JP4528739B2 - Navigation system, route search server, terminal device, and map display method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication type navigation system, a route search server, a terminal device, and a map display method for searching and guiding an optimum route from a departure place to a destination for pedestrians and automobile drivers. In particular, the present invention includes a polygon database in which roads and buildings are represented by polygons in order to three-dimensionally display roads and surrounding buildings, and displays a display mode for displaying a three-dimensional map and a two-dimensional planar map. The present invention relates to a navigation system, a route search server, a terminal device, and a map display method in which a terminal device having a display mode is notified so as not to move a map beyond the boundary of an area where there is no data that can be three-dimensionally displayed. is there.

  Conventionally, when visiting a destination place on an unknown land, the user arrives while checking the transportation, road, landmark and address drawn on the map by using a map book or the like. In a car equipped with a car navigation system (hereinafter simply referred to as a car navigation system), a guidance displayed on a monitor screen or a voice output guidance (navigation) by starting the car navigation system and inputting a destination. Information) was reached.

  The car navigation system uses a GPS (Global Positioning System), receives GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites orbiting the earth with a GPS antenna, and transmits the GPS signals to the GPS signals. The position is specified by analyzing the satellite position and clock information included. At least four GPS satellites are required. The single positioning accuracy of GPS is generally over 10 m, but it is improved to 5 m or less by adopting DGPS (Differential GPS). In particular, GPS receivers that are currently installed only in some mobile phones are now being installed in all models of mobile phones called third generation.

  Various technologies have been proposed for using mobile terminals having such a positioning function. For example, a navigation device (car navigation) for automobiles has been developed, and map / route information is obtained using a mobile phone as a terminal. A communication navigation system for pedestrians distributed from an information distribution server (route search server) has been proposed.

  In recent years, the performance of mobile communication terminal devices such as mobile phones and PHS has been dramatically improved, and multi-functionalization has been progressing. In particular, the data communication function is strengthened in addition to the call function, and various data communication services are provided to the user via the Internet. A navigation service is one of them, and a communication navigation system that provides route guidance from a current position to a destination for not only a driver of a car but also a mobile phone user has been put into practical use.

  A general navigation device, a route search device and a route search method used in a communication navigation system are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681). This navigation system is configured to send information on a departure point and a destination from a portable navigation terminal to an information distribution server, and the information distribution server searches and guides a route that matches a search condition from road network and traffic network data. Has been. As the search condition, there are means for moving from the departure place to the destination, for example, walking, automobile, combined use of railroad and walking, and the route is searched as one of the search conditions.

  The information distribution server has roads (routes) of map data as nodes and nodes as the positions of inflection points, links connecting the nodes as links, and cost information (distance and required time) of all links as a database. ing. Then, the information distribution server sequentially searches for a link from the departure node to the destination node with reference to the database, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  Generally, in a communication type navigation system, map information displayed by a terminal device is downloaded from a server device such as a route search server connected via a network. For example, the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-247833) and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-232644) disclose inventions of such communication type car navigation devices and map data download methods. It is disclosed.

  The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 2 allows a user to select and set whether or not to permit downloading of map information from a server during traveling of the vehicle, and is configured as follows. The When the terminal side needs the next map information, if it is downloaded to the memory card, the map is displayed using this. If the next map information has not been downloaded and the map information is permitted to be downloaded, it is downloaded from the server and written into a memory card for use. However, when the download is not permitted, the wide area map originally stored in the memory card is used and the scale is reduced to reduce the display.

  Further, the map data downloading method disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 is based on the driving state of the vehicle, that is, whether it is a general road, a highway, near an interchange, or whether it is traveling at high speed or low speed. The map data transmitted from the download center in accordance with the traveling state of the vehicle is selected and downloaded. This suppresses a large amount of map data not necessarily required by the user from being transmitted from the download center side.

  By the way, a terminal device that has received a guidance route from an information distribution server such as a route search server is provided with a display means such as a liquid crystal display device, and displays a map and a guidance route on the display means as well as the current state of pedestrians and cars The position (current position of the terminal device) is displayed on the guidance route to guide pedestrians and cars to the destination. In general, the map displayed on the display means is a plan view, that is, a display of a two-dimensional figure, but a plan bird's-eye view with a sense of perspective on the display image, a building in order to make it easy to visually recognize the state of landmarks and buildings. A method of displaying a bird's eye view that is expressed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner and a method of displaying roads and buildings as a three-dimensional polygon image by a Z buffer method have been proposed.

  For example, the following Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-27535) discloses a map display device that displays buildings and roads in three dimensions. The map display device disclosed in Patent Document 4 is configured to display a three-dimensional map by shadowing a route guide line on a road in a three-dimensional manner. When the route guide line is in a positional relationship hidden in the building, the overlapping portion of the route guide line is displayed in a different color from the non-overlapping portion. In particular, the display color of the route guide line and the display color of the building are drawn on a VRAM (video RAM) by a semi-transparent method in which pixels are alternately set, and the relative positional relationship between the route guide line and the building is shown. It is clarified to improve the visibility of the route guide line.

  In order to perform the display as described above, in the map display device disclosed in Patent Document 4, building shape data and height information are stored in the map data, and road shape data is also stored for three-dimensional intersections and the like. Has been. Based on this map data, a three-dimensional drawing of a three-dimensional intersection of a building or road is drawn on a drawing unit, and a desired image is drawn on the drawing unit when the vehicle travels and reaches a position to be route-guided. A predetermined voice is uttered to guide the user to the destination.

  Similarly, a map display system for displaying a three-dimensional three-dimensional map is disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-56075). In the map display system disclosed in Patent Document 5, the map data processing unit includes the original 3D map data, scene graph data representing the data structure of the 3D map in a tree structure, and the 3D map. The map data display unit identifies the display area with reference to the scene graph, reads the drawing data corresponding to the specified display area, and performs display processing. It is configured to do.

  This map display system is configured to store map information having a large amount of data in an external storage device such as a DVD or HDD in order to perform a three-dimensional three-dimensional map display.

JP 2001-165681 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-247833 (FIGS. 1 and 6) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-232644 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-27535 (FIG. 1, FIG. 4, paragraph [0054]) JP-A-2005-56075 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, paragraphs [0056] to [0059])

In the navigation system, an optimum route from a desired departure point to a destination is searched based on map data, and a guidance route is specified. Then, the current position is measured by positioning means such as a GPS receiver, and when displaying a map or a guide route, the current position mark indicating the current position and the direction mark indicating the traveling direction are superimposed and displayed to the user. Inform location and direction of travel. In addition, guidance points such as intersections are set in the guide route data, and voice guidance data (for example, a voice message such as “This is a 300m intersection, please turn left”) is added as guidance at the guidance points. In this case, a voice message is reproduced and output through a speaker to guide the user.

  In general, a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and dedicated to search for a moving route for the vehicle has a high processing capacity of a processor and a large capacity of a storage device that accumulates map data and road data for route search. Accordingly, a large amount of map data for three-dimensional display can be stored as in Patent Document 4, and three-dimensional display can be performed.

