JP4637960B2 - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a car navigation system, and more particularly to a technique for making one car navigation system compatible with a plurality of customers.

  Conventionally, navigation devices mounted on vehicles are known. The manufacturer of such a navigation device changes the specifications of the navigation device when the customer (or shipping destination) such as an automobile manufacturer or a dealer changes. providing. Therefore, map data, programs, etc. cannot be shared by different customers even if they are the same model.

  Therefore, a navigation device has been developed that can share a navigation system by selecting and exchanging CD-ROMs used in various models (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This navigation device stores a navigation processing program corresponding to each model and map information and other route information for route search and route guidance on a CD-ROM, and the central processing unit stores its model from the CD-ROM. A program that conforms to the above is retrieved, loaded into the program memory and activated, thereby realizing a navigation function. Therefore, a navigation service that is not fixed to a model by sharing a CD-ROM among a plurality of models is provided.

JP-A-9-53948

  However, in the conventional navigation device described above, a plurality of programs corresponding to a plurality of models are stored in a CD-ROM, and a program suitable for each model is acquired from the CD-ROM and executed. Although configured, it is possible to realize a navigation function suitable for the navigation device, but it is difficult to realize a navigation function suitable for a vehicle equipped with the navigation device and an environment in which the vehicle is used.

  In the above-described conventional navigation device, for example, it is possible to configure the hardware to be common to all customers, and prepare a program for each customer and store it on a CD-ROM. Since it is necessary to store the program corresponding to the previous number in the CD-ROM, if the number of customers increases, the data amount of the program becomes enormous and a situation that cannot be stored in the CD-ROM occurs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system that can perform navigation suitable for a vehicle and an environment in which the vehicle is used with a small amount of data.

  In order to achieve the above object, a car navigation system according to the present invention acquires vehicle information held by a vehicle via an in-vehicle LAN and adapts a processing program for realizing a navigation function to the vehicle information. The vehicle navigation system having the set state includes vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring vehicle information, and the processing program includes region information, language information, and steering position information included in the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means. Accordingly, the character string on the display unit is rotated and displayed.

  According to the car navigation system of the present invention, since the navigation function is realized by switching the setting of the processing program based on the vehicle information held by the vehicle, it is suitable for the vehicle and the environment in which the vehicle is used. Navigation can be performed. In addition, since the navigation according to the vehicle information can be performed by changing the setting state of the processing program according to the vehicle information, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of programs respectively corresponding to a plurality of models, and one program A navigation function can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the amount of data becomes enormous as the number of programs increases.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the switching pattern of the 1st setting state in the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the switching pattern of the 2nd setting state in the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the switching pattern of the 3rd setting state in the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the switching pattern of the 1st setting state in the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the switching pattern of the 2nd setting state in the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the switching pattern of the 3rd setting state in the car navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example in the case of displaying a map in the car navigation system concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a car navigation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The car navigation system 1 is mounted on a vehicle 2 and used. A vehicle signal output device 3 is installed in the vehicle 2. The car navigation system 1 and the vehicle signal output device 3 are connected by an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network). The in-vehicle LAN can be configured using a MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) bus, a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus, a serial bus, infrared light, Bluetooth, or the like. In addition to the above, the in-vehicle LAN is connected to information system units such as car audio and AV equipment, body systems, safety systems, and power train (running control) systems.

  The vehicle signal output device 3 outputs vehicle information. This vehicle information is set in advance in the vehicle signal output device 3 at a customer such as a manufacturer or dealer of the vehicle 2. The vehicle information includes customer information representing the customer.

  The car navigation system 1 includes an in-vehicle information device 10, an information storage device 20, and a display device 30. The in-vehicle information device 10 further includes an external communication interface 11, an internal storage device 12, and an information processing unit 13.

  The external communication interface 11 is an interface for the car navigation system 1 to communicate with the vehicle signal output device 3. The external communication interface 11 receives vehicle information from the vehicle signal output device 3 and sends it to the information processing unit 13. The external communication interface 11 is appropriately configured so as to conform to a communication standard adopted in an in-vehicle LAN, that is, MOST, CAN, serial, infrared, Bluetooth, and the like.

