JP4286638B2 - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device, and more particularly to an in-vehicle navigation device having a function of displaying display graphic information for identifying various facilities included in the map image when the map image is displayed on the screen of the display device. The present invention relates to a navigation device.

  In a conventional in-vehicle navigation device, a CPU that controls all processing related to navigation, a storage device such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM that stores map data, a display device, and a current position of the host vehicle A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a gyro for detecting the traveling direction and traveling speed of the own vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like are provided. Then, the CPU reads out map data including the current position of the own vehicle from the storage device, draws a map image around the own vehicle position based on the map data, and indicates the current position of the own vehicle. The vehicle position mark to be displayed is superimposed on the screen and the map image is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle, or the map position is fixed on the screen and the vehicle position mark is moved. You can see at a glance where the car is currently driving.

  In-vehicle navigation devices are usually equipped with a function (route guidance function) that guides a user so that the user can easily travel on the road without making a mistake. According to this route guidance function, the CPU calculates the optimal route from the departure point (typically the current position of the vehicle) to the destination using map data, such as a horizontal search method or a Dijkstra method. The route searched is stored as a guide route, and the route can be distinguished from other roads on the map image while traveling (for example, the color is changed or the line width is increased). When a predetermined distance is reached to the approaching intersection on the guidance route, a guide map of the intersection (an enlarged view of the intersection, an arrow indicating the direction of travel at the intersection, the intersection) on the map image By displaying the distance to the intersection, the name of the intersection, etc., the user can grasp which road should be traveled and in which direction the intersection should be traveled.

  In the conventional in-vehicle navigation device, when displaying the guidance route determined based on the above route search on the map screen of the display device, in order to make it easier to confirm the route such as the current position and the right-left turn point, Display figures such as landmarks of various facilities (convenience stores, gas stations, banks, etc.) existing around the road are also displayed. As the form of the landmark, a mark called a “logo” (also referred to as “brand icon”) that uniquely identifies the target facility, or a mark (“category icon”) that indicates the category of the facility. Is also used.).

  In the current technology, when such an icon (display figure) is set on the map screen, the category of the icon registered in advance is specified, and the icon is displayed on the screen based on the on / off setting. And each icon registered in advance corresponding to the location of each facility, and when the map image is displayed, the icon is added to the location of each facility included in the map image and displayed There are two ways to do this.

As a technique related to the above-described conventional technique, for example, a ROM storing display graphic information indicating what display graphic is displayed for each position of a road, and contents of editing for the display graphic information are stored. Some display graphics are displayed on the basis of edited display graphic information with reference to the RAM (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-105128 A

  As described above, in the conventional in-vehicle navigation device, when displaying a display figure (icon) for identifying various facilities on the screen of the display device, a method for calling and displaying a category of icons registered in advance, There was a method of displaying each registered icon at the corresponding position on the map image.

  However, in the former method, there is a problem that, as a matter of course, an icon of a category that is not registered cannot be displayed. In the latter method, it is necessary to register icons one by one, which is inconvenient for the user.

  The present invention was created in view of the problems of the prior art, and does not require cumbersome work, and displays on the map screen any icons that are not in the category and according to user preferences. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted navigation device that can perform the above.

In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, an in-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention includes a display unit that provides guidance information through a screen, an information input unit that inputs information designated or set by a user, and information about a facility Storage means storing map information including: control means for controlling input / output of information with respect to the display means, information input means, and recording means, wherein the control means is arbitrarily controlled by the information input means. When a facility is specified, the specified facility is searched from the map information, the search results are listed, and the same input graphic is specified by the information input means as a common display graphic for specifying the listed facility. when setting the set icon and to display the map image by referring to the map information on a screen of said display means, facility included in該地view image Out at the position of the the listed property, and wherein the displaying by superimposing the icon set for the facility that is the listed.