  On the other hand, in a communication-type navigation system in which a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone is used as a terminal device of the navigation system, the processing capacity of the processor constituting the terminal device is not as high as that of a vehicle-mounted navigation device, and a storage device The storage capacity is small. The processor and the storage device are used not only for the navigation function but also for executing other functions of the terminal device. For example, when a mobile phone is used as a terminal device, the processor is also used to execute a call function that is an original function of the mobile phone.

  Even in the communication type navigation system, there is a voice requesting a realistic video expression including a three-dimensional display of a building. However, as a common problem of the communication type navigation, there is a problem of how to reduce the amount of communication data. Conventionally, emphasis has been placed on communication costs of terminal devices, but cost issues related to the increase in communication data are being solved by rate plans such as a flat rate system.

However, when a map is three-dimensionally displayed, there is a problem that the amount of data is overwhelmingly larger than that of a flat map, which causes a problem that communication traffic increases and the server becomes excessive. As the number of users increases, it becomes a serious problem.
For example, even if a 3D polygon is prepared using a building as a simple rectangular parallelepiped, the data amount is at least 6 times (six sides) compared to a plane polygon, and if the texture is attached to the drawing of the wall surface, Increase significantly. This is a problem that goes against the suppression of the amount of communication data, and is an obstacle to stereoscopic display in communication navigation.

  Therefore, in reality, it is difficult to prepare data for 3D map display across the country in various aspects such as data creation, maintenance, and data volume problems. Dimension display data cannot be prepared. Therefore, how to switch between 3D map display and 2D map display becomes a problem. For example, in an area where three-dimensional display is possible (data for three-dimensional display is prepared), moving in the three-dimensional display mode may lead to an area where three-dimensional display is not possible.

  In such a case, when the boundary of the 3D-capable area is reached, the portion without polygon data for 3D display looks different from the actual landscape, and the map display (route guidance) is very difficult to understand. turn into. Further, if the cursor key is operated as it is to exit the area where the three-dimensional display can be performed, a portion where nothing is displayed is moved.

In particular, when moving a map or a guidance screen using the up / down / left / right cursor keys provided in the terminal device, the up key for instructing upward movement and the left / right key for instructing left / right movement are displayed in a three-dimensional display.
Up key: Moves in the line of sight Left key: Rotates the line of sight leftward Right key: Defined as an instruction to rotate the line of sight rightward.

  The down key means moving downward on the screen in the two-dimensional map display, but in the three-dimensional map display, a backward movement is generally imagined. However, since the back cannot be seen in the 3D map display, if the down key is operated too much, it becomes difficult to know where it is located. Furthermore, there is a problem that the boundary of the presence or absence of polygon data for 3D map display in the backward direction (the boundary of the area without the 3D display data cannot be set, so that it may suddenly change to an unfamiliar landscape.

  The inventor of the present application has made various studies in order to solve the above-described problems, and as a result, polygon database for storing three-dimensional display polygon data and area information indicating the three-dimensional display area where the polygon data exists are stored. A navigation system that displays a three-dimensional map on a display means that acquires polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection means for detecting the viewpoint position, wherein the viewpoint position is at the boundary of the area The present invention is completed by conceiving that the problem can be solved by providing area notification means for determining that the display is approaching and informing the display means to prompt the display mode to be switched to the two-dimensional display mode. It has come.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a terminal device having a display mode for displaying a three-dimensional map and a display mode for displaying a two-dimensional planar map, It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system, a route search server, a terminal device, and a map display method in which notification is performed so as not to move a map beyond the boundary of an area that does not exist.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to a first aspect of the present invention, a map database for storing map data, 3-D in the presence of polygon data for the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display and a polygon database storing the area information indicating a displayable area, the map data and the route search to be distributed from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position and the polygon data in a predetermined range to the terminal device Server,
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. A display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means displays the 3D map in the 3D display mode. When the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, 3D display Comprising a terminal device that perforated the area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end, and the,
Said display mode control means outputs the area notifying means the message Then, it characterized Rukoto such as acceptance waiting state for switching to the 2D display mode from the 3-dimensional display mode.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application relates to a map database storing map data, polygon data for 3D map display, and area information indicating a 3D displayable area in which the polygon data for 3D map display exists. A route database that stores the map data and the polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position, to a terminal device;
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. A display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means displays the 3D map in the 3D display mode. When the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, 3D display Includes an area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end, and a terminal device having the a,
The display mode control means switches the three-dimensional display mode to the two-dimensional display mode when the area notification means outputs the message.

In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, when the area notification unit outputs the message, the three-dimensional display control unit prohibits the change of the viewpoint position and displays the three-dimensional map . wherein the polygon data of prohibiting deviation from the area that is present.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application, a map database for storing map data, area information indicating a three-dimensional existence 3D displayable area of polygon data and polygon data of the three-dimensional map display Map display a polygon database storing the door, and the route searching means, anda network data for route searching, as well as distributed to the terminal apparatus searches for a guide route according to the request from the terminal device, and the map data, from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position and the polygon data in a predetermined range and route search server that distributes to the terminal device,
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. The display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the vertical and horizontal directions for controlling the movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position are selected. with a cursor key for instructing each of the terminal devices which have a, a,
The terminal device, the route search and display the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data distributed from the server, the 3-dimensional the cursor key for instructing the downward operation while viewing the map If it is, it and returning the viewpoint position along the guide route received from the route search server.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is a map database in which map data is accumulated, area information indicating a 3D display area where polygon data for 3D map display and polygon data for 3D map display are present. preparative and an accumulated polygon database, the map data, the route search server which delivers from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position and the polygon data in a predetermined range to the terminal device,
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. The display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the vertical and horizontal directions for controlling the movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position are selected. with a cursor key for instructing each, and the viewpoint locus storing unit for storing a locus of the viewpoint position, and a terminal device that have a,
The terminal device, the route search and display the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data distributed from the server, the 3-dimensional the cursor key for instructing the downward operation while viewing the map If it is, and returning the viewpoint position along the locus of the viewpoint position stored in the viewpoint locus storing unit.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application, three-dimensional performing display means for displaying the tertiary Motochi view or two-dimensional map based on the polygon data or map data, control to display the three-dimensional map on the display means A display control means; a two-dimensional display control means for controlling the display means to display the two-dimensional map; and a three-dimensional display mode for displaying the three-dimensional map on the display means; A display mode control means for selecting a 2D display mode for displaying a 3D map and operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means; and the display means displays the 3D map in the 3D display mode. If while displaying approached a predetermined range of the boundary of the area in which the polygon data of the viewpoint position is three-dimensional map display is present, indicating the end of the three-dimensional display And a area notifying means for outputting a message when said area notifying means outputs the message, the display mode control means, that Do the acceptance waiting state of switching from the 3-dimensional display mode to the 2D display mode A route search server connected to a terminal device via a network,
Said route search server, a map database for storing map data, and area information indicating the presence dimensional viewable said area to the polygon data of the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display and a storage polygon database, the map data and the area in which the polygon data in the range from the viewpoint position of a predetermined in accordance with the viewpoint position with distributes to the terminal device, stored in the polygon data base Based on the information, it is detected that the viewpoint position has approached a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists, and the terminal device is notified .