  The internal storage device 12 can be composed of, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or the like. The internal storage device 12 stores customer information included in the vehicle information received from the vehicle signal output device 3. In the initial state immediately after the car navigation system 1 is attached to the vehicle 2, the content of the internal storage device 12 is empty.

  The information processing unit 13 is realized by processing of a program executed by a CPU (not shown). The information processing unit 13 includes vehicle information acquisition means 14, acquisition information determination means 15, setting information comparison means 16, setting information notification means 17, setting information switching means 18, and a processing program 19. The setting information generation means of the present invention comprises an acquisition information determination means 15 and setting information comparison means 16.

  The processing program 19 is a location processing program for realizing a location function for detecting the vehicle position, a map display processing program for realizing a map display function for displaying a map on the display device 30, and a menu on the display device 30. Menu display processing program for realizing the menu display function to be performed, opening processing program for realizing the opening function for displaying the startup screen on the display device 30, and a search function for selecting address and facility search data Includes a search processing program. The processing program 19 performs an operation suitable for the customer by setting the setting information generated based on the customer information therein.

  The vehicle information acquisition unit 14 acquires vehicle information from the vehicle signal output device 3 via the external communication interface 11. The customer information included in the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means 14 is sent to the acquisition information determination means 15.

  The acquisition information determination unit 15 determines whether the customer information sent from the vehicle information acquisition unit 14 is valid or invalid. This determination is performed by examining whether or not a customer indicated by the customer information exists in a customer list table (not shown) provided in the information processing unit 13. The customer information determined to be valid by the acquisition information determination means 15 is sent to the setting information comparison means 16. If the acquisition information determination unit 15 determines that the information is invalid, the customer information is not sent to the setting information comparison unit 16, and a predetermined process (details will be described later) is performed by the information processing unit 13.

  The setting information comparison unit 16 compares the customer information sent from the acquired information determination unit 15 with the customer information stored in the internal storage device 12. As a result of the comparison by the setting information comparison means 16, when it is determined that they match, the customer information is sent to the setting information notification means 17. On the other hand, if it is determined that they do not match, the customer information is sent to and stored in the internal storage device 12.

  The setting information notifying unit 17 generates setting information based on any of the customer information sent from the setting information comparing unit 16, the customer information stored in the internal storage unit 12, and the initial value. The setting information generated by the setting information notification means 17 is sent to the setting information switching means 18.

  The setting information switching means 18 is provided in each of a processing program 19 that uses the setting information, specifically, a location processing program, a map display processing program, a menu display processing program, an opening processing program, and a search processing program. The internal setting state of the processing program 19 is switched so as to match the setting information received from the information notification means 17. The processing program 19 whose internal setting state has been switched by the setting information switching means 18 accesses the information storage device 20 and / or the display device 30, and a location function, map display function, menu display function suitable for the customer, A process for realizing the opening function or the search function is executed.

  The information storage device 20 is composed of, for example, a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), etc., and stores the map data 21, the processing program 19 (not shown), and other various data. I remember it. The contents of the information storage device 20 are read from the information processing unit 13.

  The display device 30 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and includes a display unit 31. The display unit 31 displays, for example, a map screen, a menu screen, a startup screen, a search screen, etc. according to the customer according to the processing of the processing program 19 whose setting state has been switched by the setting information switching unit 18 of the information processing unit 13. .

  Next, the operation of the navigation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  When the car navigation system 1 is turned on as the vehicle 2 is turned on, vehicle information is first acquired (step ST10). That is, the vehicle information acquisition unit 14 of the information processing unit 13 acquires vehicle information from the vehicle signal output device 3 via the external communication interface 11. Next, determination of acquisition information (acquired vehicle information) is performed (step ST11), and it is checked whether the acquisition information is valid or invalid (step ST12). That is, the acquisition information determination unit 15 checks whether the customer information included in the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 14 is valid or invalid.

  If it is determined in this step ST12 that the acquired information is valid, then a setting information comparison process is performed (step ST13), and the customer information included in the acquired information is stored in the internal storage device 12. It is checked whether or not it matches the customer information (step ST14). Specifically, the setting information comparison unit 16 compares the customer information included in the acquisition information (vehicle information) sent from the acquisition information determination unit 15 with the customer information stored in the internal storage device 12. And check if they match.