According to the vehicle-mounted navigation device according to the present invention, the control means searches the facility arbitrarily designated by the user from the map information and makes a list (search result list), and the facility included in the list is displayed. An icon (that is, an icon that can be set according to the user's preference) that is arbitrarily set as the same common display graphic to be identified is assigned (set), and the icon is displayed on the screen when the map image is displayed . The information is displayed superimposed on the location of the facility . As a result, it is possible to collectively display arbitrary icons according to user preferences that are not included in the conventional category on the map screen.

  In addition, a common icon is set (registered) for a list of search for specified facilities (search result list), and the icons are displayed together when necessary. Thus, it is not necessary to register icons one by one, and troublesome work is not required.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a part of the configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the in-vehicle navigation device 30 of the present embodiment, reference numeral 1 denotes a DVD drive. Each DVD (DVD-ROM) 1a driven by the DVD drive 1 has each scale level (1/12500, 1/25000, 1 / Map data divided into a longitude width and a latitude width of an appropriate size in accordance with 50000). This map data includes road data for display and route guidance, and each data is represented by a coordinate set of points (nodes) expressed by longitude and latitude. The DVD 1a further stores data relating to various facilities (convenience store, super discount shop, department store, gas station, etc.) existing around the road. In the present embodiment, a DVD-ROM is used as a medium for storing map data and the like, but other storage media such as a hard disk and a CD-ROM may be used instead.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes an operation unit for operating a navigation apparatus body 10 to be described later, and has, for example, a remote control transmitter (not shown). The remote control transmitter is provided with various operation buttons, a joystick, and the like for selecting various menus and various items on the display screen of the display device 6 to be described later and for executing the selected menus. Also, 3 is a communication device such as a mobile phone or an in-vehicle phone for communicating with various information centers, and 4 is a GPS that detects the longitude and latitude of the current position of the vehicle by receiving GPS signals sent from GPS satellites. The receiver 5 is a self-contained navigation sensor, and the self-contained navigation sensor 5 is composed of an angle sensor such as a gyro for detecting the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and a distance sensor that generates a pulse at every predetermined traveling distance. Has been.

  The display device 6 has a screen such as an LCD. Basically, guidance information related to navigation (a map around the current position of the vehicle, the vehicle itself, etc.) is controlled based on control from the navigation device body 10 described later. The current position of the vehicle (vehicle position mark, guidance route from the vehicle position to the destination, etc.) is provided to the user on the screen. Further, as will be described later, the display device 6 displays guidance information related to display of a search result list and icons displayed by the device 30 on the screen. Reference numeral 7 denotes a speaker which provides guidance information related to the above navigation to the user by voice.

  In the navigation apparatus body 10, 11 is a buffer memory for temporarily storing map data read from the DVD 1a via the DVD drive 1, and 12 is a control unit composed of a microcomputer or the like. The control unit 12 basically detects the current position of the vehicle based on a signal output from the GPS receiver 4, or the traveling speed of the vehicle based on a signal output from the self-contained navigation sensor 5. Or the map data to be displayed is read from the DVD 1a to the buffer memory 11 via the DVD drive 1 or from the vehicle position under the search conditions set using the map data read to the buffer memory 11. Various processes related to navigation, such as searching for a guidance route to the destination, are performed. Further, as will be described later, the control unit 12 has a function of controlling processing related to display of a search result list and icon display performed by the apparatus 30.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a map drawing unit that performs a map image drawing process using map data read to the buffer memory 11 based on control from the control unit 12, and reference numeral 14 denotes various menu screens (operation screens) according to the operation status. ), An operation screen / mark generation unit for generating various marks such as a vehicle position mark, a cursor, and the like, and 15 are all nodes (expressed by longitude and latitude) from the departure point to the destination of the guidance route searched by the control unit 12. The guidance route storage unit 16 stores data relating to the coordinates of the detected points), 16 reads the guidance route data (node string) from the guidance route storage unit 15 based on the control from the control unit 12, and the guidance route A guide route drawing unit for drawing in a display manner different from other roads (for example, changing the color, increasing the line width, etc.).

