JP4604866B2 - Facility search device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a facility retrieval apparatus that retrieves an input facility name from storage means and displays it on a display device together with a position on a map.

For example, in a navigation apparatus for a vehicle, when a facility name is input as a destination, the facility name is retrieved from storage means and displayed on a display device together with the position on the map. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which POI (Point of Interest) data is provided and facility names of restaurants, amusement parks, department stores, etc. are searched and displayed on the display screen, and the reliability of the POI data is given at that time. There is.
JP 2004-286653 A

  However, in the past, the latest facility name is registered in the storage means used in the navigation device at the time of data creation, and if the user knows only the previous facility name of the facility, the search is performed. It was impossible. Accordingly, there is a problem that the map display of the place where the previous facility is located is not made.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facility search apparatus capable of performing a search even with a previous name when a user inputs a facility name.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the latest facility information data including the input means for inputting the facility name, the display means, the latest facility name and facility contents at the time of data creation, and the position on the map A storage means for storing old facility information data such as a previous facility name at the same position on the map, and the latest facility information data of the storage means when the facility name is input by the input means. First facility name determining means for determining the presence or absence of the input facility name from, second facility name determining means for determining the presence or absence of the input facility name from the old facility information data of the storage means, When the facility name determining means of 1 determines that the input facility name is present, the latest facility information corresponding to the input facility name and the position information on the map are displayed on the display means, When the presence of the input facility name is determined by the second facility name determination unit, the old facility information corresponding to the input facility name, the latest facility information related thereto, and the position information on the map are displayed on the display unit. And display control means.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, when the user inputs the facility name by the input means, the first facility name determination means first determines the presence or absence of the input facility name from the latest facility information data in the storage means, and Is determined, the latest facility information corresponding to the input facility name and the position information on the map are displayed on the display means. When the inputted facility name is the latest, it is searched at this stage. Further, the second facility name determination means determines the presence or absence of the input facility name from the old facility information data of the storage means, and when it is determined that the input facility name exists, the display control means corresponds to the input facility name. The old facility information and the latest facility information related to this and the location information on the map are displayed, so even if the user inputs the old facility name without knowing it, the old facility name and the latest facility name on the map are displayed. It is possible to recognize the position. In this specification, the “old facility name” refers to the name of a past facility existing at the same position on the map as the facility having the latest facility name. Therefore, a facility name changed in the same genre includes a facility name of a completely different genre.

  In this case, the second facility name determining means determines that the input facility name is determined from the old facility information data of the storage means on the condition that the first facility name determining means determines that the input facility name is absent. The presence or absence of a name may be determined (invention of claim 2). In this way, it is possible to improve the search efficiency of the input facility name.

  In addition, when it is determined by the second facility name determination means that the input facility name is present, a registration means for registering the old facility name that matches the input facility name in the storage means or another storage means, The first search means may search for the input facility name from registration data registered in the storage means and the latest facility information (invention of claim 3). If it does in this way, the old facility name once inputted will be searched early from the next time, and it can contribute to speeding up of the search of an old facility name.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1 schematically showing an electrical configuration of, for example, a vehicle navigation device as a facility search device, the vehicle navigation device 1 mounted on the vehicle has a control circuit (first control function) that controls the navigation operation. The facility name determination means, the second facility name determination means, and the display control means 2), the position detector 3, the map data input device 4, the external memory 5, the display device 6, and the operation switch as the input means Group 7, speaker 8, transmitter / receiver 10 for transmitting / receiving data to / from infrastructure such as VICS (Vehicle Information & Communication System) station 9, remote control sensor 12 for detecting a signal from remote control 11 as input means, input A voice recognition unit 13 as a means is connected.

  The control circuit 2 is configured as a microcomputer, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O interface, a bus for connecting them, and the like (none of which are shown). Among these, the ROM stores a vehicle navigation program (including a facility search program) and the like, and the RAM stores processing data at the time of program execution and map data acquired from the map data input device 4. Etc. are temporarily stored.

  The position detector 3 receives signals from a geomagnetic sensor 15 for detecting an absolute azimuth, a gyroscope 16 for detecting a yaw angular velocity (yaw rate), a vehicle speed sensor 17 for detecting a vehicle speed, and a GPS artificial satellite. The GPS receiver 18 is equivalent to the vehicle position detecting means. In this position detector 3, each component has a detection error having a different property. Therefore, the position detector 3 performs a highly accurate position detection while interpolating the detection errors with each other. However, the current position is detected with the required detection accuracy. It is not necessary to provide all the components as long as they can be calculated. Further, the position detector 3 may be configured by combining a rotation sensor for a steering wheel, a wheel sensor for detecting rotation of each tire, and the like.