  If it is determined in step ST14 that they match, the acquired customer information is notified to the processing program 19 (step ST15). That is, the setting information notification unit 17 generates setting information based on the customer information included in the acquired information (vehicle information) and notifies the setting information switching unit 18 included in the processing program 19.

  If it is determined in step ST14 that they do not match, the previous customer information stored in the internal storage means 12 is notified to the processing program 19 (step ST16). That is, the setting information notification unit 17 generates setting information based on the previous customer information stored in the internal storage device 12 and notifies the setting information switching unit 18 included in the processing program 19. Thereafter, the customer information acquired this time is stored in the internal storage device 12 (step ST17). Therefore, the customer information acquired this time becomes effective when the car navigation system 1 is turned on next time.

  If it is determined in step ST12 that the acquired information is invalid, it is then checked whether customer information exists in the internal storage device 12 (step ST18). Here, if it is determined that it exists, the customer program information stored in the internal storage device 12 is notified to the processing program 19 (step ST19). That is, the setting information notification unit 17 generates setting information based on the customer information stored in the internal storage device 12 and notifies the setting information switching unit 18 included in the processing program 19.

  If it is determined in step ST18 that customer information does not exist in the internal storage device 12, the initial value of the setting information is notified to the processing program 19 (step ST20). That is, the setting information notification unit 17 notifies the setting information switching unit 18 included in the processing program 19 of the initial value of the setting information that is predetermined in the car navigation system 1.

  The setting information switching means 18 that has received the notification of the setting information in steps ST15, ST16, ST19, and ST20 switches the setting state in its own program so as to conform to the received setting information. The processing program 19 whose internal setting state has been switched by the setting information switching means 18 accesses the information storage device 20 and / or the display device 30 and executes processing for realizing each function. The switching of the setting state is performed in any of the following three patterns.

  In the first setting state switching pattern, as shown in FIG. 3, when the setting information is notified (step ST21), the setting value is switched by simply replacing the data on the program in accordance with the setting information. (Step ST22). This first setting state switching pattern is employed in a location processing program for realizing the location function. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the setting value is kept on the program for each customer, and the setting value is switched according to the customer information. For example, when customer information representing customer B is received as vehicle information, set value D is set inside the location processing program. Thereby, for example, locator information such as tire circumference suitable for the customer B's car is output.

  In the second setting state switching pattern, as shown in FIG. 4, when the setting information is notified (step ST30), the data previously stored in the program is switched according to the setting information (step ST31). Display output corresponding to the customer is performed (step ST32). This switching pattern of the second setting state is employed in the opening processing program for realizing the opening display function. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, opening data stored in advance in the program is read and displayed according to the customer information. For example, when customer information representing customer A is received as vehicle information, opening data of customer A on the program is displayed. Thereby, for example, a startup screen in accordance with the request of customer A is displayed.

  In the third setting state switching pattern, as shown in FIG. 5, when the setting information is notified (step ST40), the data on the information storage device 20 is read and switched according to the setting information (step ST41). ) And display output is performed (step ST42). The third setting state switching pattern mainly includes a menu display processing program for realizing a menu display function, a map display processing program for realizing a map display function, and a search processing program for realizing a search function. Adopted. When using the search function, when customer information representing customer A is received as vehicle information, as shown in FIG. 8, the customer A stored in advance in information storage device 20 according to the setting information. The search data can be switched so that it can be searched. In addition, when using the menu display function, the customer-specific menu screen can be displayed in the same manner as described above. When using the map display function, the customer's symbol can be displayed on the map. it can.

  As described above, according to the car navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, by using the vehicle information that can be acquired from the external vehicle signal output device 3, the specification according to the customer's request can be obtained. Functions can be realized by a single program, and operations as a plurality of models can be performed on the same hardware as a common platform. Further, since the program can be unified, an increase in the capacity of the map data recording medium for storing the program can be suppressed, and a data area necessary for the car navigation system can be secured. Furthermore, setting information (configuration) such as customers can be added by updating the program, and it is possible to deal with various customers after the release of the program.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the car navigation system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, regional information, language information, and steering position information are acquired as vehicle information. The area information is information representing the destination of the vehicle 2, that is, the area where the vehicle is used. The language information is information representing a language used for input / output of information in the vehicle 2. The steering position information is information indicating the steering position of the vehicle 2, that is, whether the steering wheel is the left steering wheel or the right steering wheel.

