keys 52 provided at the lower part of the display 51. The voice input unit 21 transmits a user's voice input from a voice input microphone (not shown) to the input interface 23, and converts the voice analog signal into a digital signal. The remote control operation unit 22 includes a plurality of input keys, and when the user operates the input keys, the input operation is transmitted to the input interface 23 via radio. The input interface 23 is connected to the operation panel 20, the voice input unit 21, and the remote control operation unit 22, and transmits input information input by the user to the control unit 80.
[0024]
The storage unit 30 is a recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a hard disk, and stores map data, drawing data, road data, a database of addresses, telephones, facilities, and the like necessary for the navigation device. Preferably, by using a hard disk, large-capacity storage can be realized, and high-speed access and data rewriting are possible. The navigation device 1 further includes a communication control unit 31, which communicates with an external server or the like via a network, downloads the latest map data and facility data from there, and updates the contents of the storage unit 30. be able to. Further, by wirelessly connecting a mobile phone or the like to the communication control unit 31, entertainment information such as facilities and restaurants owned by the navigation device 1 and road information can be given to the mobile phone.
[0025]
The audio output unit 40 is connected to the speaker 41 and outputs sound from the speaker 41 under the control of the control unit 80. For example, as the information to reach the destination, output a voice alerting the direction of the course in front of the intersection, or input the operation to the user when the user inputs interactively to the navigation device Voice instructions are output.
[0026]
The display control unit 50 is connected to the display 51 and displays a map on the display 51 under the control of the control unit 80, or a vehicle mark indicating the current position of the vehicle on the map, a route to the destination, a branch point such as an intersection, etc. The guidance display at, the movement trajectory of the vehicle, etc. are synthesized. Furthermore, information regarding instructions and operations input by the user from the operation panel 20 or the like is displayed on a map or on a different screen. The display control unit 50 preferably includes a VRAM such as a FIFO, stores data related to the map, road, and guidance display read from the storage unit 30 in the VRAM, and synthesizes various data with the map data read from the VRAM. Can be made. The display 51 is a horizontally wide screen using liquid crystal or plasma, for example, and can display two screens under the control of the display control unit 50.
[0027]
The program memory 60 stores various programs executed in the navigation device. For example, a program 61 for searching for a route to the destination and a program 62 for setting / changing a map displayed on the display 51 are included. Furthermore, in the present invention, the municipality information display program 63 for displaying information about the municipalities around the road on which the vehicle is running using the municipality data during non-guidance, A separate road search program 64 is included for searching for another road that branches off from the currently traveling road and returns to the next city. The program memory 60 can be configured using a memory such as a ROM or a RAM, or can be stored in the storage unit 30.
[0028]
The data memory 70 stores the processing result processed by the control unit 80, the map data 71 read out from the storage unit 30, and the like. The map data 71 includes link data and node data necessary for searching for a route, and a road network displayed on the display 51. Further, the data memory 70 stores the route data 72 as the search result when the control unit 80 searches for the route to the destination, or the road traffic information received from the VICS / FM multiplex receiver 12. 73 is stored. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the municipal data 73 is stored in order to display information about the municipality using the municipal data during non-guidance. As will be described later, the municipal data 74 includes road data that is a set of records representing links at the municipal level, data that represents intersections between highways, and polygon data that represents the shape of each municipality. In addition, when the program 63 for displaying municipal information is operated, it is read from the storage unit 30 to the data memory 70 and stored. The data memory 70 is preferably a DRAM, SRAM, flash memory or the like. The data memory 70 may include an external memory 75 that can be attached to the navigation device 1.