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is a display means for displaying a three-dimensional map or a two-dimensional map based on polygon data or map data, and a three-dimensional display control for controlling the display means to display the three-dimensional map. Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. A display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means displays the 3D map in the 3D display mode. When the viewpoint position approaches the predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, the end of 3D display is indicated. Area notification means for outputting a message, and when the area notification means outputs the message, the display mode control means is connected to a terminal device for switching from the three-dimensional display mode to the two-dimensional display mode via a network. A route search server,
The route search server includes a map database storing map data, the polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map, and area information indicating the three-dimensional display area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. A polygon database in which the map data and the polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position are distributed to the terminal device, and the area stored in the polygon database based on the information, and notifies the terminal device detects that approaching the predetermined range of the boundary of the area in which the viewpoint position is the polygon data for three-dimensional map display is present.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the invention according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the route search server further includes search network data for route search, route search means, viewpoint position setting means, wherein the viewpoint position setting means, said route search means and said viewpoint position a predetermined position of the guide route searched, distributes the polygon data in a predetermined range from the visual point position to the terminal device Features.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is a map database in which map data is accumulated, area information indicating a 3D display area where polygon data for 3D map display and polygon data for 3D map display are present. and a polygon database storing the door, the map data and a terminal device connected via a network and said polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position to the route search server to deliver in accordance with the viewpoint position Because
The terminal device displays a display means for displaying the tertiary Motochi view or two-dimensional map based on the polygon data or the map data is distributed from the route search server, the three-dimensional map on the display means 3D display control means for performing control, 2D display control means for performing control for displaying the 2D map on the display means, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or A display mode control means for selecting a 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means and operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means according to the 3D display mode. While displaying the three-dimensional map, the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. If, and an area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end of the three-dimensional display,
It said display mode control means, when the area notifying means outputs the message, and wherein the Rukoto such as acceptance waiting state of switching from the 3-dimensional display mode to the 2D display mode.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application provides a map database storing map data, polygon data for 3D map display, and area information indicating a 3D displayable area in which the polygon data for 3D map display exists. A terminal database connected via a network to a route search server that distributes the map data and the polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position. There,
The terminal device includes a display unit that displays a three-dimensional map or a two-dimensional map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and a control that displays the three-dimensional map on the display unit. 3D display control means for performing, 2D display control means for performing control for displaying the 2D map on the display means, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means The display mode control means for selecting the 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display and operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means according to the 3D display mode. When displaying a three-dimensional map, the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. If, and an area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end of the three-dimensional display,
The display mode control means switches the three-dimensional display mode to the two-dimensional display mode when the area notification means outputs the message.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the ninth aspect, when the area notification means outputs the message, the three-dimensional display control means prohibits the change of the viewpoint position and is used for three-dimensional display. and inhibits the deviation from the area in which the polygon data is present.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a map database storing map data , polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map, and area information indicating a three-dimensional displayable area in which the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. a polygon database storing the door, and the route searching means, and a network data for route searching, as well as distributed to the terminal apparatus searches for a guide route according to the request from the terminal device, the map data, viewpoint from the viewpoint position corresponding to the position and the polygon data within a predetermined range a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that distributes to the terminal device,
The terminal apparatus, cubic Motochi view or display means for displaying a 2-dimensional map, a three-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the three-dimensional map on the display unit, the two-dimensional map on the display means 2D display control means for performing control to display the image, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means, Display mode control means for operating the three-dimensional display control means or the two-dimensional display control means, and cursor keys for respectively indicating up / down / left / right directions for moving and controlling a cursor for moving the viewpoint position, displays the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data delivered from the route search server, the cursor key for instructing the downward direction is operated If, and returning the viewpoint position along the guide route received from the route search server.

The invention according to claim 13 of the present application is a map database in which map data is stored, area information indicating a 3D display area where polygon data for 3D map display and polygon data for 3D map display are present. and a polygon database storing the door, a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server for delivery to the polygon data in a predetermined range from the viewpoint position in accordance with the viewpoint position,
The terminal apparatus, cubic Motochi view or display means for displaying a 2-dimensional map, a three-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the three-dimensional map on the display unit, the two-dimensional map on the display means 2D display control means for performing control to display the image, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means, Display mode control means for operating the three-dimensional display control means or the two-dimensional display control means, cursor keys for instructing up / down / left / right directions for controlling movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position, comprising a viewpoint locus storing unit for storing the trajectory, and to display the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data delivered from the route search server, If the cursor key for instructing the serial downward direction is operated, and returning the viewpoint position along the locus of the viewpoint position stored in the viewpoint locus storing unit.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present application is a map database in which map data is accumulated, area information indicating a three- dimensional map display polygon data and a three-dimensional display area in which the polygon data for the three-dimensional map display exists. and a polygon database storing the door, the viewpoint and the route search server to deliver the polygon data in a predetermined range from the position, the polygon data or the distributed from the route search server according to the viewpoint position Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on map data, 3D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 3D map, and displaying the 2D map on the display means 2D display control means for performing control, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display hand Select 2-D display mode for displaying the two-dimensional map on stage, and the display mode control means for operating the three-dimensional display control means or the two-dimensional display control unit, and a terminal device that perforated the area notifying means, , there is provided a map display method in a navigation system that Ru with a,
When the display means is displaying the 3D map in the 3D display mode, when the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, A step of outputting a message indicating the end of the three-dimensional display by the area informing means, and a step of putting the display mode control means in a state of waiting for an approval for switching from the three-dimensional display mode to the two-dimensional display mode. It is characterized by.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the route search server includes a polygon database in which polygon data for 3D map display and area information in which the 3D display polygon data exists are stored, Polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position is distributed to the terminal device. The terminal device includes a display unit that displays a three-dimensional map and an area notification unit, and displays the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on polygon data distributed from the route search server. When the viewpoint position approaches the predetermined range of the boundary of the area where polygon data for 3D map display exists, a message indicating the end of 3D display is output, and the state of waiting for switching to the 2D display mode is set. .

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the user inadvertently deviates from the area where three-dimensional display is possible. For this reason, the part where 3D polygon data is not prepared is displayed and displayed differently from the actual image, or the display means displays nothing by moving more than a certain distance to an area where 3D polygon data is not prepared It becomes possible to prevent it from being lost.

In the invention according to claim 2, when the error rear notifying means outputs the message, the display mode control means switches to the two-dimensional display mode.
According to such a configuration, when the area deviates from the 3D display area, the display is forcibly switched to the 2D display. Therefore, the portion where the 3D polygon data is not prepared is displayed and displayed differently from the actual image. It is possible to prevent the display means from being displayed with nothing more than a certain distance by moving to an area where 3D polygon data is not prepared.