  The configuration of the car navigation system according to Embodiment 2 is the same as that of the car navigation system according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the car navigation system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. Since the procedure of the process is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 except that the vehicle information includes area information, language information, and steering position information, the flowchart is described below. It explains without using it.

  When the car navigation system 1 is turned on as the vehicle 2 is turned on, the vehicle information acquisition unit 14 first acquires vehicle information from the vehicle signal output device 3 via the external communication interface 11. This vehicle information includes the above-described area information, language information, and steering position information. Here, it is assumed that “United Kingdom” is acquired as regional information, “English” is acquired as language information, and “left steering wheel” is acquired as steering position information. The vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 14 is sent to the acquisition information determination unit 15.

  The acquisition information determination means 15 is vehicle information sent from the vehicle information acquisition means 14, that is, regional information is English, language information is English, steering position information is a left steering wheel, and these information are valid or invalid. Determine if there is. This determination is performed by checking whether or not “UK” is registered as region information, “English” as language information, and “left steering wheel” as steering position information are registered in a table (not shown) provided in the information processing unit 13. . When the acquisition information determination unit 15 determines that the vehicle information is valid, the vehicle information is sent to the setting information comparison unit 16. If the acquisition information determination unit 15 determines that the vehicle information is invalid, the vehicle information is not sent to the setting information comparison unit 16, and the information processing unit 13 stores the region information as an initial value in the information processing unit 13. A predetermined process is performed according to the language information and the steering position information (details are omitted).

  The setting information comparison means 16 is stored in the internal storage device 12 and vehicle information sent from the acquisition information determination means 15, that is, information such as regional information in the United Kingdom, language information in English, and steering position information in the left steering wheel. Compare with the corresponding information. As a result of the comparison by the setting information comparison means 16, if it is determined that they match, the area information, language information and steering position information are sent to the setting information notification means 17. On the other hand, if it is determined that they do not match, the regional information, language information, and steering position information are sent to and stored in the internal storage device 12.

  The setting information notification unit 17 generates setting information based on the area information, language information, and steering position information sent from the setting information comparison unit 16. The setting information generated by the setting information notification means 17 is sent to the setting information switching means 18.

  The setting information switching means 18 switches the setting state inside the program so that the regional information is English, the language information is English, and the steering position information is the left steering wheel for the processing program 19 that uses the setting information. The processing program 19 whose internal setting state has been switched by the setting information switching means 18 accesses the information storage device 20 and / or the display device 30 and executes processing for realizing each function.

  For example, when the map display processing program displays a map on the display unit 31 of the display device 30, an English character string indicating a street name on the map is displayed on the left side as shown in FIG. Rotate and display for easy viewing from the driver's seat. In addition, when the area information, language information, and steering position information of right-hand drive specification are acquired, the map display processing program displays a character string representing a street name on the map as shown in FIG. Rotate and display for easy viewing from the right driver's seat.

  As described above, according to the car navigation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, by using the vehicle information that can be acquired from the external vehicle signal output device 3, the region and language in which the vehicle 2 is used. In addition, a navigation function suitable for the steering position of the vehicle 2 can be realized by one program, and operations as a plurality of models can be performed on the same hardware as a common platform.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car navigation system, 2 Vehicles, 3 Vehicle signal output device, 10 In-vehicle information device, 11 External communication interface, 12 Internal storage device, 13 Information processing part, 14 Vehicle information acquisition means, 15 Acquisition information determination means, 16 Setting information comparison Means 17 setting information notification means 18 setting information switching means 19 processing program 20 information storage device 21 map data 30 display device 31 display unit

Claims (2)

A car navigation system that acquires vehicle information held by a vehicle via an in-vehicle LAN, and sets a processing program for realizing a navigation function to a setting state suitable for the vehicle information,
Vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring the vehicle information;
The processing program rotates and displays a character string on a display unit according to area information, language information, and steering position information included in the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means. system.   2. The processing program according to claim 1, wherein when the area information, the language information, and the steering position information of the right steering wheel specification are acquired, the character string is rotated and displayed so as to be easily seen from the right driver's seat. Car navigation system.

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