[0029]
Next, a display method using the municipal data during non-guidance will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 80 checks whether or not there is an instruction input for guiding a route from the user to the destination with respect to the navigation device 1 (step S101). When there is a route guidance instruction, the control unit 80 searches for a route in accordance with the route search program 61 and performs guidance to the destination according to the searched route (step S102). When the guidance instruction from the user is not made or when the guidance to the destination is completed, the control unit 80 determines that the traveling is not being guided and starts the municipality information display program 63. During non-guidance, as described in the prior art, the position of the host vehicle is detected (step S103), and a map around the position of the host vehicle is displayed. Further, along with the map display, the relationship between the road on which the vehicle is traveling and the surrounding municipalities is displayed as a list (step S104). When the travel of the vehicle is stopped, the display of the city information is stopped. If the vehicle is traveling, the city information is displayed along with the travel of the vehicle (step S105).
[0030]
Next, the display of the municipality information performed in step S104 will be described. FIG. 3 shows an example of a list display of city information. The display screen 200 is a list that displays a road display 210 that indicates a road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, a name of a city that is a destination of the road, and a name of a city that has already passed in a scrollable manner in a vertical direction. Distance between the display unit 220, the branch road display unit 230 that displays other roads (AA to FF) branched from the municipalities displayed on the list display unit 220, and the next municipality And a distance / time display unit 240 for displaying the required time. These display units are displayed on the display 51, and the user can give various input instructions to the information displayed on the display unit.
[0031]
The own vehicle position is displayed in the list display unit 220 by the mark 250, and the city names shown in the list are sequentially updated along with the travel of the own vehicle position. By clicking the scroll button 260, the name of the previous city that is not displayed in the list display unit 220 can be displayed. When the user selects one of the city names displayed in the list display unit 220, the required time and distance to the selected city are displayed on the display unit 240, and the selected city is further displayed. When there is a branch point such as an intersection in the town and village, branch point information 262 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. The branch point information 262 displays the type of road branched at an intersection, the name of the city, the distance from the road, and the distance to that point. In addition to this, the branch point information 262 is automatically displayed when the vehicle position reaches a point 500 m in front of the road branch point, and after passing the branch point, is returned to the list display of the municipalities. .
[0032]
The branch road display section 230 indicates a main road that branches in each municipality. A branch road 232 shown on the right side indicates a right turn from a currently traveling road, and a branch road 34 shown on the left side shows a left turn. Represents what to do. These branch roads 232 and 234 include a mark 236 indicating the type of road, for example, a national highway XX line or a prefectural road ΔΔ line, and a city name 238 of the branch destination. When the user selects one of the branch roads 232, the screen scrolls and a list of city names along the selected road is displayed as if the user is currently driving on the selected road.
[0033]
FIG. 5 shows a specific display example of city information during non-guidance. As shown in the figure, the display screen of the display 51 is divided into two, and a map of the vehicle and its vicinity is displayed on the left screen 280. In addition, the address where the vehicle is currently traveling is also displayed. As described in FIG. 4, the road display unit 210, the list display unit 220, the branch road display unit 230, and the distance / time display unit 240 are displayed on the right screen 200. In this example, the vehicle is traveling on “National Route 6” and is currently traveling on “Iwaki City” from the mark 260 of the vehicle position. The name of the municipality that the vehicle on National Route 6 will pass from now on and the name of the municipality that passed through are displayed in a list in the vertical direction. As is clear from the list display section, the national highway 49 branching from the current national highway 6 and the adjacent municipality “Hirata” are displayed. The distance / time display section 240 displays the distance to “Kitabaraki” and the required time “38 km” and “50:00” as the next municipality.
[0034]
When the vehicle is 500 m before the branch point, a guidance display of the branch point information 262 in the direction as shown in FIG. 6 is made. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user selects “Hirata” (hatched display in the figure) of the branch road display unit 230, the currently running road is scrolled from the national highway 6 to the national highway 49, A list of municipalities in the traveling direction of National Route 49 is displayed. Then, after a certain time, the original state is restored.