  The map data input device 4 is for reading data from a large-capacity information recording medium 14 such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM serving as storage means. In this case, the information recording medium 14 includes map data used for map display, map data used for map matching, and map data used for route guidance, as well as facility names and contents of various facilities, In addition, facility information data including location data is included. In this case, the facility information data includes the latest facility information data including the latest facility name and map position at the time of data creation, and the old facility information data associated with the latest facility information data when the old facility name exists. (See FIG. 3). In the case of FIG. 3, the coordinates (positions on the map) are stored in association with the latest facility names A to D. For example, the old facility name P (the hotel, Presence period X1-X2), old facility name Q (institution as a facility, existence period Y1-Y2), old facility name R (as a facility, restaurant, existence period Z1-Z2) are attached as old facility information.

As the information recording medium, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a large-capacity memory card, or the like can be used.
The external memory 5 is composed of a flash memory card or the like, and is provided, for example, for storing program software for dealing with information recording media of other standards, or for storing or recalling specific data. ing.

  The display device 6 includes, for example, a color liquid crystal display for displaying a map screen, and is installed near the driver's seat of the vehicle. The operation switch group 7 is an input means, and includes mechanical switches arranged around the display device 6, touch switches formed on the color liquid crystal display of the display device 6, and the name of the facility to be searched and various Are provided to give the control circuit 2 operation inputs such as data and setting items. Note that the remote controller 11 is also provided as an input means, and an operation input from the remote controller 11 is received by the remote controller sensor 12 and given to the control circuit 2. Further, the voice recognition unit 13 corresponds to an input means, and recognizes a user's voice and gives it to the control circuit 2 as a facility name to be searched, various commands and various information.

The speaker 8 can generate an arbitrary sound output according to the sound information from the control circuit 2 or a buzzer sound.
The transceiver 10 includes a VICS sensor unit, an FM tuner (none of which is shown), and the like. For example, the information signal by the optical / radio wave beacon received by the VICS sensor unit from the VICS station 9 or the FM tuner receives it. The configuration is such that an information signal from FM multiplex broadcasting is provided to the control circuit 2, and if necessary, the vehicle information is transmitted to the outside.

Here, in addition to the basic function of executing the map matching process for positioning the current position on the map, the control circuit 2 uses the operation switch group 7, the remote controller 11, or the voice recognition unit 13 to select a destination, a waypoint, etc. When point data is input, the start point is determined based on the point data, the end point is set as the destination, for example, and the route calculation from the start point to the end point is performed using, for example, the Dijkstra method. The route is set based on the above. A function as route guidance means for performing various guides by voice or display based on the guidance route obtained by this route setting is provided.
Also, when a facility name is input as the destination, or when a facility name is simply input for facility name search, control for facility name search is executed as shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 10, it is determined whether the facility name has been input by the operation switch group 7, the remote controller 11, or the voice recognition unit 13. If there is an input, the presence / absence of the input facility name is determined from the latest facility information data (see FIG. 3) of the information recording medium 14 in step S20. When it is determined from the latest facility information data that the input facility name is present (“YES” in step S30), the facility information (facility genre and various contents attached thereto) of the input facility name is displayed in step S40. While displaying on the apparatus 6, the position on the map of the said facility is displayed on the display apparatus 6 by step S50. Steps S20 and S30 correspond to first facility name determination means.

  In step S30, when it is not determined that the input facility name is present (when it is determined that the input facility name is not present), the process proceeds to step S60, where the input facility information data from the old facility information data is input. Determine the name of the facility. When it is determined from the old facility information data that the input facility name is present (“YES” in step S70), the fact that the facility name is the name of the previous facility (old facility) is displayed in step S80, The old facility information (facility genre and various contents attached thereto) is displayed on the display device 6, and the name and facility information of the latest facility related to the old facility name are displayed in step S90. In S100, the position on the map is displayed on the display device 6. If it is determined in step S70 that the input facility name is absent (that is, neither the latest facility name nor the old facility name is searched), it is displayed in step S110 that there is no input facility name. Is displayed. Steps S60 and S70 correspond to second facility name determination means.

  According to the present embodiment, when the user inputs a facility name using the operation switch group 7 or the remote controller 11, first, in step S20 and step S30, the presence / absence of the input facility name is determined from the latest facility information data. When it is determined that the input facility name is present, the latest facility information corresponding to the input facility name and position information on the map are displayed on the display device 6 as can be understood from steps S40 and S50.