In the invention according to claim 3, in the invention according to claim 1, when the area notification means outputs the message, the three-dimensional display control means prohibits the change of the viewpoint position and the polygon data for three-dimensional display. Deviations from areas where there is
According to such a configuration, it is prohibited to deviate from an area where 3D display is possible, so that the display means moves to a certain distance beyond the area where 3D polygon data is not prepared and nothing is displayed on the display means. Can be prevented.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the route search server includes a polygon database in which polygon data for 3D map display and area information in which the 3D display polygon data exists, route search means, route search Network data, and searching for a guide route according to a request from the terminal device and distributing it to the terminal device, and distributing polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position to the terminal device according to the viewpoint position. The terminal device includes three-dimensional display control means, two-dimensional display control means, display mode control means, display means for displaying a three-dimensional map, and up / down / left / right directions for controlling movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position. A cursor key for instructing each of the three-dimensional map on the display means based on the polygon data distributed from the route search server, and the cursor key for instructing the downward direction during the three-dimensional map display. When operated, the viewpoint position is returned along the guide route received from the route search server.

  According to such a configuration, when the downward cursor key is operated in the 3D display mode, the 3D map image is displayed by returning the viewpoint position and the viewpoint direction along the guide route that has been proceeding so far. Therefore, the user can return to the three-dimensional display image along the guidance route and is not confused.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the route search server includes a polygon database in which polygon data for 3D map display and area information in which the 3D display polygon data exists are stored, and the viewpoint is determined according to the viewpoint position. Polygon data within a predetermined range from the position is distributed to the terminal device. The terminal device includes three-dimensional display control means, two-dimensional display control means, display mode control means, display means for displaying a three-dimensional map, and up / down / left / right directions for controlling movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position. And a viewpoint trajectory storage unit that stores the trajectory of the viewpoint position, and displays a three-dimensional map on the display means based on polygon data distributed from the route search server. When the cursor key that indicates the downward direction is operated during the display of the three-dimensional map, the viewpoint position is returned along the viewpoint position trajectory stored in the viewpoint trajectory storage unit.

  According to such a configuration, when the downward cursor key is operated in the three-dimensional display mode, the viewpoint position and the viewpoint direction are returned along the locus of the viewpoint position that has been advanced so far, and the three-dimensional map image is displayed. Is displayed, the user can return to the three-dimensional display image along the guidance route and is not confused.

The invention according to claim 6 can provide a route search server constituting the navigation system according to claim 1 in the invention according to claim 1 and claim 7, and the invention according to claim 8 has a claim. The route search server which comprises the navigation system concerning item 4 can be provided. In the invention according to the ninth to thirteenth aspects , it is possible to provide a terminal device constituting the navigation system according to the first to fifth aspects. Moreover, in the invention concerning Claim 14, the map display method in the navigation system concerning Claim 1 can be provided.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. In the following embodiments, a specific example is a navigation system that uses a mobile phone as a terminal device and can selectively use a display mode for displaying a map or the like in a two-dimensional display or a bird's eye view and a display mode in a three-dimensional display. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and the terminal device may be a mobile terminal such as a vehicle-mounted terminal device. In this specification, the term “terminal device” including a mobile terminal is generically referred to.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system 10 includes a terminal device 20 and a route search server 30 connected via a network 12 such as the Internet. The route search server 30 includes route search means 316, search network data 317, a map database 315 storing map data, and a polygon database 318 storing three-dimensional polygons of roads and buildings.

  When there is a route search request from the terminal device 20 including a route search condition such as the current position, destination, moving means (automobile, walking, transportation, or a combination of walking and transportation), the route search server 30 searches for a network for searching. With reference to the data 317, a plurality of guide routes are searched in order of the shortest guide route or route length that matches the route search condition. Guide route data obtained as a result of the search is obtained from a plurality of unit map data (map data divided into areas of a predetermined size by latitude and longitude) including the current position selected from the map database 315 and from the polygon database 318. The data is distributed to the terminal device 20 together with the three-dimensional polygon data of the roads and buildings on the selected unit map data.

  The search network data 317 includes road network data 317A and traffic network data 317B, and can search for routes using walking, automobiles, or transportation. The road network data 317A and the traffic network data 317B are network data based on a normal plane map having no node altitude information. Therefore, the guidance route data searched by the route search means 316 is planar route data and does not have altitude information.

  When receiving the guidance route from the route search server 30 to the destination, the terminal device 20 displays a map near the current position on the display means. On the map image displayed on the display means, a guidance route and a current position mark indicating the current position are displayed superimposed. In general, a unit map of a predetermined size is displayed with the current position mark at the center of the display screen. When three-dimensional stereoscopic map display is performed, three-dimensional polygon data of roads and buildings around the current position are received from the route search server 30 and displayed.

  As will be described later, the three-dimensional polygon data is data of each surface constituting an object such as a building. The polygon database 318 stores such polygon data for three-dimensional display and area information indicating an area where the polygon data exists and can be displayed in three dimensions. The terminal device 20 transmits viewpoint position information including the viewpoint position, the line-of-sight direction, and the like in the terminal device 20 to the route search server 30 by the viewpoint position detection unit. Based on the viewpoint position information received from the terminal device 20, the route search server 30 distributes polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position to the terminal device 20.

  The terminal device 20 displays a three-dimensional map and a building image on the display unit based on the three-dimensional polygon data received from the route search server. The viewpoint position may be the current position, or the cursor key may be moved to move the three-dimensional map image displayed on the display unit with the cursor position as the viewpoint position. Further, a viewpoint position may be set on the guidance route searched by the route search server 30 and surrounding 3D display polygon data existing within a predetermined range of the viewpoint position may be distributed to the terminal device 20.

  The route search server 30 also includes a control unit 311, a communication unit 312, a distribution data editing unit 313, a guide route data creation unit 314, and a viewpoint position setting unit 319. Although not shown, the control unit 311 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication unit 312 is an interface for communicating with the terminal device 20 via the network 12. The guide route data creation means 314 creates guide route data, map data, guidance points, guidance data at guidance points, and the like searched as described above, and the distribution data editing means 313 stores the data such as the guide routes. Edit the data to be distributed to the device 20.

  The viewpoint position setting means 319 sets the viewpoint position on the guide route searched by the route search means 316 as described later, reads polygon data around the viewpoint position from the polygon database 318, and distributes it to the terminal device 20.

  The road network data 317A is configured as follows. For example, when the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 2, the end points, intersections, and inflection points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed links. Link cost data with node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number) and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link) as data Composed.

  That is, in FIG. 2, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, and Nm (◎ mark) indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 2, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 2, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 2, there are actually other such routes, so that a plurality of routes that can be reached from the node AX to the node CY are displayed. A search is performed in the same manner, and a route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method.

  The data of the traffic network data 317B is basically the same as the road network data, but the network data assumes that each train operating on the route constitutes a link between stations (a link between each station is a node and a station). Has been created. Therefore, the guide route is a link specifying a train that is a link. In order to search for a route from a certain departure point to a certain destination using such traffic network data, all the means of transportation that can be used (ride) when arriving from the departure point to the destination are searched. A guide route is specified by specifying a means of transportation that matches the search conditions.