[0035]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a road network at a municipal level, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating municipal data for displaying municipal information. As shown in FIG. 8, municipalities are connected by a highway network of highways, national roads, and prefectural roads, and each highway joins or branches at a branch point. The municipal data is a representation of a road network of highways (highways, national roads, prefectural roads) at the municipal level. As shown in FIG. 9, road data 300, branch point data 310, administrative boundaries And polygon data 320. The road data 300 is an aggregate of each record that represents a link at the municipality level constituting the route for each route. FIG. 4A shows an example of one record constituting the national highway No. 6, and FIG. 9B shows an example of one record constituting the national highway No. 49. Each record has an ID (Record ID) for identifying the record, a relationship with the previous record (Pre. Record ID), a relationship with the next record (Next Record ID), branch point data, and the next administration Border point node information and previous administrative border point node information are included.
[0036]
The branch point data 310 is a collection of records representing intersections between main lines. FIG. 4C shows an example of one record of branch point data. The record includes a branch point data ID, city name, branch point information, branch point road data, and polygon data. When the vehicle is traveling on National Highway No. 6, the branch point data in FIG. 10C is referred to from the branch point data “12” in the record shown in FIG. Further, a branch point road data “6-7” indicating the relation with the record ID 7 of the national highway No. 6 and a branch point road data “49-1” indicating the relation with the record ID 1 of the national highway No. 49 are shown. In addition, node information stored in the storage unit 30 is referred to for node information as branch point information.
[0037]
The administrative boundary polygon data 320 is a collection of records representing polygon data representing the shape of each municipality. As shown in FIG. 4D, a polygon data ID, a city name, and polygon data are included.
[0038]
These municipal data are stored in the storage unit 30. Necessary municipal data is read in accordance with the change in the vehicle position, and information on municipalities such as the list display unit 220 and the branch road display unit 230 as described above is displayed.
[0039]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, during non-guidance, another road that can be reached from the currently running road to the previous city is searched and displayed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of another road search. In the figure, another road (route) that can return to the previous municipality for all the roads 420 branched from the next branch point 410 while the vehicle is traveling on the road 400 of the national or prefectural road. Search for 430. FIG. 10 shows a search example of another road 430 in which the second city, that is, the own vehicle is traveling in the A city and returns to the second B city on the road 400. The user can instruct how many cities to return to, via the operation panel 20, the voice input unit 21 or the remote controller 22, but as a default, the road to return to the next city is searched. . When another road is found, the fact is notified by voice simultaneously with the screen display.
[0040]
In a search for another road, if there are multiple road candidates, the cost is calculated based on the road distance and ease of travel, the one with the best cost is selected, and this is used as another road. . For example, the cost is calculated by the following equation.
Cost = total road distance (km) + number of constituent routes (number) x n
n is a weighting number, and an optimal numerical value is appropriately selected. The costs of multiple road candidates are compared, and the smallest one is designated as another road. If the costs are exactly the same, select the left turn road. This is because a left turn is easier to travel than a right turn. If there is no difference between right and left turns, select a road with a small number of constituent routes. This is because the smaller the number of constituent routes, the fewer the branch points and the easier the traveling.
[0041]
Furthermore, the determined another road is identified by color classification according to the following cases.
A. When the road distance of another road is shorter than the road that is currently running, the road is blue. The distance from the next branch point (start point) to the return branch point (end point) is compared between the other road and the currently running road.
B. If the road distance of another road is less than 10% more than the currently traveling road and the number of constituent routes is three or less, the road is green.
C. If the road distance of another road is less than 20% away from the currently running road, it will be yellow.
D. If the road distance of another road is less than 50% away from the currently running road, it will be red.
E. If none of the above A to D applies, it means that there was no other road.
[0042]
FIG. 11 shows a specific display example of another road. As shown in the figure, the display 51 is divided into two screens. A map around the vehicle position is displayed on the left screen 280, and a road display section 210, a list display section 220, a branch road display section are displayed on the right screen 200, as in the first embodiment. 230, a distance / time display unit 240 is displayed. In the second embodiment, another road display unit 290 is further displayed. The separate road display unit 290 displays a separate road 292 that returns from the next branching point (starting point) of the currently traveling road to one or more previous municipalities. The separate road 292 is a branch from the municipality of the list display section 220 and shows a route to the municipality where the current driving road is returned again, and the route number and the municipality name are displayed there. The Furthermore, in order to perform the identification display based on the priority, the color of the separate road 292 is changed depending on the priority.