  If the input facility name is the old facility name, “NO” is determined in the step S30, and it is determined whether or not the input facility name is in the old facility information data in the steps S60 and S70. Will be “YES”. That is, it is determined that the input facility name is the old facility name. As can be seen from steps S80 to S100, the display control device 6 displays that the input facility name is the old facility name, the old facility information, the latest facility information related to the old facility, and the position information on the map. Is done. As a result, even if the user inputs the old facility name without knowing it, the latest facility name and the position on the map can be recognized.

According to the present embodiment, the presence or absence of the input facility name is determined from the latest facility information data, and the presence or absence of the input facility name is determined from the old facility information data on the condition that the input facility name is absent. Since the determination is made, the search efficiency of the input facility name can be improved.
In this case, the presence or absence of the input facility name is uniquely determined from the latest facility information data (first facility name determination means), and the presence or absence of the input facility name is also determined from the old facility information data (second The facility name determination means) may be configured, and the intended purpose can be achieved even in this configuration.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that steps S12, S14, S102, and S104 are provided. In this embodiment, steps having the same control contents as those in FIG. Explaining the difference from the first embodiment, the old facility name once input is registered in the external memory 5 (see FIG. 1) as a recording means different from the information recording medium 14. . In FIG. 4, the characteristic part will be described. In step S102, when it is determined in step S60 and step S70 that the input facility name is present (searched for the old facility name), the old facility name is stored in the external memory 5. In step S104, the old facility name is registered in the external memory 5 (the control circuit 2 corresponds to a registration unit). That is, when the input old facility name exists in the old facility information data, it is registered in the external memory 5 in step S104. This registration data is used in the next facility search.

  That is, when a facility name is input in step S10 next time, the input facility name is searched from registered data (old facility name data input once or more) in the external memory 5 in step S12. In the next step S14, it is determined whether or not there is an input facility name in this registration data. If it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S30 and subsequent steps. If it exists, the process proceeds to step S80 and subsequent steps, the old facility name and the old facility information are displayed, and the latest facility name and facility information related to the old facility name are displayed in step S90. In step S100, the position on the map is displayed on the display device 6. If the old facility name is not registered, step S104 is not executed.

  According to the second embodiment, when the presence of the input facility name is determined by step S60 and step S70 (second facility name determination means), the old facility name that matches the input facility name is stored in the external memory 5. Since registration is performed, and from the next time, the existence of the inputted facility name is judged from the registration data and the latest facility information data, so that the old facility name once entered can be searched early from the next time. This can contribute to speeding up the search for the old facility name. If the information recording medium 14 is writable, the information recording medium 14 may be registered.

  In the above-described embodiments, the present invention has been described by applying it to a vehicle navigation device. However, for example, the present invention may be applied to a facility search function of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

The block diagram of the electrical constitution of the navigation apparatus for vehicles which shows 1st Example of this invention. Flow chart showing control contents A diagram conceptually showing the latest facility information data and old facility information data FIG. 2 equivalent view showing a second embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a vehicle navigation device (facility search device), 2 is a control circuit (first facility name determination means, second facility name determination means, display control means), and 5 is an external memory (another storage means). ), 6 is a display device (display means), 7 is an operation switch group (input means), 11 is a remote control (input means), 13 is a voice recognition unit (input means), and 14 is an information recording medium (storage means). .

Claims (3)

An input means for inputting the facility name;
Display means;
The latest facility information data including the latest facility name, facility content, and map location is stored at the time of data creation, and the old facility information data such as the previous facility name at the same location on the map is stored. Means,
First facility name determination means for determining the presence or absence of the input facility name from the latest facility information data of the storage means when the facility name is input by the input means,
Second facility name determination means for determining the presence or absence of the input facility name from the old facility information data of the storage means;
When the first facility name determining means determines that the input facility name is present, the latest facility information corresponding to the input facility name and the position information on the map are displayed on the display means, and the second facility name is displayed. Display means for displaying on the display means the old facility information corresponding to the input facility name, the latest facility information related to the input facility name, and the location information on the map when the determination means determines that the input facility name is present; A facility search device configured to be provided. The facility search device according to claim 1,
The second facility name determination means determines whether or not the input facility name exists from the old facility information data of the storage means on the condition that the first facility name determination means determines that the input facility name is absent. The facility search device characterized by judging. In the facility search device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the second facility name determination unit determines that the input facility name is present, the second facility name determination unit includes a registration unit that registers the old facility name that matches the input facility name in the storage unit or another storage unit,
The facility search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first facility name determination means determines the presence or absence of the input facility name from the registration data registered in the storage means and the latest facility information data.

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