  On the other hand, the terminal device 20 is a mobile phone equipped with a GPS positioning unit 212 such as a GPS receiver, and includes a control unit 211, a GPS positioning unit 212, a display mode control unit 213, a viewpoint position detection unit 214, and a two-dimensional display. A control unit 215, a three-dimensional display control unit 216, a communication unit 217, a distribution request editing unit 218, a distribution data storage unit 219, a VRAM 220, a display unit 221, an operation / input unit 222, an area notification unit 223, and the like are configured. Yes. Users can select walking or transportation as a means of transportation and receive route guidance using walking or transportation, and when they are in the passenger seat of a car, they can select a car as the means of transportation and get directions. Can receive.

  Although not shown, the control unit 211 includes a microprocessor (CPU) having a RAM and a ROM, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The operation / input means 222 is for operation / input means consisting of numeric keys, alphabet keys, other function keys, selection keys, scroll keys, and the like. From the menu screen displayed on the display means 221 as output means Various input operations are performed by selecting a desired menu or operating keys. Accordingly, the display unit 221 also functions as a part of the operation / input unit 222. The communication unit 217 is an interface for communicating with the route search server 30 via the network 12.

  When a user wants to request a route search from the route search server 30, the user operates the operation / input unit 222 on the terminal device 20, selects a route search from the service menu displayed on the display unit 221, Enter route search conditions such as location, means of transportation (car, walking, transportation, or a combination of walking and transportation). The route search condition is edited into a distribution request to the route search server 30 by the distribution request editing unit 218 and transmitted to the route search server 30 via the communication unit 217.

  Distribution data from the route search server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage unit 219, read out from the distribution data storage unit 219 as necessary, and displayed on the display unit 221. The terminal device 20 performs a first display mode (hereinafter referred to as a two-dimensional display mode) for two-dimensional display or bird's-eye view display of a map, guide route, building image, and the like included in the distribution data, and three-dimensional display for three-dimensional display. A second display mode (hereinafter referred to as a three-dimensional display mode), and the display mode control means 213 selectively operates one of the two-dimensional display control means 215 and the three-dimensional display control means 216. Display on the display means 221 is performed. The user designates a desired display mode using the operation / input means 222.

  The two-dimensional display control means 215 performs control to display them as a two-dimensional image (planar image) using plane data such as a map, road, guide route, and building delivered from the route search server 30. When displaying a bird's-eye view, the two-dimensional display control means 215 performs control to create and display a bird's-eye view image of a two-dimensional map or road viewed from a predetermined viewpoint position. The three-dimensional display control means 216 performs control to process and display a three-dimensional image using three-dimensional polygon data such as maps, roads, and buildings distributed from the route search server 30. The image data created by the two-dimensional display control means 215 and the three-dimensional display control means 216 is developed in dot units in the VRAM 220 that is a drawing means, and an image in a desired display mode is displayed on the display means 221.

  The GPS positioning means 212 periodically measures the current position of the terminal device 20 and acquires the current position (latitude / longitude). A current position mark indicating the current position measured by the GPS positioning means 212 is displayed superimposed on an image such as a map or a guide route displayed on the display means 221. The display image can be moved (scrolled) by operating the cursor key to move the cursor position. Generally, in a portable terminal device 20 such as a mobile phone, the cursor is moved by up / down / left / right keys for designating up / down, left / right movement. The same applies to the three-dimensional display mode.

  The operation when the user selects the 3D display mode will be described. Prior to that, the 3D polygons of roads and buildings for 3D display will be described. When the road RD1 is viewed three-dimensionally, the road is composed of a continuous body having different slopes. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the road RD1 has surfaces (a) to (d) with different inclinations. The three-dimensional polygon of the road includes the shape data of each of the continuous surfaces (a) to (d), the position data (position coordinates) of each vertex, and a normal vector (in FIG. 3) indicating the direction of each surface. Each arrow). Therefore, if the surface image data is generated according to the surface shape data and each surface is arranged along the direction calculated based on the normal vector, a three-dimensional road image as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. Can do.

  Here, the orientation of each surface can be calculated by arranging the coordinates of each vertex of the surface according to a certain rule, even if the normal vector is not included in the polygon data. For example, if the rules are such that the respective coordinate points are arranged counterclockwise when viewed from the front side, the orientation of the surface can be calculated without having a normal vector.

  The same applies to the three-dimensional polygons of buildings. The building is broken down into its constituent faces, and each shape data, position data (position coordinates) of each vertex, and a normal vector indicating the orientation of each face It can be expressed by the normal vector which direction each face of the building is facing. Using such polygons, image data is generated by performing hidden surface processing by a well-known Z buffer method. Hidden surface processing refers to processing for erasing a surface that is not visible from the direction of the line of sight, thereby displaying a three-dimensional image of the building.

  For example, a building polygon is made up of graphic data of surfaces constituting the building as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, a building A is composed of graphic data of surfaces such as surfaces SA1, SA2, and SA3, and has a normal vector indicating the direction of each surface. For example, the surface SA1 of the building A has a normal vector A1. In FIG. 4, the back side surface of the building is not visible, but polygon data of the back side surfaces SA4, SA5, and SA6 are prepared in the same manner. For example, the surface on the back side of the surface SA1 is the surface SA4, and has a normal vector A4 that is opposite to the normal vector A1 of the surface SA1. Note that FIG. 4 is drawn for explaining the positional relationship between the spaces, and is not a screen displayed on the terminal device 20.

  The same applies to the building B, which is composed of graphic data of the surfaces SB1 to SB6 and has a normal vector indicating the direction of each surface. When the surface of each building is viewed from the viewpoint position P of FIG. 4 in such a polygon figure, the surface in which the surface can be seen from the viewpoint position from the vector that expects the surface of interest from the viewpoint position and the normal vector of the surface. And whether or not the surface is facing.

  For example, assuming that the surface of interest from the viewpoint position P is the surface SA1 of the building A, a vector VA1 that looks into the surface SA1 from the viewpoint position P is taken. If the angle θA1 formed by the vector VA1 and the normal vector A1 (the inner product of both vectors is less than a right angle) is less than a right angle, it can be seen that the surface of this surface faces the viewing direction. Therefore, it can be seen that this surface is a surface displayed on the display means. If the angle formed by both vectors is not less than a right angle, such as the vector VB1 and the normal vector B1, it can be seen that the surface is not visible from the viewpoint position, and this surface is not displayed on the display means. In FIG. 4, E is the height of the viewpoint position, and is the average eye height (about 1.5 m) when a pedestrian is using the terminal device.

  As described above, when the terminal device 20 performs three-dimensional display, not all polygon data is required, and only polygon data of a surface visible from the viewpoint position is sufficient. Therefore, in order to display a map three-dimensionally, in general, the map may be displayed based on all polygon data around the viewpoint position. As described above, only the polygon of the eyelid surface visible from the viewpoint position is displayed. You may display based on data.

  When the cursor position is moved by operating the cursor key when a three-dimensional map is displayed, the cursor position becomes a new viewpoint position. This may cause insufficient polygon data to be displayed. In that case, the terminal device 20 detects the viewpoint position detection unit 214 as a new viewpoint position of the moved cursor position, and requests peripheral polygon data from the route search server 30. The same applies to the case where the terminal device 20 moves on the guide route. In this case, the viewpoint position detection unit 214 may detect the current position detected by the GPS positioning unit 212 as the viewpoint position.