[0043]
The point at which another road returns is indicated by a return icon 294. The return icon 294 can be moved by a user operation, and by moving the return icon 294, the number of cities and towns ahead of the return may be specified. Each time the vehicle goes to the next municipality, a search for another road is automatically performed, and the return icon 294 is moved accordingly. Further, when the next branch point ahead of the own vehicle is in the next city, the return of another road is set to the next city.
[0044]
In the example of FIG. 11, the own vehicle is traveling in Iwaki City on National Route 6, and another road to Takatsuki City, which is the next municipality, is displayed from the next branch point of the city. The other road 292 makes a right turn at the next branch point, heads toward the Yodogawa direction by National Route 289, turns left at the intersection with Prefectural Road 10 and further turns left at the intersection with National Route 461, Takatsuki City on National Route 6 The route to return to is shown. Furthermore, any one of blue, green, yellow, and red is selected and displayed depending on the priority of another road 292.
[0045]
According to the second embodiment, during non-guidance, in addition to the information of the municipalities around the road on which the vehicle is traveling, another road that leads to the next municipality is automatically Searching and notifying this, users actively use roads that they had never known before, or select another road when there is a traffic jam or accident that can be confirmed immediately Can be very convenient for the user. Furthermore, by indicating the priority to another road 292, the user can easily determine whether or not to travel on another road.
[0046]
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Deformation / change is possible.
[0047]
For example, the size and layout of the road display unit 210, the list display unit 220, the branch road display unit 230, and the like in the display screen 200 can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the size and layout of the separate road display unit 290 can be changed as appropriate, and the priority can be identified by changing the size and shape of the separate road 292 as well as the color. .
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, while the navigation device is not guided, information on the municipalities around the road on which the vehicle is traveling is automatically presented, so that the user is traveling on an unknown land. Even so, it is possible to know the positional relationship between the cities before and after without performing complicated operations. Furthermore, during such non-guidance, the user can automatically present another road that can be returned to the city where the vehicle is traveling, without the need for complicated operations. It is possible to easily know a road that has not been known so far, and when there is a traffic jam or the like that can be confirmed at a glance, it is possible to immediately change the progress to another road.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of municipal information.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a branch point.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific display example of municipal information.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific display example of branch points.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example in which a branch road branched from a city displayed in a list is selected.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a road network at a municipal level.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining municipal data.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a search for another road.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a specific display example of another road.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional display screen during non-guidance.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: navigation device, 10: GPS receiver, 11: autonomous navigation sensor,
12: VICS / FM multiplex receiver, 20: operation panel, 21: voice input unit,
22: remote control, 23: input IF, 30: storage unit, 31: communication control unit,
40: Audio output unit, 41: Speaker, 50: Display control unit, 51: Display,
60: Program memory, 70: Data memory, 80: Control unit,
210: road display section, 220: list display section, 230: branch road display section,
240: distance / time display section, 250: own vehicle position mark,
260: Scroll button, 290: Separate road display section

Claims (22)

A navigation device having a guidance function for searching for a route to a destination and performing guidance to the destination according to the searched route,
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the vehicle and outputting position detection information;
When the guidance function is turned off, it has a municipal information display means for displaying information about the municipalities around the road on which the vehicle is traveling based on the position detection information,
The city / town / village information display means includes a list display unit that displays a plurality of city / town / village names at a destination of a road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, in a vertically scrollable list, and a list display unit. Including a branch display for displaying other roads branched from the corresponding city name among the plurality of city names displayed,
The list display unit sequentially updates the city names displayed with the traveling of the vehicle,
When another road turns right, the branch display section displays the other road so as to branch laterally from the right side of the corresponding city name in the list display section, and when the other road turns left The other road is displayed so as to branch laterally from the left side of the corresponding city name in the list display part , and the branch display part is related to the other road to be branched. Displays the city name in front of