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a search result list storage unit for storing the search result list (data) generated by the control unit 12. When an arbitrary facility is specified via the operation unit 2 as described later, the control unit 12 searches the specified database from the map database (DVD 1a) and lists the search results (search results). List generation). The data (search result list) stored in the search result list storage unit 17 corresponds to the updated portion of the facilities included in the search result list when the map data is updated. The facility data can be rewritten. This rewriting of data is controlled by the control unit 12. Here, “when the map data is updated” means that the vehicle-mounted storage medium (in this case, the DVD 1a) is replaced with the latest version of the disk or the map stored in the vehicle-mounted storage medium. This indicates when the data is rewritten to the latest version of map data acquired from the outside (information center or the like) via the communication device 3. In the latter case, a rewritable storage medium such as a hard disk or a memory stick (trade name) is used as the in-vehicle storage medium.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes a search result list drawing unit for drawing data (search result list) read from the search result list storage unit 17 based on control from the control unit 12, and 19 denotes a target facility on the map image. An icon storage unit 20 for registering an icon (data) set in a user's favorite shape as a display graphic for specifying a location and specifying the facility, and 20 is an icon based on control from the control unit 12 2 shows an icon drawing unit that performs drawing processing of data (icons) read from the storage unit 19.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes an image composition unit. Based on the control from the control unit 12, the guide route drawn by the guide route drawing unit 16, the operation screen / mark generation unit on the map image drawn by the map drawing unit 13. 14 has a function of superimposing the operation screen generated in 14 and various marks on the screen of the display device 6. Further, as will be described later, the image composition unit 23 also has a function of displaying guidance information related to display of a search result list and icon display performed by the device 30 on the screen of the display device 6. Reference numeral 22 denotes an audio output unit, which outputs an audio signal (guidance information related to navigation) to the speaker 7 based on control from the control unit 12.

  In the in-vehicle navigation device 30 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the DVD 1a (including the DVD drive 1) is “storage means”, the operation unit 2 is “information input means”, and the display device 6 is “display”. The control section 12 corresponds to “control means”, and the search result list storage section 17 corresponds to “list storage means”.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a search result list displayed on the screen of the display device 6. In the illustrated search result list 41, item number information 42 indicating an item number is associated with each item included in the list, and search facility information related to the facility searched based on the user's designation (example illustrated). Then, the name of “animal hospital”), that is, the facility list 43 is included. Further, in addition to the information 42, 43, an icon is displayed for each facility included in the facility list 43 as additional information. Selection information 44 for allowing the user to select whether or not to display is also included. This selection information 44 is displayed in a display form in which “re” is given in □ for each item (XXX animal hospital, XXX animal hospital,...).

  FIG. 3 shows another example of the search result list displayed on the screen of the display device 6, and the search result when the contents of the search result list 41 shown in FIG. 2 are edited. A list 41a is shown.

That is, when one of the facilities displayed in the list (in the illustrated example, “xxx animal hospital”) is selected with a cursor or the like, the selected item is displayed differently from the other non-selected items ( The hatched portion indicated by reference numeral 45), for example, is displayed in a display mode in which the colors of characters and background are reversed. In this state, for example, when the confirmation key (operation unit 2) is operated, the selection information 44 of the item, that is, the “L” mark in □ is deleted. The control unit 12 determines whether or not to display an icon for each facility based on the presence or absence of the “re” mark. In the example of the search result list 41 a shown in FIG. 3, for “xxx animal hospital” with the item number “002”, even when the corresponding map image is displayed, the facility (“xxx animal hospital”) . No icon is displayed at the position.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen display when an icon is displayed on a map image on the screen of the display device 6. In the example shown in the drawing, the map image displayed on the display screen 50 of the display device 6 through the image composition unit 21 based on the control from the control unit 12 is displayed together with the vehicle position mark CM indicating the current position of the vehicle. The guidance route GR from the vehicle position (CM) to the destination is displayed, and an icon characterizing the present invention, that is, an arbitrary icon IC registered according to the user's preference (in the illustrated example, as an animal example) 8 shows an example in which eight icons representing “cat” are displayed superimposed on the location of the facility. Here, the guide route GR is displayed in a display mode different from other roads (for example, displayed in a conspicuous color or increased in line width) so that the user can easily identify the route. Similarly, the icon IC is displayed in a relatively conspicuous display mode. In the display example shown in FIG. 4, the destination landmark is not displayed on the screen 50, but this is because the display scale of the screen is adjusted to a display scale that allows the guidance route GR around the vehicle to be grasped. (That is, the screen display has been enlarged).