  As described above, the polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map is currently created for an area such as an urban area that is highly requested by users. Therefore, when the viewpoint position comes close to the boundary of the area where the 3D polygon data is prepared, the portion where the 3D polygon data is not prepared cannot be displayed on the display means 221, and what is an actual image? The display becomes different, and the visibility such as confirmation of the position is lowered.

  If the viewpoint position moves beyond a certain distance to an area where 3D polygon data is not prepared, there will be no 3D polygon data, and nothing will be displayed on the display means 221. In such a state, it becomes difficult for the user to grasp the current position.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in the 3D display mode, the area notification means 223 provided in the terminal device 20 determines the positional relationship between the viewpoint position and the area that can be displayed in 3D, and When approaching the boundary within a predetermined distance range, a notification is output to the display means 221 or the like. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the user inadvertently deviates from the three-dimensional display area. Such an area boundary is determined by determining that the viewpoint position is within a predetermined distance from the area boundary, or that a predetermined position (for example, the center) of the screen is within a predetermined distance from the boundary. Further, this determination may be performed by the terminal device 20 receiving area information from the route search server 30, or the route search server 30 receiving and determining viewpoint position information from the terminal device and determining the result. 20 may be transmitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of area notification displayed on the display unit 221. As shown in FIG. 5, a message 51 such as “Exit from the 3D area. Do you want to display in 2D” is displayed on the display screen 50, and the “YES” selection button 52 and the “NO” selection button 53 are operated. Like that. At this time, the display mode control means 213 waits for the approval of display mode switching and prohibits the change of the display image. For example, as long as the mode is not switched to the two-dimensional display mode, control may be performed so that the subsequent movement of the cursor movement cursor is prohibited and the escape from the three-dimensional display area is not permitted. When the NO selection button 53 is operated, the control is performed in this way. Of course, the viewpoint position may be freely moved when switched to the two-dimensional display mode.

  Alternatively, the display mode control means 213 forcibly switches the display mode to the two-dimensional display mode when the above message is displayed. The display in the two-dimensional display mode to be switched may be a planar map display or a bird's eye view display. FIG. 6 shows a display image when the display mode is switched to the two-dimensional display mode in the state of FIG. 5 and the planar map is displayed. As shown in FIG. 6, area A has tertiary polygon data, and area B has no three-dimensional polygon data.

  When a mobile phone or the like is used as the terminal device 20, as shown in FIG. 7, the cursor movement operation is performed by the up, down, left, and right arrow keys 71 (cursor keys 71). In the two-dimensional display mode, the up / down and left / right arrow keys 71 are used to move the cursor position up / down and left / right on the display screen 50 according to the operation amount. In the three-dimensional display mode, the up key is designated to advance from the viewpoint position to the line-of-sight direction, the left key line-of-sight direction is rotated to the left, and the right key is designated to rotate the line-of-sight direction to the right.

  Here, when the down key is operated, it is generally designated to return (retreat) in the direction opposite to the line-of-sight direction. In this case, when the vehicle travels on the guide route, the display screen is returned in the direction opposite to the line-of-sight direction at the viewpoint position regardless of the guide route. In 3D display, there is no display behind the line-of-sight direction (because the back of the viewpoint position is not visible, even if there is a building, it is not displayed). This is not desirable because it gives the user a feeling that the display has suddenly changed to an unfamiliar landscape. If the down key is further operated, it is finally impossible to determine where the current position is.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the downward cursor key is operated in the 3D display mode, the 3D map image is displayed by returning the viewpoint position and the viewpoint direction along the guide route that has been proceeding so far. . As a result, the user can return to the three-dimensional display image along the guidance route and is not confused.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the cursor key in the three-dimensional display for explaining the above relationship and the change in the display state caused thereby. As shown in FIG. 8, when the three-dimensional display is performed by operating the up / down and left / right cursor keys 71 while moving on the guide route RT, the line-of-sight direction changes to RT31, RT32, RT33, RT34, and the line-of-sight direction at each viewpoint position. A certain range of three-dimensional polygons including are displayed. When the downward key is operated at the viewpoint position in the line-of-sight direction RT34, when the display is returned in the direction C opposite to the line-of-sight direction, the display is deviated from the guide route RT.

  In the present invention, when the down key is operated, the three-dimensional polygon is displayed so that the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction return in the direction along the guide route RT as indicated by the dotted arrow RTB. . In this way, the user can display the three-dimensional display that is displayed as it is as it is, so that the user is not confused.

  The above example is an example in which the viewpoint position is returned along the guidance route when the down key is operated, but the locus of the viewpoint position is stored in a storage unit (not shown) instead of the guidance route, When the down key is operated, the same effect can be obtained even if the viewpoint position is returned along the locus of the viewpoint position stored in the storage unit to acquire and display the three-dimensional polygon.

  Next, an example of setting the viewpoint position on the guidance route will be described. When the terminal device 20 moves on the guide route and the viewpoint position changes, the terminal device 20 may transmit viewpoint position information to the server again at an appropriate interval and newly receive three-dimensional polygon data. Since the terminal device has a unique ID and is communicatively connected to the route search server 30, the route search server 30 recognizes the ID and sends the three-dimensional polygon data not transmitted to the terminal device 20. You can also

  In addition to the above method, the terminal device 20 requests the route search server 30 to search for a route, and along with the guidance route data obtained by the route search server 30 searching for the route, polygon data for three-dimensional display is provided to the terminal device 20. You can also take the method of delivering to. An example will be described below.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the guide route RT, the viewpoint position, and the surface of the building. As shown in FIG. 9, when the guide route RT obtained by searching in the route search server 30 is the link LKn and the link LKn + 1, the viewpoints Pn−1, Pn, and Pn + 1 are set on the end points (nodes) of each link. . If the link is long, a viewpoint is set also in the middle of the link, and a predetermined range around the route is targeted without omission. The viewpoint position setting means 319 performs such viewpoint position setting. In the above-described case where the viewpoint position information is received from the terminal device 20, the viewpoint position setting unit 319 determines the viewpoint position based on the viewpoint position information received from the terminal device 20.

  FIG. 10 schematically shows this state, and the viewpoint position Pn0 is set in the middle of the link LKn. In FIG. 10, a circle centered at each viewpoint position Pn−1, Pn, Pn0, Pn + 1 schematically shows an area where 3D polygon data is distributed. When the link is long, even if the viewpoint position is set only at the end point, if the area where the three-dimensional polygon can be obtained is interrupted, the display in between will be skipped. However, by setting the viewpoint position Pn0 in the middle of the link, this Can be prevented. For this reason, the interval for setting the viewpoint position in the middle of the link is preferably determined by the radius of the area from which the three-dimensional polygon is extracted. In this case, the terminal device 20 may transmit the current position to the route search server 30, and the route search server 30 distributes the plane data at the viewpoint position based on the current position.