Navigation device.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the municipal information display means is automatically activated when the guidance function is turned off. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the city / town / village information display means causes the list display unit to display a list of city / town / village names that have already passed on a road on which a vehicle is traveling. When another road displayed by the branch display unit is selected and input by the user, the municipal information display means scrolls to the selected other road and is at the destination of the other road. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of city names are displayed in a list form on the list display unit .   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the list display unit scrolls a list of city names according to a scroll instruction input.   The navigation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the municipal information display means displays a distance and a required time from a point where the vehicle is traveling to an administrative boundary to the next municipality. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the municipal information display means displays a name of a municipality adjacent to the other road that branches off together with a road type of the other road .   2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the municipal information display means displays a list of municipalities through which the selected other road passes when receiving an input instruction for selecting the other road. .   The said municipality information display means displays the required time to the selected municipality and its distance, when the input instruction which selects the municipality displayed on the list is received. Navigation device.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said municipal information display means displays a branch point of the selected municipality when receiving an instruction input for selecting a municipality name displayed in a list. The navigation device further searches the next branch point of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling based on the position detection information when the guidance function is turned off, and currently travels from the branch point as a starting point. Including another road search means for searching for another road that returns to the city in front of the existing road,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the municipal information display unit displays another road searched by the different road search unit in association with the list display unit.   The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein the another road is displayed so as to connect from a branch city name to a restored city name.   The navigation device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the municipal information display means displays a route number of the other road.   The navigation device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the different road search means selects a road candidate with a lower cost from a plurality of road candidates as another road.   The another road search means compares the road that is currently running with the other road, obtains the priority of the other road with respect to the road that is currently running, and the city information display means The navigation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the other road is displayed so as to include the identification information corresponding to.   The priority is calculated based on the rate of increase / decrease in the distance of the other road and the distance of the currently traveling road when the branch point starting from the branch point and returning to the currently traveling road is the ending point. The navigation device according to claim 15, wherein the navigation device is obtained.   The navigation device includes user input means for instructing a city where the other road should return, and the different road search means searches for another road returning to the city specified by the user input means. The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein the navigation device is performed.   The navigation device according to claim 11, further comprising voice output means, wherein when another road is displayed, the navigation device guides by voice that another road has been searched. A method for displaying municipal information in a navigation device having a guidance function for searching a route to a destination and performing guidance to the destination according to the searched route,
A position detecting step for detecting the position of the vehicle and outputting position detection information;
A display step for displaying a road on which a vehicle is traveling based on the position detection information and information about a municipality around the road during non-guidance in which the guidance function is not executed,
Wherein the display step, a plurality of vehicles are displayed a plurality of city name list display unit for displaying scrollable in form of a list in the longitudinal direction, respectively, and the list display unit in the traveling destination road currently traveling includes a branch display section for displaying the other road is branched from the corresponding city name of the city name,
The list display unit sequentially updates the city names displayed with the traveling of the vehicle,
When another road turns right, the branch display section displays the other road so as to branch laterally from the right side of the corresponding city name in the list display section, and when the other road turns left The other road is displayed so as to branch laterally from the left side of the corresponding city name in the list display part , and the branch display part is related to the other road to be branched. Displays the city name in front of
How to display non-guided city information.   The display method includes a detection step of detecting whether or not the guidance function is executed, and the display step is automatically performed when the detection step detects that the guidance function is not executed. The display method according to claim 19, wherein the operation is started. The display method searches for the next branch point of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, and searches for another road that returns to the previous city on the currently traveling road starting from the branch point. Including a search step,
The display method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the displaying step displays another road searched by the searching step in association with a city name of the list display unit.   The display method includes an input step of inputting a city where another road returns, and the search step searches for another road returning to the city indicated by the input step. The display method in any one of thru | or 21.

Images