  FIG. 5 shows another example of the screen display when an icon is displayed on the map image on the screen of the display device 6, and the icon IC is superimposed and displayed on the position of the facility on the map image. In some cases, the facility icon IC (R) corresponding to the updated portion is displayed in a relatively conspicuous display mode (in the illustrated example, a blinking mode). Here, the icon IC and the icon IC (R) are exactly the same display figure, and “R” in parentheses indicates that the information on the facility has been updated (in the illustrated example, the location of the facility has been changed). It represents.

  Hereinafter, processing related to display of a search result list and display of icons performed by the in-vehicle navigation device 30 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 showing an example of the processing flow.

  First, in the first step S1, when an arbitrary facility (for example, “animal hospital”) is designated by the user via the operation unit 2 in the control unit 12, the designated facility is displayed in the map database (DVD 1a). Search from. This search is performed based on the name of the facility (for example, “xxx animal hospital”, “xxx animal hospital”, etc.), the category to which the facility belongs (in this case, “animal hospital”), and the like.

  In the next step S2, the control unit 12 lists the search results in the previous step as shown in the display example of FIG. 2 (generation of the search result list 41), and stores the search result list in the memory (search result). It is stored in the list storage unit 17). At this time, information on each facility included in the list is stored in association with each position information (longitude and latitude).

In the next step S3, the search result list generated in the previous step is displayed on the screen of the display device 6 via the search result list drawing unit 18 and the image composition unit 21 based on the control from the control unit 12. As shown in the display example of FIG. 2, the search result list 41 also includes selection information 44 for causing the user to select whether or not to display an icon for each facility included in the list .

  At this time, as shown in the display example of FIG. 3, the contents displayed in the list (search result list) may be edited.

In the next step S4, the control unit 12 uses the operation unit 2 as a common display graphic for specifying the facility ("animal hospital" in the display example of FIG. 2) included in the search result list by the user. A designated favorite icon ( an icon representing “cat” as illustrated in FIG. 4) is set, and the set icon is registered in the memory (icon storage unit 19).

  In the next step S <b> 5, the control unit 12 determines whether a map image is displayed on the screen of the display device 6 (YES) or not (NO). If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S6, and if the determination result is NO, the determination process is repeated until the map screen is displayed. Here, the state in which the map screen is displayed typically means that the guidance route GR from the vehicle position (CM) to the destination is displayed as shown in the screen display examples of FIGS. Refers to the state of being.

  In the next step S6, among the facilities included in the map image displayed on the screen of the display device 6 in the control unit 12, the facilities listed in the list stored in the search result list storage unit 17 (FIG. 2, in the example of FIG. 3, the icon registered for “animal hospital”) (in this case, an icon imagining “cat”) is read from the icon storage unit 19, and the read icon is displayed on the screen of FIG. 4. As shown in the display example, it is displayed superimposed on the location of the facility (icon indicated by IC).

  At this time, if there is an updated part of the facility data included in the search result list stored in the search result list storage unit 17, the icon of the facility corresponding to the updated part is displayed on the screen of FIG. As shown in the display example, it is displayed in a blinking mode (icon indicated by IC (R)). Then, this processing flow is “end”.