  At each of these viewpoint positions Pn−1, Pn, Pn0, and Pn + 1, only the polygon of the surface that can be seen at each viewpoint position is selected by the method described above, and distributed to the terminal device 20 together with the guidance route data. The polygon data may be transmitted together with all the guidance route data, or only the guidance route data is distributed, and the polygon data is moved to the viewpoint position as the terminal device 20 moves on the guidance route. Each time it reaches, it may be divided and distributed.

  In addition, when a guidance route is obtained, it is assumed that the route travels along the guidance route. Therefore, the surface may be extracted by limiting the direction of the line of sight to the traveling direction of the guidance route at the viewpoint position. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing this concept. As shown in FIG. 11, the calculation is continued only when the vector VB1 that looks at the target surface from the viewpoint position Pn−1 is within a predetermined angle range with respect to the path, and the normal vector B1 of the surface and the vector VB1 It is determined whether or not the angle formed by is less than a right angle. In FIG. 11, the calculation is performed when the angle αB1 is less than a right angle. If a narrower field of view is assumed, the determination angle may be narrowed. By doing so, it is possible to further reduce the surface data to be transmitted.

  In the method of selecting polygon data for three-dimensional display together with the guide route described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11 and distributing it to the terminal device 20, the terminal device 20 sends viewpoint position information to the route search server 30. The transmission method or the method in which the route search server 30 calculates the viewpoint position based on the current position information from the terminal device 20 after the terminal device 20 issues a route search request to the route search server 30. The search server 30 needs to perform the above calculation for each viewpoint position every time the surface polygon is distributed.

  Therefore, when the link for setting the viewpoint position is stored in association with the polygon of the surface visible from the viewpoint position, when the link of the road (link of the guide route) is distributed, the associated surface is stored. These polygons may be combined and distributed from the route search server 30. In this case as well, general roads can pass in both directions, so it is possible to calculate and select the surface that can be seen around the entire circumference for bidirectional links, and on one-way roads, it seems to be limited to the permitted direction of travel. You may make it select a surface by calculating.

  If comprised in this way, since the route search server 30 does not need to calculate the surface which can be seen from a viewpoint position each time, since a result can be immediately delivered with respect to the request | requirement from the terminal device 20, a route search with the terminal device 20 is possible. The network session with the server 30 is not held for a long time. Therefore, the processing capability of the route search server 30 can be improved.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even if the viewpoint position moves beyond a certain distance to an area where 3D polygon data is not prepared, the user can inadvertently display 3D. The inconvenience of deviating from the area can be solved. Also, when the down cursor key is operated in the 3D display mode, the 3D map image is displayed with the viewpoint position and the viewpoint direction returned along the guidance route that has been proceeding so far. The three-dimensional display image along the guide route can be returned, and there is no confusion.

  The present invention is not limited to a portable navigation device, but can also be applied to a map display device that has three-dimensional display data and can store a guide route and a movement locus.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning the Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the road network data for a route search. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the structure of a road polygon. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship between the structure of a building polygon, and a viewpoint position. It is a figure which shows an example of the area alerting | reporting screen in the case of the three-dimensional display concerning the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows a display image when a display mode is switched to 2D display mode in the state of FIG. 5, and a plane map is displayed. It is an external view for demonstrating the cursor key of a terminal device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept in the case of returning a display by cursor key operation of a downward direction. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a guidance route | route, a viewpoint position, and the surface of a building. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept which sets a viewpoint position in the middle of the link of a guidance route. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the surface polygon selection when a viewpoint position is set to the guide route and the line-of-sight direction is the traveling direction of the guide route.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Navigation system 12 ... Network 20 ... Terminal device 211 ... Control means 212 ... GPS positioning means 213 ... Display mode control means 214 ... Viewpoint position detection means 215 ... 2D display control means 216 ... 3D display control means 217 ... Communication means 218 ... Distribution request editing means 219 ... Distribution data storage means 220 ... VRAM
221 ... Display means 222 ... Operation / input means 223 ... Area notification means 30 ... Route search server 311 ... Control means 312 ... Communication means 313 ... Distribution data editing means 314 ... guidance route data creation means 315 ... map database 316 ... route search means 317 ... search network data 317A ... road network data 317B ... traffic network data 318 ... polygon database 319 ... Viewpoint position setting means

Claims (14)