As described above, according to the vehicle-mounted navigation device 30 according to the present embodiment, the facility arbitrarily designated by the user via the operation unit 2 is searched from the map database (DVD 1a) under the control of the control unit 12. Are set in accordance with the user's preference as the same common display graphic for identifying the facility (in this case, “animal hospital”) for the list (search result lists 41 and 41a in FIGS. 2 and 3). Icon (in this case, an icon IC reflecting the image of “cat”), and when the map image is displayed as shown in the screen display examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the icon IC is displayed on the map image. The information is displayed superimposed on the location of the facility . As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to collectively display arbitrary icons according to user preferences that are not included in the conventional category on the map screen.

  Further, a common icon IC is set (registered) for a list obtained by searching for a specified facility (search result list), and the icon IC is displayed together when a map image is displayed. Therefore, it is not necessary to register icons one by one as in the prior art, and cumbersome work is unnecessary.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the selection information 44 is included in the search result lists 41 and 41a (FIGS. 2 and 3) stored in the search result list storage unit 17 has been described as an example. Obviously, the selection information 44 need not necessarily be included in the search result list.

  In the processing flow illustrated in FIG. 6, the setting of the icon according to the user's preference is performed immediately after the search result list is displayed (between steps S3 and S5), but the icon is displayed. It may be performed in the immediately preceding stage (between steps S5 and S6).

  In the above processing flow, the case where only the search result list is displayed on the screen in step S3 has been described as an example. However, this search result list may be displayed together with the map image.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing part of the configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the search result list displayed on a screen. It is a figure which shows the other example of the search result list displayed on a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display when an icon is displayed on a map image. It is a figure which shows the other example of a screen display when an icon is displayed on a map image. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on the display of the search result list | wrist performed by the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus of FIG. 1, and the display of an icon.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a ... DVD (memory | storage means), 2 ... Operation part (information input means), 3 ... Communication apparatus, 4 ... GPS receiver, 5 ... Autonomous navigation sensor, 6 ... Display apparatus (display means), 12 ... Control part (control) Means), 13 ... Map drawing unit, 16 ... Map drawing unit, 17 ... Map drawing unit, 18 ... Map drawing unit, 19 ... Map drawing unit, 20 ... Icon drawing unit, 21 ... Image composition unit, 30 ... In-vehicle navigation Device, 41, 41a ... Search result list, 43 ... Search facility information (facility list), 44 ... Selection information for allowing the user to select whether or not to display the icon, 50 ... Display screen, CM ... Own vehicle position Mark, GR ... guidance route, IC, IC (R) ... icon.

Claims (6)

Display means for providing guidance information through a screen;
An information input means for inputting information designated or set by the user;
Storage means for storing map information including information about facilities;
Control means for controlling input / output of information with respect to the display means, information input means and recording means,
When an arbitrary facility is designated by the information input means, the control means searches the designated facility from the map information and lists the search results,
As the same display graphic that identifies the listed facilities, an icon arbitrarily set by the information input means is set,
When the map image is displayed on the screen of the display means with reference to the map information, the listed facility is located at the position of the listed facility among the facilities included in the map image. A vehicle-mounted navigation device that displays the set icon in a superimposed manner.   The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein when the search result is listed for the designated facility, the control unit displays the search result on a screen of the display unit. . The control means also has selection information for causing the user to select whether or not to display the icon for each facility included in the list when the search result is displayed in a list on the display means screen. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 2, which is displayed together.   The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a list storage unit that stores a list of search results when the control unit lists the search results for the designated facility. .   The control means, when the map information stored in the storage means is updated, the facility corresponding to the updated portion of the facilities included in the list of search results for the list storage means The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the information is rewritten.   The control means displays the facility icon corresponding to the updated portion relatively conspicuously when the display means displays the icon superimposed on the location of the facility on the map image. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the navigation device is displayed.

Images