It includes a map database for storing map data, and a polygon database storing the area information indicating the presence 3D displayable area of the polygon data for the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display the map data, a route search server for delivering from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position and the polygon data in a predetermined range to the terminal device,
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. A display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means displays the 3D map in the 3D display mode. When the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, 3D display Comprising a terminal device that perforated the area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end, and the,
Said display mode control means, a navigation system the area notifying means, wherein the output result, the Rukoto such as acceptance waiting state of switching from the 3-dimensional display mode to the 2D display mode to the message. A map database storing map data; a polygon database storing polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map; and area information indicating an area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists and which can be displayed in three dimensions. A route search server that distributes the map data and the polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position according to the viewpoint position;
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. A display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means displays the 3D map in the 3D display mode. When the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, 3D display Includes an area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end, and a terminal device having the a,
It said display mode control means, when the area notifying means outputs the message, characteristics and be Luna navigation system that switches the three-dimensional display mode to the 2D display mode. When the area notifying means outputs the message, the 3-dimensional display control means, characterized in that prohibits changing the viewpoint position, prohibiting deviation from the area in which the polygon data is present for the three-dimensional map display The navigation system according to claim 1. Map database storing map data, polygon database storing 3D map display polygon data and area information indicating 3D display area where polygon data for 3D map display exists, and route search a means, and network data for route searching, a predetermined well as distributed to the terminal apparatus searches for a guide route according to the request from the terminal device, the map data, from the viewpoint position in accordance with the viewpoint position and said polygon data within the range of the route search server that distributes to the terminal device,
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. The display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the vertical and horizontal directions for controlling the movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position are selected. with a cursor key for instructing each of the terminal devices which have a, a,
The terminal device, the route search and display the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data distributed from the server, the 3-dimensional the cursor key for instructing the downward operation while viewing the map If it is, the navigation system characterized by returning the viewpoint position along the guide route received from the route search server. It includes a map database for storing map data, and a polygon database storing the area information indicating the presence 3D displayable area of the polygon data for the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display the map data, a route search server for delivering from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position and the polygon data in a predetermined range to the terminal device,
Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and 3D display control for controlling the display means to display the 3D map Means, 2D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means for displaying the 2D map. The display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the vertical and horizontal directions for controlling the movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position are selected. with a cursor key for instructing each, and the viewpoint locus storing unit for storing a locus of the viewpoint position, and a terminal device that have a,
The terminal device, the route search and display the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data distributed from the server, the 3-dimensional the cursor key for instructing the downward operation while viewing the map have been the case, the navigation system characterized by returning the viewpoint position along the locus of the viewpoint position stored in the viewpoint locus storing unit. Display means for displaying the polygon data or tertiary Motochi view or two-dimensional map based on the map data, a three-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the three-dimensional map on the display means, the said display means 2D display control means for performing control to display a 2D map, and 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means. Display mode control means for selecting and operating the three-dimensional display control means or the two-dimensional display control means, and the viewpoint position when the display means is displaying the three-dimensional map in the three- dimensional display mode. If but approaches the predetermined range of the boundary of the area in which the polygon data for three-dimensional map display is present, the area broadcast to output a message indicating the end of the three-dimensional display And a stage, when the area notifying means outputs the message, the display mode control means, via the network from the 3-dimensional display mode to accept wait state and ing terminal apparatus switching to said two-dimensional display mode Connected route search server,
Said route search server, a map database for storing map data, and area information indicating the presence dimensional viewable said area to the polygon data of the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display and a storage polygon database, the map data and the area in which the polygon data in the range from the viewpoint position of a predetermined in accordance with the viewpoint position with distributes to the terminal device, stored in the polygon data base A route search server that detects, based on information, that the viewpoint position has approached a predetermined range of a boundary of the area where the polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map exists and notifies the terminal device . Display means for displaying a 3D map or 2D map based on polygon data or map data, 3D display control means for controlling the display means to display the 3D map, and 2D on the display means 2D display control means for controlling the display of the map, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means are selected. A display mode control means for operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the viewpoint position is 3 when the display means is displaying the 3D map in the 3D display mode. Area notification that outputs a message indicating the end of three-dimensional display when approaching a predetermined range of the boundary of an area where the polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map is present And when the area notification means outputs the message, the display mode control means is connected to a terminal device for switching from the 3D display mode to the 2D display mode via a network. There,
The route search server includes a map database storing map data, the polygon data for displaying a three-dimensional map, and area information indicating the three-dimensional display area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. A polygon database in which the map data and the polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint position are distributed to the terminal device, and the area stored in the polygon database based on the information, route the that polygon data by detecting that approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area present to and notifies the terminal apparatus of the viewpoint position is three-dimensional map display Search server. The route search server further includes search network data for route search, route search means, and viewpoint position setting means, and the viewpoint position setting means includes a guide route searched by the route search means. route search server according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the predetermined position and the viewpoint position, delivering the polygon data in the range of the visual point position of a predetermined in the terminal device. Includes a map database for storing map data, and a polygon database storing the area information indicating the presence 3D displayable area of the polygon data for the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display, wherein the map data, a terminal device connected via a network from the viewpoint position to the route search server and polygon data delivery within a predetermined range corresponding to the viewpoint position,
The terminal device displays a display means for displaying the tertiary Motochi view or two-dimensional map based on the polygon data or the map data is distributed from the route search server, the three-dimensional map on the display means 3D display control means for performing control, 2D display control means for performing control for displaying the 2D map on the display means, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or A display mode control means for selecting a 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means and operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means according to the 3D display mode. While displaying the three-dimensional map, the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. If, and an area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end of the 3-dimensional display,
It said display mode control means, when the area notifying means outputs the message, the terminal device according to claim Rukoto such as acceptance waiting state of switching from the 3-dimensional display mode to the 2D display mode. A map database storing map data; a polygon database storing polygon data for displaying a 3D map; and area information indicating an area where the polygon data for displaying the 3D map exists and which can be displayed in 3D; A terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that distributes the map data and the polygon data within a predetermined range from the viewpoint position according to the viewpoint position;
The terminal device includes a display unit that displays a three-dimensional map or a two-dimensional map based on the polygon data or the map data distributed from the route search server, and a control that displays the three-dimensional map on the display unit. 3D display control means for performing, 2D display control means for performing control for displaying the 2D map on the display means, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or the display means The display mode control means for selecting the 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display and operating the 3D display control means or the 2D display control means, and the display means according to the 3D display mode. When displaying a three-dimensional map, the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for displaying the three-dimensional map exists. If, and an area notifying means for outputting a message indicating the end of the three-dimensional display,
Said display mode control means, when the area notifying means outputs the message, the end terminal apparatus you and switches the 3-dimensional display mode to the 2D display mode. When the area notifying means outputs the message, the 3-dimensional display control means, and characterized in that prohibits changing the viewpoint position, prohibiting deviation from the area in which the polygon data is present for the three-dimensional display The terminal device according to claim 9. A map database for storing map data, and the polygon database storing the area information indicating the three-dimensional existence 3D displayable area of polygon data and polygon data of the three-dimensional map for displaying a map for display, route search means, and a network data for route searching, as well as distributed to the terminal apparatus searches for a guide route according to the request from the terminal device, the map data, from the viewpoint position predetermined in accordance with the viewpoint position and said polygon data within a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that distributes to the terminal device,
The terminal apparatus, cubic Motochi view or display means for displaying a 2-dimensional map, a three-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the three-dimensional map on the display unit, the two-dimensional map on the display means 2D display control means for performing control to display the image, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means, Display mode control means for operating the three-dimensional display control means or the two-dimensional display control means, and cursor keys for respectively indicating up / down / left / right directions for moving and controlling a cursor for moving the viewpoint position, displays the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data delivered from the route search server, the cursor key for instructing the downward direction is operated If the terminal device and returning the viewpoint position along the guide route received from the route search server. Includes a map database for storing map data, and a polygon database storing the area information indicating the presence 3D displayable area of the polygon data for the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display, a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server for delivery to the polygon data in a predetermined range from the viewpoint position in accordance with the viewpoint position,
The terminal apparatus, cubic Motochi view or display means for displaying a 2-dimensional map, a three-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the three-dimensional map on the display unit, the two-dimensional map on the display means 2D display control means for performing control to display the image, 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2D display mode for displaying the 2D map on the display means, Display mode control means for operating the three-dimensional display control means or the two-dimensional display control means, cursor keys for instructing up / down / left / right directions for controlling movement of the cursor for moving the viewpoint position, comprising a viewpoint locus storing unit for storing the trajectory, and to display the three-dimensional map on the display unit based on the polygon data delivered from the route search server, If the cursor key for instructing the serial downward direction is operated, the terminal device and returning the viewpoint position along the locus of the viewpoint position stored in the viewpoint locus storing unit. It includes a map database for storing map data, and a polygon database storing the area information indicating the presence 3D displayable area of the polygon data for the polygon data and the three dimensional map display for three-dimensional map display , perspective and route search server to deliver the polygon data in a predetermined range from the viewpoint position according to the position, the route search the polygon data distributed from a server or three-dimensional map based on said map data or 2 display means for displaying the dimension map, and a three-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the three-dimensional map on the display means, and two-dimensional display control means for performing control to display the two-dimensional map on the display means 3D display mode for displaying the 3D map on the display means, or 2 for displaying the 2D map on the display means 2 Select a dimension display mode, the three-dimensional display control unit or the two-dimensional display and the display mode control means for operating the control unit, and a terminal device that perforated the area notifying means, the method map display in navigation system Ru provided with Because
When the display means is displaying the 3D map in the 3D display mode, when the viewpoint position approaches a predetermined range of the boundary of the area where the polygon data for 3D map display exists, A step of outputting a message indicating the end of the three-dimensional display by the area informing means, and a step of putting the display mode control means in a state of waiting for an approval for switching from the three-dimensional display mode to the two-dimensional display mode. A map display method characterized by the above.

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